In a recent conversation with Justin LaBoy on his Respectfully podcast, Kanye West opened up about the inspiration behind his highly anticipated album Bully.
According to the rapper, the album’s title came from an unexpected source: his 9-year-old son, Saint.
“My son was playing with some kid, and then he kicked him,” Kanye recalled.
Naturally, the father of four was curious about what prompted his son’s actions. When he asked Saint why he’d kicked the other child, the young West simply replied, “’Cause he weak.”
That’s when it hit Kanye: “This man is really a bully right here.”
And just like that, Bully was born—not exactly a parenting milestone, but definitely an album-worthy moment.
But it’s not just Saint who’s influencing Kanye’s music. West recently shared that North has been a key inspiration for his work, even helping him rediscover his passion for music. In fact, Bully will drop on her birthday, June 15.
“Bully is North’s fave album so far,” Kanye proudly declared, adding that she’s given it a glowing 10/10 rating.
North isn’t just a muse for Kanye’s work—she’s also working on her own album. The 11-year-old is getting some hands-on training from none other than Kanye himself.
“I [have] always [been] into the idea of having a school, and like both my mom and my dad were professional teachers, so that makes me a natural teacher in my blood. I’m just thinking about how her album is going to be, like how insane, like everything that I learned that I could have it flow through her also, and for her to become the greatest, the next frontier.
He continued, “Because we’re like the kings of Africa or something, where it’s just passed down. Like, I’m the hands down [the] greatest, [and] she’s going to be the hands down greatest.”
In addition to North and Saint, Kanye is also dad to Chicago West, 7, and Psalm West, 5, with ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
