Knowing Kanye West, he has never flinched from surprising the masses, and his performance in South Korea on August 23, 2024, made no difference. As part of his “Vultures” listening event, Kanye hit the stage for his first solo concert in Korea in 14 years. But it wasn’t just the long-awaited return that had fans buzzing—it was the surprising shoutout he gave to none other than Drake and fashion maven Ian Connor before launching into his hit song “I Wonder.”
The venue suddenly came alive when Kanye said the words,
“This one for Drake, this one for Ian Connor.”
This immediately drew the attention of the audience as well as the press.
Kanye gives a shoutout to Drake before performing ‘I Wonder’
“This one for Drake”pic.twitter.com/AtnjE7lmhG
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) August 23, 2024
Knowing Kanye and Drake have had a very up-and-down history—from acrimonious feud to uneven truce—the feeling here was that this was just another twist in their complicated relationship. The fact he chose as personal as “I Wonder” for Drake made that gesture quite deep, with fans wondering what it could mean for their ongoing dynamic.
But that wasn’t all. Ian Connor, whom Kanye also name-dropped, has been one of the more controversial figures in fashion. A longtime collaborator and friend of Kanye’s, his troubled reputation often overshadows what he brought to streetwear culture. In mentioning Ian Connor in the same breath as Drake, Kanye served up a low-key reminder that he’s always surrounded himself with a small, insular circle of influence that’s been equal parts close and tumultuous.
The name drop came during Kanye’s “Vultures” listening event, a song with Ty Dolla $ign that was already making waves. Everybody has been on the lookout for their joint album, Vultures 2, which has gone through a couple of pushbacks. The South Korea event was expected to be a showcase of new material, making Kanye’s shoutout all the more intriguing. Was this a signal of reconciliation with Drake, a nod to shared history, or simply Kanye being Kanye—unpredictable and always ahead of the curve?
The shout-out alone turned a specific huge moment—Kanye’s return to the Korean stage in more than a decade—into an instant時 moment probably to be dissected for days. This performance therefore added to the already towering expectation from fans who await Vultures 2, leaving everybody on tenterhooks as to what is next with Kanye.
