Will Kanye West Actually Be Performing In Egypt?
Could the artist’s listening experience with Ty Dolla $ign potentially be cancelled?
Kanye West is an artist who shoots for the stars. His most recent plan, which consists of bringing Vultures–his collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign–all the way to the Pyramids of Egypt in the form of a listening party, serves as a testament to the American rapper’s relentless ambition.
On March 20, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) announced that he and Ty Dolla $ign would be showcasing their highly-anticipated Vultures listening experience at the Step Pyramid of Djoser, in the Egyptian desert of Saqqara, on April 20. The successful duo has already hosted several listening parties in celebration of their collaborative album across Europe and the United States, and the coveted event seems to finally be making its way to the MENA region.
Will Kanye West Actually Be Performing At The Egyptian Pyramids?
At first glance, it is safe to assume that Kanye West is confirmed to host the Vultures listening party at the Pyramid of Djoser in Egypt, which would naturally entail a live performance by the artist. Not only have Scene Noise and Cairo Scene been announced as the exclusive media partners for Ye’s listening party in Egypt, but tickets to the event are also officially on sale, with many fans having already purchased them.
However, in order for a musician to hold a concert in any country, they must first abide by a certain number of protocols and requirements–especially at a location as culturally significant as the Egyptian pyramids, considered sacred grounds by many. As of yet, the Egyptian authorities have not issued a statement confirming or denying whether or not the Vultures listening party will officially take place.
It is also worth noting that Kanye West has failed to follow through on several shows in the past, irrespective of continents. In 2016, the artist cancelled his entire Saint Pablo tour after unexpectedly abandoning one of his shows in Sacramento, California just 3 songs into the show. Will Kanye West end up deserting his listening show at the Egyptian pyramids?
The Vultures listening party could also potentially prove to be another Travis Scott cancellation case due to the cultural sensitivity inherent to performing at the Pyramids.
In July 2023, Travis Scott indeed announced that he would be performing at the Pyramids of Giza, which was later confirmed by the official sale of tickets by Live Nation. The show, however, ended up being cancelled due to official Egyptian authorities revoking the artist’s performing license. According to Scene Noise, following the incident, The Musicians Syndicate in Egypt announced that they would form a dedicated committee to systematically investigating foreign artists prior to allowing their performances in the country.
The official verdict for Kanye West’s upcoming performance remains unannounced.
Check back soon for more details.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram/@kanyewgst.