Kanye West reportedly planning new album after success of Korean show
Kanye West might not be as triumphant and prolific in the music industry as he used to be, but he plans to correct that after inspiration struck at a recent show in South Korea.
Once viewed as one of rap’s most coveted visionaries, West scored points across the entire landscape the moment he released his debut, The College Dropout. His lyrics about materialism, religion, and surviving a near-death experience showcased another side to hip-hop where its pre-existing chauvinism could take a much-needed back seat.
The latest years have presented a notable decline not only in West’s musical dominance but in terms of his influence on the industry—Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 might still have accrued a significant portion of his original audience. However, the timings of their release made them tainted by controversy as West continued to dismiss many aspects of the space, including his peers, with little remorse.
The years that followed have shown West at a creative low point, likely due to his many struggles, from his difficult-to-ignore problematic rants to selling his properties often at a considerable loss. Nevertheless, his recent performance in South Korea reportedly left him feeling energised about creating a new album.
Rumblings about such plans first emerged from the CEO of Channel Candy, the event organisers working with West, who stated the rapper was deeply moved by the performance after delivering a 74-song set that was received exceptionally well by those in attendance.
During the triumphant show, West provided his fans with a series of hits that hadn’t been given a public airing in a long time. Tracks like ‘Runaway’ received rapturous applause from the first note while ‘Golddigger’, ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Famous’ were also given outings.
A new album would reportedly seek to recreate this energy, with a concert performance that would channel the reception from the South Korean show.
While West has yet to confirm any details surrounding a new album, it is believed that it will be independent from the Vultures series. This leaves many to question whether there will be a third instalment in the rapper’s albums with Ty Dolla Sign.
If West begins writing a new album soon, it will mark his first solo record since 2021’s DONDA. Like anything related to West, his plans can change very quickly, and it remains to be seen whether a new solo effort will materialise.