Kanye West's "DONDA" Listening Party Causes Hip Hop To Go Wild With Reactions

BY Erika Marie 27.3K Views
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Kanye West
The event almost broke the internet as thousands upon thousands of people shared their experiences.

Before Kanye West's DONDA listening session event began, there were already people selling event merchandise on eBay. DONDA is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, and after rumors of release dates plagued Hip Hop during quarantine, Ye is delivering as he promised. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is the place to be as fans and celebrities joined together to hear the album in all of its glory, and attendees have taken to social media to share first looks at the event.

Kim Kardashian was spotted with the West children as dozens of celebrities made appearances, as well. It was widely reported by people in the audience that Kanye was over an hour late to start the event, and of course, the memes poured in by the thousands.

Once things kicked off, the packed stadium roared in applause as Kanye took to the empty field alone. He danced along to tracks as the lights of camera phones were seen from one side of the stadium to the other. People couldn't help but draw comparisons as his all-red choice of apparel was similar to his look during his 2010 VMAs performance of "Runaway."

While the hype surrounding DONDA is thick, Kanye West hasn't spoken out about the album, himself, since its arrival was announced. We've gathered a few reactions, clips of the performance, and first-hand accounts from attendees below. 


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.