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Kanye West faced accusations of using AI in Vultures 2

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Image Attribution: Photo: Shahril Affandi Radzali from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

The producer, whose suit was filed anonymously in Los Angeles’ Superior Court, alleges that he was brought in “on an emergency basis” just two days before Vultures 2’s release. He contends that his work included creating at least 13 custom AI voice models and more than 400 individual vocal generations, based on his own voice. The producer claims to have contributed further AI vocal programming to West's most recent solo album, Bully, starting in October 2024.

His suit alleges he has not yet been paid for his work on both Bully and Vultures 2, nor have he and his label, YZY, included him in the production credits on streaming platforms. He seeks at least $110,000 in breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and the Los Angeles Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance.

West had previously stated that Bully used no AI technology, despite his acknowledgment of using it in songwriting and recording. Last week, West settled a 2024 lawsuit brought against him by Lauren Pisciotta, who accused him of sexual assault and harassment. Another recent court case involving an uncleared sample on the Donda track "Hurricane" ended in favor of the plaintiff, with West ordered to pay just under $200,000.

Vultures 2 was released in 2024, following allegations of AI manipulation. The producer’s lawsuit brings renewed scrutiny to Kanye West's use of technology in his music production.

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Mark Hale

Mark Hale is a writer, editor, and long-time cultural commentator specialising in guitars, music technology, and the quietly absurd world that surrounds them. He writes about instruments the way other people write about cars: with affection, irritation, and an unwavering belief that function matters more than mythology. Raised in a household where music was not a hobby but a constant presence, Hale grew up surrounded by vinyl records, half-functional amplifiers, and instruments that were always slightly out of tune. From an early age, he learned that guitars had personalities. Some were dependable. Some were brilliant but infuriating. Some looked magnificent and behaved like absolute idiots. This belief—that tools reveal character—has stayed with him and underpins his entire approach to writing. Before becoming a full-time writer, Hale spent years embedded in the unglamorous machinery of the music world. He worked in guitar shops where marketing promises collided daily with reality, learning very quickly which instruments survived real players and which existed purely for catalog photography. He loaded vans, wired pedalboards minutes before soundcheck, repaired cables with borrowed soldering irons, and watched outstanding musicians coax magic from battered gear while others struggled heroically with instruments that cost more than a small car.

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