Donda (company)
Founded | 2012 | in USA
---|---|
Founder | Kanye West |
Key people | Virgil Abloh |
Products | Films, music videos |
Brands | Donda Sports |
Donda (styled in all caps) is a creative content company founded by American rapper and fashion designer Kanye West (Ye).[1] The company was named after West's mother, Donda West, and shares the name with his tenth studio album, released in 2021.
History
[edit]West announced the company on January 5, 2012, via a series of Twitter posts.[2]
In his announcement, West proclaimed that the company would "pick up where Steve Jobs left off"; Donda would operate as "a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers in a creative space to bounce their dreams and ideas" with the "goal to make products and experiences that people want and can afford."[3]
The announcement garnered widespread media attention, including coverage by The Guardian,[4] The Washington Post,[5] The Huffington Post,[6] The Wall Street Journal,[7] and Time magazine, which proclaimed the company's announcement the first major social media moment of 2012.[8]
Culture
[edit]West was secretive about the company's operations, maintaining neither an official website nor a social media presence.[9][10]
In stating Donda's creative philosophy, West articulated the need to "put creatives in a room together with like minds" in order to "simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see, taste, touch, and feel".[11] Contemporary critics have noted the consistent minimalistic aesthetic exhibited throughout Donda creative projects.[12][13][14]
Continuing a trend consistent in previous Kanye West projects,[15] an additional hallmark of Donda projects has been multi-disciplinary collaboration, often featuring prominent contributions from major figures in various creative fields. Prominent examples include painter George Condo, photographer Luis Tarin, video artist/film director Steve McQueen, performance artist Vanessa Beecroft, artist Wes Lang, stage designer Es Devlin, audio/visual designer Jadis Mercado, artist/sculptor Takashi Murakami, photographer Jackie Nickerson, fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, and fashion house Maison Martin Margiela.[16][17][18][19] NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown is the chair president of the sports fashion line Donda Sports.[20]
Projects
[edit]Film
[edit]On May 23, 2012, Donda debuted its inaugural creative project, a film entitled Cruel Summer, as part of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film is a seven-screen surround vision experience.
Cruel Summer was shot using a specialized camera rig, which allowed the directors to capture multiple angles simultaneously.[21] The film, developed in collaboration with the Doha Film Institute, design firm 2x4 and architecture firm OMA, was presented in a specially designed theater — christened "Surround Vision" — featuring seven screens which surrounded the audience.[22]
On March 7, 2015, West debuted a collaborative short film with director Steve McQueen entitled All Day/I Feel Like That.[23] The film premiered at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France, followed by its American debut at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in July 2015.[24]
Album/singles art
[edit]Donda provided packaging design for the following albums and singles:
- Kanye West, Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, released on August 8, 2011.
- Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz, "Mercy", released on April 3, 2012.
- Kanye West, Chief Keef, Pusha T, Big Sean and Jadakiss, "I Don't Like (Remix)", released on May 1, 2012.
- Meek Mill featuring Big Sean, "Burn", released on May 4, 2012.[25]
- Pusha T and Kanye West, "New God Flow", released on July 12, 2012.[26]
- 2 Chainz, Based on a T.R.U. Story, released on August 12, 2012[27]
- Kanye West, Jay Z and Big Sean, "Clique", released on September 6, 2012.[28]
- GOOD Music, Cruel Summer, released on September 14, 2012.[29]
- Pusha T, "Pain", released on October 8, 2012.[30]
- 2 Chainz, "I'm Different", released on November 8, 2012.
- Pusha T featuring Popcaan and Travi$ Scott, "Blocka", released on December 5, 2012.[31]
- Lil Wayne, "Love Me", released on January 18, 2013.
- Pusha T, Wrath of Caine mixtape, released on January 28, 2013.
- Pusha T, "Millions", released on January 29, 2013.
- Lil Wayne, I Am Not a Human Being II, released on March 26, 2013.[32]
- Pusha T, "Numbers on the Boards", released on May 10, 2013.
- Kanye West, Yeezus, released on June 18, 2013.
- Pusha T featuring Chris Brown, "Sweet Serenade", released on September 4, 2013.
- 2 Chainz, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, released on September 10, 2013.
- Pusha T, My Name Is My Name, released on October 7, 2013.
- Pusha T, "Lunch Money", released on November 18, 2014.
- Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint, released on December 15, 2014.
- Kanye West, "Only One", released on January 1, 2015.
- Big Sean, "Dark Sky Paradise", released on February 24, 2015.
- Kanye West, "All Day", released on March 2, 2015.
- Vic Mensa, "U Mad", released on April 10, 2015.
- Tyga, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty, released on June 23, 2015.
- Pusha T, "Untouchable", released on November 12, 2015.
- Pusha T, "M.F.T.R", released on December 8, 2015.
- Pusha T, "Crutches, Crosses, Caskets", released on December 11, 2015.
- Pusha T, King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, released on December 18, 2015.
- Kanye West, "Real Friends", released on January 8, 2016.
- Kanye West featuring Kendrick Lamar, "No More Parties In LA", released on January 18, 2016.
- Kanye West, "30 Hours", released on February 12, 2016.
- Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo and Desiigner, "Champions", released on June 12, 2016.
Music videos
[edit]- "Black Skinhead" (Directed by Nick Knight), released on July 22, 2013.
- "Beware" (Directed by Matthew Williams), released on August 16, 2013.[33]
- "Bound 2" (Directed by Nick Knight), released on November 16, 2013.
- "Only One" (Directed by Spike Jonze, Concept by Vanessa Beecroft), released on January 29, 2015.
- Complex "GOOD Music: New Religion" cover story and article, printed on July 23, 2012.[34]
- Kanye West and Adidas Originals — Season One zine. Photography by Jackie Nickerson. Released on March 11, 2015.
- Kim Kardashian West — Selfish — published on May 5, 2015.[35]
- Rich Wilkerson Jr., Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World cover art, published on November 10, 2015.[36]
Stage design
[edit]- Kanye West — "Surround Vision" Concert, debuted at Revel Atlantic City on December 28, 2012.
- Kanye West — The Yeezus Tour, debuted at Key Arena, Seattle, WA on October 19, 2013.
- Kanye West — "All Day", debuted at the Brit Awards, February 25, 2015.
- Kanye West — "Surround Vision" benefit concert, debuted at Fondation Louis Vuitton on March 6, 2015.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/New_Slaves_projection.jpg/200px-New_Slaves_projection.jpg)
Marketing
[edit]Prominent marketing projects include:
- Worldwide "New Slaves" guerrilla projection campaign.[37]
- Yeezus "Please Add Graffiti" advertising project.[38]
- American Psycho homage short film, starring Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban. Released June 17, 2013.[39]
- "The Canyons" trailer remix, released August 2, 2015.[40]
- Kanye West and Adidas Originals — Season One rollout & invitation campaign. February 13, 2015.[41][42]
References
[edit]- ^ Destefano, Mike (January 16, 2020). "Joe Perez Spent Eight Years Working for Kanye West and Now He's Revealing His Donda Archive. Here's Why". Complex. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Osei, Anthony (January 5, 2012). "Kanye West Announces Creative Company Donda". Complex. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, 5 January 2012, VH1, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Dredge, Stuart, Kanye West's Donda wants to 'pick up where Steve Jobs left off', 6 January 2012, The Guardian, retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Chaney, Jen, Kanye West and the Donda Twitter rant: A translation, 6 January 2012, The Washington Post, retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Staff, Kanye West Twitter Rant: Donda, His New Company, Education & Design Plans, 5 January 2012, The Huffington Post, retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Chai, Barbara, Kanye West Writes 86-Tweet Opus, 5 January 2012, The Wall Street Journal, retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Carbonne, Nick & Conniff, Kelly, The Year in Social Media, 19 December 2012, Time, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Hope, Clover, Kanye West has a Dream: Inside his Creative Agency Donda, 19 August 2013, Vibe, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Pasori, Cedar, How Kanye West's Creative Company Donda is making its own Brand of Cool, 3 November 2014, Complex, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Graham, Mark, Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, 5 January 2012, VH1, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Sargent, Jordan, Donda: Kanye West Goes G.O.O.D. Trill Hunting with His Minimalist Design Company, 13 November 2013, Spin, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Babcock, Gregory, Kanye's Stylish Pastor Releases Donda-Designed Book, 23 June 2015, Complex, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Lewis, Brittany, Every Music Cover Kanye West's Creative House Donda Has Created So Far…, 3 November 2014, Global Grind, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ McQueen, Steve, Kanye West, 19 January 2014, Interview, retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ Alexander, Ella, Why Margiela Teamed Up With Kanye Archived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, 6 November 2013, Vogue, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Staff, Behind Kanye West's Methodical Conquest of the Art World, 28 November 2013, Artspace, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Saka, Ren & Castro, Vanessa,12 Things to Know About Vanessa Beecroft, Kanye West's Visual Art Collaborator, 5 December 2013, Complex, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Deleon, Jian, Wes Lang Designed Kanye West's Tour T-Shirts, and Now You Can Buy Them At PacSun, 2013, 'GQ', retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Rose, Jordan (February 7, 2022). "Antonio Brown Announces He's President of Ye's Donda Sports, Locks Down $2 Million Super Bowl Suite 'for the Kids'". Complex.
- ^ Staff, Kanye West Cruel Summer Pavilion Archived 2013-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, 2x4, retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ Rosenfeld, Karissa, Kanye West's seven-screen pavilion / OMA, 24 May 2012, ArchDaily, retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ Malle, Chloe, West with the Night: Kanye Takes over The Fondation Louis Vuitton, 8 March 2015, Vogue, retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ Williams, Maxwell, Kanye West and Steve McQueen Debut Collaborative 'All Day/I Feel LIke That' Video at LACMA Gathering, 25 July 2015, The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ Meek Mill - Burn Feat. Big Sean (Prod. By Jahlil Beats) | Stream & Listen [New Song], 4 May 2012, retrieved 2015-08-11
- ^ "New Music: Kanye West and Pusha T - "New God Flow"". 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ Greenwald, David, 2 Chainz Enlists Kanye West's Donda For Album Art, 5 July 2012, Billboard, retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ "Clique". Joe Perez. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- ^ Diep, Eric, Kanye West Reveals "Cruel Summer" Album Art, 2 August 2012, Complex, retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ "Listen: Pusha-T Featuring Future: "Pain"". Pitchfork. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "Pusha T featuring Popcaan & Travi$ Scott – Blocka (Produced by Young Chop)". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ Strong, Nolan, Kanye West's Company Donda Designs Artwork For Lil Wayne Album, 30 January 2013, AllHipHop, retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Video: Big Sean f/ Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko – 'Beware'". Rap-Up. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ Callahan-Bever, Noah, G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, 23 July 2012, Complex, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Fox, T.S., G.O.O.D. Music: New Religion, 20 January 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ "News: Rich Wilkerson Jr. Releases Debut Book, Sandcastle Kings - The Gospel Music Association". 24 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ Schwarz, Hunter, Kanye West Projected "New Slaves" And A Video With Scott Disick Onto The Sides Of Buildings Last Night, 16 June 2013, BuzzFeed, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Green, Mark Anthony, Kanye West Gets New Creative Direction, May 2013, GQ, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "Watch Kanye West's American Psycho-Themed Short Film Starring Scott Disick and Jonathan Cheban". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ "Watch Kanye West's Remixed Canyons Trailer". Vulture. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ Li, Arby, The Kanye West for adidas Yeezy Season 1 Anorak, 12 February 2015, Hypebeast, retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Marcus, Ezra, Kanye West Sends Out Mysterious New York Fashion Week Invites Archived 2015-08-02 at the Wayback Machine, 11 February 2012, Radio.com, retrieved 4 August 2015.