Washington [US], March 20: Kanye West has once again captured headlines with an unexpected album release. The rapper introduced his latest project, Bully, through a 45-minute short film shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
The film features West’s son, Saint West, in a wrestling ring, battling multiple opponents wielding a toy mallet. The entire album serves as the film’s soundtrack.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, West initially shared three different versions of the album, but by Wednesday morning, only one remained accessible. This unconventional release follows West’s history of non-traditional album drops, including Donda 2, which was available exclusively through the costly Stem Player device in 2022, alienating a portion of his fanbase.
However, Bully arrives amid ongoing controversy. Over the past week, West has made inflammatory remarks about fellow artists, including Tyler, the Creator and Kendrick Lamar. He also directed insults at Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and their families.
His controversial actions have extended beyond social media. In February, he used a Super Bowl commercial to promote his website, where the only product for sale was a T-shirt featuring a swastika, sparking widespread outrage.
The backlash has been swift, with prominent figures in the music industry speaking out. Lyor Cohen, former Def Jam executive and current global head of music at YouTube, publicly condemned West’s behavior in an open letter.
“I am deeply disappointed and troubled by your recent actions involving the use of Nazi symbols and antisemitic rhetoric,” Cohen wrote, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “Your words and actions are not only offensive but triggering to all decent people who recognize the horrors of the Holocaust and the suffering of millions.”