Will Offset act in Russia? Although the vast majority of the western musical environment has turned its back on the Kremlin since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and when Donald Trump’s White House began to be hostile to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the American rapper announced on Wednesday, March 6 that he would give Moscow a concert to Moscow next month. And this despite the country’s boycott for its record company.
The 33 -year -old artist announced it in an Instagram story, these ephemeral publications that are only available 24 hours. According to the BBC, the show will take place on April 18 at the MTC Live Hall in the Russian capital.
Countercurrent
Offset Music is published by the Motown Records label, owned by Universal Music Group, which has not been expressed. In 2022, the elder had announced the suspension of all his activities in Russia, to protest against the invasion of Ukraine:
“We call the end of violence as quickly as possible,” said the company in a statement from the time transmitted by Billboard.
“We support international sanctions and, together with our employees and our artists, we work with organizations from several countries to support humanitarian initiatives to provide urgent help to refugees in the region.”
The Sony Music and Warner Music Group houses announced similar decisions. In addition, many artists had canceled their planned concerts in Russia: Yungblud, Louis Tomlinson, Green Day, Mylène Farmer, Garou, My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Gorilla, Iggy PopSlipknot …
Geopolitical paradigm shift
If the show materializes, Offset will not be the first American artist to find the way to Russia. Last week, rapper Dababy (signed by Interscope, another UMG label) took place there.
This compensated announcement is produced a few days after a tense exchange between Donald Trump, who reinvirted the White House on January 20, his vice president JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky. Before the cameras around the world, the two Americans violently took the Ukrainian head of state in the Oval Office, accusing him of having been disrespectful and a lack of gratitude towards their country for their efforts aimed at putting an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The diplomatic incident had the immediate effect of the cancellation of the signing of an agreement on Ukrainian minerals.
After this face to face, the 27 countries of the European Union and Volodymyr Zelensky met this Thursday, March 6. Europeans seek to draw a common response to conciliations between Washington and Moscow and intend to reassure Ukraine. The European Commission has presented a plan to “rearm Europe” aimed at mobilizing about 800 billion euros.
Source: BFM TV
