Kanye West has revealed key details about his upcoming 11th solo album, Bully, including its release date, creative direction, and AI involvement.
During a recent interview with Justin Laboy, Ye confirmed that Bully will drop on June 15, 2025, which is his daughter North West’s birthday. North, who is a big fan of her father’s 2013 album Yeezus, influenced the decision.
The album’s title was inspired by Kanye’s son Saint, who appears on the cover. Ye explained that Saint’s playful behavior—kicking another child while playing—led to the name Bully.
AI-Driven Production and Solo Effort
Kanye also discussed AI’s role in music, comparing it to the early days of Auto-Tune, which was initially rejected by critics but later embraced. He hinted at using AI tools in Bully, particularly in isolating and reconstructing vocals and samples.
“People are like, ‘Stay away from AI.’ It’s a more negative reaction than Auto-Tune. But as an artist, I can take anything. I can sell a piece of shit for $10 million.”
Despite past collaborations, Ye intends to produce Bully entirely by himself, marking a return to his College Dropout-era approach. Journalist Touré previously reported that Kanye has been living in Tokyo, working on the album alone in a hotel to maintain complete creative control.
However, Mike Dean, his longtime producer and engineer, will be involved. Kanye confirmed this during the interview, saying:
“We about to ye-zy.”
What’s Next?
While Kanye hasn’t released an official single from Bully yet, he has been teasing multiple tracks. The full Justin Laboy interview will soon be available on The Download podcast, potentially offering even more insights into the album.
This marks Ye’s first solo project since Donda (2021), and given his bold approach to production and AI experimentation, Bully is shaping up to be one of his most intriguing releases yet.
