Did Ye drop ‘Bully’? Album releases on YouTube after apology

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, released his long-awaited studio album “Bully” in the early hours of Friday on YouTube, marking his 12th studio album and his first solo release since “Donda 2” in 2022.

Released through the independent label Gamma, the album represents a return to form for the controversial rapper, who has faced backlash in recent years over antisemitic and racist statements. He has also been accused of sexual misconduct by former employees.

The album had not been released to major streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music as of Friday.

On the YouTube stream, “Bully” is accompanied by a black-and-white short film of the same name, directed by Ye and starring his son, Saint, fending off aggressors in a boxing ring. The stream has since been unlisted from the site, meaning it can only be accessed by those with a direct link to the video.

“Bully” features collaborations with Travis Scott, Nine Vicious, Ty Dolla $ign and CeeLo Green. The rapper, known for sampling classic songs and pitching them up, borrows from a number of classic hits on the record. The Supremes’ 1966 hit “You Can’t Hurry Love” features on “I Can’t Wait,” while Mr. West samples Stevie Wonder’s cover of The Carpenters’ “Close To You” on “White Lines,” featuring Andre Troutman.

Other samples include “To You With Love” by The Moments on “Preacher Man,” Jonah Thompson’s “Get Involved” on “Sisters and Brothers” and The Mad Lads’ 1966 track “Don’t Have To Shop Around,” sampled on “Beauty and the Beast.”

In the days leading up to the release, the rapper shared a handwritten tracklist on social media and said the album would contain no AI-generated vocals, addressing speculation tied to earlier versions of the project. Ye had previously said in an interview with Justin LaBoy that he incorporated AI into his writing and recording process, comparing it to his use of Auto-Tune and calling it a tool rather than a replacement.

Ahead of the album’s release, Ye took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to apologize for his past remarks. He said he felt an apology was owed to both the Jewish and Black communities following a series of antisemitic rants on social media, saying he wanted to stand on the side of love and positivity.