Common and Talib Kweli have just announced an Australian tour, hereby confirming 2016 to be, by far, the absolute greatest year in history for hip-hop artists visiting Australia.
The pair are among the absolute most lyrically gifted rappers in history, and the fact that they’re teaming up is beyond anything imaginable. While it’s technically not a co-headline tour, with Kweli (inexplicably) booked as Common’s support, it very obviously IS a co-headline tour to us, considering they are equally talented, equally brilliant and equally worthy of the top slot.
A four time Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar winner, Common last visited Australia in 2014 for the now-defunct hip-hop/R&B festival Soulfest. In 2012 he featured on G.O.O.D Music’s first ever compilation album, Cruel Summer, alongside Kanye, Pusha T, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Kid Cudi, before signing to Def Jam in 2014 and releasing his tenth album, Nobody’s Smiling, which featured Vince Staples, Jhene Aiko, Big Sean and more.
The prolific and endlessly outspoken Kweli, who released a slew of new, free releases last year, was booked to perform at last year’s Soulfest, but it was cancelled at the last minute. On top of the groundbreaking Mos Def collaborative album Black Star, arguably the greatest underground hip-hop record of all time, his many solo albums have time and time again proven him to be one of the most important, insightful, socially aware rappers in history.
The tour will see the pair visit Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, before heading to New Zealand for Common’s first ever headline performance in Wellington.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday March 31.
Common & Talib Kweli 2016 Tour Dates
Friday, May 6: Trak Lounge, Melbourne
Saturday, May 7: Eatons Hill, Brisbane
Sunday, May 8: Thebarton, Adelaide
Monday, May 9: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Wednesday, May 11: TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
