De La Soul: 20 Years High and Rising Tour

2009 sees hip hop pioneers De La Soul mark the 20th anniversary of their career, and to celebrate the group are undertaking their most comprehensive antipodean tour to date.

The 20th Anniversary tour is particularly special in that the group will perform in live format, for the first (and last) time ever in Australia. The 13 piece live show is made up of a hand picked selection of the best players and session musicians in the USA, and presents Dave, Mase and Pos on stage with a 10 piece band performing the classics in spectacular live format from the ground up.

The tour will be accompanied by the release of a limited edition 6 track EP of new material, produced in cooperation with Nike to mark the group’s 20th year in hip hop.

The 10 members of the live band assembled to back the group represent a hand picked selection of the crème de la crème of west coast funk and soul players. Members of the group have performed and / or recorded with artists such as Justin Timberlake, Outkast, Breakestra, Macy Gray, Black Eyed Peas, Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra, Connie Price & the Keystones, Orgone, Roy Ayers, Christina Aguilera, Nikka Costa, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Quantic, Madlib’s Sound Directions, War, Weapon of Choice, Too Short, Everlast, India, Arie, Brand New Heavies, David Holmes, Antibalas, and Lily Tomlin to name just a few.

This is a once in a life time opportunity to see one of the most influential hip hop groups in history perform in a never before seen format, as they re-create the classics from the ground up, 100% live. The live tour has been assembled as a one time only affair to mark the group’s anniversary.