Nas sets “Hip-Hop is Dead” North American Tour

By Patrick Luce Mar 6, 2007, 16:05 GMT

Given its provocative title, it\'s no surprise that parts of Hip Hop Is Dead feel like an elegy of sorts. Nas practically came into the game looking backwards (see "Memory Lane" off Illmatic) but he seems more nostalgic than ever with tracks like "Where Are They Now?," "Carry on Tradition," "Can\'t Forget About You," and the title song which all focus on rap\'s past. This reminiscing can only fan the ...more

After releasing the most controversial album of his career, the prophetically titled #1 pop/ #1 R&B/ #1 rap RIAA gold ‘Hip-Hop is Dead,’ Def Jam Recordings artist Nas is ready to embark on the “Hip-Hop Is Dead” tour of North America.  The 26-city tour, one of the biggest ever undertaken by Nas, opens March 31st at University of Pittsburgh, and ends May 3rd in San Francisco.

Setting up at radio this month is “Can’t Forget About You,” featuring Def Jam singer Chrisette Michele, a jazz inspired track produced by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas that riffs off a sample from the classic “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole.  The single grabbed a 5 million-plus Hot 100 audience out of the box. “Can’t Forget About You” follows up “Hip-Hop Is Dead,” the album’s first single, also produced by and featuring Will.i.am.  The track, which samples ’60s readymades “Apache” and “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” cut inside the Top 40 on the Hot 100, Pop 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, and Hot Digital Songs charts.

In addition to Will.i.am, who also co-produced “Who Killed It?,” ‘Hip-Hop is Dead’ contains a hefty roster of rap and R&B notables. The celebrated 2005 reconciliation between Nas and Jay-Z results in their first historic collaboration, on “Black Republican” (sampling The Godfather’s “Marcia Religiosa”). Fellow Def Jam artist Kanye West co-wrote and co-produced “Let There Be Light” featuring Tre Williams; Kanye also co-wrote and co-produced “Still Dreaming.” Scott Storch co-wrote and produced “Carry On Tradition” and “Play On Playa” featuring Snoop Dogg, with a sample from Marvin Gaye’s “After the Dance.”  Elsewhere, West Coast MC The Game and Marsha Ambrosius are featured on “Hustlers,” produced by Dr. Dre. 

Nas himself co-produced “Where Are They Now” (running through a litany of bygone MCs over a monster James Brown sample) and the closing “Hope.”  Nas’ wife Kelis is featured on “Not Going Back” produced by Stargate.  The bulk of ‘Hip-Hop is Dead,’ however, is produced (or co-produced) by L.E.S., one of Nas’ longtime beatmasters.  In addition to “Black Republican,” L.E.S. handled “Money Over Bullsh*t,” “You Can’t Kill Me,” and “Hope.”

‘Hip-Hop is Dead’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information and a complete track listing. Nas Tickets are now available at M&C’s Ticket Database. Nas – “One Man, One Mic, One Night” Tour 2007 dates include:

Date                City                             Venue

March  31        Pittsburgh, PA            University of Pittsburgh
April      2        Cleveland, OH             House of Blues 
            3        Baltimore, MD             Rams Head Live
            5        Norfolk, VA               The Norva Theatre
            6        Myrtle Beach, SC          House of Blues
            7        Orlando, FL               House of Blues
            8        Ft. Lauderdale, FL        Revolution
          10        Atlanta, GA               Tabernacle
          11        Charlotte, NC             Neighborhood Theatre
          13        Washington, DC            Love Nightclub
          14        Boston, MA                Matthews Arena
          15        Providence, RI            Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
          16        Montreal, Que.            Metropolis
          17        Toronto, Ont.             Kool Haus
          19        Detroit, MI               State Theater
          20        Chicago, IL               Congress Theatre
          21        Milwaukee, WI             Eagles Ballroom
          22        Minneapolis, MN           Myth
          23        St. Louis, MO             The Pageant
          25        Denver, CO                Fillmore Auditorium
          26        Salt Lake City, UT        Harry O's
          29        Las Vegas, NV             House of Blues
          30        Los Angeles, CA           House of Blues
May      1        Anaheim, CA               House of Blues
           2        San Diego, CA             4th & B
           3        San Francisco, CA         TBD