Kanye West’s new album ‘Vultures‘, a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, has stirred controversy yet again with its bold and contentious lyrics. In one of the tracks titled ‘CARNIVAL’, West draws parallels between himself and two infamous figures, R. Kelly and Bill Cosby, both convicted for their criminal actions related to sexual misconduct. West’s lyrics, “Anybody pissed off, gotta make ’em drink the urine. Now I’m Ye-Kelly, bitch. Now, I’m Bill Cosby, bitch. Now, I’m Puff Daddy rich, that’s ‘#MeToo me’ rich,” have ignited a fresh wave of criticism and debate around the rapper’s intention and the message he aims to convey.
This isn’t West’s first venture into making controversial statements about Cosby. In 2016, he tweeted in defense of Cosby, who was convicted of sexual assault in 2018, though his conviction was later overturned in 2021. R. Kelly, on the other hand, was found guilty in 2023 of several counts related to child pornography and enticing a minor, receiving a 20-year prison sentence to be served concurrently with a previous sentence for racketeering and trafficking.
The album ‘Vultures’ has been marred by controversy, not only for its lyrics but also for West’s decision to use a sample from Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ without permission. Sharon Osbourne’s sharp rebuke to West’s unauthorized use of the sample led to its replacement with a snippet from West’s own song ‘Hell Of A Life’, which legally samples ‘Iron Man’. Additionally, West’s recent conduct, including sharing provocative images of his wife, has been criticized publicly by figures such as System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan, who urged West to “show some class.”
Despite the surrounding controversies, West has hinted at the possibility of a ‘Vultures’ world tour alongside Ty Dolla $ign, suggesting that the rapper continues to forge ahead with his artistic endeavors, undeterred by the backlash.
For those affected by the themes of sexual harassment, assault, and rape, support and information are available through organizations such as Rape Crisis in the UK and RAINN in the US.
