Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have once again joined forces to release their new collaborative album Vultures 2, marking the second installment of their Vultures series. The album, which dropped on August 3, 2024, features an impressive lineup of guest artists including Young Thug, 070 Shake, Future, Playboi Carti, Kodak Black, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, and two of West’s children, North and Chicago.
The release of Vultures 2 comes after the success of Vultures 1, which was released in February 2024. The first album in the series debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 and spawned the hit single “Carnival,” featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its release.
West and Ty Dolla $ign had been teasing the release of Vultures 2 for several months, even before the first album was released. Initially, West announced that the second and third installments of the series would be released on March 8, 2024, and April 5, 2024, respectively. However, there has been little information about the third installment, and its release date remains uncertain.
In an interview with Hypebeast in March 2024, West mentioned that the Vultures albums would be released independently through his own platforms. However, Vultures 2 has also been made available on major digital streaming platforms, much like its predecessor. West has stated that releasing the albums independently is a way to maintain authenticity, but it also reflects the challenges he has faced in recent years.
West’s decision to release the albums independently follows a series of controversies that led to the loss of several major business partnerships. In 2022, West made headlines for wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt and posting on social media that he wanted to go “death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.” These actions led to the termination of his massive partnership with Adidas, as well as his contract with Creative Arts Agency. West also faced widespread criticism and lost considerable commercial and cultural goodwill.
In response to the backlash, West issued an apology to the Jewish community in late 2022, expressing regret for the pain he may have caused and committing to learning from the experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. While the Anti-Defamation League welcomed the apology, the American Jewish Committee described it as “bizarre and possibly a ploy to gain more attention.” Some analysts speculated that the apology may have been generated using artificial intelligence.
Despite the controversies, Vultures 1 achieved significant commercial success. The album’s debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the chart-topping success of “Carnival” demonstrated West and Ty Dolla $ign’s continued ability to create commercially viable music. The duo also held several listening events for Vultures 1 and headlined Rolling Loud California, further fueling interest in their collaborative work.
Vultures 2 continues the partnership between West and Ty Dolla $ign, building on their history of collaboration. The two artists have previously worked together on tracks such as “FourFiveSeconds,” “Real Friends,” “Fade,” “Ego Death,” “Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2),” and “Everything We Need.” Their combined efforts have consistently blended Ty Dolla $ign’s versatile style with West’s ambitious and often polarizing creative vision.
As the release of Vultures 2 generates buzz, the album’s reception will be closely watched, particularly given the mixed critical response to Vultures 1. Critics were divided on the first album, with some praising its production and guest features, while others criticized its lack of cohesion and West’s controversial public persona overshadowing the music.
With Vultures 2, West and Ty Dolla $ign aim to replicate the commercial success of their previous work while navigating the challenges posed by West’s ongoing controversies. The album’s star-studded lineup and the inclusion of West’s children suggest that the artists are looking to make a statement with this release.
As of now, fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the next move from West and Ty Dolla $ign, with the possibility of a third installment in the Vultures series still looming. Whether Vultures 2 will be able to match or surpass the success of its predecessor remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign continue to be a powerful and intriguing force in the music industry.
