Ye wants to forego AI for BULLY. But previous statements tell a different story.
Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has released the tracklist for his upcoming album BULLY, emphasizing that it uses “no AI.”
The announcement was made on March 25 via his X account, where he shared the full song list and added the terse comment, “BULLY ON THE WAY NO AI.”
Conflicting statements about AI use
The new work includes 18 tracks, including previously teased tracks like “Preacher Man” and “Beauty And The Beast”. Other titles include “All The Love,” “Father,” “Whatever Works” and “Circles.”
With his statement that he would forego artificial intelligence, Ye contradicts his own previous statements. In an interview with US presenter Justin Laboy in 2025, he explained that he would use AI in his creative process in a similar way to how he once used Auto-Tune – as a tool to expand musical possibilities. At the time, observers even suspected the use of the Audimee platform, which enables AI-supported voice changing without licensing problems.
However, close confidants rejected this representation: both ex-Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos and manager Peter Jideonwo explained that BULLY does not contain any AI elements.
Delayed release and planned live performances
BULLY was originally announced two years ago and was scheduled to be released on March 20th. A specific release date is still pending. At the same time, Ye announced an LP launch show in Los Angeles for April 3rd as well as several European dates for 2026. It would be his first headlining appearances in Europe in over a decade. Already in 2016 he had to cancel the European dates of his “Saint Pablo” tour.
There was also criticism musically: at the Rolling Loud Festival 2024, Ye was accused of hardly having actively performed when he appeared together with Ty Dolla $ign.
The big problem: Ye himself
In addition to his (equally problematic) music, Ye has been making headlines for years, primarily through controversial statements and actions. His repeated use of anti-Semitic statements is viewed particularly critically. At the beginning of 2025, he withdrew an earlier apology to the Jewish community and at times described himself as a “Nazi” before qualifying this statement a few days later.
The criticism intensified when content related to National Socialist symbolism appeared again on his social media channels shortly afterwards. Organizations such as the Dutch anti-anti-Semitism initiative CIDI then expressed “deep concern” about planned concerts in Europe.
Already in November 2025, Ye apologized for previous statements at a meeting with a rabbi. However, in January 2026, he publicly stated that this apology was not related to his album or an image correction. At the same time, he spoke again about his diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1, which he had previously put into perspective.
