REVIEW: KANYE WEST - DONDA

 

4/5

Dear Mama.

Finally. The self-made biggest album of the year as anticipated as a new pair of Yeezys is here. 'Donda' has dropped like another church session on Sunday for all your streaming services. Unexpectedly like Notorious avian excrement (your move Drizzy Drake). Even if Universal have released it without approval ('Jail pt. 2' was briefly on blocked lockdown). All after weeks of backdated pre-order backlogs and more listening parties than when you have control of the aux cord in your friends car. All as Kanye West redefined the preview party to a stadium rock sound in concert with an actual live show for his tenth album launch. There was the classic, iconic moment and coming of age of 'The College Dropout'. The genius of 'Late Registration'. The dropout bears 'Graduation' (still waiting on 'A Good Ass Job'). The hurt of losing Donda with '808 and Heartbreaks'. The absolutely amazing and career confirming 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'. 'Yeezus'...need we say anymore? The art of 'The Life Of Pablo'. The epic EP length of 'Ye' during his seven track string. And of course the heaven sent 'Jesus Is King' two years ago for the man that walks with God. Not to mention classic collabo LP's with Jay-Z ('Watch The Throne'...their baaaack) and Kid Cudi ('Kids See Ghosts' too. Scott Mescudi is also invited to the party). Or group ones like the hot as hell 'Cruel Summer' for more G.O.O.D. Music and the 'Jesus Is Born' follow up to 'King' with the Sunday Service Choir ('Emmanuel' is still on his way). But is 'Donda' and its 'Yeezus' like sparse black album like artwork Mr. West's best yet? Even for this writer who after all these years still refuses to leave 'College'? It's certainly his biggest at 27 tracks and 1 hour and 48 minutes of runtime like a movie. It's also his boldest with collaborations with the mainstream music legendary likes of The Weekend, Travis Scott and a redemption reunion you've got to love, Mr. S. Dot. Carter. All for the man who has made music with everybody from Bon Iver to Daft Punk. Although we really wish this man would stop working with people like Marylin Manson and Trump. But in swapping a red baseball cap for a 'Donda' bulletproof vest, the artist with a stocking cap over his head is doing it all for just one person. 

Hey Mama. I'm so proud of you. This one's for you. From the opening 'Donda Chant' to the crowd of this son that has holed himself up in Atlanta and stadiums, honing his sound. To the 'Jail' that chant beat finds itself in and its soaring second go round like rolling double in Monopoly for the rapper that owns it all like Regent Street. "Guess who's going to jail tonight," Kanye screams as he sets us all free like his long awaited and anticipated album. All before an unchained Jay-Z gives us all what we've really been waiting for. A chance to watch again. "This might be the return of the throne" on this stunning slow flow, back and forth. The kingdom is Rocafella's again like DJ Khaled wearing a roc chain on last week's episode of King James and Maverick Carter's 'The Shop' on HBO, next to 'Melo. After that 'God Breathed' as Jesus wept for a Yeezus like classic that will have you call and chorus response in holy matrimony like a choir as the genius exhales. "I know God is in all of this" the boy from the city of wind tells a world divided by disease like red and blue states, as he keeps walking with two sets of footprints in the sand. 'Off The Grid' the prolific producer beat to beat does it for the kids, kids, kids. So much so you'll say it again like Candyman. "I talk to God every day that's my bestie/They playin' soccer in my backyard, I think I see Messi", Yeezy who jumped over the Jumpman adds, referencing the almighty and the new Paris St. Germain icon like Jordan. Keeping up to date with these times a-changin'. Then The Weeknd's unmistakable register comes in like a 'Hurricane' for this pair of M.J.'s, dancing like it's the last time. 'Praise God' you'll say with Travis Scott and Baby Keem like the "it can't always be night" sermon that preludes this service. And make sure you check in with 'Jonah' over the hill for this Superbad star who once told us "chicks give (him) McLovin" on Drake's 'More Than A Game', 'Forever' for LeBron. Supersizing over a billion served for that McDonald's money and an album that went number one on iTunes quicker than Ali getting into bed before it went dark after hitting the light. Light up all of them. 'OK, OK?' 

Kim K needs to listen to that one and it's part two from K. As for the rest of this reality, it's more than just for show. Tell it like it is on the church organs of 'Junya' who gets his own sequel too for your collection. "This on Donda. On my momma," Kanye declares. Doing it all for Watanabe like Yuta, dropping bars for the new Milwaukee NBA champion Antetokounmpo, "See more comments (Mmh, mmh)/Than I see commas (Mmh, mmh)/They going dummy (Mmh, mmh)/We going Donda (Mmh, mmh)/Let me be honest (Mmh, mmh)/Let me be honest (Mmh, mmh)/I won with the bucks, boy/Let me Giannis (Mmh, mmh)/I won with the bucks, boy (Mm, mm)/The spirit is on us (Mmh, mmh)/The spirit of Donda." Mmh, mm. Yet for 'Ye like when it 'All Falls Down' it's the soulful sample of Ms. Hill's 'Doo Wop' that's that thing as West goes over some, "celebrity drama only Brad would know." This is anything but the pitts. Sitting on '24' like Kobe this top tenth album is the eighth wonder. This is what happens when the best is told to be "more successful" by the late, great Mamba Mentality himself like that classic Nike commercial. Different animal, same beast. "What the f### does that mean?" This! Right here. Challenge accepted. Bar cleared in this Olympic year of Tokyo 2020 were West owns ever stadiums podium. Now what's better than gold? Platinum world domination! Who needs to stand on plastic crates to get to the top when you've been digging through them your whole life to find the real grail? So keep your balance. Because this 'Remote Control' can zap everything and break not only the internet, but Spotify too. Here's the hard work the GOAT talked about that brings champagne for Chi-towns finest since Michael. Three-peating as he goes into double digits for the record. Stack the plaques. Because its going all the way to the 'Moon' for the man who arm strongs the game like NASA in his own galaxy and twisted fantasy with Cudi. Because everyone's got to make a living. Even those in a whole new stratosphere. Ben is back with J-Lo and now Kanye samples 'Jenny From The Block' too for 'Heaven and Hell', dropping fire sent from the angels. "No more promos, no more photos/No more logos, no more chokeholds/We on Bezos, we get payrolls/Trips to Lagos, connect like LEGOs/Make this final, make this, my eyes closed/Burn false idols, Jesus' disciples/I can feel your pain now, I done bled my vein out." Now that's years of dedication and all it deserves. But glory to God who is a woman, it's 'Donda' on 'Donda' that you really need to hear for yourself. "You know I'm my son's mother," she said. It's her influence and inspiration to not only this album, him, or us, but everyone. All that 'Keeps My Spirit Alive' in this new genre of heaven hip-hop. Can I coin that, or at least get an amen? 'Jesus Lord', please believe for a nine minute prayer and an eleven minute one the morning after with the legendary Lox for your Versuz in this collections closing that just takes you there. The legendary enigma of Jay Electronica too "back from the great beyond" after his Ghostface to Raekwon 'Cuban Linx' Jay-Z assisted album that came out right before corona last year for 'A Written Testimony'. Feeling 'New Again' and fresher than a Prince from Bel-Air on his 1st birthday as we try to come out of quarantine (say what you will about this man's costume choices, but at least he's wearing a mask). Just 'Tell The Vision' like Wanda in grief, because down, but not out, 'Lord I Need You' and this track will take you to the heavenly father like the 'Purple Haze' of Cam'ron's 'Lord You Know' with Jaheim for the ROC. You know what to do. Hell yeah. Put your diamonds in the air for the 'Pure Souls' touched by the light like God's gift. "The truth is only what you get away with, huh" he tells us with sense all as the man who once had more in Common with rappers that asked 'Can I Borrow A Dollar' now has enough money to give every boy and girl in the world a buck. "Ever wish you had another life" 'Ye asks on 'Come To Life', bringing everyone to his congregation as the devil gets behind him with 'No Child Left Behind' for his mission like God's plan (your move Aubrey), as the life lessons of this album asks more as he answers all we wonder, unquestionably. After baptising entire crowds in concert in the holy water healing of his beats and the fire of his bars, Kanye's new Sunday Service testify touches more than the sky. It touches the hand of God and the mother watching over him above. This is for you 'Donda'. Rest peacefully Mrs. West. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Jail (Feat. Jay-Z)', 'Hurricane (Feat. The Weeknd)', 'Jesus Lord (Feat. Jay Electronica)'.