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Ye’s ‘Bully’ Sets 2026 Hip-Hop High on Spotify as Gamma Challenges First-Day Count

Gamma’s public push to recast the streaming numbers signals distributors taking a louder role in shaping the business story of major releases.

Overview

  • The album, released Saturday, March 28, delivered the biggest single-day Spotify total for a hip-hop artist in 2026, according to social and industry trackers.
  • Initial reporting cited 33.2 million first-day Spotify streams with 16 of 18 tracks entering the global charts and more than 2 million new monthly listeners added to West’s profile.
  • Gamma disputed the 33.2 million figure on Instagram, claiming the album closed near 50 million streams in its first full day and positioning it above J. Cole’s recent release.
  • One track, “Father,” drew more than 4 million global Spotify streams in its first full day, the distributor said.
  • At launch the album was not on Apple Music, a gap that complicates reach even as Gamma touts results, while West readies an April show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium after his first solo album in over four years featuring Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Don Toliver.