Travis Scott’s first Utopia concert since the album’s release took place today at Rome’s Circus Maximus, a public park once the Roman Empire’s largest chariot racing track. The performance marks the first for Travis Scott’s latest album since plans for his launch concert in Egypt fell through — and the show also marks the first public appearance of Kanye West since his anti-semitic meltdown.
After performing the first few songs from Utopia and hits like “Butterfly Effect” and “Highest in the Room,” Travis Scott diverged from the tracklist to welcome Kanye West onstage for a performance of Ye’s “Praise God” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.”
“There is no Utopia without Kanye West. There is no Travis Scott without Kanye West,” Scott told the crowd. “There is no Rome without Kanye West. Make some noise for Ye.”
The appearance marks the first for the disgraced Kanye since his public anti-semitic rant on social media led to his accounts’ suspension and the collapse of his lucrative business partnerships, including Adidas.
Other songs Scott performed in Rome include his The Weeknd and Bad Bunny track “K-Pop,” his Beyonce and Justin Vernon song “Delresto,” and “Mafia,” which was released just before the 2021 Astroworld tragedy. Travis Scott revealed that “Mafia” was initially slated to appear on Utopia but was cut in favor of “I Know,” which he told the crowd was one of the final songs recorded for the project.
Travis Scott brought a fan onstage for “Meltdown” but lectured him for his insufficient rage. He also played the Drake feature “Sicko Mode,” as well as hits “Antidote” and “Goosebumps,” before closing with a performance of “Telekinesis” from the backseat of a car.
Scott intended to perform at the Pyramids of Giza the night of the album’s release, but the concert was canceled due to objections from the Egyptian authorities.
