Apple Music quickly pulled the Kanye West Vultures 1 album just five days after its debut on the platform after being hit by copyright infringement issues.
On Thursday afternoon, the album, which his daughter North posted about in a now-deleted TikTok, was removed from Apple Music and iTunes, where the song Carnival had held the No. 1 spot on the Top 100: Global chart.
The move comes amid reports that Vultures 1’s distributor is working to remove it from all streaming services after Kanye allegedly uploaded it to multiple platforms without permission, according to Billboard.
The album first ran into streaming problems on Wednesday, when Spotify removed the song Good (Don’t Die) due to allegations of ‘copyright infringement’ made by Donna Summer’s estate.
The distributor, FUGA, said in a statement today: “On Friday, February 9, 2024, a former FUGA customer delivered the Vultures 1 album through the platform’s automated processes, in violation of our service agreement.”
“Therefore, FUGA is actively working with its DSP partners and the customer to remove Vultures 1 from our systems.”
As of now, the album is still available on Spotify; however, the track Good (Don’t Die) is currently unplayable on the platform.
Apple Music quickly pulled Kanye West’s Vultures 1 album just five days after it debuted on the platform on Thursday; Kanye photographed in Italy on Wednesday
On Thursday afternoon, the album was removed from Apple Music and iTunes, where the song Carnival had held the number one spot on the Top 100: Global chart.
This comes after Rolling Loud music festival announced Kanye and his Vultures 1 collaborator Ty Dolla Sign as headliners for its March 14 concert in Inglewood, CA.
It also follows Donna Summer’s estate accusing Kanye of using a sample of her song without consent on Good (Don’t Die).
The rapper reportedly incorporated a cover of the late singer’s 1977 hit, I Feel Love, into the song.
The official instagram The late singer’s page claimed that Kanye’s previous request to use the song had been rejected.
“Kanye West… asked for permission to use the song I Feel Love by Donna Summer,” the account’s post on Instagram Stories reads. ‘They denied it… changed the lyrics, someone re-sang it (sic) or used AI, but it’s I Feel Love… copyright infringement!!!’
The post also tagged Sharon Osbourne, who joined her husband Ozzy Osbourne in criticizing Kanye for using an unauthorized sample of a Black Sabbath song on Friday.
The drama began after the British rock star said he wanted “no association” with West, who has a long history of making anti-Semitic comments, following a listening party for the rapper’s upcoming album Vultures, which includes a snippet of the hit by Ozzy’s band, War Pigs.
Sharon, whose father Don Arden was Jewish, said the couple gave Kanye a cease and desist, according to her interview with TMZ on Friday.
The reports also come after the rapper updated the Vultures Volume 1 album cover by swapping out the Friday The 13th-inspired mask for a black face covering.
The move comes amid reports that Vultures 1’s distributor is working to remove it from all streaming services after Kanye allegedly uploaded it to multiple platforms without permission, according to Billboard.
As of now, the album is still available on Spotify; however, the track Good (Don’t Die) is currently unplayable on the platform; Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori in Italy on Wednesday
“On Friday, February 9, 2024, a former FUGA customer delivered the Vultures 1 album through the platform’s automated processes, violating our service agreement,” distributor FUGA said in a statement.
‘Therefore, FUGA is actively working with its DSP partners and the customer to remove Vultures 1 from our systems.’
Bianca was wrapped in a black leather coat during the Italian getaway
Vultures Volume 1 marks the initial installment of a planned trilogy. After this, the second and third projects are scheduled to release in March and April, respectively.
Last week, Ye posted on Instagram, hinting at a special event scheduled for Thursday at the United Center.
The event turned out to be another album listening party. However, he was marred by controversy when the musician rapped about anti-Semitism, leading to the abrupt termination of the livestream airing the issue.
“Kanye messed with the wrong Jew this time,” he added.
The former The Talk host clarified that Kanye’s team requested permission to use the sample three weeks ago. However, her husband, who normally approves of these types of requests, responded with a firm “not at all.”
Sharon told the outlet that Kanye “represents hate” and is a “disrespectful anti-Semite,” giving Ozzy a “special fucking occasion to say no.”
After reiterating that the Osbourne family wants nothing to do with Kanye, he added: “That son of a bitch is a pig.”
Sharon’s epic clapback comes after Ozzy took to Twitter to criticize the Grammy winner and call him out for the pain he has caused the Jewish community.
‘@kanyewest ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO SHOW A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‘WAR PIG’ FROM THE US VOICELESS FESTIVAL AND WAS DENIED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTI-SEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNSELLABLE PAIN TO MANY,’ wrote Osbourne on X (formerly known as Twitter).
On Thursday, the livestream of West’s album listening party was cut short after he referred to himself in one song as a “crazy, bipolar, anti-Semitic.”
Donna Summer’s estate accused Kanye West of using a sample of her song without consent on his new album Vultures on Saturday; She appears in the photo in 1980.
The former The Talk host clarified that Kanye’s team requested permission to use the sample three weeks ago. However, her husband, who normally approves of these types of requests, responded with a firm “not at all.”
‘@kanyewest ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO SHOW A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‘WAR PIG’ FROM THE US VOICELESS FESTIVAL AND WAS DENIED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTI-SEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNSELLABLE PAIN TO MANY,’ wrote Osbourne on X (formerly known as Twitter)
The livestream of West’s album listening party was cut off after West referred to himself in one song as a “crazy, bipolar, anti-Semitic.”
Bianca appeared on the album cover of Vultures 1; seen in May 2023
After those lyrics, the stream on the Veeps streaming service went black and silent as the star was apparently censored.
West has a documented history of anti-Semitism and last year lost several partnership deals after going on an explosive anti-Semitic rant.
Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband vowed to stage a ‘death with 3 against the JEWS’ in a series of sick posts online.
Their title track, Vultures, also featured the vile lyrics: ‘How am I anti-Semitic? I just fuck a Jewish bitch.
The lyrics sparked a furious reaction among some fans and were even condemned by the American Jewish Committee, among others.