Kanye West finally drops Donda, then immediately goes to war with his own label!
Chicago, Illinois - Kanye West has finally released his long-awaited album Donda, after months of delays – but the drama is just beginning!
The rapper launched the 27-track record on to streaming services after a number of promotional events that did not culminate in the release of new music.
Or did he? On Sunday, he sensationally accused his label, Universal Music, of putting the record out without his approval.
In an Instagram post, he also claimed that "they blocked Jail 2 from being on the album," presumably over a controversial cameo by DaBaby on the track.
Given that Jail pt 2 is included in the release, it's not clear exactly what the allegation is. At a recent listening event, Kanye had replaced his verse on the song with one by DaBaby, who was recently criticized for homophobic comments made at a music festival.
Kanye initially appeared to offer an explanation for DaBaby's absence from the track with screenshots of text messages shared on his Instagram, which now only features two posts.
One screenshot appears to be of a text conversation with one of his representatives, in which Kanye is told that DaBaby's manager has not cleared the cameo on Jail. Another screenshot appears to be of text messages between Kanye and DaBaby, in which Kanye tells him the delay is preventing the album from coming out.
Both Jail and Jail pt 2 give co-writing credit to Brian Warner, the real name of shock rocker Marilyn Manson, who has denied multiple allegations of sexual assault and who made a surprise appearance alongside Kanye and DaBaby at the recent event in Chicago.
A long awaited album with a deep personal meaning
The album, a follow-up to 2019's Jesus Is King, features collaborators including Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Lil Baby, Playboi Carti, Kid Cudi, and the late rapper Pop Smoke. The track Jail, which comes second on the album, features Jay-Z.
Kanye had said the record would arrive in July, then spent time living at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, where he had held a listening party, while working on completing the record.
At the most recent listening event in Chicago, his estranged wife Kim Kardashian made a show-stealing cameo, emerging from the audience in a wedding dress months after filing for divorce from the rapper.
Kanye's 10th studio record is named after his late mother.Donda West was an English professor at Chicago State University who died in 2007 aged 58 following complications from cosmetic surgery.
Her death had a devastating impact on Kanye, who as well as his latest album also named a creative content company after her.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Matrix