After asking for his followers’ help in booking arenas in a since-deleted Instagram post, Kanye West seems to have found a venue that will have him, other than the Chicago date he booked at United Center. He’s announced an “official album release party and listening experience” for Vultures, Volume 1, his collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, at Long Island’s UBS Arena on February 9. According to a press release, “This event marks a historic moment as attendees will listen to the album together with the artists and album collaborators. This gathering promises to be an iconic moment in music history, bringing together special guests, album collaborators, and fans in a celebration of creativity and innovation.”
The press release also notes that ticket prices start at $140, and reads, “Given the artists’ massive followings and the deep significance of this event, fans are encouraged to secure their tickets promptly to avoid missing out on this exclusive listening event.”
In the since-deleted Instagram post, which was viewed by Rolling Stone, Kanye said, “We just sold out United Center in seven minutes, and I just want to express to everybody out there to see if there’s anyone that can help with this. It’s the only arena that I had access to in the past year. And when I call, people say there’s no avails for me, and you know why that is. So if there’s anybody out there that can help with this, please.”
By saying “you know why that is,” Kanye appears to be referring to his many controversies, including the antisemitic remarks he’s made in interviews and on social media, which led to many businesses cutting ties with him, including Adidas, Gap Inc, Creative Artists Agency, and Balenciaga.
News of the listening event also comes as Bill Maher revealed that he spoke with Kanye for his “Club Random” podcast, but won’t run the episode. Speaking to TMZ Investigates, Maher said, “I thought it was going to be a learning moment. We were here for two hours. By the way, we had an amazing, fun time. He’s a very charming antisemite.”
