Last July, Kanye West‘s 10th studio album, Donda, failed to materialize on its announced release date. One year later, Kanye has revived his efforts to release the album.
Reports first leaked out from a private event Kanye held in Las Vegas on July 18th. The next day, an official album listening party was announced for Thursday, July 22nd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
On Tuesday, July 20th, during game six of the NBA Finals, Kanye teased the imminent release of Donda in a Beats by Dre commercial starring track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson. The ad confirmed a release date of July 23rd, and also offered a preview of the album via a song called “No Child Left Behind.”
Unsurprisingly, the album didn’t arrive as promised and has now been pushed back once again to August 6th. In the meantime, Consequence has rounded up everything we know about the latest project.
The Release Date
Donda was originally slated for release on Friday, July 23rd. He premiered the album during a listening party at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was also streamed live online via Apple Music.
After the project failed to materialize, Revolt TV host Justin LaBoy announced it was being pushed back to August 6th. Kanye’s frequent collaborator Malik Yusef confirmed the new release date a few days later.
Pitchfork later received confirmation from a representative for West.
The Title
Kanye’s tenth album is called Donda, named after his late mother.
The Recording Process
After Donda was pushed back, Kanye reportedly set up a studio space and living quarters at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in an effort to complete the album.
Featured Artists
During the Atlanta listening party, fans heard a surprise reunion with Jay-Z, as well as tracks featuring Lil Baby, Pusha T, and Baby Keem that were previewed in Las Vegas earlier in the week. Other artists heard during the event include Travis Scott, Pop Smoke, Roddy Ricch, Lil Durk, Playboi Carti, and more.
This Kanye x Lil Baby record so crazy. Y’all gon leave that mf on repeat ALL DAY & NIGHT. BABY REALLY A GOAT 🐐 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 19, 2021
Kanye then played a track with him and Pusha T rapping back and forth. Fireeeeee. pic.twitter.com/qCYoArAgUw
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
New @kanyewest snippet featuring @babykeem #kanye #KanyeWest #babykeem #donda pic.twitter.com/2HEzj6aRzG
— papa of 16 (@wetspageddi) July 19, 2021
The Songs
During game six of the NBA Finals, Kanye previewed a song titled “No Child Left Behind” in a Beats by Dre commercial starring track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson.
After album listening in Atlanta, fans put together a makeshift tracklist.
Kanye – DONDA
TRACKLIST pic.twitter.com/UMI2yXbJzc— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) July 23, 2021
The Sound
Writing for Dazed, music journalist Clarissa Brooks described some of the songs as recalling Kanye’s “old sonics, with sampled and distorted vocals that kept the brilliance of his production at the forefront as he moved backwards through his memory of his mother.”
According to Laboy, “the production is light years ahead of it’s time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again.” (Laboy got to listen to the album during a private listening session with Kanye and Kevin Durant.)
Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas. Man listen! The production is light years ahead of it’s time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again. Any artist who plan on dropping soon should just push it back 😤 #Respectfully
Advertisement— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
The Lyrical Content
Hip-hop blogger @NigelDPresents, who attended the listening party in Las Vegas, described the album as “gospel.” “The album is really about having faith in God and overcoming adversity. Kanye speaks on personal struggles and struggles others face. Positive messages that you can turn up to.”
Yes a gospel album with Lil Baby https://t.co/v9JimbmXjU
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
The album is really about having faith in God and overcoming adversity. Kanye speaks on personal struggles and struggles others face. Positive messages that you can turn up to.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
Does He Curse?
“There are some B’s and N’s. So Kanye tried to rush and lower the music when the B’s were flying because we were [in] a church,” according to @NigelDPresents.
I though the album would have no expletives. But there are some B's and N's. So Kanye tried to rush and lower the music when the B's were flying because we were I'm a church. 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZAsgvsUtQK
Advertisement— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021