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. bebeAstengo
    Jan 3, 2022
    8
    Severely over hated.
    When I first listened to Donda I thought of it as a 4/10 album, but it grew on me so much, there are many gorgeous tracks (24, hurricane, come to life, pure souls, Keep my spirit alive, Moon, Believe What I say, Jonah, Jail) along with some hard bangers (Off the Grid, Jail, Heaven and Hell, New Again, God Breathed). This album makes me feel things man, and Come To    Severely over hated.
    When I first listened to Donda I thought of it as a 4/10 album, but it grew on me so much, there are many gorgeous tracks (24, hurricane, come to life, pure souls, Keep my spirit alive, Moon, Believe What I say, Jonah, Jail) along with some hard bangers (Off the Grid, Jail, Heaven and Hell, New Again, God Breathed). This album makes me feel things man, and Come To Life is one of the most emotional Ye songs there is out there.

    Some songs could have been left out, Tell The Vision and Remote control are some of the worst Ye tracks hes ever released imo. The pt2 bonus tracks don't really bring much to the table but they shouldn't be considered part of the standard tracklist. I also wished we got a bit more focus on Ye in some tracks, mainly in the second half his presence on some tracks is pretty minimal, giving most time to the featured artists. Since this is a tribute to Donda I would have expected less features, but Donda is absolutely filled to the brim with guests. This is a small issue however since the guests do bring in quality music

    Overall a great album with many highs and a few lows.    … Expand
  2. ISETAEME
    Jan 10, 2022
    8
    Este álbum es un desastre, sobran algunas canciones y es bastante largo.
    Sin embargo, si le doy una nota de 8 es por todo el resto del álbum. Un álbum que habla y va dedicado a su madre. Emocionalmente este álbum es precioso. Es una pena que se le tire odio hacía este álbum debido a algunos artistas y debido a Kanye, pese a que el haya cambiado estos últimos años.
  3. Joffnatic
    Jun 28, 2022
    8
    This is some of the most interesting music I've listened to in years. Kanye pulls off some of his most intriguing work yet on this LP. Despite some filler tracks here and there, this is a great album, and I truly think this could have been a 10 out of 10 if he removed 4-6 songs on this album. Some of the songs on here almost made me a christian, and I'm pretty sure I had a conversationThis is some of the most interesting music I've listened to in years. Kanye pulls off some of his most intriguing work yet on this LP. Despite some filler tracks here and there, this is a great album, and I truly think this could have been a 10 out of 10 if he removed 4-6 songs on this album. Some of the songs on here almost made me a christian, and I'm pretty sure I had a conversation with God while listening to No Child Left Behind. Come To Life pretty much CHANGED my life, and Jesus Lord made me cry. Amazing album.
    My favorite songs are Jail, Off The Grid, Hurricane, Praise God, Jonah, Ok Ok, 24, Moon, Heaven and Hell, Keep My Spirit Alive, Jesus Lord, New Again, Lord I Need You, Pure Souls, Come to Life and No Child Left Behind.    … Expand
  4. TJby34
    May 5, 2022
    8
    In my opinion, it's underappreciated. Kanye spreads his wings and combines a million sounds in a way that doesn't feel messy or unfocused most of the time. A brilliant line up of features and solid Kanye performances, I think it's his best solo project since Yeezus.
  5. meeep
    May 14, 2022
    8
    This is probably Kanye's bets album since TLOP (excluding KIDS SEE GHOSTS).
    Besides the fact that this album is a huge mess, I really enjoyed it. There are a lot of great tracks. It's a perfect mix between gospel music and rap music.
  6. Moonnn111
    Jun 18, 2022
    8
    One Of the most artistics rollouts i ever seen in my whole life,one of the bests or the best kanye album
  7. CARIKI
    Sep 24, 2022
    8
    it is good and aged really well...................................................................................................................................
  8. Clutch22
    May 20, 2023
    8
    Pretty ok album. Definitely not his best album, but it still is underrated. Most songs have great production and the feature selections are great. Overall it's a ok album for mr. West, but we got to respect Ye 's effort to make something new and controversial.
  9. Kxxmek
    Jan 29, 2023
    8
    This album is good example of Kanye artistic vision, "On God" is one of greatest things ever made by him, you either love or hate this album. I personally love it.
  10. 4rr4nW3th3rh111
    Aug 19, 2023
    8
    Modern Ye at his peak. After a handful of pretty mid releases after The life of Pablo, this album is an overlooked gem in Ye's discography. Production on this album is incredible. Best song on the album is "Junya".
  11. TheDonSalfiti
    Sep 10, 2021
    7
    God, Kanye, where do I begin. This album was so pivotal to dissuade those voices in the media that you had 'past your prime', a 'tortured soul that has too much fame', a literal Icarus of our times, the man who flew to close to meta objectionalism.

    Dondas, intro, was at best an ear sore that didn't quite set me up for the album, at worst a harrowing subjection to what it might be like    God, Kanye, where do I begin. This album was so pivotal to dissuade those voices in the media that you had 'past your prime', a 'tortured soul that has too much fame', a literal Icarus of our times, the man who flew to close to meta objectionalism.

    Dondas, intro, was at best an ear sore that didn't quite set me up for the album, at worst a harrowing subjection to what it might be like to suffer some form of schizophrenia, internal voices screaming out the name of your late mother. I see the objective, but it did nothing but set me in a 'bad ear mood' for the album. The being said the album, as a whole, served some serious songs that delivered not just some traditional Kanye (God Breathed/Off the Grid) but also some of the Gospel Kanye we have come to love, kinda?

    The like of Jay-Z retained on the album was a god send (amongst the news he had been dropped for DaBaby), but to that point, it taints the effectiveness of one of the best tracks 'Jail' having co-writer credits to the (currently) alleged sex offender Marilyn Manson - down as Brian Warner in the credits - somehow keeps the song from being my fav, as much as I am able to 'separate the art from the artist' my issue isn't with Manson, per say, but with Ye's decision to have him on the album. However this could be accredited to the song being written long before the untimely news of Manson discursions.

    By the Second Act of the Album, I place that around the titled track Donda, we see Ye shift gear, it is at this point I feel the album become bloated. It begins to shift its 3/4 minute length tracks to 6 plus. A decision I feel that could of been two separate albums.

    Tracks that stuck out as exceptional songs were, Jail, Jonah, Junya, Moon, Remote Control (yes even with that sample) and Ok Ok. Honestly that whole middle section of the album is where Donda really shone.

    In the end, however, for me, Yeezy manages to strike the vein of his genius on a few of his tracks, arching back to a Ye I haven't heard in a long time, and for that, I feel this album is a return to throne. A scorched, over produced at times, inflated egotistical showcase of an album, but then again, this is Kanye we are talking about, did we expect anything less?    … Expand
  12. 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.
  13. longlifeartpop
    Aug 30, 2021
    7
    Such a great album, great lyrics but dababy is disgusting

    Kanye ended that local white snake.
  14. edff
    Sep 4, 2021
    7
    Overall it’s a cool album not great, but not bad either. The highs are amazing, and the production is great but there are too many songs and some filler that brings the album down
  15. JIATNSA
    Sep 1, 2021
    7
    It's too long as a whole album but for the songs themselves are (for the most part) actually quite good.
  16. For
    Sep 3, 2021
    7
    Features some of the best songs of the year, great to see Kanye and Jay-Z back together again as well. However this album suffers from a serious length issue. Some songs could be taken out, tell the vision wasn’t even finished. Underneath this 27 song montage is a much superior and laser focused 15 track album.
  17. Dubtray
    Aug 31, 2021
    7
    At best a Top 5 Kanye West album. Sadly the album is over cluttered with unnecessary fillers that didnt really do anything. Still though, there are some musically insane productions on this collection of songs that give you the feeling they came from Prime 2010 Kanye!
  18. Ninjacent
    Aug 30, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 1st spin of the album, music sound amazing, but nothing really new so far in terms of lyrics. Album seems unfinished, but we could have been waiting months to years for further tweak's.

    Think the rating will improve with spins, Jail & Jesus Lord ,for now as my recommendation    … Expand
  19. imOsk
    Aug 31, 2021
    7
    I think it's a pretty solid album. Songs are catchy, the production isn't anything crazy and it may be a little simple, but it works. Lyrics are also decent. Overall, I think it's a pretty solid Kanye album, but I don't think Kanye wanted to take risks with this one.
  20. r34lest3v3r
    Sep 1, 2021
    7
    The album is good, inspired and varied. Not everything is perfect, and ye is often outperformed by the guests appearing on the record lyrically. Some tracks are a little too rough and some a little too fleshed out. Tell the vision is just **** even as a interlude. However, the majority of the songs are really great, particularly those towards the beginning and the end. A big pickup afterThe album is good, inspired and varied. Not everything is perfect, and ye is often outperformed by the guests appearing on the record lyrically. Some tracks are a little too rough and some a little too fleshed out. Tell the vision is just **** even as a interlude. However, the majority of the songs are really great, particularly those towards the beginning and the end. A big pickup after JIK in my opinion and if worked on, post release, would reach toward a 8 or 9.… Expand
  21. Claw_PL
    Aug 29, 2021
    7
    The album definitely didn't live up to the hype. It is just way too long with only a few songs that should be on the final version of Donda. Something that was supposed to be an album became a playlist with both good and not so good songs.Now i can officialy say that i miss the old Kanye
  22. Milanoo
    Sep 24, 2021
    7
    A nice addition to Kanye's discography.
    Although there are some terrible choices being made in the form of overtly long run time and unnecessary features, such as DaBaby and Marilyn Manson on Jail pt.2. Nevertheless there are great songs in the album that compliment each other in a way only Kanye West knows how to do.
  23. Codeling
    Sep 8, 2021
    7
    Very good album. My only complaint about Donda is it's being a little too long.
  24. SVELASCO265
    Aug 29, 2021
    7
    Nobody needed 27 songs but it has quite a few moments of brilliance. 0 profanity is weird tho.
  25. ChunkDump
    Sep 7, 2021
    7
    Donda. a whole lot better than the last 2 projects. lots of features, some didnt make the cut..*cough* *cough* "soulja boy" *cough* *cough*. theres a lot more tracks on this coverless album. half the songs have great beats but not so great vocals or raps and vise versa. "Jail prt 2", "Pure Souls", "Heaven and Hell", "Believe What I Say" and "Ok Ok" were the stand out tracks..everythingDonda. a whole lot better than the last 2 projects. lots of features, some didnt make the cut..*cough* *cough* "soulja boy" *cough* *cough*. theres a lot more tracks on this coverless album. half the songs have great beats but not so great vocals or raps and vise versa. "Jail prt 2", "Pure Souls", "Heaven and Hell", "Believe What I Say" and "Ok Ok" were the stand out tracks..everything else can go f**k itself. i miss the old Kanye.… Expand
  26. 3katsiMe
    Jul 23, 2021
    7
    Awful mixing with subpar beats and underwhelming choruses and lyrics. It was not hard to listen to in the good sense, essentially. One of the biggest misses of the year so far, especially coming from an artist that has shown his capabilities in the past.
  27. RedGreyBlue
    Sep 17, 2021
    7
    Easy or hard to listen to... Ye wanted to stick to a style which at times can go for benefit. The tracklist could be shorter, but a lot of tracks do give me a feeling that I'm rising into the sky.
  28. YRCDREVIEWS
    Aug 6, 2021
    7
    One of the first reviews for this...well I guess im not really making a review lol
  29. BuildingMusic70
    Sep 5, 2021
    7
    Kanye has produced a mainly strong album again. DONDA, his 10th full-length LP, is powered by not only strong verses and an array of unique collaborators, but the fact that he held three listening parties to keep spirits high. Some interesting tracks that deserve to be pointed out is the electric yet experimental collaboration between Ye, Lil Baby and The Weeknd, titled Hurricane. TheKanye has produced a mainly strong album again. DONDA, his 10th full-length LP, is powered by not only strong verses and an array of unique collaborators, but the fact that he held three listening parties to keep spirits high. Some interesting tracks that deserve to be pointed out is the electric yet experimental collaboration between Ye, Lil Baby and The Weeknd, titled Hurricane. The shape-shifting and somewhat dangerous Off The Grid, with Playboi Carti and Fivio Foriegn, and the spoken word interlude from Donda West herself on the album's title track. Most of the album is good, but improvement must be made on songs such as Jail, with a repetitive hook backing the track. Overall, there are some key points on this album Ye brings up, and a reasonably good LP, Recommended for Die Hard fans of Kanye.

    7/10    … Expand
  30. Lambert888
    Aug 29, 2021
    7
    A tribute to where he is in life, Donda, and his faith. Donda isn't a perfect album by any stretch of the word but there was emotion, time and a ton of effort but into this album and you can tell.
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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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