"CIRCLES" is a song by Kanye West that released on March 18, 2025 as a part of his demo studio album, BULLY V1 (2025).[1] The song features vocals from Don Toliver and production from West himself and serves as the fourth track to the demo record.
Production[]
The song prominently samples "Huit Octobre 1971" by Cortex, which has been famously sampled in many other hip-hop songs, notably MF DOOM's "One Beer" and Tyler, The Creator and Casey Veggies' "Odd Toddlers".[2] The track is played 4/4 time in 156 BPM, and it is in the key of E Minor.
Background[]
The song was presumably created back in October 2024 as this is when Don Toliver had been working with Kanye.[3] Though it isn't fully confirmed that Don Toliver is the one behind the vocals, it most certainly is him as the delivery is 1:1 with Don's. After Don recorded the initial reference, Kanye AI would be placed atop of it and it had been put into track listings for the album that had been built around the film.[4]
The song was worked on into December of that year for the film. The song was first previewed at a GRAMMY's afterparty on February 2nd alongside several other BULLY songs.[5] Some time after, it would be confirmed that this song's real name had actually been "CIRCLES".[6] The following day on the 3rd in the released Justin LaBoy interview, Ye would state that he believed AI and autotune were interchangeable, basically confirming this song alongside the rest of BULLY are AI.[7]
BULLY (Film)[]
On March 18, Ye would randomly decide to release the BULLY short film on March 18, 2025, this song being included in all copies of the film.[8] Ye would later take to X (fka Twitter) to Tweet his reasoning for the release, stating he released it as the project was almost completely AI and he had founded a new disdain towards AI and would be reworking the record.[9] It's possible a new version without AI vocals has been recorded since then, but it cannot be stated for sure as the only song Ye had stated he would be rerecording for specifically is "MELROSE".
Eventually, every link to the film would be taken down and the film would be taken off of YouTube and Apple Music, likely to avoid legal troubles between both Ye and Pomme as shortly before the film's takedown it had been confirmed Pomme had became aware of Ye releasing "HIGHS AND LOWS" with her sample despite her stating she will not be clearing it publicly and was seeking legal action to have it taken down.[10]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: Don Toliver]
Oh, Lord, I can't miss this
Oh, Lord, I got issues
Oh, Lord, I don't need shit
Oh, Lord, hitting this one
[Chorus: Don Toliver]
Circles, circles, circles, circles
Circles, circles, circles, circles
[Verse 2: Don Toliver]
She doing it right, keep me up
Staying the night, but it's never enough Going in-
Going in circles
[Chorus: Don Toliver]
Circles, circles, circles, circles
Circles, circles, circles, circles
[Instrumental]
[Chorus: Don Toliver]
Circles, circles, circles, circles
Circles, circles, circles, circles
References[]
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/47ad8d3bcdfde514c956866b0b1ba053
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/7569c9c3f51f78ab866160dc35ab651f
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/GoodAssSub/comments/1fxjpqk/baby_keem_and_don_toliver_together_in_a_club_in/
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/8119c8dce67fe283569c434304a2f2bc
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-huit-octobre-1971-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/GoodAssSub/comments/1ix7ym2/huit_octobre_snippet_is_called_circles_and_oh_no/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szqm7V1Muwc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIkI9kjnJ1U
- ↑ https://x.com/kanyewest/status/1902208914319667445
- ↑ https://x.com/yeunrlsd/status/1903417052905242784
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