The highly controversial producer, entrepreneur and designer Kanye West has released his eleventh album, Vultures 1, precisely two decades after his debut, College Dropout, and it did not disappoint. The Chicago emcee had been teasing fans with listening parties and snippets for weeks, and on February 7th, he put out the video for his track ‘Talking’ featuring his daughter North.
Although Kanye produced the project exclusively, the body of work was released as an album by ¥$, a super duo West created alongside Ty Dolla $ign. The body of work has lived up to expectations. With appearances from the likes of Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Quavo, YG, Lil Durk and more, West called upon the biggest and best MCs to create this masterpiece.
Vultures 1 appeared on streaming platforms in the middle of the night with no notice, and fans woke up to a treat from West. Fans were expecting a big and bold release. However, the project came silently and generated tremendous buzz upon its arrival.
Vultures 1 is the first of three instalments. Before its release, Kanye performed alongside Travis Scott at his Orlando show on his Circus Maximus tour. The Chicago producer and rapper always delivers something compelling, and after a listen, there are a few things we can take away from this latest album.
What we learned from Kanye West album Vultures 1:
Kanye has his left Gospel phase
In 2018, Kanye released Jesus Is King, and on the back of his ‘Sunday Services,’ he was all about God and the power of Jesus. Last year, after a leak, fans heard West’s unreleased Jesus SI King 2 album featuring Dr Dre. However, with songs such as ‘FUK SUMN’, which hears a distorted bass and drums that knock, it is safe to say that the mellow West has departed.
On the contrary, in the lead-up to this album, at an exclusive listening party in Miami, the lyricist wore a Klu Klux Klan-inspired black hood that, if anything, sees him now embracing the antichrist. Furthermore, with the track ‘Vultures’ hearing him rap, “I ain’t antisemitic, I just f*cked a Jewish bitch”, it seems the Chicago native has backtracked on religion.
Ty Dolla $ign was the right collaborator for Ye right now
Vocalist Ty Dolla $ign hasn’t been in the limelight for a while. However, it’s clear he was the perfect choice for West’s comeback. His vocals over Kanye’s gritty beats are reminiscent of West’s 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak, but the additional features with hard-hitting lyrics take it to a new dimension and make for an unbeatable combo.
Twenty years ago, Kanye relied on soul samples from Luther Vandross and Chaka Kahn to add soul to his music, and although this latest project features a vast array of samples, Ty Dolla $ign is responsible for the uplifting, soul-touching vocals, making it organic and refreshing for West who hasn’t worked extensively with a vocalist for years.
Kanye West is more self-aware than ever
On Vultures 1, Kanye proves he is entirely aware of how the industry perceives him and how he has alienated certain members of the African-American and Jewish communities. Despite this, he still invites figures to cancel him, trolling them and asking if they’re willing to discard him, referencing disgraced figures like R. Kelly, Bill Cosby, and Diddy on the song ‘Carnival.’
Furthermore, since his marriage to Bianca Censori and multiple rants about how Kim Kardashian regularly stops him from spending time with his children, public perception has been that West is a deadbeat dad who never sees his kids.
As such, it was a massive surprise to many when his daughter, North West, was featured on the song ‘Talking’. The 10-year-old even appears in the music video alongside her father, where she sings.
Kanye West can still make the ‘Old Kanye’ fans happy
Despite the new approach to music West has taken on Vultures 1, the Graduation emcee still knows how to make his old fans happy, and songs such as ‘Burn’ show his versatility.
On this track, he raps over a sample of the 1976 ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’ by Band of Thieves and reminds folks that he can still return to the Late Registration version of himself if he wants to. As such, he can keep his older followers excited as they realise it is the same West they knew 20 years ago.
There’s still cause for concern
Despite his undeniable talent and incredible beat-making abilities, less than a minute into the very first song ‘Stars,’ he says he “keeps a few Jews on the staff now.” Last year, Kanye issued an apology in Hebrew to the Jewish community but was later caught on camera in Miami talking about Zionism and the shenanigans continuing on the project.
Moreover, the face-covering mask that he began rocking in 2022 when he started having a manic meltdown has remained ever since, and the garment features on the Vultures 1 album cover. With lyrics referencing his brand deals, it seems clear that parts of West still dwell in 2022, and, perhaps, there is still cause for concern in the future.