Musical Prodigy vs. Personal Antics: Finding the “Old Kanye” in the Middle of the Storm

Released March 28th 2026

I feel there is no need to run through the turbulent history of Kanye, aka Ye, at this point. Despite antics that would get most other artists permabanned, his talent and skill will forever keep him musically relevant. I went into his latest release, Bully, with some apprehension—fearing disconcerting music and hearing concerning whispers of possible AI use—but I can say with confidence that this project actually feels like a return to the “Old Mr. West.”

The project instinctively carries that MBDTF feel, particularly with the use of Auto-Tune. To this effort, Kanye enlists the aid of the reigning prince of auto-tune, with Roger Troutman featured prominently throughout, elevating tracks like “White Lines” and “All the Love” (the latter being a project standout). You also get the soulful production that made Kanye a household name on “Punch Drunk” and “Whatever Works.” Indeed, you get a bit of every “Ye pocket,” including some reggaeton on “Last Breath” (feat. Peso Pluma), though that feels a bit forced—more like something I’d expect from a certain Toronto crooner than Kanye. Overall, while there are no outright skips, the project does feel slightly directionless, even if I enjoyed it more than expected.

I won’t waste time dissecting the production; it’s Kanye West. As long as he is coherent, you’re going to get quality, and this album is no exception. Rhyming-wise, I think this is the best Ye has sounded since The Life of Pablo. No antics, just bars (and some crooning). On “Whatever Works,” we get a glimpse of that throwback College Dropout Kanye: “Meeting with some ministers and kings, I was nodding off / Haven’t seen a kingdom as royal as my daughters are.” Feature-wise, besides the aforementioned Troutman, we get CeeLo Green and—surprisingly—Travis Scott, with both delivering on their respective tracks.

In summary, Bully shows what is possible when you get a focused, locked-in Ye. While it likely won’t crack the top four in his legendary discography, it’s still a solid listen. It may not achieve the commercial heights of his previous work due to his outside antics, but hopefully, this release can serve as a building block for the artist to return to the musical prodigy we know he can be. Bully is definitely worth a listen.

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (7.5/10)

Standout Tracks: All The Love, Punch Drunk, Whatever Works, Sisters and Brothers, Bully