James Blake Requests Removal from Kanye West’s “Bully” Production Credits
English musician James Blake has formally requested to be removed from the production and writing credits for Kanye West’s latest album, “Bully,” which officially dropped last Friday after an extended, nearly two-year rollout. The album’s closing track, “This One Here,” lists Blake, Don Toliver, Quentin Miller, and West himself as co-writers.
However, Blake has publicly stated his desire to be disentangled from the song’s credits, explaining that “the spirit” of his original production is “mostly absent” in the final version. He elaborated on his streaming platform, Vault, detailing his involvement. “The way I pitched his vocals and construed the track from his freestyle is partially there, majorly peppered with other newer vocal takes etc.,” Blake wrote. “But the spirit of my actual production is mostly absent other than that.”
The 37-year-old artist further clarified his decision, expressing happiness for West’s fans but emphasizing his personal stance. “Happy for the fans but I’ve asked to be taken off the producer credits for now as I don’t want to take credit for other people’s work and this version isn’t what I created with Ye,” he stated. He was quick to reassure fans that his request was “not personal,” but rather a consequence of reaching a point where he is unwilling to claim credit for music where he cannot influence the final outcome.
Blake and West, 48, have a history of collaboration dating back to 2014. Notably, they worked together on a joint project titled “WAR” in 2022, although no music from this venture has been officially released to date.
“Bully,” distributed by YZY and the independent label Gamma, marks West’s first new album since 2024. The record boasts an impressive lineup of featured artists, including Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, Don Toliver, Peso Pluma, Ty Dolla Sign, and Nine Vicious.
Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye in October 2021, had been hinting at “Bully” since September 2024, following the release of his album “Vultures 2.”
Controversies Mar “Bully” Rollout
The journey to the release of “Bully” has been far from smooth, with the album’s rollout marred by several significant controversies. Initially, West claimed that a substantial portion of the album was created using artificial intelligence, a statement he later retracted.
Earlier this year, West issued a public apology for what he described as erratic and hurtful behaviour. This included the dissemination of hateful and anti-Semitic messages across social media platforms, which led to the suspension of his X (formerly Twitter) account in both 2023 and 2025.
In an attempt to address these issues, West took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal. In this apology, he attributed his behaviour to his struggles with bipolar disorder and a brain injury sustained in 2002. He subsequently denied accusations that the apology was a calculated move to promote “Bully.”
Speaking to Vanity Fair in January, West stated, “This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn’t about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.”
The album’s release and its accompanying controversies underscore a complex and often turbulent period for the artist, with Blake’s recent request adding another layer to the narrative surrounding “Bully.”
