Kanye West previewed a new track titled “DONDA” on Sunday evening, coinciding with his late mother’s 71st birthday. Donda West died in 2007 following post-surgery complications.
“DONDA” begins with West’s mother reciting KRS-One lyrics from “Sound of da Police” before he delivers a 50-second sermon addressing the “righteous indignation in this nation” and the beginnings of a revolution that starts in “this basement” — presumably referring to his own presidential bid. Listen below.
In loving memory of my incredible mother on her birthday 🕊 My mom reciting KRS1 lyrics This song is called DONDA pic.twitter.com/YWKhqYYu2E
— ye (@kanyewest) July 13, 2020
Kim Kardashian also paid tribute to Donda on Sunday, sharing a clip of West and his mother rapping “Hey Mama” together. West had performed the track last year as part of a special Mother’s Day Sunday Service.
Earlier in the weekend, West tweeted a hand-written proposed roster for his YEEZY SOUND streaming service. The speculative roster includes ‘Ye himself, Clipse, Abstract Mindstate, CyHi The Prynce, Tony Williams, KC, and the inimitable North West. Take a look below.
YEEZY SOUND ROSTER PROPOSAL pic.twitter.com/RugGSTcY66
— ye (@kanyewest) July 11, 2020
West announced that he wanted to move into digital streaming back in 2016 and filed a trademark for “Yeezy Sound” back in 2o17. The trademark stipulated that he would be able to use Yeezy Sound on all “streaming of music, audio, images, video, and other multimedia content over the internet.”
There’s no word on how the launch of a new streaming services might fit alongside his presidential campaign or his clothing brand’s massive multiyear partnership with GAP, but considering he’s dropping new projects on the daily at the moment, that should be clear soon.
