Fans of Kanye West, also known as 'Ye,' recently expressed their belief that Apple was attempting to 'sabotage' the artist. This speculation arose after Apple temporarily dropped West's number one album, Vultures. Just five days after its release, the album disappeared from the music platform and iTunes with no explanation given. However, it has since returned to the platform.
Reports suggested that the removal was a result of West allegedly uploading Vultures without permission. FUGA, the distributor, worked to remove the album from streaming services. A spokesperson for FUGA shared, 'Late last year, FUGA was presented with the opportunity to release Vultures 1. Exercising our judgment in the ordinary course of business, we declined to do so.' The spokesperson continued, 'On Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, a long-standing FUGA client delivered the album Vultures 1 through the platform’s automated processes, violating our service agreement. Therefore, FUGA is actively working with its DSP partners and the client to remove Vultures 1 from our systems.'
This sudden absence of Vultures on Apple Music sparked outrage among fans. They took to Twitter to express their frustration. However, the album's return to the platform in recent hours has somewhat appeased them.
Interestingly, this incident occurred shortly after West addressed Taylor Swift fans, clarifying that he is not their enemy. In an Instagram post, West shared an image from Twitter that had been circulated among Swifties. The image called for fans to stream Beyoncé’s new single, 'Texas Hold ‘Em,' in an attempt to block West's potential number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The post insinuated that West had 'dragged Taylor' and urged Swifties to mobilize against him.
In response, West expressed his support for Swift, highlighting that he considers both Swift and Beyoncé as inspirations for musicians. He stated, 'ALSO, I’M SURE I’VE BEEN FAR MORE HELPFUL TO TAYLOR SWIFT’S CAREER THAN HARMFUL.' It seems that West was attempting to clarify his stance and emphasize that he does not view Swift as an adversary.
As news of West's album disappearing from Apple Music surfaced, fans couldn't help but connect the dots and wonder if there was a deliberate attempt to hinder his success. Speculations and frustrations grew, causing an uproar among his supporters.
Indy100 reached out to representatives of Kanye West and Apple for comment on this matter, but no statement has been provided at this time.
The incident surrounding Vultures' temporary removal from Apple Music serves as a reminder of the power of digital platforms and the controversies that can arise within the music industry. It also highlights the passionate fanbase that artists like Kanye West have, who are always eager to defend and support their favorite musician.
