As music lovers, Kanye West fans and others waited several hours for the Donda 2 experience, the highly anticipated sequel to Kanye's 2021 Donda album has finally arrived—Kinda.
Late Tuesday evening, West, now known as Ye, held his Donda 2 experience at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, live in front of eager fans in person, streaming on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and his Stem Player website.
According to several tweets, if concertgoers were interested in shopping on the spot, Ye had merch items available at his show, including his Yeezy Slides and Yeezy Foam RNNRs, as well as his stem player.
There’s a @stemplayer booth pic.twitter.com/fYvGXM5OZu
— Watching the Throne (@KanyePodcast) February 22, 2022
Slides and Foams are being sold #DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/kjnGXvfJZh— Donda’s Place (@dondas__place) February 23, 2022
In perfect Ye fashion, fans waited and waited for the show to finally start with Kanye's childhood home in Chicago, on fire, as in his event flyer. In addition to new songs, the rapper performed classics from his catalog, including "Hurricane," "Off The Grid," "Jail," and other tracks from his Donda album.
#DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/TjxQedaOc2— Ye Media (@KanyeMedia_) February 23, 2022
The show, however, did not disappoint; Ye brought a lot of his music industry allies and friends to support him and perform alongside him at the show. Rappers such as The Game, Baby Keem, DaBaby, Marilyn Manson, Fivio Foreign, Alicia Keys, Migos, Playboi Carti, and baby-faced newcomer Jack Harlow.
He has also used popular recordings for his tracks, including Taraji P. Henson's "I have to put myself first," quote-turned-meme, and a quote from his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian. In the recording from Kardashian's SNL appearance, she says that Ye is the greatest rapper of all time and the richest Black man in America and acknowledges their children together. He cuts out the joke from Kardashian, stating that their divorce stems from his complicated personality.
Kanye just sampled this on #DONDA2
He kept the receipts!!!! pic.twitter.com/inXgeYJRzA
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 23, 2022
There was, however, a noticeable technical glitch with his microphone, which persisted throughout the show.
KANYE THREW THE MIC SOMEONE GETTING FIRED 😯 #DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/i21gHtd1tc— Club Ambition (@ClubAmbition__) February 23, 2022
For the fans who were unable to attend the Miami show, Twitter became the hotspot for them to tune in, watch the show, and share their thoughts, opinions, and jokes about the show as usual.
Overall many fans received the new music and visuals well.
I can already imagine artists attempting to imitate this type of event for their albums 3-5 years from now, but it won’t be this #Donda2
— Karla Rodriguez (@ohkarli_) February 23, 2022
Others found the music challenging to follow.
#DONDA2 so far : Middle Aged Angst.
— Lar Ben (@SciFiSpurs) February 23, 2022
Oh god…..the fuh I just watch/listen to ??!! pic.twitter.com/uMsHzNnaZX
— ahmir•quest• 5 letters only (@questlove) February 23, 2022
I dead don't wanna hear Kanye put out an album ever again. Time to hang up the jersey fr
— bentley (@SimBentley) February 23, 2022
But there was no shortage of laughs.
Kim When she hears her voice as an intro sample on #DONDA2 'I married the best rapper of all time' 😂 pic.twitter.com/CQKA9DsHg8
— ControPapi (@ControPap) February 23, 2022
The audio team at #DONDA2 right now 😭 pic.twitter.com/UCgxeDx5Au
— #SITIPaints (@MikeyMashila) February 23, 2022
Kanye when he’s sees the audio team after the show:#DONDA2
— Jay Shah (@TheJayShah3) February 23, 2022
fivio having a 1v1 with his own verse and he's NOT winning #DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/4iwinbJF40— s*th (@ihysith) February 23, 2022
🚨BREAKING: #DONDA2 SOUND ENGINEER IDENTITY pic.twitter.com/QKuSeVMfiQ
— Kesh (@KeshMCFC) February 23, 2022
Praying for these mfs #DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/F0ke50dmEA— Beast (@Beast_Dank) February 23, 2022
Kanye’s mic just chilling there like #DONDA2
pic.twitter.com/jdkojuWfbY— Jon (@jonnodicaprio) February 23, 2022
One Twitter user was persuaded to buy the $200 Stem Player, the only way to listen to the album.
Live footage of me entering my address to gone head and get this Stem Player. #Donda2
pic.twitter.com/UjVcwvxmH5— Jaztonio Brown (@JazzieBURR_) February 23, 2022
Meanwhile, another Twitter user enjoyed the potential toxicity Ye, and rapper Future can create together.
YE X FUTURE IS THE LEVEL TOXIC I NEED #DONDA2
— Richards (@mwerichards) February 23, 2022
Ye's highly anticipated sequel, Donda 2, has yet to be released, which most fans aren't surprised by due to the past album and delays. But, whether it's received well or disliked, we can expect the album to be the talk of the internet.