Kanye West Enrages Fans After Announcing "Donda 2" Will Only Arrive On His Stem Player

BY Erika Marie 12.6K Views
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Kanye West
Fans will have to purchase his $200 Stem Player to hear the album because Ye says no streaming service will host his anticipated project.

We're just days away from the full Donda 2 experience and Kanye West has offered an update on his coveted project. Next Tuesday (February 22), Donda 2 is slated to arrive in all its glory, but not everyone will be able to stream the record. For years, artists have been complaining about how little they have made from streaming platforms and it seems that West is taking matters into his own hands.

This evening (February 17), the Rap icon shared that fans will only be able to listen to Donda 2 via his Stem Player.

“Donda 2 will only be available on my own platform, the Stem Player. Not on Apple Amazon Spotify or YouTube,” West wrote on Instagram. “Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own. Go to stemplayer.com now to order.”

The reveal arrived along with a preview of Donda 2 and while it was an exciting announcement, not everyone was happy as the news shocked the public and caused a wide-ranging conversation to unfold. Many people stated they would not be purchasing the $200 Stem Player and blasted West, however, his dedicated fans didn't mind, arguing that he can release his music as he sees fit.

Check out the announcement and a few reactions 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.