Kanye West Confirms 'Donda' Release Date With 1st Album Teaser 'No Child Left Behind'
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Kanye West is finally ready to unleash his long delayed Donda album. Following a private listening party in Las Vegas over the weekend, a taste of the first official single arrived on Tuesday (July 20) via Beats By Dre and YouTube after initially debuting during Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Titled “No Child Left Behind,” the snippet came with a video clip featuring U.S. track and field sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who was banned from the Tokyo Olympics for a positive drug test earlier this month, sparking a massive debate in the process.
The caption also confirmed the project’s release date of Friday (July 23).
“.@itskerrii doesn’t need you to let her do anything,” it reads. “Scored and edited by @kanyewest. Featured track is ‘No Child Left Behind.’ DONDA is officially out in 48 hours!”
.@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
The one-minute clip begins with Sha’Carri Richardson in the starting position, getting ready to take flight as she bumps the track through the new Beats By Dre Studio Buds.
Toward the end of the video, details on a “DONDA Listening Event” pop up, revealing it all goes down Thursday (July 22) at 8 p.m. EST on Apple Music.
On Sunday (July 18), REVOLT TV personality Justin Laboy revealed Kanye had played the album for him in its entirety at the Las Vegas event and claimed it was an instant “classic.” He also noted Lil Baby was at least one of the project’s special guests.
“Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas. Man listen!” he tweeted. “The production is light years ahead of its time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again. Any artist who plan on dropping soon should just push it back Face with look of triumph #Respectfully.”
He added, “This Kanye x Lil Baby record so crazy. Y’all gon leave that mf on repeat ALL DAY & NIGHT. BABY REALLY A GOAT. LETS ARGUE. His name is @kanyewest & this new album he’s dropping this week is a classic. DONT @ ME #Respectfully.”
Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas. Man listen! The production is light years ahead of it’s time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again. Any artist who plan on dropping soon should just push it back ? #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
As for the album’s content, there’s reportedly no Kim Kardashian slander on it despite the couple’s impending divorce. According to Page Six, Kanye doesn’t speak negatively about Kardashian at all, even though there was a rumor circulating online he compared living with her to “prison” on one of the songs.
“Kanye actually played the song for Kim personally before the listening party,” an insider close to the former couple reportedly said. “It’s emotional and personal. Not negative at all.”
