Kanye West Drops New Album ‘Bully’ Live, Denies AI Influence
Kanye West unveiled his long-delayed record Bully in a live YouTube stream on 27 March. The stream had aired shortly after midnight in the US.
Livestream and visuals
The album was paired with a black-and-white short film. West directed the film, which stars his son Saint in a boxing-ring sequence.
Masked men in luchador outfits were also seen wrestling during the broadcast. The footage was later unlisted, leaving access only by direct link.
Availability and playback
At the time of writing, Bully had not appeared on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. West streamed the full album live but did not immediately release it widely.
Toward the end of the stream, he played older material and tracks by other artists. Selections included his 2010 hit “Runaway”, EsDeeKid’s “4 Raws”, Don Toliver’s “Excavator”, and a snippet of “Bound 2”.
Collaborators, tracks and samples
The record features guest spots from Travis Scott, Nine Vicious, Ty Dolla $ign and CeeLo Green. Andre Troutman appears on the song “White Lines”.
- “Preacher Man” and “Beauty and the Beast” were previewed on Instagram and at live shows.
- Samples include The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” on “I Can’t Wait”.
- Stevie Wonder’s cover of “Close To You” is used on “White Lines”.
- “To You With Love” by The Moments is sampled on “Preacher Man”.
- Jonah Thompson’s “Get Involved” appears on “Sisters and Brothers”.
- The Mad Lads’ 1966 track “Don’t Have To Shop Around” is heard on “Beauty and the Beast”.
Promotion and rollout
West first began teasing Bully in September 2024. That came a month after his previous release, Vultures 2.
AI claims and denials
West has offered mixed statements about using artificial intelligence. In a past interview with Justin LaBoy, he said he used AI as a tool like Auto-Tune.
Days before the stream, he posted the album track list on X with the message “BULLY ON THE WAY NO AI.” Kanye West dropped a new album, Bully, in a live YouTube stream and denied using AI to create it.
Context and public statements
Earlier this year, West disputed suggestions that a Wall Street Journal apology letter was a calculated marketing move. He told Vanity Fair in an email he ranked among the top 10 most listened-to artists in the US on Spotify in 2025.
He added that Bully was among the most anticipated pre-saves on the platform. He also said his 2007 album Graduation was the most streamed hip-hop album of 2025.
West said he felt an apology was owed to both Jewish and Black communities. He described wanting to stand on the side of love and positivity.
Filmogaz.com will monitor further developments on distribution and public reaction.
