Photo credit: Nicci Boots
Kanye West has never been one to bite his tongue. Throughout his career there has been a number of moments to point to as an example of Mr. West’s outspoken personality. During hurricane Katrina Kanye West said boldly “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”. A statement that at the time reflected the way that many people felt but did not have the voice to be heard. In an industry that provides numerous pitfalls for an artists Kanye decides to make the single off of his debut album a song centered around religion “Jesus Walks”. Or coming to the defense of his wife who is under constant attack by strangers. Bottom of the line is Kanye West has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. According to FADER, Mr. West did not waste that oppurtunity at a recent show.
Thursday Kanye kicked off the second leg of his Saint Pablo tour with a show in San Jose, California. During the show Kanye chose to stop the show multiple times to express his views on politics and the recent election. He went as far to express that he liked some parts of Donald Trumps campaign. A bold statement to make when we have had massive protest going on all over the country even though Donald Trump has already been elected. He indirectly let his audience know that he did not vote by saying if he had voted then he would’ve voted for Donald Trump, this according to a fan video.
In recent years, it has become a theme or an expected part of the concert where Kanye takes the time to vent about whatever he has on his mind. Using his massive stage as a couch and audience members as a therapist.
He began to interact with the crowd after receiving some boos from his audience “Thank you—that’s a woman right there, saying ‘I love you,’ after I just said that there was things that I liked about Trump’s campaign. That’s not supposed to happen, right? Case in point. I guess we’re just not gonna sell out the rest of the tour now.” Referencing the displeasure many people have shown with the election of Donald Trump by saying “I guess were not gonna sell out the rest of the tour now” Kanye shows how aware he is of the way someone is viewed today if they don’t express extreme hatred towards Donald Trump.
The Saint Pablo tour has not been without headlines. During a performance of “Only One” Kanye ended a Los Angeles show abruptly. As well as during a show in New York, he ended it early because of his wife Kim Kardashian, being robbed at gunpoint while in Paris.