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Donda
by
Donda Image
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3155 Ratings

  • Summary: The 10th full-length release for the rapper was originally announced to be released in July 2020.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Slant Magazine
    Sep 1, 2021
    80
    With Donda, he’s crafted his most unforgiving self-portrait yet, one that, like the best works that plumb a person’s inner depths, winds up reflecting our collective imperfections.
  2. Consequence
    Aug 30, 2021
    75
    Donda is Kanye West’s best album since 2013’s Yeezus. Those who stuck with him through thick and thin will love it, while the rest of us can safely dip our toes back in the water.
  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.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    Aug 29, 2021
    60
    While DONDA certainly isn’t a rushed job, it could have benefitted from West spending a little less time on it and learning when to let things go. Nobody needs all 27 of these tracks, but dig deep into its contents and you’ll find enough gems to make his 10th album worth your time.
  5. Sputnikmusic
    Aug 30, 2021
    60
    It's not Kanye's return to form, but it does enough to stave off the kind musical irrelevance that seemed to be creeping up on him as his detestable personal misconduct began to dwarf his poor-to-middling studio output.
  6. PopMatters
    Aug 30, 2021
    50
    If you decide to dive into the feature-film length collection of songs, you’ll find West firmly in the sonic palette of his post-TLOP run. There are messy, antagonistic productions akin that extend the Yeezus formula of pummeling listeners into submission. ... There’s a rare moment of humility in “24″, where West sings – shouts really – “we gon’ be okay” alongside a choir and over a discordant organ playing for an imagined too-hot summertime congregation. It’s as close to sublime as the messy, deeply flawed Donda gets.
  7. The Independent (UK)
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    Resplendent moments – like a second’s burst of sunshine through dark storm clouds – are so rare that by the time you emerge on the other side, they’re all but forgotten. ... But by involving Manson, West has made this impossible. Donda leaves a sour taste that no number of good beats, gospel choirs or church organs will cleanse. Zero stars.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 857 out of 1326
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 1326
  3. Negative: 399 out of 1326
  1. colaj001
    Sep 19, 2021
    10
    This album is the culmination of Kanye's musical journey across so many different genre-bending, genre-defining sonics over the last twoThis album is the culmination of Kanye's musical journey across so many different genre-bending, genre-defining sonics over the last two decades. Hip-hop, gospel, trap, soul, funk, etc. etc. A range from college dropout Kanye right through to Yeezus Kanye, sprinkled with Jesus is King Kanye throughout the record. Lengthwise, yes, it is long, but critics and fans seem to complain either way.

    Donda started off as an ok record but after the millionth listen, its become a firm no. 2 behind MBDTF. Our boy did it again.

    Nobody is doing what Kanye is doing creatively, with three packed out listening parties which allowed fans into the creative process of a genius - as manic and annoying as it was beautiful and spell-binding.    … Expand
  2. Shoesme
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Back to his best. Love that the album is 27 tracks too. I cannot stop listening to it.
  4. Camsteve
    Jul 23, 2021
    10
    Insanely good music. Kanye West is GOAT. The sky is blue. Every song is at least an 8.5 (with 5 of them 10 imo). His best album i dare say,Insanely good music. Kanye West is GOAT. The sky is blue. Every song is at least an 8.5 (with 5 of them 10 imo). His best album i dare say, even better than MBDTF. When people listen to it they’ll go mad, great features who all do equally well and sing sick verses/lyrics. Kanye West is a genius, he creates beautiful songs that blend in well and transition into one another, compelling storytelling, the type that hooks a listener and makes them not get old of it, The best song is 100% Kanye West’s best song OAT (bold statement i know) I’d say they’re all in his top 30, a few in his top 10 and 5.
    999999999/10    … Expand
  5. Albumreviewer7
    Sep 3, 2021
    9
    Anyone giving this a negative score due to his questionable collabs is a hater - rate the music, not the people. This album perfectly reflectsAnyone giving this a negative score due to his questionable collabs is a hater - rate the music, not the people. This album perfectly reflects the narrative that was strewn together from the 3 public listening parties that were held prior to its release. Kanye was able to visually display the entire story for us in those events, and people are somehow still not understanding this album. It baffles me that people are only able to critique superficially (both users and critics) and are missing the entire concept. It is not a 10 because of the very random Tell The Vision interlude.… Expand
  6. MonkeMan
    Apr 6, 2022
    7
    Rollout was cool albums fine but to many songs. Some good songs like hurricane, come to life, moon. Others are kinda forgettable and boring.Rollout was cool albums fine but to many songs. Some good songs like hurricane, come to life, moon. Others are kinda forgettable and boring. But at least it’s not Jesus is king… Expand
  7. samohtxotom
    Sep 1, 2021
    1
    This album is the musical version of Kanye's political rants, incoherent and without order.
  8. MaxSwiftSpears
    Aug 30, 2021
    0
    Nada de reinvención, mismo bodrio, aburrido y sin chiste como toda su discografía.

See all 1326 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2021

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