SWIDT to open for Jay Rock in Auckland this month

Fresh off the back of his Black Panther featured, global hit ‘Kings Dead (feat Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake)’ and the release of his third album REDEMPTION, Jay Rock is bringing his mind-blowing live show to Australia and New Zealand for the very first time!

Jay Rock plays Meow in Wellington on Friday March 22 and The Powerstation in Auckland on Saturday March 23.

Onehunga hip-hop collective SWIDT have been announced to open for Jay Rock at the Auckland show.

Hailed as one of the slickest West Coast rappers since his debut single 'All My Life (In the Ghetto)', featuring Lil Wayne & will.i.am, dropped in 2008, Top Dawg Entertainment trailblazer Jay Rock has only moved from strength to strength. From early praise as part of the esteemed XXL 2010 Freshman class, Jay Rock has quickly taken his place alongside fellow West Coast contemporaries Kendrick Lamar, J Cole and Schoolboy Q as one of raps most exciting voices.

Johnny Reed McKinzie, Jr., or Jay Rock, was born in 1985 in Watts in Los Angeles, California. This environment profoundly influenced him, and, after turning to rap as an outlet, his roots & life experiences in Watts became a prominent theme in his lyrics.

Attracting the attention of LA tastemakers Top Dawg Entertainment, Jay Rock released his first official album in 2011 FOLLOW ME HOME featuring appearances by Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross, and Ab-Soul. He followed up this release with 2015’s 90059, named after the Watts zip code, which debuted at #16 on the Billboard 200.

Now, back with his third album REDEMPTION, which has earned him two Grammy nominations and a #13 Billboard album chart position, Jay Rock is finally bringing his live show to Australia and New Zealand. Featuring an impressive list of collaborators across the 13-track LP, including SZA, Future, J. Cole, Jeremih, and Kendrick Lamar, Pitchfork has lauded Redemption as "his strongest album yet".

SWIDT - SmokeyGotBeatz, SPYCC, INF, JAMAL and BoomerThaGod - started gaining traction in 2016 with the SWIDT vs. Everybody compilation, growing a cult following with their street hit ‘312’.

A year later they made their mark in the mainstream, drawing critical acclaim for their debut album STONEYHUNGA. The record earned a handful of nominations at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, with SWIDT walking away with awards for ‘Best Hip-Hop Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Group of the Year’.

They recently opened for Six60at the history-making sold-out Western Springs event in February.

Presented by Astral People, Handsome Tours, Complex & Top Dawg Entertainment, don’t miss the chance to see one of one of the West Coast's most dynamic rappers – Jay Rock- debut his live show in Australia and New Zealand.

Astral People, Handsome Tours, Complex & Top Dawg Entertainment present - Jay Rock (US)

The Big Redemption Tour
Australia & New Zealand

Fri 15 March - 256 Wickham, Brisbane
Sat 16 March - Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tue 19 March - Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Fri 22 March - Meow, Wellington
Sat 23 March - Powerstation, Auckland – with special guests, SWIDT

Tickets at handsometours.com

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