Ye’s Vultures era is seemingly over, and the Bully era is now upon us. On October 23, Ye took to Instagram to unveil the cover for his forthcoming solo project. Captioned, “BULLY cover by Daidō Moriyama,” the photo features his son Saint, grinning from ear-to-ear in a pair of grillz reminiscent of his father’s fixed titanium prosthodontics. Four of his front teeth are also blackened on his grillz.
No other information was revealed, but the publication Outpump speculated if the album cover was related to the ancient Japanese tradition called “ohaguro.” The practice of teeth blackening is done during puberty as a symbol of maturity and beauty before entering adulthood.
Given Ye’s recent affinity for Asia (he’s reportedly living in Tokyo while working on Bully) and the likeness of Saint to Ye on the cover, it’s possible there’s a deeper meaning. Still, the resemblance wouldn’t be so striking without the custom Don Rosé grillz worn by Ye’s mini-me
We caught up with Omar Alvarado, also known as Don, the jeweler and owner of Don Rosé, to find out how this custom project for Ye came together. In typical Ye fashion, it was not planned and thought out for months but executed in a matter of two days.
Below, Don talks about the inspiration, what it was like working with Ye, how he and his team completed the almost impossible task, and the most memorable part of the project.
When were you first approached to create these custom grillz for Saint?
Don: I was first contacted on a Friday at 3am. Aus [Taylor] reached out, letting me know that Ye wanted to recreate his own permanent teeth design for Saint, but in the form of grillz.
The goal was to capture that unique look and translate it into a custom, removable piece. This vision drove the entire design process and really set the tone for creating something that stayed true to Ye’s original style.
How long was the turnaround time from concept to finished product?
Don: Initially, I didn’t know who the grillz were for—just that it was a private client with a tight deadline of only two days. Normally, a project like this would take 2-4 weeks, so the timeline was intense. Once I learned it was for Saint and got clarity on their vision, I knew exactly what needed to be done.
What was the creative process? Was it collaborative?
Don: The process was streamlined but thorough. I began with the design on Friday, created the wax model on Saturday, and then moved on to casting, polishing, and fitting by Sunday. With everything completed in time, I caught a red-eye flight to Tokyo that night to personally deliver the grillz the next day. Despite the tight schedule, there was a lot of attention to detail, and the thrill of the challenge made it an unforgettable project.
Don: It was very much a team effort. I assembled my team right away to ensure everyone was aligned and ready to move quickly. Each person played a vital role, and we worked closely through every stage—from designing the grillz to ensuring they fit the mold perfectly. It was all hands on deck to bring Ye’s vision for Saint to life within such a short timeframe, and the collective energy really made a difference in delivering a quality piece.
What was it like working with Ye on this? Was this your first time working with him?
Don: Yes, this was my first time working on a project for Ye. Because of the quick turnaround, I didn’t have much time to communicate during the actual production. It was really a matter of diving in and focusing on bringing the vision to life within the tight time frame.
Did you know Saint would be wearing your grillz in the cover art for Bully?
Don: No, I had no idea Saint would be wearing the grillz for the Bully cover art.
What was the most memorable part of working on this project?
Don: The intensity of this project was unforgettable. Nearly everything that could go wrong did, which made the manufacturing process a real test of skill and resilience. But seeing the team and I overcome every obstacle to deliver was an amazing feeling. This is exactly the kind of rush I love in my jewelry career—the do-or-die moments that push you to your limits.
I didn’t expect to be part of such a unique project, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experience. Looking back, I’m just happy it all came together in the end.
