DJ Premier Kicks Off Hip-Hop’s 50-Year Anniversary With An EP Featuring Lil Wayne, Nas, And Slick Rick

It’s widely acknowledged that the cultural phenomenon known as hip-hop officially began at a house party in The Bronx, New York on August 11, 1973. That means hip-hop is nearly 50 years old, and to celebrate its impending golden jubilee, Mass Appeal has announced the Hip-Hop 50: The Soundtrack project, 10 EPs produced by some of the culture’s biggest names to commemorate hip-hop’s longevity (the ha, the ha). The first will be DJ Premier: Hip-Hop 50 Volume 1, produced by… I mean, it’s right there in the title… dropping on July 15 via Mass Appeal and The Orchard.

The project’s five tracks will feature appearances from old-school legends like Nas and Slick Rick, contemporary craft masters like Joey Badass, Rapsody, and Run The Jewels, and cross-generational all-timer Lil Wayne. In a statement, DJ Premier said, “It’s an honor to kick off this iconic Hip Hop 50 music program. Hip Hop continues to inspire fans across the globe and it’s incredible to think of what the next 50 years will bring.” It seems likely that the new track Premier and Nas previewed last week is actually “Beat Breaks,” their collaboration from this project.

Future EPs in the Hip-Hop 50: The Soundtrack will include entries produced by Hit-Boy, Mike Will Made-It, Mustard, No I.D., Swizz Beatz, The-Dream, and more. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum, as well as other charitable organizations. Other arms of the Hip-Hop 50 initiative include live event programming and a slate of documentaries with Paramount + and Showtime, including the Supreme Team documentary that premiered on Friday, July 10, as well as the Spotify Original podcast, The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip-Hop, hosted by Miss Info and Nas.

DJ Premier: Hip Hop 50 Volume 1 is out 7/15 via Mass Appeal Records and The Orchard. You can pre-save it here. You can see the tracklist below.

01. “Lettin’ Off Steam” Feat. Joey Bada$$
02. “Remy Rap” Feat. Remy Ma & Rapsody
03. “Beat Breaks” Feat. Nas
04. “Terrible 2’s” Feat. Run The Jewels
05. “The Root Of All” Feat. Lil Wayne & Slick Rick

El-P Catches COVID, Forcing Run The Jewels To Withdraw From The Something In The Water Festival

While we have created a new sense of normal in our COVID-19-stricken world, the threat of the virus is still present. In some unfortunate news, Twitter users learned that Run The Jewels will no longer be able to perform at Something In The Water this weekend because El-P tested positive. He sent out a public notes app apology coupled with the humorous caption, “looks like i picked the wrong month to stop sniffing glue” (a reference to the 1980 movie Airplane!).

Something In The Water is a three-day festival founded in 2019, and this is the first year it is going to be held in Washington DC. The lineup includes names like Tyler The Creator, Lil Baby, Lucky Daye, Usher, Ashanti and Ja Rule, J Balvin, Pharrell, Clipse, Justin Timberlake, SZA, NORE, and many more.

With it being nearly a full year since Run The Jewels released RTJ4 (Deluxe Edition), fans will now have to a little longer for a big festival set from the group. There are over four decades of history between El-P and Killer Mike both as individuals and together, yet they are still in high demand evident in the many well wishes shared with El-P.

Check out the El-P’s announcement above.

Adult Swim Festival Returns With A Block Party In Philly Featuring Run The Jewels And Tierra Whack

Just as Adult Swim’s one-of-a-kind music/animation festival, Adult Swim Festival, was gaining momentum, it was curtailed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival, which launched in 2018 and expanded in 2019, was shifted to an online-only event in 2021 but is soon to return in 2022. This time, it’ll not only change venues but also cities, crossing over to the east coast for the Adult Swim Festival Block Party in Philadelphia on August 5-7.

In addition to changing coasts, the format will be a little different as well, taking over multiple venues such as Brooklyn Bowl, The Fillmore, The Foundry, and Punch Line with music, “live panels, exclusive premieres, watch parties, games, giveaways, and merch.” Because it’s Adult Swim and because it’s in Philadelphia, the top line includes Run The Jewels (which formed largely thanks to the input of Adult Swim Senior Vice President Jason DeMarco) and hometown hero Tierra Whack (who previously played the festival in 2019).

adult swim block party
Adult Swim

Other musical acts booked to play the Block Party include Bia, Flo Milli, and RJD2, while standup comics like Hannibal Buress, Jak Knight, and Jo Firestone are set to perform as well. There will also be live panels for Adult Swim shows Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Rick & Morty, and Smiling Friends, and you can be sure there’ll be some fun screening events as well. Hopefully, they’ll bring back the bucking hot dog ride too, as it was one of the highlights from the 2019 event.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 20 at 10 AM ET. Naturally, you can find more information at adultswimfestival.com.

Run the Jewels and More Set for #iVoted Festival 2022

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The #iVoted Festival, which in 2020 produced the world’s largest single-night digital concert, is returning for the 2022 midterm elections. On Election Day, November 8th, 2022, the #iVoted Festival will take place virtually. Fans can RSVP to watch the Mandolin-hosted stream by taking a picture outside their polling location or at home with their blank, unmarked ballot. Underage fans RSVP by informing the #iVoted Festival about the election for which they will be 18 and why they are enthusiastic to vote. Non-citizens and ineligible voters can RSVP by stating which artist they are most looking forward to seeing. Fans can sign up for the festival’s email list to be notified when the RSVP site opens later this year.

Over 250 performers have been announced for #iVoted Festival 2022’s election night broadcast by the 100 percent women-led non-partisan 501(c)3 non-profit voter participation organisation. The data of the top streaming and trending musicians is used to book talent in crucial states where electoral margins are often determined by the size of a musical venue.

Artists include Run the Jewels, Lake Street Dive, CNCO, Carl Craig, Rise Against, Umphrey’s McGee, Lil’ Scrappy, Halestorm, Jamby El Favo, Shakey Graves, An Exclusive Video Message from Piper Perabo, 3OH!3, DeVotchKa, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup, The Suffers, Eliot Sloan of Blessid Union Of Souls, Doll Skin, Lotus, Twiztid, The Starting Line, Duane Betts, ACRAZE and more.

Run the Jewels’ Co-Manager Amaechi Uzoigwe, Live Nation’s Jay Byrd, Biz 3’s Kathryn Frazier and Dana Meyerson, SongHero CEO and former Blondie touring keyboardist Kevin Patrick, and LOUD Capital CMO and former Vans Warped Tour drummer Brian Penick are among the new board members announced by #iVoted Festival. Kevin Lyman, Roc Nation’s Evangeline Elder, Mandolin CEO Mary Kay Huse, Joyce Dollinger, Steve Ferguson, tenured M.I.T. Economist Jon Gruber, Kennita Hickman, WNYC’s Rebecca Kennedy, Lyte’s Lawrence Peryer, and Melanie Shark are among the previously announced board members.

The post Run the Jewels and More Set for #iVoted Festival 2022 appeared first on The Source.

Run The Jewels Has Started Recording What Could Be Their Fifth Album

After performing at Coachella this past weekend, it looks like El-P and Killer Mike are now hard at work on their next Run The Jewels album. In a new interview with Consequence, Killer Mike revealed that he was recently in the studio with his partner-in-rhyme, where they apparently planted the seeds of the follow-up to their 2021 album, RTJ4. “I say this with a smile and a wink — me and El-P were in the studio together,” he said. “We may have messed around and started Run the Jewels 5. So we’ll see what happens.”

However, he also said that plans weren’t exactly solidified during that session. “I never know what I’m planning,” he admitted. “But what I do plan right now is actually completing one of the greatest tours ever in Run the Jewels and Rage Against the Machine.” That tour was rescheduled after postponing part of the tour due to the ongoing pandemic (which, you know, never actually ended). Coachella marked the duo’s return to the stage after performing at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival in October and are planning to take the stage again at Boston Calling after weekend two of Coachella.

Just because they aren’t sure that their latest session will result in a new RTJ album, though, Mike allowed that there would more music from the duo in the future. “I would say look for Run the Jewels to pop up on some guest appearances,” he said. “I’ve done some solo guest appearances as well. So just look for more music to be coming out period.”

El-P Is Reissuing Deluxe Vinyl Editions Of His Three Iconic Solo Albums On Fat Possum

Before Run The Jewels changed his life, vaulting him to indie hip-hop super stardom with his partner Killer Mike, El-P was making future-forward hip-hop on his own. An OG of the independent hip-hop movement, El-P first name a made for himself as a producer with Company Flow in the late 90s, but built even deeper cult fan bases with his three studio albums.

This year, Fantastic Damage, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, and Cancer For Cure are celebrating their 20th, 15th, and 10th anniversaries, respectively. Always one to cater to his rabid fan base, El-P is reissuing all three via 2LP deluxe vinyl editions with Fat Possum Records. It’ll also mark the first time since 2010 that Fantastic Damage is being pressed on vinyl.

Never one to mince words, El-P shared a statement on the reissues:

“this is a thank you letter to everyone who has helped and allowed me to live my life doing the music and art i love. to everyone who has been moved in some way by what i do, to everyone who has been listening from the beginning, to those that stuck with me as i changed and grew and to everybody who’s just discovered the music.

i’ve always focused on the next piece. i’ve always only run to my future. but despite my habit of not looking back much, this year marks the 20th (FANTASTIC DAMAGE), 15th (I’LL SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD) and 10th (CANCER 4 CURE) anniversaries of the major records in my solo career and it feels good to get them back on vinyl and into whomever’s hands might want them.

but most of all it feels good to just be here. still allowed to do what i love, still thrilled about it in every way.

so again, thank you.

love,

el-p”

Watch a trailer for the reissue series above and pre-order the releases, which are now on sale here.

Rage Against The Machine Have Yet Again Announced Rescheduled Tour Dates With Run The Jewels

Almost exactly two years ago, Rage Against The Machine announced a massive reunion tour with Run The Jewels called “The Public Service Announcement Tour,” that, like everything announced in early 2020, did not happen. In April of last year, it was postponed to this spring, set to run from March 31 to August 14; so we named it one of our most anticipated tours of 2022. Last month, however, the band announced a postponement for the West Coast swing without yet offering rescheduled dates. Today, they’ve posted the new dates, moving that first half, from March 31 to May 23, to next year, running from February 22 to April 2 instead.

“All tickets for the moved dates will be honored. Fans who would like a refund have until March 15th, 2022 and should contact your point of purchase,” the statement said.

Find the rescheduled dates below.

02/22 – Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center
02/24 – El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center
02/26 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
02/28 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
03/03 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
03/05 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
03/07 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
03/09 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
03/11 – Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
03/13 – Calgary, AL @ Scotiabank Saddledome
03/15 – Edmonton, AL @ Rogers Place
03/17 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre
03/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
03/20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
03/22 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford Premier Center
03/28 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
03/30 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
04/01 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesar’s Arena
04/02 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesar’s Arena
07/9 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
07/11 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/12 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/15 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
07/16 – Quebec City, QC @ Festival D’Ete De Quebec
07/19 – Hamilton, ON @ First Ontario Centre
07/21 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/23 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/25 – Buffalo, NY @ Keybank Center
07/27 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
07/29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
07/31 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
08/02 – Washington, DC @ Capitol One Arena
08/03 – Washington, DC @ Capitol One Arena
08/08 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/09 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/11 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/12 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/14 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Rage Against The Machine Are Postponing Part of Their Tour With Run The Jewels

Well this is getting tiresome. Last April, Rage Against The Machine announced that they were finally feeling like it was safe enough to re-set tour dates for their “Public Service Announcement” Tour with Run The Jewels that they had already postponed from 2020 to 2021. They set the tour to begin in May of 2022 thinking that surely the worst days of the pandemic would be behind us, right? Wrong.

The band announced today that they have postponed the first part of the 2022 Public Service Announcement tour dates, which include the entire West Coast swing. The band tweeted out a statement that read:

“The Rage Against The Machine “Public Service Announcement” North American Tour with Run The Jewels will now start on July 9, 2022 in East Troy, Wisconsin.

Headline shows scheduled for March 31, 2022 through May 23, 2022 will be postponed and rescheduled. All tickets for the moved dates will be honored.

For fans wishing to obtain a refund for the postponed dates, refunds are available for a 30-fay window from the point of purchase only, starting today.

We will be back to you soon with the rerouted dates.

Brad, Tim, Tom & Zack”

Tough, but fair. Regardless, the tour, which now begins on July 9th in East Troy, Wisconsin, is still one of our most anticipated tours of 2022. Stay tuned for the rescheduled dates and check out Rage Against The Machine’s remaining tour dates with Run The Jewels below.

07/09/2022 — East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
07/11/2022 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/12/2022 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/15/2022 — Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
07/16/2022 — Quebec City, QC @ Festival D’ete de Quebec *
07/19/2022 — Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
07/21/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/23/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/25/2022 — Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
07/27/2022 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
07/29/2022 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
07/31/2022 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
08/02/2022 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
08/03/2022 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
08/08/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/09/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/11/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/12/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/14/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden