New York City

Kanye West Makes Early Morning Oculus Appearance to Crowd of Roaring Fans in Lower Manhattan

Excited fans took to social media to document the event

What to Know

  • Early Friday morning, Kanye West made a surprise appearance at the Oculus, according to photos and video posted on social media
  • In images shared online, fans captured the rapper, dressed in a dark t-shirt and pants and light-colored sneakers
  • In recent weeks, Kanye West held Sunday Service in Queens and previewed his two films and forthcoming album in Washington Heights

'Ye is in the building!

In the wee hours of Friday morning, Kanye West made a surprise appearance at the Oculus Plaza located at the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan seemingly as part of his popular Sunday Service, according to photos and video posted on social media.

Based on images shared online, fans captured the rapper, dressed in a dark t-shirt and pants and light-colored sneakers, and a long line of similarly dressed individuals they describe as the “choir” walking through Oculus among a maze of lights and cameras. It is unclear the exact reason for West's Oculus visit or what he and his team were filming.  

However, it is not the first time in recent weeks that the mutli-faceted artist stepped foot in the Big Apple delighting fans. Just last month, West held his Sunday Service at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Queens. Sunday Service is a West-led musical and touted as a spiritual experience that’s been held in several different states all over the country.

Following his Queens event, he headed over to Washington Heights where he previewed two films, as well as played his forthcoming album, "Jesus is King," for hundreds of fans.

West's appearance in lower Manhattan came just hours before the release of his long-awaited release of "Jesus is King," his ninth solo album. It was set to drop at midnight, but when it missed that deadline West sent an explanation to friends on Twitter.

The album finally hit Spotify and other streaming services around noon on Friday. 

Contact Us