Kanye Performs For The First Time Since Antisemitic Rant

Kanye is back. The controversial rapper returned to the stage alongside Travis Scott's massive performance in Rome. In the livestream of Scott's performance, the Utopia rapper addresses the crowd before he brings out Ye.

"Only one human being on this mother f****** planet that has ever walked side by side with me through anything and every mother f****** thing," Scott yells at the crowd.

Ye hit the stage and performed "Praise God" which features Scott from his 2021 Donda album. He later performed "Can't Tell Me Nothing," a staple song in the rapper's discography.

This marks Ye's first performance since his antisemitic remarks last year. Following Ye's antisemitic comments, he was dropped from Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas. While the latter has cut ties with the rapper they recently announced that they will begin selling the rest of the Yeezy stock they have left over. The sportswear company will be donating part of the profits to George Floyd's brother's foundation Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change. They will also be donating to the Anti-Defamation League.

His antisemitic remarks also strained the relationship between him and Ice Cube. In the since-deleted episode of Drink Champs, Ye claimed that the former N.W.A. member "really influenced" him to "get on this anti-Semite vibe."

"I hate that my name was dragged into this Drunk Champs bulls---," Cube tweeted last October. "I don’t know what Ye meant by his statements, you’re gonna have to ask him." Cube has long been accused of antisemitism. On “No Vaseline,” a diss track off the 1991 album Death Certificate, he rapped about Jerry Heller, N.W.A’s former manager, who is Jewish. “Get rid of that Devil real simple / Put a bullet in his temple / ’Cause you can’t be the N---- 4 Life crew / With a white Jew telling you what to do." In 2020, he was criticized for sharing memes considered to be antisemitic on social media.

The two have since seemingly made up as they were photographed back in June hugging and smiling at one another, according to Page Six.

Take a look at Kanye's moment back on stage here.

Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. While the genre is one of the youngest, it is not short on its impact on the culture.

The genre originated in the early '70s in New York in African-American communities in the Bronx. There are several aspects to hip-hop in regard to music making, such as rap, djing, and freestyling. Those created other avenues in the art form, such as breakdancing and graffiti art.

Hip-hop has been in the mainstream in ways that were never thought possible by its early adopters of the craft.

"When we started on this journey decades ago, we were often told, 'No'. No, you won't be able to leave New Jersey. No, if you rap, you can't sing. No, singers can't become actresses. No, actors can't also produce," Queen Latifah said to Entertainment Weekly in a statement as she is set to become the first female rap artist to be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors.

"To now be recognized amongst so many multi-hyphenates feels unbelievable, not for just me and my team, but for our community. The work the Kennedy Center does is immeasurable so I'm beyond grateful for this recognition."

Throughout this year, hip-hop has been celebrated in performances by some of the greats. At the 2023 BET Awards, there were performances by MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, The Sugarhill Gang, D-Nice, Warren G, Yo-Yo, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke, Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray -- also known as "Def Squad," and more highlighted rap on Culture's Biggest Night.

Earlier this year, Questlove curated a hip-hop tribute at the 2023 Grammy Awards where Missy Elliott, Run DMC, Salt n Pepa, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, Nelly, GloRilla, Lil Baby, and more took to the stage.

If you have been a fan since the beginning or you've just begun listening, you'll learn more from these projects. Take a look at five documentaries on these hip-hop artists:

Biggie and Tupac is a full-length documentary on the lives and tragedies of the hip-hop greats. Besides footage of Biggie and Tupac, you will also see appearances from Snoop Dogg, Lil Cease, and more. You can stream Biggie and Tupac on Amazon Prime Video.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14867972/

Jay-Z is regarded as one of the best rappers to have touched a mic. The New York native's 2020 documentary titled The Story of Jay-Z shows fans how he got to where he is now. You can stream The Story of Jay-Z on Amazon Prime Video.

Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy takes us back to where it all began for Kanye West: The Southside of Chicago. Kanye West's artistry has impacted hip-hop like no other as his diverse skills in producing and designing put him in a league of his own. You can stream Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix.

Nas: Time Is Illmatic takes a deep dive into Nas' iconic debut album Illmatic. In the New York native's documentary you will also hear accounts from Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell. You can stream Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Peacock.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24514002/

Eminem has had quite a career in hip-hop and this documentary takes a look at many of his accolades. In 2022 he performed at the Super Bowl alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year for his contributions to hip-hop. You can stream Eminem: Count Me In on Amazon Prime Video.