‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ originally called ‘Donda’s Boy’

Rory Farrell, who co-hosts The Joe Budden Podcast along with Budden himself, says that MBDTF was originally called titled Donda’s Boy. Donda was Kanye’s late mother who died as a result of complications from surgery in the fall of 2007. Farrell, who was interning for Def Jam at the time, says he learned of the project’s original title when attending a label meeting for the release of Kanye’s then-upcoming album. Kanye arrived to the meeting accompanied by a small boy, who was wearing the same suit. However, Kanye said he wouldn’t have the meeting until everyone was dressed better. The next day, staff members showed up wearing suits. Farrell:

Everyone comes into the office looking like a terrible funeral. I went to H&M, I had no money. I looked a mess, a lot of execs I won’t name looked worse than me. He comes in, the child opens up his Louis Vuitton bag, throws a blanket over the conference table. Takes out two goblets—the medieval wine glasses. Pours him either white wine or water, it was in one of those unmarked bottles. And Kanye says, ‘I’m parched. We can begin now.’ He then takes out his laptop and starts playing My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. At this time, it was called Donda’s Boy, I don’t know if that ever went out but it was called Donda’s Boy and the idea was [that] he was going to do 10 tracks, and each track was going to be 10 minutes [long]. ‘Runaway’ was 20 minutes at the time, Pusha wasn’t on it.