Kanye West: Coming to Shanghai (to retrieve his misplaced shuttershades)

Rumours have been swirling for weeks, and now it’s official: Grammy-winning producer/rapper Kanye West will be passing through Shanghai for a gig at Hongkou Stadium next month. Although we don’t usually take anything seriously until we read about it on Kanye’s blog, we made an exception here after speaking to Steve Sybesma, CEO of China West (who are organizing the show along with Live Nation Asia).

Steve confirmed for us that Mr. Yeezy is scheduled to dazzle the crowd in Shanghai with his dope rhymes and doper sartorial choices. China West is hoping to secure the performance permit this week. If that goes smoothly, tickets will be on sale next week. Plans are also in the works to secure a permit for a show up in Beijing. Although Steve wouldn’t pin down a date for the Shanghai show more precise than “late September,” the government’s SCIBC website lists the date as September 23, with ticket prices ranging from RMB 280-1,680.

Despite the bad-ass liquid metal visual that’s being used to promote the show online, Kanye’s appearance in Shanghai does not seem to be part of his summer "Glow in the Dark" tour, so don’t expect to see Rihanna or Lupe Fiasco take the stage. Rev up the rumour mill for further speculation: China West is hoping to get “a big Taiwanese hip hop act” to open for Kanye.

Cross-posted at China Music Radar.