{"id":312364,"date":"2026-06-18T22:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/312364\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T22:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:41:08","slug":"usf-students-share-mixed-opinions-on-kanye-west-concerts-in-tampa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/312364\/","title":{"rendered":"USF students share mixed opinions on Kanye West concerts in Tampa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is set to take the stage at Raymond James Stadium on June 26 and 28. ORACLE GRAPHIC\/CAROLINA MOLERO ROCA<\/p>\n

Rapper and producer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is bringing his \u201cYe Live Concert Tour\u201d<\/a> to Raymond James Stadium on June 26 and June 28, placing one of music\u2019s most influential \u2014 and controversial \u2014 artists just minutes from USF\u2019s Tampa campus.<\/p>\n

West, known as Ye, was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, first gained recognition as a producer for Jay-Z\u2019s Roc-A-Fella Records before launching a successful solo career in 2004, according to Billboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He is known for songs such as Gold Digger<\/a>, Stronger<\/a> and Carnival<\/a>, according to Billboard.<\/p>\n

Over the past two decades, he has earned multiple<\/a> Grammy Awards, with Forbes<\/a> recognizing him as one of the greatest rappers of all time.<\/p>\n

Ye\u2019s tour, spanning the United States and Europe, was announced<\/a> in March 2026 and began on April 1 in Los Angeles, California, and is set to conclude on Sept. 4 in Chicago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He initially was only set to perform on June 26, but a June 28 concert date was added in late May due to \u201coverwhelming\u201d ticket demand, according to a Raymond James Stadium Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On May 26, Kurrco, a hip-hop news updates page, said more than 1 million<\/a> people were waiting to reserve tickets to Ye\u2019s Tampa shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But despite his popularity, Ye has also faced criticism for antisemitic statements \u2014 including statements on social media perpetuating Jewish stereotypes and comments praising Adolf Hitler, according to the Anti-Defamation League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As the concert dates approach, USF students said they feel divided between admiration for Ye\u2019s musical legacy and concern over the controversies that surround him.<\/p>\n

Related: USF students prepare for BTS concerts after four-year hiatus<\/a><\/p>\n

Those controversies have also led some public officials<\/a>, such as Florida Senator Rick Scott, to question whether taxpayer-supported venues should host his performances.<\/p>\n

Scott wrote a letter<\/a> to the Tampa Sports Authority \u2014 the manager of Raymond James Stadium \u2014 on June 4, saying that \u201cplatform[ing] a hateful person pushing evil ideologies is not a Florida value.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLetting [Ye] perform in a publicly funded venue in Tampa would effectively give him, and everything he\u2019s done, the Florida taxpayers\u2019 seal of approval,\u201d Scott said in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some USF students said they felt that while they enjoy the music, Ye has had too many controversies to give him a platform through the concert.<\/p>\n

Umesh Mohann, a sophomore electrical engineering major, said he will not be attending the concert, though he appreciates Ye\u2019s music.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the things he\u2019s said have crossed a line for me,\u201d Mohan said. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I can separate the artist from his comments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mohan said ticket prices and \u201cdrama\u201d surrounding the artist have made the idea of the experience feel less engaging to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes it harder to justify going, even if you enjoy some of his music,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Related: USF students prepare to welcome hometown star Doechii to Tampa<\/a><\/p>\n

Still, other students, including Corbin Boehm, a sophomore business advertising major, said they plan to attend Ye\u2019s concert for the musical experience.<\/p>\n

Boehm said he is attending Ye\u2019s June 28 concert and is excited to watch the performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very excited not only personally, but for the city of Tampa to get such a high-profile hip-hop star to come and perform at Raymond James,\u201d Boehm said.<\/p>\n

And while Boehm is aware of Ye\u2019s controversial nature and past, he said Ye still has a large fanbase because of his music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can tell he has an audience here too, that also is anticipating his arrival to Florida since he had to announce a second show here, which I am lucky enough to go to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Boehm said that when he entered the Ticketmaster queue to reserve a ticket, he was the 110,000th person in line.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[I] surely thought I was a goner,\u201d he said. \u201cHowever, somehow, I made my way up through the queue and was able to purchase myself a ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that he has been a fan of Ye since he was about 12 years old, and that Ye was one of his first introductions to the hip-hop genre.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so excited to hear some of the classic Kanye that I love and miss so much and to be able to say that I got to see him live,\u201d Boehm said.<\/p>\n

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