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Ye is set to perform two shows at St Petersburg’s massive Gazprom Arena in October, making him one of the biggest Western stars to perform in Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
And apparently, Russian fans have been waiting.
Tickets for the two concerts reportedly sold out within hours of the announcement. Prices ranged from about 9,000 roubles to 160,000 roubles, giving fans plenty of options depending on how much they were willing to spend to see Ye make his Russian comeback.
The concerts arrive at a particularly complicated moment in the rapper’s career.
For several years, Ye has been battling the fallout from a series of antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements that sparked international outrage and cost him major business partnerships.
In January, he apologised for his remarks, attributing some of his behaviour to a brain injury and bipolar disorder. But repairing a reputation is proving considerably harder than damaging one.
His attempted European tour earlier this summer struggled to gain momentum, with several shows cancelled amid continued controversy surrounding his views.
In the UK, the long-running Wireless Festival was cancelled after Ye, who was scheduled to headline all three nights, was denied entry into the country. The UK Home Office said his presence would not be “conducive to the public good.”
Other concerts in France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic were also cancelled. Meanwhile, shows in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey and Albania went ahead.
His Madrid performance earlier this month reportedly attracted a particularly international crowd. Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that as many as 60% of attendees were foreigners who had been unable to see the rapper perform in their own countries.
Critics also had plenty to say about the performance.
RTVE reviewer Javier Villuendas praised the spectacular production, including Ye performing on top of a giant illuminated dome. He also described the hit-heavy setlist in glowing terms.
Mondo Sonoro’s Daniel Caballero similarly praised the performance, describing the show as electrifying and suggesting that Ye appeared focused, committed and determined to reconnect with his music and career.
Not exactly the worst review for a comeback attempt.
Russia welcomes a rare Western superstar
Ye’s plans to perform in Russia have been rumoured for some time.
In 2024, the rapper visited the country to celebrate the birthday of fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, with whom he has collaborated. Speculation about a possible concert followed, although nothing materialised at the time.
Now the rumours have become very real.
Still, not everyone in Russia is rolling out the red carpet.
Conservative lawmaker Vitaly Milonov has suggested that Ye should forget the usual concert setlist and perform traditional Russian songs instead.
His message was essentially simple: if you are coming to Russia, learn the local classics.
Milonov also expressed hope that the experience might persuade Ye to abandon what he described as the rapper’s “disgusting antics” and become a “normal person.”
That is certainly one way to review a concert before it has even happened.
Western musicians once performed regularly in Russia. Before the invasion of Ukraine, major acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Muse and System of a Down all visited the country.
The landscape changed dramatically after the invasion, however. Many international record labels suspended operations in Russia, while numerous Western artists stayed away.
Since then, only a limited number of major international performers have ventured into the country, with acts such as Tyga, DaBaby, Akon and Lil Pump among those who have performed there.
Jason Derulo also performed in St Petersburg and Moscow last year and reportedly told fans he planned to return as part of his 2026 world tour.
A controversial road back
Ye’s current situation cannot be separated from the controversy that has followed him since 2022.
His antisemitic comments on social media resulted in account suspensions and a wave of backlash. Major brands, including Adidas and Balenciaga, severed ties with him.
The controversy escalated further as Ye continued making inflammatory statements, eventually declaring himself a Nazi. He also released a song titled “Heil Hitler” and sold merchandise featuring a swastika.
Now, with two sold-out shows in Russia on the calendar, Ye appears to be trying another route back to the global stage.
Whether the Russian concerts become the beginning of a genuine career revival or simply another chapter in one of music’s most unpredictable comeback stories remains to be seen.
One thing, however, is certain.
When Kanye West announces a concert, the music is rarely the only thing people are talking about.