Kanye West is known for his punctuality or lack thereof. This was evident at the debut of “Vultures,” his much-anticipated collaborative album with Ty Dolla Sign as ¥$.
Only a day after an impromptu preview at a Jamaican restaurant in Miami, he commandeered Wynwood Marketplace for the Vultures Rave, initially set for midnight.
However, the spotlight fell on West and Ty nearly two-and-a-half hours later. Technical issues delayed their performance, primarily due to struggles connecting West’s phone to the audio system.
Meanwhile, online viewers experienced the chaos through a glitchy YouTube stream that repeatedly restarted before the broadcast.
Admission tickets were priced at $200 for general entry, $600 for VIP access, and a steep $10,000 for a table for those attending the event.
Fans and viewers who stayed tuned witnessed an exclusive showcase of approximately ten tracks from the forthcoming project set to drop this Friday.
To enhance the experience, the duo enlisted the support of the album’s featured artists, including Chris Brown, Offset, Kodak Black, Lil Durk, Bump J, Freddie Gibbs, and even West’s daughter, North, gracing the stage alongside them. (Unfortunately, those anticipating a Playboi Carti appearance were disappointed as his plane didn’t make it in time.)
This preview provided a clearer glimpse into the snippets that have recently surfaced, revealing the raw and unfinished nature of the tracks.
Followers of West might have recognized the opening track “Everybody,” teased on social media the prior week, incorporating an interpolation of Backstreet Boys’ 1997 hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”
However, instead of sampling the boy band, the song boasts a recreated chorus featuring Charlie Wilson, collaborating with West, Ty, and Lil Baby on the track.
North, West’s daughter, showcased her budding rap skills on “Slide,” joining her father and Ty in a verse that sampled James Blake’s work. “It’s gonna get messy, just bless me bless me / It’s your bestie, miss miss Westie,” she confidently rapped.
Kim Kardashian also appeared, standing with their children and ensuring the stage was clear before the performance commenced. Meanwhile, social media viewers caught Saint performing IShowSpeed’s Sui dance.
“Vultures” presents a coherent sonic theme characterized by plucking synth bass notes and an energetic tempo. West and Ty intentionally create room for the array of featured artists, which includes Nicki Minaj dropping a verse on the long-awaited final version of “New Body.”
Additionally, Gibbs delivers a captivating guest performance on “Back to Me,” a track produced by West’s longtime collaborator, 88-Keys.
In a clever move, they incorporate a snippet from the film “Dogma,” where co-star Jason Mewes remarks, “Beautiful, big-tittied women don’t just fall out of the sky, you know,” a line that West echoes throughout the song.
“Paid” incorporates elements of house music, while “Beg Forgiveness” predominantly features Chris Brown. “River” pays tribute to Young Thug, who’s currently embroiled in a trial and contributes to the track.
Ty concludes the song with an interpolation of Leon Bridges’ eponymous track.
Known for stirring controversy, West faced criticism for a snippet from “Vultures” containing a line that sparked accusations of antisemitism: “How I’m antisemitic, I just fucked a Jewish bitch.”
This line added to a series of contentious remarks over the past year, and West didn’t avoid addressing it. During the performance, he heightened tensions by wearing a black Klansman hat, pausing at the song’s end to fixate on the audience.
The event, more of a display than a complete performance, abruptly concluded as the clock struck 3 a.m. in Miami. The venue silenced the speakers, but West seized the opportunity to reiterate the controversial line from “Vultures” over the microphone.
West navigated through the crowd as the audience dispersed, seemingly content with the reaction he’d provoked.
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