In a surprising turn of events, Kanye West, at a private party celebrating the release of ‘Vultures 2,’ decided to take control of the music and left everyone talking.
The evening was already electric when Kanye West, who was celebrating with Ty Dolla $ign, took over the DJ duties through his phone. Partygoers were treated to an eclectic mix, ranging from Prince and Eurythmics to The Eagles.
But what really caught everyone’s attention were Kanye’s choices to follow up two Diddy tracks with a song by R. Kelly. Producer Mike Hector couldn’t help but share the moment, tweeting, ‘I’m at this party and kanye djing. he played 2 diddy songs and then a r kelly song right after. this n-gga do not give a fuck.’ Hector posted the scene on Instagram Stories, capturing Kanye’s unapologetic attitude.
Kanye’s musical selections sparked discussions, especially given his previous references to Diddy and R. Kelly in his song ‘Carnival’ from ‘Vultures 1.’ The lyrics, which mention controversial figures such as Bill Cosby and reference the #MeToo movement, have been seen by many as provocative.
This isn’t the first time Kanye has shown support for artists with troubling pasts. At a 2019 Sunday Service, he criticized the tendency to pull down artists because of their actions, comparing them to historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci. He argued for separating the art from the artist, asking why we don’t do the same with historical art.
These actions have raised eyebrows, given his past defenses of Michael Jackson as well. At the time, Kanye’s then-wife Kim Kardashian clarified that Kanye’s comments were about his own experiences with cancel culture and weren’t a defense of unacceptable behavior.
Kanye and Diddy’s relationship has been rocky. In 2022, Kanye called Diddy a ‘fed’ during an interview after a fallout over various controversies. This incident adds another layer to their complicated history.
Kanye West’s DJ set has once again stirred controversy, reigniting debates about the separation of art and artist. The evening will be remembered not only for the music but for the bold choices Kanye made.