VULTURES 1

VULTURES 1Studio album by ¥$
Alternate covers
The original cover that was released on streaming services.
General information
Released	February 10, 2024
Recorded	2023-2024
Length	55:40
Label(s)	YZY
Producer(s)	Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, 88-Keys, Ambezza, Anthony Kilhoffer, AyoAA, Azul, BEAM, Mike Dean, Chordz, Chrishan, Digital Nas, DJ Camper, DJ Roca, DJ Vitinho Beat, Edsclusive, FnZ, Gustave Rudman, Hubi, James Blake, JPEGMafia, JuiceThe Legendary Traxster, Lester Nowhere, London on da Track, Morten “Rissi” Ristorp, Mustard, No I.D., Ojivolta, Rafael “Fai” Bautista, Sean Leon, SHDØW, Slonka, Stryv, TheLabCook, Timbaland, VEYIS, Vinnyforgood, VITALS, Wax Motif, Wheezy
Albums chronology
Previous	Donda 2
Next	VULTURES 2
Singles
1. "Vultures" Released: November 22, 2023
2. "Talking/Once Again" Released: February 8, 2024
3. "CARNIVAL" Released: February 15, 2024

VULTURES 1 (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by ¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign), which released on February 10, 2024, through YZY. The album features collaborations with numerous artists, including Playboi Carti, North West, Quavo, Travis Scott, Bump J, Lil Durk, Rich The Kid, Mike Tyson, and more.

VULTURES 1 marks Kanye's first album since his antisemitic comments in late 2022. Unlike Kanye's previous three albums, Donda 2 (2022), Donda (2021) and JESUS IS KING (2019), VULTURES 1 sees Kanye pull back on religious themes and resort back to using sexual themes in his songs while also addressing his past controversies. It received mixed reviews from critics, who mainly criticized Kanye's lyrics and production for being "unoriginal".

Background

Main article: Bad Bitch Play Book

As far back as June 2023, Ty Dolla $ign was reportedly working with Kanye on new material in Japan and Italy. The original title for the album was Bad Bitch Playbook Vol. 1. On August 25, 2023, NBC News reported that Kanye was working on a potentially new album, likely referring to his collaborative album with Ty. On October 1, a private listening party was held for the new album. While Kanye reportedly seemed "out-of-whack" in the party at times, a snippet of a new song was heard with vocals from Ty. Four days later, Ty posted a video on Instagram. Towards the end of the video, a photo with a yellow-ish background and text that reads "¥$" was featured. Because of this, many people assumed that the album would be named ¥$ or Yesuke.

Kanye and Ty had aimed to release the album on October 13, but due to Kanye's antisemitic comments in late 2022, many labels avoided him. Two days later, it was revealed that Kanye and Ty would be holding a concert for their new album in Italy on October 27. However, the concert was cancelled.

On October 23, Ty made a now-deleted post on Instagram where he confirmed that he and Kanye would be dropping a collaborative album and that on November 3, a multi-stadium listening party would be held in anticipation of the album. Unfortunately, the listening party would also be cancelled, leading fans to worry about the album's release.

On November 12, Ty Dolla $ign stated at a concert that he had just flown from Saudi Arabia after working with Kanye, and that a new album was "coming real soon". It was also revealed that Kanye was producing his new album in a very empty and spacious land that looked like a desert. On November 17, the Chicago radio station, Power 92, previewed a new song for the album titled "Vultures", featuring Bump J and Lil Durk. Five days later, the song was officially released on streaming services.

On December 8, Ty posted a track list for the upcoming album on Instagram. In total, 18 songs were featured on the track list, including "New Body", a track that was made during the Yandhi era but was scrapped. That same day, a snippet of the opening track, "Everybody", was posted, featuring a sample from the Backstreet Boys' song, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)". Two days later, Kanye went to a restaurant in Wynwood, Florida to play several of the album's new songs. On the same day, Kanye revealed that the song would be titled Vultures and was set to release on December 15.

Main article: VULTURES listening parties

On December 12, Kanye held a listening party for the album at Miami, premiering ten new songs. However, due to technical difficulties, the other songs were not previewed. More setbacks for the album occurred, as on December 13, it was reported that the Backstreet Boys did not allow Kanye and Ty to interpolate their song. On December 15, the same day as the album's set release date, Nicki Minaj would also deny Kanye permission to use her verse on "New Body". On the same day, a second listening party for the album was held at Las Vegas, where some new songs were previewed. Kanye and Kid Cudi also ended their beef with each other as they were seen hugging. In the afterparty, though, Kanye went on yet another rant, mentioning Nicki, Drake, Jay-Z, and Travis Scott, among others. It was also confirmed by XXL later that day that one of Kanye's representatives stated that the album would release on December 31. However, on December 21, it was revealed that the album would be pushed back to January 12, 2024.

Kanye West - Vultures (Official Trailer)

On December 29, it was thought that "Everybody" would be previewed on Power 92, but instead, "Talking/Once Again" was previewed. On January 11, 2024, it was revealed that the album's release date was set back yet again to January 19. On January 16, it was revealed that the album would release on February 9. On January 23, Kanye revealed that Vultures was set to release in 3 volumes; Volume 1 was set release on February 9, Volume 2 on March 8, and Volume 3 on April 5. He also revealed the album covers for the volumes. On January 30, Ty revealed that each volume will have different songs instead of remixes of the same song. He also revealed that a tour for Vultures is planned. A day later, North West was seen wearing a shirt with the new track list for Vultures Volume 1. This track list also features 18 tracks, but the order of some tracks were switched and several tracks were removed, including "New Body". On February 5, it was revealed that a potential listening party for Volume 1 would be held at the United Center in Chicago. Kanye later confirmed this in an Instagram story.

On February 8, the songs "Talking/Once Again" and "Vultures (Havoc Version)" were both released on streaming services with accompanying music videos. Later that day, the third listening party for Vultures Volume 1 was held at the United Center in Chicago, but the album still didn't release as promised. On February 9, more setbacks for Vultures unfolded as Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he didn't give Kanye permission to use his song on "Carnival", but he used it anyway. After the listening party at the UBS Arena on February 9, Kanye promised that the album would release within the next 24-48 hours. Finally, the album released on February 10, but only on Apple Music and TIDAL. Hours later, the album was briefly taken off of Apple Music, prompting Ye to say "FUCK APPLE" in a now-deleted Instagram post. Since then, it has been readded onto Apple Music and added onto YouTube Music and Spotify.

Post-release

However, more setbacks for the album came even after it was released. The song, "GOOD (DON'T DIE)" was taken off streaming services due to sample clearance issues. Donna Summer's estate later sued Ye and Ty on February 27 due to alleged "blatant theft" of Donna Summer's song, "I Feel Love". On February 15, FUGA (a distribution label) revealed that the release of VULTURES 1 violated their service agreement, and it was soon taken off Apple Music and iTunes. Later that day, the album was added back via a different distribution label, Label Engine.

There were plans for releasing updated mixes on all VULTURES 1 songs except "GOOD (DON'T DIE)"; however, they were all scrapped for sounding worse compared to the original released versions.

Artwork

The original cover for VULTURES 1, which was revealed by Playboi Carti on December 11, 2023, was inspired by an 1835 painting from 19th-century painter Caspar David Friedrich, which was titled Landscape with Graves.

The second cover for VULTURES 1 was revealed by Ty Dolla $ign on December 12, 2023. This version more closely resembled Friedrich's painting. However, the cover drew controversy since Friedrich was reportedly one of Adolf Hitler's favorite painters. Furthermore, the cover looks very similar to that of Burzum's album, Filosofem (1996). Burzum is notorious for having links to Nazism, as the leader of the band was a neo-Nazi. Ye later wore a shirt of Burzum in a picture with JPEGMAFIA on January 19, 2024.

When the album released on February 10, 2024, the new cover did not include the Burzum and Friedrich-inspired art and instead only featured Ye in a Jason mask and a nearly-nude Bianca Censori. Later on, the cover was slightly updated so that Ye was seen in a black mask.

Chart performances

VULTURES 1 debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, marking Ty Dolla $ign's first #1 album and Ye's eleventh #1 album, which broke his tie with Eminem and Elvis Presley. It was also Ye's first album since Watch The Throne (2011) to top the charts for two weeks. All 16 songs also reached the Billboard Hot 100, with "CARNIVAL" becoming Ye's first #1 song since "E.T." (2011).

Track list

No.	Title			Length
1.	“STARS”			1:55
2.	“KEYS TO MY LIFE”			2:54
3.	“PAID”			3:15
4.	“TALKING”			3:05
5.	“BACK TO ME”			4:55
6.	“HOODRAT”			3:42
7.	“DO IT”			3:45
8.	“PAPERWORK”			2:25
9.	“BURN”			1:51
10.	“FUK SUMN”			3:29
11.	“VULTURES” (feat. Lil Durk & Bump J)			4:36
12.	“CARNIVAL” (with Rich The Kid, feat. Playboi Carti)			4:24
13.	“BEG FORGIVENESS”			6:08
14.	“GOOD (DON'T DIE)”			3:19
15.	“PROBLEMATIC”			3:14
16.	“KING”			2:36
			Total length:	55:40

Notes

• "KEYS TO MY LIFE" features additional vocals from India Love.
• "TALKING" features vocals from North West and additional vocals from James Blake and Fat Money.
• "BACK TO ME" features vocals from Freddie Gibbs and additional vocals from Quavo.
• "HOODRAT" features additional vocals from Mike Tyson.
• "DO IT" features vocals from YG and Nipsey Hussle.
• "PAPERWORK" features vocals from Quavo.
• "FUK SUMN" features vocals from Playboi Carti and Travis Scott.
• "CARNIVAL" features additional vocals from the Hooligans.
• "BEG FORGIVENESS" features vocals from Chris Brown.
• "GOOD (DON'T DIE)" features additional vocals from J. Rey Soul and is absent from streaming versions of the album.

Trivia

• Rumors about a collaborative album between Kanye and Ty have been spreading since 2018.
• VULTURES 1 marks Kanye's first album with explicit lyrics since KIDS SEE GHOSTS.
• The last time Ye was featured on an album cover for one of his albums was The College Dropout (2004).
  • Coincidentally, The College Dropout released on February 10, 2004, exactly 20 years before VULTURES 1 released.