Nas Announces Two New Zealand Shows

Queensbridge rapper Nas is heading to New Zealand in January for two shows to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his highly influential debut album Illmatic. Released in 1994, Illmatic boasts production from the likes of Pete Rock, DJ Premiere and Large Professor alongside the stunning narrative lyricism from Nas, earning it universal acclaim from the hip hop community and beyond. In the two decades since its release Illmatic's influence still ripples through hip hop today. Here's the details for Nas' upcoming shows on these shores for which he will be joined by DJ Green Lantern...

UnderTheRadar Presents:

Nas - Illmatic 20th Anniversary Tour

Saturday 17th January 2015, The Powerstation, Auckland
Sunday 18th January 2015, James Cabaret, Wellington

Take a stroll down memory lane with the video for 'The World Is Yours'...

PRESS RELEASE:

ROBIN FERNANDO AND MAI FM PRESENT NAS ILLMATIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WITH DJ GREEN LANTERN

Amidst the fickle, ephemeral beast that is popular hip-hop, Nas has remained a vital and relevant force across 10 albums and 20 years. With music in his blood, Nas wrote his first verse at age 7 and, with 1994’s Illmatic, created one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time before he could legally drink. 2014 sees the 20th anniversary of the seminal Illmatic; the release of a special edition, titled Illmatic XX, as well as a worldwide tour.

It seems almost trite today to discuss the universal impact and acclaim that Illmatic had on rap. Put simply: the album has long been considered a masterpiece not just in hip hop, but music as a whole, inspiring countless subsequent rappers and establishing Nas as the most vivid storyteller of urban life since Rakim and Chuck D. Whether it’s rhyming about politics, hip hop, race, religion, other artists or personal relationships, Nas has consistently brought unparalleled and unprecedented levels of honesty wrapped up in his signature poetic wordplay.

Bringing his epic and universally acclaimed back catalogue to New Zealand shores (2011’s Life is Good was hailed as his ‘most emotionally raw record’ since Illmatic by MTV), this is a chance to see the hip hop heavyweight in his element, spitting the rhymes that saw him begin an upwards trajectory that shows no sign of slowing. Taking the stage at Auckland’s Powerstation (17 January) and Wellington’s James Cabaret (18 January), this is a chance to see one of rap’s finest in two of the country’s finest venues. Get in quick to see hip-hop’s greatest poet in his element celebrating twenty years of Illmatic and beyond. Nas’ catalog speaks for itself.

Nas is joined at both shows by esteemed hip-hop producer DJ Green Lantern, who has served as DJ of the Shady Records family and produced tracks for the likes of Ludacris, D-Block, and a noted remix of the Nas and Tupac collaboration Thugz Mansion. As a radio host Green Lantern a renowned personality, helping to break new underground hip-hop including Ghostface Killah. He curated the fictional radio station “The Beat 102.7” on Grand Theft Auto IV, featuring as a host to millions of gamers worldwide. Nas and DJ Green Lantern are joined in Auckland by DJ Sir Vere and in Wellington DJ Raw and Dam-G.

NAS ILLMATIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Saturday 17 January 2015
The Powerstation, Auckland
With DJ Green Lantern
Support from DJ Sir Vere
Tickets are on sale 16 October from WWW.EVENTTICKETING.CO.NZ

Sunday 18 January 2015
James Cabaret, Wellington
With DJ Green Lantern
Support from DJ Raw and Dam-G
Tickets are on sale 16 October from WWW.DASHTICKETS.CO.NZ & RPM Cuba S