Kanye West Honored With His Own Day in Atlanta

Kanye West brought DONDA to Atlanta for his listening event on Thursday.

In addition to premiering his 10th studio album at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ye was honored with his own day. According to TMZ, the City of Atlanta presented the rap icon with a plaque backstage at the event and proclaimed July 22 “Kanye West Day.”

Additionally, Kanye received the Dr. Donda West Meritorious Service award. Kevin James, president of Morris Brown College—the first Black-owned HBCU in Georgia—was on hand to present the award on behalf of Kanye’s mother Donda West, who taught at the school for 20 years and was Chair of the English Department.

Kanye gave 5,000 free tickets to the listening party to faculty, staff, and students of several Atlanta-area HBCUs including Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and ITC.

An emotional Kanye, who was born in ATL, was joined backstage by his estranged wife Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloé Kardashian as he accepted the awards.

Kanye premiered DONDA during Thursday’s listening event, which was live-streamed on Apple Music. The long-awaited album, named after his mother, features a surprise collaboration with JAY-Z.