Kanye West is a famous hip-hop artist who has produced numerous hits in recent years. In his career spanning over two decades, West has garnered a massive following across the globe. His live performances are theatrical productions in which the artist delivers passionate renditions of his uplifting tunes in addition to heartfelt reflections. If you are planning to go to a Kanye concert, you must be asking yourself the following question:
On average, it is expected that most Kanye West concerts should not exceed 2 hours, but they may take up to 90 minutes. But he is famous for his long sets that sometimes can last more than one extended set, and some of them, even though they are rare, reach three or more hours. The length is not set in stone and may vary depending on the tour, venue, and other factors. There is also his most recent Saint Pablo tour, where he was always doing shows that were more than two hours long.
West believes that when coming up with songs to include in a tour, it is important to have a mix of songs from the current tour, new songs, and those that have been popular on other tours. Though he does relive much of his set with songs from this particular album, he also makes sure to incorporate significant hits from records. He also uses eye-catching visuals at the same time, such as colorful lighting and theatricality, which change with the time of the night. Thus, you can listen to Kanye’s most popular songs that topped the charts but don’t forget that some of the album tracks will be performed too.
In contrast to several typical headlining concerts, which are about 90 minutes, Kanye West’s performances are long. This can be explained by the fact that fans expect to hear songs from his discography, as well as his tendency to create an elaborate and intricate live show. While it focuses on music, the production also includes the use of multi-media and performance art pieces.
Although West always seems to be in total control, controlling every moment on stage, his concerts can also be impromptu. He frequently deviates from his planned lines to deliver monologues, hug or shake hands with supporters, or provide commentary on whatever pops into his head. As for the concept of the show, it could be thought that everything is staged and planned; however, West’s comments and his communication with the audience are always quite unexpected. This also contributes to the runtime because the program has to look for the item in the list and then find the position of the item that will be swapped.
Even the shortest of Kanye West's concerts are longer than most concerts that are usually performed by other artists. He usually spends more than one hour in his opening or festival slots, even if the time given to him is restricted. But at the other end of the spectrum, his longest concerts have stretched to almost three and a half hours. At the Meadows Festival held in 2016, he performed for three hours and twenty minutes.
Therefore, whenever planning to attend Kanye West’s concert, one should factor in the possibility of an exceptionally long show. He has a penchant for marathon endurance-testing and boundary-pushing spectacles, and shows typically run for over two hours—and sometimes two hours and fifty minutes. As this clearly demands a lot of energy, the fans are given the privilege of experiencing the full Kanye.
Fans should be prepared for an entertaining musical spectacle that includes hits that represent the singer’s career, new experiments, bright performances, and candid impromptu scenes. Kanye views his concerts as a platform through which he can unleash his creativity to the maximum. So once he is on stage, he stays there until he fulfills that vision creatively and can go no further.
Although this results in a later wrap-up time than most shows, Kanye West’s concerts are anything but ordinary. He wants to provide fans with an environment in which they are fully immersed. Thus, the fans of the concert can plunge into the world of the performer’s imagination for a very long time, embracing the uniqueness of the musical and visual visions that Kanye West offers.
The length is merely one of the aspects of the phenomenal, innovative, and unconventional experience a Kanye West concert turns into. He considers these shows his chance to engage with the fans not only through audio and visual effects but also through the drama. While it extends the runtime, it only gives more opportunities to be creative, to use energy, and to make the show. His marathon performances make the audience understand that when Kanye West performs, he owns the stage for the next few hours. Thus, regular concert norms and typical show durations are verified at the entrance. To perform and to watch, it requires dedication to get to the end of the song.