Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was reportedly offered a staggering $8 million to play a concert in Moscow but, despite agreeing to the sum, eventually turned down the proposal.
According to Mash Telegram channel, the American rapper had previously received multiple proposals from several Russian event organizers. SAV Entertainment, which had in the past arranged concerts for Metallica and Linkin Park in Russia, offered Ye $5 million. The St. Petersburg-based media holding PMI, which had backed concerts by the Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga and Madonna, offered to pay Ye about $4 million.
The outlet claims that the largest sum was put up by “one of Russia’s largest industrial companies,” which offered Ye $8 million to play a single concert. Mash claims that the rapper initially agreed to the deal but later backed out, demanding more.
All of the aforementioned organizers are reportedly still in talks with Ye but are becoming concerned that the rapper’s growing fee could make it difficult to recoup the cost of the concert.
Mash’s report comes as a potential Ye concert in Moscow has been rumored for several months. Earlier reports even suggested that the rapper had personally visited the city to inspect several venues that could potentially host his show.
However, in July, TCI concert agency founder Eduard Ratnikov suggested that Ye might not choose to play in the country due to the possibility that it could jeopardize his career in light of Western sanctions against Russia.
Ratnikov told the outlet at the time that Ye could probably come to Russia on a personal trip “either for money or leisure” but suggested that an actual concert in the country was off the table for the time being.
Several days before Ratnikov’s comments, Ye was said to have been spotted in Moscow as media shared videos of a person resembling the rapper wearing a white jumpsuit entering a hotel in the center of the Russian capital.
Ye later appeared to confirm the trip but did not provide any details on his visit. Russian media reports suggested that he came to the country to celebrate the birthday of Russian designer Gosha Rubchinsky, who acts as the creative director for the Yeezy brand.