Ye's 'Bully' Expanded
Ye Expands 'Bully' Album with Deluxe Edition, Adding New Tracks and Updates Amidst Backlash
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Key Points
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The deluxe edition of “Bully” was released through YYZ and Gamma, according to reporting on the expanded tracklist and launch.
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Ahead of (and amid) the deluxe rollout, West announced additional stadium dates: San Antonio on July 4, and two shows at Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 3 and 4.
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A music review noted that “OK” features Don Toliver with an “intense” verse and that Ye’s performance “nods back to his flow from Jeezy’s ‘Put On,’” while “MISSION CONTROL” was described as “vulnerable” with a “lush, celestial” soundscape.
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Complex reported that, despite fan speculation, the deluxe expansion does not include the track “New Body.”
Ye has released a deluxe edition of his 2026 album "Bully," adding two new songs and re-working mixes across the entire project. Complex and HotNewHipHop confirmed the expanded release, which comes through YYZ and Gamma and brings the total tracklist to 20 songs at roughly 46 minutes.
The original "Bully" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in April, selling about 152,000 equivalent album units in its first week, according to InMusic Blog. The deluxe rollout addresses fan complaints that the first release felt unfinished, most notably its heavy use of AI-generated vocals.
Two New Tracks Anchor the Expanded Tracklist
The deluxe adds "OK," featuring Don Toliver, and "MISSION CONTROL." Complex described Toliver's verse on "OK" as "intense" and said Ye's delivery "nods back to his flow from Jeezy's 'Put On.'" "MISSION CONTROL" was called "vulnerable" with a "lush, celestial" soundscape.
Lauryn Hill also joins the project, now appearing on "I CAN'T WAIT" with a new chorus. HotNewHipHop noted that Hill's addition was seen as a signal of "redemption and unity," given her reputation for spiritual and social consciousness. One fan-favorite track, "New Body," was not included despite widespread speculation, Complex confirmed.
AI Vocals Replaced With Fresh Human Recordings
When "Bully" first dropped in March 2026, many listeners noticed that Ye's vocals were created using Audimee, an AI vocal-morphing tool. Critics and fans pushed back hard. The deluxe edition re-records the majority of those tracks with live human vocals, according to InMusic Blog.
The re-recorded version of "Preacher Man" drew particular praise. Fans said removing the "AI voice grain" made it feel like a real performance. The update also includes refreshed mixing and mastering across all 18 original tracks, giving the project a cleaner, more balanced sound, InMusic Blog reported.
Birthday Single and Bianca Censori's Visual Direction
Ye kicked off the deluxe rollout on June 8 — his 49th birthday — by dropping "GEMINI SEASON." The music video was directed by Bianca Censori, his wife and creative director. She also directed visuals for "Father" and "KING," making her the primary visual architect of the "Bully" era, according to HotNewHipHop.
Censori's aesthetic leans toward high-concept, minimalist imagery — often in black and white. Her growing role behind the camera marks a shift from Ye's earlier era collaborators and signals a tighter creative partnership between the two.
WSJ Apology and Stadium Tour Set the Stage
The deluxe release lands months after Ye took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on January 26, 2026, titled "To Those I've Hurt." In it, he said he was "deeply mortified" and acknowledged gravitating toward the swastika during a "fractured state." He stated he is "not a Nazi or an antisemite" and attributed his behavior to bipolar type-1 disorder and an undiagnosed brain injury from a 2002 car accident, according to Newsbreak.
Ye is also expanding his live tour. He announced a show in San Antonio on July 4 and two dates at Chicago's Soldier Field on September 3 and 4, per Complex. The Chicago shows are framed as a homecoming — Soldier Field is the same venue he used for the "Donda" and "Vultures" events. A Florida state senator has called for cancellation of Ye's upcoming Tampa shows, calling them a "slap in the face" to the Jewish community.
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