Kanye West’s ‘Bully’ hits 33M Spotify streams on day one

Kanye West’s ‘Bully’ Racks Up 33.2 Million Spotify Streams on Opening Day Despite Chaotic Rollout

Kanye West’s long-delayed twelfth studio album, “Bully,” earned 33.2 million streams on Spotify in its first day of availability, making it the third-biggest rap debut on the platform in 2026, according to streaming tracker Hip Hop All Day. The total came despite the album losing roughly six hours of streaming time due to a disjointed release that left fans scrambling across platforms to hear the project.facebook

The 18-track album arrived on Spotify and Apple Music on Saturday, March 28, after West premiered it through a YouTube livestream shortly after midnight on March 27. For hours, the album remained unavailable on major streaming services, drawing frustration from fans on social media. “Bully” trailed only A$AP Rocky’s “Don’t Be Dumb,” which opened with 35.4 million streams, and J. Cole’s “The Fall-Off” at 35.0 million for biggest rap opening days this year.geo

A Fractured Release

West’s rollout defied convention even by his own standards. The album was first heard at in-person listening events in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta, alongside the YouTube stream, before it was eventually uploaded to streaming services the following morning. The livestream featured a black-and-white short film starring West’s son, Saint, though the video was later unlisted from YouTube.the-independent

Sixteen of the album’s 18 tracks landed on the Spotify Global Chart, led by “Father” featuring Travis Scott. Billboard ranked all 18 tracks after the album’s official release on digital service providers on Saturday.instagram

Long Road to Release

“Bully” is West’s first solo studio album since 2022’s “Donda 2” and was distributed through the independent label Gamma. The project was first teased in September 2024 and endured numerous delays throughout 2025, cycling through at least half a dozen release dates before finally materializing. West had released a handful of tracks as EPs in mid-2025, but the full album remained elusive until this week.wikipedia

In the lead-up to the release, West addressed claims that the album was created using artificial intelligence, writing on Instagram that “Bully” contained “no AI”. The album features collaborations with Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, Don Toliver, Peso Pluma, and André Troutman, among others. West is scheduled to perform at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on April 1 and April 3.hotnewhiphop