Travis Scott’s planned “world of Utopia” performance at the Egyptian Pyramids on July 28 has received opposition from the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate.
According to a translated version of the government appointed newspaper Al-Ahram’, the syndicate wrote that “it is committed to preserving the security and stability of our beloved homeland and rejects any actions that go against its societal values”.
They continued by expressing concern over what they described as “strange rituals” that Travis Scott tends to perform during his showcases, citing the 2021 Astroworld crowd crush at NRG Houston Park, which left 10 attendees dead including a 10-year-old boy. At the end of last month, a Texas Grand Jury concluded that Travis Scott should not be subjected to criminal charges, arguing that he was not liable for the tragedy.
The Egyptian Musicians Syndicate plays a “crucial role in regulating the music industry in Egypt and ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage”, according to Egypt Today. In doing so, it allegedly “maintains a balance between artistic expression and societal values”.
In October of last year, the Syndicate temporarily banned mahraganat music, a popular staple of Egypt’s street music scene that is sometimes referred to as ‘electro-folk’ or ‘working class rap’. The Syndicate cited the genre’s links to revolution as a reason for the ban.
It has revoked the licence of Travis Scott’s upcoming performance in response to both safety and cultural concerns, as well as circulating rumours of Scott’s alleged affiliation to Freemasonry.
However, it is unclear if the organisation has the authority to cancel the performance.
Live Nation, the promoter of the concert, has claimed it will still go ahead.
In a statement sent to Pitchfork, Live Nation said: “There have been no changes to Travis Scott’s show in Egypt; any reports to the contrary are false. We can’t wait to celebrate ‘Utopia’ with you in Egypt!”
Tiffany Ibe is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram
