The rider is a sign of decadence that some artists test to the absolute limit, and unsurprisingly, Kanye West is somebody unafraid of making utterly ridiculous requests.
Anything goes on the rider, and while it does come out of the artist’s purse when you make as much money as Kanye West every concert, it’s inconsequential. He needs to live a high life while on the road and maintain the same level of luxury that he’s become accustomed to in Beverly Hills.
Some artists choose to go down the novelty route when it comes to asking for items on their rider, whereas Kanye gets drunk on power and makes almost impossible requests for the staff at the venue to accommodate.
Riders provide an insight into what artists are like off-stage and their true persona, but when somebody lives perenially online like Kanye West, there is no left stone unturned. However, even though you feel like when Ye can’t surprise you any further, somehow, he manages to find a way.
One of his more tame requests was a barber’s chair in his dressing room, which is surprisingly practical and somewhat makes sense. Ye took things a bit more extreme during his Saint Pablo tour when he asked for a slushy machine to be fitted at every venue, but, of course, it had a twist.
Rather than fitting the device with the traditional ‘red’ or ‘blue’ flavour, West wanted one half of the machine to be a mix of Hennessy and Coke, with the other side providing a concoction of Grey Goose and lemonade.
As for food, he reportedly once asked for: “One tub plain yoghurt for dipping, four small Yoplait yoghurt, One bowl of assorted nuts, one bowl of Sunkist Salted Pistachio nuts (no red colouring)”.
Yet his most insane demand came to light during an Australian tour when it was revealed that he ordered his drivers to wear 100% cotton clothing while they transported him. If this was any other artist, this would seem unbelievable, but, with Ye, it’s precisely what you’d expect from the enigmatic character.
