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Kanye West is holding a listening event for his new album, Donda, in Atlanta. It happens on Thursday, July 22 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, at 8 PM, and there’s a listing for it on Ticketmaster. A presale begins at 3 PM ET today, and tickets go on general sale at 5 PM ET. Pusha T broke the news of the event on his Instagram, as you can see above.
News of the Atlanta event comes as rumors circulate about another listening party Kanye reportedly held for the album, in Las Vegas over the weekend. Justin Laboy, host of RevoltTV’s Respectfully Justin, tweeted that Kanye had played the album for him and Justin Laboy, saying that it was due out on Friday and featured Lil Baby:
Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas. Man listen! The production is light years ahead of it’s time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again. Any artist who plan on dropping soon should just push it back #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
Kanye West album is really done. When it drops this week, we probably not going to listen to anything else for a while.. Let me go enjoy all the current artist I’m listening to until then. God bless✌ #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
Kanye had Kevin Durant at 7 feet tall dancing while the album was playing. Shit was crazy. Ok I’m really out this time ✌ #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 18, 2021
ITS about to be a #YeezyEra A season only lasts a couple months. The man changed the sound of music on this project. #Respectfully https://t.co/pDlYVBrZFe pic.twitter.com/NOVRTibaBV
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 19, 2021
This Kanye x Lil Baby record so crazy. Y’all gon leave that mf on repeat ALL DAY & NIGHT. BABY REALLY A GOAT #Respectfully
— Respectfully Justin (@JustinLaboy) July 19, 2021
As Stereogum points out, photographer Nigel D also says he attended a listening party on Sunday at Church LV in Las Vegas:
So they took phones of course. Was about 10 feet from Kanye while Usher sat across from me. Came out with a full mask and gloves. Took off one glove to control the laptop and play music.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
Before the show started they played 2 commercials that will come on during the NBA finals featuring Sha'Carri Richardson. pic.twitter.com/PquJIWAmoq
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
So for the first song they had 4 young prodigies play pianos in the center. Featured some audio from his mother I believe.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
Kanye then played a track with him and Pusha T rapping back and forth. Fireeeeee. pic.twitter.com/qCYoArAgUw
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
Then he had a track with Lil Baby and I was ready to party. The music is still centered on God but there is a variety in sounds. Some slow, some trap, etc. Some songs could be played in a church, some in a club. pic.twitter.com/FuFHkR1Mje
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
So Kanye had a long ass playlist on his laptop he was playing from. So I wonder what songs will really be making the final version.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
So I think they had a lot members of the church there. So he has this track where the chorus goes "I know God breathed on this." Had a banging beat you wouldn't expect from a gospel song. Had the church folks turnt 😂. pic.twitter.com/7tzuXOHfNX
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
There was some interludes. One of them a woman just says Donda like 50 times 😂.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
I like the versatility on the album. There was some tracks I wanted to scream run that back for but security might have Jazzy Jeff'd me. pic.twitter.com/sSSWot8Ycx
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
He mentioned paparazzi treating his marriage like an entanglement. He also said something about a "neighbor" but I don't know the exact words.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
I though the album would have no expletives. But there are some B's and N's. So Kanye tried to rush and lower the music when the B's were flying because we were I'm a church. 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZAsgvsUtQK
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
The album is really about having faith in God and overcoming adversity. Kanye speaks on personal struggles and struggles others face. Positive messages that you can turn up to.
— NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) July 19, 2021
Stay tuned for more details.