SimplyAbuDhabi IX

R enowned for his conceptual approach to rap, US rapper Kanye West returned to Abu Dhabi this year with an extravagant all-out visual performance. In a clear effort to captivate the crowd, the rapper delivered his spectacle amidst giant screens projecting turbulent images of wintery weather including freezing oceans, a forest snowstorm and dramatic sunsets, while the stage was set to look like a cold iceberg with paper snowflakes blasted through the audience by giant blowers – not what you’d usually expect in a hot desert climate like Abu Dhabi. We knew we were in for a riveting performance. The set was in line with an artist of such stature. In the span of just three years, West went from hip hop wannabe to world hitmaker when his production work for fellow impresario Jay-Z led to a major record contract, which he’s parlayed into a greatly successful career. His self-assured, at times rebellious persona and flamboyant style were the right tools to carry forth his message. We’ve watched the rapper become one of the media’s biggest stars by making provocative statements, such as his appearance on the cover of Rolling Stones as Jesus Christ, and his claim during a televised Hurricane Katrina fundraiser that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”. The artist has courted controversy, but even so, his steady presence in the celebrity limelight has nowhere near hindered his artistic vision so evident in this Abu Dhabi show. So this performance was nothing short of what you’d expect fromWest: incredible tunes coupled with flamboyant and edgy visual statements. Apart from a small band located off stage, the rapper performed alone. We watched as he wandered around the large and empty space rapping his beats as if lost on some deserted island – so involved with his music he appeared to be entirely unaware of his surroundings, even though they were clearly devised of his own creative genius. West hit the stage with ‘Cold,’ a hit from last year in which he declared his love for Kim Kardashian. The tune weaves in Foreigner’s 80s hit ‘Cold As Ice’ and West was dressed appropriately in an all-white suit for this tune. But we really got excited whenwe heard ‘Heartless,’ a theme that hit home not only for its impressive beats, but also because of the way in which it was electrifyingly performed – the giant blowers spewed out imitation snow in foam and white confetti to immerse the audience fully within the tune, especially when the lyrics of this song of unrequited love spelled out “the coldest story ever told.” Engaged in West’s performance, we couldn’t help but be amazed by the many intriguing outfits West put on. At one point, he was wearing a strait jacket and a mask made of feathers with beads of perspiration dripping down his brow as he performed with full force. Then, when performing Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds,’ he emerged on stage with his face covered once again, but this time with a mask of large crystals – an interesting visual statement to lend to the tune and one that surely had us mesmerized once again. West’s popularity in recent years has rested on his ability to mix hip hop style with an almost tortured image of introspection. Perhaps it’s the sign of a true artist’s agony that so easily transcends reality through his art, yet remains steadfast to his earthly presence, causing emotional bouts of sensitivity. We witnessed this firsthand in his performance, with West dropping to his knees on stage at many times, seemingly close to breakdown as he emotionally poured out his heart and soul to the audience. This certainly went down well with fans who immediately chanted along with him, wooed by his artistic sensitivity and musical virtuosity. We were simply captivated by his passionate performance. West is a great performer. The stellar stage set, coupled with his incredible hip hop vocals and emotional spectacle, was at once inspiring and otherworldly. After watching countless shows in Abu Dhabi, this one topped the charts for us. 7 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I