Kanye West performing in South Africa on Feb. 3 (Gallo Images).
Kanye West was a bit out of character Sunday night as he closed his set at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
The outspoken hip-hop artist known for his tantrums and rants spent his last moments on stage uttering a piercing, ear-clutching scream as his final song “Touch The Sky” faded.
After repeating the lyrics “top of the world” multiple times, he first appeared to be elongating a note, similar to a singer’s vocal run. When he ran out of breath, he made subsequent attempts, each growing more erratic, angrier and disturbing.
After squatting for his last squeal, he abruptly stood and slammed his cordless microphone onto the stage, sending it spiraling into the audience.
Concertgoers can be heard gasping, laughing and saying “Oh sh-t.”
Blogger Ralph Hardy, who attended the show, describes himself as an avid Kanye fan, but expressed concern for “Gold Digger” rapper.
“The scream[s] were too random,” Hardy wrote on his blog entitled “Wake Up Mr. West.” Earlier in his review he commented that Kanye’s straitjacket “ensemble was fitting.”
During West’s concert at the venue Saturday night, the artist who is having a baby with his girlfriend Kim Kardashian went on a tirade dissing Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s collab “Suit & Tie,” corporate sponsors and the Grammys.
“And I got love for Hov but I ain’t f—king with that ‘Suit & Tie,’” he said.
Later, he made a sarcastic commentary about trying to appease companies that might enlist him for an endorsement deal.
“Can I sell a drink for you please? So you can help me put on a better show?” he asked. “Please corporations. Can you please support me, Kanye West? I swear I’m a nice n-gga now … Please? … I need it so bad.”