This high ranking also comes amid issues leading up to and following the album's decline on February 10th, when the album (Ye's first since her rant against Jews in late 2022) contained unauthorized samples of other artists. This was achieved despite accusations that it was being used.
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West initially announced the album would be released in December, but the release was postponed multiple times amid reports of Ye's poor health. trouble Obtain permission to sample and use Backstreet Boys songs Contains two Nicki Minaj verses. In the end, it was not included in the official 16-track album.
After Ye and his collaborator Ty Dolla $ign, under the name ¥$, sampled Vultures at listening parties in Chicago and New York ahead of its release, further challenges arose.
ozzy osbourne wrote on social media He said he denied Ye permission to sample a live performance of 1983's “Iron Man.”
“He went ahead and used the sample anyway at the album listening party last night,” Osbourne continued. “I don't want anything to do with this man!”
Later, Yeh recreated parts of Donna Summer's disco hit song “I Feel Love,'' but was unable to obtain permission, leading to Donna Summer's estate suing Ye for copyright infringement. In response, Spotify removed one of the songs from the new album, “Good (Don't Die).”
And on Thursday, the entire album temporarily disappeared from Apple Music as the music distribution company attempts to remove it from its streaming platform.
Fuga, which was originally approached to distribute Vultures 1, said in a statement late last year that it declined to do so because it was “making a normal business decision.” The company said a “long-time…client” brought the album to the streaming platform in violation of Fuga's service agreement. “Accordingly, FUGA is actively working with our partners and clients to remove 'Vultures 1' from our systems.” FUGA did not respond to a request for comment.
By Thursday evening, multiple news outlets reported that the label Engine, which originally released the album's first two singles, was now in charge of distributing the album.
Despite the failure of the album's release, listeners still streamed “Vultures.” Usher's No. 2 ranking was overshadowed by his latest album, Coming Home, which was released just before his Super Bowl halftime performance. Usher's ninth studio album earned him 91,000 equivalent sales and gave him his highest place on the Album Charts in more than a decade.
When the Grammy-winning artist suddenly descended into public anti-Semitism, Ye's business partners and many former fans turned against him.
Companies such as Balenciaga, Creative Artists Agency, and JPMorgan Chase have posted on social media the message “White Lives Matter” on social media after Ye wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at the 2022 Paris Fashion Week show. The relationship was severed after he posted, “I'm going to do Death Con 3.'' Jewish people. “German sportswear's net worth plummeted after falling out of partnership with Adidas, home of his Yeezy shoe line, which accounted for nearly 10% of his brand's annual revenue.
Last December, Ye apologized for making anti-Semitic comments in a now-deleted Instagram post written in Hebrew.
“We sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for this 'unintentional outburst.' We did not intend to hurt or degrade them, but we deeply regret the pain we have caused,” the post said. “I am committed to learning from this experience, starting with myself, and ensuring greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me and I am committed to making amends and uniting.” We are committed to promoting it.”
When asked about the same remark in a recent TMZ interview, Ye responded: We are Jews. He also said that he “survived the cancellation” thanks to his own skills and fan base, and wondered if his work would be removed from streaming platforms because they pay artists less. He dismissed the concerns.
“Vulture” also didn't apologize much. In the title track, Ye asks how she can be anti-Semitic when she has had sex with Jewish women, and in the song “Stars” she says that she “currently has several Jews on staff.” I have it,” he said.
