Reactions to ye: the memes, the mixed reviews and accusations of stealing

Kanye West's latest album, ye, has been out in the world since Friday, June 1, and almost immediately, it has fans and critics alike dissecting, reacting and posting about it. Compared to other Kanye offerings, it's easy to dismiss ye if only because it clocks with seven tracks (his shortest album to date). It feels even easier to dismiss it since it has arrived only weeks after Kanye made controversial and contentious remarks in regards to his current political leanings and his views on slavery. Fans were cautious, to say the least.

But with ye available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal, fans have been able to consume it and react accordingly. For the most part, it looks like ye has garnered positive reviews, with comparisons made to Kanye's previous albums, notably 808s & Heartbreak,Graduation and The College Dropout. Some have argued that it's necessary to separate the art from the artist because in the case of ye, asking listeners to push aside Kanye's controversial remarks and focus on the strength of his lyrics and musical arrangements. For every positive review, there seems to be a more critical one, taking aim at the problematic timing of ye's release as well as the music itself.