*Kanye West made sure the release party for his new album “Ye” was fire…literally.
The artist threw a huge bonfire at a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the star-studded event, which was live-streamed on the streaming platform WAV for the world to see. Chris Rock, Jonah Hill, 2 Chainz, Fabolous, Nas, Pusha T and Kid Cudi were among the celebrity guests who mingled with journalists, tastemakers, and invited fans.
The guest of honor, West’s seven-track album, was played twice in full throughout the evening and features guests appearances by Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign, Young Thug and Jeremih. Topics on the new set swing from his mental health to his recent headlines, including his controversial comments about slavery. “They said build your own, I said, ‘How, Sway?’/I said slavery’s a choice, they said, ‘How, Ye?’/Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day.” Later, he referenced the sexual misconduct allegations leveled against Russell Simmons. “Russell Simmons wanna pray for me too/Wanna pray for him ’cause he got MeToo’d.”
Below is the play-by-play, according to Billboard:
The party started at around 7:30 p.m, with guests filing in and snacking on chicken wings, briskets, macaroni and cheese and partaking of alcohol.
Outside of the ranch, fans gazed at the bevy of horses that pranced around in the open field, while on the opposite end, a sound team diligently built out the area catered to the live stream that was set to take place once Kanye’s listening session commenced.
Partygoers were instructed to walk onto the field where the sound systems were. As everyone gathered around the luminous bonfire.
Kanye by the fire. pic.twitter.com/AHyzLAZAgc
— Brad Appleton @ TMZ (@brappleton) June 1, 2018
By 10 p.m., Chris Rock sauntered onto the DJ booth and gave a rousing introduction for Kanye’s new album, titled, Ye. “Remember this: Rap music, hip-hop music is the first art form created by free black men. Hip-Hop is the first art form created by free black men. No black man has taken more advantage of his freedom than Kanye West,” said Rock before asking attendees “to listen without prejudice. ”
After introducing West’s album, spectators were played the entire album twice as Kanye joyously paraded around the bonfire. Partygoers joined in on the fun and began feverishly dancing alongside him. Many savored the fact that West was in a jovial mood, cracking a toothy smile on occasion.
— Def Jam Recordings (@DefJamRecords) June 1, 2018
Listen to snippets of the tracks below:
??? pic.twitter.com/XvlcWXxhFB
— Def Jam Recordings (@DefJamRecords) June 1, 2018
YEEZY pic.twitter.com/6CWcAIdZ0Z
— Def Jam Recordings (@DefJamRecords) June 1, 2018
NEW ‘YE pic.twitter.com/w3B9hgAxd0
— Def Jam Recordings (@DefJamRecords) June 1, 2018
After playing the album twice in full, fans dispersed and began walking out the event. Though the album was short and had many people yearning for more answers — like the song titles — the thought that Kanye finally has something tangible to present after Pablo, seemed enough to hold them over for the time being.
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