Rapper Kanye West announced his new track, "New Slaves," was going to be projected on 66 buildings around the world including New York, Toronto, Chicago, London, Paris and Berlin. The first set of screenings was shown on Friday May 17 and gave the world a sneak peek of his new album, "Yeezus".
The second set of screenings, scheduled to begin May 24, experienced setbacks after police shut down the events in various cities across the globe. In Houston officers threatened to arrest fans who had gathered outside they city's Rothko Chapel to watch the video, reports the Houston Chronicle.
Officials "pulled several cars on the grass, flashed lights and sirens and demanded everyone leave or be arrested for trespassing."
West had three screenings planned in Houston but none of them happened. Houston police claimed the screenings were cancelled because of public safety and because the rapper did not have the proper permit.
The Baltimore Sun reported another of West's screenings was shut down in Baltimore City also due to improper permits.
The Baltimore City police department announced the cancellations on their Twitter page. Despite the setbacks, Def Jam tweeted out new "secret" locations for people to watch the screenings urging fans to head to locations early and "beat the cops" to new locations to watch the screenings. According to Def Jam's Twitter account screenings were also shut down in parts of New Jersey and Florida. The locations were also being announced on West's website.
The projections are to help promote West's sixth album, which is rumored to be due June 18.
