It's hard to believe it now but there was a time where a new album from Kanye West felt like national news. From The College Dropout to Watch the Throne, Kanye didn’t just make music, he made art. That is what makes his newest album, Bully, so frustrating.

When listening to Bully, it almost sounds like something is missing. The album comes across less like a real album and more like a social experiment. It feels unfinished, despite the fact the album was months late. To be honest, it even feels like a joke at times. There are flashes though, especially in the production. Some of the beats are genuinely amazing, almost like a reminder that the musical genius of Kanye West is still in there. Unfortunately, a few good beats alone are not enough to carry an album that had this much hype.

Kanye said it best himself: “I miss the old Kanye.” That line hits ten times harder now. Honestly, this doesn’t feel like the Kanye we grew up with. The hunger, the creativity, and personality that made projects like Late Registration and Graduation so iconic is nowhere to be found.

Compared to his earlier work, Bully just cannot compete. Yeezus feels ten times more meaningful, and Life Of Pablo is on a completely different level. His old work feels so much more polished, revolutionary, and timeless. Bully, in contrast, lacks that same purpose and identity.

At the end of the day, the album was super disappointing. It’s not like Kanye has lost all of his talent, the beats were still awesome. It’s just that the thing that made his music special seems to be gone.

Maybe it's not about not liking Bully. But more about missing the thing that made Kanye, Kanye.