In his first dwell look since derailing his profession with a sequence of antisemitic feedback final yr, Kanye West confirmed up unannounced tonight (Aug. 7) throughout Travis Scott‘s Utopia live performance at Rome’s Circus Maximus. The pair carried out West’s “Reward God” and “Can’t Inform Me Nothing” early within the 24-song efficiency, which was livestreamed.
“There isn’t a Utopia with out Kanye West,” Scott advised the viewers. “There isn’t a Travis Scott with out Kanye West. There isn’t a Rome with out Kanye West. Make some noise for Ye.” The artists are longtime mates and collaborators, with Scott having signed a publishing take care of West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint in 2012. Scott additionally beforehand guested on West’s 2020 track “Wash Us within the Blood,” which appeared on the latter’s Donda album.
Extra from Spin:
- Live Nation Confirms Cancellation Of Travis Scott’s Giza Pyramids Concert
- Travis Scott Confirms New LP Utopia Arriving July 28
- Travis Scott Won’t Face Criminal Charges In Astroworld Fan Deaths
West had not been on stage since February 2022 in Miami, when he launched his album Donda 2 with appearances by fellow controversial artists DaBaby and Marilyn Manson. In the wake of his outbursts final fall, West was dropped by corporate partners akin to Adidas, Hole, and Balenciega, which he unapologetically claimed price him “two billion {dollars} in in the future.” He was additionally banned from the social media platform then often known as Twitter, however his account was reinstated final week by its proprietor, Elon Musk.
As for Scott, he scored an enormous chart and gross sales debut with Utopia, which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on the energy of practically 500,000 copies bought, per Luminate. It was the third-highest opening week for an album in 2023, and its vinyl gross sales of 79,000 copies signified the best such complete for a rap album since Luminate predecessor Nielsen SoundScan started monitoring point-of-sale knowledge in 1991.
The Rome present got here rather than an occasion Scott had initially deliberate for late July on the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, which was called off by local authorities. Throughout tonight’s efficiency, the artist debuted 5 songs from Utopia (“Sirens,” “My Eyes,” “I Know?,” “Topia Twins,” and “Telekinesis”) and in addition lined Lil Uzi Vert’s “Aye.”
To see our operating listing of the highest 100 biggest rock stars of all time, click here.
