Kanye West channeled his inner Eminem while performing with Travis Scott this week.
La Flame’s Circus Maximus Tour took over the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday night (January 31), where he brought out the Chicago rap icon as a surprise guest.
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Wearing a white hockey mask, Ye performed a number of hits including “Runaway,” “Fade,” “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “All of the Lights” and “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1.” Ty Dolla $ign and Bump J also joined him for his most recent single “Vultures.”
Ye’s mask was reminiscent of the one that Eminem donned on his Anger Management Tour in the early 2000s, with the mask famously being accompanied by a chainsaw and dungarees.
Em himself drew inspiration from the character Jason Vorhees in the Friday the 13th horror series.
While on stage, Kanye West also confirmed that Vultures Volume 1, his first of three collaborative albums with Ty Dolla $ign, is still set to arrive on February 9.
The duo previously announced that the other two installments will be released on March 8 and April 5, respectively.
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Travis Scott also took the opportunity to give his longtime mentor and collaborator his flowers, hailing him as “the greatest of all time.”
“I wouldn’t be here on this stage without my brother, man,” he told the crowd. “He opened up these doors for me. Make some noise for the greatest of all time.”
Following the widespread backlash over Kanye West’s antisemitic comments, Travis Scott declared his loyalty to the Yeezy mogul on his 2023 album UTOPIA.
“Crazy how they love to talk shit and got no Trident/ I’m loyal, bitch, I got Ye over Biden,” he rapped on “Skitzo,” referencing Kanye’s since-nixed bid to become President of the United States.
Travis Scott signed a publishing deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music back in 2012, which was facilitated by DJ Premier, who knew Travis’ family growing up.
“[Travis] was trying to get me to sign him at a time when the music he was making just wasn’t in my lane,” Premo told Pitchfork. “He came to my parents’ house and sat with me, back when Nokia flip phones were a thing.
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“He was sneaking pictures and his aunt is telling him to stop taking pictures. I was like, ‘You know what? Kanye might be into what you’re doing right now.’ I called to co-sign him like, ‘Yo, he’s got something.’ Next thing you know, he’s signing with Ye.”
Ye and Travis went on to collaborate on several songs including “Piss On Your Grave,” “Watch,” “Wash Us in the Blood” and “Praise God.”
