Kanye West Finally Releases New Album Donda
Finally, Kanye West has released his new studio album Donda. It includes contributions from JAY-Z (on “Jail”), the Weeknd, Jay Electronica, the Lox, Young Thug, the late Pop Smoke, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Kid Cudi, Lil Durk, Lil Yachty, Baby Keem, Playboi Carti, Ty Dolla $ign, Don Toliver, Fivio Foreign, and Chris Brown. Producers include Boi-1da, Mike Dean, E.Vax of Ratatat, 88 Keys, Swizz Beatz, Wheezy, and Gesaffelstein. Listen to Kanye West’s new album Donda, and find the currently available credits, below. (Pitchfork earns a commission from purchases made through affiliate links on our site.)
Donda arrived after the rapper’s third listening party—a Chicago event that controversially featured appearances from Marilyn Manson and DaBaby. The official credits for “Jail” list Brian Warner (aka Marilyn Manson) as a composer and lyricist. There is a second “Jail,” too, called “Jail, Pt. 2,” which features DaBaby in place of JAY-Z, as well as contributions from Manson and others. West posted a pair of photos on Instagram showing text threads in which he alleges that DaBaby’s manager was not clearing the Charlotte rapper’s verse for “Jail.” Arnold Taylor—the founder and president of South Coast Music Group, the label to which DaBaby is signed—disputed West’s claim. Later, West claimed that Universal Music Group (the parent label of Def Jam Recordings and G.O.O.D. Music) released Donda “without [his] approval” and also “blocked ‘Jail, Pt. 2’ from being on the album.” Regardless of the allegation, West’s manager Abou “Bu” Thiam, who also formerly worked for Def Jam, has shared a screenshot of Donda on Instagram, presumably promoting the album’s release.
West first announced Donda last summer, after previously saying that he’d release a new album titled God’s Country. He released “Wash Us in the Blood,” with Travis Scott, and shared different versions of tracklists for the album before teasing another new song called “Believe What I Say.” On July 20, 2021, a few days before the album was first due to arrive, West teased Donda’s “No Child Left Behind” in a Beats ad that featured track star Sha’Carri Richardson. He also sold the Donda Stem Player in conjunction with the album’s release.
West was scheduled to put out Donda following the first listening event on July 22, but postponed the release, announcing a new release date of August 6 via a representative just days later. (The album, of course, did not come out on August 6.) Between the July 22 and August 5 events, West appeared to take up residence within the Atlanta stadium to complete work on the album. He streamed some of the progress ahead of the record’s release, too.
The album arrives amid huge changes in the rapper’s private life. He recently officially filed to have his name legally changed to a single word: Ye. The name change petition came months after the news that he and Kim Kardashian West are divorcing. Kardashian West appeared in the crowd for both Donda events in Atlanta with their children. At the Chicago event, she and West reenacted their wedding. TMZ has also reported that West and Kardashian West are “working on rebuilding the foundation of their relationship.”
Kanye West’s previous studio album was 2019’s Grammy Award-winning gospel record Jesus Is King.
Producer: Kanye West
Composer/Lyricist: Kanye West, Syleena Johnson
Producer: 88 Keys, Dem Jointz, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Sean Solymar
Composer/Lyricist: Brian Warner, Charles Njapa, Dwayne Abernathy Jr, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Michael Dean, Raul Cubina, Sean Solymar, Shawn Carter
Additional Producer: Sean Solymar
Co-Producer: Dem Jointz
Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Allday, Arron “Arrow” Sunday, E.Vax, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Aaron Butts, Brian Miller, Kanye West, Mark Willains, Raul Cubina, Evan Mast
Co-Producer: Allday
Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: 30 Roc, AyoAA, David & Eli, Kanye West, Ojivolta, Sloane
Composer/Lyricist: Asif Aswad, David Ruoff, Elias Klughammer, Eric Sloan, Jordan Carter, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Maxie Lee, Ryles, III, Raul Cubina, Samuel Gloade
Additional Producer: Sloane
Co-Producer David & Eli
Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, DJ Khallil, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Ronny J
Composer/Lyricist: Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Daniel Seeff, Dominique Armani Jones, Jahmal Gwin, Josh Mease, Kanye West, Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Mark Mbogo, Mark Williams, Mike Dean, Raul Cubina, Rondald Oneil Spence Jr., Sam Barsh
Additional Vocals: Kaycyy Pluto
Associated Performer: Kaycyy Pluto
Cop-Prodcuer: Ojivolta
Mastering Engineer: Mike Dean
Mix Engineer: Sean Solymar, Tommy Rush
Recording Engineer: Alejandro-Rodriguez-Dawsøn, Josh Berg, Mikalai Skrobat, Shin Kamiyama
Studio Personnel: Alejandro-Rodriguez-Dawsøn, Josh Berg, Louis Bell, Mikalai Skrobat, Mike Dean, Sean Solymar, Shin Kamiyama, Tommy Rush
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: 30 Roc, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Sloane, Zen Tachi
Composer/Lyricist: Aqeel Tate, Eric Sloan Jr., Hykeem Carter, Jacques Webster II, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina, Samuel Gloade
Additional Producer: Sloane
Co-Producer: Mike Dean, Zen Tachi
Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Audi, Kanye West, Mike Dean
Composer/Lyricist: Durk Banks, Kanye West, Michael Suski, Mike Dean, Tahrence Brown, Travoris Javon Hollins Jr.
Additional Producer: Mike Dean
Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Boi-1da, Kanye West
Composer/Lyricist: Denzel Charles, Kanye West, Louis Bell, Matthew Samuels, Maxie Lee Ryles III, Miles McCollum. Studio Personnel: Louis Bell
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Digital Nas, Kanye West, Ojivolta, Roark Bailey
Composer/Lyricist: Jordan Carter, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Nasir Pemberton, Raul Cubina, Roark Bailey
Additional Producer: Roark Bailey
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, Dem Jointz, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Dwayne Abernathy Jr, Isaac De Boni, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Myrie, Mark Williams, Michael Mulé, Raul Cubina
Co-Producer: BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Ojivolta
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Allday, Cory Henry, Kanye West, Ojivolta, Warryn Campbell
Composer/Lyricist: Brian Miller, Cory Henry, Kanye West, Mark Mbogo, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina, Warryn Campbell
Co-Producer: Cory Henry, Warryn Campbell
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: 88 Keys, Cubeatz, Digital Nas, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Charles Njapa, Jeffery Williams, Kanye West, Kevin Gomringer, Mark Williams, Mike Dean, Nasir Pemberton, Raul Cubina, Tim Gomringer
Co-Producer: 88 Keys, Mike Dean
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, DJ Khalil, E.Vax, Kanye West
Composer/Lyricist: Caleb Zackery Toliver, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Scott Mescudi, Evan Mast
Co-Producer BoogzDaBeast, DJ Khalil
Producer: 88 Keys, BoogzDaBeast, Kanye West, Ojivolta, Wallis Lane
Composer/Lyricist: Charles Njapa, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Nima Jahanbin, Paimon Jahanbin, Raul Cubina
Co-Producer: Ojivolta, Wallis Lane
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Isaac De Boni, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina
Co-Producer: FNZ, Ojivolta
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Isaac De Boni, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Raul Cubina
Co-Producer: FNZ, Ojivolta
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Gesaffelstein, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Swizz Beatz
Composer/Lyricist: Kanye West, Kasseem Dean, Larry Hoover, Jr., Mike Dean, Mike Lévy, Timothy Thedford
Co-Producer: Gesaffelstein, Mike Dean
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: 88 Keys, BoogzDaBeast, Dem Jointz, Kanye West, Mia Wallis, Ojivolta, Wallis Lane
Composer: Charles Njapa, Christopher Brown, Dwayne Abernathy Jr, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Laraya Robinson, Mark Williams, Nima Jahanbin, PAimon Jahanbin, Raul Cubina
Additional Producer: 88 Keys
Co-Producer: Dem Jointz, Mia Wallis, Ojivolta, Wallis Lane
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Bashar Jackson, Isaac De Boni, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Michael Mulé, Raul Cubina
Co-Producer: FNZ, Ojivolta
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Kanye West, Ojivolta, Wheezy
Composer/Lyricist: Carlos St. John Phillips, Isaac De Boni, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Michael Mulé, Wesley Glass
Additional Producer: Ojivolta
Associated Performer: Jason White, Nikki Grier
Co-Producer: FNZ, Wheezy
Mix Engineer: Irko
Recording Engineer: Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn, Jonathan Pfzar, Josh Berg, Mikalai Skrobat, Todd Bergman, Willy Chanson
Studio Personnel: Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn, Irko, Jonathan Pfzar, Josh Berg, Louis Bell, Mikalai Skrobat, Todd Bergman, Willy Chanson
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Vocal Producer: Jason White, Nikki Grier
Producer: 88 Keys, Bastian Völkel, BoogzDaBeast, Fyaman, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Shuko, Sucuki
Composer/Lyricist: Bastian Völkel, Christoph Bauss, Jahmal Gwin, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Mike Dean, Orlando Wilder, Raul Cubina, Rodrick Wayne Moore, Jr., Tim Friedrich
Additional Producer: 88 Keys, Fryman
Co-Producer: Bastian Völkel, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Shuko, Sucuki
Producer/Composer/Lyricist: Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivalta, Warryn Campbell
Co-Producer: Mike Dean
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: BoogzDaBeast, Cashmere Brown, Gesaffelstein, Kanye West
Composer/Lyricist: Jahmal Gwin, Jahshua Brown, Kanye West, Mike Levy, Tavoris Javon Hollins Jr
Additional Producer: Cashmere Brown
Producer: 88 Keys, Dem Jointz, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, Sean Solymar
Composer/Lyricist: Brian Warner, Charles Njapa, Dwayne Abernathy Jr, Jonathan Kirk, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Michael Dean, Raul Cubina, Sean Solymar
Additional Producer: Sean Solymar
Co-Producer: Dem Jointz
Additional Vocals: Dem Jointz, Sunday Service Choir
Associated Performer: Dem Jointz, Jason White, Nikki Grier, Sunday Service Choir
Mix Engineer: Irko
Recording Engineer/Studio Personnel: Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn, Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton, Josh Berg, Mikalai Skrobat
Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Vocal Producer: Jason White, Nikki Grier
Producer: Boi-1da, Kanye West, Louis Bell
Composer/Lyricist: CHINSEA LEE, Denzel Charles, Kanye West, Louis Bell, Matthew Samuels, Maixe Lee Ryles III
Co-Producer, Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
Producer: Digital Nas, Kanye West, Ojivolta
Composer/Lyricist: Jordan Carter, Kanye West, Mark Williams, Nasir Pemberton, Raul Cubina, Roark Bailey, Tyrone Griffin Jr.
Producer: Gesaffelstein, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Swizz Beatz
Composer/Lyricist: David Styles, Jason Phillips, Kanye West, Kasseem Dean, Larry Hoover, Jr., Mike Dean, Mike Lévy, Sean “Sheek Louch” Jacobs, Timothy Thedford
Co-Producer: Gesaffelstein, Mike Dean
Studio Personnel, Vocal Editing: Louis Bell
This article was originally published on Sunday, August 29 at 8:20 a.m. Eastern. It was last updated on August 29 at 4:02 p.m. Eastern.