By Calder Costantini – Staff Reporter

For years, Kanye West has been the most influential but controversial figure in music. With his new album, “Bully,” he proves that people will still listen when he releases new records. While this album shows sparks of “College Dropout” Kanye, it also shows that Kanye is still relying on his past reputation instead of letting go of his past and producing his genius, influential music. Kanye West released “Bully” on March 28, 2026, marking his 12th studio album since 2004. “Bully” has 18 songs, totaling a 42-minute-long album.

The biggest strength of “Bully” is its sound. Kanye has always had a knack for production, and this album continues the tradition. Many songs feature soulful samples and layered beats, as well as experimental sounds that remind listeners of pre-drama Kanye. Even critics who dislike the entire project give “Bully” its flowers for the over-the-top production style. Songs like “All The Love” and “Preacher Man” highlight Kanye’s ability to create music that feels emotional and unique.

However, great beats don’t always translate into great songs. From the start, it is pretty obvious that Kanye slacks with the lyrics on this project. Kanye touches on controversy, fame, and redemption, but in shallow ways, causing lyrics to sound more unfinished and repetitive than sympathetic and apologetic. For parts of the album, critics describe Kanye as trying to relive his old glory, rather than creating refurbished music. 

Another issue with the album is Kanye’s public image in general. Kanye’s prevalent controversy makes it difficult for listeners to separate the music from the artist. Due to this ongoing controversy, “Bully” feels more like an attempt to win fans back rather than a genuine musical comeback. Off the 18-song project, three songs stand-out for clear fan favorites. “Father”, featuring Travis Scott, is the third song off the record and is a clear fan favorite. The mainstream feature made the song gain traction on the first day. Fans note that the production is easily the best of the album. This is a song about legacy, family, and personal struggles, which is where Kanye strives when making music feel bigger than just a song. The next fan favorite is “All The Love” featuring Andre Troutman. This song brings back the vibe from Graduation, sounding similar to “Power”; it is a certified top hit. Finally, the first song on the album is the obvious fan favorite. Named “King”, this song easily brings back the confident, bold, larger-than-life Kanye West, which fans expect from Kanye. “King” will continue to be one of the small highlights of this project.

Overall, “Bully” is far from a terrible album, but it’s not going to go down as one of Kanye’s best. It reminds fans of the talent that Kanye has, but it’s obvious this isn’t the early 2000’s Kanye anymore. “Bully” is interesting because it asks a very good question: Can Kanye backtrack and come back to music completely as himself?