Vultures 1

Vultures 1
Vultures 1
	Album cover for Vultures 1. An earlier version showed West wearing a white hockey mask.
Studio album by ¥$
Released	February 10, 2024
Recorded	2023–2024
Genre	Hip hop; house; R&B; trap;
Length	55:33
Label	YZY
Producer	Ye; Ty Dolla Sign; 88-Keys; Adey; Ambezza; Anthony Kilhoffer; AyoAA; Azul; Bbykobe; Chad Hugo; Chordz; Chrishan; Cubeatz; Dez Wright; DTP; Digital Nas; DJ Camper; Edsclusive; Feez; FnZ; Fya Man; Gustave Rudman Rambali; Hubi; James Alex Hau; James Blake; Jasper Harris; Johnny Goldstein; JPEGMafia; Juice; Kaytranada; KSJ Beats; the Legendary Traxster; Leon Thomas III; Lester Nowhere; London on da Track; Mustard; Nic Nac; No I.D.; Ojivolta; Rissi; Shdøw; Slonka; Stryv; Swizz Beatz; TheLabCook; Timbaland; Veyis; Vinnyforgood; Vitals; Wax Motif; Wheezy; will.i.am;
¥$ chronology
Kanye West chronology
Ty Dolla Sign chronology
Original cover
	Cover originally promoted and seen on the album's pre-release page on Apple Music; this is still used for the Vultures Pack compilation EP.
Singles from Vultures 1
	"Vultures"; Released: November 22, 2023; "Talking / Once Again"; Released: February 9, 2024; "Carnival"; Released: February 15, 2024;

Vultures 1 is the debut studio album by American hip hop supergroup ¥$, composed of rapper Kanye West and singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released independently by West's YZY brand on February 10, 2024, commemorating the 20th anniversary of West's debut studio album, The College Dropout. Guest appearances include India Love, North West, Freddie Gibbs, Mike Tyson, YG, Nipsey Hussle, Quavo, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Bump J, Lil Durk, Rich the Kid, and Chris Brown. Production was primarily handled by West himself, alongside Digital Nas, the Legendary Traxster, 88-Keys, JPEGMafia, DJ Camper, Chrishan, Ojivolta, Anthony Kilhoffer, Timbaland, No I.D., Swizz Beatz, Wheezy, and others.

West and Ty Dolla Sign began recording the album with collaborators in Italy in October 2023, then relocated to Saudi Arabia for three months. It sustained multiple delays and changes to the tracklist before release, following West's struggle to secure a distributor. The release was first teased throughout late 2023 under the placeholder title ¥$ and was set to be titled Vultures before being retitled to Vultures 1 as the first volume in an album series. The tracks "Everybody" and "New Body" were announced for the album, but were not able to be included due to clearance issues. West and Ty Dolla Sign previewed tracks at the Vultures Rave listening party in December 2023, two months before holding numerous public events in Chicago, New York, and Milan. The album was initially distributed using the FUGA distribution platform, allegedly in violation of FUGA's service agreement, and a withdrawal was made from streaming services on February 15, 2024. However, it was then re-distributed by Label Engine the same day.

In contrast to West's previous two albums, Jesus Is King (2019) and Donda (2021), Vultures 1 finds him forgoing religious themes and addressing his preceding controversies, as well as themes of money, relationships, sex, and fame. It also sees him returning to an explicit tracklist, with his previous two albums only featuring tracks with censored lyrics. The cover art shows West dressed in all-black with his hockey mask, joined by his partner Bianca Censori. The title track was issued as the album's lead single in November 2023, followed three months later by "Talking / Once Again" and "Carnival", the latter of which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Music videos were produced for all of the singles, with a new version of "Vultures" produced by Havoc being used for the first of its visuals.

Released in the wake of West's antisemitic comments, Vultures 1 received mixed reviews from music critics, many of whom criticized its unoriginality and lyrics regarding the matter—as well as his other controversies. However, some complimented the production and Ty Dolla Sign's contributions. The album marked West's 11th consecutive number-one debut on the US Billboard 200, breaking his tie with Eminem. It further topped the charts in 17 regions, including Australia, Canada, and Germany, becoming West's first number-one album in the latter country. Each of the album's songs entered the Billboard Hot 100, bringing West to 157 career entries. A sequel album, Vultures 2 is scheduled for release in 2024, with Vultures 3 also slated for a release later in the year. The performers are scheduled to embark on the Vultures world tour from Summer 2024 to early 2025, planned for cities including New York and London.