Kanye West’s new album Bully - Deluxe version came out on June 19, 2026, and it feels like a mixed bag. This is a longer version of the album with two new songs added, “OK” with Don Toliver and “MISSION CONTROL”, plus a nice surprise where Ms. Lauryn Hill joins “I CAN’T WAIT” after her SoFi Stadium show earlier this year. Her part on the chorus is beautiful and one of the best moments on the whole album.
The good parts
The album has some strong tracks that remind people of old Kanye. Songs like “KING”, “PUNCH DRUNK”, “WHATEVER WORKS”, and “PREACHER MAN” show him still putting in real effort, with “PREACHER MAN” having one of the better vocal deliveries and beats on the record. The rapping itself is not bad either. Kanye actually finishes his verses this time and does not leave gaps like he did on some of his more recent, unfinished sounding projects.
There were rumors before release that parts of the album used AI vocals, but the deluxe version feels more human. This is a good change, because when an artist uses AI to sound like himself instead of actually singing or rapping it, it feels fake and takes away trust from the listener.
The weak parts
The biggest problem is that the album plays it too safe. A lot of songs sound like Kanye trying to remind everyone of his old hits from albums like Graduation or College Dropout, instead of doing something new. It comes across less like real creativity and more like nostalgia used to cover up recent controversy. The features also do not add much. Travis Scott’s verse on “FATHER” is just okay, Don Toliver barely stands out, and the Peso Pluma moment on “LAST BREATH” feels forced rather than natural. CeeLo Green shouting on the title track “BULLY” also does not land well.
Because of this, many songs start fine but do not really go anywhere special. They just kind of end without building to something bigger.
Final thoughts
Bully - Deluxe is not a bad album, but it is also far from Kanye’s best work. It shows flashes of the old magic, especially with Lauryn Hill’s addition and a few solid solo tracks, but too much of it leans on comfort and nostalgia instead of pushing forward. It’s a listenable record, just not a very memorable one.