As the famous rapper finally introduced his new song, Kanye West confirmed that Jay-Z appears on his latest album.
At the sold-out Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, where West was born, West staged a premiere party for Donda, a record named after his late mother.
The 44-year-old Yeezy mogul wore a brown rubber mask over a red puffer jacket, matching trousers, and orange sneakers that he designed himself.
Without warning, he walked onto the platform, and the record began playing without a formal introduction from its author.
The final song featured a surprise appearance by Jay-Z, West's long-time friend, adversary, and collaborator, who is 51 years old.
Jay-Z made a reference to a "red cap" in his song, a reference to West's wearing of a Donald Trump MAGA hat.
The lyric was added at the last minute, according to Young Guru, a record producer and engineer who has worked with Jay-Z, which could explain why the launch party started over two hours late.
“HOV did the verse today!!!!!” he tweeted. 4 p.m.”
Their relationship's status had been a topic of speculation. The two billionaires collaborated on the album Watch The Throne, which was released in 2011.
Along with Jay-Z, hip hop luminaries Pusha T, Lil Baby, and Travis Scott contribute to the much-anticipated Donda, which was first promised a year ago.
During the live-streamed performance, West, who grew up in Chicago, Illinois, would occasionally break out into dancing while walking around the stadium.
During the song, I Know God breathed On This, West sank on his knees at one point.
After the closing song, West took a quick bow in front of the adoring audience before exiting the stage.
Donda West, a 58-year-old English professor, died in 2007 from problems related to cosmetic surgery.
Her death had such an impact on West that he named an album and a creative content firm after her.
On the CD, there are samples of his mother's speech.
Donda continues West's biblical themes from his previous album, Jesus Is King, released in 2019, with religious references such as "Jesus saved my soul."
The rapper's estranged wife, Kim Kardashian West, who filed for divorce in February, attended the event with the couple's children.
Khloe Kardashian, her sister, was also present.
Donda will be released on Friday.