Kanye West Announces Retirement From Music — Is 'Vultures' His Final Album?

In a seemingly random turn of events, Kanye “Ye” West has declared that he is retiring from music. The news, which sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, was revealed during a recent conversation with frequent collaborator Rich the Kid.

As fans and critics grapple with Ye’s revelation, many are left wondering what prompted this decision and what the future holds for the rapper.

Ye’s music career has been triumphant, which is why his sudden retirement is shocking to fans. According to Billboard, Ye disclosed his decision to retire from music during a candid conversation with Rich the Kid. Ye expressed a desire to step away from the music scene, signaling a major shift in his career trajectory.

“I am retiring from professional music. Not sure what else to do," Ye wrote in a text to the “Plug World” rapper, to which Rich responded, “Retire? Why? How? The people need you. The music you [and] Ty [and] we have made the biggest stamp in culture to this date in 2024. Drop 'YE ABOUT MINE' [and] V2, and we do it all over again. The kids need you, big bra. Fasho, maybe some time to chill, but retiring ain’t it.”

While there has been some doubt that Ye is truly retiring, there are several factors that could have contributed to his decision to step away from music. Ye has undergone significant changes, both publicly and privately.

His highly publicized divorce from Kim Kardashian and subsequent relationship with Bianca Censori have kept him in the spotlight, often overshadowing his musical endeavors. It is also possible that Ye has reached a point where he wants to explore new ventures.

Kanye “Ye” West has been a leader in the rap game since he burst onto the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s. Over the years, he has released numerous albums, including Graduation, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and The Life of Pablo. In January, Ye promised to release three albums as a part of his Vultures trilogy.

However, fans are still waiting for the second installment in the series. Vultures 1 arrived in February, and Vultures 2 is completed – according to Ty Dolla $ign.

“We got all the songs,” Ty told Billboard. “It’s just like, ‘How can we get it there? How can we go bigger than the first album?'” he said. “Certain people will probably expect you to just do the same exact sound. But that sound’s already out.”

While Ye and Ty have yet to confirm a release date for the album, they have since announced plans to bring their listening party to Korea. The event is set to take place on August 23, and fans are hoping that the album will also come around that time.

Vultures 1 was highly successful. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, grossing more than $1 million in the first week of its release.