In St. Louis, Missouri, this week, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Special Guest Busta Rhymes began their much anticipated 2022 NY State of Mind Tour. The program began with a carefully curated video that traced the history of hip-hop from its inception on August 11, 1973, in the Bronx, New York, to its influence in all five boroughs of the city, highlighting the city’s native Hip-Hop icons who forever altered the rap scene and culture outside the Empire State.
Wu-Tang Clan gave an outstanding performance, singing songs like “Bring Da Ruckus,” “Da Mystery of Chessboxin,” “C.R.E.A.M.,” and others. “New York State of Mind,” “It’s Mine,” “If I Ruled the World,” and other songs by Nas were played on stage. Busta Rhymes also sang a number of hits, including “Scenario,” “Look at Me Now,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” while bringing out a bottle of champagne mid-performance to celebrate an incredible tour.
The 25-city tour, which is being organized by Live Nation, will next perform at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on September 1st. Thereafter, it will visit more cities across North America, including Atlanta, Toronto, Austin, Phoenix, and more, before coming to an end at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, on October 4th. Hip hop turns 50 this year, so now is the ideal time for these two pioneers of the genre to collaborate on a historical tour.
You can see the full run of shows and opening night images below.
Thu Sep 01 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Fri Sep 02 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 03 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sun Sep 04 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed Sep 07 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Thu Sep 08 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Fri Sep 09 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
Sat Sep 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Tue Sep 13 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Wed Sep 14 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Fri Sep 16 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sat Sep 17 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sun Sep 18 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Tue Sep 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 21 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Thu Sep 22 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Sun Sep 25 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Mon Sep 26 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu Sep 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Fri Sep 30 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
Sat Oct 01 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Sun Oct 02 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
Tue Oct 04 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl