Draft:BULLY (Kanye West album)

"BULLY" is the supposed 11th studio album by rapper Kanye West officially announced during a concert in Haikou, China, in September 2024 at a listening party for his 4th collaborative album, Vultures 2, saying "I got a new album coming out, the album is called Bully". West debuted the track "Beauty and the Beast" from the album at the event, highlighting his continued evolution as an artist.

The album, described as a concept project, was largely recorded in Tokyo, where Kanye has been living. He has set up a temporary studio in a hotel room, allowing him to craft the album in a secluded and personal environment. Bully draws on Kanye's global experiences and eclectic musical influences, promising a varied yet quintessentially "Kanye-esque" sound

No official release date has been set, but the announcement has sparked widespread interest among fans, especially since it follows his collaborative Vultures series with Ty Dolla Sign. This solo project is seen as a fresh chapter for Kanye, focusing entirely on his own artistic vision

Supposed Tracklist

While the official tracklist for Bully remains under wraps, several tracks have surfaced in teasers, live performances, and social media posts. Songs such as "Beauty and the Beast," previewed during Kanye's concert in Haikou, China, are expected to feature prominently on the album. The project reportedly blends Kanye's signature experimental sound with influences drawn from his extensive travels and new creative approach in Tokyo.

The album is rumored to include a mix of updated vaulted tracks, such as those labeled "Donda leftovers," alongside entirely new material created during Kanye’s self-contained recording sessions in Japan. Fans have speculated on additional song titles following listening events and leaks, but no complete list has been confirmed

Leaked or Songs played by Kanye West

Track Name	Reasoning
Beauty and The Beast	West previewed this song at a Listening Party in Haiku, China in September. West then also uploaded the finished track to his Instagram.
Preacher Man	West previewed this song at the same Listening Party in Haiku, China.
OH NO MY HOODIE, MY HOODIE / Painter (Instrumental)	Oh No My Hoodie, My Hoodie is a beat previewed on Ye’s Instagram story September 25th 2024, most likely intended to end up on BULLY.

Rumored Songs

Track Name	Reasoning
Someday We'll All Be Free / Someday / Censori Overload	Many have theorized this unreleased Kanye song will finally get a release on "BULLY".
This Is The Glory	The song was briefly played at the Haiku, China Listening Party before being changed to Talking / Once Again.
LOVE LOVE LOVE	"LOVE LOVE LOVE" was originally a scrapped song from a scrapped Kanye West album recorded in the same session as Someday We'll All Be Free. The song appeared on early tracklists for both Vultures 1 and Vultures 2
So Called Friends	"So Called Friends" is an unreleased Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign song featuring Freddie Gibbs, which was the seventeenth track on two early tracklists for Bad Bitch Playbook Volume 1, which is the original title for Vultures 1. The first snippet of the song surfaced on February 11, 2024.
UNLOCK	"UNLOCK" is an unreleased track by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, part of their collaborative efforts under the Vultures series. Initially previewed at the Mowalola fashion show in London in September 2023, the song is a high-energy trap record produced by SHDØW, AyoAA, and 88-Keys. It was originally intended for Kanye's Y3 project but later appeared on a tentative tracklist for Vultures 1 and Vultures 2. Despite this, it was never officially released, though multiple versions of the track have surfaced through leaks.
Alpha Omega / Cash Cow	"Cash Cow" is an unreleased track by Kanye West featuring British grime artist Skepta. The song debuted at a private listening party for Kanye's Vultures 2 project in August 2024. It features a grime-inspired beat, showcasing Skepta's aggressive bars and Kanye's complementary delivery. Though the song received praise from fans for its high-energy collaboration, it remains unclear if it will be included in Vultures 3 or as a bonus track for Vultures 2. This marks the duo's first major collaboration, despite a long-standing creative relationship.
Say Less	"Say Less," by Childish Gambino featuring Kanye West, showcases themes of confidence, legacy, and challenging societal norms, which resonate strongly with Kanye's upcoming album Bully. Both works delve into personal introspection and bold assertions of identity. The track's unapologetic tone and Kanye's reflective verses point to the kind of self-assurance and creative risk-taking that is expected from Bully.

Rumored Involvement Of Others

As of now, Kanye West’s Bully album is rumored to feature a more minimalist and self-reliant approach. West is said to be producing the entire album on his own, without outside collaborators or producers, marking a significant shift from his usual team-based process​ . However, there are still uncertain speculations about potential guest appearances or contributions from other artists.

In terms of confirmed features, there hasn't been much revealed officially. Some reports mention that artists like Ty Dolla $ign may have contributed during earlier stages, but it's unclear how involved others will be in the final product .Furthermore, Kanye's involvement with AI technology on several tracks has generated interest, though the full scope of his collaboration with other artists, if any, remains uncertain.

Many different artists have been spotted in Tokyo, but none have been seen or heard collaborating with Kanye.

AI Use and Backlash

Kanye West has faced significant backlash for his use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent music projects, particularly on his album Vultures 2. Fans have accused him of relying on AI to recreate vocals, including allegations that tracks like "Sky City" feature AI-generated parts that replicate his voice or that of Ty Dolla $ign. These accusations have sparked heated debates in the music community about the authenticity of AI-created music. Some listeners claim that AI vocals detract from Kanye's artistic integrity, with criticism also aimed at the distorted mixing and "artificial" feel of some tracks​.

This controversy comes amid Kanye's history of creative risks and his strained relationship with traditional music industry structures. While some fans defend his experimentation with AI, others see it as a sign that the rapper is losing his touch or relying too heavily on technology. As AI continues to shape the future of music, Kanye's approach will likely remain a point of contention within the broader conversation on art and technology.

Kanye West's upcoming album Bully features several tracks that are said to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, furthering his experimental approach to music production. Among these songs, Preacher-Man, Beauty and the Beast, and Cash Cow / Alpha Omega have garnered attention for their heavy reliance on AI vocals.

Preacher-Man, for example, is a track previewed at a VULTURES listening event and is speculated to include AI-generated vocals, though the exact details remain unclear​ . Beauty and the Beast has also drawn attention, partly because of its use of AI alongside a soulful sample. Kanye performed this track during his Bully announcement event, and it was revealed to feature samples from "Don't Have To Shop Around" by The Mad Lads . Additionally, the song's distinct sound aligns with Kanye's ongoing experimentation with AI-enhanced music.

Cash Cow / Alpha Omega continues the trend, with the song’s use of AI in crafting its vocals leading to mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. Kanye's ongoing use of AI is becoming a focal point of discussion within his music, especially given the backlash surrounding the authenticity of AI-created music.