Rhymes: The Yeezus Tour (Part One: The Calm Before the Yeezus)

 

In about 26 hours of writing this sentence, I will be experiencing the “Yeezus” tour with Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. I have been a Kanye West fan since one fateful summer day in 2003 when I saw the “Through the Wire” music video on BET or MTV. Since then Mr. West has grown more and more as an artist and I’ve grown more and more obsessive with him. 

Unfortunately I have not been able to witness Kanye’s infinite brilliance in form of a live show until this year. The “Glow in the Dark” tour, which followed his “Graduation” album, happened while I was in high school and unemployed. Kanye didn’t have a tour following two of my favorite albums from him, “808s & Heartbreaks” (yes this is a great album, if you disagree, your opinion is wrong) and “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”  And I missed out on the extravagant “Watch the Throne” tour due to schedule conflicts and the lack of funds (missing them do “N***** in Paris” 10+ times in a row will always be one of my life’s greatest regrets). 

When the “Yeezus” tour was announced a few months ago, I was very prompt in purchasing tickets for my friend and me. I was counting down the days until Kanye and Kendrick would arrive in Chicago to perform in the United Center. Then a week or so before the show, Kanye postponed the date due to damaged stage equipment. This was unfortunate, but I know that this show is going to be so bonkers that it will be worth the wait. 

What makes Kanye West such a fascinating figure is his unpredictability. I’ve done my best to avoid reading about the shows he’s already done, although I’ve seen a few pictures of him onstage with a Jesus lookalike, Kanye donning a mask and some giant mountain thing. I’m hoping for some classic rants. I’m hoping he brings a fellow Chicagoan onstage (Chief Keef, perhaps?). I’m expecting to be confused. I’m expecting to be a little terrified at some points. But whatever happens, it will undoubtedly be awesome because Kanye West is the voice of this generation, of this decade.