Kanye West turned his return to Chicago into a major hometown celebration, bringing out Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Twista and Future during the first of two concerts at Soldier Field.
Ye opened the night in fitting fashion with his classic track “Homecoming,” reportedly performing the song multiple times as he celebrated being back in the city that played such an important role in his career. The show was part of his latest run of concerts following the release of Bully, combining newer material with fan favorites from throughout his catalog.
One of the biggest moments of the night came when Big Sean joined Kanye onstage. Before bringing him out, Ye introduced the Detroit rapper as one of his longtime friends from the Midwest. The two then performed records including “Clique” and Big Sean’s hit “I Don’t F*** With You.”
The reunion carried additional significance because Kanye and Big Sean previously experienced a highly publicized falling-out. Their relationship became strained following controversial comments Kanye made during a Drink Champs interview, and Big Sean officially departed Ye’s G.O.O.D. Music label in 2021. Seeing the two artists sharing a stage again suggested that their relationship has improved considerably since then.
The guest appearances continued when 2 Chainz came out and joined Kanye and Big Sean for “Mercy,” one of the biggest records from the G.O.O.D. Music era. 2 Chainz then kept the energy going with a performance of his own hit “Birthday Song.”
Kanye later brought out Future, giving the crowd another major surprise. Future joined Ye for their collaboration “Keep It Burnin’” before performing “F* Up Some Commas,”** adding another Atlanta heavyweight to the night’s lineup.
For longtime Chicago hip-hop fans, however, one of the most meaningful appearances came from hometown legend Twista. Kanye and Twista reunited to perform “Slow Jamz,” their classic collaboration from Kanye’s The College Dropout era. Twista also performed “Overnight Celebrity,” the Kanye-produced hit from his 2004 album Kamikaze.
Twista’s appearance helped connect Kanye’s current concert run with an important period in Chicago hip-hop history. Both artists were instrumental in bringing national attention to the city’s sound during the early 2000s, making their reunion especially significant for the hometown audience.
The concert marked Kanye’s first major performance in Chicago since his 2021 Donda listening event at Soldier Field. His latest return is structured as a two-night homecoming, with a second Soldier Field concert scheduled for September 4.
Ye has been increasingly active onstage throughout 2026, staging major concerts and bringing out surprise guests during several appearances. His Chicago show continued that trend while placing a stronger emphasis on artists connected to different stages of his career.
Big Sean represented Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music era, 2 Chainz brought back memories of the Cruel Summer period, Future highlighted one of Ye’s more recent collaborations, and Twista represented Kanye’s earliest years as a producer and emerging solo artist.
Following the Chicago concerts, Kanye is currently scheduled to continue his international run with a performance at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Indonesia on October 24.
For Chicago fans, though, the first Soldier Field show was more than another stop on the schedule. With Kanye revisiting some of his biggest records and reuniting with Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Future and Twista, the concert became a celebration of multiple eras of his career and his long-standing connection to the city that helped shape him.