Kanye West claims Universal released Donda without his approval
‘Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked jail 2 from being on the album’ rapper wrote on Instagram
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Your support makes all the difference.Kanye West has claimed that his label, Universal Music Group, released his much-delayed 10th studio album Donda without his approval and “blocked” a song from being on the record.
The controversial rapper and producer made the allegation on Monday (30 August), shortly after the album was finally released on streaming services.
“Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked ‘Jail 2’ from being on the album,” he wrote.
The Independent has contacted a representative at Universal for comment.
The track in question includes contributions from DaBaby and Marilyn Manson.
Both Manson and DaBaby’s involvement in Donda has caused controversy. Manson is currently facing multiple lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual assault (he denies the allegations against him).
Meanwhile, DaBaby was condemned over a string of homophobic remarks made at Rolling Loud festival in Miami last month. The rapper initially apologised then deleted his apology, and has since appeared to mock his being “cancelled”.
West had earlier claimed DaBaby’s manager, Arnold Taylor, was preventing his feature from being cleared and was failing to answer calls from West or his team.
Taylor denied this, said he had not received any calls from West, and that he cleared the song within “two seconds” of receiving it”.
Despite West’s claims, “Jail 2” has since appeared on streaming services along with the rest of his album.
Other artists to feature on the album include The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Kid Cudi, Jay Electronica and Young Thug.
Donda was released after Ye’s third listening party in Chicago, where he brought out DaBaby and Manson, and re-enacted his 2014 marriage with former partner Kim Kardashian during a play of the track “No Child Left Behind”.
The 26-track album, with the cover art as a black square, is 108 minutes long.
The album is named after West’s mother, Donda West, who died in 2007 aged 58.