JAY-Z isn’t the only superstar artist using his platform to encourage economic empowerment in black communities. Nas and Lauryn Hill begin their co-headlining tour tonight (Sept. 7), and along with a slew of guests, the pair of performers will donate proceeds to organizations that matter.
After announcing the tour in May, the two legendary lyricists have dubbed their tour PowerNomics, after the Dr. Claud Anderson series of books that aims to “teach Blacks how to pool resources and aspects of power so that they can produce, distribute and consume in a way that creates goods and wealth.” As such, Ms. Hill and Nas will donate money from the ticket sales to a variety of education, health, agriculture, technology, and community-based businesses through the black diaspora. The Harvest Institute, Yes We Code, Equal Justice Initiative, Soronko Academy, NAS’ INITIATIVE, Al Noor Charitable Agency, Habesha, and International Peace Initiative are among the beneficiaries.
“My interests have always centered around encouraging empowerment, and focusing on ways to help heal, repair, educate and promote enfranchisement to the disenfranchised,” Ms. Hill said in a statement. “I’m excited to share this platform for community, creativity, and progress, helping to expose, educate, and magnify the beauty of cultural amalgamation.”
Nas also shared a statement, saying that the PowerNomics Tour is “our way of being part of the solution. We are here to lend a hand where it is needed and hopefully to inspire. I’m a part of a mission to help build a more diverse tech industry and to encourage my people to see beyond what they believe is in their reach. Music is spiritual, and we are a musical people, so what better way to contribute to our situation than to bring some spirituality. It is an honor to be on this tour with MLH, and what better time than now, in the midst of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey as well as the dire situation of many African-American communities.”
Dave Chappelle was just added to a Friday show in Detroit, while Nick Grant, Hannibal Buress, Fefe and others will join on other dates. Read below to see when the PowerNomics Tour stops in your city, and buy tickets at LiveNation.com.
PowerNomics Tour Schedule
9/7 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (^&#)
9/8 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill (%^&#)
9/10 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage (^&#)
9/12 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (^&#)
9/14 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion (+&#)
9/15 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live (+&#)
9/20 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater (^&)9/22 – Miami, FL – Bayfront Park Amphitheater (+&@)
9/23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place (^&@)
9/27 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land (^&@)
9/28 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Irving Music Factory (^&)
9/30 – Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater (^&@)
10/3 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU (+&)10/5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (+&@)
10/7 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre (+&@)
10/10 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater (+&@)
10/11 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum (^&@)
%with Dave Chappelle^with Chronixx
+with Hannibal Buress and Chronixx&with Lakim#with Fefe@with Nick Grant