Kanye West is one of the most outspoken and passionate artists in hip-hop. So when Playboi Carti dropped his highly anticipated album MUSIC without a single Kanye West feature, the internet went wild. A viral claim on X (formerly Twitter) even suggested that West was so upset he was “bed-ridden” and losing sleep. But is there any truth to this?
Playboi Carti’s new project, MUSIC (I AM MUSIC), is a star-studded 30-track album featuring some of the biggest names in hip-hop. Artists like Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and Lil Uzi Vert all cut. But noticeably missing? Kanye West.
West, who previously worked closely with Carti—executive producing Whole Lotta Red in 2020—was nowhere to be found on the tracklist. Fans were quick to speculate why. Given West’s deep history with Carti, many expected him to have a significant role. Instead, Kendrick Lamar, a known rival of West’s, appeared multiple times on the album, including the song “Backd00r,” which some initially thought West had helped produce.
Some sources initially listed him as a producer on “Backd00r.” Still, a representative for Playboi Carti later denied this, clarifying that West had no official production or vocal contributions to the album. The confusion reportedly came from a sped-up sample that reminded listeners of Kanye’s early College Dropout style.
Still, Kanye’s absence was loud. His previous collaborations with Carti—like “Go2DaMoon” and various Donda-era songs—made many assume he would be part of this latest project. But for whatever reason, he wasn’t.
West didn’t stay quiet. On March 14, Kanye took to X to share his thoughts on MUSIC, specifically calling out Kendrick Lamar’s presence.
“I DONT LIKE KENDRICK LAMARS MUSIC. HE RAPS VERY GOOD BUT I DIDNT NEED TO HEAR HIM ON CARTI ALBUM,”
he posted.
His comment immediately fueled speculation. Was he upset because Kendrick got a feature, and he didn’t? Was this part of the ongoing tension between West, Kendrick, and Drake? Some fans thought it was just another chapter in a long-standing hip-hop rivalry.
Two days later, a post from an X account called “DailyNoud” claimed West was “bed-ridden” over the situation. According to the post, a “close associate” said Kanye was losing sleep and blamed Lamar for being left out.
Here’s where things get murky. While Kanye’s disappointment is evident from his own words, the claim that he’s “bed-ridden” seems exaggerated. “DailyNoud” is suspected to be a parody account, meaning this entire story could be satire. There’s no solid evidence that West is unwell or devastated to the point of being unable to get out of bed.
However, the reaction to the claim shows just how much influence West still has in the industry. Even the possibility that he was upset made headlines, proving that Kanye’s name still carries weight when it comes to hip-hop drama.
Playboi Carti made the album he wanted to make. His decision to bring in Kendrick and other top-tier artists instead of Kanye may have been purely creative, or it may have been a strategic move to appeal to a different audience. Either way, it’s a reminder that the music industry is constantly shifting, and even icons like Kanye West don’t always get what they want.
For now, it seems West is okay—just frustrated. But in true Kanye fashion, he’ll likely turn that frustration into music, controversy, or both. The question is: Will Playboi Carti respond, or will he let the music do the talking?
