After half a decade of controversy, Kanye West has finally decided to return to his roots in 2026, with the release of his twelfth studio album in late March.
Bully was released on March 28, 2026, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 100. With 152,000 first-week sales, which is more than Vultures I, another highly anticipated Kanye album from 2024, fans clearly had high expectations. Similarly to Vultures I, the album has been a big disappointment for fans, considering Ye’s high standards for album quality.
Bully serves as Kanye’s true return to the rap game. After years of his controversial quotes and posts, it finally seems as if Ye’s mental state is improving.
However, the album seems rushed and incomplete, a recurring theme observed in his recent albums.
Ye has received massive criticism for his use of AI on recent albums, so he has decided to leave it out of the new project.
On X, Ye stated, “BULLY ON THE WAY, NO AI,” confirming that the EP is authentic. The album has also received criticism for its production.
Sophomore and local TikTok music creator Quinn Keehn, known online as “Rweina,” describes the album’s production as “weird,” stating the album as a whole was “pretty weak” and unintentionally experimental. However, Keehn also says the album was more enjoyable than his other recent projects.
The strongest song on the album is “Father,” featuring Travis Scott. Keehn said Scott “carried” the track, but makes it clear that the song still didn’t live up to fans’ high expectations.
Bully is like a poor impression of Kanye’s older projects, taking inspiration from his College Dropout trilogy (College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation), as well as Yeezus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and 808’s and Heartbreak.
Although it takes inspiration from his most popular and objectively best albums, it comes across as a shallow attempt to recreate the magic Mr. West is known for making.
Kanye West abjectly recreates his older work in a way that leaves the audience wondering if the career of a hip-hop icon, once known as the greatest of all time, is coming to an end after decades at the top of the industry.
Features from Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and CeeLo Green make the album slightly more tolerable; however, Bully remains a lousy attempt at a return to the rap scene from one of the most iconic lyricists in the industry.
Although it is more bearable than his other recent projects, when compared to the high standards Ye holds, it comes off as a failure.
Bully is available on all streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. Fans also have the option to listen to the new album in physical form via CD and vinyl for anyone wishing to experience this underwhelming EP for themselves.
