Donda
by Kanye West
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3155 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,070 out of 3155
  2. Mixed: 161 out of 3155
  3. Negative: 924 out of 3155
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  1. Elflock
    Sep 3, 2021
    0
    Mediocre. While listening I thought filler songs are okay but never heated any song which was on higher level. Concept of the album seems lazy.
  2. DVSN0506
    Sep 3, 2021
    1
    Super long album for no real reason and the people rating it so high are liars. Let’s be honest he’s not a good artist but I still think he could’ve don’t better. I understand that it’s a tribute but this was not good at all he should’ve kept this to himself
  3. FlowCZ
    Sep 3, 2021
    7
    Maybe to much church vibes sometimes but there are some bangers.
    Features are great and Ye really did good job with his pen.
  4. Jwh2333
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    Not just music it is an experience. It's what Jesus is King should have been.
  5. Calvint1227
    Sep 3, 2021
    1
    Disgusting excuse of a Kanye album. So much wasted potential with donda. Kanye’s rapping falls short nearly everywhere except barely getting by with “off the grid”. Every beat sounded/felt the same, Kanye usually samples well however here he barely did, he stuck to the same snare pattern on the majority of the songs. I’m actually offended by the way donda turned out. With all the hype thisDisgusting excuse of a Kanye album. So much wasted potential with donda. Kanye’s rapping falls short nearly everywhere except barely getting by with “off the grid”. Every beat sounded/felt the same, Kanye usually samples well however here he barely did, he stuck to the same snare pattern on the majority of the songs. I’m actually offended by the way donda turned out. With all the hype this album should’ve been able to captivate better sounds and emotions. The closest to this being parts of “hurricane” and “off the grid”. The album also lacks a cohesive them save some religion. However Kanye already did this and did it better on his “Jesus is king” album. 1/10 because it’s an absolute disaster, Kanye should probably stick to producing Travis Scott songs and others alike. He never reigned king over his ability to rap anyways. Other C tier rappers could put rap him especially with what we just saw on donda.… Expand
  6. Jayz23
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    West continues to innovate music.
    The ablums and absolute roller coaster and i still dont get how he managed to input the religious perspective of it.
  7. Wanesta
    Dec 28, 2021
    10
    There are multiple reasons why Donda should be considered a modern masterpiece. First off, Kanye bears his soul completely and shares his most vulnerable side yet to the harsh public. Following My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's footsteps, it seems that every time Kanye West faces an extremely difficult time in his life (his highly-publicized divorce after 6 years with Kim Kardashian,There are multiple reasons why Donda should be considered a modern masterpiece. First off, Kanye bears his soul completely and shares his most vulnerable side yet to the harsh public. Following My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's footsteps, it seems that every time Kanye West faces an extremely difficult time in his life (his highly-publicized divorce after 6 years with Kim Kardashian, recent political disturbing revelations, an everlasting feud with Drake, etc.), he hides for a few months under a rock and comes out with a record to not only change the shift of rap but the music industry as a whole. This time, he's grieving the devastating death of his mother that still stings to this day after nearly a decade. Secondly, in true Kanye fashion, the rapper brings a near-perfect list of collaborators from the hypnotic Abel Tesfaye to the controversial Marilyn Manson, also with a surreal cameo of Kanye longtime friend and best man, Jay-Z. From the very first calling of Ye's mother to the last seconds of "No Child Left Behind", we can hear an astonishing variety of sounds and verses brought by many different stars. Finally, Kanye's creative mind and undeniable faith build a breathtaking world for us to explore every listen. It's therapeutic, metaphoric, and reflective. An important slept-on classic that will receive recognition years later.… Expand
  8. Tanishaevonne
    Sep 3, 2021
    0
    27 songs and not a single hit. It sounds like an almost 2 hr long excuse made into an album
  9. MojixKnowsMusic
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    High quality is the first thing that comes to mind after listening to this album. It may seem lengthy on paper but the production and deep verses keeps the duration out of mind. Even as a non religious person this album still touched me. 9/10
  10. jhosias_2601
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I like it. What you want me to tell you. Also I tough this would never come out… Expand
  11. kikeblingbling
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Loved it.. i just think it some songs were too long, other than that production was awesome.. features awesome. Better than Jesus is King… Expand
  12. AK1980
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    I enjoyed this album. I like Kanye west. I enjoy most of his music. I still think the college dropout is his best album. I like that he takes a lot of chances on Donda and he doesn’t care if the audience gets it or not. I truly believe he wants the audience to understand him and get something out of his art but if they don’t he’s not losing sleep over it. He’s an artist, usuallyI enjoyed this album. I like Kanye west. I enjoy most of his music. I still think the college dropout is his best album. I like that he takes a lot of chances on Donda and he doesn’t care if the audience gets it or not. I truly believe he wants the audience to understand him and get something out of his art but if they don’t he’s not losing sleep over it. He’s an artist, usually misunderstood, but never shies away from chances to express his vision. The sound is all over the place in a good way. Each track is it’s own journey but somehow they all flow together in some wandering traveler eclectic way. It’s a little long but mostly worth it. 8/10… Expand
  13. carlosmantana
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    Chaotic, haphazard, strange, dedicated, off putting, hair-raising, freeform. Nearly impossible to rate. The highs on this album are SKY high, stellar. The lows are… just wild head-scratchers, strange, sometimes awesome, most often obnoxious, fascinating, entertaining. What a mess of an album - but such a creative one. The weird, the downright stupid, the overcooked, the undercooked - itChaotic, haphazard, strange, dedicated, off putting, hair-raising, freeform. Nearly impossible to rate. The highs on this album are SKY high, stellar. The lows are… just wild head-scratchers, strange, sometimes awesome, most often obnoxious, fascinating, entertaining. What a mess of an album - but such a creative one. The weird, the downright stupid, the overcooked, the undercooked - it all still feels like a ride, though. Some might say mid-40s Kanye should wrap it up, but I’m not so sure. While he’s certainly well past his prime, it sure seems like he has a lot left to offer - as long as you skip the theatrics, and let go of any expectations or safe notions of his legacy. Kanye acts out when you stare at him for too long - but what he’s capable of in the studio is set in stone. Sonically entrancing, extraordinarily immature, chaotic, unstructured - not an ideal Kanye album, but a glorious Kanye compilation. 7/10… Expand
  14. Zane996
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    I genuinely enjoy most of the album. There some songs that rub me wrong e.g. 24 but it's also long and I appreciate from Mr West.
  15. MuddyTuba
    Sep 3, 2021
    7
    If Donda Chant, Tell the Vision, Jail Pt.2, Junya Pt.2, OK OK Pt.2 weren't on the album and Jesus Lord was replaced with Pt.2, I would be fine with the leftover length. Sonically a fun listen. I thought most of the features were decent despite not usually being a fan of most of them. I do believe Kanye needs to explain why it was necessary to use DaBaby, Marilyn Manson, and Chris Brown onIf Donda Chant, Tell the Vision, Jail Pt.2, Junya Pt.2, OK OK Pt.2 weren't on the album and Jesus Lord was replaced with Pt.2, I would be fine with the leftover length. Sonically a fun listen. I thought most of the features were decent despite not usually being a fan of most of them. I do believe Kanye needs to explain why it was necessary to use DaBaby, Marilyn Manson, and Chris Brown on the album. There is better ways to get attention.… Expand
  16. ontheinternets
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    This is my album of the year. I’ve been playing this nonstop since the drop. To me it’s one of his best albums in years. It’s clear he put his soul in this album for his mother. I despise Kanye’s red hat run and hate seeing him off his meds. But he clearly a genius who finds his most creative art while in a manic state. I’m pretty sure the past couple years craziness is because heThis is my album of the year. I’ve been playing this nonstop since the drop. To me it’s one of his best albums in years. It’s clear he put his soul in this album for his mother. I despise Kanye’s red hat run and hate seeing him off his meds. But he clearly a genius who finds his most creative art while in a manic state. I’m pretty sure the past couple years craziness is because he was off meds to have creative energy flowing for this album. And if that’s the case, I can let him have a pass. Listen to what the man says.… Expand
  17. Chaseme6331
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    Fantastic! Each song is unique and good! No skips besides intro. Album of the year?
  18. Gnarlyjarlie
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    A rock solid release from Kanye in 2021 feels like winning the musical lottery. A consistently enjoyable listen all the way through with some massive highlights in tracks like 'Jail', 'Off The Grid', 'Moon', and 'Jesus Lord', the last of which is a serious contender for one of Kanye's best tracks of all time. The features on this album are nearly flawless as well, with beautifulA rock solid release from Kanye in 2021 feels like winning the musical lottery. A consistently enjoyable listen all the way through with some massive highlights in tracks like 'Jail', 'Off The Grid', 'Moon', and 'Jesus Lord', the last of which is a serious contender for one of Kanye's best tracks of all time. The features on this album are nearly flawless as well, with beautiful performances by the likes of Kid Cudi, Fivio Foreign, Jay-Z, Jay Electronica and more. Additionally, Kanye has obviously been practicing his singing in particular as what he displays on this thing is nothing less than the best vocal delivery he's ever had.… Expand
  19. jaxonhinds
    Sep 4, 2021
    8
    Kanye’s best album since TLOP, Kanye takes unexpected risks and deals with new subject matter making this album a definite top tier kanye LP. The features are for the most part great, and the album showcases Kanye’s talent as not only a performer, but a producer.
  20. Reatile
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    Incredible feature list , most of the songs are sonically pleasing overall good album , AOTY imo
  21. robertpattinson
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    not that much of fan, but i liked the album allot actually, i think its spectacular & something that you can jam to.
  22. BernardJ
    Sep 4, 2021
    8
    Album for me is very various personal, every track’s got his own style and feeling behind. As alvays Ye hits in my very own music style. However fiew of them are not as good as they were when licks went off.
  23. GoldSkies
    Sep 4, 2021
    8
    There are some good tracks like "24", "Lord I Need You" or "Off The Grid" but it isn't everything that Kanye can do. I'll back to this album in the future because some tracks are highly emotional.
  24. thanosmilk
    Sep 4, 2021
    8
    While not as good as some of his best, it still has several great songs on it, and only a few skips despite it’s incredibly long run time.
  25. ZKT1
    Sep 4, 2021
    7
    Needs to be finished soon as possible album is not done.Final version might be 9
  26. Wania33
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    it is great example of a album who gets better every listen, after hype a lot of people didn't liked this album but every next listen, its getting better you can even see after user score getting progressively better. It have hell beautiful songs (almost cried to Come to Life) which is very good because a lot of people don't understand this album despite the name that already tells this isit is great example of a album who gets better every listen, after hype a lot of people didn't liked this album but every next listen, its getting better you can even see after user score getting progressively better. It have hell beautiful songs (almost cried to Come to Life) which is very good because a lot of people don't understand this album despite the name that already tells this is dedicated to his dead mother Donda West and not another album about his life who have couple of bangers and that's it, people stopped thinking that hip hop or rap album can have deep and sad meaning, that's why I like the whole idea of this record, I know that there's bad mixing but I believe there is gonna be the same redux version of this album like with tlop and I don't think I will need to change my review here… Expand
  27. Stroh96
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    Fantastic and beautiful album. Best Kanye has made in years. Only Kanye can make a clean, gospel album and it be such a success
  28. Chicagosfinest
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    I thought this album was great and showed the growth and maturity of a multi-generational artist. I thought the marketing was excellent and the music production was amazing. The album maybe a little too long for my taste but I enjoyed every minute of it. I appreciate that Kanye took a risk in changing his sound that is worthy for album of the year.
  29. WarudoDZ
    May 18, 2022
    6
    Good Album , greatest tracks but to long (27 song) he did remove the part2 , Tell the vision et junya and this is a great 8 but now is is a 7
  30. mrdarkness666
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    A lot of beautiful moments on this project. Some songs could be trimmed down or cut, but overall a great Kanye album.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. musicOMH.com
    Sep 3, 2021
    60
    Though this isn’t a complete comeback, frustrated Kanye fans certainly have more grounds for optimism after this record than they did before it.
    Read full review
  2. AllMusic
    Sep 2, 2021
    60
    Donda isn't without its highlights, but taken as a whole, it's both confused and confusing.
    Read full review
  3. HipHopDX
    Sep 2, 2021
    62
    There are times where Kanye recaptures the magic of his golden years. ... But there just isn’t enough good here to look past the flaws. The final result is a collection of songs with little binding energy other than a vague Gospel through line, which runs across the tracklist — chaotic like The Life Of Pablo but devoid of the magic.
    Read full review
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