With an audience starving for new music to be released in 2021, Kanye West’s new album Donda gives every appearance of an unfinished album.
Donda is Kanye West’s 10th album, which he named after his late mother. Donda has 27 tracks that are a mix of progressive rap, gospel music and hip hop all rolled up into just over an hour and 48 minutes. The album has had a lot of hype surrounding its release, with Kayne West not giving his stamp of approval that it was complete and ready. His record label GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings, disagreed and on Aug. 29, 2021 Donda was released. West claims that the album’s track list was still being altered.
The 27 tracks of the album lack cohesion, leaving the listener trying to figure out how the whole album works as one. There are several songs on the list that are not necessary and do not fit the overall gospel feel of the album. The first of which is the opening track, where the word “Donda” is repeated as the only lyric.
For anyone that is used to Kanye West being over-the-top creative, you are not going to find that on this album. You will find some of the best parts of the album are the last 30-40 seconds of the tracks, where the beat comes in and it feels as if the songs are about to take off only to have them end.
Overall, if you are a Kanye West fan then you will find something to like about this album. If you, however, are looking for the next great Kanye West album filled with his usual quirky creativity, go back to one of his previous albums. Another option would be to just find your favorite contributor on the song “Hurricane” and listen to that in a mad mix you make for your gym workout.
Kanye should have been allowed more time to be creative and the studio should have held off on the release date. Either way, there’s new music out to listen to: be it good or bad to hear.
