Nothing Kanye West touches in 2024 is without controversy. That includes his latest album, “Vultures Pt. 1,” a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign.
Following months of hand-wringing and non-starts, the album — the first of a planned trilogy — hit Apple Music Saturday morning, following a Friday listening session in New York. West has been trending all day, and it’s only partly to do with the quality of the actual music (which is another piece entirely).
Here are the messiest parts of “Vultures Pt. 1.” (so far, since we are talking about Kanye West).
Rollout issues
West became (in)famous for his “living album” rollouts, which he started with 2016’s “The Life of Pablo.” He plays fast and loose with release dates and adds, removes and edits tracks to his whim. Some consider it innovative while most fans seem simply annoyed.
“Vultures Pt. 1” initially only dropped on Apple Music but not its rival Spotify, leading to a string of tweets and confused fans.
Just as everyone was digesting the album late Saturday morning (this writer included), it was suddenly removed from Apple Music and reposted shortly after. By Saturday afternoon, it was also available on Spotify.
We wonder if the DSPs allow other artists without West’s cachet to get away with this.
An about-face from cleanliness
West went on a strong pro-Jesus run starting in 2019 with his Sunday Service live gospel shows, as well as with the albums “Jesus is King” and “Donda,” both of which are clean and dedicated to his lord.
In contrast, “Vultures Pt. 1” is extremely sexually explicit — almost alarmingly so — down to the cover featuring his barely clothed wife, Bianca Censori. Essentially, we went from Andre 3000’s censored verse on “Donda’s” “Life of the Party” in 2021 to “H**d so good, she a honor roll/She’ll ride the d**k like a carnival” on the hook of “Carnival.”
Donda West would be proud, we’re sure.
He’s still leaning into the whole antisemite thing
Among the loudest recent criticisms of West are his perceived antisemitic remarks, which have resulted in condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League and evoked ample discussion.
On the album closer, “King,” he raps “Crazy, bipolar, antisemite/And I’m still the king.” On the title track, he raps, “How am I antisemitic? I just f****d a Jewish b***h.” This follows a host of comments and posts that even got him kicked off of Elon Musk’s Twitter for a while.
In a since-deleted Instagram video, West suggested that live venues won’t book him because of his antisemitic behavior. Perhaps he should consider reading the planet he’s on these days…?
Accusations of lifting samples
West is arguably one of the greatest samplers in Hip-Hop history. But sampling on “Vultures Pt. 1” has evoked the ire of music legends.
Ozzy Osbourne tweeted about his displeasure at West asking to sample his classic “Iron Man” for “Carnival,” being refused and doing so anyway for one of his album listening events. Osbourne’s wife Sharon told TMZ that they issued a cease and desist to West and that “Kanye f***ed with the wrong Jew this time.”
West removed the sample but delivered a respectable clapback by posting a picture of Osbourne and Sharon dressed up as West and Censori for Halloween.
The estate of the late Donna Summer posted on Instagram that West also asked for permission to use her song “I Feel Love” for his track “Good (Don’t Die),” but he was denied. According to Summer’s estate, West “changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI but it’s I Feel Love…copyright infringement!!!”
More shots at Taylor Swift
Continuing a “feud” that kicked off in 2009 with one of West’s first acts of infamy, West evoked Taylor Swift in “Carnival:” “I made six Taylor Swift/Since I had the Rollie on the wrist/I’m the new Jesus, bitch/I turn water to Crist.”
The lyrics are apparently a reference to the $1billion net worth Swift landed after her 2023 Eras Tour, in comparison to his (claimed and former) $6 billion net worth.
No word if West will be allowed in Las Vegas during Super Bowl LVIII, where Swift and her boo Travis Kelce will be holding it down.