However, West making the album only available on the device led to criticism from his fans. According to West, he made around $2.2 million from purchases of the Stem Player within 24 hours of the announcement, having sold over 8,000 copies. He explained that his motive is how artists "get just 12% of the money the industry makes" when their music is available on the platforms, calling for a time for freedom from "this oppressive system". On February 17, 2022, West announced that Donda 2 will not be available on any commercial streaming services and will be exclusive to his Stem Player audio device, priced at US$200, which was previously released with Donda. Digital Nas compared the creative process to that of West's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013), also saying that some of the producers who contributed to the album were working on Donda 2. Marilyn Manson had previously contributed to Donda and for the sequel, Digital Nas opened up that West does not want the singer to "play rap beats", desiring for him "to play what he makes" and then West would work on parts of his work. In late January 2022, the producer stated that singer Marilyn Manson was recording for Donda 2 daily in the studio. Producer Digital Nas revealed that for Donda 2, West instructed him to make the songs sound "more monk-like" and to "simplify the tracks", and if they are "not able to be played at a funeral, childbirth, graduation, a wedding", then inclusion on the album is not appropriate. Most publications took this as an announcement of the album's release date, though it went unreleased on the date.
He had worked with Future in the past, featuring on his single " I Won" (2014). Victor later told the magazine that it is "coming sooner than you think", explaining: "The procession is starting and it's not stopping." On January 27, 2022, West captioned an Instagram photo of his childhood home in flames with a date of February 22 along with the title Donda 2, also mentioning fellow rapper Future will serve the role of executive producer. In an interview with Complex on January 3, 2022, Victor Victor Worldwide CEO Steven Victor exclusively told the website that West had begun working on a sequel to his tenth studio album Donda (2021), entitled Donda 2. Because of its exclusive Stem Player release, the album became the most pirated record worldwide in February 2022, with emulators of the device shared online. Some were more negative towards West's vocals, though a few critics complimented certain elements of the production. Donda 2 received mixed reviews from music critics, who criticized its subject matter, song structures, and lack of concept. West held "Kanye West: Donda Experience Performance", an accompanying concert, showcasing songs from the first iteration, at LoanDepot Park on February 22, 2022, selling out 47 IMAX theaters across the United States. It was preceded by the singles " Eazy" and " City of Gods", released in January and February 2022, respectively both of them charted inside the top 50 of the US Billboard Hot 100. West began the recording and production of the album in early January 2022, continuing into the next month. It was exclusively released on the Stem Player, with four songs made available on February 23, 2022, and additional songs later included in updates the first of which were added the following day. Donda 2 is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Kanye West.