On Sunday night, Kanye West, the maestro of surprises, took the stage in Dubai during Lil Durk’s concert alongside Ty Dolla $ign at Blu Dubai. The 46-year-old “I Love It” rapper thrilled the crowd by belting out his latest track, “Vultures.”
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The Dubai night club, Blu Dubai, didn’t keep the excitement to themselves, sharing snippets of West’s impromptu performance on their Instagram Stories. The footage showcased West passionately delivering lines from “Vultures,” including controversial lyrics such as, “How am I antisemitic? I just f—ed a Jewish bitch.”
“Vultures” marks West’s first official release since last July’s “Hot Shit” featuring Cardi B and Lil Durk. The track originally debuted on Nov. 17 on Chicago’s WPWX Power 92 radio station, featuring collaborations with Lil Durk and Ty Dolla $ign. However, the surprise performance in Dubai grabbed attention not only for the music but also for the provocative lyrics touching on sensitive topics.
The song includes references to his former manager Scooter Braun, with West boldly rapping, “I just f—ed Scooter’s bitch,” and delving into the tragic events of the Columbine High School shooting.
This unexpected musical move follows West’s turbulent journey, including controversies surrounding antisemitic comments. Last October, his repeated antisemitic remarks led to financial repercussions, causing him to lose deals with major brands like Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap. The Grammy-winning artist, once valued at $6.6 billion in March 2021, saw a significant dip in his fortune, estimated at $400 million in October 2022.
West’s financial setbacks didn’t end there. In an attempt to navigate the restrictions on mainstream social media, he ventured into purchasing the right-wing platform Parler. This move came after his Instagram and Twitter accounts faced limitations due to offensive comments towards the Jewish community. However, the deal fell through, leaving West to grapple with the consequences of his controversial statements.
His social media escapades continued as Instagram restricted his account and removed content that violated platform rules. Twitter also imposed restrictions following a tweet that breached their guidelines. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) condemned West’s language, accusing him of perpetuating “antisemitic tropes like greed and control.”
In a candid interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, West faced scrutiny for his comments, with the British host confronting him about the perceived racism. Despite the heat, West stood firm, stating, “I fought fire with fire.” However, he later expressed remorse, acknowledging the hurt he caused and apologizing to those affected.
West surprise performance in Dubai adds another chapter to the unpredictable journey of one of the most influential figures in the music industry.
