Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign double back with “VULTURES 2.”
STREAM
TOP 5 SONGS
5. RIVER (Ft. Charlie Wilson, The Inter Milan Ultras & Young Thug)
Thugger’s verse >.
Young Thug’s verse in “RIVER” is great. His effortless flow over the atmospheric beat, combined with his braggadocious lines, makes it one of the highlights of the album.
After Thug’s standout performance, the track takes a nosedive, with Kanye West dominating a good chunk of it with gibberish. The other contributors (Ty Dolla $ign, Charlie Wilson, and The Inter Milan Ultras) save things (Literally), bringing a church-like sound that provides a much-needed contrast to Kanye’s somewhat ridiculous section.
4. LIFESTYLE (Ft. Lil Wayne)
Listening to Kanye West in 2023 is like watching Klay Thompson play in the NBA today. On the other hand, listening to Lil Wayne in 2023 is like watching LeBron James.
You know what’s sad? The standout element of this song, which features rap verses by Kanye West and Lil Wayne, arguably two of the greatest rappers ever, is the beat. It has this smooth vibe that I enjoy. Wayne’s slick, melodic raps, which are on some Rico Suave s**t, stand out, Kanye West’s infectious chorus is decent, and Ty Dolla $ign’s passionate verse fits the production perfectly. Yet, there’s something about the track that feels incomplete. Also, it drags on a bit, and Kanye’s lengthy, fake heavenly singing toward the end feels unnecessary.
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3. FIELD TRIP (Ft. Don Toliver, Kodak Black & Playboi Carti)
They took Xannys on this field trip, didn’t they?
A lot goes on in “FIELD TRIP.” Don Toliver delivers a psychedelic hook, while Playboi Carti, using his distinct upchuck voice, hits us with a solid verse where he flows well and sounds both war-ready and ready for all types of vajayjay. Toliver and Carti are the standout features of the song.
As for Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, even though it’s their track, they share a brief verse in which they accuse their opps of smoking fentanyl and proclaim that their money looks more like quiche than cheddar (awful punchlines). Their oldhead energy doesn’t quite fit.
Finally, with a beat change that signals his importance on the track, Kodak Black delivers a closing-out verse where he bigs up Herbo and Durk and pays homage to his chick for knowing how to ride things well. I didn’t love his verse, mainly because he sounded out of it on it (When Kodak Black sounds out of it, he’s a hard listen).
This track is entertaining, mainly because of its unpredictable nature.
2. FOREVER ROLLING (Ft. Lil Baby)
When Klay Thompson’s shot is falling >.
Kanye West’s best verse on this album is featured in “FOREVER ROLLING,” and it’s not even close. Over a beat that exudes authentic hip-hop vibes and evokes the same feeling as watching the Wicked Witch cook up some poison, Kanye delivers punchy, aggressive raps about his approach to hoes and the people who were fake to him. To make a long story short, you get the old Kanye here.
Lil Baby and Ty Dolla $ign share a verse, each delivering relentless flows and emphasizing the importance of keeping your inner circle close to your heart. They actually say some real s**t we should all internalize.
This is one of those songs I have zero complaints about.
1. SLIDE
This is the kind of track they listen to at Illuminati office parties, right?
Ty Dolla $ign doesn’t get many opportunities to stand out on this album, but he absolutely does in “SLIDE.” Backed by a mad scientist-like beat oozing with dance vibes, Ty delivers a phenomenal chorus that will easily get stuck in your head. He also hits us with slick lyrics that suggest he’s the kind of guy who puts women on flights when the chemistry is right.
Meanwhile, Kanye West contributes a dapper verse where he talks about potentially committing homicides and underestimating women. Despite the randomness of his lyrics, his verse stands out as one of the best on the album.
SONG-BY-SONG RATING
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RGM RATING
(D+)
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign should’ve let this album stew a little longer…
Has Kanye West ever let us down with his production? The answer is no. VULTURES 2 continues his flawless track record, though not without a few hiccups. While there aren’t many beats that blew me away and some felt like rehashed material, he still delivers a mix of trippy, dance, rage, and traditional hip-hop vibes that I enjoy. Overall, the production is solid and well-crafted, even if it doesn’t always hit the mark.
I got mixed reactions when I said VULTURES 1 was dominated by Kanye West, but I think you’ll agree that VULTURES 2 is a full-on Kanye fest. His thoughts drive the album, he sets the tone for the tracks, and the production aligns with his style. He’s also the only artist with solo tracks. That said, many of his verses fall flat. He often lacks substance and seems to forget how to rap, even though we know he can. His attempts at singing are also pretty poor. I found myself saying thank GOD when I finally heard Ty Dolla $ign show proper respect to the beats, delivering infectious melodies and embodying the R&B bad boy role with finesse.
From Lil Baby to Playboi Carti, each artist helped infuse the rap section of this album with modern vibes and normalcy. One thing I have to commend Kanye West for is his knack for collaborating with artists who either complement his style or benefit from his influence. Every feature on the album serves a meaningful purpose.
VULTURES 2 feels similar to DONDA 2: rushed, incomplete, and brimming with unrealized potential. As a fan of Kanye West, I found some moments to enjoy, especially in terms of production. However, I have to be honest—Kanye’s verses are largely basura. If this is the direction his music is heading, I might start supporting his retirement. Kudos to Ty and all the guests for hitting three-pointers when Kanye was missing shots.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
This Post Has 4 Comments
It feels like Ty was trying his very best while it felt like ye was just trolling. I struggled to get through Kanye’s verses but ty carried. Great review I agree with most of the takes but I’m not a fan of lifestyle because of the chorus and the end of forever rolling where Kanye’s ranting about Drake Future and Lil baby.
I 100 percent agree with your thoughts. Ty sounded great, and Kanye just lollygagged. Kanye’s gibberish destroyed most of the tracks, but those two were notable ones I can say I enjoyed. Thanks for reading!
Yea after a few relistens I have started to like the album a lot more, my favorite songs being SLIDE, FIELD TRIP, PROMOTION, RIVER, DEAD, and FOREVER ROLLING. In my opinion Kanye shouldn’t have released this project bc it sounds unfinished and I completely agree with your grade. Thanks for the reviews they are rly helpful!
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