Nas performs at the Rialto June 6. photo courtesy of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Hip-hop legend Nas has announced he will hit the stage at Rialto Theatre this month for the very first time.The rapper, widely known in the industry for his quick and witty verses, has most recently been in collaboration on an album with Damien Marley.
Nas came onto the scene as a middle-school dropout who had a knack for creating intelligent rhymes about life on the street. He was initially discovered and produced under the wing of MC Serch from 3rd Bass, and his first album, Illmatic, is widely thought of as a literate composition that describes the despair of life in the slums and the hope for a better life.
Critically-acclaimed, Illmatic won numerous accolades and landed the emcee on the top of the charts. It would later go on to become widely-recognized as a "classic" hip-hop must-have including tracks such as "One Love" and "The World is Yours." Nas performs on Sunday, June 6, 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, RialtoTheatre.com, 318 E.
Congress St., $27 advance, $31 day of, all ages.
But Nas isn't the only hip-hop act to check out in June. Tucson is cranking up the heat this month with a handful of hip-hop shows to please almost every fan - so gear up to get down!
June's Hip-Hop Shows
Tech N9ne Tech N9ne has a knack for making edgy beats with catchy lyrics. He has been rapping for nearly a decade, amassing a wide collection of albums and creating a following of both mainstream and underground fans.
Thursday, June 3, 7 p.m. Rialto Theatre, $29 advance, $31 day of, all ages.
Sage Francis Widely known in the hip-hop community for his quick-witted lyrics and freestyle capabilities, Sage Francis has won acclaim from both underground and mainstream critics.
Friday, June 11, 8 p.m. Club Congress, HotelCongress.com, 311 E. Congress St., $16 advance, $18 day of, 18
mc chris with MC Lars With his signature high-pitched voice and comedic lyrics, mc chris (who remains free of punctuation and capitalization) performs this month at Club Congress. He also serves as a voice actor for Aqua Teen Hunger Force (as the voice of MC Pee Pants).
Saturday, June 12, 6:30 p.m. Club Congress. $13 advance, $15 day of, all ages.
Willie North Pole with Knockturnal, Gemini and Roca Dolla Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Willie North Pole has been taken under the wing of 50 cent.
Sunday, June 13, 7 p.m. DV8, DV8Tucson.com, 5851 E. Speedway Blvd. $15, all ages.
Planet Asia An underground rapper from Fresno, California, he’s known for his wide array of mix tapes. Tuesday, June 15, 8 p.m. Sports on Congress, MySpace.com/sportscongress, 254 E. Congress St., $12, 21
Snoop Dogg Hits town on Friday, June 18, 8 p.m. AVA Amphitheatre, AVAConcerts.com, 5655 W. Valencia Rd. $25-$65
Chiddy Bang with The Pack The Philly-based duo combines elements of hip-hop, pop and rock. Their song, “Opposite of Adults” samples MGMT’s “Kids” and has been making waves online and on the radio. Monday, June 21, 7 p.m. at Club Congress. $10 advance/ $12 day of, all ages.
