Mike Dean Might've Just Revealed Why Kanye West Didn't Drop 'Donda'

Atlanta, GA – Veteran producer Mike Dean was a driving force behind several Kanye West albums, including 2007’s Graduation, 2008’s 808s and Heartbreaks and 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. 

So it makes sense Kanye would call on Dean to help him finalize his tenth studio album, Donda, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. During Thursday’s (August 5) listening party with Apple Music, Ye delivered a much different version of the 24-track effort than what fans heard at the listening party on July 22.

But after multiple delays, Donda still hasn’t surfaced — and now, there’s a little insight into why. According to a tweet from Dean, Kanye actually called him during the event (which has since been turned into a meme) and told him he heard something he didn’t like.

“He was actually calling me [sic] a mix mistake!!” he wrote in response to one of the memes. “Lol.” As reactions poured in on Dean’s post, the 56-year-old quickly closed his comments.

He was actually calling me from a mix mistake!! Lol https://t.co/TNkP2Jcu4f

— MIKE DEAN! #MWA (@therealmikedean) August 7, 2021

Donda supposedly comes with a small army of notable guests, including JAY-Z, Kid Cudi, The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Playboi Carti, Lil Yachty, Fivio Foreign, Don Toliver, Young Thug, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Jay Electronica and The LOX (fresh off their Verzuz), among others.

Kanye West has missed two scheduled release dates over the last month — July 23 and August 6. Now, Apple Music has shared the pre-order link for Donda with a release date of Sunday (August 15). Fans will just have to wait and see if the third time’s the charm.