The former rapper Kanye West has gone to China and performed a sold-out show in Haikou, South China’s Hainan Province. Ye’s performance in China’s Hainan came as a surprise, since Beijing has long imposed restrictions on speech, music, and hip-hop, leading to a significant reduction in similar performances in the country.
Following the announcement of the concert, a trending hashtag was observed on the social media site Weibo with a popular comment reading “How?” accompanied by an exploding-head emoji. The answer to this question could be a testament to China’s struggling economy. The country has been trying to stimulate consumer spending and promote tourism after reopening its borders three years after three coronavirus lockdowns.
“Vigorously introducing new types of performances desired by young people, and concerts from international singers with super internet traffic, is the outline for future high-quality development,” the government of Haikou, the city hosting the listening party, posted on its website on Thursday.
The appearance of Kanye West, arguably the highest-profile Western artist to perform in mainland China since the pandemic, has been a mixed reaction. It remains unclear whether Ye’s appearance is part of a broader loosening or an exception to China’s ongoing crackdown on dissent. Ye’s sold-out concert in Haikou, South China’s Hainan Province, on Sunday night was a notable event.