Everything We Know About Kanye West’s Star-Studded ‘Donda 2’ Listening Party
Kanye West has done it again. The rapper, fashion icon and music mogul has turned up the heat in the music industry with the launch of his highly anticipated Donda 2 Listening Party. The guest list was exclusive, the music was astounding, and of course, Kanye West drummed up some drama as he raked in millions of dollars. This is far from being an average music release, as Kanye has implemented a variety of new elements to this launch, and to the album as a whole. One thing is for certain - Donda 2 is poised to generate millions of dollars that will pad Kanye West's already impressive $1.8 billion net worth.
Fans that are excited to obtain the Donda 2 album are in for a shock when they discover that this highly anticipated music release won't be readily available through popular streaming sites. For all those that thought they'd easily download the album on Youtube or Spotify will have to think again. In true Kanye fashion, the rapper is taking matters into his own hands and releasing his music in his very own way. Donda 2 has proven to be an expensive and exclusive listening experience that is available only to those wishing to purchase his Stem music device. This means having to shell out $214.00 to purchase the Stem device, which comes already loaded with Donda 2. Well, sort of. That price only provides fans with four tracks at this time, which is a hefty price to pay for a snippet of new music. With their Stem purchase, fans are able to access the tracks; Security, Pablo, Open Road and We Did It Kid.
Kanye's fresh, entrepreneurial skills are on full display as he effectively isolates his audience and forces them to purchase is Stem product in order to access his music. Ye has partnered with Kano Computing and launched this listening device, while swiftly dismissing all other streaming platforms and cutting them out of this album's profits. Kanye West is so serious about this matter that he turned down a $100 million deal with Apple Music, taking the objectively wild approach of releasing his tunes in a more innovative way. He's intentionally causing waves by disrupting music streaming by fully and absolutely controlling the manner in which they are able to access his work.
Fans that are willing to purchase this pricey device will be able to access all the cool features it offers, inclusive of their ability to play four different track elements: vocals, drums, bass and music. "It allows users to manipulate songs using touch-sensitive sliders built into its shell. The device lets users control and isolate different elements of the song, and add effects. There is also a real-time loop and speed control, and users have the ability to save, play back and download mixes." This device is currently available in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the UK. Fans in other regions are fresh out of luck.
When strictly isolating the financial and monetary aspects of the Donda 2 album, it has a lot to live up to, as the first Donda release had set the bar very high. Some fans deemed the first Donda album release and listening party to be a sloppy, directionless, abysmal failure by music standards, while others raved about the unique approach that West had taken to generate interest in his brand, and earn millions of dollars.
Whether you love his approach, or are completely put-off by it, the fact remains that the Donda experience is a wildly lucrative one and from a financial perspective, it was a huge success for West. His listening parties generated $12. million, with 42,000 fans ramming Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium in July, dishing out $25-$100 a ticket to simply be there. The cost of food and drinks was astronomical, and of course, West arrived well over 2 hours late, ensuring that his food, beverage, and merchandise sales were fully explored by all those in attendance. The second listening party for the first Donda release was equally successful, and there were well over 5.4 million views on Apple Music, shattering all records previously set, and making it the most watched live stream in Apple Music history. Kanye made well over $7 million in merchandise sales, alone.
As of today, West claims to have generated $2.2 million in immediate sales of his Stem player. This massive boost in finances came the moment he revealed that the Stem device would offer exclusive listening opportunities for the Donda 2 album.
The Donda 2 listening party was an exclusive, star-studded event that attracted some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, and beyond. Big stars and famous faces were seen in abundance, with appearances from rapper Jack Harlow, Pusha T, Alicia Keys, and West's long time pal Elon Musk was also there. Migos, DaBaby, and Marilyn Manson, rounded off the list of celebrities to join this exclusive event. Also in attendance were The Game, Playboi Carti, Rick Ross, Diddy, and French Montana. This VIP event took place at LoanDepot Park Stadium in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, February 22nd.
The highly choreographed performances were dark, gothic, and even included the artists wading through water and low-key performing amid a dramatic backdrop.
In spite of all these big names in attendance, one very important person was missing. Kim Kardashian did not attend this event, but West's children were there to cheer their father on.
The listening party for Donda 2 packed a lot of punch, not just because of the exclusive guest list, but also thanks to the incredible effort that went into the production of the event. The two hour entertainment spectacle included performances by The Game, on the Eazy track, Migos on the Kid We Did It track, and Pusha T on Diet Coke. Jack Harlow, Marilyn Manson, Alicia Keys, Fivio Foreign, DaBaby and Playboi Carti also lent their voices to the performance, which also happened to feature lyrics by the late XXXTentacion. Adding to the all-Kanye-everything theme of the night, was the fact that all performers wore fashions from Balenciaga and Yeezy x Gap.
West isn't just making waves by forcing fans to buy the Stem device to hear his music, he is also stirring up some serious controversy with his selection of performers. He brought embattled rapper DaBaby to the stage, along with accused rapist Marilyn Manson, making fans wonder why he was going out on a limb by associating these individuals with his brand. Even the presence of XXXTenacion's voice on top of the track served as a reminder that the late rapper was accused of violently abuse.
Those who could see past the bizarre association with artists that cancel culture had previously omitted, were disappointed by the technical difficulties that marred the second half of the party. There were deeply concerning issues with technology, and the sound was way off during the second half of the event, which frustrated West so much that he chucked the microphone out of anger.
Sources: The National News, Apple Insider, Rolling Stone, Mashable, The Daily Beast
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