The rapper credits perseverance for making BULLY‘s success feel different.

Commercial success has never seemed to affect Ye quite like BULLY has.

During the Urban One Summit, Ye called in to thank supporters after the album climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and claimed the top spot on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts. He admitted those achievements felt bigger than the victories he celebrated during the Graduation era because they followed one of the most difficult mental health periods of his life.

Released through gamma on March 28, BULLY gave Ye something he has long fought for: ownership of his masters and complete creative control. The project has since accumulated more than 600 million Spotify streams, while gamma CEO Larry Jackson used the summit to celebrate their unconventional partnership.

Songs including “FATHER,” “ALL THE LOVE,” and “PREACHER MAN,” plus appearances from Nine Vicious, Andre Troutman, CeeLo Green, and Travis Scott, helped BULLY debut with 152,000 album-equivalent units. Listening to the album, it never feels forced or manufactured. Instead, it sounds honest and personal. That’s probably why this success appears to mean more to Ye than My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album that, despite its acclaim, never carried quite the same emotional spirit.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.