Lauryn Hill and Stars Spark Controversy Amid Kanye West Fallout

Kanye West, also known as Ye, performed a sold-out concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 4, 2026, featuring a surprise appearance by Lauryn Hill. The event, which drew approximately 70,000 to 80,000 fans, served as a high-profile attempt at a professional comeback following years of controversy surrounding West’s public statements, and music.

The performance marked West’s second show at the venue within a single week, following an event held on April 2, 2026. The April 4 show was livestreamed and lasted over two hours, featuring a setlist of more than 40 songs. The stage design consisted of a half-orb that rotated to depict a moon, a smoking sphere, and the Earth.

Musical Collaborations and Performances

Lauryn Hill joined West on stage for the first time for a performance of his 2004 song All Falls Down, which originally sampled Hill’s voice. The sequence transitioned from Hill’s performance of Doo Wop (That Thing) into West’s 2021 track Believe What I Say, which also samples the earlier song. Hill also performed Lost Ones and was joined by her sons, Zion Marley and YG Marley, for performances of Heartbeat, Crisis, and Praise Jah in the Moonlight.

Other high-profile supporters and collaborators who appeared during the event included Travis Scott and CeeLo Green. West’s daughter, North West, also joined the performers on the elevated orb stage using safety harnesses.

Context of Controversy

The spectacle of the concert occurred amid significant backlash regarding West’s history of antisemitic rhetoric. The event took place eleven months after West released a song titled Heil Hitler and roughly two months after he published a letter apologizing for his antisemitism.

The appearance of established artists like Lauryn Hill has ignited further controversy, raising questions about the cost and implications of supporting West during his attempt at redemption. Despite the external backlash, West expressed gratitude to the crowd during the show.

I want to thank y’all for sticking by me all these years. Through the hard times, through the low times. I love you for that.

Kanye West

The event was positioned as a celebration of West’s musical influence and catalog, utilizing guest appearances to underscore his professional alliances within the industry. The scale of the audience was highlighted by West during a singalong of Heartless, where he noted the sound of 80,000 people.