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Rap star Kanye West and singer Ty Dolla $ign released the chart-topping album “Vultures I” on Monday. The 55-minute-long joint album consists of 16 tracks with features from Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Lil Durk, and other artists.
The album is nothing less than what many fans expected of West. Themes of promiscuity, materialism, and vanity are rapped over captivating instrumentals packed with a variety of samples, beginning with the track “STARS.”
“I hope he’s bright and big and strong,” a chorus coos over an eerie instrumental. “You already know what I’m on,” Ye begins.
Throughout the album, Ye and Ty explore deeper themes, such as the impacts of infidelity and other familial struggles. On the fourth track, “TALKING”, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s oldest child Northwest raps a youthful verse that has gone viral leading up to the album’s release.
“It’s your bestie, Miss Miss Westy,” Northwest raps.
The track transitions from an upbeat playful teenage verse to a heavier analysis of the battles that come with fatherhood.
“That’s why I gotta break the curses that were sent for me,” Ty Dolla $ign raps, “this is hard work working, this ain’t destiny.”
The music released around this time of year often fights for the unofficial title of “Song of the Summer.” With this album, Ye and Ty have some strong contenders. The seventh track “DO IT” is upbeat and talks about the materialistic lifestyles that the stars live.
“All this money on the floor, ten racks throw it up watch how I do it,” Ty raps, “do it baby, do it.”
This song is for the ladies and even has a sample of the hit song by Juvenile “Back That Azz Up.”
In typical Kanye West fashion, the album includes bold assertions of his dominance in the music industry. In an interview clip at the end of “HOODRAT,” Mike Tyson speaks to Kanye West’s naysayers.
“The sh*t Kanye says is basically affirmations people say for success… no doubt he got some mental issues, most leaders do,” Tyson said.
The themes of egomania are woven throughout the entire album and are solidified at the very end. There has been discourse for years surrounding whether Kanye is narcissistic among other claims about his character. In the final track “KING”, he addresses these claims.
“After everything’s said… crazy, bipolar, antisemite and I’m still the king” Ye raps.
So far, critics have mixed opinions on this body of work. Either way, “Vultures I” has topped multiple streaming charts since its release. Listeners can take partake in the music experience on many platforms and can expect to see Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign perform this upcoming March at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles, California.