By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Kanye West may be focused on becoming the next black billionaire and determined to make his mark on the fashion industry despite the resistance, but his Yeezus tour isn’t going as smoothly as he might have hoped. Just weeks after resuming the tour after postponing it for technical reasons, the rapper is back on the road but reports have been claiming he’s having a hard time selling tickets despite staying in the headlines for his epic rants and very controversial interviews.
Just days after it was confirmed that Kanye only managed to bring about 4,500 fans in an arena in Kansas City that can hold up 19,000, it’s now being reported that Kanye also struggled to fill seats in New Orleans.
Kanye had a show last Thursday at the New Orleans Arena, and a concert reviewer claims that although the show was amazing, it was shocking to see that most of the balcony was empty. Keith Spera of Nola.com writes:
His anonymity made for a curious contrast: Here was the star purposely setting aside his identity, in the midst of a massive production that was, of course, an enormous expression of his enormous vision/ego. It was far and away the most ambitious, and daring, hip-hop show I’ve ever witnessed; it was impossible not to watch, if only to see what would emerge next. Say what you will about Kanye West, but you can’t accuse him of playing it safe. His show was as polarizing as he is.
Not all fans have followed him down his latest path. Much of the New Orleans Arena’s upper deck was empty on Thursday; a show several days ago in Kansas City reportedly drew only 4,500 people to an arena with more than three times as many seats.
I was there. The show was great and Kanye is a great performer. I really think more people should have been there but the truth is this album really confused a lot of people. And I think Live Nation is dropping the ball too.
I believe AEG Live is doing this tour. I’m guessing it is a combination of reasons why his tour isn’t selling out
I wonder if any of this will humble him any. Nah…
It’s the album and the interviews! I hope he brings it the next album! I miss the old Kanye that put the music before everything else!
LOL. Kanye might really be falling off. Well if he cuts out all the rants and over the top interviews and stunts with Kim and focuses back on making good music, he could go back to being on top. That’s really all he needs to do to win again.
His popularity is fleeting…
I would say it’s the Kardashian course but he was spiraling out of control before Kim.
Yeah but she helps significantly. LOL.
People don’t want to see him because the music isn’t good and he’s turning people off with his antics. I’d rather save my coins and see Kendrick perform solo to tell you the truth. I hated that Yeezus album.
Karma. All of it. I hope he realizes what’s going on and calms it down some. No one wants to keep hearing about his rich man problems. Just make good music. That’s all we want.
Yet Drake can sell out a stadium easy. LOL.
When you keep pulling stunts and putting out lackluster music, people don’t want to pay hundreds to see you perform live.
My friend was at the concert last week she said it was better than expected but she said it was partially empty. SMH but really who didn’t see this coming?
Maybe if he had focused more on making this album be the best he had ever made instead of pulling all these stunts,none of this would have happened