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Ye, the American rapper previously known as Kanye West, is scheduled to stage two performances in St Petersburg, Russia, in October, marking one of the highest-profile appearances by a Western musician in the country since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
The shows at the 70,000-seat Gazprom Arena reportedly sold out just hours after organisers announced them on Monday.
Ticket costs ranged from about 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394).
The Russian concerts come as the controversial performer attempts to rebuild his public reputation following years of inflammatory antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements.
In January, he issued an apology and attributed his behaviour to a brain injury and bipolar disorder.
His efforts to revive his career have faced significant setbacks.
A European tour planned for this summer suffered multiple cancellations following widespread criticism of his views.
The UK was among the countries where his plans collapsed.
Ye had been booked to headline all three nights of the Wireless Festival, but was refused permission to enter Britain.
The Home Office said his presence was considered not to be “conducive to the public good”.
Performances in France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic were subsequently abandoned, while concerts in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey and Albania proceeded.
At a Madrid performance earlier this month, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that foreign visitors made up as much as 60% of the crowd, with many having travelled after being unable to see the rapper perform in their own countries.
Critics praised the production, including an enormous illuminated dome on which Ye performed.
RTVE reviewer Javier Villuendas described the set as packed with popular tracks and gave a positive assessment of the spectacle.
The artist’s controversial reputation, however, remained a talking point among reviewers and audiences.
Ye’s plans for Russia have circulated for several years.
In 2024, he travelled there to attend the birthday celebration of fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, a creative collaborator.
Not everyone in Russia has welcomed the planned concerts.
Conservative politician Vitaly Milonov urged the rapper to abandon his usual repertoire and perform Russian traditional music instead.
He also expressed hope that the visit would persuade Ye to change his behaviour.
Before the Ukraine war, Russia regularly hosted major international performers, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Muse and System of a Down.
Since the invasion, however, numerous global record companies have reduced or halted their operations in the Russian market.
Consequently, relatively few major Western musicians have appeared there, with several visiting artists considered less prominent internationally.
Among those who have performed in Russia are Tyga, DaBaby, Akon and Lil Pump.
Jason Derulo also held concerts in St Petersburg and Moscow last year and has indicated plans to return during his 2026 tour.
Ye’s controversy intensified in 2022 after a succession of antisemitic statements on social media resulted in restrictions on his accounts.
Major commercial partners, including Adidas and Balenciaga, subsequently severed ties with him.
He later publicly identified himself as a Nazi, released a track titled “Heil Hitler” and marketed clothing displaying a swastika.
In January, Ye published a full-page statement in the Wall Street Journal rejecting the Nazi and antisemitic labels.
He said he was deeply ashamed of his conduct and described experiencing months of manic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour.
He also said his bipolar condition affected his ability to recognise that he was unwell during manic episodes.
Some observers nevertheless questioned the timing of the apology, noting that it appeared alongside the promotion of his forthcoming album, Bully, and the launch of his international concert campaign.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong
