Noted shoemaker Kanye West surprised the world early Sunday morning with the launch of his long-awaited album Donda. It arrived after “listening parties” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Soldier Field in Chicago. West, a one-time proud wearer of a red MAGA hat, invited a slew of talent to collaborate on the new work, including several people clouded in controversy.
At the Chicago Donda event on Thursday, in which West lit himself on fire near a recreated version of his childhood home, there were surprise appearances by Marilyn Manson and DaBaby. The two are heard and co-credited as composers and lyricists on the album’s track “Jail pt 2,” Pitchfork confirms.
Manson was accused by Evan Rachel Wood and other women this February of committing a years-long pattern of sexual and psychological abuse. Manson has denied the allegations.
DaBaby was removed at the last minute from a prime spot at this year’s Lollapalooza in early August after making homophobic remarks at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami. He made a public apology, but then deleted it.
The track “Jail pt 2” appeared to be temporarily put on hold last night due to DaBaby’s noncommunicative manager, according to a TMZ report. But a text, purportedly from West, reads, “I’m not taking my brother off,” regarding DaBaby’s inclusion. “He was the only person who said he would vote for me in public,” West added, apparently referring to his short-lived presidential campaign.
Kim Kardashian, West’s ex-wife, was present in Chicago on Thursday to reenact the couple’s 2014 wedding. According to E! Online, Kardashian doesn’t want anyone to read too much into that appearance (they aren’t getting back together, and “she has always supported his work,” a source says). She was also reportedly unaware that the controversial rocker and hip hop star would be at the event. Phrases like “very upset,” “blindsided,” and “she would never have participated” are included in another E! report.
But DaBaby and Manson aren’t the only disconcerting names on the album. Elsewhere in the credits is Chris Brown, who in addition to other problems with the law, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna. He is listed as composer and lyricist on the track “New Again,” according to Pitchfork.
The album also features Jay Electronica, who came under scrutiny last summer when he accused Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center of being a devil and tweeted about the “VILE TEACHINGS of the Talmud.” (You may remember Cooper from his recent appearance on Nick Cannon’s show, where he held a positive dialogue with Cannon after Cannon also made antisemitic remarks, for which he has apologized.)
But I guess there are some positives?
A cavalcade of other performers, including The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and The Lox are also on the album. Moreover, the response online Sunday morning was stratospheric.
This 8 AM reaction from Juicy J about sums it up.
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