The decade-long evolution of a 'finished' album that feels unfinished
In short: Vultures 2 is the result of a ten-year recording odyssey. From 2014 sessions to 2024 releases, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have crafted a project defined by its raw, demotape aesthetic—a deliberate choice that challenges the polished standards of modern streaming.
Vultures 2 represents a marathon of creative persistence. While released in August 2024, the recording process for tracks like 'Can U Be' began as early as 2014—a full decade before the final product hit ears. Other core components emerged from various eras: 'Sky City' dates back to 2018 sessions, while '530' was part of a 2022 demo project. This timeline reveals an album built from fragments of West’s previous projects, including leaks and previews that circulated for years before being finalized. The track 'Sky City' underwent structural changes from its original leaked version. West also revealed a trilogy plan in early 2024. This series included the first installment on February 10.
The aesthetic is intentionally unrefined. Critics have noted the album's 'unfinished sound,' comparing it to demotapes rather than polished studio productions. This raw style incorporates a wide range of genres—hip-hop, R&B, house, trap, and avant-garde—while utilizing prominent synths and cinematic sounds like the THX 'Deep Note.' Notably, West has been accused of using artificial intelligence for certain vocal performances, adding a layer of technological ambiguity to the human-led production.
Beyond the sound, the project serves as a narrative of defiance against industry structures. West portrays himself as a victim of cancel culture and the music industry, even expressing his belief that streaming services 'devalue' art by allowing corporations to control artists. This philosophy led to initial plans to sell the album exclusively on his website for $20, aiming to bypass traditional platforms in favor of a direct-to-fan model. West even suggested he could reach one million sales with just five percent of his Instagram followers. He argued that streaming is essentially piracy. The duo held international listening events to preview these new sounds.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Vultures 2
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