Kings Of The Mic Tour 2013

Event Details:

Kings of the Mic Tour 2013
LL Cool J w/Ice Cube, Public Enemy & De La Soul

Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre
5655 West Valencia
Tucson AZ 85757
United States

Thursday May 23 2013
8:00 PM

LL Cool J
LL COOL J is an entertainment icon who has found great success crossing into multiple mediums. A two-time Grammy® Award winner, recording artist, talented actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur and philanthropist, LL continues to display his wide range of talents with every project. He currently stars in the CBS hit primetime drama series, “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” and continuing his musical expedition three decades after he first released music, LL is proudly prepping to release his latest project, Authentic.

Ice Cube
As much as technology, business and society have changed since the 1980s, one thing has remained constant: Ice Cube has been a premier cultural watchdog, astutely commenting on, examining and detailing the breadth of the American experience in uncompromising terms with an unflinching honesty and a sobering perspective, as well as a deft comedic touch that has endeared him to several generations of fans. Indeed, growing up in crime and gang-infested South Central Los Angeles in the 1970s and 1980s, Ice Cube learned how to navigate a world where the lines between right and wrong shifted constantly. Equally importantly, the Los Angeles-based entertainment mogul also found a lasting way to present the comedy that exists in the midst of difficult situations.

After penning the most memorable lyrics on N.W.A’s groundbreaking songs “Straight Outta Compton” and “Fuck Tha Police,” Ice Cube left the group at the peak of its popularity because he was not being paid correctly. That move that led to one of the most successful careers in music history. As a solo recording artist, Ice Cube has sold more than 10 million albums while remaining one of rap’s most respected and influential artists. Ice Cube’s first two albums, 1990’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and 1991’s Death Certificate, are widely considered two of the best rap albums ever released. Cube’s wry wit on such songs as “Once Upon The Time In The Projects” and “A Gangsta’s Fairytale” were masterfully juxtaposed against the searing social commentary on such selections as “I Wanna Kill Sam” and “Black Korea.”

Public Enemy
In early 2012, Public Enemy kicked off their 25th anniversary by staging a free concert in downtown Los Angeles’ notorious Skid Row. Just a few blocks away at the Grammy Museum, a special exhibit was being installed in their honor. No other group could possibly mark a career milestone quite like this. Every bit as compelling as their startling first single, “Public Enemy #1,” when it was released in 1987, Public Enemy have never stopped urging to fight the power as their artistry meets with unwavering critical acclaim and legions of worldwide fans. Fans that drove their single, “Harder Than You Think,” into the UK’s Top 5 last summer and prompted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct the group in 2013 – their first year of eligibility.

Delivering socio-political messages that give voice to those who have long been ignored, unafraid to question institutional injustices, and challenging both leaders and laymen alike to work for change, Public Enemy do so with an intensity, eloquence and depth that few can match. Co-founder Chuck D’s deep and resolute vocals implore and scold at once while Flavor Flav’s euphoric delivery delights a crowd like no other hypeman can, cleverly dispensing wisdom disguised in a good time. The combination is an unlikely explosion of entertainment that feeds your mind and soul.