Kanye West ‘ascends into heaven’ as he premieres Donda for SECOND TIME at stadium in Atlanta… as he is supported by estranged wife Kim Kardashian and kids despite rapping about divorce
- West premiered his long-awaited album Donda for a second time during an Apple Music livestream at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday
- The event was attended by the rapper’s estranged wife Kim Kardashian, as well as their four children
- A tweet issued out by the Mercedes Benz Stadium revealed that Pfizer vaccines were made available ‘to fans attending tonight’s listening party’
- Kanye debuted a first draft recording of Donda to a crowd of fans, friends, and family at the 71,000 seat stadium on July 23
- Though no specific reason was ever given, Kanye decided to scratch the album’s scheduled July 24 release date following the listening party
- The Stronger hitmaker has reportedly been living at the stadium since Donda’s initial listening party in an effort to perfect the record
Kanye West premiered his tenth studio album Donda for a second – and possibly final – time during an Apple Music livestream on Thursday evening.
The event took place at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the rapper, 44, has reportedly been living for the past two weeks in an effort to perfect the record.
Arriving one hour past the scheduled 6:30PM start time, a masked Kanye appeared at the center of the stadium in a black Donda thermal top, baggy pants, and black combat boots.
To close out the listening party, West ascended to the heavens – with a little help from a suspension cord – as the final song came to a dramatic close.
Round two: Kanye West premiered his tenth studio album Donda for a second – and possibly final – time during an Apple Music livestream on Thursday evening
Ascension: To close out the listening party, West ascended to the heavens – with a little help from a suspension cord – as the final song came to a dramatic close
His entrance was set to the tune of a song, seemingly titled Glory, which features powerful narration by his late-mother Donda West.
He stood motionless before a camping-inspired stage setup, featuring a mattress, bedding, a glowing lantern, and several articles of clothing.
Resting atop the mattress, dressed in a white sheet, pillow, and black comforter, were several sheets of paper featuring the rapper’s handwriting.
It proved to be a heavy contrast to the barren stage West paced around on when he debuted a first draft recording of Donda to a crowd of fans, friends, and family at the 71,000 seat stadium on July 22.
Epic: His entrance was set to the tune of a song, seemingly titled Glory, which features powerful narration by his late-mother Donda West
Fashionably late: Arriving one hour past the scheduled 6:30PM start time, a masked Kanye appeared at the center of the stadium
Major: The event took place at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the rapper, 44, has reportedly been living for the past two weeks in an effort to perfect the record
Though no specific reason was ever given, Kanye decided to scrap the album’s originally scheduled July 23 release date following the listening party.
A tweet issued out by the Mercedes Benz Stadium on Thursday, August 4 revealed that Pfizer vaccines would be made available ‘to fans attending tonight’s listening party.’
‘Vaccines will be offered in sections 340-347 until 9:30pm,’ the tweet revealed.
Support: Kanye’s estranged wife Kim Kardashian was, once again, in attendance
Whole crew: She brought along the former couple’s four children, North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two
Back in black: Giving a subtle hint to fans, the SKIMS founder showed off a portion of her all-black Balenciaga outfit for the evening on social media
Connections: The creative director behind Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia, also happens to be the creative director of Kanye’s listening party – hence Kim’s head-to-toe look
Just friends: Despite the show of support, sources tell TMZ that ‘this is not some sign that Kim and Kanye are getting back together’
As the listening party continued on, a large group of people – donning ensembles reminiscent of Kanye’s – emerged from the shadows to circle West and his spotlit stage set-up.
They came out to the tune of an anthemic track featuring the likes of Travis Scott.
Just moments before the song’s completion, West began doing pushups. He then grabbed a spiked jacket off the ground next to him and threw it over his svelte frame.
The rapper then moved to one corner of the spotlight and returned to a motionless standing position as what appeared to be a brand new Donda song blared over the speakers.
Eerie: He stood motionless before a camping-inspired stage setup on Instagram, featuring a mattress, bedding, a glowing lantern, and several articles of clothing
Represent: West donned a black thermal top with Donda printed on the back and front in white lettering, baggy pants, and black combat boots
Attack of the clones: As Thursday’s listening party continued on, a large group of people – donning ensembles reminiscent of Kanye’s – emerged from the shadows to circle West and his spotlit stage set-up
At one point in the distressing track, West seemingly repeated, ‘Kim K I’m not okay,’ which was an apparent nod to his split from estranged wife Kim Kardashian. They ended their marriage after nearly seven years back in February.
Just like the last, Thursday’s event was attended by Kim, 40, who showed up with their kids – North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two.
Giving a subtle hint to fans, the SKIMS founder showed off a portion of her all-black Balenciaga outfit for the evening on social media, which featured a balaclava similar to ones worn by her estranged husband in recent weeks.
The creative director behind Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia, also happens to be the creative director of Kanye’s listening party – hence Kim’s head-to-toe look.
No days off: Just moments before the song’s completion, West began doing pushups
Listening: Kanye seen with his his hands pressed to his face during the listening party
As per footage captured by a fan in attendance and TMZ, the estranged couple’s four children are currently seated at the stadium awaiting their father’s grand entrance.
In a video shared to Twitter, Saint and Chicago can be seen running around with a few kids belonging to Tracy Romulus, who happens to be the Chief Marketing Officer of KKW Beauty.
Despite the show of support, sources tell TMZ that ‘this is not some sign that Kim and Kanye are getting back together.’
With Kanye continuing to stand motionless centerstage, the large group of ‘dancers’ formed several circles around him, moving in clockwise and counterclockwise motions.
Haunting: As Thursday’s listening party continued on, a large group of people – donning ensembles reminiscent of Kanye’s – emerged from the shadows to circle West and his spotlit stage set-up
Notable: One notable moment occurred during Love Unconditionally, a emotionally-charged track inspired by West’s crumbling marriage to Kardashian
Showing off his acting chops, West grabbed his cellphone and placed it against his ear as he seemingly recited the lyrics to one very passionate Donda track.
He gestured dramatically with his arms before dropping them to his sides to look out and admire his clones, who were waving their arms in the air.
The dancing only escalated as a track featuring Playboi Carti played out, with Kanye standing idly by his mattress.
Out of nowhere, West grabbed the large comforter-like cloak resting atop the mattress and threw it over himself.
He ran around the mattress with the oversized coat flowing behind him, before falling onto his knees.
Strength: Kanye appeared significantly less emotional in comparison to the Donda preview on July 22, which saw the rapper crumple to his knees and rest with his head in his hands for the song’s duration
Reenactment: Seemingly recreating his dramatic display, Kanye’s troupe of dancers spaced out from one another and stumbled around before falling to their knees
Too much? After listening to the track from the comfort of his mattress, West did lower himself to the ground upon its close
Things got less and less theatrical as the listening party commenced. Kanye took a seat on his mattress and simply took in the music.
He could be seen with his hands interlocked as he slightly rocked back and forth.
One notable moment occurred during Love Unconditionally, a emotionally-charged track inspired by West’s crumbling marriage to Kardashian.
Kanye appeared significantly less emotional in comparison to the Donda preview on July 22, which saw the rapper crumple to his knees and rest with his head in his hands for the song’s duration.
Seemingly recreating his dramatic display, Kanye’s troupe of dancers spaced out from one another and stumbled around before falling to their knees.
Alrighty then! Showing off his acting chops, West grabbed his cellphone and placed it against his ear as he seemingly recited the lyrics to one very passionate Donda track
‘I’m losing my family,’ Kanye repeats during Love Unconditionally, while he sings in another portion: ‘Darling, how could you leave? Come back tonight, darling, please!’
After listening to the track from the comfort of his mattress, West did lower himself to the ground upon its close.
Taking a more jovial turn, West showed off his dance skills during an upbeat, piano-heavy track.
He skipped around the stadium stage and swayed his arms back and forth, prompting the crowd to start chanting ‘hey!’
Jovial: Taking a more jovial turn, West showed off his dance skills during an upbeat, piano-heavy track
Major collab: One track that was met with major excitement was the song featuring West’s longtime pal Jay-Z
Star-studded: As revealed during the previous listening party, the album includes several rap features, including late Pop Smoke, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Pusha T, Baby Keem, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk
One track that was met with major excitement was the song featuring West’s longtime pal Jay-Z. It marks the pair’s first collaboration in five years, having last teamed up on Drake’s 2016 track Pop Style.
As revealed during the previous listening party, the album includes several rap features, including late Pop Smoke, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Pusha T, Baby Keem, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk.
The Weeknd also appears on one anthemic track.
Backstage: Kanye pictured with rapper Lil Yachty backstage
Preview: West’s estrange wife Kim Kardashian gave fans a preview of her look on Instagram
Proud: Kim uploaded a clip from the listening party to her Twitter
Woah! She uploaded a brief video fo the listening party’s final moment, which saw Kanye ‘ascending’ to the heavens surrounded by beams of light
West created a dramatic ending for the livestream by ‘ascending’ to the heavens, while surrounded by beams of light aimed into the sky.
His large crowd of dancers circled the spectacle as the final song on Donda blared over the speakers.
Kanye commenced Thursday’s Donda livestream early in the day by giving fans a peek inside his dressing room.
It featured a masked West pacing around his reported living quarters in a bizarre spiked costume.
Gang’s all here! As per footage captured by a fan in attendance and TMZ , the estranged couple’s four children are currently seated at the stadium awaiting their father’s grand entrance
Waiting game: In a video shared to Twitter, Saint can be seen running around with a few kids belonging to Tracy Romulus, who happens to be the Chief Marketing Officer of KKW Beauty
Hot seats: Kim and the kids get a front row view of the event
Vaccines: A tweet issued out by the Mercedes Benz Stadium revealed that Pfizer vaccines would be made available ‘to fans attending tonight’s listening party’
Another portion showed the Stronger hitmaker lifting weights and chatting with his producer Mike Dean, while rocking a black vest with Donda scrawled across it in bold white lettering.
Despite the early hours of the stream having zero audio, West certainly kept fans entertained as he prepared for the listening party.
He was also visited by showbiz friends Chance The Rapper, Steve Lacy and Vic Mensa in his one-bedroom room, with a member of his entourage seen getting a quick haircut at one point.
There also appeared to be a sparse recording set-up with some fans convinced he is putting the final touches to the album, and a clock which is counting down.
Commencement: Kanye commenced Thursday’s Donda livestream early in the day by giving fans a peek inside his dressing room
Eerie: It featured a masked West pacing around his reported living quarters in a bizarre spiked costume
Countdown: Another portion showed the Stronger hitmaker lifting weights and chatting with his producer Mike Dean, while rocking a black vest with Donda scrawled across it in bold white lettering
Donda, named after the star’s beloved mother who died in 2007, is the star’s first album release since 2019’s Jesus Is King.
Last month it was claimed Kanye has been asked by his team to host another Donda listening party in Atlanta after the smash success of his first one.
The rapper was thinking up ways to make it ‘different’ with a ‘twist’ from the first jam-packed event, according to TMZ.
Inspiration: West’s tenth studio album is named after his late-mother Donda West, who passed away in 2007; the pair pictured in 2007
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