Donda (styled in all caps) is a creative content company founded by American rapper Kanye West.[1] The company was named after West's late mother, Donda West, and shares the name with his tenth studio album, released in 2021.
History
[edit]
West announced the company on January 5, 2012, via a series of Twitter posts.[2] In his announcement, West proclaimed that the company would "pick up where Steve Jobs left off"; Donda would operate as "a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers in a creative space to bounce their dreams and ideas" with the "goal to make products and experiences that people want and can afford."[3]
The announcement garnered widespread media attention, including coverage by The Guardian,[4]The Washington Post,[5]The Huffington Post,[6]The Wall Street Journal,[7] and Time magazine, which proclaimed the company's announcement the first major social media moment of 2012.[8]
Culture
[edit]
West was secretive about the company's operations, maintaining neither an official website nor a social media presence.[9][10]
In stating Donda's creative philosophy, West articulated the need to "put creatives in a room together with like minds" in order to "simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see, taste, touch, and feel".[11] Contemporary critics have noted the consistent minimalistic aesthetic exhibited throughout Donda creative projects.[12][13][14]
Continuing a trend consistent in previous Kanye West projects,[15] an additional hallmark of Donda projects has been multi-disciplinary collaboration, often featuring prominent contributions from major figures in various creative fields. Prominent examples include painter George Condo, photographer Luis Tarin, video artist/film director Steve McQueen, performance artist Vanessa Beecroft, artist Wes Lang, stage designer Es Devlin, audio/visual designer Jadis Mercado, artist/sculptor Takashi Murakami, photographer Jackie Nickerson, fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, and fashion house Maison Martin Margiela.[16][17][18][19] NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is the chair president of the sports fashion line Donda Sports.[20]
Projects
[edit]
Film
[edit]
On May 23, 2012, Donda debuted its inaugural creative project, a film entitled Cruel Summer, as part of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film is a seven-screen surround vision experience.
Cruel Summer was shot using a specialized camera rig, which allowed the directors to capture multiple angles simultaneously.[21] The film, developed in collaboration with the Doha Film Institute, design firm 2x4 and architecture firm OMA, was presented in a specially designed theater — christened "Surround Vision" — featuring seven screens which surrounded the audience.[22]
On March 7, 2015, West debuted a collaborative short film with director Steve McQueen entitled All Day/I Feel Like That.[23] The film premiered at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France, followed by its American debut at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in July 2015.[24]
Album/singles art
[edit]
Donda provided packaging design for the following albums and singles:
Kanye West and Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, released on August 8, 2011.
Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz, "Mercy", released on April 3, 2012.
Kanye West, Chief Keef, Pusha T, Big Sean, and Jadakiss, "I Don't Like (Remix)", released on May 1, 2012.
Meek Mill featuring Big Sean, "Burn", released on May 4, 2012.[25]
Pusha T and Kanye West, "New God Flow", released on July 12, 2012.[26]
2 Chainz, Based on a T.R.U. Story, released on August 12, 2012[27]
Kanye West, Jay Z, and Big Sean, "Clique", released on September 6, 2012.[28]
GOOD Music, Cruel Summer, released on September 14, 2012.[29]
Pusha T, "Pain", released on October 8, 2012.[30]
2 Chainz, "I'm Different", released on November 8, 2012.
Pusha T featuring Popcaan and Travis Scott, "Blocka", released on December 5, 2012.[31]
Lil Wayne, "Love Me", released on January 18, 2013.
Pusha T, Wrath of Caine mixtape, released on January 28, 2013.
Pusha T, "Millions", released on January 29, 2013.
Lil Wayne, I Am Not a Human Being II, released on March 26, 2013.[32]
Pusha T, "Numbers on the Boards", released on May 10, 2013.
Kanye West, Yeezus, released on June 18, 2013.
Pusha T featuring Chris Brown, "Sweet Serenade", released on September 4, 2013.
2 Chainz, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, released on September 10, 2013.
Pusha T, My Name Is My Name, released on October 7, 2013.
Pusha T, "Lunch Money", released on November 18, 2014.
Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint, released on December 15, 2014.
Kanye West featuring Paul McCartney, "Only One", released on January 1, 2015.
Big Sean, "Dark Sky Paradise", released on February 24, 2015.[33]
Kanye West, "All Day", released on March 2, 2015.[33]
Vic Mensa featuring Kanye West, "U Mad", released on April 10, 2015.[33]
Tyga, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty, released on June 23, 2015.[33]
Pusha T, "Untouchable", released on November 12, 2015.[33]
Pusha T, "M.F.T.R", released on December 8, 2015.[33]
Pusha T, "Crutches, Crosses, Caskets", released on December 11, 2015.
Pusha T, King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, released on December 18, 2015.
Kanye West, "Real Friends", released on January 8, 2016.
Kanye West featuring Kendrick Lamar, "No More Parties in LA", released on January 18, 2016.
Kanye West, "30 Hours", released on February 12, 2016.
Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo, and Desiigner, "Champions", released on June 12, 2016.
Music videos
[edit]
Kanye West, "Black Skinhead" (Directed by Nick Knight), released on July 22, 2013.
Big Sean, "Beware" (Directed by Matthew Williams), released on August 16, 2013.[34]
Kanye West, "Bound 2" (Directed by Nick Knight), released on November 16, 2013.
Kanye West, "Only One" (Directed by Spike Jonze, Concept by Vanessa Beecroft), released on January 29, 2015.
Kanye West, "All Day" / "I Feel Like That" (Directed by Steve McQueen)[33]
Print
[edit]
Complex "GOOD Music: New Religion" cover story and article, printed on July 23, 2012.[35]
Kanye West and Adidas Originals — Season 1 Zine. Photography by Jackie Nickerson. Released on March 11, 2015.[33]
Kim Kardashian, Selfish, published on May 5, 2015.[36]
Rich Wilkerson Jr., Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World cover art, published on November 10, 2015.[37]
Stage design
[edit]
Kanye West — "Surround Vision" concert, debuted at Revel Atlantic City on December 28, 2012.
Kanye West — The Yeezus Tour, debuted at Key Arena, Seattle, WA on October 19, 2013.
Kanye West — "All Day", debuted at the Brit Awards, February 25, 2015.
Kanye West — "Surround Vision" benefit concert, debuted at Fondation Louis Vuitton on March 6, 2015.
Marketing
[edit]The video for West's "New Slaves" was projected using guerrilla methods on over 60 buildings worldwide.
Prominent marketing projects include:
Worldwide "New Slaves" guerrilla projection campaign.[38]
American Psycho homage short film, starring Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban. Released June 17, 2013.[40]
"The Canyons" trailer remix, released August 2, 2015.[41]
Kanye West and Adidas Originals — Season One rollout & invitation campaign. February 13, 2015.[42][43]
See also
[edit]
List of unreleased projects by Kanye West
References
[edit]
^Destefano, Mike (January 16, 2020). "Joe Perez Spent Eight Years Working for Kanye West and Now He's Revealing His Donda Archive. Here's Why". Complex. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
^Osei, Anthony (January 5, 2012). "Kanye West Announces Creative Company Donda". Complex. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure Archived February 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, January 5, 2012, VH1, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Dredge, Stuart, Kanye West's Donda wants to 'pick up where Steve Jobs left off', January 6, 2012, The Guardian, retrieved August 3, 2015.
^Chaney, Jen, Kanye West and the Donda Twitter rant: A translation, January 6, 2012, The Washington Post, retrieved August 3, 2015.
^Staff, Kanye West Twitter Rant: Donda, His New Company, Education & Design Plans, January 5, 2012, The Huffington Post, retrieved August 3, 2015.
^Chai, Barbara, Kanye West Writes 86-Tweet Opus, January 5, 2012, The Wall Street Journal, retrieved August 3, 2015.
^Carbonne, Nick & Conniff, Kelly, The Year in Social Media, December 19, 2012, Time, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Hope, Clover, Kanye West has a Dream: Inside his Creative Agency Donda, August 19, 2013, Vibe, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Pasori, Cedar, How Kanye West's Creative Company Donda is making its own Brand of Cool, November 3, 2014, Complex, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure Archived February 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, January 5, 2012, VH1, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Sargent, Jordan, Donda: Kanye West Goes G.O.O.D. Trill Hunting with His Minimalist Design Company, November 13, 2013, Spin, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Babcock, Gregory, Kanye's Stylish Pastor Releases Donda-Designed Book, June 23, 2015, Complex, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Lewis, Brittany, Every Music Cover Kanye West's Creative House Donda Has Created So Far…, November 3, 2014, Global Grind, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^McQueen, Steve, Kanye West, January 19, 2014, Interview, retrieved August 5, 2015.
^Alexander, Ella, Why Margiela Teamed Up With Kanye Archived September 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, November 6, 2013, Vogue, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Staff, Behind Kanye West's Methodical Conquest of the Art World, November 28, 2013, Artspace, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Saka, Ren & Castro, Vanessa,12 Things to Know About Vanessa Beecroft, Kanye West's Visual Art Collaborator, December 5, 2013, Complex, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Deleon, Jian, Wes Lang Designed Kanye West's Tour T-Shirts, and Now You Can Buy Them At PacSun, 2013, 'GQ', retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Rose, Jordan (February 7, 2022). "Antonio Brown Announces He's President of Ye's Donda Sports, Locks Down $2 Million Super Bowl Suite 'for the Kids'". Complex.
^Staff, Kanye West Cruel Summer Pavilion Archived January 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, 2x4, retrieved January 9, 2012.
^Rosenfeld, Karissa, Kanye West's seven-screen pavilion / OMA, May 24, 2012, ArchDaily, retrieved January 9, 2012.
^Malle, Chloe, West with the Night: Kanye Takes over The Fondation Louis Vuitton Archived July 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, March 8, 2015, Vogue, retrieved August 5, 2015.
^Williams, Maxwell, Kanye West and Steve McQueen Debut Collaborative 'All Day/I Feel LIke That' Video at LACMA Gathering, July 25, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved August 5, 2015.
^Meek Mill - Burn Feat. Big Sean (Prod. By Jahlil Beats) | Stream & Listen [New Song], May 4, 2012, retrieved August 11, 2015
^"New Music: Kanye West and Pusha T - "New God Flow"". July 2, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^Greenwald, David, 2 Chainz Enlists Kanye West's Donda For Album Art, July 5, 2012, Billboard, retrieved January 9, 2012.
^"Clique". Joe Perez. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^Diep, Eric, Kanye West Reveals "Cruel Summer" Album Art, August 2, 2012, Complex, retrieved January 9, 2012.
^"Pusha T featuring Popcaan & Travi$ Scott – Blocka (Produced by Young Chop)". HYPETRAK. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^Strong, Nolan, Kanye West's Company Donda Designs Artwork For Lil Wayne Album, January 30, 2013, AllHipHop, retrieved January 31, 2013.
^ abcdefgh"2015 - The Year of Kanye West & DONDA". Hypebeast. December 31, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
^"Video: Big Sean f/ Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko – 'Beware'". Rap-Up. October 18, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
^Callahan-Bever, Noah, G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, July 23, 2012, Complex, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Fox, T.S., G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, January 20, 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved August 5, 2015.
^"News: Rich Wilkerson Jr. Releases Debut Book, Sandcastle Kings - The Gospel Music Association". June 24, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
^Schwarz, Hunter, Kanye West Projected "New Slaves" And A Video With Scott Disick Onto The Sides Of Buildings Last Night, June 16, 2013, BuzzFeed, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Green, Mark Anthony, Kanye West Gets New Creative Direction, May 2013, GQ, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^"Watch Kanye West's American Psycho-Themed Short Film Starring Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
^"Watch Kanye West's Remixed Canyons Trailer". Vulture. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
^Li, Arby, The Kanye West for adidas Yeezy Season 1 Anorak, February 12, 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved August 4, 2015.
^Marcus, Ezra, Kanye West Sends Out Mysterious New York Fashion Week Invites Archived August 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, February 11, 2012, Radio.com, retrieved August 4, 2015.
External links
[edit]
Complex: The Complete History of Donda's Work So Far
High Snobiety: Ten of the Best Donda Projects
HotNewHipHop: A Complete List of Kanye West's Donda-designed Music Artwork
Jay Z's Roc Nation To Manage Kanye West Donda Music
v
t
e
Kanye West
Albums discography
Singles discography
Production discography
Videography
Songs
Awards and nominations
Live performances
Samples
Unreleased projects
Studio albums
The College Dropout
Late Registration
Graduation
808s & Heartbreak
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Yeezus
The Life of Pablo
Ye
Jesus Is King
Donda
Donda 2
Bully
Collaborative albums
Watch the Throne
Kids See Ghosts (as Kids See Ghosts)
Jesus Is Born (as the Sunday Service Choir)
Vultures 1 (as ¥$)
Vultures 2 (as ¥$)
Live albums
Late Orchestration
VH1 Storytellers
Compilations
Cruel Summer (with GOOD Music)
Visual albums
Bully V1
Unreleased albums
In a Perfect World
Mixtapes
The Prerequisite
Get Well Soon
I'm Good
Kon the Louis Vuitton Don
Welcome to Kanye's Soul Mix Show (with DJ A-Trak)
Can't Tell Me Nothing
DVDs
The College Dropout Video Anthology
Late Orchestration
Films
We Were Once a Fairytale
Runaway
Cruel Summer
Jesus Is King
Jeen-Yuhs
In Whose Name?
Tours
Touch the Sky Tour
Glow in the Dark Tour
Fame Kills: Starring Kanye West and Lady Gaga (cancelled)
