San Francisco rapper/activist Paris has announced the 45-city 2009 Hard Truth Soldiers Tour, which will feature a number of todays most socially active Hip-Hop artists.
Rappers Paris, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Pete Rock, Planet Asia, Kam, NYOil, Jasiri X, Uno the Prophet, Sellassie, T-K.A.S.H. and a number of others will hit the road on May 1st in Eurkea, California.
While this is the first year for the tour, Paris Guerilla Funk Touring and Promotions plans on making this annual tour, which pairs seasoned talent with new upcoming artists.
“The idea here is to provide a platform for artists to be seen and heard who have important voices that have been marginalized,” Guerrilla Funk CEO Paris told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “All too often certain segments of hip-hop are focused on by the mainstream that don’t accurately or adequately reflect us or our communities. This is a perfect way to counteract that, and to provide balance to an art form that has become increasingly corporatized and diluted for mass consumption.”
The tour will hit major markets like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Seattle, in addition to smaller markets like Burlington, Vermont, Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City and others.
In related news, two new Paris-produced albums will be released in the coming weeks.
T-K.A.S.H.s Brains All Over the Streets and Paris Presents: Hard Truth Soldiers, Vol. 2 are due in stores May 12th.
For more information on the Hard Truth Soldiers concert series log onto: www.hardtruthsoldiers.com.
