The man in the bejewelled mask! Kanye West hides behind flamboyant facial cover... before ripping it off to launch into one of his trademark rants during festival performance
He's never one to shy away from controversy, but Kanye West appeared to want to hide as he performed on Saturday night.
Launching his set at the Made in America festival in Philadelphia, the rapper left fans scratching their heads as he walked out wearing an over-the-top mask.
The show-stopping entrance was boosted by his stylized silhouette appearing on huge screens.
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Yeezus! Kanye West kept his face covered up as he kicked off his performance at the Made In America festival on Saturday
Despite the chain-link accessory covering his mouth, the Stronger hitmaker refused to take it off as he burst into tracks from his Yeezus album including Black Skinhead, Can't Tell Me Nothing and Power.
He kept the rest of his stage attire simple, however, opting for a vest, baggy jeans and a huge gold chain
Kanye proceeded to dramatically remove the mask for his song New Slaves, and took the opportunity to launch into one of his regular on-stage rants.
This time, he stayed on topic and discusses the importance of his music, telling the crowd: 'This s--t we do is serious. [I make] music to help more people... what we do, we put our lives, our hearts, our soul into.
Showstopping: The rapper made quite the entrance as he arrived on stage in the bejewelled head gear
Keeping it real: Despite the wacky accessory, Kanye kept the rest of his stage costume simple with a vest, jeans and a huge gold chain
Big ideas: The 37-year-old's silhouette was broadcast on huge screens
In the red: Kanye performed tracks including Black Skinhead and New Slaves at the gig
'It's three in the morning every night in the studio.'
The set came ahead of the Australian leg of his Yeezus tour, set to kick off in Perth on Friday.
Last time the 37-year-old donned the bizarre facial mesh was during his headlining set at Wireless Festival in London earlier this year, when he was booed by thousands of fans as he launched into an extraordinary '20-minute rant'.
During that particular explosion, he told the audience: 'I'm not going to mention any names but... Nike, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Don't discriminate against me 'cos I'm a black man making music.
Listen up: The outspoken star proceeded to rip off his mask so he could talk to the crowd
Music on his mind: Kanye launched into one of his regular rants, speaking passionately about how much effort his music takes
Late nights: The Stronger hitmaker told the audience that he works till 'three in the morning every night in the studio'
'F**k saving face and what it's supposed to mean, it's about living my dream.'
His reality queen wife Kim Kardashian was there to support her man from the audience, after she recently revealed that she hopes to have three children with the star.
Kim, who already has a daughter, North, with Kanye, revealed: 'I think I'm gonna have another one.
'And if it's a girl, I'm gonna go for a boy, and if it's a boy I might be done.'
Family plans: Kim and baby North accompanied the star as he jetted out of Los Angeles on Saturday
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