yeezus tour chicago

• Introduction & History
• Booking Inquiries
• Press Inquiries
• Accessibility & Sensory Inclusive Guide
• Job Opportunities
• Wi-Fi Usage Policy
• RF Guidelines
• Seating Charts

Directions & Parking

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Mobile Ticketing Guide

• JUL 11 - Windy City Smokeout
• SEP 19 - Carin León
• SEP 22 - Hans Zimmer
• SEP 23 - Cigarettes After Sex
• SEP 24 - The National And The War On Drugs
• Event Calendar
• Box Office Information
• Official Suite Options
• Day-of-Event Rental Suites
• BOOK A SUITE! Chicago Blackhawks
• BOOK A SUITE! Chicago Bulls
• United Center Digital Tickets
• Lexus Club Handbook
• Premium Seating Handbook

• Directions & Parking
• Dining & Concessions

Kanye West THE YEEZUS TOUR with Kendrick Lamar

The November 7 and 9 Kanye West shows at the United Center have been postponed. The shows have been rescheduled to occur on December 17 and 18.

Fans should hold onto their tickets, as tickets for the November 7 show will be honored on December 17, and tickets for the November 9 show will be honored on December 18.

Refunds are available within the next 7 days at the original point of purchase.

THE YEEZUS TOUR is Kanye West's first major itinerary since his WATCH THE THRONE tour with JAY Z in 2011 - the highest grossing tour in hip-hop history - and his first solo tour since 2008's critically acclaimed GLOW IN THE DARK tour. Recently, the Washington Post hailed West as "a visionary who's managed to tweak the serial rhythms that dictate so much of our pop culture diet. He doesn't do cliffhangers. He jumps off...We gasp, gawk and wonder, 'Where will he land?'"

West's recent effort YEEZUS has been hailed by critics as the album of the year; The New York Times raved "the album is one long, efficient, inventive kick in the head," while the Daily News agreed that YEEZUS was "punk in attitude, genius in execution." Rolling Stone argued the album was "a brilliant, obsessive-compulsive career auto-correct...This isn't just a way to stay ahead of the competition; it's a way to stay ahead of himself." The New Yorker echoed the sentiment, proclaiming YEEZUS as "technically breathtaking...Twenty years from now, West's previous records will remain important, but a new generation may first gravitate to the lean vibrancy of this one." USA Today weighed in with "...a polarizing, multi-layered body of work that probably will be debated all summer. Who does that besides Kanye West?" Entertainment Weekly summed things up with "Kanye West has gone rogue again. Did you expect anything less? The job of an innovator, of course, is to keep innovating...he pushes the envelope aesthetically."

Kanye again pushed the envelope at the 30th anniversary 2013 MTV VMAs, with his visually stunning, silhouetted performance of "Blood On The Leaves," from YEEZUS.  The performance made VMA history, marking Kanye's seventh showcase at the awards spectacular, tying him with Madonna as the two artists with the most number of VMA performances.  Kanye West has delivered some of the most visually stunning and memorable - and controversial - performances in the annals of the MTV VMAs.

West now readies his powerful, innovative live performance for his first major solo tour in 5 years.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login / Register

Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the Unitedcenter.com Community Rules and Teams of Use . The United Center reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location in any medium. See also the Terms of Use , Privacy Policy , and Community FAQ .

1901 W. Madison Street Chicago, IL 60612

Take I-90 East to the Madison Street exit and make a right onto Madison Street. The building will be on your left.

Take I-55 North to the Damen exit and make a left, going northbound for approximately 7 minutes. The building will be on your right.

Take Madison Street west from the Loop.

Take I-290 East to exit 28A (Damen Avenue). Take Damen Avenue north to Madison Street. Make a right onto Madison Street and the building will be on your right.

Public Transportation

Take the Orange, Green, Purple, or Brown lines to Madison. Take #20 Madison buses west.

To the United Center : The #19 United Center Express Bus runs on game days. Service begins 90 minutes prior to game time, runs every 10 minutes until 30 minutes until start of game. Board at stops starting southbound on Michigan and Randolph. Connections are made with Metra trains at Millennium Station, Ogilvie Center and Union Station. The #20 Madison Bus travels west on Madison Street, starting downtown at Wabash Street and runs every few minutes, making all stops to the United Center.

From the United Center : The #19 United Center Express and the #20 Madison buses run every few minutes, departing from the eastbound side of Madison Street. Buses make all stops.

General Parking

PLEASE NOTE: Parking lots and Uber lot open to public two and a half hours prior to event time.

All prices are subject to change without advance notice.

All major credit cards accepted. The United Center offers free parking for select family shows in all official United Center parking lots. All Parking Policies outlined below remain in effect.

Purchase parking via Ticketmaster in advance HERE .

For details on handicap parking, please see the United Center Accessibility Guide .

EV Charging Stations EV Charging Stations are available in Lot H and Lot K. Charging is free. Please be courteous and maintain parking/charging for the posted time limits. 

Parking Policies No in/out privileges. No overnight parking unless related to event activites and approved in advance. No solicitation allowed. No consumption of alcoholic beverages on lot or in parked vehicles. No tailgating or similar activities.

BOOK PARKING IN ADVANCE

Book parking in advance.

SpotHero We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation's leading parking reservations app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the United Center SpotHero Parking Page .

Fans visiting the United Center can also reserve their parking in advance via  Ticketmaster .

Suites Parking

Two reserved parking passes will be valid in lots C and K. The other two reserved parking passes will be for parking in lots A, B, D, or L. Holders of these passes will be directed to A, B, D, or L lots by traffic police and parking attendants based on traffic conditions. Parking passes are good for one space each. All parking passes are mobile entry only.

For all special events, each Executive Suite Holder will receive two complimentary parking passes per event ordered. These two passes will be for reserved parking located in lots C and K. In addition, Executive Suite Holders will also receive the option to purchase four additional parking passes in lots C and K for special events.

Suite Holder parking passes are also valid for buses or limousines under specific guidelines.

Lexus Club Parking

Lexus Club Seat members have reserved parking in fenced, well-lit and clearly marked parking lots adjacent to the United Center for all Blackhawks or Bulls preseason, regular season and playoff games. All Lexus Club members who purchase tickets to other events may also purchase one preferred parking pass (in lot C or K) for such events. Details on how to obtain parking for other events are included with the fax transmission announcing each event.

Lexus Club Seat members with two to four tickets receive a complimentary, reserved parking space in a closed-in, paved lot for all Blackhawks or Bulls preseason, regular season and playoff games. Lexus Club Seat members with five seats or more will be provided with two parking passes.

Rideshare/UberZone

UBER ZONE FAQs:

What is the Uber Zone (Lot E) at the United Center? To increase and streamline the fan experience for guests who take Uber to and from the United Center, the new Uber Zone is located at the corner of Madison Street and Wood Street (Lot E) and will combine the three former Uber locations around the arena. Traffic leading to the three prior Uber pickup locations 1) Zone A, previously located on Wood Street & Washington Blvd. near Lot A, 2) Zone D, previously located on Monroe Street & S. Paulina Street near Lot D and 3) Zone F, previously located on Monroe Street & Seeley Ave. near Lot F will now be directed towards the one new Uber Zone in Lot E.

What is the location of the Uber Zone? The new Uber Zone at the United Center is located on the corner of Madison Street and Wood Street. Fans will enter and exit through the sidewalk entrance located on Madison Street and cars will enter the lot by turning into the Uber Zone from Madison Street. Cars will exit on Warren Blvd.

What are the hours of operation? On event days, the Uber Zone is open two hours prior to games, concerts and events and will remain open up to one hour after each event. On non-event days, the Uber Zone will be closed and Uber rides will be dropped off near the corner of Madison Street and Wood Street outside of the Uber Zone.

What is the pickup process for fans?

• Using the Uber app, fans inside the United Center will call an Uber ride.
• Guests will then head to the new Uber Zone located at the corner of Madison Street and Wood Street in front of the United Center.
• When arriving, fans will show the Uber attendant the lane number their driver is in.
• Fans will be shown the location where their Uber vehicle is located to start their next journey.

What is the dropoff process for fans? When Uber drivers arrive with guests at the United Center, they will be instructed to pull into the Uber Zone from the Madison Street side to drop off fans. Once exiting the vehicle, guests will walk out of the main entrance located on the corner of Madison Street and Wood Street. Guests can cross the street to the United Center and are encouraged to enter through the East Atrium.

• Statistics Stats
• You are here:
• December 17, 2013 Setlist

Ye Setlist at United Center, Chicago, IL, USA

• Edit setlist songs
• Edit venue & date
• Edit set times
• Add to festival
• Report setlist

Tour: The Yeezus Tour Tour statistics Add setlist

• On Sight Play Video
• New Slaves Play Video
• Send It Up Play Video
• Mercy ( Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz  cover) Play Video
• Power Play Video
• Cold ( Kanye West feat. DJ Khaled  cover) Play Video
• I Don't Like ( Chief Keef  cover) Play Video
• Clique ( Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean  cover) Play Video
• Black Skinhead Play Video
• I Am a God Play Video
• Can't Tell Me Nothing Play Video
• Coldest Winter Play Video
• Hold My Liquor Play Video
• I'm in It Play Video
• Guilt Trip Play Video
• Heartless Play Video
• Blood on the Leaves Play Video
• Lost in the World Play Video
• Runaway Play Video
• Stronger Play Video
• Through the Wire Play Video
• Jesus Walks Play Video
• Diamonds From Sierra Leone Play Video
• Flashing Lights Play Video
• All of the Lights Play Video
• Good Life Play Video
• Homecoming ( tour debut ) Play Video
• Bound 2 Play Video

Edits and Comments

16 activities (last edit by pomes27 , 10 Jan 2023, 07:50 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Black Skinhead
• Blood on the Leaves
• Hold My Liquor
• I'm in It
• Can't Tell Me Nothing
• Flashing Lights
• All of the Lights
• Lost in the World
• Clique by Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean
• Cold by Kanye West feat. DJ Khaled
• I Don't Like by Chief Keef
• Mercy by Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
• Coldest Winter
• Jesus Walks
• Through the Wire
• Diamonds From Sierra Leone

Complete Album stats

More from this Artist

• More Setlists
• Artist Statistics
• Add setlist

Related News

Justin Timberlake Kicks Off Tour with Intense Floating Stage

Kacey Musgraves Surprises Zach Bryan Fans at Chicago Opener

Kanye Makes Surprise Appearance at Travis Scott's Orlando Gig

Today is Jay-Z's Birthday

United center.

• Ye This Setlist Add time Add time
• Kendrick Lamar Add time Add time

Ye Gig Timeline

• Dec 10 2013 US Airways Center Phoenix, AZ, USA Add time Add time
• Dec 13 2013 Honda Center Anaheim, CA, USA Add time Add time
• Dec 17 2013 United Center This Setlist Chicago, IL, USA Add time Add time
• Dec 18 2013 United Center Chicago, IL, USA Add time Add time
• Dec 19 2013 The Palace of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, MI, USA Add time Add time

26 people were there

• andrewbenlevine
• baybomber49
• danielrkemp
• GoldenLegFung
• iSawTheStone
• MazarNomoid
• meganschullo
• RedskinRussell

Share or embed this setlist

Use this setlist for your event review and get all updates automatically!

<div style="text-align: center;" class="setlistImage"><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ye/2013/united-center-chicago-il-43c46b47.html" title="Ye Setlist United Center, Chicago, IL, USA 2013, The Yeezus Tour" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=43c46b47" alt="Ye Setlist United Center, Chicago, IL, USA 2013, The Yeezus Tour" style="border: 0;" /></a> <div><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=43c46b47&amp;step=song">Edit this setlist</a> | <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/ye-bd6bd8a.html">More Ye setlists</a></div></div>

Last.fm Event Review

[url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ye/2013/united-center-chicago-il-43c46b47.html][img]https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=43c46b47[/img][/url] [url=https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=43c46b47&amp;step=song]Edit this setlist[/url] | [url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/ye-bd6bd8a.html]More Ye setlists[/url]

Tour Update

Marquee memories: yard act.

• Jun 22, 2024
• Jun 21, 2024
• Jun 20, 2024
• Jun 19, 2024
• Jun 18, 2024
• Jun 17, 2024
• FAQ | Help | About
• Terms of Service
• Ad Choices | Privacy Policy
• Feature requests
• Songtexte.com

The Early Registration

Amazing never before seen yeezus tour photos.

BY   TER STAFF

In honor of The Early Registration’s launch, we have released some exclusive never before seen pictures from Kanye West’s Yeezus Tour, which is currently under a second run throughout various summer festivals. These photographs, taken by The Early Registration’s founder and editor-in-chief Dan Garcia , during Kanye’s homecoming stop in Chicago, capture some great shots of West, his costumes, and set-up of the tour. These are truly the best collection of Yeezus Tour photos that you will find on the internet.

Hit the jump for more photographs.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

2 thoughts on “Amazing Never Before Seen Yeezus Tour Photos”

• Pingback: Check Out Kanye’s Newest G.O.O.D Music Artist, Singer Kacy Hill | The Early Registration
• Pingback: An Interview with Music Photographer Dan Garcia | The Early Registration

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Your Music Source for News, Reviews, Interviews and Much More!

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Chicago Maroon

On Yeezus tour, pride cometh before the fall (of Kanye)

Kanye West is broken again, fitful, a little disorganized. It’s been five years since he released the stunning 808s & Heartbreak , and three since his Armageddon, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy . Since then he has paired up with his mentor Jay-Z for a brilliant collaboration album, delivered a clothing line at Paris fashion week, and become a father with a reality TV star. It’d be hard to think that West hasn’t had the encroaching fear that his musical genius isn’t enough, that the demands of his emotional insecurities and commercial enterprises must supersede his pleasures as a rapper and producer. His cultural preoccupations have become antidotes to his artistic ingenuity. There are new spaces to consider, a bigger legacy at stake. But as his entrepreneurial aspirations have become less coherent, his music tastes have become sharper and more insistent. Yeezus , his most recent album, is one of the best of 2013, a prototype of musical attraction-by-repulsion.

Ten days ago West performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City to promote the album, and by extension his new life. Over a two-and-a-half hour set, he proved once again how unparalleled his live performances are: there are few pop artists as ornate and detail-oriented in arena shows, and few more intent on pleasing the audience, either by sound or visuals. He runs, preens, dances, lurches, struts, and lies down. He shouts into a microphone, screams into a vocoder, pleads into an autotune device. He climbs a holy mountain on stage, stands atop a mock cliff in the middle of the arena, and kneels before a man dressed as Jesus. Considering Kanye’s propensity for honest self-deification, there may be less irony in all this than there should be.

But the music in the show comes through just as it should. He designed a set and a set list suited perfectly to Yeezus , which he performed in its entirety. The show was organized into five thematic sections, arranged with parts of his discography that fit the “Fighting,” “Rising,” “Falling,” “Searching,” and “Finding” headings announced before each entrance. For each part, Kanye wore a new mask, usually covered in diamonds. Not until the intimate encounter with the Jesus look-alike (no really; it was touching) near the end of the show did he finally show his face—too late for anyone to have believed he had a body double perform flawlessly for two hours.

This is the first Kanye show I’ve seen for which he so masterfully organized his music into themes and moods, relating the different sounds he’s toggled with over the years. Part of the challenge for Kanye now is figuring out how to commemorate his past music and self: as he becomes more aggressive with his newfound artistic proclamations, there’s naturally a break between his current identity and his past self—one that could sap some of the original energy from older, and perhaps more modest, records. Rarely did there seem to be any kind of self-abnegating. His performances of “Jesus Walks,” “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” and “Through the Wire” were effective self-tributes, if not genuine reinventions of his past.

The songs off Yeezus were performed confidently and with little surprise. Some of the more underrated songs on the album like “Guilt Trip” didn’t garner as much interest as the better-known hits. The most distinctive connections between his discography occurred in songs from 808s and Dark Twisted Fantasy , which come from the same fraught, cathartic space, and were delivered with the fervor and brokenness that comes through on the albums. If anything, his recent songs have become more pronounced and muscular, stripped of the effortless flow that defined his early music. Songs like “Runaway” and “Heartless” were devoid of any drama, replaced by some of the stark vexation that oozes from Yeezus . On the songs that did require the gloom of 808s, he was suitably despondent. He sang “Coldest Winter” on his back with fake snow falling from the ceiling.

It’d be a mistake to think that his older, more flexible, and more lyrical music, is better than his recent, more industrial material. The best pairing of the night was “Cold” with “I Don’t Like,” his remix of Chief Keef’s Chicago drill rap anthem. For “Cold,” West reemerged on stage to merge M.O.P.’s “Cold as Ice” intro with his own eponymous version, making for one of the coolest entrances I’ve ever seen. The performance of “I Don’t Like” was the most abrasive track of the night, the audience eager to plunge into Young Chop’s prodigious bass thumps. As Kanye has adopted a more pungent sound, he has attached himself to some of Chicago’s most ruthless voices. Chief Keef and King Louie, two of Chicago’s most visible young drill rap practitioners, worked with Kanye on Yeezus , and he was proud to display their influence at the show.

Regrettably, the takeaway for most fans of this tour will not be the music; it’ll be Kanye’s antics, on full display throughout the night. The new Kanye, assuming there is one, is more interested in people recognizing the profundity of his ideas outside the music world. He thinks there are serious problems: that people aren’t fully recognizing his potential as a clothing designer; they’re “marginalizing” him, as he often pointed out. At several points throughout the night, he complained that his fans are eager for more hits, but not for his next pair of shoes. To stoop even lower, he groused that corporate executives want more hit songs that raise his profile, or for Kanye to perform at their kids’ Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, but not to help him achieve his other dreams.

He whined, for upwards of 20 minutes, that Lenny Kravitz’s commercial projects in Paris were self-limiting, that big fashion designers don’t take him seriously enough because they now preclude the possibility of Kanye being a world historical figure worthy of his own clothing line. In a series of wildly incoherent and temper-ridden radio interviews from the past few months, Kanye has tried to establish the reasons behind his frustration, only to give his fans, and his skeptics, more material to mock him for. He believes the cultural or mogul status of Jay-Z, and of technology luminaries that Kanye professes to worship, like Steve Jobs, trumps the significance of his musical genius. Yet he continually fails to recognize that the quality and influence of his music is doing, and will do, the requisite work to establish him as the kind of cultural figure he’s still trying to be, albeit not the divine figure he thinks he already is. That the right people aren’t giving him the right chances right now doesn’t mean that he isn’t being given a chance.

There was a point near the end of one of Kanye’s rants at which the audience was audibly anxious, unsure of how to square the fun Kanye with the doctrinaire one. It feels safe to assume there’ll be a time in the next decade when Kanye fans don’t want to put up with this anymore, when the music will still be alluring but the messenger too antagonizing. Because West seems so intent on proving something, on showing you that he is right about something you simply don’t understand, only weakens his case. He makes it harder for his most committed followers to keep reconciling the different junctures of his professional and personal lives. It shouldn’t be this challenging to sympathize with someone so smart and gregarious.

Kanye’s fear that something is holding him back just isn’t as deep as he wants it to be. Not getting the chance to participate in strategy sessions at the Versace headquarters doesn’t elicit much pity from the people who are supposed to grasp the broader social and political points Kanye is ostensibly making. His obsession with his art and clothing as anti-establishment, anti-corporate resources proves exactly the opposite: that clothing and fashion can be the easiest, and fastest, ways to accumulate the kind of cultural capital he wants, and that they’re as corporate as the business executives he regularly derides. If he wants to scapegoat the corporations that won’t materialize his artistic concepts, he can’t then plead for their acceptance at the end of the show, as he did in New York. He begged—by name—almost a dozen American corporations to believe in him and his dreams, lest the CEO of American Express (who was in the crowd that night, as Kanye noted) see the Yeezus Tour and not think Kanye is the ideal brand ambassador. Any reasonable thought he has as an entrepreneur gets clouded by his brazen self-contradiction.

Kanye, perhaps to compensate for the elitism of his aspirations, was intent on empowering the audience. Near the end of his main rant, he forgot to ask us to raise our hands if we believe we can do anything in life ( apparently a Yeezus Tour trope ), so he rushed out on stage to demand this, then quickly walked off, as if the act was ironic in the first place. His dreams (thwarted yet again) of designing clothes for YSL are, implicitly, the kind of dreams all of us can and should have, even though Kanye announces that anything he touches is superhuman—better than anything any mere mortal could conceive of, or even understand. This is a kind of empowerment, object-obsessed at its core, that only encourages an unhealthy disdain for anything and anyone ordinary.

During his performance of “Blood on the Leaves,” the closest thing to an opus on Yeezus , the smoke machine operator got a little zealous, and Kanye was the first to notice. After the song ended, he castigated his tech crew, pointing out that all the smoke was preventing the audience from taking clear Instagram photos. “No new ideas without me,” he shouted. That moment might as well be the symbol of everything wrong, and right, with Kanye. Soon after, he jumped rather ambivalently into “Stronger,” one of his most athletic songs. The rendition this time was moodier and more deliberate, punctuated by a beautiful laser-light display rotating around West. There was no joy in this performance, no finesse. But maybe that’s how it should be. There was more feeling in the song this time, however conflicted it may have been. There are other things on Kanye’s mind, and if it’s too hard to reconcile the genius of his music with the messiness of the other parts of his public life, that doesn’t mean we should turn away altogether.

Your donation makes the work of student journalists of University of Chicago possible and allows us to continue serving the UChicago and Hyde Park community.

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• pop Culture
• Facebook Navigation Icon
• Twitter Navigation Icon
• WhatsApp icon
• Instagram Navigation Icon
• Youtube Navigation Icon
• Snapchat Navigation Icon
• TikTok Navigation Icon
• pigeons & planes
• newsletters
• Youtube logo nav bar 0 youtube
• Instagram Navigation Icon instagram
• Twitter Navigation Icon x
• Facebook logo facebook
• TikTok Navigation Icon tiktok
• Snapchat Navigation Icon snapchat
• Apple logo apple news
• Flipboard logo nav bar 1 flipboard
• Instagram Navigation Icon google news
• WhatsApp icon whatsapp
• RSS feed icon rss feed

Complex Global

• united states
• united kingdom
• netherlands
• philippines
• complex chinese

Work with us

terms of use

privacy policy

cookie settings

california privacy

public notice

accessibility statement

COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.

© Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Complex.com is a part of

Kanye West Announces the "Yeezus" Tour With Kendrick Lamar

It's finally here.

Kanye West announces his first solo tour in five years titled, of course, "Yeezus." He'll be touring alongside Kendrick Lamar . Tickets go on sale Friday Sept. 13.

West announced on Twitter this morning by posting the tour flyer, and posted the complete set of tour dates on KanyeWest.com:

{ "id": 134857147 } TOUR pic.twitter.com/KRKLbkY9B8

UPDATE: More shows have been added to Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York City. Tickets go on sale today.

# means Kendrick Lamar will be performing, and ^ means special guests will be announced.

RELATED:  Miley Cyrus Will Reportedly Be on the Remix of Kanye West's "Black Skinhead" RELATED:  10 Quick Reactions to Kanye West's  Yeezus RELATED:  Complex Investigates: We Found Even More Photos That Kanye West Photoshopped Himself Into

SHARE THIS STORY

Complex Music Newsletter

Stay ready. The playlists, good reads and video interviews you need—delivered every week.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our

Latest in Music

| BY MARK ELIBERT

Charli XCX Tells Fans to ‘Please Stop’ Chanting ‘Taylor Is Dead’ at Her Concerts: 'I Will Not Tolerate It'

Watch Travis Kelce Join Taylor Swift on Stage for the First Time Ever

| BY BRAD CALLAS

Sexyy Red Slams Vodka Brand After Starring in Commercial for it

| BY ALEX OCHO

Taylor Swift Thanks Hater Who 'Talks Sh*t' Before Performing Kim Kardashian Diss Track "thanK you aIMee" for First Time

Shaq Trolls Drake With Photoshopped Bikini Photo and "BBL Drizzy" Song

DJ Scheme Says 'It's Still F*ck Drake' in Response to Conspiracy Theory That Toronto Rapper Killed XXXTentacion

Rapper Julio Foolio Reportedly Dead at 26 Following Shooting

| BY JADE GOMEZ

People Keep Joking About Steve Lacy’s Presence at Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop-Out’, Lacy Responds: ‘Y’all Know I’m From Compton, Right?'

Kendrick Lamar and Mustard Shoot “Not Like Us” Music Video in Compton

Latto Appears to Shades Ice Spice With “Think U The Sh*t” Cake

Hip Hop Scriptures

Yeezus tour - chicago.

• Thursday, November 7, 2013
• 7:30 PM 10:30 PM 19:30 22:30
• United Center 1901 W Madison Chicago, IL 60612 United States (map)
• Google Calendar ICS

KANYE WEST'S 1ST SOLO TOUR IN 5 YEARS WITH KENDRICK LAMAR

• Tagged yeezus , kanye west , kendrick lamar , chicago

Kanye West Takes 'Yeezus' Tour To Chicago For A 'Homecoming'

CHICAGO -- The Windy City came out in force, with fans braving frigidly low temperatures to catch a glimpse of hometown hero Kanye West as he closed out the second of two Chicago shows.

With an opening set from Kendrick Lamar , who effortlessly breezed through good kid, m.A.A.d city hits, the night felt like a homecoming for all in attendance. Going through a set list that included "Money Trees," "Sing About Me," "The Recipe" and "Compton," Lamar gave props to the Chicago crowd for being the "first to accept him" when he performed in Chi-town in the beginning of his career. The west coast MC also said his parents were from the south side of the city, calling it his second home to the delight of the United Center faithful.

But the night clearly belonged to the headlining West, who began his two-hour-plus set with energetic renditions of "On Sight" and "New Slaves" from his latest full-length offering, Yeezus. About an hour in, the rapper brought out an MPC 3000 and began constructing the foundation for his track "Runaway."

Instead of first performing the track in its entirety, 'Ye improvised the lyrics, making it more personal for the occasion. "We should've, never ever let, Michael Jordan play for the Wizards," he sang, causing the crowd to erupt. West related the lyrics to his claim that Jordan was denied ownership in the Chicago Bulls, drawing a parallel to himself being denied access to certain industries, including fashion.

West admitted that he recently spoke to and was given advice by Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan. He then proceeded to tell the crowd how he wasn't apologetic for anything, saying, "I'm not like Jay-Z; that's my big brother. I'm not like Oprah; that's my big sister," he said, before adding, "but with all due respect, I'm gonna turn up on these mother----ers."

The G.O.O.D Music leader continued to run through hits like "Good Life," "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "All Of The Lights" and "Heartless." But the highlight of the night, while winding down his set, was his performance of "Homecoming," whose Chicago-related lyrics were seemingly echoed word-for-word by the enthusiastic crowd. As West exited to a rousing ovation, the night proved that the city that raised the multi-platinum superstar still has love for its native son.

Latest News

POV VMA SUBMISSION FORM

MTV Video Music Awards Will Return to New Jersey for September Show

Scream’s Ghostface Accepts Best Movie And Best Fight: ‘Movies Don’t Create Psychos’

Anthony Ramos And Dominique Fishback Ramp Up The Tension In New 'Transformers' Clip

Joseph Quinn Acknowledges The Power Of 'Stranger Things' Fans

Ariel And Prince Eric's Romantic Night Ends With A Splash In New 'Little Mermaid' Clip

Kanye West Postpones Chicago Dates of Yeezus Tour

Kanye West has pushed back two more dates of his nationwide tour with Kendrick Lamar , reports Complex.com . This time, he's rescheduling his hometown shows, Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 at Chicago's United Center, leaving fans to speculate when Yeezus will return.

Last week, several dates of the Yeezus tour were postponed until December after a truck crashed carrying a 60-foot, custom-made LED screen "central to the staging," a rep from Def Jam revealed via a statement. The accident damaged the screen "beyond repair" and it is "impossible to put on the show" without it, the rep added.

The truck was en route to the tour stop in Vancouver, B.C. Shows in Anaheim, Denver and today's show in Minneapolis have also been rescheduled.

"Kanye West will not compromise on bringing the show, as it was originally envisioned and designed, to his fans," the statement also read. 

The tour, 'Ye's first in five years, kicked off successfully Oct. 13 in Seattle with plans to hit at least 20 more cities. So far, he's  brought a Jesus impersonator along with him, sold controversial merchandise  and, in addition to Lamar, has tapped A Tribe Called Quest for a couple of the New York shows.

As of press time, the tickets are still available for purchase in Chicago and no announcement confirming or cancelling his Nov. 8 date in Columbus, Ohio, has been made.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of  hip hop and R&B music .

Click here  to subscribe to our newsletter.

(Photo: Ronin 47 / Splash News)

Latest News

Jonathan Majors Breaks Down Accepting Perseverance Award: ‘I’m Imperfect. I Have Shortcomings’

Simone Biles Addresses Her 2020 Olympic Departure in Trailer for New Netflix Doc

Snoop Dogg Crowns Kendrick Lamar 'King of the West,' Again

Chrisean Rock, Sentenced for November Assault, Faces More Legal Issues

BET's 'For the Fellas' Takes Deep Dive Into Fatherhood in a Modern World

Nara Smith Threatens To Sue TickTok’er For Defamation Of Character

Subscribe for bet updates, provide your email address to receive our newsletter..

By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy . You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

The Evolution of Kanye West’s Tours

By Jessy Edwards

Looking back to Kanye West’s very first nationwide tour, it’s incredible to see how much has changed.

It was 2004, and back then a good hip-hop show meant seeing your favorite artist perform their set without any major sound difficulties. The big-budget spectacles West pioneered existed only in dreams. In the years that followed, his live performance evolved from performing in front of a backdrop of Chicago’s skyline to ascending a literal mountain constructed on stage.

Over five headline tours and multiple spot performances, Kanye has transformed the expectations for a hip-hop. After the Yeezus tour of 2013, the New York Post raved that the show was more than just a concert, saying, “It’s an extravaganza of music and theater… an unmissable spectacle.”

Kanye has developed the live performance to be immersive and experiential, pairing with fashion designers, artists, and engineers to create shows that redefine the concert experience—even architecture magazines have marveled at Kanye’s work.

So as Ye prepares for the Saint Pablo Tour —his first in three years—we look back at the tours that came before: the looks, the designers, the opening acts, the artistry, and the drama.

Related: Kanye West By The Numbers

The College Dropout Tour

Length: March 16—May 5, 2004 Set designer: Unknown Supporting acts: Dilated Peoples, John Legend, GLC

Baggy jeans, striped polos and a college vibe were the defining elements of Kanye West’s very first headline tour, in 2004.

Well before West was sending his own models down the runway of New York Fashion week, he and his crew were rocking matching Ralph Lauren polos emblazoned with the mascot of his debut album and tour—the College Dropout bear.

The tour spanned 34 dates, from March to May that year, and a 26-year-old West leaned in to the collegiate theme. Not only did it kick off at Virginia Tech, it hit a number of college towns across the states—from Pace University in New York to George Washington University in DC, ending with three shows at House of Blues in West’s hometown, Chicago.

The tour started just months after the official release of West’s first album, which shot to #2 and sold almost 500,000 copies in its first week, and was opened by Dilated Peoples, featured John Legend and GLC, and had A-Trak as tour DJ.

A-Trak’s video from the tour describes the vibe: “There were lots of chicken wings, lots of shoes and lots of laughter,” he says. The footage, from more than a decade ago, shows how excited the artists were to fly on a G4 private jet to some of the locations.

Onstage, Kanye paced in front of seven slim LED-screens, and some footage has the Chicago cityscape as his background. While the tour is lo-fi compared to his modern-day setups, the venues were packed with people, and when West asked his crowd to “scream so loud when the music come on you can’t even hear it,” they did just that.

English musician Tom Wiseman, from hip hop group Community League , says one of his “greatest show experiences” came from seeing the tour stop in the U.K.

“When The College Dropout tour came to town for one night only back in 2004, it was a magical affair that went down as one of the best in the year that was soundtracked by the irrepressible Mr. West,” he recalls. “When Kanye launched into ‘Slow Jamz’ only to have the entire crowd sing the words back to him—his mic held loosely at his side, the expression of wonder on his face, it was priceless.”

The Touch The Sky Tour

Screenshot via YouTube

Length: October 12—December 11, 2005 Set designer: Esmeralda Devlin Opening acts: Fantasia and Keyshia Cole

Ye’s second tour started off with a few hiccups . He was making changes right down to the last minute.

As the story goes, West scrapped the Touch the Sky Tour’s entire lighting plan just two weeks before the opening show in Miami. According to Mark Beaumont’s book Kanye West: God and Monster , the tour was completely redone by new tour designer Es Devlin just a fortnight before opening night, and soon after Kanye was heard yelling “I’m not excited about going on tour! All y’all have is moving lights!” to his former designer.

And then, just days before Ye was meant to start touring, opening act Common announced he couldn’t make it—he’d just landed an acting role. This left West with Fantasia and Keyshia Cole for his opening acts.

In the end, the stage show was accompanied by a glamorous six-piece string section and featured live video of the show projected behind the stage. West kneeled by a hospital bed to sing “Roses”—about his grandmother’s illness—and later collapsed in front of a screen scrolling negative reviews behind him. The star changed four times and wore designer blazers, pants, and dark designer sunglasses.

Chicago fan and music writer Tre G describes the show he saw at the Breslin Center in Michigan as the “greatest thing [he] had ever seen at the time.” Not only was it the first concert he had ever attended, Tre still remembers being blown away by the lighting and visuals. “You could tell Kanye was all about production, even in his early years,” he says. “I remember vividly one part of the show, Kanye displayed on the screen what critics and magazines were saying about him at the time.”

And the performance itself didn’t disappoint.

“I went HAM when he performed ‘Get ‘Em High.’ It’s still one my favorites,” he says.

Despite calling him an “only average rapper,” a Rolling Stone reviewer admitted that, unlike many other hip-hop hits, some of West’s songs were better live. Mark Beaumont described the Touch the Sky tour as Kanye “stepping out onto the tour big leagues.” He played the Thompson-Bowling Arena in Knoxville, the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, and two nights at the theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Speaking to an MTV reporter on opening night about his earlier setbacks , West was typically brash.

“F— that!” West said backstage shortly before showtime. “We not gonna wait for 10 shows from now, we gonna touch the sky tonight.”

And so it was.

The Glow in the Dark Tour

Length: April 16, 2008—December 7, 2008 Set designer: Esmeralda Devlin Opening acts: N.E.R.D., Lupe Fiasco, Rihanna

Kanye’s first world tour also included his first truly extraordinary stage.

The Glow In The Dark Tour crammed in more than 50 arena and festival shows in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. before heading to Mexico and then across the Pacific, via South America, to the Far East and Europe.

The concept pitted Kanye as a the pilot of a spaceship hitting a meteor storm, landing on a desolate planet of dry ice, and trying to find his way home through tracks from The College Dropout , Late Registration , Graduation , 808s and Heartbreak .

With design again done by Es Devlin, in collaboration with Martin Phillips and John McGuire, the stage was transformed into a barren series of landscapes—one resembling a giant moon—and fantastical glow-in-the-dark features: a giant, glowing-eyed monster and a robot moved within the haze, women shimmered in gold paint for the track “Gold Digger,” and stunning multi-colored light sequences lit up the often smoke-filled stage.

Ye himself wore sci-fi themed threads, glow-in-the-dark accessories, his signature stunna shades, and gloves.

The performance was a visual feast, “an attempt to push hip-hop into the arena rock league,” Mark Beaumont argued in his book Kanye West: God and Monster . It was even immortalized in the book of photography Glow in the Dark by Nabil Elderkin.

But again, the show was not without its hiccups. In Sacramento, Ye accidentally called the city Seattle, before quickly apologizing. At Bonnaroo, fans chanted “Kanye sucks” after a change in scheduling had West come on stage at 4:25 A.M. —almost two hours after he was meant to start.

Plus, Ye self-funded the tour after the original sponsor, Best Buy, pulled out, according to sources . But his hard work paid off, and the tour ended up a success, grossing $300 million.

The Fame Kills Tour

Length: N/A Set designer: N/A Opening acts: N/A

In 2009, Lady Gaga and Kanye West announced their joint Fame Kills tour, which was due to kick off in Phoenix in November and keep the stars touring through to the new year.

The tour sounded like it was all set, with Gaga going on air to describe the creative process for the tour: how she and Kanye had designed a stage that would traverse the entire arena.

She explained that Kanye would represent “the fame,” and she would represent “home and humble beginnings,” and the two artists would be aiming to reach each other from either ends of the stage.

In early October, however, the show was cancelled , with little reason given. Some speculated that it was related to negative publicity surrounding West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech that month, and it would two more years before Kanye announced another tour.

The Watch the Throne Tour

Image via Wikipedia

Length: October 29, 2011—June 22, 2012 Set designers: Esmeralda Devlin, Kanye West, DONDA, Bruce Rodgers, Nick Whitehouse, John McGuire, Geodezik Opening acts: None

“Attenborough BBC wildlife content and lasers” was the brief given to stage designer Es Devlin by Kanye for his tour with Jay Z in 2011.

The result: the incredible Watch the Throne tour featured the two performers perched on massive video cubes showing sharks, Rottweilers, crows, and tigers in a sea of darkness punctuated only by cellphone lights and piercing lasers.

As the pair played “Otis,” a giant American flag lit up the backdrop.

Devlin used hundreds of laser beams to create a myriad of different frames to this alternate world of geometric shapes, cascading light, wild animals, and its stars: Kanye West and Jay Z. The two lived up to the hype, and then some. Their habit of playing the smash hit “N****s in Paris” eight, nine, 10, or 12 times in a row quickly become the stuff of legend.

Partnering with Givenchy, for the most part, Yeezy dressed in slick black: t-shirts, leather pants and a big gold chain.

The tour grossed $47 million in 2012, in addition to the $48 million it earned in 2011, Bloomberg reported , and in the summer of 2012, Kanye West launched his own design company , DONDA, focused on “content, product, and experience.”

The Yeezus Tour

Length: October 19, 2013—December 23, 2013 Set designer: DONDA and Esmeralda Devlin Opening acts: Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, Travi$ Scott, and Pusha T

Kanye’s last tour was his most ambitious and daring yet.

Featuring a man-made mountain, diamond encrusted masks, and a catwalk, it was this tour that had the New York Post reviewer praising “an extravaganza of music and theater that gives the world windows into [West’s] erratic persona.”

This visual feast was created through collaboration between set designer Es Devlin, West’s design company DONDA, fashion house Maison Margiela, artist Vanessa Beecroft, and more. This was the tour burned into memory through those full-face masks. This was the tour where Ye staged the reincarnation of Jesus and delivered sermons on the state of the world.

Super-fan Matt Nein, 20, saw the show three times as it toured the States: once in Philly, once at Penn State, and once in Atlantic City, calling it “the pinnacle of rap shows.”

“Kanye and his crew did things that pushed the envelope artistically and haven’t been done before,” he explains, pointing out that as a rap fan, many shows he’s seen have turned on an artist rapping over their own voice, with a posse standing behind them onstage.

“Whether it was using an Xbox to track Kanye’s movements during ‘Black Skinhead’ or making it snow in the arena during ‘Coldest Winter,’ Kanye made sure to do things that people wouldn’t expect.”

The Yeezus stage set and concept—featuring a giant mountain that occasionally turned into a volcano—was described by reviewers as “half biblical allegory and half motivational seminar”.

It kicked off on Oct. 19 in Seattle, and Kanye opened with “On Sight” in a custom-made Margiela mask that obscured his whole face. West worked closely with Maison Margiela to curate the show, and his wardrobe for the Tour was composed of 10 couture pieces, 20 ready-to-wear pieces, and an exclusive pair of sneakers, as well as the famous masks.

Onstage, Devlin had constructed a mountain, which was sometimes wreathed in flames, sometimes covered with women in long white dresses. At times it would split in two halves, or become a volcano. There was an iceberg, 12 nude-nylon clad dancers, and a catwalk, alluding back to the fashion show created with Margiela.

The speeches also became a key part of the Yeezus show. “Through the Yeezus tour the sermons came thick, fast, and very very long,” Mark Beaumont writes .

But the show wasn’t bulletproof. The tour was postponed for 18 days when one of the trucks holding part of the 60-foot LED screen was in a car crash, and the equipment damaged beyond repair. Several shows were postponed or cancelled while the gear was rebuilt.

But as always, the show went on, with Rolling Stone calling it “truly electrifying.”

The Saint Pablo Tour

Image via Tidal

Length: August 25—November 1 Set designer: DONDA SURROUND Opening acts: TBD

Last month, West announced The Saint Pablo Tour , his first North American tour in three years.

While very few clues to what fans can expect have been announced yet, more collaboration with visual artists, à la West’s “Famous” video, could be forthcoming.

The tour will visit nearly 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada—mainly playing arenas—including dates in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, Detroit, Washington DC, Miami, and more.

More from Pigeons & Planes

Taylor Swift’s Career is Over, According to this Australian Mural

Why Kanye West Might Not Have Broken the Law By Recording the Taylor Swift Conversation

The Winner of Kimye vs. Taylor Swift? The Memes.

Recommended Stories

Pornhub to leave five more states over age-verification laws.

Pornhub will block access to its site in five more states in the coming weeks.

Rockies win on unprecedented walk-off pitch clock violation

It was bound to happen once MLB instituted the pitch clock.

NHRA legend John Force hospitalized in ICU after fiery crash at Virginia Nationals

Force's engine exploded before his car hit two retaining walls.

Top RBs for fantasy football 2024, according to our experts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first running back rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

Los Angeles Kings reveal new logo design inspired by Wayne Gretzky era

The Kings' new logo is heavily inspired by the '90s look sported by Gretzky in his peak, but features the 1967 crown and other slight updates.

NFL offseason power rankings: No. 30 Denver Broncos are a mess Sean Payton signed up for

The Broncos are still reeling from the Russell Wilson trade.

Men's College World Series Finals: Texas A&M pummels Tennessee in Game 1

Texas A&M is one win away from winning its first NCAA championship in baseball after taking Game 1 of the College World Series finals over Tennessee.

Countdown of NFL's offseason power rankings and 2024 season preview

Our Frank Schwab counts down his NFL power rankings, grades each team's offseason, solicits fantasy football advice and previews what the 2024 season might have in store for each team.

NFL teams in the worst shape for 2024 | The Exempt List

On today's episode, Charles McDonald is joined by Frank Schwab to predict how the worst six teams in the NFL will fare in 2024.

Raiders unveil new way to lose $20,000 in Las Vegas: A tailgating 'party shack'

Just split it with 20 friends and it's $1,000 each!

• Hispanoamérica
• Work at ArchDaily
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

INTERIORS: The Yeezus Tour

• Written by INTERIORS Journal
• Published on December 23, 2013

Interiors is an online film and architecture journal, published by Mehruss Jon Ahi and Armen Karaoghlanian . Interiors runs an exclusive column for ArchDaily that analyzes and diagrams films in terms of space. Their Official Store will carry exclusive prints from these posts.

The Yeezus Tour, Kanye West ’s solo tour, which coincides with his sixth studio album, Yeezus , kicked off in Seattle, Washington on October 19, 2013 and ends in Toronto, Canada on December 23, 2013.

The show is theatrical, cinematic and operatic in its structure. It merges together all of Kanye West ’s interests in the the visual and performance arts, creating a powerful experience that transcends the concert format.

Kanye West is known for collaborating with artists from various mediums, including fashion designers, artists and architects. In 2007, he collaborated with contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, who designed the album artwork for his third studio album, Graduation . In 2008, the special edition vinyl of his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak, was designed by New York artist KAWS. In 2010, contemporary visual artist George Condo designed the album artwork for his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy . In 2011, fashion designer Riccardo Tisci designed the album artwork for his collaborative album with rapper Jay Z, Watch the Throne .

Kanye West first experimented with architecture and set design in 2008 with his critically acclaimed world tour, The Glow in the Dark Tour. In 2011, he collaborated with Es Devlin, award-winning stage and costume designer, on the stunning visual display and stage design for the Watch the Throne Tour. Kanye West and Es Devlin joined forces again in 2012 for three shows in Atlantic City.

In the summer of 2012, Kanye West launched his own design company, DONDA , which is focused on “content, product and experience.” Virgil Abloh, who currently serves as the creative director of DONDA, has a background in architecture and has been the leader of its design. In May of 2012, DONDA produced a seven-screen pyramid-shaped pavilion at the Festival de Cannes, where his film, Cruel Summer, premiered. The project was designed by the New York branch of OMA , with project architect Oana Stanescu, in collaboration with DONDA and 2x4, Inc. Cruel Summer was filmed with a custom seven-camera rig in Qatar and was designed as a project that would immerse its audience in a cinematic space. In addition to this unique experience, Kanye West has recently been linked to architect David Benjamin, co-founder of the design and research studio, The Living, on a project that reimagines the movie theatre experience.

In his career, Kanye West has referenced architects including Le Corbusier, Antoni Gaudí and Rem Koolhaas – each of whom were accused during their careers for not following the conventional norms of architecture and design. These architects were revolutionary in the ways in which they were able to combine architecture with the fields of industrial design, sculpture and fashion, respectively. In an interview with The New York Times , he stated that the sound of his sixth studio album, Yeezus, was inspired by architecture. “You know, this one Corbusier lamp was like, my greatest inspiration”. Le Corbusier, known for completely rejecting style in favor of minimalistic design, is today respected as one of the founders of modern architecture.

Kanye West’s efforts in film and architecture have been faced with criticism due to his assumed lack of knowledge and experience. There have also been those who have applauded his efforts and have celebrated him for taking these fields in new directions within today’s social consciousness. In the same way he was able to bring the worlds of high fashion into popular culture, he has been able to do the same for architecture and design. Kanye West has stated in many interviews that DONDA ’s ten-year plan includes designing amusement parks, churches and films that go along with the idea of intelligent design and creative experiences for the masses.

Kanye has said that the initial vision for The Yeezus Tour came from imagining the end of the world. The visuals of explosions, fire, mountains, masked beings, creatures and God all make their way into the experience of the show.

Vanessa Beecroft, known for her incredible performance art involving the female body, designed the scenography for the tour. West and Beecroft previously collaborated for an art installation for 808’s & Heartbreak . Vanessa Beecroft was also the art director of Kanye West ’s 35-minute film, Runaway , in 2010.

In addition to the dance and film elements, The Yeezus Tour effectively combines elements of fashion. Fashion house Maison Martin Margiela and Kanye West worked together to curate the fashion pieces and outfits associated with The Yeezus Tour. Kanye West and Margiela went into their archives to obtain the spirit of the iconic fashion house. The wardrobe for The Yeezus Tour is composed of 10 couture pieces, 20 ready-to-wear pieces and an exclusive pair of sneakers, as well as several head-encasing masks. KANYE WEST also wore his Nike Air Yeezy 2 shoes, also known as the “Red Octobers”, that he helped design, for the majority of his tour.Even the stage’s catwalk, which Kanye West uses when he walks his Maison Martin Margiela pieces, resembles that of a fashion show.

The show features 12 female dancers, or “disciples," as many have called them, who play an integral role in the show. They wear skin-tight, see-through outfits made of nylon as well as masks that obscure their faces. They not only provide choreographed routines, but they physically interact with Kanye West during certain songs.

During his performance at the Barclay's Center In Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 2013, Kanye West expressed that Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film The Holy Mountain (1973) was an important touchstone for the design of the tour. The Holy Mountain is about a Christ-like figure who wanders through bizarre scenarios filled with religious imagery. The man meets a guide, as well as seven influential people, and all nine embark on a journey seeking “The Holy Mountain.” There are various aspects of the show that are influenced from the film, including the stage, which includes a mountain, the choreographed installation of nude women, masks and inclusion of a holy figure. In the opening minutes of the film, a thief’s face is covered in black flies, a visual reference for one of Maison Martin Margiela’s masks, designed for the show.

The influence from The Holy Mountain , however, is more thematic than visual. The film, much like the show, is an experience and asserts its focus on a biblical redemption story; similarly, Kanye West ’s show is focused on a similar journey, one of self-realization and self-discovery, as evidenced through the five chapters of the show: Fighting, Rising, Falling, Searching and Finding. These chapters are used to separate the set list and also as a slight break for wardrobe changes.

The stage design for The Yeezus Tour features a mountain, which many have labeled Mount Yeezus, which is approximately 50-feet high. The mountain is connected to a catwalk, which is about 30-feet long. The catwalk extends from the center of the mountain onto a secondary sage or lower stage, which is approximately 35-feet long and in the shape of a triangle.

There is a circular LED screen, about 60-feet tall, above the mountain that is angled (about 30 degrees), providing fans a closer look of the show, along with two additional circular screens, about 10-15 feet wide, that are placed above the mountain and parallel with the stage. The large LED screen, along with the entire sound system, is held up with custom metalwork. The screen provides information about the chapter breaks, as well as stunning visuals and atmospheric displays of nature for certain songs, such as “Heartless”, “Coldest Winter" and "Blood on the Leaves." There is a camera that is directly above the lower stage, which syncs to the circular screen to provide an overhead view of the choreography during certain songs. 

The mountain and lower stage also include areas for small pyrotechnics and fire displays during some songs, such as “Blood on the Leaves” and “All of the Lights.” The explosions take palce along the ramps in the front of the mountain. In some instances, images are projected onto the mountain from above as a way of changing its texture. In one particular instance, the mountain changes its appearance into a volcano. “Blood on the Leaves” transforms the stage into a pyrotechnic show. The fire bursts come from the mountain and explosions erupt from the lower stage. The mountain also splits in half in the middle of the show to allow a religious procession through and Jesus, himself.

The lower stage is capable of bouncing up and down as it’s being jumped on. In addition, this lower stage was lifted above the ground (about 30 degrees) during “Can’t Tell Me Nothing" and "Coldest Winter". The stage also houses a Microsoft Xbox Kinect sensor on the south corner. This sensor is used during the performance of “Black Skinhead,” as motion capture is used on the screen behind him. In addition, spotlights directly above him and strategically placed around the arena direct more light onto him. In addition, his mirrored mask for “Stronger,” complement the unique light effects because of the spotlight above him.

The majority of the show is performed on the lower stage. The fact that the stage can be bounced up and down and lifted adds a new dimension to the performance because the entire arena feels engaged. Kanye West further connected to the audience during “Runaway,” one of his most heartfelt performances.

Kanye West performs only one song from behind the mountain (“Power”) on an electronic lift that carries him up. Jesus also stands there at the end of the show before Kanye West walks off stage.

The Yeezus Tour was postponed for 18 days when one of the trucks holding part of the 60-foot LED screen was in a car wreck. The LED screen and metalwork were damaged beyond repair. The equipment had to be reconstructed in a short amount of time; as a result, several shows were postponed or completely cancelled because of routing logistics. The show, however, carried on and retained its artistic sensibilities, despite its challenges.

Interiors attended two shows of The Yeezus Tour , his second show (San Jose, California) on October 22, and his 24 th show (Anaheim, California) on December 13, 2013. The set list and visual displays changed slightly, but the main framework stayed consistent.

The three main parts of the stage (mountain, catwalk, and lower stage) were all used during the concert and all were given the same amount of attention and focus. The drawings and graphical data were done by analyzing photographs and tour information, as well as using Kanye West ’s height of 5’8” as a scale factor.

The diagrams we designed for The Yeezus Tour emphasize specific moments of Kanye performing various songs. The mountain elevation diagram depicts his performance of “Power.” The lower stage elevation diagram depicts his performance of “I Am a God.” The full stage diagram depicts his performance of “Bound 2.” These specific moments and songs are significant to the show itself. The Yeezus Tour will be remembered for its seamless balancing of all elements of the arts, while Kanye West himself will be known as the architect of this creative endeavor.

These diagrams, along with others, are available for purchase in our Official Store .

Architectural Drawings and Graphics were created by INTERIORS ( www.INTJournal.com )

Outline Silhouettes of Kanye West were created by artist, MBROIDERED ( www.mbroidered.com )

Interiors is an online journal, published on the 15th of each month, in which films are analyzed and diagrammed in terms of space. It is run by Mehruss Jon Ahi and Armen Karaoghlanian . Check out their Website , Issuu Site and Official Store and follow them on Facebook and Twitter .

• Sustainability

世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!

想浏览archdaily中国吗, you've started following your first account, did you know.

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Kanye West Yeezus Tour Film Coming to Theaters, Watch Trailer

By Jenn Pelly

Kanye West has updated his website to announce that a  Yeezus tour film is about to be released upon us all. It was directed by Hype Williams , and will be in theaters. Watch a trailer at his website now . Update : The trailer can be watched below.

Watch the "Bound 2" video:

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Pitchfork. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By Matthew Strauss

By Nina Corcoran

This major concert was dubbed the most in-demand show in Chicago this summer

I n a summer filled with performances by Metallica, Madonna, Bad Bunny, Justin Timberlake and other major performers, one upcoming concert appears to stand out above the rest for Chicago music fans.

According to ticket resale site StubHub, the Rolling Stones at Soldier Field is the most in-demand concert in the city this summer.

The report is based on a ticket sales on the platform as part of its 2024 Summer Tour Preview, which looked at sales for shows taking place between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Metallica came in at No. 2 on the list, followed by Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks, Justin Timberlake at No. 4 and P!NK at No. 5.

P!NK ranked the most affordable of the in-demand shows, with tickets averaging $250 for her Soldier Field set on Aug. 24.

The Rolling Stones will be at Soldier Field June 27 and 30.

The tour  comes on the heels of the band's newest album, the first in 18 years to contain a dozen original songs and the first album the band recorded without drummer  Charlie Watts , who died in 2021.

The Chicago stops on the Stones tour come as an added bonus for fans. Originally the band only scheduled one stop at Soldier Field, but added a second "due to overwhelming demand."

Nationally, the Stones tour ranks the third-highest for StubHub sales, falling just below Chris Stapleton and Zach Bryan.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

North America Chevron

United States Chevron

Illinois Chevron

Chicago Chevron

Where to Watch the Chicago Fourth of July Fireworks 2024

By Nicole Schnitzler

Chicago's 4th of July fireworks 2024 promise to be one of the best ways to experience the Windy City's summertime magic. As always, Navy Pier spotlights the season, hosting dazzling fireworks displays every Wednesday and Saturday—including Wednesday, July 3 and Saturday, July 6. Arrive to the shoreline early for a spot, or explore a number of other vantage points across the city. Below, see the best places to watch the 4th of July fireworks in Chicago this year—from skyscrapers to river cruises (and plenty in between).

Navy Pier's fireworks are a can't-miss summer tradition.

You can enjoy fireworks at Navy Pier every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m. throughout the summer. Note that their special Independence Day display, presented by Choose Chicago and NASCAR, will be on July 3.

The pier juts into Lake Michigan for the length of six city blocks and it offers amazing views over the water, but the nearby lakeshore is also a perfect place to catch the action. Arrive early for free musical performances at the Navy Pier Beer Garden on Wednesday, July 3 (1 p.m. to 9 p.m.) or any Saturday (2 p.m. to 11 p.m.). For the ultimate summer night, try to time a ride on the pier’s 200-foot Centennial Ferris Wheel to the start of the fireworks show.

For dinner with your show, head to nearby Reunion , where chef Art Smith serves some of his signature Southern-inspired plates. Settle in at the 200-seat patio for orders of shrimp and grits and jambalaya, and save room for dessert—on Wednesdays, their Sip and Slice promo ($17) features a glass of Champagne or Aperol Spritz with a slice of Smith’s famous Hummingbird Cake. Enjoy it all alongside live music multiple times a week, including on fireworks days (Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Miru at The St. Regis Chicago

The St. Regis Chicago opened its doors last year, bringing with it sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Stay overnight to turn it into a holiday weekend, or book in at its rooftop restaurant Miru , where chef Hisanobu Osaka (Morimoto, Daniel) serves a pristine array of nigiri and signature maki. Do explore the rest of the menu’s punchy, refined options—right down to vegetable courses like grilled avocado or Japanese cucumber (even edamame shines, served charred with Japanese seven spice). Desserts from pastry chef Juan Gutierrez (winner of Netflix's School of Chocolate )—coconut-mango cake; black sesame mochi with charcoal-vanilla ice cream—are equal parts focused and whimsical. Ask for a table outside for the best fireworks views, or just meander out there for the show—here, it’s a biweekly celebration.

River cruises

A summertime cruise on the Chicago River or Lake Michigan is always a good idea, but particularly so beneath a dazzling lights display. Don't have a friend with a boat? City Cruises has you covered, with hour-long excursions aboard their Seadog Lakefront Fireworks Speedboat Cruise every Wednesday and Saturday during summer months. Those looking to slow things down a bit can book one of their dinner cruises, be it their signature Lake Michigan outing (with a dinner buffet and live DJ) or their premier dinner cruise (featuring a plated dinner).

You’ll feel extra patriotic when booking with Chicago Fireboat Tours , a veteran-owned and -operated business featuring cruises on the Fred A. Busse, a retired fireboat that served the Chicago Fire Department for more than 40 years. They offer a fireworks cruise every Wednesday and Saturday in the summer, including on July 3 at 8:30 p.m. (ensuring ample time before the 9 p.m. show). There's also a fireworks cruise on July 6 at 9:30 p.m. (with the fireworks show at 10 p.m.).

Chicago Electric Boat Company has self-guided Duffy, retro, donut, and pontoon boats for rent, with the option to hire a captain or tour guide. Reserve one of their party barges, cycleboats, or yachts—they come with a professional captain and deck hand—both by-the-seat and for private groups if you’re looking to kick back (and look up). And just in time for summer, they launched a lakefront location at Monroe Harbor, offering private cruises with perfect fireworks views.

For a memorable stay, book a weekend at the Four Seasons and some time aboard their 55-foot yacht, where you can enjoy a curated fireworks experience, including a bespoke menu from chef Richie Farina.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is back on July 6 and 7, gathering fans for its 12-turn, 2.2-mile course that will take drivers by some of the city’s most iconic sites and landmarks. Stick around post-race on July 6, when The Black Keys will perform at Grant Park, followed by The Chainsmokers—natural accompaniments to that night’s fireworks, accessible exclusively through NASCAR Chicago Experiences by QuintEvents (packages ranging to include prime seating and hotel stays).

The Up Room has sweeping views of the city skyline—and any 4th of July fireworks Chicago has to offer.

If you don’t do crowds and are content with neighborhood fireworks, opt for The Robey hotel in Wicker Park. You’ll be far from the lake, but you’ll be able to spot fireworks in every direction, especially from the hotel’s 13th-floor lounge, The Up Room . Afterwards, head to the 6th-floor Cabana Club , where you can dip your toes in the outdoor pool and order ice-cold drinks and Mediterranean bites by chef Michael Elliott. Try one of their frozen treats (Aperol pops or the piña colada, available with or without alcohol), and raise a glass as the sun sets and the light show kicks off.

Museum Campus

Promontory Point offers all-encompassing views over the distant, illuminated skyline—but for slightly closer views, settle in somewhere on Museum Campus (namely, the coveted stretch between the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium ). Keep the celebrations going on July 3, when the Shedd Aquarium hosts “ Jazzin’ at the Shedd ,” a weekly chance to enjoy drinks and music from one of Chicago’s top jazz ensembles, plus excellent lakefront and skyline views. Navy Pier’s regularly programmed Wednesday fireworks kick off at 9 p.m., ensuring a special way to wind down the evening.

Cindy’s at the Chicago Athletic Association

For an exciting viewing experience, gather with friends at any number of hotels with balconies, rooftops, or lake views—and if you’re near Millennium Park, make it the Chicago Athletic Association and its rooftop restaurant Cindy’s , where guests can enjoy bites by chef Kaleena Bliss while taking in exceptional city views. While there, try the Tierra Roja, a crowd favorite cocktail featuring mezcal, passionfruit, and green tea-infused rum.

360 CHICAGO

For some of the best vantage points of the Chicago 4th of July fireworks 2024, get advance tickets to the 360 CHICAGO observation deck at 875 N. Michigan Ave. (formerly the John Hancock Center). All admission passes include access from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and you can spring for an all-access ticket to experience TILT, a thrilling ride that leans you forward for a staggering 1000-foot-high view of the Mag Mile.

Afterwards, check out the recently opened CloudBar, a cocktail space featuring local breweries, Chicago-inspired cocktails, and stunning views for the fireworks.

Most anything hugging the lakeshore to the north and south of Navy Pier will afford prime fireworks views—and fewer crowds. For a lively option, try Shore Club , a summertime-only hotspot at North Avenue Beach , where the Margarita “Tree” (a cascading selection of mini Patron margs) is just one colorful way to ring in the long weekend.

The Latest Travel News and Advice

Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips

The Best Economy Seats for Long-Haul Flights

Cruise Etiquette: How To Get the Most Out of Shore Excursions

This Airport Lounge Was Just Voted Best in the World— Here's What It's Like Inside

This New Multi-Nation Visa Will Grant Tourists Entry to Six Gulf Countries

Recommended

The Emily Hotel

citizenM Chicago Downtown

Chicago Travel Guide

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.