DONDA

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DONDA is a creative content company founded by American rapper and fashion designer Kanye West. [1] The company is named after West's mother, Donda West, and shares the name with his tenth studio album, released in 2021.

Contents

DONDA
Founder Kanye West

History

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

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, 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]

Projects

Film

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 7-Screen Surround Vision experience.

Cruel Summer was shot using a specialized camera rig, which allowed the directors to capture multiple angles simultaneously. [20] 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. [21]

On March 7, 2015, West debuted a collaborative short film with director Steve McQueen entitled All Day/I Feel Like That. [22] 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. [23]

Album/singles art

DONDA provided packaging design for the following albums and singles:

Music videos

Print

Stage design

The video for West's "New Slaves" was projected using guerrilla methods on over 60 buildings worldwide. New Slaves projection.jpg
The video for West's "New Slaves" was projected using guerrilla methods on over 60 buildings worldwide.

Marketing

Prominent marketing projects include:

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Cold (Kanye West song) 2012 single by Kanye West featuring DJ Khaled

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<i>Cruel Summer</i> (GOOD Music album) 2012 compilation album by GOOD Music

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New God Flow 2012 single by Kanye West and Pusha T

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Clique (song) 2012 single by Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean

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The Yeezus Tour 2013 - 2014 concert tour by Kanye West

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Cyhi the Prynce American rapper and songwriter from Georgia

Cydel Charles Young, known professionally as CyHi da Prynce, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. In 2009, Young signed his first major-label contract with Konvict Muzik, with the backing of Def Jam Recordings. In 2010, he began to gain more attention with his work alongside fellow American rapper Kanye West. Young went on to appear on West's highly acclaimed album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) and has released nine mixtapes, with the latest being BHP II: NAACP (2015), a conscious hip hop concept mixtape about the history of black people in America and the sequel to Black Hystori Project, released in February 2014. He was released from his Def Jam contract in August 2015. In November 2017, he released his debut album, No Dope on Sundays, under Sony Music, following years of label disputes and series of mixtapes spanning his career.

"Guilt Trip" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, from his sixth studio album Yeezus (2013). It was produced by West, Mike Dean, S1, Travis Scott and Ackeejuice Rockers. The song's lyrics deal with looking back at a failed relationship, similar to fellow Yeezus track "Blood on the Leaves". West provides his vocals through rapping and singing through an Auto-Tune processor, reminiscent of his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. The song includes vocals from rapper Kid Cudi, who later expressed negative opinions about his feature due to his vocals being recorded years prior. It contains samples of "Chief Rocka" by Lords of the Underground and "Blocka" by Pusha T featuring Popcaan and Travis Scott.

<i>Donda</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Kanye West

Donda is the tenth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on August 29, 2021, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album was initially set for release on July 24, 2020, but was delayed multiple times. In July 2021, West set up a provisional recording studio at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where listening events were held on July 22 and August 5. On August 26, a third listening event was held at Soldier Field in Chicago; after the events, West continued to make alterations to the tracklist.

References

  1. ↑ 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 Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ Osei, Anthony (January 5, 2012). "Kanye West Announces Creative Company DONDA". Complex Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure, 5 January 2012, 'VH1', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Dredge, Stuart, Kanye West's DONDA wants to 'pick up where Steve Jobs left off', 6 January 2012, 'The Guardian', retrieved 3 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Chaney, Jen, Kanye West and the Donda Twitter rant: A translation, 6 January 2012, 'The Washington Post', retrieved 3 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Staff, Kanye West Twitter Rant: Donda, His New Company, Education & Design Plans, 5 January 2012, 'The Huffington Post', retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Chai, Barbara, Kanye West Writes 86-Tweet Opus, 5 January 2012, 'The Wall Street Journal', retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Carbonne, Nick & Conniff, Kelly, The Year in Social Media, 19 December 2012, 'Time Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Hope, Clover, Kanye West has a Dream: Inside his Creative Agency DONDA, 19 August 2013, 'VIBE', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Pasori, Cedar, How Kanye West's Creative Company DONDA is making its own Brand of Cool, 3 November 2014, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure, 5 January 2012, 'VH1', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  12. ↑ Sargent, Jordan, DONDA: Kanye West Goes G.O.O.D. Trill Hunting with His Minimalist Design Company, 13 November 2013, 'Spin Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Babcock, Gregory, Kanye's Stylish Pastor Releases DONDA-Designed Book, 23 June 2015, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  14. ↑ Lewis, Brittany, Every Music Cover Kanye West’s Creative House DONDA Has Created So Far…, 3 November 2014, 'Global Grind', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. ↑ McQueen, Steve, Kanye West, 19 January 2014, Interview Magazine, retrieved 5 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Alexander, Ella, Why Margiela Teamed Up With Kanye, 6 November 2013, 'Vogue Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Staff, Behind Kanye West's Methodical Conquest of the Art World, 28 November 2013, 'Artspace', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  18. ↑ Saka, Ren & Castro, Vanessa,12 Things to Know About Vanessa Beecroft, Kanye West's Visual Art Collaborator, 5 December 2013, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Deleon, Jian, Wes Lang Designed Kanye West's Tour T-Shirts, and Now You Can Buy Them At PacSun, 2013, 'GQ', retrieved 4 August 2015.
  20. ↑ Staff, Kanye West Cruel Summer Pavilion, 2x4, retrieved 9 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Rosenfeld, Karissa, Kanye West’s seven-screen pavilion / OMA, 24 May 2012, Arch Daily, retrieved 9 January 2012.
  22. ↑ Malle, Chloe, / West with the Night: Kanye Takes over The Fondation Louis Vuitton, 8 March 2015, Vogue Magazine, retrieved 5 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Williams, Maxwell, Kanye West and Steve McQueen Debut Collaborative 'All Day/I Feel LIke That' Video at LACMA Gathering, 25 July 2015, The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved 5 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Meek Mill - Burn Feat. Big Sean (Prod. By Jahlil Beats) | Stream & Listen [New Song] , retrieved 2015-08-11
  25. ↑ "New Music: Kanye West and Pusha T - "New God Flow"" . Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  26. ↑ Greenwald, David, 2 Chainz Enlists Kanye West's DONDA For Album Art, 5 July 2012, 'Billboard Magazine, retrieved 9 January 2012.
  27. ↑ "CLIQUE". Joe Perez. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  28. ↑ Diep, Eric, Kanye West Reveals "Cruel Summer" Album Art, 2 August 2012, Complex Magazine, retrieved 9 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Listen: Pusha-T Featuring Future: "Pain"" . Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  30. ↑ "Pusha T featuring Popcaan & Travi$ Scott – Blocka (Produced by Young Chop)". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  31. ↑ Strong, Nolan, Kanye West’s Company DONDA Designs Artwork For Lil Wayne Album, 30 January 2013, 'AllHipHop', retrieved 31 January 2013.
  32. ↑ "Video: Big Sean f/ Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko – 'Beware'". Rap-Up.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  33. ↑ Callahan-Bever, Noah, G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, 23 July 2012, Complex Magazine, retrieved 4 August 2015.
  34. ↑ Fox, T.S., G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, 20 January 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved 5 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "NEWS: Rich Wilkerson Jr. Releases Debut Book, SANDCASTLE KINGS - The Gospel Music Association" . Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  36. ↑ Schwarz, Hunter, Kanye West Projected "New Slaves" And A Video With Scott Disick Onto The Sides Of Buildings Last Night, 16 June 2013, Buzzfeed, retrieved 4 August 2015.
  37. ↑ Green, Mark Anthony, Kanye West Gets New Creative Direction, May 2013, 'GQ, retrieved 4 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Watch Kanye West's American Psycho-Themed Short Film Starring Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban" . Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  39. ↑ "Watch Kanye West's Remixed Canyons Trailer". Vulture. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  40. ↑ Li, Arby, The Kanye West for adidas Yeezy Season 1 Anorak, 12 February 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved 4 August 2015.
  41. ↑ Marcus, Ezra, Kanye West Sends Out Mysterious New York Fashion Week Invites Archived 2015-08-02 at the Wayback Machine , 11 February 2012, Radio.com, retrieved 4 August 2015.
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