Donda 2
Donda 2 is the eleventh studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It has also been described as a demo, as it was initially released in an unfinished state on Kano Computing's Stem Player on February 23, 2022, with more songs added in an update. On April 29, 2025, West independently released Donda 2 on music streaming services via his YZY brand, with a different tracklist and updated production. Guest appearances include XXXTentacion, Don Toliver, Baby Keem, Migos, Travis Scott, Future, Jack Harlow, Sean Leon, Vory, Fivio Foreign, Alicia Keys, Soulja Boy, the Game, and Playboi Carti.
West began recording Donda 2 in early January 2022, producing it alongside Beach House, the Chainsmokers, Dem Jointz, Digital Nas, DJ Premier, Hit-Boy, Mike Dean, Sean Leon, Theophilus London, and Wheezy, among others, with Future serving as the executive producer. Although West recorded hundreds of songs during the production of Donda, none of Donda 2 songs came from the Donda sessions. Donda 2 is a hip-hop album with R&B and trap elements. Lyrically, it explores West's anger and sadness stemming from his divorce from Kim Kardashian, and he directs insults towards Kardashian's then-boyfriend Pete Davidson. Multiple music critics described its sound as unfinished, and many of West's lyrics are unintelligible.
Donda 2 release was preceded by the singles "Eazy" and "City of Gods", released in January and February 2022 respectively—both of which peaked within the top 50 of the US Billboard Hot 100. West held "Kanye West: Donda Experience Performance", an accompanying listening party at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida on February 22, 2022, selling out 47 IMAX theaters across the United States; the event was plagued by technical failures. Donda 2 received mixed reviews, with criticism for its subject matter, song structures, lack of focus, and West's lyricism, though the production received some praise. It is generally considered one of West's worst albums. Due to its initial Stem Player exclusivity, Donda 2 was heavily pirated. Donda 2 did not chart on any known record charts; Billboard deemed it ineligible for its charts due to product bundling rules.
West was expected to update and finish the Stem Player release within a matter of months, but it received no major updates after February 2022. After West made a series of antisemitic statements in late 2022, Kano dissociated from him and discontinued the Stem Player. Numerous songs in a further state of completeness surfaced online through leaks, while others were reworked and released by other artists. In March 2025, West announced that he was returning to Donda 2. Digital Nas, who executive produced the streaming release, livestreamed his progress updating it throughout April, and West released it on streaming services on April 29.
Background and recording
In an interview with Complex on January 3, 2022, Victor Victor Worldwide CEO Steven Victor exclusively told the website that West had begun working on a sequel to his tenth studio album Donda, entitled Donda 2. Victor later told the magazine that it is "coming sooner than you think", explaining: "The procession is starting and it's not stopping." On January 27, 2022, West captioned an Instagram photo of his childhood home in flames with a date of February 22 along with the title Donda 2, also mentioning fellow rapper Future will serve the role of executive producer. He had worked with Future in the past, featuring on his single "I Won". Most publications took this as an announcement of the album's release date, though it went unreleased on the date. Producer BoogzDaBeast revealed that even though hundreds of songs were recorded during the sessions for the first Donda album, the tracks recorded for Donda 2 were all new songs made after the announcement of the Donda 2 listening event.Producer Digital Nas revealed that for Donda 2, West instructed him to make the songs sound "more monk-like" and to "simplify the tracks", and if they are "not able to be played at a funeral, childbirth, graduation, a wedding", then inclusion on the album is not appropriate. In late January 2022, the producer stated that singer Marilyn Manson was recording for Donda 2 daily in the studio. Marilyn Manson had previously contributed to Donda and for the sequel, Digital Nas opened up that West does not want the singer to "play rap beats", desiring for him "to play what he makes" and then West would work on parts of his work. Digital Nas compared the creative process to that of West's sixth studio album Yeezus, also saying that some of the producers who contributed to the album were working on Donda 2.
On February 17, 2022, West announced that Donda 2 will not be available on any commercial streaming services and will be exclusive to his Stem Player audio device, priced at, which was previously released with Donda. He explained that his motive is how artists "get just 12% of the money the industry makes" when their music is available on the platforms, calling for a time for freedom from "this oppressive system". According to West, he made around $2.2 million from purchases of the Stem Player within 24 hours of the announcement, having sold over 8,000 copies. However, West making the album only available on the device led to criticism from his fans. As a result of the rapper's decision, Apple reportedly pulled their $2 million sponsorship deal with him, as they were scheduled to stream the accompanying concert. In a series of Instagram posts, West declared that he had turned down a $100 million deal with the company. The first batch of songs that were played at the Miami listening event on February 22, 2022–which were added to the device on February 24–contained half-mumbled reference tracks and incomplete songs; West continued finishing the album during February. The co-inventor of the Stem Player tweeted that official Donda 2 songs are available and always updated via the device, adding that "anywhere else, you're not getting the vision or the latest versions", insinuating that West plans to update the album as he had done previously with The Life of Pablo and Donda in 2016 and 2021, respectively.
Music and themes
Donda 2 is a hip-hop album. The album was described in multiple reviews as seeming unfinished, with Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork viewing it as an "undercooked" album posing as an "ever-changing art piece" that may remain incomplete. A production style that incorporates "see-sawing synth patterns" was observed by The Guardian journalist Alexis Petridis in his review of the album, who also commented that there is a lack of focus, seeing certain songs as resembling demos. According to HipHopDX writer Matthew Ritchie, large stretches of the production demonstrate West's "attention to detail" that creates a background for songs.West delves into relationship problems between himself and Kim Kardashian on Donda 2, particularly discussing their divorce. Thematically, this topic drew comparisons to West's fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak from numerous writers. He goes into detail about the divorce, focusing on his many emotions and insecurities. West directs insults towards comedian Pete Davidson, who became Kardashian's new partner. West also addresses his family's concerns, disregarding them. He conveys a bitter and self-pitying outlook, seeking the sympathy of others, while showing a lack of both happiness and empathy.
Songs
The album's opening track, "True Love", contains a drum break shared with West's 2010 single "Runaway" that samples "The Basement" by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. A posthumous feature from rapper XXXTentacion is included at the beginning, singing about lost love. On the track, West laments the childcare arrangements brought about in the wake of his divorce. West also references XXXTentacion's son Gekyume during the second chorus, as he reminds both his and the late rapper's children of their respective fathers' love for them. "Broken Road" is a ballad featuring rapper Don Toliver, in which West delivers introspection and declares his freedom. "Get Lost" sees West singing a cappella with Auto-Tune heavily applied to his voice, recalling varying memories of his marriage to Kardashian. "Too Easy" features electronic elements and contains a mantra by West, who uses the vocal technique as he champions self love. The rapper references his then-budding relationship with actress Julia Fox on "Flowers" and alludes to both his birthday gift for her and his Valentine's Day present for his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. West angrily threatens to fight Davidson on the noisy and aggressive track "Security", proclaiming that he "ain't got enough security for this"."We Did It Kid" includes guest vocals from Baby Keem and the Migos and features lyrics about friendship over a brass trap beat. "Pablo" is an energetic track with a fast-moving beat and a hook from fellow rapper Travis Scott, while Future also contributes a verse. The 2025 release of Pablo has a verse from West that is made with AI. "Louie Bags" is a tribute to designer Virgil Abloh, a longtime friend of West's. West states on the minimally-produced electronic-backed track that he stopped buying Abloh's Louis Vuitton bags after his death in 2021. The track ends with a verse performed by Jack Harlow. "Happy" opens with a verse from Future, preceding three AI verses from West, who conveys his sadness as he repeatedly pleads: "Do I look happy to you?" "Sci Fi" features lush orchestral production and begins with a monologue from Kardashian's 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live, in which she applauds West's achievements. Lyrically, West tells the story of their divorce and hearing actor Morgan Freeman's voice whilst having intercourse. "Selfish" is a minimal ballad that posthumously features XXXTentacion, with West analyzing how his flaws led to the divorce. Selfish was removed from the 2025 streaming release. "Lord Lift Me Up" has an orchestral style and consists solely of vocals from Vory. "City of Gods" is a Brooklyn drill styled track serves as an ode to New York City from West, fellow rapper Fivio Foreign, and singer Alicia Keys. "First Time in a Long Time" embraces new beginnings and features a guest verse from Soulja Boy. On West and fellow rapper the Game's collaboration "Eazy", the former disses Davidson, threatening to "beat ass."