By Edem Latsu Nukafu
Queensbridge Hip-Hop legend Nas has expanded his highly anticipated ‘Illmatic’ 30th anniversary tour, adding new dates in Dublin and London to the celebration of his iconic debut album. The tour, which marks three decades since the release of the seminal 1994 album, will now include an extra night at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, as well as a newly announced show in Dublin, Ireland.
Earlier this year, Nasir Jones, better known as Nas, revealed his plans to commemorate 30 years of ‘Illmatic’ with a series of performances across the UK and Europe. These shows are set to take place throughout October and November, where the hip-hop legend will perform the album in its entirety, delivering live renditions of timeless tracks such as ‘N.Y. State of Mind,’ ‘The World Is Yours,’ and ‘It Ain’t Hard to Tell.’
With the new dates added, Nas will kick off the European leg of his tour at the House of Culture in Helsinki on October 22. Following stops in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Cologne, and Milan, Nas will now include a second date in Brussels on October 28. The tour will continue through Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and France before concluding in Offenbach, Germany, on November 8.
The UK leg of the tour will begin on November 10 at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse, followed by a performance at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on November 11. Nas will then head to Dublin for a newly announced show at the 3Olympia Theatre on November 13. The final stretch will see him perform in Wolverhampton before ending with two back-to-back nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall on November 15 and 16.
Fans eager to secure tickets for these additional shows can do so during the pre-sale, which begins this Thursday, August 22, at 10 AM. The general sale will follow on Friday, August 23, at 10 AM. Tickets for all dates are expected to sell out quickly, given the legendary status of ‘Illmatic’ in the world of hip-hop.
Originally released in 1994, ‘Illmatic’ was Nas’s debut LP, earning critical acclaim for its vivid portrayal of life in 1990s New York. The album has since been certified platinum by the RIAA and is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
Nas has continued to make waves in the music industry, most recently with the release of ‘Magic 3’ in September 2023, the final installment of his ‘Magic’ trilogy. In addition to his musical endeavors, Nas is set to bring the classic hip-hop film ‘Beat Street’ to Broadway, working alongside Arthur Baker, the original film’s producer.
As fans gear up for what promises to be a historic tour, Nas’s influence on hip-hop remains as powerful as ever, bridging the gap between generations and reminding the world why ‘Illmatic’ is a timeless masterpiece.
Writer’s email: edemlatsu093@gmail.com