In Atlanta, Kanye West's much-improved 'Donda' featuring The Weeknd, as well as Jay-Z, made an impression.

In Atlanta, Kanye West's much-improved 'Donda' featuring The Weeknd, as well as Jay-Z, made an impression.

Kanye West debuted his long-awaited "Donda" album in front of 42,000 people at Mercedes-Benz Stadium exactly two weeks ago.

Then he didn't leave the building for the rest of his life.

The superstar rapper – a genius to his fans, an eccentric to the rest of the world – set up shop in a corner of the cavernous downtown Atlanta venue, where he slept in a makeshift spartan bedroom, ate meals prepared by a privately commissioned chef, toiled away on "Donda," live-streamed elements of his temporary (?) life, and welcomed guests such as Chance the Rapper.

West emerged from his stadium cocoon on Thursday night for another live album presentation in front of a somewhat smaller crowd of around 35,000 people.

'Donda' preview: Kanye West previews new song in ad with Sha'Carri Richardson: See it here 

West came on his own time, at 10:25 p.m., much like he did on July 22 when “Donda” played in the stadium while West walked around the arena floor (tickets were for 9 p.m.).

West, dressed in black with the word DONDA emblazoned across his back, stood in front of a circle of lights on a set that resembled his improvised chamber (bed, candle, shoes) while the song including a monologue from his late mother Donda West – for whom the album is titled – played. Perhaps a reference to his circumstances was the humorous line, "You brought religion to stadiums meant for soccer."

The newly reworked album sounded more coherent, with more rhythms and melodies and songs such as “New Again” and the Roddy Ricch feature “Pure Souls” sounding textured and lyrically fulfilling.

During the approximately 90-minute presentation, guest shots from Jay Electronica, Kid Cudi, Jadakiss, and Griselda appeared. The Weeknd's velvety voice cushioning "Hurricane" and Jay-entrance Z's on the guitar-buzzing, percussion-heavy "Jail" felt like highlights for fans, who whooped appreciatively at the acknowledgment of both.

(Fun fact: This was the first music event in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to be held under an open roof, a decision taken by stadium management in response to the COVID-19 surge.

West didn't say anything, but he did ratchet up the output, which wasn't a difficult task, to begin with.

As one song featuring the intonation “stay outside…let’s get right” played and the halo video board in the stadium flickered with images of menacing clouds, West dropped to the ground to do pushups while dozens of choir members trotted out from the hallways and filed around the stage.

Hundreds of extra choir members, clad head-to-toe in black, marched in an unending circle around the stage during the clip-clop catchiness of "Junya" (with Playboi Carti, who also performed on "Off the Grid"). As the choir broke into beautiful singing, West looked to be clutching a phone and having a fake (?) fight. He also put a black jacket over himself and ran around the stage before collapsing on the ground for several minutes during the opening section of the slow-burning "Remote."

“Losing My Family,” his lament over his upcoming divorce, was accompanied by more choir members crawling across the stage floor while his mother's words were spoken  – “no matter what, you never abandon your family” – chanted in the background and West lay motionless on the bed.

As with the first round of “Donda,” West’s estranged wife, Kim Kardashian West, was on-site, along with the couple’s children, in a show of support.

Donda West loomed larger in this version of the record, as she did in "Jesus Lord" (“And if I spoke to Christ, could I bring my mother back to life?”). The mystical connotations were particularly noticeable during the rumbling “I Know God-Breathed on This,” which was accompanied by flashing red lights, while Kanye pondered.

West flew aloft on wires to end his event, dangling limply in midair as an organ swelled for "No Child Left Behind," concluding with the declaration, "He's done wonders on me."

While it's clear that West's extra effort has resulted in an album that's a cut above the rest, fans still don't know when “Donda” will officially drop because getting West to commit to a release date is like trying to catch air. But when it does arrive, this time, it will be worth the wait.