While he should unveil his fourth album “Utopia” on July 28, the American artist was denied access to the site by the union of Egyptian musicians.
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No concert in Egypt for Travis Scott. The union of Egyptian musicians on Tuesday banned the American rapper’s show at the foot of the Giza pyramids, scheduled for July 28, arguing that it contravened respect for “traditions of the Egyptian people”.
On a crusade against urban music
Well known to tourists, the pharaonic pyramids also regularly see international stars parade. Already in 2008, the French rap group IAM celebrated its twenty-year career at the gates of the ancient site. More recently, the Red Hot Chili Peppers organized a gigantic concert there, in 2019, like the techno duo Artbat in 2020, or the Black Eyed Peas in October 2021.
The musicians’ union very rarely opposes such events, but has been on a crusade for years against Egyptian urban music, rap in the lead. Egypt is also in the midst of a campaign against what it denounces as a “rewrite” of its history: it is upwind against African-American movements that claim affiliation with the Pharaohs.
Evidence of “strange rituals”
On Tuesday, the musicians’ union, which has the right to watch over any concert or broadcast of music in the most populous of Arab countries, explained in a press release that it accepts any show, provided that it “does not undermine the ancestral customs and traditions of the Egyptian people”.
“After examining the opinions expressed on social networks and the positions of the artist, the union has found images and documented information about the strange rituals he performs which go against our traditions”continues the text.
However, the press release never defines these “rituals” which he attributes to Travis Scott, heavyweight of American hip-hop, currently on a world tour. The rapper is expected to unveil his new album, Utopiaon July 28, five years after Astroworld.