Ye is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He has been ranked as one of the most influential artists in music.
Larry Hoover is a former American gang leader, co-founder of the Chicago street gang Gangster Disciples. Hoover is serving six life sentences at the ADX Florence prison in Florence, Colorado. He was sentenced to 200 years for a 1973 murder, and in 1997 he received a life sentence. Larry Hoover has stated he is no longer part of the Gangster Disciples.
Che Smith, better known by his stage name Rhymefest, is an American rapper from Chicago whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released in 2006. His prominent songwriting credits include co-writing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", which won Best Rap Song at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, and "New Slaves", taken from West's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013).
Michael George Dean is an American hip hop record producer, audio engineer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Houston, Texas. He is best known for recording and mixing songs and synthesizers for major artists across the American hip hop industry such as Kanye West, Kid Cudi, 2Pac, Scarface, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Desiigner, Drake, Madonna, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, and The Weeknd. He has released three solo studio albums: 4:20 on April 20, 2020, 4:22, on April 22, 2021, and Smoke State 42222 on April 22, 2022.
Malik Yusef El Shabazz Jones is an American spoken word artist, poet, rapper, writer, composer, producer and director based in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
"Hey Mama" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his second studio album, Late Registration (2005). The song includes additional vocals from John Legend. West composed the song in 2000, specifically intending for it to be included on the album. The song was produced by West and Jon Brion. A ballad, it contains a sample of Donal Leace's "Today Won't Come Again". In the lyrics of the song, Kanye pays tribute to his mother, Donda West.
The Watch the Throne Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West that began on October 28, 2011 in Atlanta and continued until June 22, 2012 with its final show scheduled in Birmingham. Originally scheduled for 23 performances, the tour was expanded to 34 performances in North America due to heavy demand for tickets; 29 shows were confirmed in the United States with 5 shows in Canada. Following massive success in the United States and Canada, Jay-Z & Kanye West announced the European leg of the tour on February 21, 2012 which featured 23 performances, bringing the number of shows to 57 at the time.
Nasir Harold Pemberton, known professionally as Digital Nas or DN, is a Grammy-nominated American recording artist & record producer. He initially began producing for underground artists and later rose to prominence for his work with Kanye West on his tenth studio album Donda which charted number 1 on the Billboard 200.
Chinsea Lee, known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican dancehall artist. She initially gained attention after appearing on songs by Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul, and Christina Aguilera. In 2019, she signed a recording contract with Interscope Records and released the song "Blessed" featuring Tyga, which has accumulated over 58 million views on YouTube.
"Coldest Winter" is a song by American record producer and vocalist Kanye West from his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak (2008). The song was produced by West, with co-production from No I.D. and Jeff Bhasker. The producers served as songwriters alongside Roland Orzabal, who received a writing credit as a result of music that he wrote being interpolated. In October 2008, the song was previewed via Power 106. An electropop number, it interpolates Tears for Fears' "Memories Fade". In the lyrics, Kanye mourns the death of Donda West.
Donda is the tenth studio album by American rapper Kanye West, released through GOOD Music on August 29, 2021, with distribution handled by Def Jam Recordings, his last release with the label. West recorded much of the material at multiple locations in the summer of 2021, including Bighorn Mountain Ranch in Wyoming and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It features guest vocals from the Sunday Service Choir, Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Lil Durk, Kid Cudi, DaBaby, Pop Smoke, and Marilyn Manson, among various others; vocals from Chris Brown were also included prior to the album being updated. West, BoogzDaBeast, Dem Jointz, Mike Dean, and Ojivolta primarily helmed its production.
"Tell the Vision" is a song by American rapper Pop Smoke featuring fellow American rappers Kanye West and Pusha T from the former's second posthumous studio album, Faith (2021).. West produced the song with Boogz, FnZ, Rico Beats, and SethInTheKitchen, while Jalil Peraza and Jess Jackson served as additional producers. A drill track, it samples a choir and Angie Martinez's ode to Pop Smoke. In the lyrics of the song, the rapper discusses his upbringing in Brooklyn and the struggles he experienced during this period.
"Hurricane" is a song by American rapper Kanye West and Canadian singer the Weeknd featuring American rapper Lil Baby, from West's tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features guest vocals from the Sunday Service Choir and KayCyy. It came from a jam session at Archwood Music Studio and was passed on by Chance the Rapper to West, who shared a preview in September 2018. The song was originally slated for inclusion on West's since scrapped album, Yandhi, and went through multiple reiterations prior to release, with the final version being debuted in July 2021. On August 8, 2021, it was accidentally made available via certain streaming services before being pulled less than 24 hours later, but was officially released with the rest of the album on August 29, 2021. It was also eventually sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations as the album's lead single on September 14, by GOOD Music and Def Jam. An R&B and pop jam with an atmospheric beat, it contains organs and bass.
"Jail" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song includes vocals from fellow American rapper Jay-Z. Towards the end of the album, another version of the song titled "Jail pt 2" appears, which includes vocals from rapper DaBaby and singer Marilyn Manson. Some critics compared the song to West's previous single "Black Skinhead" (2013) for its similar musical style. It won the award for Best Rap Song at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
"Moon" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features fellow American rappers Don Toliver and Kid Cudi. It initially only had an appearance from Toliver, however Kid Cudi was added after the album's first listening event. The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, also reaching number 7 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
"Donda Chant" is the opening track of American rapper Kanye West's tenth studio album Donda (2021). The song features vocals from American singer-songwriter Syleena Johnson, who had recorded vocals for another song that was eventually scrapped from the album. A music video for the song was released via Instagram by West on September 18, 2021. Throughout the video, pictures of both Kanye and his mother Donda West are projected atop a replica of the former's childhood home.
Donda C. West was an American professor and chair of Chicago State University's Department of English, Communications, Media and Theater. She was the mother of rapper Ye, better known as Kanye West.
"True Love" is a song by American rappers Kanye West and XXXTentacion. The song, which is a posthumous release for the latter, was originally released on West's 11th studio album, Donda 2 (2022). For the single version, the album edit was revised. After Columbia Records announced its individual release on May 23, 2022, the label released the song to streaming services as the album's third single on May 27. A slow track that features synths, it sees West rapping and XXXTentacion crooning about their romantic turmoil.
The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards was a recognition ceremony that was held on October 4, 2022, as the 17th installment of the BET Hip Hop Awards. The nominations were announced on September 12, 2022. The awards were hosted by Fat Joe.
Donda Academy is an unaccredited Christian private school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in Simi Valley, California, United States. It was founded in 2022 by American rapper Kanye West. Parents had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep the school's location secret and to say nothing about it; it charges $15,000 per student. Students wear blackshirt Balenciaga uniforms designed by West himself.
