This year, Kanye West came to Moscow to celebrate his friend and Yeezy brand head Gosha Rubchinskiy‘s birthday.
After his arrival, local companies tried to book Kanye for a performance in Moscow, offering him $8 million. He was initially ready but then asked for more.
According to Mash, major organizers contacted Kanye four times. For instance, SAV Entertainment, the agency run by Vladimir Pozner’s wife that brought Metallica and Linkin Park to Russia, offered about $5 million. One of Russia’s largest industrial companies made the biggest offer.
Several venues were considered for the concert, including VTB Arena, Lukoil Arena, VEB Arena, and Luzhniki.
Kanye visited and inspected the last two during his trip. Negotiations with some organizers are still ongoing, but as the fee rises, companies fear they won’t be able to cover the massive cost.
Meanwhile, rumors surfaced about Kanye and Bianca Censori breaking up, but recent photos suggest their relationship is still intact.