If My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy didn’t receive a warm welcome upon its release, the definition of a party is still up in the air. Kanye’s release party, which included guest performers such as Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and John Legend, sold out in a whopping 40 seconds after the announcement of the show the day of.
The Bowery Ballroom was packed past its 550-person capacity and tickets were going for over a grand apiece in the Craigslist sphere. External power to keep the lighting effects from blowing the place apart, a VIP section to support the celebrities who didn’t get up onstage, and a 90-minute set topped off the occasion. In the audience were the likes of Spike Lee and Diddy.
Of course, no Kanye spectacular would be complete without the infamously opinionated artist making a political statement or three. Without failing to address the media in a critical manner, West defended Bush while making it clear that all has not been forgiven with country starlet Taylor Swift.
“It’s not about popular opinion. It’s about when you look in your heart and know what’s right and wrong,” he said at one point during his speech.
Setlist:
Dark Fantasy (feat. Terena Taylor & Bon Iver)
Gorgeous
Power
All of the Lights (interlude)
All of the Lights (feat. Terena Taylor & Bon Iver)
Monster (feat. Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver)
So Appalled (feat. Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz)
Devil in a New Dress (feat. Rick Ross)
Runaway (feat. Pusha T)
Hell of a Life (feat. Bon Iver)
Blame Game (feat. John Legend)
Lost in the World (feat. Bon Iver)
Who Will Survive in America
Encore:
Christian Dior Denim Flow
Can’t Tell Me Nothing
Paranoid
The Good Life