‘That’s the Most Kanye Thing I’ve Ever Heard’: Kanye West Rumored to Be Hunkering Down at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium While Completing ‘Donda,’ Fans React

Could Kanye West be hunkering down in Atlanta until his highly anticipated album “Donda” is complete? Speculating fans seem to think so.

The ever-talked about rapper had fans in a frenzy when he announced an album listening event would be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 22. For just under an hour fans listened to tracks expected to make the album’s final cut. One of the bigger moments of the night occurred when Kanye pressed play on a track reportedly titled “Jail Tonight” featuring his ‘big brother’ rapper Jay-Z. The song marked the first time both rappers have laced the same track with their lyrics since their 2011 album “Watch the Throne.” 

Kanye West is seen at ‘DONDA by Kanye West’ listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 22, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Music Group)

Fans who have long hoped the two rappers would be able to sort through their personal squabbles to again create iconic music were thrilled. 

While the event concluded for fans, it seems Kanye is still in the zone. The rapper has reportedly set up living quarters and a studio in the stadium as he finishes up his album in time for an August release. Speculation of the rapper calling the 63,800-square-foot stadium home began circulating the web July 24 when TMZ shared that “sources” close to the rapper had confirmed he was still there.

Kanye’s eleventh studio album is tentatively named after his late mother, Donda West, who died in 2007 following complications from a plastic surgery procedure. Currently, artists such as Lil’ Baby, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and more are slated as features.

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MBS opened in 2017 and can hold 71,000 event spectators; reportedly, 40,000 of Ye’s fans gained entry into the city’s biggest event in months. The “Gold Digger” emcee made more than 5,000 tickets available to Atlanta HBCU students, faculty and staff. The remainder of tickets were sold on Ticketmaster — for $20 and $50 — and at least 1,000 were provided by Slutty Vegan owner and Clark Atlanta University alum Pinky Cole.

Since the event Kanye has been spotted at MBS still rocking his listening event outfit, a red ensemble and a nude mesh face covering, whiling joining spectators at the Atlanta United vs. Columbus. While Kanye has remained tight-lipped on the speculations, he did share a few videos from the game, confirming it was indeed him and not a PR stunt that employed a lookalike.

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