Despite his recently announced presidential bid, Kanye West hasn’t forgotten about music.
In honor of his late mother Donda West’s birthday yesterday, Kanye shared a short song/video dedicated to her memory. Titled “DONDA,” the song features Mrs. West reciting the lyrics of KRS-One’s legendary “Sound of da Police” in the style of slam poetry. After the monologue, Kanye hops on the mic with a short verse talking about his relationship with religion, politics, the media, and a segment speaking directly to his mother: “Mama I need you to tuck me in/I done made some mistakes and they rubbed it in/I know you and grandma had enough of them/Why I gotta be so stubborn then.”
Donda West was heavily involved in Kanye’s career up until her death at the hands of surgical complications in 2007, and this past Sunday would’ve marked her 71st birthday. The song has not seen wider release outside of Twitter thus far, but it comes on the heels of the first single, “Wash Us In the Blood,” from West’s upcoming album God’s Country. You can watch the music video down below.
In loving memory of my incredible mother on her birthday ???? My mom reciting KRS1 lyrics This song is called DONDA pic.twitter.com/YWKhqYYu2E
— ye (@kanyewest) July 13, 2020