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Hip-hop legends Nas and Lauryn Hill have shared the stage plenty since their 1996 hip-hop with a conscience single, If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) became a hip-hop classic.
Now the two iconic hip-hop acts will share the stage for a joint fall outing, their first together, dubbed the Life Is Good/Black Rage tour.
The tour will launch on October 6th in the US. The show gleans its namesake from Nas’ current album, Life Is Good and Hill’s upcoming single Black Rage. The track, which will be released this Autumn, represents the derivative effects of racial inequity and abuse.
The notoriously press-shy rapper and singer said the single serves as a juxtaposition to Nas’ statement of “life is good,” which she believes can only be so when these long-standing issues are addressed and resolved.
Lauryn said: “I use the performance platform as an opportunity to express the energy of that moment, and the intention behind it.”
The Fugees front-woman added: “I’ve been a long standing rebel against the stale, over commoditisation. As artists we have opportunity to help the public evolve, raise consciousness and awareness, teach, heal, enlighten and inspire in ways the democratic process may not be able to touch. So we keep it moving.”
Her fans have been waiting more than a dozen years for the elusive performer to release a follow-up to her 1998 Grammy-winning solo smash, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Black Rage seems to be her first official single in years, though she has contributed to soundtracks such as 2007’s Surf Up and a leaked track, Repercussions, managed to chart in 2010.
L Boogie hasn’t been as dormant live, though, often popping up at music festivals such as Coachella and Rock the Bells (which Nas headlined this year), and she went on a string of ‘play dates’ early last year.
The two hip-hop legends sharing the same bill make the show one of the hottest tickets for hip-hop heads.
And Nas couldn’t be more on top of his game. Twenty years into his prolific career, he managed to change the game again with his 10th album.
Long known for his sharp wit and biting, tough social commentary he tapped into some of his most honest and compelling subject matter yet: himself.
Life Is Good debuted at No. 1 after its release this summer and is largely considered a true return to form.
Nas, who was married to R&B powerhouse Kelis, said: “This is history. Better late than never. Life is good!”