Genius Meanings
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Kanye West (Ft. The World Famous Tony Williams) – Donda
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“Donda” is the title-track of Kanye West’s tenth studio album Donda, and it serves as more of an interlude on the record, allowing room for Kanye’s late mother Donda West to
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Kanye West & André 3000 – Life Of The Party
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“Life Of The Party” is a collaboration with André 3000. Its title is a term Ye has used in his song “Jesus Lord” to refer to his late mother Donda West.
A version of the song was
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Kanye West (Ft. Baby Keem & Travis Scott) – Praise God
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“Praise God” has the collaboration of Baby Keem and well-known protégé of Kanye, Travis Scott, as well as speech from the person the album is named after, Kanye’s late mother Donda
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Kanye West (Ft. Don Toliver & Kid Cudi) – Moon
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The mellow and calming sound of “Moon” evolved majorly throughout the course of its existence, originally acting as an interlude with a repetitive chorus sung by Don Toliver. “Moon
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Kanye West & The Weeknd (Ft. Lil Baby) – Hurricane
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“Hurricane” is the lead single from Donda, the song was highly expected after being one of the biggest leaks from the Yandhi era.
The song was first previewed by Kanye West in an
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Kanye West (Ft. Fivio Foreign & Playboi Carti) – Off The Grid
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A recording of the fourth track off of Kanye West’s Donda, “Off The Grid,” with vocals from American rapper Playboi Carti, played off of Kanye’s speakers in a Belgian hotel during
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Kanye West (Ft. Playboi Carti) – Junya
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“Junya” is a tribute to elusive Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe.
Watanabe, a protégé of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo, is best known for his work with CDG as
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Kanye West (Ft. JAY-Z) – Jail
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“Jail” is the triumphant return of Kanye West and JAY-Z, also known as The Throne. The duo has now made amends after their once brotherly relationship stood still. This is the
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Kanye West (Ft. Jay Electronica) – Jesus Lord
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“Jesus Lord” was the last song played at the listening party for Donda in Las Vegas. At least part of Kanye’s verse seems to have been written by the rapper Rooga. Before Kanye’s
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Kanye West – 24
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“24” is a collaboration between Kanye West and Sunday Service Choir. The song was first previewed by Tony Williams, who posted a snippet of the track on September 11, 2020, and
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Kanye West (Ft. Sia & VIC MENSA) – Wolves
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“Wolves” explores a gamut of emotions, including fear, hope, and love. Kanye makes reference to his mother, Donda West, as well as comparing himself and Kim to Mary and Joseph.
An
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Kanye West (Ft. Lil Durk & Vory) – Jonah
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“Jonah” is a tribute to Jonah Ware, an independent recording artist from Louisville, Kentucky, who was shot and killed on August 8, 2020.
The track features Houston singer Vory
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Kanye West – Heaven and Hell
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“Heaven and Hell” was first shown on the Donda tracklist posted to Instagram on July 22, 2021.
This track incorporates material from an unreleased song “Future Sounds,” which was
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Kanye West – New Again
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“New Again” sees Ye thanking God and describing evangelism, as he was raised as an Evangelical Christian. It could also refer to the act of (re)baptism, perhaps after a spiritual
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Kanye West (Ft. Vory) – No Child Left Behind
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“No Child Left Behind” marks the first official snippet released by Kanye West for his highly anticipated tenth album, DONDA. It was originally previewed in a Beats commercial
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Kanye West – Hey Mama
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This song is a ballad dedicated to Kanye West’s mom Donda West and was written in 2000. It later appeared in its final version on Kanye’s 2005 album Late Registration.
West
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Kanye West – Come to Life
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On “Come to Life,” Kanye sings about his desire for another life, wishing he had listened more to his ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s thoughts, dreams, problems, and aspirations. He
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Kanye West (Ft. Paul McCartney) – Only One
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“Only One” is the first song released by Kanye West since his sixth studio album Yeezus. It’s an R&B song co-produced by Sir Paul McCartney and sung from the perspective of Kanye’
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Kanye West – 530
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This track was first revealed under the name of “The Cars Missing” on an early tracklist for Donda 2 that surfaced on February 4, 2022. The song later made an appearance on the
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Kanye West – Never Abandon Your Family
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“Never Abandon Your Family” is the first time that Ye publicly opens up about his divorce from his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and the emotional labor the familial separation has caused
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Kanye West – Lord I Need You
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On “Lord I Need You,” Kanye reflects on his strained relationship with estranged wife Kim Kardashian in light of the couple’s separation.
In the bittersweet song, Ye accepts the
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Kanye West (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) – Real Friends
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“Real Friends” is an introspective look at Kanye’s relationship struggles with his friends and family. As a father, husband and artist, his hectic lifestyle has caught up to him
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Kanye West – Bound 2
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As opposed to the industrial, electronic influences found throughout Yeezus, this warm soulful track sees Kanye “Bound 2” his partner, Kim Kardashian. Reminiscent of West’s
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Kanye West (Ft. Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream) – Ultralight Beam
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“Ultralight Beam” is about Kanye’s faith in God. This track establishes strong parallels for The Life of Pablo with the life of Saint Paul the Apostle. Paul (Saul at the time) was
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Kanye West – Black Skinhead
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Making its debut on Saturday Night Live, “Black Skinhead” (stylized as BLKKK SKKKNHEAD in reference to the Ku Klux Klan) is a dark, rebellious and near-tribal record that threads
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The Game & Kanye West – Eazy
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“Eazy” is a track from The Game and Ye, marking the duo’s ninth officially released collaboration.
The song is named after the late West Coast rapper Eazy-E, whose 1988 debut
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Kanye West – New Slaves
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“New Slaves” was the first official offering of Kanye West’s most polarizing album, Yeezus. After teasing a June 18 date through Twitter, on May 12, 2013, and performing new music
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Kanye West (Ft. Harmony Boyd & Travis Scott) – Future Sounds
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“Future Sounds” is a left-over demo track from Kanye West’s 2021 album, Donda. The track, however, did not go completely unused as “Heaven and Hell” which ended up on the album
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