I guess this kind of kills the Jay-Z x Lupe rumors huh? I’m not overly upset though as N.E.R.D. is pretty fucking awesome live. But still… Hov & Lupe would’ve been epic.

Jay-Z announced today that — N.E.R.D, led by the phenomenal hit-makers and producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, Wale one of the brightest, innovative and heralded young rap stars of today, and J.Cole whose insightful and meaningful lyrical form brings promise of a new day in hip-hop, — will join him throughout his North American tour.

The Live Nation produced tour will make 24 stops at a mix of college campus arenas and traditional venues across North America starting at Penn State University on October 9th. Ticket and tour information for Jay-Z, N.E.R.D, Wale, and J.Cole is available at LiveNation.com.

Hit the jump for the dates/cities…

Oct 09 State College, PA Penn State/Bryce Jordan Center

Oct 10 Cincinnati, OH N Kentucky U/Bank of Kentucky Center
Oct 13 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Oct 14 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
Oct 15 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place

Oct 16 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Oct 17 Seattle, WA KeyArena
Oct 21 Ypsilanti, MI Eastern Michigan U/Convocation Center
Oct 23 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center (Powerhouse)

Oct 24 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
Oct 25 Amherst, MA U of Mass/Mullins Center
Oct 27 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
Oct 28 Columbus, OH Ohio State/ Value City Arena
Oct 29 London, ON John Labatt Centre
Oct 30 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Oct 31 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

Nov 01 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
Nov 07 Fresno, CA Fresno State/Save Mart Center
Nov 12 Champaign, IL University of Illinois/Assembly Hall
Nov 19 Albuquerque, NM Tingley Coliseum

Nov 20 El Paso, TX U of Texas at El Paso/Don Haskins Ctr
Nov 21 Lubbock, TX United Spirit Arena
Nov 22 Austin, TX U of Texas at Austin/Frank Erwin Center

Still confused as to the places chosen but whatever… more cities and dates will be announced soon. Let’s go Vegas!

PREVIOUS: Joe Budden – The Future f. The Game [Dirty/NoDJ] | ep.3 | ep.2 | ep.1

Speaking of The Game, here goes some footage of his stop in Kenya during his tour of Africa.

PREVIOUS: The Game On Tour in Africa ep.2 | ep.1

Here goes the second episode of On tour with The Game & BWS in Africa, presented by Taydoe TV. International Takeover DVD coming soon!

PREVIOUS: The Game On Tour in Africa ep.1 (Video)

I posted some footage of the tour these guys are on (w/ Classified) but the title might not have grabbed people; so check that. Above is some JoeBuddenTV that has everyone bullshitting on the bus.

I wasn’t expecting a video for this but hell yess. Directed by Jason Goldwatch, this gives us all a behind the scenes look at all the stops on the tour (that Shake missed out on). Shouts to OKP!

DOWNLOAD: 88-Keys, Dilated Peoples, Alchemist & Aceyalone – Fresh Rhymes & Videotape Anthem

If you we’re smart and you tuned into (the almighty) Tanya Morgan on Sugatreats the other night you’d know there was something special on the way and that the dopeboyz would be one of the first to drop it (aside Von of course). The line up is pretty self explanitory on how dope this cut really is. The production is a fresh mix of N.E.R.D.’s Everyone Nose and some slick piano/percussion. UPDATE: I’ve also added a link to Spec Boogie’s “Calling Me,” also featuring Von Pea, Elucid & Cyren Young.

DOWNLOAD: Von Pea x Elucid x Che Grand x Spec Boogie – Lessondary Nose

DOWNLOAD: Spec Boogie – Calling Me f. Von Pea, Elucid & Cyren Young

If you’re feeling this (which you should) and you’re in the NY area be SURE to hit up the Knitting Factory on June23rd as TM, Che Grand, Spec Boog and Elucid will be performing (flyer after the jump). While we’re on the topic of dope music… Tanya Morgan is readying a tour with Hieroglyphics as part of their Freshly Dipped Tour. Starting out west in Pomona & LA then heading counter clockwise around the US & Canada for a 45 date, three month-long journey. Check after the jump for tour dates…

Dates (first 29 dates are listed here, last 15 will be announced shortly):

Fri-Jul-11 Pomona, CA Glasshous
Sat-Jul-12 Los Angeles, CA El Rey
Sun-Jul-13 San Diego, CA Belly Up
Tue-Jul-15 Tempe, AZ Clubhouse
Wed-Jul-16 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum
Thu-Jul-17 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine
Fri-Jul-18 Dallas, TX Granada
Sat-Jul-19 Austin, TX Emo’s
Sun-Jul-20 New Orleans, LA Parrish
Tue-Jul-22 Orlando, FL Social-Late Show
Wed-Jul-23 Atlanta, GA Masq
Thu-Jul-24 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Fri-Jul-25 Charleston, SC The Music Farm
Sat-Jul-26 Wilmington, NC Soapbox
Sun-Jul-27 Virginia Beach, VA Steppin Out
Tue-Jul-29 Baltimore, MD Bedrock
Wed-Jul-30 West Chester, PA The Note
Thu-Jul-31 New York City, NY Highline
Sun-Aug-03 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
Tue-Aug-05 Ottawa, ON Babylon
Wed-Aug-06 Toronto, ON Mod Club
Thu-Aug-07 London, ON The Salt Lounge
Fri-Aug-08 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
Sat-Aug-09 Columbus, OH Skullys
Sun-Aug-10 Chicago, IL Abbey Pub
Tue-Aug-12 Madison, WI High Noon
Wed-Aug-13 Minneapolis First Ave-Early Show
Thu-Aug-14 Omaha Waiting Room
Fri-Aug-15 Boulder Fox

As I’m putting together part 2 of my recent interview with Crooked I my man Waxx hits me with a link to Kanye’s blog in which he responds to the above Entertainment Weekly review of his GITD Tour. Reading over the review it seems really hate driven. Like the writer has a personal vendetta against Ye. Ye tee’s the eff off though haha. He is wild! There’s a fine line between standing up for yourself and overstepping your response. Kanye is Kanye we all know that. I fully appreciate the passion he has and I respect when artists say what they want. But this might be a bit too much…

I actually feel sorry for you guys. Your job forces you to not have fun anymore. Grab a drink, holla at some nice girls, and party bitch!! You don’t know shit about passion and art. You’ll never gain credibility at this rate. You’re fucking trash! – Kanye [via Kanye's blog]

I got this in my inbox today and the artwork is just too dope not to post. You know Shake and his artsy ways. RZA’s new album, Digi Snax will be dropping July 1st through KOCH. Check below for the clean & dirty versions of the artwork, a tracklist that’s not in order and upcoming tour dates. Thanks Pitchfork…

Digi Snacks Intro [ft. Understanding]
U Can’t Stop Me Now [ft. Inspectah Deck]
Drama [ft. Monk and Thea van Seijen]
Goodnight Kiss [ft. Rev. Burk, Thea van Seijen, and Crisis]
Don’t Be Afraid to Call My Name
Straight Up the Block
Booby Traps / Digi Snacks [ft. Dexter Wiggles]
Money Don’t Own Me [ft. Monk and Stone Mecca]
I-Scream [ft. Dexter Wiggles and Crisis]
No Regrets
Love Is Digi Parts II [ft. Kinetic and Crisis]
Long Time Coming
O’Day
Try Ya Yi Ya [ft. Thea van Seijen]
Creep [ft. Black Knights]

05-01 Manchester, England – Academy 1 (Futuresonic Festival)
05-02 Brighton, England – TBA
05-04 Nottingham, England – TBA
06-10 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
06-11 Austin, TX – Emo’s
06-12 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
06-14 Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
06-15 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
06-17 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theater
06-18 Phoenix, AZ – The Brickhouse Theater
06-20 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theater
06-21 San Francisco, CA – 1015
06-23 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
06-24 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
06-25 Vancouver, British Columbia – Richard’s on Richards
06-27 Calgary, Alberta – Sled Island Music Festival
06-30 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
07-01 Chicago, IL – House of Blues
07-02 Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
07-04 Ottawa, Ontario – New Capital Music Hall
07-05 New York, NY – Webster Hall
07-07 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
07-08 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

Highlights from Boot Camp Clik’s recent tour of Canada. And if you haven’t go cop ALL of the BCC releases this year dammit!

BONUS: Sean Price Live @ NYC’s Stand-Up Show [Video]