blackstarA tantalising bill of Hip Hop Royalty. Black Star featuring Mos Def & Rakim plus De La Soul. The first show featuring this truly epic line-up is selling out fast in London and now it’s the chance for our friends in the North to share in some breakbeat love with a Hip Hop summit at Manchester’s 02 Apollo.

Rising from the thinking artist’s anti-violence brand of ‘conscious rap with a soulful vibe’, the bill for this once-in-a-lifetime show is a roll call of hip hop’s finest ever and most thoughtful talent. These universally respected artists share the stage to take us on a journey through hits that are lyrically and musically still streets ahead of anything out there. The songs are as relevant now as they were back in the day, and these shows promise to deliver a timely reminder of Hip Hop’s ability to show the possibility of a better world.

Black Star’s Mos Def and Talib Kweli reunite for the first time in the UK since 1999 for two nights only. De La Soul brings its snappy brand of old skool cool to the fore and Rakim ‘ widely respected as one of the best rappers of all time – completes the line-up for these much anticipated shows.

10th May 2011
HMV Hammersmith Apollo
45 Queen Caroline Street
Hammersmith, London W6 9QH
Doors: 7pm
Tickets £35, limited VIP tickets at £50
0843 221 0100 / www.hmvtickets.co/events/2134

11th May 2011
O2 Apollo Manchester
Stockport Road,
Ardwick Green,
Manchester, M12 6AP, UK
Doors: 7pm
Tickets: £30 +BF
Tel: 08444 777 677 / http://www.o2apollomanchester.co.uk/

Look out for exclusive Flavour Magazine images from the event taken by Sai Photography