James Blake Requests Removal from Kanye West Album Credits
Acclaimed musician James Blake has formally requested to be removed from the production credits for Kanye West’s latest album, Bully. The album, which finally dropped on Friday after an extensive, nearly two-year rollout, features the closing track “This One Here.” While the song’s initial credits listed Blake, Don Toliver, Quentin Miller, and West himself as co-writers, Blake has since voiced his discomfort with his inclusion.
Blake’s decision stems from his belief that the “spirit” of his original production work is largely absent from the final version of “This One Here.” He elaborated on his reasoning via his streaming platform, Vault.
“The way I pitched his vocals and construed the track from his freestyle is partially there, majorly peppered with other newer vocal takes etc.,” the 37-year-old English artist explained. “But the spirit of my actual production is mostly absent other than that.”
James Blake
Blake further clarified his stance, stating, “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.” He stressed that his request is “not personal,” but rather a matter of artistic integrity. “I just hit a point where [I] don’t want to be credited on music where I can’t affect the end result.”
This is not the first time Blake and West, 48, have collaborated. Their professional relationship dates back to 2014, and the pair even worked on a joint project titled WAR in 2022, though no music from that endeavour has been officially released.
Bully, released through YZY and the independent label Gamma, marks West’s first new album since 2024. The project boasts an impressive lineup of guest artists, including Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, Don Toliver, Peso Pluma, Ty Dolla Sign, and Nine Vicious.
West, who legally changed his name to Ye in October 2021, had been teasing Bully since September 2024, following the release of his album Vultures 2. The journey to Bully‘s release has been marked by significant controversy.
Controversies Surrounding Bully‘s Rollout
The album’s rollout has been a turbulent one, marred by several contentious issues. Initially, West claimed that a substantial portion of the album was created using artificial intelligence, a statement he later retracted.
Earlier this year, West issued a public apology for what he described as his “erratic and hurtful behavior.” This included the posting of hateful and anti-Semitic messages on social media, which led to the suspension of his X account in 2023 and again in 2025.
In an attempt to address the fallout, West took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal. In this ad, he attributed his behaviour to his struggles with bipolar disorder and a brain injury sustained in 2002. Despite this, he later denied accusations that the apology was a publicity stunt designed to promote Bully.
Responding to these claims in a statement to Vanity Fair in January, West asserted, “This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn’t about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.”
The ongoing narrative surrounding Kanye West’s artistic output and personal conduct continues to be a subject of significant public interest and debate. James Blake’s latest statement adds another layer to the complex history of West’s recent creative endeavours.
