Kanye West unveiled his much-anticipated album, Bully, through a surprise livestream in the early hours of March 27. This unexpected release came after days of the 48-year-old rapper denying claims that artificial intelligence was a major contributor to the album’s production.
Alongside the album drop, West released a self-directed black-and-white short film on YouTube. The film stars his son, Saint, who is shown defending himself in a boxing ring against multiple attackers. Shortly after the livestream, the video was made unlisted, restricting access to those with a direct link.
West initially began teasing Bully in September 2024, soon after the launch of his previous project, Vultures 2. Snippets of tracks such as “Preacher Man” and “Beauty and the Beast” had already surfaced on social media and during live shows, building anticipation among fans.
The album preserves West’s trademark sampling technique and features collaborations with artists including Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, and CeeLo Green. Noteworthy samples include Stevie Wonder’s rendition of “Close to You” on the track “White Lines” and The Supremes’ classic “You Can’t Hurry Love” on “I Can’t Wait.” Additional influences come from Jonah Thompson, The Mad Lads, and The Moments, enriching the album’s soundscape.
During the livestream, West also performed several of his iconic hits, such as the 2010 single “Runaway.” The release arrives amid ongoing debates within the music industry about the role of AI in music creation. Earlier in the week, West posted the album’s tracklist on X with the caption “BULLY ON THE WAY NO AI,” emphasizing his view of AI as a tool comparable to Auto-Tune rather than a substitute for human creativity.
