HIP-HOP AT 50: MASTERS OF THE MIC

Trailblazing hip-hop artists Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, Slick Rick, EPMD and Doug E. Fresh are embarking on a joint tour this summer. Dubbed Masters of the Mic: Hip Hop 50 Tour, it will begin 6/30 at the Essence Fest in New Orleans and officially kick off 7/20 in Cincinnati before wrapping 10/14 in San Antonio.

Kane made the announcement on Tuesday (6/13), posting the tour flier to his Instagram page.

2023 is evolving into one of the most prolific years hip-hop has ever witnessed, especially when it comes to the pioneers and architects of the culture. With the genre's 50th birthday on 8/11 (see "Hip Hop 50 Live" below), a plethora of celebratory events have packed our calendars and reminded us what makes hip-hop so dynamic.

Kane will also hit the stage at LL COOL J's second annual Rock the Bells Festival, taking place 8/5 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. Additional guests include Rakim, Slick Rick, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Method Man, Redman, Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Smif-N-Wessun, Swizz Beatz, the Boot Camp Clik, Fabolous, MC Sha Rock, Roxanne Shanté, Monie Love and the Cold Crush Brothers.

Less than a week later, on 8/11, Run-DMC will headline "Hip Hop 50 Live" at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Co-produced by Live Nation, Mass Appeal and the New York Yankees, the event will also see performances by Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Lil Wayne, to name a few.

More information on "Hip Hop 50 Live" can be found here and the Masters of the Mic tour here. You can find us somewhere rapping the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight"—albeit poorly.