It’s been a whirlwind week for Kanye West. The 38-year-old rapper experienced a bizarre ride following the announcement of his new album’s name change. Out went Swish (formerly So Help Me God), in came Waves and a highly publicized Twitter row with fellow rapper Wiz Khalifa and his ex-wife/Kanye’s ex-girlfriend, Amber Rose.
Perhaps it was a publicity stunt, as some have suggested, but regardless of the motivation, more hype is surrounding Kanye’s new album than ever before. Yeezy declared on Twitter that Waves will be “the best album of all time,” and a national audience will put that assertion to the test on Feb. 13 when Ye performs on Saturday Night Live.
The news came by way of The Hollywood Reporter, who report that Kanye will be joined by actress Melissa McCarthy, who is set to host. Yeezy is no stranger to SNL - this appearance marks seven performances for the rapper, opposite to McCarthy’s fourth stint as host. Hopefully the veteran duo can deliver under pressure as Kanye is facing massive expectations for Waves as well as widespread scrutiny for his comments about Wiz and Amber’s son on Twitter.
The SNL performance neatly coincides with the release of Waves, which debuts on shelves two days prior. While musical guests rarely unveil their setlists before taking the stage, it’s a sure bet to expect Kanye to perform several of his new songs from Waves. Ye has already released a few tracks from the upcoming album, including ‘Real Friends’ and a well-received duet with Kendrick Lamar, ‘No More Parties in LA.’
It’s a critical moment for Kanye, as the eyes of the nation will be on him following his disastrous attempt to slander Wiz Khalifa on Twitter. Can “Yeezus” recover and impress audiences on live television? Find out on Feb. 13, when Kanye West performs on Saturday Night Live.
