James Blake Requests Removal from Kanye West's 'Bully' Credits: 'Not What I Created'
James Blake has requested to be uncredited on Kanye West's new album 'Bully,' stating the final product doesn't represent his original contribution.
James Blake has requested his name be removed from the producer credits of Kanye West’s new album ‘Bully,’ explaining that the released version “is not what I created.”
Ye premiered his 12th studio album via a YouTube livestream. Subsequently, ‘Bully’ became available on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
The album features production from various artists, including 88-Keys and The Legendary Traxster. Blake is credited alongside Ye, Don Toliver, and Quentin Miller on the track ‘This One Here.’
However, Blake has now requested his name be removed from the credits, feeling the “spirit” of his work was not accurately represented in the final record.
Responding to a fan on Vault, Blake elaborated: “The way I pitched his vocals and constructed the track from his freestyle is partially there, majorly peppered with other newervocal takes etc. but the spirit of my actual production is mostly absent other than that.”
"My original version is a completely different production in spirit,” he continued. “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.”
Blake clarified his decision further: “It’s not personal! I just hit a point where don’t want to be credited on music where I can’t affect the end result.”
James Blake
Blake and Ye's history dates back to 2014 when Ye named Blake as one of his favorite artists during the ‘Yeezus’ era. In 2015, Blake mentioned that West would appear on ‘The Colour In Anything’ (then titled ‘Radio Silence’).
“Something was supposed to happen; I don’t really know how to describe how that didn’t work out,” Blake stated when the album was released without Ye. “I wanted Kanye to be on the song ‘Timeless’, but the verse didn’t materialize.”
The two artists later collaborated on a joint project called ‘WAR’ in 2022, though the music was never officially released.
Ye also recently shared the video for the single ‘Father,’ featuring Travis Scott. The video, directed by Ye’s wife Bianca Censori, depicts a church setting with aliens and knights, and an unexplained Michael Jackson figure in the background.
Announcing the tracklist, Ye stated that no AI was used in the album's creation, contradicting earlier claims about incorporating the technology.
‘BULLY’ was initially announced two years ago, experiencing several delayed release dates. In June, Ye previewed the album with the singles ‘Preacher Man’, ‘Beauty And The Beast’, ‘Damn’ and ‘Last Breath’.
Ye has announced an album launch show in Los Angeles for April 3 and confirmed additional European dates, marking his first headline shows on the continent in 12 years. UK shows have yet to be announced.
Ye faced controversy in early 2025, retracting an apology to the Jewish community for prior anti-semitic remarks and declaring himself “a Nazi.” He later stated he’d realized he wasn’t a Nazi, but then more swastika apparel appeared on his X page.
Last November, West met with a rabbi and apologized for his anti-Semitic comments.
In January, Ye claimed his recent apology for his past anti-Semitic comments was not related to his upcoming album or an attempt to revive his career. He also discussed his bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
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