We finally have a release date to pen in our calendars! In an ad for Beats by Dre headphones, which aired during Tuesday’s NBA Finals, Kanye West revealed that his first full-length project since Jesus Is King will premiere this Friday.
The ad, scored and edited by West, features slow-motion footage of track titan Sha’Carri Richardson as “No Child Left Behind” — a song on the forthcoming Donda album — lilts in the background. “He’s done miracles on me,” Yeezy recites on the featured track.
In the ad’s announcement, Beats by Dre poignantly stated that Richardson “doesn’t need you to let her do anything,” a sly jab to the Olympic’s archaic expectations. The placement of athlete, who is serving a one-month suspension after testing positive for marijuana at the U.S. Olympic trials, is a fitting nod to her resilience amidst her shocking departure from the upcoming Games and yet another declaration of support for the hopeful star.
.@itskerrii doesn't need you to let her do anything.
Scored and edited by @kanyewest
Featured track is “No Child Left Behind”
DONDA is officially out in 48 hours! ⏲ pic.twitter.com/9eZN6XJM41— Beats by Dre (@beatsbydre) July 21, 2021
Rumors of Donda‘s imminence arrived via social media over the weekend when footage leaked from a private listening event. West will publicly debut his tenth studio album on July 22 at a live-streamed listening party hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Joining the philanthropic tidal wave towards HBCUs, the rap industry mogul donated up to 5,000 tickets for HBCU students, faculty, staff and approved community organizations in Atlanta.
Donda, which reportedly features Lil Baby, Pusha T, Travis Scott, and Baby Keem, was slated to release in July 2020. Fans first received a sneak peek into the album’s thematic era in March 2020 with West’s collaboration with Travis Scott on “Wash Us In The Blood.” The project is a follow-up to Jesus Is King. The sonic venture into West’s exploration of the power of gospel won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Album and made history for #1 debuts on the Rap Album, Gospel Album and Billboard 200 charts.
