Kanye West’s career has been riddled with controversy over the past few years, but that has not stopped him from releasing new music.
In August 2023, he began promoting his 11th studio album, “Vultures 1,” the first album of a three-part collaboration series between himself and Ty Dolla $ign. After months of the album being pushed back, listening parties, and manic Instagram livestreams, the album was released a day after the intended date of Feb. 9. It is time to see if the months of waiting were worth it.
The lead singles are “Vultures,” featuring Lil Durk & Bump J, and “Talking / Once Again,” featuring Ye’s eldest daughter, North West. When “Vultures” dropped in October, it was the first we had heard from Ye or Ty in a long time. The hype persisted, but I soon realized this rushed song was nowhere near greatness.
Bump J is a stranger to hip-hop, and his verse is lackluster. Lil Durk provides an average verse that makes the song slightly hyped. At least the beat is hard-hitting, and Ty’s singing voice is memorable. But Ye has to add more fuel to the fire with his lyrics, where he references not being antisemitic after having intercourse with a Jewish woman.
I am glad that “Talking / Once Again” is listenable with the catchy cheerleading vocal sample from James Blake, a delightful verse from West, and more soothing vocals from Ty. Ye is still the worst part, but at least his part is short and sweet.
I do not have many positives about this album beyond the production choices. While muddy and mixed poorly at times, Ye still makes impressive choices, like using a Brazilian “phonk” beat on “Paperwork,” featuring Quavo, making the 808s otherworldly. I also enjoy the fun nature of “Do It,” featuring YG. I like that they stuck to the Cali sound that YG is best at instead of throwing him on something out of his element. Sampling Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” was perfect for this song.
The intro for “Stars” has a choir-like sample from Dijon, which adds to the simple melody and drum pattern. Ye does ruin it by mentioning Jewish people again. “Burn” is another great song, as it brings me back to Ye’s roots of relaxed R&B production and his classic flow, easily making it one of the best tracks on this record.
It is sad seeing Ty Dolla $ign taking a backseat on most of the records he is on. He does have a solo or collab album that sold over 50,000 units in the first week. While that is still an accomplishment, Ye’s name will easily make Ty more successful. I would bet money that Ye took over most of the creative decisions while Ty was happy to be there. That is likely why Ty did not say much about the record during the promotional phase or about Ye’s controversies, as he does not want to pass up on the opportunity. He will forever be a supporting artist, never the star.
“Vultures 1” is sexually suggestive to the point where it makes you cringe. “Back to Me,” featuring Freddie Gibbs, spends minutes on big-breasted women not falling out of the sky. Other songs, like “F-k Sumn” and Carnival,” give me the same vibes. Both songs have some fascinating moments, like Travis Scott’s part on “F-k Sumn,” but I get uncomfortable hearing Ye say something like, “I don’t care who you f—ed, you’re a virgin to me.” The subject matter has gone far from what I am used to from Ye and Ty, and it takes away from what could have made this record special.
“Vultures 1” has some enjoyable production and a few good songs. However, it is ultimately brought down by Ye’s controversial and uncomfortable lyrics, as well as the lackluster verses from some of the featured artists. While it may satisfy some fans, others may find it disappointing compared to Ye’s previous works. I hope the following two albums are better and allow Ty to shine like a star and not pass by like a comet.
