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| by kenn on 6/16/2004 06:35:00 PM |
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****** KANYE/USHER TOUR PRESS RELEASE ******
 KANYE WEST TO BRING 'THE TRUTH' WITH USHER THIS SUMMER;
HIP-HOP'S HEAD OF THE CLASS TAPPED FOR SIX WEEK CROSS-COUNTRY TREK,
NOMINATED FOR 3 BET WARDS, DROPS THIRD SINGLE AND VIDEO, "JESUS WALKS"
NEW YORK, NY - June 14, 2004 - It's been a remarkable, triumphant and
vindicating year for hip-hop's man of the moment, Kanye West.
In the first week in February, when West dropped his astonishing debut The College Dropout, he held three songs in the Billboard Top 20, including the #1 song in the country, "Slow Jamz." And while critics were heaping praise on advance copies of 'Dropout,' and his own unlikely smash "Through The Wire" was tearing up radio and the charts, West pressed forward with the 'me against the world' hunger of an unsigned artist, flaunting his notorious attitude to anyone who would listen,
shining up the platinum chip on his shoulder.
If Kanye seemed like a man with something to prove, it has been proven and then some. 'Dropout' sold upwards of 450,000 copies in it's first week, debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and has gone onto sell over 2 million copies worldwide. Kanye has become a phenomenon, gracing magazine covers, dominating MTV, BET and late night television, and selling out shows nationwide on his first-ever solo tour. West recently returned from Europe, where he performed on the BBC's legendary Top Of
The Pops, completed a whirlwind international press tour, and rocked packed crowds from London to Amsterdam to Colon.
Now, Kanye has been tapped by ubiquitous chart-topper Usher as a special guest on his upcoming 'The Truth' national arena tour. Featuring both the hottest artist in hip-hop and the hottest artist in R&B, 'The Truth Tour' is guaranteed to be one of the biggest tours of the season. Kicking off in Hampton, VA on August 16th, 'The Truth Tour' will trek across the country for six weeks, hitting major venues like Los Angeles' Staples Center and New York's historic Madison Square Garden.
Out on the road, Kanye will be highlighting the stunning, soulful third single from 'Dropout,' "Jesus Walks." Possibly one of the most meaningful rap songs to come along in years, "Jesus Walks," has struck a serious chord with fans all over the country, becoming one of the high-points in Kanye's show. In the track's final, now-infamous verse, a penitent Kanye searches his own faith and the stigmas attached to expressing it in song:
I ain't here to argue about his facial features,
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers,
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that's the way I need Jesus,
So here go my single dog radio needs this
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, videotapes,
But if I talk about God my record won't get played, Huh?
Well if this takes away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming 'bout
Next time I'm in the club everybody screaming out
"Jesus Walks"
The controversial new video for "Jesus Walks" is set to debut on BET and MTV within the next few weeks, and Kanye is scheduled to perform the song at the BET awards later this month. Kanye is nominated for three BET Awards, including "Best New Artist."
Usher / Kanye West "The Truth Tour" dates:
8/5 - Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
8/6 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
8/7 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
8/10 - Cleveland, OH @ CSU Convocation Center
8/13 - Cincinnati, OH @ US Bank Arena
8/14 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
8/20 - Washington, DC @ MCI Center
8/21 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
8/25 - New Orleans, LA @ Superdome
8/26 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
8/31 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
9/2 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
9/11 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
9/15 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Arena
9/17 - Memphis, TN @ FedEx Arena
9/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Savvis Center
9/19 - Kansas City, MO @ Kemper Arena
9/23 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
9/24 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
9/25 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jacksonville Arena
9/30 - Charlotte, NC @ Coliseum
10/1 - Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
10/3 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
10/7 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Free
Apple iPod Program
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