▲ Ye and Ty Dolla $ign ⓒ Ty Dolla $ign's Instagram

Kanye West, now known as Ye, to perform in Korea after 14 years and host an album listening session

American rapper and producer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is set to hold his first-ever standalone concert in Korea on August 23, as reported by Channel Candy, a global media brand specializing in music. This event will take place at the Goyang Stadium in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, and is hosted by Channel Candy’s parent company, Nextis. 

▲ The Instagram post of the Ty Dolla $ign ⓒ Ty Dolla $ign's Instagram

This will mark Ye's return to Korea after 14 years. He last performed in the country in 2010 at the Summer Week&T festival held at Naksan Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. Channel Candy announced that Ye will be showcasing special stages during the concert, working closely with the media brand for creative direction to meet audience expectations.

In addition to the concert, Ye and fellow artist Ty Dolla $ign are preparing to host a listening event in Korea for their joint album "VULTURES". The duo's first volume of the project, "VULTURES 1", was released in February. Initially, they planned to host a series of listening sessions across the United States, including in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Charlotte, and Washington DC. However, these sessions were canceled. The artists also faced criticism for merely streaming, and not performing, their LP during their set at Rolling Loud. 

▲ The cover of 'VULTURES'

The upcoming listening session for "VULTURES 2" is scheduled for August 23 in South Korea, although the exact location is yet to be disclosed. Originally set for release in March, the album's launch has been delayed, with the new event date suggesting a release later in the year.

Ye is recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the hip-hop scene, known for his exceptional talent in producing and rapping. Beyond music, he has made significant strides in the fashion industry, collaborating with major global brands such as Louis Vuitton, GAP, Nike, and Adidas as a creative director and designer. In 2013, he launched his own fashion brand, Yeezy.

▲ Ye and Ty Dolla $ign ⓒ Ty Dolla $ign's InstagramIn 2015, Ye was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, acknowledging his impact as one of the most outstanding artists of the 21st century. His career includes 24 Grammy awards, highlighting his significant contributions to music and culture.

Sayart / Nao Yim, yimnao@naver.com