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Music: Hip-Hop Kanye West w/ Rihanna, N.E.R.D., and Lupe Fiasco

  • Kanye_event_full

He may perform with a marching band and like to go on crazy rants at awards shows, but Kanye West is no mere attention hound. (OK, maybe a little.) West has built both stardom and legitimate cred by sticking to the two C's: creative activity and collaboration. Lately, he's solidified his super-brand with the sparkling future soul of last year's Graduation, his brilliant video tomfoolery with Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham, and, of course, his newfound Daft Punk fetish. With openers Rihanna, whose "Umbrella" crushed 2007's charts, and N.E.R.D., who will finally release a follow-up to 2004's Fly or Die this summer, this show might have the best bang-to-buck ratio you'll find all year.

– Nicholas Nauman