Kanye West‘s new No. 1 album alongside Ty Dolla $ign just proved that cancel culture is only as real as one allows it to be. At least that’s how Lil Tjay feels.
TMZ caught up with Tjay in the airport on Monday (February 19), where he spoke on the success of Vultures 1 – noting it would have been even bigger had Ye had support from a major label for the release.
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“I think that label shit helps. I think if he had some support it would’ve done triple the numbers,” Tjay said. “But it is what it is, people like shit off the hype nowadays, it don’t even be about the music no more. You only cancelled if you cancel yourself; if you allow them to cancel you.”
He continued: “I feel like a n-gga can’t cancel me, n-gga can’t cancel nobody. All they can do is block you out of their world. And their world is limited to what they do. He Kanye. He shoulda put me on that shit though”
Released on February 10, Vultures 1 boasts uncredited appearances from Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Lil Durk, Chris Brown, Freddie Gibbs, YG, Quavo, Rich The Kid and others.
The project was initially only available on streaming platforms and as a digital download through online retailers and Kanye West’s website.
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Physical versions of the album on CD and vinyl are set to be released at a later point, with Ye’s store currently accepting pre-orders.
Vultures 1 debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 200 albums chart, despite encountering a series of issues. The album was temporarily removed from streaming services five days after its release due to a complaint from its initial distributor, FUGA.
“On Friday, February 9, 2024, a long-standing FUGA client delivered the album Vultures 1 through the platform’s automated processes, violating our service agreement,” the company said. “Therefore, FUGA is actively working with its DSP partners and the client to remove Vultures 1 from our systems.”
The album was quickly reinstated on streaming platforms after Kanye and Ty Dolla found another distributor, Label Engine, who had previously released the singles “Vultures” and “Talking/Once Again.”
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However, the album cut “Good (Don’t Die)” remains unavailable to stream after Kanye West was accused of sampling Donna Summer’s 1977 disco hit “I Feel Love” without permission.
Summer’s estate said on Instagram shortly after Vultures 1 dropped: “Kanye West asked permission to use Donna Summer song, ‘I Feel Love,’ [but] he was denied. He changed the words, had someone re-sing it, or used AI but it’s ‘I Feel Love’…copyright infringement!”
