Ye season is here. Following a polarizing promotional campaign, Kanye West rolled out his highly-anticipated eighth solo album ye to streaming services on Friday morning (June 1).
The G.O.O.D. Music boss digs deep on the 7-track follow-up to 2016’s The Life of Pablo, which includes appearances from Kid Cudi, Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, Young Thug, Charlie Wilson, 070 Shake, DeJ Loaf, Francis and the Lights, and Nicki Minaj, who delivers some words on the closer “Violent Crimes.”
West opens up about suicide (“I Thought About Killing You”), marital issues (“Wouldn’t Leave”), and pop culture (“I could have a Naomi Campbell and still might want me a Stormy Daniels”). He also addresses his controversial comments about slavery (“They said build your own, I said, ‘How, Sway?’ / I said slavery’s a choice, they said, ‘How, Ye?’ / Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day”).
West premiered the album during a livestreamed listening event in the middle of a field near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he recorded the project. Chris Rock introduced the album, while Kim Kardashian, Nas, 2 Chainz, Pusha-T, Big Sean, Fabolous, Jonah Hill, Teyana Taylor, Lil Yachty, and more were on hand.
The cover art, which was shot in Wyoming and features the scrawled words “I hate being Bi-Polar its awesome,” was captured by West on his iPhone on the way to the album listening.
Stream ye below.