Kanye honors mother with 10th studio album, "Donda"

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone

 On Friday, July 23, Kanye West, also known as Ye, hosted a listening party teasing his 10th studio album, “Donda.” It was rumored that following the listening party he was to release the album to the public, but that was not the case. Notorious for being late to his work, West did in fact not release the album. That same day, Rolling Stone released a statement saying the album would have an official release date of Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. But when the day rolled around, West's fans sat and kept refreshing only to find nothing. The album was once again not released when expected. 

Another listening party had occurred at Chicago’s Soldier Field Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 26, where West apparently lived while he finished recording the album. Causing much confusion and controversy, this listening party was packed with a lot of interesting imagery and meaning. In the middle of the arena was a replica of his late mother, Dr. Donda C. West’s, home. On the front porch of this replica home was West himself, rapper Da Baby, who has recently been in the spotlight for making homophobic comments and death metal rock star Marilyn Manson, who has recently been accused of sexual assault this past February. Along with the controversial featured guests, at the listening party, West and Kim Kardashian West were seen reenacting their wedding vows while Kardashian West wore a white Balenciaga wedding dress.

One thing that all West fans can count on when a release occurs is a story to go along with it — and this album, out of them all, has the most meaning. This 26-track, 108-minute album is an ode to his late mother, recent divorce and more, giving his listeners an intimate look into his hectic life. 

The first and most symbolic track on the album is called “Donda Chant.” At first, it might sound like a mysterious, feminine voice repeating Kanye's mothers name, but there is a deeper meaning behind this odd repetition. If one listens closely, the beat that her name is being chanted to is slowly getting weaker and weaker. Kanye later revealed that it was to mimic his mother’s heartbeat right before she passed away. 

One thing that makes West unique from other artists is his skill to tell stories not just within his music, but also within the way he organizes his albums, including the cover design, track titles and more. Many fans can agree that West has mastered the art of storytelling, not only through visuals, but also through lyrics.