Us Weekly’s entertainment director, Ian Drew, scored one of the highly coveted tickets to Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 show held at Madison Square Garden during New York Fashion Week on Thursday, February 11. Read on for his insider dispatch!
It was simply beyond … the Thunderdome. The head-spinning extravaganza that was Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 debut and The Life of Pablo listening session was a rock concert, fashion show and reality series, all rolled into the next Mad Max 3-D IMAX movie.
Only a genius like Yeezus could have filled NYC’s Madison Square Garden with 20,000 fans, 1,000 models and almost every Kardashian (still no Rob!) on a frigid February day, blast out their eardrums with abrasive lyrics and throbbing bass — and then unveil a video game about his deceased mother Donda’s new life in heaven.
But there was so much more to the event. Though we are still trying to figure out the mystery of what the actual new Yeezus collection was — the models’ drabby sweats? The black body stockings of famed African-American supermodels Naomi Campbell, Veronica Webb and Alek Wek? The Kardashians’ sparkly white dresses and furs? — here are my top five moments from the spectacle the Grammy-winning rapper, 38, called “a turning point in American history.”
Anna Wintour Sat in the Third Row
Go ahead and rub your eyes before looking back, but that’s right: Vogue’s editor in chief sat in the aisle seat of row three. The Kardashian-Jenner clan — a newly blonde Kim, little North West, Khloe, Lamar Odom (more on him in a minute), Kylie, Kendall and Caitlyn — along with family friend Lorraine Schwartz and famed French fashion editor Carine Roitfeld, rounded out the rest of row three.
Meanwhile, more pals — including Kris’ boyfriend, Corey Gamble, Jonathan Cheban, Lil’ Kim, Austin Mahone, Melanie Griffith, Jaden Smith and his girlfriend, Sarah Snyder — filled the surrounding seats.
Though Wintour seemed to crack a smile while chatting with Kim and greeting Nori, she made a swift, silent solo exit before the show ended.
Lamar Is Doing Much Better
The biggest cheers of the night by far came when West escorted Odom, 36, through the arena to his seat next to the former pro baller’s estranged wife, Khloe. Entering to thunderous applause after the rest of the Kardashian crew had taken their seats, West (wearing a red shirt with “I Feel Like Pablo” scrawled across it) beamed as he presented Odom in the athlete’s first public appearance since his near-fatal overdose in a Las Vegas brothel in October.
As Us reported in our most recent issue, a source says Odom “is getting better day by day” and walking and talking on his own. It was heartwarming to witness the former Lakers star not only doing that, but dancing and smiling to his brother-in-law’s new tracks without missing a beat.
Still, Kourtney beat him hands-down as the biggest Kanye West fan in the family. She was on her feet, fist-pumping and shouting the lyrics to every new tune.
Kanye’s Got Nothing but Love for Michael Jordan
West is standing by his heroes. On Wednesday, West’s publicist, Tracey Nguyen Romules, Instagrammed a text conversation between herself and the rapper in which she informed him that the basketball star declined to attend the show. After the audience started chanting “F–k Michael Jordan” during West’s thank-you speech, he jumped to the icon’s defense. “No, not ‘f–k Michael Jordan.’ Michael Jordan is our boy. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Michael Jordan. Respect Jordan! Respect Jordan!”
West also heaped lavish praise on his wife, her family, Roitfeld and Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing.
Yeezus Is Coming for You, Silicon Valley
About that video game. “My dream — I told Anna this backstage — is just for a couple of years to be the creative director of Hermes,” West told the crowd in one of the afternoon’s many declarations. “I just want to bring as much beauty to the world as possible. I’m only 38 years old.” And that was just for starters.
The “Runaway” rapper then presented his most unexpected new endeavor: Only One: The Game, which depicts his mother, Donda — who died from a botched surgery in 2007 — flying through heaven as a winged angel. “That’s not easy to do!” West proclaimed about his new endeavor while surrounded by friends including Jay Z and A$AP Rocky. “I meet everybody in San Fran and they dis the f–k out of me. I want to make a game and say ‘F–k you!’ That s–t was hard to do.”
More Yeezys Are on the Way
“It’s the No. 1 Christimas present. It’s not regular,” the designer told the crowd of his sold-out Yeezy Boost sneakers, a collaboration with Adidas. The award-winning kicks sold out within 10 minutes last year and are being resold for thousands of dollars on eBay.
However, that’s going to change soon. “Adidas did promise that they were going to press some more so people are going to be able to get them,” West said. “We’re gonna lower prices. Seriously. That’s just the learning curve whenever you start a brand.”
The star also had no problem selling out his Yeezy T-shirts and merchandise at the event. The lines of fans looking to scoop it up snaked around the circumference of every floor!
Tell Us: What was your favorite part of the Yeezy Season 3 show?
