Fans were taken aback this week when Rich The Kid posted a text message purporting to be from Kanye West declaring his musical retirement, but it might not be accurate.
Ye announced on Tuesday, July 9, that he was retiring from professional music via a snapshot that was later removed and posted on Rich’s Instagram Story. Not sure how to proceed further.
Rich continues, writing, “Retire?,” in an attempt to persuade him to stay. Why? In what way? People NEED you because the music you, Ty, and the rest of us have created is the biggest cultural touchstone to date (2024). Remind me of yours and V[ultures]2, and we’ll repeat the whole thing. The kids need you, big bra fasho. You might need some downtime, but retirement isn’t that bad.
He quickly removed it, though, and went to X to promote Life’s A Gamble, his new album, which Ty Dolla $ign and Ye are executive producing.
He responded with laughing emojis to a post from XXL that featured Ye’s retirement note, saying, “ACTUALLY WE DROPPING FRIDAY 7/19.” In his response, he released the track listing for the album, which boasts appearances by Ye and Ty in addition to Peso Pluma, Offset, Rob49, French Montana, Chief Keef, BIA, the late TakeOff, and Quavo.
Included as well is “Carnival,” from Ye and Ty’s VULTURES album.
In March, Rich The Kid, who was celebrating going No. 1 with both artists for the VULTURES cut “Carnival,” which also features Playboi Carti, stated that Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign will be the EPs for his upcoming album.
Using a screenshot of the Billboard Hot 100 list, he said, “#1 on billboard with family @ye @tydollasign & @playboicarti.” “I want to thank everyone of my family and followers who never stop supporting love! Ye & Ty$ executive produced #V2 and My [new] record OTW.
Life’s A Gamble was initially revealed by him in January, with a spring 2024 publication window still unclear.
Rob49, Travis Barker, Offset, and Kanye were all reportedly scheduled to appear as special guests at the time.
Rich’s first album in four years will be this one. Boss Man, his final album, was released in March 2020. The project featured features from Lil Baby, DaBaby, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, Lil Tjay, NBA YoungBoy, Quavo, and others, but it didn’t catch on and quickly fell off the charts after debuting at No. 24 on the Billboard 200.
