Russian conservative elected officials expressed their dissatisfaction after the announcement of the American rapper’s two concerts in Saint Petersburg at the beginning of October. For its part, the Kremlin believes that “the presidential administration” is not “a musical concert”.
Will Kanye West be able to perform in Russia? Announced Tuesday by the local press, the arrival of the American rapper – who today calls himself Ye – for two concerts on October 10 and 11 in the Saint Petersburg stadium provokes passionate and contrasting reactions in the country. Within the Conservative Party, the programming aroused the anger of several MPs who designated it “persona non grata”. Vataly Milonov, elected from the United Russia party, was resistant to the idea of a Western artist coming to perform in the territory. One of his colleagues, Nikolai Novichkov, suggested that Kanye West show his “moral support for Russia and the special military operation” in Ukraine, under penalty of requesting the cancellation of the shows.
The 49-year-old rapper, who is among the greatest artists of the 21st centurye century across the Atlantic, would also be in the sights of an Orthodox self-defense group, which criticizes him for the lyrics of his 2024 song, Vulturesin which he chanted: “She’s Russian, I’m fucking her pussy for Ukraine.” » His ambivalent position on the armed conflict between Moscow and kyiv seems to be at the heart of the debates. The interpreter of Power has nevertheless publicly demonstrated in recent years its affection for Russia, its “second home”he said in 2022.
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Kanye West – Vultures (2024)
“This is not our domain,” insists the Kremlin
At the same time, the hip-hop star also expressed his desire to shake Vladimir Putin’s hand. Russian media recalled the statement Thursday morning during a press conference with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to AFP, a journalist asked him if the Russian president planned to meet Kanye West when he came in early October. “But anyway, this is not our domainthe spokesperson then replied, looking a little amused. This is the presidential administration, not a music concert. »
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A potential interview between the two men divides on social networks and in the press. Some locals would find it inappropriate for the country’s image for Vladimir Putin to meet an artist as controversial as Kanye West. His public statements about Hitler, the Nazis and the Jews led to the cancellation of many of his concerts in Europe this year. Whether in France, England, Italy, Poland or Switzerland. In Ukraine, his anti-Semitic outings and his recurring visits to Russia made him a ” enemy “ of the country, according to a local NGO.
Box office under siege
Despite these protests, the arrival of Kanye West in Saint Petersburg also arouses the joy of certain politicians. One MP notably thanked him for not having given in to “anti-Russian hysteria”. If the rapper were to perform in the territory, he would become the biggest international star to give a concert there since the military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Most artists refuse to go to the country. Only DaBaby, Tyga, Jason Derulo, Flo Rida, Akon and K-Maro, produced by the promoter Say Agency, who programmed Kanye West, agreed to sing on Russian soil.
YASIN AKGUL / AFP
The public also showed their enthusiasm. On Thursday, on the official ticket office of the Saint Petersburg stadium, certain categories of tickets appeared to be no longer available. The price of those remaining varied between 23,000 rubles (around 236 euros) and 50,000 rubles (513 euros). Organizers told local media that 100,000 of the 160,000 tickets available had already been sold for the two dates. Kanye West’s shows could even benefit the local economy, as demand for train tickets to St. Petersburg increased 41-fold, and searches for hotel rooms 16-fold, Ria Novosti agency reported, citing travel service Tutu.
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The rarity of Kanye West’s performances makes these concerts in Russia exceptional for his fans around the world. Since the launch of his international tour, on 1is April in Los Angeles, the American rapper performed in the Netherlands, Turkey, Spain and Portugal. The only European countries that agreed to welcome him. The artist is currently performing across the United States with dates planned in Chicago at the end of the month. A unique concert was planned in France, at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, on June 12. But under pressure from the Marseille municipality and the Ministry of the Interior, Kanye West decided to postpone the show, without giving a new date.