Kanye West Releases Album Bully on YouTube

Kanye West, the rapper and producer known as Ye, released his long-awaited 12th studio album, "Bully," via a live YouTube premiere shortly after midnight on March 26, 2026, capping years of teasers, delays and public anticipation. The project, his first solo studio effort since "Donda" in 2021, follows collaborative releases with Ty Dolla Sign and arrives through West's independent YZY imprint in partnership with the distributor Gamma.

The album's rollout began in earnest the previous day, when West shared a handwritten tracklist of 18 songs on X, formerly Twitter, accompanied by the caption "BULLY ON THE WAY NO AI." The post addressed earlier rumors of artificial intelligence use in production, which West had referenced in 2025 interviews as a songwriting tool similar to Auto-Tune. Associates, including former Yeezy staff, had previously disputed those claims, and the declaration appeared to reassure listeners that the final version relied on traditional methods, with West handling primary production duties.

"Bully" traces its origins to 2024 announcements, initially targeting a June 15, 2025, release tied to West's daughter North's birthday. Subsequent plans shifted to January...