President Donald Trump’s attempts to normalize relations with Russia as that country’s brutal invasion of Ukraine enters its third year received support from an unexpected source on Tuesday when former Migos rapper Offset announced he will be playing an arena concert in Moscow next month, as first reported by the BBC.
The rapper confirmed the performance, Moscow’s MTC Live Hall on April, on his Instagram story, complete with a link to a Russian-based website with ticket information.
The move is in defiance of his label’s parent company, Universal Music Group, which, along with most Western music companies, announced in March of 2022 that it was suspending operations in Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. While a number of independent companies, notably France-based Believe, have continued to have a presence in the country, all of the majors left shortly after the invasion began. Similarly, most Western artists canceled upcoming concerts in the country and have not returned.
“We urge an end to the violence in Ukraine as soon as possible,” a UMG spokesperson said at the time.
“We are adhering to international sanctions and, along with our employees and artists, have been working with groups from a range of countries to support humanitarian relief efforts to bring urgent aid to refugees in the region.”
Reps for Offset, Capitol, Universal and his new agency, Independent Artist Group, did not immediately respond to Variety‘s requests for comment.
Offset, who was featured on Variety’s cover in June of 2023, has not traditionally been outspoken regarding international politics, although he has frequently commented on police brutality and Tuesday sounded off about Trump sidekick Elon Musk’s comment on social media regarding a possible pardon for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. Musk had reposted a tweet from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro launching a campaign to promote Chauvin’s release, writing “Something to think about.”
Offset responded: “Elon Musk playing in black folks faces. Crazy work smh!!!”
However, Offset has more commonly been in the news for his music — he released a new single, “Ten,” on Universal’s Capitol label on Valentine’s Day — and his on-again, off-again marriage to Cardi B, which most recently seemed to be steering back toward finalizing a divorce, as Offset sued for custody of their three children earlier this week.
