Kanye West Says He Did Not Approve Release Donda Album
After several delays, Kanye West’s Donda album finally dropped on Sunday.
The two-hour, 27 track-long album features a laundry list of special appearances, including from Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Travis Scott and Lil Baby.
The album also sparked controversy with a track that features Marilyn Manson and DaBaby.
Just hours after Donda’s arrival, Kanye shared a post on his Instagram account claiming he did not approve the release of the album.
Following weeks of delay and several stadium-filled public listening sessions, Kanye West’s Donda arrived Sunday morning.
The two-hour, 27 track-long album features a laundry list of special appearances, including from Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Travis Scott and Lil Baby.
More controversially, Marilyn Manson – who is accused of rape and sexually and psychologically abusing several women – and DaBaby – who recently sparked anger for homophobic remarks during a performance – are credited on West’s 10th studio album.
Chris Brown, who pleaded guilty to abusing mega star Rihanna 2009, is also listed as a composer and lyricist on the track New Again.
The album – which touches on religious themes of redemption along with turmoil in West’s personal life – changed dramatically over the past month during West’s listening sessions held in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Chicago.
It’s possible West will continue tinkering even after he released it to streaming on Sunday.
After dropping The Life of Pablo in 2016, West continued altering the record, adding vocals, new lyrics and remixes.
Always one to court controversy, West angered some fans after both DaBaby and Manson appeared at his Chicago listening session on Thursday, on the porch of a makeshift house meant to resemble West’s childhood home.
Also at the session was Kim Kardashian, who filed for divorce this year, ending her nearly decade-long union with West.
But at the Chicago listening event she fueled speculation they were getting back together after appearing in a white gown and veil.
But according to a number of reports the spectacle was purely metaphorical.
Donda is named for the mercurial rapper-producer’s mother, who died in 2007. It follows his 2019 Grammy-winning Christian album, Jesus Is King.
In the wake of his album release and highly publicised divorce West, 44, has also legally filed to change his name to his longtime moniker “Ye.”
Released without approval?
Just hours after Donda dropped, Kanye took to Instagram, claiming the album had been released by Universal Music Group without his approval.
“Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked Jail 2 from being on the album,” a post shared by the rapper read.
According to Variety, while representatives at Universal had no comments on the claims, sources at the company called it “preposterous”.
Kanye’s mention of “Jail 2” was a reference to the track Jail Pt 2 which was initially not available on streaming services, but later became available.