In February 2024, Kanye West, now known as Ye, made a triumphant return to the top of the US Billboard charts with his hit single “Carnival.”
This track marked a comeback for one of the most influential yet controversial figures in modern music. But what made “Carnival” truly unique was the unexpected collaboration behind it—a collaboration with a group of Italian football ultras from Inter Milan.
Kanye West’s Controversial Journey
Kanye West’s journey to this comeback was anything but smooth. Over the years, he became increasingly controversial, alienating himself from the mainstream music industry. His public fallout with Taylor Swift, his support for Donald Trump, and his association with far-right figures like Nick Fuentes led to widespread condemnation. His most shocking moment came during an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, where he infamously declared, “I like Hitler,” leading to the termination of his lucrative Adidas deal and costing him an estimated $1.5 billion. As his music deals with Sony and Def Jam lapsed, Kanye found himself ostracized, forcing him to rebuild his career independently.
The Birth of “Carnival” and the Ultras Connection
In early 2024, Kanye released his new album, Vultures 1, featuring “Carnival” as one of the lead tracks. The song begins with a powerful chant, but this wasn’t just any chant—it was a collaboration with the Curva Nord Milano 1969 (CN 69), the ultras of Inter Milan. Remarkably, CN 69 received writing credits for both “Carnival” and another track on the album, “Stars.”
CN 69 is a rebranded group of ultras with deep roots in Italian football culture. They are heirs to one of Italy’s oldest and most politically charged ultra groups, known for their far-right and fascist views, especially in alignment with the ultras of Lazio.
The Origins of Ultra Culture
The modern ultra movement has its origins in Italy, although its roots can be traced back to South America in the early 20th century. In Italy, the movement truly began in the late 1960s, with AC Milan’s Fossa dei Leoni, founded in 1968, often credited as the first official ultra group. Inter Milan’s connection to the movement dates back to the arrival of Argentine coach Helenio Herrera in 1960, who recognized the potential of a passionate, organized fanbase. Under his guidance, Inter’s ultras began to take shape, leading to the formation of Boys San in 1969, a group that would dominate the Curva Nord at the San Siro.
Inter’s ultras became known for their spectacular tifos, chants, and choreographies, as well as their violent tendencies and far-right politics. Their longstanding friendship with Lazio’s ultras, based on shared ideologies, only cemented their reputation.
The Tragic Events That Led to Rebranding
In 2019, the Curva Nord was shaken by the assassination of Inter’s ultra leader, Vittorio Boiocchi, a known fascist. His death led to a period of turmoil, culminating in the dissolution and rebranding of Inter’s ultra subgroups under the name Curva Nord Milano 1969.
Shortly after this rebranding, CN 69 found themselves in an unexpected collaboration with Kanye West. It all started when Kanye visited Italy with his wife, Bianca Censori, and his son, with the intention of watching a Serie A match. Although Inter was not playing that weekend, Kanye attended a Genoa vs. AC Milan game and was struck by the passion of the ultras. Impressed by their chants and choreography, Kanye decided he wanted to incorporate this energy into his music.
The Recording Session and the “Carnival” Concert That Never Was
Kanye’s fascination with the ultras led to a collaboration that saw 200 CN 69 members gather in a recording studio on January 27, 2024, to record chants for five tracks on the album. Two of these tracks, “Carnival” and “Stars,” made it onto Vultures 1. The connection between Kanye and the ultras deepened when he attended an Inter Milan match against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, where he watched from the stands dressed entirely in black, with his face concealed by a hood.
Following the match, Kanye was set to perform at Milan’s Forum of Assago, with plans to have 500 ultras join him on stage to perform “Carnival.” However, this ambitious collaboration fell apart at the last minute, and Kanye performed alone, still wearing the now-iconic black hood.
A Uniquely Controversial Collaboration
The collaboration between Kanye West and Inter Milan’s ultras was as unexpected as it was controversial. It brought together two worlds—music and football—that are often intertwined with passion and politics. For Kanye, it marked another chapter in his unpredictable career, while for the ultras, it was an opportunity to showcase their influence on a global stage. Whether this partnership will lead to further collaborations remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: “Carnival” is a testament to Kanye West’s ability to innovate and surprise, even when it comes from the most unexpected sources.
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