Have you ever given in a piece of coursework that was really, really late? Like, just as you were printing it off and getting ready to hand it in, you found your teacher’s office locked, dark and closed for the summer? Kanye West may be experiencing something similar as he readies, yet again, to premiere his 10th album, DONDA, this time for an apparent release next week.
Originally slated for release following the conclusion of the first hyped-up DONDA album launch at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta last Friday, July 23 which was live-streamed on Apple Music and broke viewing figures for the service, we’ve since heard sweet FA in the form of new Kanye music.
Despite the drop being confirmed by Ye’s own label, Def Jam and G.O.O.D Music, the record did not appear on streaming services neither after the event or the days following, despite several headline-grabbing moments, including the apparent last-minute inclusion of a guest verse by former frenemy Jay Z.
But now, things seem to be changing. Or at least, moving forward. Who knows at this point, tbh.
Last night, Live Nation tweeted that Yeezy would be once again premiering DONDA for the second time at Mercedez-Benz Stadium again, this time on 5 August with creative direction by Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia.
Announced at Kanye West Presents The Donda Album Release, that title would make it pretty embarrassing if no album materialised after it, which we guess is kind of the point right?
As Pitchfork confirmed, reps for Kanye have since confirmed that DONDA will then drop (for real this time, apparently) on 6 August, although one could imagine that the release date could be malleable to how well the new material is received at the listening party.
As for what’s pushed Kanye to finally finish his long-gestating project, who can say? Maybe it was the prison-like living quarters he’d constructed for himself inside the Atlanta stadium where he was existing like some kind of modern-day Phantom of the Opera. Maybe it was the intervention of she who works harder than the Devil, Kris Jenner. Or maybe the album is actually finally done this time.
We’re ready when you are, Ye.
Tickets for Kanye West Presents The Donda Album Release go on sale via Ticketmaster Monday 2 August at 10am ET (3pm BST).