Kendrick Lamar crashed the internet this morning when he dropped his new album Mr Morale and the Big Steppers.
Now it looks like he might be about to crash it again.
The Californian rap superstar has confirmed he will be performing across the globe as part of his Big Steppers World Tour, and Manchester is lucky enough to be getting a visit.
Fans will be treated to the artist’s first live performance in four years when Kendrick returns to the city in November.
One of just seven planned stops on the UK leg of his tour, he will appear in Manchester on 16 November for one night only before jetting off abroad.
With support from Baby Keem and Tanna Leone, Kendrick will take his latest thorny opus – a double album that features everyone from Kodak Black to Sampha and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons – out on the road later this year.
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Image: Spotify
Tickets will go on general sale from Friday 20 May at 10am via livenation.co.uk
Kendrick Lamar’s last album DAMN debuted at No. 1 in the US and managed to go triple platinum in just over a year, which is no mean feat.
Understandably there has been a huge amount of anticipation surrounding his new release, which finally dropped today leaving fans across the globe reeling.
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The Pulitzer prize-winning rapper’s fifth album has a lot to live up to, even more so as his last planned release with longtime label Top Dawg Entertainment.
Described as a “deeply uncomfortable” work byPitchfork Media, it has already spurred fans online to create somewhat patronising guides on how best to listen to the album.
The full set of UK tour dates for the Big Steppers World Tour are as follows:
Wed Nov 02– Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro Thu Nov 03 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena Fri Nov 04 – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena Sat Nov 05 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Mon Nov 07 – London, UK – The O2 Tue-Nov 08 – London, UK – The O2 Wed Nov 16 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Little Simz announces biggest-ever Manchester gig ahead of new album
Danny Jones
The queen of British rap, the one and only Little Simz, is coming back to Manchester for what will be her biggest headline show in this city to date.
A whole three years on from her last album No Thank You, the rapper from Islington is heading back out on the road after wrapping up the recording of her sixth studio LP, Lotus.
The first single ‘FREE’ has already dropped, and despite the release date itself being pushed back, news of a new Little Simz tour later this year more than makes up for it, if you ask us.
Little Simz already has two NME Awards to her name for Best British Solo Act and Best British Album, not to mention a BRIT itself for Best New Artist in 2022; oh yeah, and she won the Mercury Prize as well as a BET Hip Hop Award over in the States for ‘Best International Flow’ – all before she turned 30.
With that in mind, you can understand why so many are frothing at the mouth to hear her new record when it does finally drop.
There doesn’t appear to be any problems with the album itself: Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, to use her full name, is simply busier than ever and has just booked a role in a film because, yes, she acts too.
Lotus will now drop on Friday, 6 June, just in time for fans to get learning the lyrics ahead of festival season, which we have no doubt she’ll play a big part in.
You can hear the first taste of the next chapter down below:
Little Simz returns to Manchester for a Co-op Live debut on 16 October with tour supports still yet to be announced.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am for official Co-op members and general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (11 April).
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Georgina Pellant -
16th May 2022 
