Kanye West finally released his new album Donda on streaming services on Sunday, more than a year after it was first announced.
The 44-year-old rapper’s manager Bu Thiam confirmed that the record had dropped on social media, posting a screengrab of one of the album’s 26 tracks alongside the caption: ‘Listening now Donda.’
Fans rushed to Twitter in the wake of its release to declare it ‘one of the greatest pieces of art of all time’.
Finally: Kanye West, 44, finally released his new album Donda on streaming services on Sunday, more than a month late
High praise: Fans rushed to Twitter in the wake of its release to declare it ‘one of the greatest pieces of art of all time’
Taking to social media, one person gushed: ‘Just finished listening to DONDA. That was quite possibly the most beautiful, breath-taking and angelic album I have ever experienced.
‘Thank You Kanye. Life will be great. My ears have been blessed. This is one of the greatest pieces of art of all time.’
Another added: ‘DONDA dropped I have officially left my body,’ while a third penned: ‘DONDA is album of the decade so far.’
A fourth person tweeted: ‘You heard it hear first folks, donda is fine!’ [sic] as a fifth noted: ‘Okay Donda is actually pretty fire.’
Listening now: Kanye’s manager Bu Thiam confirmed the record had dropped on social media, posting a screen grab of one of the album’s 26 tracks
Donda’s album artwork is a simple black square and the record racks up an impressive 108 minutes.
Artists including The Weeknd, Jay-Z, Young Thug, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi feature on the album.
The record – named after Kanye’s late mother Donda West, who died in 2007 at the age of 58 – follows three high-profile listening parties held through July in both Chicago and Atlanta.
Ye’s tenth studio album was first rumored to be released in July 2020 and named Donda: With Child, but he continually pushed the work back, and at one point tweeted he wasn’t releasing any new music ’till I’m done with my contract with Sony and Universal.’
One fan tweeted: ‘DONDA dropped I have officially left my body,’ while a third penned: ‘DONDA is album of the decade so far’
Fans noticed Ariana Grande’s powerful vocals on the title track, which also features Pusha T and Tony Williams, and credits producers BoogzDaBeast, FNZ and Ojivolta.
Donda’s release comes hours after Kanye shared a cryptic screengrab of an iMessage conversation he had about controversial artist DaBaby, which appeared to confirm the artist’s manager was holding up the album’s release.
The exchange sees Bu tell Kanye that DaBaby’s team is not giving track Jail – which features DaBaby – clearance for release.
Bu explained that the album will not be released until DaBaby is removed from the track.
On Thursday, Kanye brought the disgraced artist DaBaby out onto stage at his most recent listening party.
Cryptic: Donda’s release comes hours after Kanye shared a cryptic screengrab of an iMessage conversation he had about controversial artist DaBaby
DaBaby – real name Jonathan Kirk – recently came under fire for making homophobic statements in relation to HIV/AIDs on stage at Rolling Loud in July.
Marilyn Manson also joined Kanye on stage, making it the first time that the controversial artist – real name Brian Warner – had been pictured since his sexual assault lawsuit.
Last month, Manson, 52, turned himself into police after a warrant was issued for his arrest over an incident in 2019 where he allegedly spat at a female videographer.
During the listening party, Kanye was also set ablaze for several excruciating seconds.
Inferno: Kanye dropped jaws during his Donda listening party as he set himself completely on fire
The inferno began inside a replica of Kanye’s childhood home, where the Stronger rapper sat still as he was consumed by the flames.
Despite being completely ablaze, Kanye calmly walked outside of the house, clad in protective gear.
Kanye also reunited with his estranged wife Kim Kardashian on stage as she wore a wedding dress and veil.
Epic event: The dramatic evening saw Kanye reunite with his estranged wife Kim Kardashian on stage as she wore a wedding dress and veil
Despite the appearance, insiders say Kim and Kanye are not back together, however are forever family, according to TMZ.
‘Kim and Kanye have always supported the other’s endeavors and will continue to do that in the future, whether it be a collaborative effort or not,’ an insider told TMZ.
It was added: ‘Kim was happy to do it for Kanye and the event, which was so important to him.’
Thursday’s epic listening party took place at the Soldier Field in Chicago.
Shock factor: Kanye West was joined on stage at his Donda listening party in Chicago by disgraced artists DaBaby and Marilyn Manson