Vultures by Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign (ft Lil Durk & Bump J)

As of the writing of this article, Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign are reportedly on the verge of dropping a joint album. Considering that they’re both A listers in the world of hip-hop and Kanye especially is popular in general, said project is considered big news. 

But the announcement is made more notable by the fact that West was recently cancelled, at least as much as he reasonably could be, due to making statements and expressing sentiments that have been deemed anti-Semitic. In fact Vultures, which came out on 17 November 2023, marks his first musical release since being cancelled circa the conclusion of 2022.

That fact is made even more notable when, in his own special way, Yeezus actually acknowledges it in the song. He does so by arguing that he is not “anti-Semitic” since, after all, he “just f*-ked a Jewish b*tch”. 

It is not clear which “b*tch” he may be referring to since the woman who’s currently recognized as his wife, Bianca Censori, is not Jewish and neither is his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. 

Meanwhile, Yeezus recently presented himself as someone who is not privy to having sex outside of wedlock. But according to Vultures, he obviously has done so. And needless to say, this definitely isn’t the most-tactful way of assuring the world that he isn’t an anti-Semite.

The tastelessness continues when, also during his verse, Kanye claims to have “just f*-ked Scooter’s b*tch”.  Said Scooter would apparently be celebrity music manager Scooter Braun who, to note, were once business associates whose relationship didn’t end well.

Yeezy’s verse, in general, centers on the rapper presenting himself as a womanizer and, to a lesser degree, a gunslinger. So Kanye seems to have now shed the Christian façade, if you will, of his two most-recent albums, Donda (2021) and Donda 2 (2022). 

And overall, what we are met with via Vultures is a track along the lines of standard mainstream/gangsta rap. For instance, the title points to Bump J asserting in the first verse that the “hang(s) with the vultures” which, in context, would be a term synonymous with shooters. And relatedly his contribution revolves around depicting himself as a gun-slinging drug dealer.

The second verse is held down by Lil Durk. He also comes off as a gangsta-oriented womanizer, a dude that goes around banging women yet having no interest in forming lasting relationships with them. 

And with that in mind, by the time all is said and done – i.e. also taking into consideration the fourth verse, which is rendered by Ty Dolla Sign – it can be argued that the thesis sentiment of this track revolves around the vocalists’ sexual exploits. 

There are a number of other musings being relayed along the way. But females and the wild ways the homeys enjoy them is a more recurring theme than anything else.

So yes, all things considered it is kinda strange to hear Kanye take this approach. That is to say that in recent years, he appeared to be leaning towards gospel and even, in some instances, family-oriented music. 

But now, it is being reported that his relationship with Bianca Censori may also be on the rocks. So maybe all of this divorcing and stuff is bringing out the playa in him.

Some Quick Facts about Vultures

The four vocalists are individually credited with writing this song.  Kanye West has a previous collaboration histories with all of the other rappers involved, and Ty Dolla Sign has also worked with Lil Durk in the past, though this is his first time teaming up with Bump J.  And to note, Yeezy, Durkio and Bump J all hail from Chicago.  

This track premiered on the aforementioned release date via Chicago-based radio station WPWX Power 92.

Kanye West produced Vultures alongside Wheezy.