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Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is to play two shows in St Petersburg, Russia, this October – becoming the biggest Western star to play in the country since its invasion of Ukraine four years ago.<\/b><\/p>\n
Tickets for the shows at the 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena sold out within hours of the announcement on Monday. Prices ranged from 9,000 roubles (\u00a378) to 160,000 roubles (\u00a31,394).<\/p>\n
The concerts come as West tries to rehabilitate his image after years of antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. He apologised in January, blaming his statements on a brain injury and bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
But a major European tour this summer faltered, with several concerts scrapped amid uproar over the star’s views.<\/p>\n
In the UK, the long-running Wireless Festival was cancelled when West – who had been due to headline all three nights – was denied entry to the country.<\/p>\n
The Home Office said the decision was made on the grounds that the rapper’s presence would not be “conducive to the public good”.<\/p>\n
Concerts in France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic were also called off, but dates in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey and Albania went ahead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n