Kanye West stirred controversy once again during a recent listening party for his collaborative album, Vultures Volume 1, with Ty Dolla $ign in Chicago.
The event, broadcasted on various social media platforms, showcased the unveiling of the track Carnival, where Ye’s lyrics drew parallels between himself and contentious male figures such as Bill Cosby and R. Kelly.
In Carnival, Ye’s verse delves into a blend of cultural references and personal assertions, including a request for a “rocketship” from Elon Musk, followed swiftly by allusions to R. Kelly and Bill Cosby:
“This that Game of Thrones, Yeezy not the clones/ Elon, where my rocketship, it’s time to go home/ They served us the corn since the day we was born/ Anybody pissed off, gotta make them drink the urine/ Now, I’m Ye Kelly, bi**h/ Now I’m Bill Cosby, bi**h/ Now I’m Puff Daddy rich.”
These lyrics prompted discussions about the rapper’s controversial statements and actions, including his past comments about Cosby and Kelly. The song also references Diddy and Taylor Swift, further adding to the mix of contentious topics:
“That’s ‘Me Too’ rich/ First she say she suck my d*ck/ Then, she say she ain’t suck my d*ck/ She’ gon take it up the a** like a ventriloquist/ I mean, since Taylor Swift, since I had the Rollie on the wrist/ I’m the new Jesus, bi**h, I turn water into Cris’/ This for what they did to Chris/ They can’t do sh*t with this.”
Ye’s comparison of himself to Jesus Christ, coupled with mentions of pop culture figures, stirred reactions among listeners. The song “Carnival” features a sample of his previous work “Hell of a Life” from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, along with elements of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” setting a dark and intense tone.
During the event, Ye also previewed a track titled “The King,” where he defiantly addresses his critics and controversially labels himself “anti-Semitic.” However, the livestream abruptly ended, leaving fans with anticipation for the release of Vultures Volume 1.
Despite Ye’s plans for a three-volume release of Vultures, the initial installment failed to materialize on the expected date. This delay echoed previous postponements in the album’s release schedule, suggesting a recurring pattern in Ye’s project timelines.
Ye’s provocative lyrics and public statements continue to generate discourse and debate, reflecting the complex persona of one of hip-hop’s most polarizing figures.