Kanye West officially dropped his highly anticipated collaboration album with Ty Dolla $ign last week. The album, entitled Vultures I, is Kanye’s 11th and Ty Dolla $ign’s 4th studio album. With the original release date of December 15th, 2023 being pushed back, along with the viral snippet of North West’s opening verse in TALKING, the world has been thirsting for Ye’s newest project; and the collab that was a long time in the making. (See: All Mine, Real Friends, Junya Pt 2, and Ego Death)

Given Ye’s affinity for experimentation with different sounds, and Ty Dolla $ign being the king of features and smoothed out vocals, the two make a decent duo. Ty played to his strengths in making some solid records on this project by being the foundation of many songs, although he fell to the background at times. It definitely feels like more of a Kanye featuring Ty Dolla $ign album, rather than a true collaboration like Watch the Throne.

There are some bars that made me ask, “Where was your head at when you wrote this?”

In about half of Kanye’s contribution to this joint album, he used what I call his “off his meds” flow. These are the off the wall, rambly bars that can be expected from “new Kanye”.

“She gon’ take it up the A like a ventriloquist” is crazy.

For the past decade there has been so much focus on comparing “Old Kanye” music to new Ye. We often forget that music is a media of self-expression. The purpose is to develop as an artist and stay true to self — a rubric relative to the artist’s POV, not the masses’.

Kanye is definitely in an era of acceptance of his mental state. This acceptance is the overarching message and vibe of VULTURES. My own interpretation of the album entitled as a scavenging bird known to feast on deceased carcasses. I like to think this a ploy on the Christian sentiment of being “born again”. Ye is referring to some of his listeners as vultures being entertained (or eating up) his old body. But he’s a new person.

There is also something to be said about the samples and snippets used throughout the album, specifically the one from BACK TO ME. It’s from Dogma, a blasphemous fantasy-comedy film by Kevin Smith about two angels who were kicked out of heaven but try to find a loophole to get back in via repenting, dying and being born again.

For any veteran to the music biz, the main concern in output continuation is progression. Gone are the College Dropout days so if you were hoping for a similar album, this will not be your jam. However, this project definitely shows Kanye’s progression as an artist while still paying homage to his past projects.

I heard dark synth reminiscent of MBDTF, heavy bassline like MBDTF, party synth beat hinting toward house music that gives TLOP and 808’s, horn and piano progressions reminiscent of All of the Lights and Dark Fantasy.

Although Vultures can’t be called a Christian or gospel album by any stretch of the imagination but there are some religious undertones to the self-proclaimed “King” and “Jesus” of rap’s braggadocio of the glitz and grime of star life illustrated in this album.

If you haven’t already given Vultures a listen, expect some chanty layers, some auto tune, and to hear some of the Sunday Service Choir. Expect some dark composition as well as brighter tunes I can only describe as the vibe of riding out to see your summer boo at 2am, after the party. Or a California nightclub.

R. Kelly’s name is mentioned twice. Do with that information what you will.

There are minimal features and a mixture of experimental adlibs and production, dance and club tunes with familiar sampling. The duo plays with simple basslines with big focus on lyricism or vocals as well as full symphonic theme song-esque dramatic pieces.

And If you’re just here for the drama, listen out for jabs at Kim K with lines like “She took the pipe now she famous.” Or lines eluding to heartbreak.

Are you ready for Vultures 2 and 3? Slated for release March 8, 2024 and April 5, 2024.