Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2: A Chaotic Anthem for Hip Hop’s Rebel Soul in 2025
A Defiant Return to the Throne
In the heart of hip hop’s ever-evolving saga, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, as the supergroup ¥$, dropped Vultures 2 on August 3, 2024, a surprise sequel to their chart-topping Vultures 1. If Vultures 1 was Kanye’s middle finger to cancel culture, Vultures 2 is a raw, unpolished war cry—equal parts genius, chaos, and controversy. For fans vibing to trap, producers chasing innovative beats, and MCs hungry for cultural fuel, this album is a lightning rod. It’s messy, bold, and undeniably Kanye, reflecting hip hop’s rebel spirit in 2025. Let’s dive into why Vultures 2 is both a cultural milestone and a flawed masterpiece, shaking the game from Compton to Brooklyn.
The Sound: A Gritty Collage of Hip Hop’s Past and Future
Vultures 2 is a sonic rollercoaster, blending hip hop, R&B, house, and trap with avant-garde flourishes. The opener, “Slide,” sets the tone with a THX Deep Note-inspired wall of sound, echoing Dr. Dre’s 2001 cinematic swagger. Ty Dolla $ign’s silky croon glides over murky synths, while Kanye’s bars—though inconsistent—carry his signature bravado. Tracks like “Forever Rolling” flex grand, gloomy production, with clattering drums and Lil Baby’s sharp assist. “River,” sampling Leon Bridges, channels Young Thug’s harmonized cries for freedom, tying the album to hip hop’s tradition of voicing struggle.
Yet, the album’s polish is its Achilles’ heel. Critics have slammed its unfinished sound—muddy mixes, demo-like verses, and alleged AI vocals in tracks like “Sky City.” “530,” a Donda 2 leftover, feels like a leaked voicemail to Kim Kardashian, with slurred lines and raw pain. While some hear authenticity in this chaos, others call it lazy, a far cry from Kanye’s College Dropout precision. For producers, the beats still spark inspiration, but the unmastered vibe might frustrate purists chasing clean mixes.
Cultural Impact: Kanye’s Victim Narrative vs. Hip Hop’s Resilience
Vultures 2 isn’t just music—it’s a cultural statement. Kanye casts himself as hip hop’s ultimate victim, railing against Adidas (“My Soul”), Drake’s chart reign (“530”), and his divorce (“Husband”). This self-pity clashes with the album’s brash energy, reflecting a divided Kanye: the wounded ego of The College Dropout meets the nihilist provocateur of 2025. Ty Dolla $ign, the album’s anchor, balances Kanye’s chaos with soulful hooks and consistent performances, proving he’s this era’s Nate Dogg.
The album’s themes—women, money, freedom, and redemption—tap into hip hop’s core. “My Soul,” featuring Big TC, Ty’s incarcerated brother, and “River,” shouting out Larry Hoover, nod to the genre’s fight against systemic injustice. Yet, Kanye’s misogynistic bars, like those in “530,” draw fire for being dated and crude. In 2025, with hip hop embracing inclusivity via artists like Ice Spice, these lyrics feel like a step back, alienating fans who crave progress.
Guest features add cultural weight. North and Chicago West shine on “Bomb,” a playful Jersey club banger with bilingual raps, showing hip hop’s nepotism trend (think Drake’s Adonis). Future, Lil Wayne, and Playboi Carti bring star power, but their verses often outshine Kanye’s. The album’s rawness mirrors hip hop’s DIY roots, yet its controversies—uncleared samples (Portishead’s “Machine Gun” in “Field Trip”) and Kanye’s antisemitic shadow—complicate its legacy.
For Hip Hop Heads
For fans, Vultures 2 is a love-hate affair. Tracks like “Fried” and “Lifestyle” deliver club-ready energy, perfect for 2025 playlists. Producers will dig the experimental synths and trap drums, though the mixing issues demand patience. MCs might find Kanye’s wordplay lackluster but Ty’s melodies inspiring. The album’s cultural narrative—resilience amid chaos—resonates with hip hop’s underdog ethos, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts tracing the genre’s evolution.
The Verdict: A Flawed Rebel’s Roar
Vultures 2 is Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign at their most polarizing. It’s not My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but it’s not a throwaway either. Its highs—“Slide,” “River,” “Forever Rolling”—rival Kanye’s best, while its lows—“530,” “Promotion”—feel like rushed demos. In 2025, with trap and drill dominating, Vultures 2 stands as a defiant artifact, blending hip hop’s past (soul samples, boom bap echoes) with its future (Jersey club, AI experiments). For better or worse, it’s Kanye’s unfiltered soul laid bare.
Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2
Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2 is a chaotic hip hop epic. Read our 2025 review for its cultural impact and raw energy! #Vultures2 #HipHop
5/19/20256 min read
A Defiant Return to the Throne
In the heart of hip hop’s ever-evolving saga, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, as the supergroup ¥$, dropped Vultures 2 on August 3, 2024, a surprise sequel to their chart-topping Vultures 1. If Vultures 1 was Kanye’s middle finger to cancel culture, Vultures 2 is a raw, unpolished war cry—equal parts genius, chaos, and controversy. For fans vibing to trap, producers chasing innovative beats, and MCs hungry for cultural fuel, this album is a lightning rod. It’s messy, bold, and undeniably Kanye, reflecting hip hop’s rebel spirit in 2025. Let’s dive into why Vultures 2 is both a cultural milestone and a flawed masterpiece, shaking the game from Compton to Brooklyn.
The Sound: A Gritty Collage of Hip Hop’s Past and Future
Vultures 2 is a sonic rollercoaster, blending hip hop, R&B, house, and trap with avant-garde flourishes. The opener, “Slide,” sets the tone with a THX Deep Note-inspired wall of sound, echoing Dr. Dre’s 2001 cinematic swagger. Ty Dolla $ign’s silky croon glides over murky synths, while Kanye’s bars—though inconsistent—carry his signature bravado. Tracks like “Forever Rolling” flex grand, gloomy production, with clattering drums and Lil Baby’s sharp assist. “River,” sampling Leon Bridges, channels Young Thug’s harmonized cries for freedom, tying the album to hip hop’s tradition of voicing struggle.
Yet, the album’s polish is its Achilles’ heel. Critics have slammed its unfinished sound—muddy mixes, demo-like verses, and alleged AI vocals in tracks like “Sky City.” “530,” a Donda 2 leftover, feels like a leaked voicemail to Kim Kardashian, with slurred lines and raw pain. While some hear authenticity in this chaos, others call it lazy, a far cry from Kanye’s College Dropout precision. For producers, the beats still spark inspiration, but the unmastered vibe might frustrate purists chasing clean mixes.
Cultural Impact: Kanye’s Victim Narrative vs. Hip Hop’s Resilience
Vultures 2 isn’t just music—it’s a cultural statement. Kanye casts himself as hip hop’s ultimate victim, railing against Adidas (“My Soul”), Drake’s chart reign (“530”), and his divorce (“Husband”). This self-pity clashes with the album’s brash energy, reflecting a divided Kanye: the wounded ego of The College Dropout meets the nihilist provocateur of 2025. Ty Dolla $ign, the album’s anchor, balances Kanye’s chaos with soulful hooks and consistent performances, proving he’s this era’s Nate Dogg.
The album’s themes—women, money, freedom, and redemption—tap into hip hop’s core. “My Soul,” featuring Big TC, Ty’s incarcerated brother, and “River,” shouting out Larry Hoover, nod to the genre’s fight against systemic injustice. Yet, Kanye’s misogynistic bars, like those in “530,” draw fire for being dated and crude. In 2025, with hip hop embracing inclusivity via artists like Ice Spice, these lyrics feel like a step back, alienating fans who crave progress.
Guest features add cultural weight. North and Chicago West shine on “Bomb,” a playful Jersey club banger with bilingual raps, showing hip hop’s nepotism trend (think Drake’s Adonis). Future, Lil Wayne, and Playboi Carti bring star power, but their verses often outshine Kanye’s. The album’s rawness mirrors hip hop’s DIY roots, yet its controversies—uncleared samples (Portishead’s “Machine Gun” in “Field Trip”) and Kanye’s antisemitic shadow—complicate its legacy.
For Hip Hop Heads
For fans, Vultures 2 is a love-hate affair. Tracks like “Fried” and “Lifestyle” deliver club-ready energy, perfect for 2025 playlists. Producers will dig the experimental synths and trap drums, though the mixing issues demand patience. MCs might find Kanye’s wordplay lackluster but Ty’s melodies inspiring. The album’s cultural narrative—resilience amid chaos—resonates with hip hop’s underdog ethos, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts tracing the genre’s evolution.
The Verdict: A Flawed Rebel’s Roar
Vultures 2 is Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign at their most polarizing. It’s not My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but it’s not a throwaway either. Its highs—“Slide,” “River,” “Forever Rolling”—rival Kanye’s best, while its lows—“530,” “Promotion”—feel like rushed demos. In 2025, with trap and drill dominating, Vultures 2 stands as a defiant artifact, blending hip hop’s past (soul samples, boom bap echoes) with its future (Jersey club, AI experiments). For better or worse, it’s Kanye’s unfiltered soul laid bare.
Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2: A Chaotic Anthem for Hip Hop’s Rebel Soul in 2025
