Kanye West Denies AI Use on New Album ‘Bully’ After Previous Claims

A Shift in Stance: Kanye West Reasserts “No AI” on ‘Bully’

Kanye West has directly addressed recent speculation surrounding the production of his forthcoming album, Bully, stating emphatically that the project was created “NO AI.” The rapper shared a 13-song tracklist on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday, March 25, alongside the declaration, signaling a reversal of comments made late last year. The tracklist includes previously previewed songs like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Preacher Man,” offering fans a first official look at the album’s structure.

This latest statement arrives after West discussed incorporating artificial intelligence into his creative process during an interview with Justin Laboy in 2023. At the time, he likened using AI to his adoption of Auto-Tune, framing it as a tool rather than a replacement for human artistry. He even demonstrated using the platform Audimee, which allows for vocal manipulation using AI, during the conversation. West explained his vision for AI in music, stating, “It’s time for me to explain to people the power of AI in music,” and detailing how he could isolate individual elements of songs for his engineers.

From Tool to Exclusion: A Contradictory Narrative

The shift in West’s position is further complicated by statements from members of his inner circle. Following the Laboy interview, music manager Peter Jideonwo and former Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos both asserted that Bully would not include any AI-generated elements. These earlier assurances, combined with West’s initial embrace of the technology, create a somewhat fractured narrative around the album’s creation.

West first began teasing Bully in September 2024, previewing “Beauty and the Beast” during a performance in Haikou, China. In 2025, he released a short film, Bully V1, on X, featuring his son Saint West and incorporating portions of the tracklist now officially revealed. The album was initially slated for a March 20 release via Gamma, an independent music company, but that date passed without a drop.

A Tumultuous Period for the Artist

The two years leading up to Bully’s anticipated release have been marked by significant controversy for West. In late 2024, he faced accusations of sexual assault and sexual battery in separate lawsuits. Early 2025 saw a series of concerning posts on X, where West expressed antisemitic and racist views.

In January 2026, West published a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, offering an apology for his past behavior. He attributed his actions to bipolar disorder and a frontal-lobe injury sustained in a 2002 car accident, stating that the injury had not been “properly diagnosed” until 2023. “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness,” he wrote. “I write today simply to inquire for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”

The ‘Miseducation’ Comparison and Creative Ambitions

Beyond the AI debate, West has also positioned Bully as a deeply personal and ambitious project. He recently compared the album to Lauryn Hill’s seminal 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, suggesting a similar level of artistic and emotional weight. This comparison signals a potential return to more introspective and lyrically focused songwriting, a hallmark of Hill’s operate.

What’s Next for ‘Bully’?

As of March 26, 2026, a firm release date for Bully remains unconfirmed. While the album was initially scheduled for March 20th, no new date has been announced. The release of the tracklist, however, suggests that a launch is imminent. Industry observers will be watching closely to see how Gamma, the independent music company distributing the album, plans its rollout strategy, particularly given the recent controversies surrounding West and the shifting narrative around the album’s production. The question now is not *if* Bully will arrive, but *when*, and whether it can recapture the cultural conversation after a period of intense scrutiny.