Over a year after its initial announcement, Kanye West has finally dropped his highly anticipated 10th studio album, “Donda,” and it was well worth the wait.
West’s fans have been waiting for this album since he initially teased it back in 2020, setting the release date for July 24, 2020. This was the first of many missed release dates. Throughout 2021, West hosted three different listening parties for the album, leaving fans expecting a soon release date. Finally, on Aug. 29, GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings released the album.
The album is named after and dedicated to West’s mother, who passed away in 2007. With 27 songs clocking in at around two hours in length, it starts with “Donda Chant,” an unusual song which consists of Syleena Johnson repeating the word “Donda.”
I was shocked at first, as this song is not typical of West. However, it is speculated the chant represents Donda West’s heartbeat in her final moments, and knowing the underlying meaning transforms the song from a questionable start into an emotional and touching tribute.
As we move through the 27 track album, there are 29 features taken from many different genres; from The Weeknd and West’s own Sunday Service Choir to Lil Baby and Lil Yachty.
A few features in particular stuck out to me. Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign both fit so well on the drill-inspired “Off The Grid.” Baby Keem delivers a fantastic verse on “Praise God,” and Don Toliver and Kid Cudi provide beautiful vocals on the already heavenly “Moon.”
West does a great job of picking specific artists that thrive on their respective songs, and these features in particular are the best examples of how they bring something unique to the album.
The most significant feature to mention, however, is Jay-Z on “Jail.” This marks the first time the two rappers have worked together on music since their collaborative album, “Watch the Throne,” in 2011. Jay-Z even hints that “this might be return of The Throne,” referring to a potential sequel to the iconic album.
Although I liked almost all of the features, I was left wishing there were more songs that were solely by Kanye West. Only a few songs are without features, and they happen to be some of my favorite songs on the entire album, including “Believe What I Say” and “Heaven and Hell.”
While West’s production mastery is easy to hear, it’s the plethora of different beats, verses, flows and delivery on these songs that remind listeners that he’s a fantastic rapper as well.
In terms of production and the actual beats, this album delivers. Many of the songs are gospel-inspired with church organs, dramatic piano playing and choir vocals. Noticeably, much of the lyrical content has religious themes and messages. Even many of the song titles reflect this: “God Breathed,” “Praise God,” “Keep My Spirit Alive,” etc. “Donda” feels like what his 2019 album, “Jesus Is King,” failed to be: religious and gospel-inspired, while still full of substance.
With such a long run-time, there are many different types of songs on this album. There are songs like “Off The Grid,” with its syncopated hi-hats and drill-inspired bassline. But there are also slower, more emotional songs like “Moon,” with some light guitar and piano in the background. Even with the differentiations in mood and genre, every song feels like a Kanye West song.
While almost every song is enjoyable in its own way, something I noticed was that the album as a whole feels jumbled, almost a random assortment of separate songs. I think with some rearranging it would feel more cohesive and ultimately more satisfying. However, this in no way takes away from my enjoyment of the album.
After West’s less-than-stellar album “Jesus Is King” in 2019, an unsuccessful and surreal presidential “candidacy” in 2020 and social media silence for most of 2021, Kanye West seems to have finally risen from the dead.
The album has some great features, deep and emotional production, and some of West’s best vocal performances to date. He seems to have poured his heart into these songs, and I appreciate him for that. I think he can rest easy knowing that his mother would be proud.
FAVORITES: OFF THE GRID, HURRICANE, BELIEVE WHAT I SAY, 24, MOON, HEAVEN AND HELL, JESUS LORD
LEAST FAVORITE: TELL THE VISION
