BULLY - Ye Album Review

“Just say it out loud, just to see how it feels.” This line from the rapper formerly known as Kanye West’s 2018 self-titled album, ye, has only become more germane as the years have gone by.

Ye has been “saying it out loud” for over two decades–he’s built a career out of it. In recent years, however, incendiary comments that may have started as bold and outspoken have spiraled into endlessly hateful, antisemitic, racist, homophobic, and ableist rhetoric.

As a longtime listener of Ye’s music, I found this behavior deplorable and disgusting. I even found the decision to review this latest album release to be a difficult one.

However, in January of 2026, Ye returned to the public eye with an apology, attributing some of his behavior to a manic bipolar episode, and denouncing his hateful words and actions. He has allegedly committed himself to making amends and “earning forgiveness” through change.

Regardless of whether you believe he deserves forgiveness, Ye has returned, repositioning himself in the Hip Hop genre and making a statement with BULLY, his first solo outing since 2021’s Donda.

Ye turns back the clock on this project, embracing almost every style of sound he’s created throughout his career. On songs like “PUNCH DRUNK” and “WHATEVER WORKS,” Ye harkens back to the “chipmunk soul” sampling style he developed on his debut album, The College Dropout.

Meanwhile, on another track, “FATHER,” he maintains the sample-heavy approach but with a faster-paced, industrial sound akin to his work on Yeezus. Ye and Travis Scott each deliver energized verses on this track, making for a definite high point on this project.

This album showcases many sides of Ye throughout its runtime. The titular track, “BULLY,” sees Ye at his most arrogant, redeclaring himself as a god, and reinforcing his mission to speak out against a system that seeks to contain and control him. The intimidating growl of the guitar, coupled with dramatic orchestral stings, makes this instrumental sound like a horror movie soundtrack.

Meanwhile, on “MAMA’S FAVORITE,” Ye shows a much more vulnerable side of himself, reminiscing on the memories of his upbringing and how far he’s come. The track concludes with a sampled outro of Ye’s late mother, Donda West, speaking to her son, praising his talent, drive, and outlook on life. It’s an emotional moment on the album and marks yet another beautiful tribute to Donda within Ye’s catalog.

Throughout his discography, the production of Ye’s albums has consistently been of a high quality. BULLY is no different, showcasing an eclectic mix of samples and instrumentation. The beat of the track “I CAN’T WAIT” contains one of the most satisfying sample flips Ye has performed in years.

Much of this album’s content conveys a theme of “moving forward” and “putting the past behind.” One of the strongest examples of this is my personal favorite track, “ALL THE LOVE,” which repeats the lyrics: “We don’t have to worry, and we don’t have to hold on to pain we left behind. Wounds get healed with time.”

These lyrics, when contextualized, act as a sort of thesis for the whole album, acknowledging the many years of controversy, as well as Ye’s apparent newfound declaration to move forward with remorse, atonement, and love.

Even 22 years after his debut, Ye is still finding ways to innovate, experimenting with new styles and soundscapes. There were some artistic risks taken on this album, one example being the track “LAST BREATH,” which features Ye delivering a rap verse in Spanish for the first time within his discography.

Being his first solo project in years, and following immense controversy, BULLY was poised as an opportunity for Ye to prove why he should remain a relevant figure in the world of music. It seems that he was up for the challenge, considering BULLY debuted at #2 on Billboard 200, dominated streaming platforms, and sold over 150 thousand units in its first week.

This album feels very much like the musical equivalent of someone attempting to start fresh and get back on their feet. Still, there is undoubtedly much action to be taken in terms of Ye making amends for his actions and repairing his public image. As far as the music goes, however, BULLY feels like a step in the right direction.

James King is a third-year student studying telecommunications and media industries. To contact them, please email jak6937@psu.edu.