By Alex Dye

Kanye West is no stranger to controversial album rollouts. Similar to Jesus is King, nobody knew exactly when Donda was going to be released, although we could all agree that it wasn’t going to be on July 23^rd. But after three live listening events, the last of which garnered over 40,000 people in attendance, and a live-streamed residence at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to finish up the album, it is finally available to stream in all of its 108-minute glory. 

Is Donda the musical equivalent of Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman (3 hr. 29 min.), something that every artistically minded person thinks they should consume and enjoy, even though the length is so daunting? Is this Kanye’s response to the rise of the short hip-hop album? Can anyone really sit down and focus closely on one album for nearly 2 hours without multiple bathroom and snack breaks? 

Full disclosure, I did this listen through over the span of two days. I just couldn’t carve out the continuous time, between work and family. But I did it, and I would say it was more enjoyable than painful. However, there were times when the slog felt real. I’m not a Kanye stan or expert, but I’ve been listening to him for a long time and have put more miles of running into “Stronger” than I’d care to think about or admit. And even though I was not a fan of Jesus is King, I hadn’t written off Kanye yet. Below is my take on each of the 27 tracks. And just for fun, I rated each song out of 5 Dondas. 

Donda Chant:

Donda, Donda, Donda, ad infinitum…

For number of “Dondas” in the track, 300/5 Dondas

Actual track 0/5 Dondas

Jail:

As the first real track of the album, the phasing guitars and slamming bass are super catchy. I can definitely see “Guess who’s going to jail tonight” being a club shout along. Jay-Z’s line “God in my cell, that’s my celly, made in the image of God, that’s a selfie,” is clever and ridiculous. And even though his line “Hova and Yeezus like Moses and Jesus,” is a little cringy, I’m going to remember it. 

4/5 Dondas

God Breathed: 

Beginning with a thumping bass, glitchy sound clip, and ear worm “I know God breathed on this,” the song suddenly drops into a slow singing part, which felt strange. The sharp tempo changes between thumping chorus and autotuned verses by Vory stops the momentum of the song. Closing with a droning choir, it’s an emotive but disjointed track.

3/5 Dondas

Off the Grid:

This feels like the first ‘traditional’ hip-hop track on the album. ‘We off the grid’ is going to become the next hottest search on Urban Dictionary. Fivio Foreign has some standout bars in this track. Side-note, in the hook “G6” sounds like “cheese sticks,” and I’m slightly disappointed this wasn’t a shoutout track to string cheese. 

5/5 Dondas

*Intermission Pt. 1: At this point, it feels like every guest spot has mentioned God and bragged about praying or being blessed. I’m wondering if this was mandated by Kanye to be included in the album. It feels really over the top and forced from some artists. But Kanye has never been one for subtlety. I imagine this is going to be a continuing theme. (Checking back in at the halfway point, yep, guests still name-dropping God.)

Hurricane:

Droning music immediately made me think of “All Eyes on Me” by Bo Burnham. Unfortunately that’s where the comparison ends, because the vocal melody isn’t that compelling. Lyrics from Kanye and Lil’ Baby are reflective on self and progress. The Weeknd provides vocals for the chorus and bridge, but unfortunately, it’s not very memorable. 

2/5 Dondas

Praise God:

This is a praise song, Kanye style. Which is to say the “worship” aspect is pretty superficial (“we gonna praise our way out of the grave”). The first of the spoken word spots from Donda West opens the track. Vocals are all over the place, with a lot of strained falsetto and randomly inserted autotune. Also, Baby Keem name drops Tame Impala (for no apparent reason) on his verse. 

2/5 Dondas

Jonah:

“Kanye and Jay still brothers, they both billionaires.” Efforts are made twice now to bury the public beef between West and Jay-Z. The track is a tribute to Jonah Ware, an independent artist in Louisville who was shot and killed on August 8, 2020. There’s definite reflection on death and the need to grieve with support from others. This was originally a Vory track, which is apparent because he takes lead on ¾ of the whole thing, with Kanye providing one verse and Lil’ Durk providing another. Vory’s vocals are interesting, but the track as a whole is somewhat middling.

2.5/5 Dondas

Ok Ok:

Kanye teams up with Rooga, Lil’ Yachty and Fivio Foreign to take shots at the music industry. “Okay Okay, I’m not Okay.” Considering Kanye’s very public battle with mental health, and the way that the industry and media love to praise him as a genius on one hand and mock him for his public breakdowns, this was a pretty fire clapback to all those who make money off of the Kanye machine without actually supporting him when he needs it. As an aside, I would love to see an article written about the connection between mental illness and music, the lines between art and exploitation, and the ways in which the industry profits from mental illness. 

5/5 Dondas

Junya

Apparently this is a tribute to Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe. This is classic Kanye in theme and style. 

4/5 Dondas

Believe What I Say

Driven by a funky bassline and 80’s R&B synths, this track is almost, fun? I wasn’t sure Kanye knew how to make fun songs anymore. He throws a little humorous shade at his former sister-in-law Khloe. It seems to be somewhat of a kind final message to Kim, not to let fame and all that surrounds it drag her down personally. Unlike the ugly celebrity breakups that gain so much publicity, there must be some degree of care between the soon-to-be-divorced couple, as Kim made appearances at the Donda listening events, adding to the spectacle by showing up in a Balenciaga wedding gown. 

5/5 Dondas

24:

This is a prayer of desperation that I can definitely relate to. “Dear God make it alright.” Accented by the powerful organ and the Sunday Service Choir. I love the encouraging “Know you’re alive and God’s not finished.” Amen to that. This is some Chance the Rapper level of positivity here, but unlike some of Kanye’s forays into faith-based music, this feels fully authentic. 

6/5 Dondas

Remote Control:

“I was in my hovercraft, had another laugh.” Nobody but Kanye could so seamlessly transition between a gospel jam and boldly bragging about wealth and power. And that sort of juxtaposition would make little sense anywhere else but on a Kanye album. There’s some seriously bad theology (prosperity gospel) here “Jesus sent me brand new clothes, wrist still 32 below,” but man it sounds so good.

4/5 Dondas

Moon:

That was…pretty boring. I feel like Cudi’s spot was wasted here. Ernie’s tribute to moon travel on Sesame Street (“I’d Like to Visit the Moon) is much better. 

1/5 Dondas

Heaven and Hell:

First of all, the sound is pretty eerie on this one. Almost like an old school Tyler the Creator track. This is a mixed bag of lyrics as he throws in comparisons to Jeff Bezos, commands for the devil to ‘lay down,’ and the claim that God is his bulletproof vest. Typical modern-era Kanya stuff. 

2/5 Dondas

Donda:

The song features a driving piano line and excerpts from a speech from Donda West, honoring African-American Gwendolyn Brooks but also doting on the work of her son as a continuation of the provocation of African-American art. He uses his mother’s testament to set up a monument to himself, reminding everyone that the self-assured Kanye hasn’t gone anywhere. Interspersed with the sung finale to the Lord’s prayer, Kanye straddles the line between self-idolization and worship of God. There was a Pusha-T track in earlier versions of the track that got excised from the final product, which is unfortunate, because it probably would’ve given the song more substance and direction. As it is now, it sounds powerful, and it is beautiful to hear a mother talk so lovingly about her son, but the overall message is hollow self-aggrandizement. 

2.5/5 Dondas

Keep My Spirit Alive:

“Brrrrr.” Oh, this is the song with Westside Gunn’s signature move. Griselda family elder statesman Conway the Machine drops some killer bars here, highlights of his other albums that tell the story of growing up in Buffalo, NY. The violence and the redemption are laid bare, and it’s beautiful. Then Kanye comes in. It feels like he’s the kid in class who wasn’t paying attention, then gets called on and starts making up answers. His verse is totally out of place from the rest of the track, save for the line “Not Wakanda but Wakanda is kinda like what we ’bout to make, And who gon’ make it? Kan’, duh,” which might be a reference to Kanye building a better, more utopian society for African-Americans? Maybe? Or maybe he just realized “Wakanda” rhymes with “kan, duh.” 

4.5/5 Dondas (.5 subtracted for Kanye’s “contribution”)

Jesus Lord:

This is Kanye at his most vulnerable. There’s a lot of pain in this song: violence, drugs, teenage pregnancy, death of parents, and more. Kanye paints a picture of lives in need of Jesus. Jay Electronica comes in, following Kanye’s blueprint and dropping some complex lyricism, throwing in references to the Aztec empire, and yes, Wakanda. Larry Hoover Jr. then makes an appearance, thanking Kanye for going to Donald Trump on behalf of his father Larry Hoover, founder of the Gangster Disciples. This was a powerful testimony and gives a real and hard look at the effects of unjust imprisonment practices on the families of the incarcerated.

5/5 Dondas

New Again:

There’s something gag-inducing and cringe-worthy about hearing Chris Brown sing “I repent for everything that I’ma do again…last night don’t count, this morning don’t count.” Considering his past, uncool to say the least, and not the last bit of inappropriate guest contributions on this album.

1/5 Dondas

Tell the Vision:

Alternative version of the same track released posthumously by Pop Smoke this year. The piano line on this is menacing, which is to say, dope. There’s something really sad hearing Pop Smoke rap “We made it” and go on about his come-up, only to remember that he died so tragically. The song ends abruptly in a way that it feels unfinished.

2/5 Dondas

Lord I Need You

I’ve never cared about Kim Kardashian or her relationship with Kanye, but this song made me truly sad for both. He seems really heartbroken, as he recounts the bittersweetness of their relationship and subsequent breakup. He throws in a little bit of humor “best collab since Taco Bell and KFC.” And reminds us that these sorts of things are especially messy when kids are involved. If you want proof that this album was being written up to the very last minute, he references the fact that she showed up to the listening parties.

2.5/5 Dondas

Pure Souls

Kanye spotlights up-and-comer drill rapper Roddy Ricch in this collaboration. Unfortunately, there’s little that seems to hold this track together musically as it just meanders from one part to another. It feels long, and in some ways it is at almost 6 minutes, but there are longer tracks on this album that are infinitely more interesting. Truthfully, it’s boring, and one of the biggest sins a musician can do is make a boring song.

2/5 Dondas

Come to Life:

Speaking of meandering, if you like Kanye’s singing but don’t care if it has any direction, you’ll love this next one. Half of the track feels improvised. And even as the music starts to edge towards a crescendo, Kanye doesn’t know where to go with the lyrics. Is he trying to give a follow-your-dreams speech? Is it another praise song “You the air I breathe, the ultra-ultralight beam.” And why does he slip in some lines about his ongoing conflict with Nike? There was something here, and it could’ve been powerful. But it either wasn’t explored or lacked focus, and we are left again wondering about what could have been. 

2/5 Dondas

No Child Left Behind:

This was the preview track for Donda, originally featured in a Beats ad with the unfulfilled promise of a July 23^rd release date for the album. It’s a simple but effective song.

3/5 Dondas

*Intermission Pt. 2: The Sequels. The Pt. 2 songs aren’t so much new creations or progressions on the originals, but remixes with several new guest spots thrown in. Like most sequels they are sub-par compared to what came before. And considering we’re at track 24, they’re unnecessary. At this point, I’m having a hard time making it through the end of the album, since the Pt. 2’s aren’t bringing enough to the table to warrant their inclusion in the project. Come on, Kanye, just pick one version and go with it. 

Jail Pt. 2

This track is surrounded by controversy, and not the good kind. It features Marilyn Manson, who is currently in legal battles following multiple sexual abuse allegations, and DaBaby, who was removed from several festival headlining spots, including Lollapalooza, following a homophobic tirade he went on at a show. Understandably, the label pulled the song from the release, but Kanye complained on socials and within hours like magic, “Jail Pt. 2” appears. It’s the exact same song as pt. 1, only sub in DaBaby for Jay-Z and add Marilyn Manson the chorus. There’s some irony in having Manson sing “Guess who’s going to jail tonight.” I don’t know, hopefully you? 

1/5 Dondas

Ok Ok Pt. 2

Feels less compelling this time around. But the guest spot from dancehall artist Shenseea was new and different.

3/5 Dondas

Junya Pt. 2:

The carnival organ played over a boom bap drumline makes the music on this remix a little more interesting than the previous two. Ty Dolla Sign provides a verse. It’s fine, I guess.

2.5/5 Dondas

Jesus Lord Pt. 2:

Did you like Jesus Lord Pt. 1 but wish it was 2 ½ minutes longer? Kanye’s gotcha covered. Still good, and the additional verses are on point. If you have 11 ½ minutes to spend listening to one Kanye song, you could certainly do worse. 

5/5 Dondas

Final Thoughts:

Donda is a good but incredibly bloated album. Somewhere in there is a great album. If Kanye or somebody could have trimmed the length by half, it would be outstanding. As it is, this is the product of an artist who knows he’s good and because of that doesn’t answer to anyone. Sometimes great artists need someone to help them edit so that the gold isn’t overshadowed by all of the surrounding rubble. There’s value in self-producing, and incredible music has been made without the hindrance and oversight of producers and labels. But those artists also have to be able to show restraint, and Kanye ain’t that type of musician. His lyrics are an improvement on Jesus is King, and sometimes we’re given glimpses into his cleverness as a reminder that he knows what to do with a pen. But there’s also an awful lot of Jesus and Devil related throwaway lines that feel like he emphasized quantity over quality. Donda contains some really fire tracks that are unfortunately weighed down and buried under a number of mediocre songs. It would be difficult to relisten to the album in full, but an abridged version would deserve some return. If you want to experience Donda for yourself, you can find it pretty much everywhere at this point.