Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) returned to the stage on Jan. 30 in Mexico City, marking his first concert in the Latin American country in nearly two decades since his debut there in 2008.
He was joined by his daughter, North West, in an emotional moment that highlighted the duality of the controversial hip-hop superstar: the innovative artist navigating the intersection of evolution and controversy in his personal life, and the dedicated family man. With his eldest daughter — whom he shares with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian — he performed “Only One” during the first of two nights at the imposing La México (formerly Plaza de Toros México) in front of nearly 40,000 attendees, according to organizers. There was also room for four additional songs alongside the teenager with long, blue hair, including “Piercing on my Hand,” marking her debut in music.
The show began with Ye dressed in a white tunic, accompanied by a group of men resembling monks who escorted him to the center of the venue. Then, the first beats of “Heartless” started playing, kicking off a musical ritual packed with hits, including standouts like “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “N—s in Paris,” “Mercy,” “Blood on the Leaves,” “On Sight,” “Black Skinhead,” “Power,” “Bound 2” and “STARS.”
Ye opted for a minimalist stage design, using a circular platform without structures or screens, to make full use of the arena’s space and provide 360-degree visibility for the audience. The stage design resembled a giant moon that sometimes felt like the boiling crater of a volcano, with red lights and fireworks exploding over the arena and lighting up the night sky.