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. philippo619
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Album is great 9/10 for me but giving it at 10 to restore balance for all the haters that haven’t even heard it but rate a 0 just to hate on the man!
  2. Bobbybrownjaw
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Who else could produce an album that from start to finish holds his mother spirit at heart.
  3. jmreed00
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    This is Kanye’s best work since TLOP. The feature list, production, and raw emotion are perfect.
  4. zachw300
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best albums of all time. Definetely better then anything Taylor Swift has ever wrote.
  5. Matielli
    Aug 30, 2021
    7
    "donda donda donda donda"

    I miss the old kanye. Ok, i like this album but he's now obsessed with Jesus, kim and his mother, Donda and that's ok, i think.
  6. Hilu
    Aug 30, 2021
    9
    Donda is a masterpiece equivalent to "The Life Of Pablo", it is a great masterpiece among Kanye's numerous albums. Every time I hear it, I feel new.
  7. M33ZUS
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    THE GREATEST ARTIST OF ALL TIME. Kanye Wests highly anticipated 10th studio LP, Donda, after 3 listening parties and a long wait. Kanye does not disappoint, Kanye delivers a beautiful piece of art dedicated to the late great Dr. Donda West (His Mother) utilizing his god level production with wonderful samples most notably the great Ms. Lauryn Hill on Believe What I say, as well as an arrayTHE GREATEST ARTIST OF ALL TIME. Kanye Wests highly anticipated 10th studio LP, Donda, after 3 listening parties and a long wait. Kanye does not disappoint, Kanye delivers a beautiful piece of art dedicated to the late great Dr. Donda West (His Mother) utilizing his god level production with wonderful samples most notably the great Ms. Lauryn Hill on Believe What I say, as well as an array of big name features who he brings the best out of for this beautiful piece of art that would have made his mother proud.… Expand
  8. yeezusnation
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Donda is Kanye's realization of the sound experiment he first started with Yandhi, before eventually releasing Jesus is King. It worked
  9. JakeWaugh
    Aug 30, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Donda is Ye’s best album since 2013’s ‘Yeezus’. With an incredible feature list (ranging from A-List stars like Jay Z, The Weekend and Travis Scott, to new upcoming stars such as Vory, Fivio Foreign and Lil Baby) Kanye is given free reign to give an amazingly produced album that expertly bridges the gap between secular and gospel themes, without over indulging in either. Kanye shows that he still has real rap abilities on songs like Off the Grid, and Jesus Lord. Songs such as Moon, Lord I Need You and 24 all being such emotion that carry the pacing on the album through those middle sections. Donda also has real replay value and, I imagine, will stay in people’s circulation for months upon months with songs like ‘Hurricane’, ‘Off The Grid’, and ‘Jonah’ giving real mainstream appeal. Despite these highs, Donda does have its lows. At 27 songs long (1hour 48minutes) It is a little bloated, certain songs could be removed and others shorted to give a more coherent message and direct sound. Also on certain songs, Kanye could appear more significantly and dominantly, rather than allows features to carry certain songs. Clarity could also be given to the albums messages. Overall, this is a return to form for Kanye, giving us his best work since 2013. While Donda, by its brazen production and gospel messages, will divide both critics and fan base, it does not deserve negative reviews. While the rollout (the biggest of 2021) has been a whirlwind of hype and excitement, some of which may not have been lived up to. It is still an excellent piece of music that will hold up as a turning point in Kanye West’s life.… Expand
  10. Preet1030
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    Incoherent mess of an album. Overhyped and under delivered. Don’t waste your time and money.
  11. Superzx
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    Terrible. What a disappointment.. after all this wait. This might actually be the worse album I’ve ever heard.
  12. clwooten1996
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Cultural reset, the best 27 song hip hop album of all time. Highs are very high and the lows are almost non existent. The reuniting of Kanye and Jay-z and Kanye and Kid Cudi makes for a nostalgic masterpiece. Kanye’s beat solo album since life of Pablo.
  13. Evanocity
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mr West’s 10th solo LP “Donda” is a beautiful combination of different styles of sound form his previous records, most prominently; “Yeezus”, “The Life of Pablo”, & “Jesus Is King”. It serves as a creative homage to his late mother Donda West. The matriarch’s vocals are present on multiple tracks, & she is referenced throughout the album. West incorporates great features & top tier production, as well as some of the singing & rapping we’ve heard from the artist to create what may go down as one of his greatest albums.… Expand
  14. Thecrazyjoke92
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Masterpiece! simple as that! people hating whenever god is involved... tragic really
  15. AcrylicPudding
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    I believe that this album Donda, Kanye’s or now knows as Ye’s 10th LP is a work of art with many features that really do their part in their songs. Kanye doesn't shy away either he has some really strong verses on Donda. I believe this album has so much going on with it that anyone can and will find a song they love. R.I.P Donda West.
  16. michaelabeard11
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Although the rollout was messy. The music speaks for itself. Kanye is back.
  17. itsdominictoo
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Donda is Kanye West’s 10th studio album and it’s a culmination of his 9 previous works and his collaborative works. The production shows throughout the tracks, somehow blending beautiful organ chords in with harsh distorted 808s and noises. Tracks deviate from one genre and dabble in a little bit of everything, from drill to gospel to lyrical to hip-hop. The feature list is nothing toDonda is Kanye West’s 10th studio album and it’s a culmination of his 9 previous works and his collaborative works. The production shows throughout the tracks, somehow blending beautiful organ chords in with harsh distorted 808s and noises. Tracks deviate from one genre and dabble in a little bit of everything, from drill to gospel to lyrical to hip-hop. The feature list is nothing to scoff at and every single feature performed astoundingly to the point where the features are to Donda as the features are to MBDTF. The three listening parties and weeks of anticipation with only a handful of posts my Mr. West is something few others can do. This album has broken records in the couple days it’s been out and will continue to this entire week. This album is Kanye West’s story of music told through the medium of honoring his late mother, Dr. Donda West. Those who say the music is bad know nothing of how many people have worked on this work with Kanye. At the very least a sensible music critic should give it a 6/10, while sn average listener, such as myself, has a duty to give it more than an 8/10 for its sheer beauty of the sound it creates playing through headphones and sound systems.… Expand
  18. patrick_2001
    Aug 30, 2021
    8
    Over long but revolutionary, that’s the best way to describe this entire album. Even though some of the songs do drag out in the level of production might not be as high as some of these other albums, this album is so radically different from anything anybody’s heard it’s no wonder why some news outlets are giving this album a negative review. Even though the album might not be asOver long but revolutionary, that’s the best way to describe this entire album. Even though some of the songs do drag out in the level of production might not be as high as some of these other albums, this album is so radically different from anything anybody’s heard it’s no wonder why some news outlets are giving this album a negative review. Even though the album might not be as replaceable as something like graduation or my beautiful dark twisted fantasy, I would argue that this album provides the greatest experience cover to cover it has the greatest level of immersion of any Kanye album that has ever released. The only reason why this album is an eight in my eyes is because it’s unfinished and some of the songs are completely unnecessary or could’ve been condensed into one. ( For example jail part one in jail part two could’ve been squeezed into one song.) I created my Metacritic account specifically for this review because I think most users are not fully comprehending what this album goals are even if it’s a positive review. To summit up short, this is Kanye’s musical. And while every song might not be perfect I might have a couple problems, I do believe Kanye (similar to life of Pablo) is going to make some changes to the mixing and some of the beats. Therefore, I bet by November this album is going to be a nine out of 10. All I’ll say is, don’t go into this album thinking it’s late registration part two are my beautiful dark twisted fantasy part two. It is something you’ve never heard of and I think it deserves mad props for that.… Expand
  19. MatthewThom
    Aug 30, 2021
    9
    Donda is an album that takes all the good gospel aspects from Jesus Is King, puts them on crack and combines it with hard trap beats and crazy good features. Too bad the pop smoke song brings it down to a 9.
  20. Merciless7231
    Aug 30, 2021
    8
    Instrumentally the album is a 9 - lots of organs and well placed drum beats. Very minimalist approach to lyrics. Truthfully we could have used a few more verses from Ye on a few tracks, less repetition and a reduced album in track length. So lyrically I give it a 7.

    Best tracks: Off the Grid, Hurricane, Jail, Moon, Believe What I Say

    Overall still a fantastic experience.
  21. Sergiobar23
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
  22. longlifeartpop
    Aug 30, 2021
    7
    Such a great album, great lyrics but dababy is disgusting

    Kanye ended that local white snake.
  23. Robertho13
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    Me di la oportunidad de escucharlo pero esta súper aburrido kanye de verdad haces pura basura ya retírate mejor
  24. andrie
    Aug 30, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a great album, but NO. Stream reputation by Queen Taylor Swift, that album is much better and the best!!… Expand
  25. cat_astrophe
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    This is pretty bad. I honestly don't know how someone could hear this and give it a positive score. It's repetitive and gets boring quick. It reeks of ego, like Kanye is trying too hard and overcompensating because he has no fresh sounds or interesting takes left.
  26. andrevborba
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    I simple don't have words to describe how important is that album. Kanye made, in my opinion, his best album of the last years. It's powerful, amazing feats, great melody, an construction really beautiful.

    But for some brainless, this is trash because it's "not the old kanye" I can only see a new kanye, and the most artistic moment of his entire career. And if you give this 0 because of    I simple don't have words to describe how important is that album. Kanye made, in my opinion, his best album of the last years. It's powerful, amazing feats, great melody, an construction really beautiful.

    But for some brainless, this is trash because it's "not the old kanye"

    I can only see a new kanye, and the most artistic moment of his entire career. And if you give this 0 because of DaBaby or Manson, please, do a favor, go sleep, go get a job, just not come to give some bad rating with this trash argument    … Expand
  27. junyawatanabe
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Four five summers, four five summers. We took over. We took over.

    This album had me levitating to another dimension. Fantastic, beautiful album, v emotional, heartfelt. Jail pt. 2 and tell the vision are the only misses imo but the rest of the album is so amazing I can deal with it.
  28. tdets
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    I actually listened to the album unlike most here. Easily one of Ye’s most fantastic and polarizing projects. Emotionally hard hitting and groundbreaking messages. Good luck drake lol.
  29. DondaKayneWest
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Kanye is back baby!!!! This is full of dust pumping raping it is just a fantastic comeback. All he needs to do now is the DONDA TOUR
  30. Born2Lose
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ew, creo que Ed Sheeran se esfuerza más en su música y aún así es sheet … Expand
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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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