The Akron Civic will mark the “5th Anniversary of the Akron Hip-hop Showcase” Sept. 2, featuring De La Soul, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Jeru tha Damaja, Special Ed, DJ Mick Boogie, and the 2012 “Akron Hip-hop On-line Talent Search” winner: Ashtabula Ohio’s own Ali tha Prince.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins promptly at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $20. The official Showcase after-party will take place upstairs in the Civic immediately after the concert. After-party tickets must be purchased along with your concert tickets.
This year’s Showcase will feature two of the most cutting-edge and influential Hip-hop groups of all time – De La Soul and Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Ismail Al-Amin, executive director of Keepers of the Art, said, “We are very proud to present De La Soul and Pete Rock & CL Smooth to the city. Neither group has ever played Akron before, but many, many people here have been and continue to be influenced by their music.”
Al-Amin goes on to say, “We are very thankful to be five years deep into bringing original cutting-edge entertainment to the city of Akron. When we approached city officials six years ago with the idea, we needed them to understand that we were only interested in the 'true school’ expression of the music, meaning, that we only wanted to showcase those artists who helped lay the foundation for the culture, which is peace, love, unity and having fun, plus those current artists who are carrying on the tradition of the 'true-school.'”
Al-Amin added, “We are very appreciative for the opportunity that the city of Akron has provided us by making sure we have the resources to put on the best show possible. We are also very appreciative for the Akron Community Foundation and the Knight Foundation for their generous support as well. Because of all of their support we have been able to expand the event in breadth and width over the last three years.”
For more information about the concert, visit www.keepersoftheart.com, or give Executive Director Ismail Al-Amin a call at (330) 990-1178.
Reserved Admission is $20, $15, $30 with After Party, and $25 with After Party. Tickets are available on the night of the show and in advance at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office (330) 253-2488 or online at www.akroncivic.com, or TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000.
The full schedule is available at www.akroncivic.com. Additional events will be added throughout the season. Tickets and information are available in person at the Civic box office or by calling (330) 253.2488.
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