Rapper Kanye West is set to headline this summer’s Rolling Loud festival in Los Angeles, but industry executives and Jewish leaders say his performance is a threat.
West’s unexpected performance alongside collaborator Ty Dolla $ign at the acclaimed and successful music festival marks the music industry’s welcome return to West’s graceful face in recent years. A source reported that this suggests that there is a possibility that report by SF gate.
While some fans see the rapper as someone who is beating cancel culture, industry executives and Jewish leaders say that booking West would be a “death penalty” for praising Adolf Hitler. There are concerns that his recent anti-Semitic comments, such as his remarks, may convey a sense of impunity. About the Jews, etc.
They also wonder why Rolling Loud, being such a large organization, should risk booking an artist who has been embroiled in so many controversies.
“When I first heard that Kanye would be headlining ‘Rolling Loud,’ I was surprised because it seemed like an unnecessary risk to the festival,” said Dave, Billboard’s senior director of live music and touring. Brooks said.
“Ticket sales appear to be strong, and the risk of Kanye saying something offensive, becoming ill, or refusing to go through with his performance poses a significant threat to the Rolling Loud brand.” added Brooks.
However, Billboard executives said that in light of the fact that a recent listening event for West’s new album, “Vultures 1,” which spent two weeks atop the Billboard album chart last month, was canceled, “this decision was made. makes more sense.” Nothing happened.
“Kanye and Ty successfully completed five listening party events,” Brooks said. “The members of Rolling Loud are definitely using this performance to boost ticket sales and are positioning themselves to look very smart if the show goes through without any major disruptions.”
Billboard estimates that West’s five parties listening to “Vulture 1” grossed $12 million.
“Many, both fans and music industry executives alike, are having a hard time making sense of Kanye’s return in light of his many anti-Semitic and egregious comments and posts on social media,” Brooks said. said.
“But it’s clear there’s still a big market for Kanye and people who want to work with him,” he added. “Some of Kanye’s inner circle are Jewish, and I think it’s not just about the money; they care about Kanye and want to help him.”
Feminist rabbi and author Danya Ruttenberg says she believes West’s upcoming performance on Rolling Loud will “make Jews less safe.”
“People who feel validated by Kanye will feel more comfortable continuing to engage in literally medieval hate speech,” Ruttenberg argued.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, said: “Kanye has done terrible damage in contributing to the never-ending tsunami of anti-Semitism in this country.” Stated.
“The fight is to keep bigotry out of the mainstream, and there’s nothing more mainstream than a concert for 100,000 people. Having him in the front row is a great way to encourage others, maybe even them, to sign autographs.” It’s a signal that you can’t do it,” Cooper added.
Notably, West’s upcoming performance at Rolling Loud will be his first live show in Los Angeles since a benefit concert with fellow rapper Drake in 2021.
Comments on Rolling Loud’s social media show that many fans are excited, or at least neutral, about West’s upcoming performance at what is considered the world’s biggest rap festival brand. It has been suggested that there is.
“I think the fans who support him are condoning Kanye’s past statements,” Brooks said, adding, “Either they just don’t care, or in some cases, sadly, they agree with Kanye’s opinions. It’s either,” he added.
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