Ye amplified the star power of his return to the stage on Friday, April 3, during a second sold-out engagement at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The 48-year-old artist, formerly known as Kanye West, utilized the 70,000-capacity venue to showcase a curated blend of legacy collaborations and new material, surprising the crowd with a series of high-profile guest appearances.
The evening served as a significant marker for the artist’s comeback, characterized by a heavy emphasis on his latest project, Bully. By blending the raw energy of contemporary hip-hop with the soulful foundations of the genre, Ye signaled a shift in his creative direction, moving toward a sound he has previously described as a “hyper-next-level frequency.”
Among the night’s most anticipated moments was the arrival of Lauryn Hill, whose presence bridged the gap between Ye’s early career influences and his current artistic ambitions. The collaboration was not merely a surprise guest spot but a thematic centerpiece of the performance, reflecting Ye’s long-standing admiration for Hill’s contribution to the musical landscape.
A Full-Circle Moment with Lauryn Hill
Halfway through the set, Hill emerged through a dense cloud of smoke to join Ye for a performance of “All Falls Down.” The choice of track was particularly poignant, as the 2004 hit—which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100—famously samples Hill’s 2002 song “Mystery of Iniquity” from her MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 album.
Hill’s contribution extended beyond a single song. She remained on stage for a sequence of performances, including a rendition of “Doo Wop (That Thing)” that transitioned seamlessly into Ye’s “Believe What I Say.” The segment evolved into a family affair when Hill introduced her sons, Zion Marley and YG Marley. Together, they performed “Heartbeat,” “Crisis,” and “Praise Jah in the Moonlight,” the latter of which was co-written by YG Marley and his mother.
The collaboration appears to be the culmination of a creative obsession Ye has voiced over the last year. In a February 2025 appearance on The Download podcast, Ye compared the conceptual weight of his Bully album to Hill’s landmark 1998 release, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
“Yeah, given that you lean on a bar that brings somebody down — that was always rap,” Ye said during the podcast. “This represents more the way I remember Lauryn Hill[‘s] album, the way I remember Miseducation. I feel it is my Miseducation. It is my Gnarls Barkley album.”
The Debut of ‘Bully’ and Travis Scott’s Arrival
While the evening honored the past, much of the set was dedicated to the rollout of Bully. Earlier in the demonstrate, Ye welcomed Travis Scott to the stage for a collaborative performance of “Father,” the lead single from the new album. Scott maintained a mysterious aesthetic, appearing in a mask and a shirt emblazoned with the word “Unsane.”
Scott also took a moment to perform his own hit “Fein” from the album Utopia, maintaining the high-energy atmosphere of the SoFi Stadium crowd. The synergy between the two artists underscored the influence of the “cactus jack” sound on the broader trajectory of modern stadium rap.
The guest list continued to expand with an appearance by CeeLo Green, who joined Ye for a performance of the Bully title track. André Troutman was brought onstage for a rendition of “All the Love,” further diversifying the sonic palette of the evening.
Performance Guest Summary
| Guest Artist | Key Songs Performed | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Lauryn Hill | “All Falls Down”, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” | Legacy collaboration |
| Travis Scott | “Father”, “Fein” | Bully lead single |
| CeeLo Green | “Bully” | Bully title track |
| North West | “Bless Me”, “Piercing on My Hand” | Family appearance |
A Family Affair and Global Ambitions
Adding a personal dimension to the spectacle, Ye’s 12-year-old daughter, North West, made her second appearance of the week at SoFi Stadium. She performed rap verses on “Bless Me” and “Piercing on My Hand,” continuing her growing role as a frequent collaborator in her father’s live shows.
The L.A. Residency serves as a springboard for a broader international strategy. Following the release of Bully, Ye is preparing for a series of global dates. Most notably, he is scheduled to headline three nights at the Wireless Festival in London from July 10–12. This return to Finsbury Park will mark his first performance in the United Kingdom since 2014.
Beyond the U.K., Ye has another performance scheduled in Italy approximately one week after the London dates, suggesting a summer tour designed to re-establish his presence in the European market.
As Ye transitions from the intimate chaos of his studio process to the scale of international stadiums, the industry will be watching to see if the thematic ambitions of Bully translate into a sustained commercial and critical revival. The next confirmed checkpoint in this rollout will be the Wireless Festival headlining set in July.
Do you think the ‘Bully’ era marks a true artistic pivot for Ye? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
