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Who Is Anthony Saleh? Meet Kendrick Lamar’s New Manager

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) creator Kendrick Lamar has officially hired Anthony Saleh to serve as his manager. Here’s a quick look at the Nas manager Saleh’s background and professional experience.

It bears recapping at the outset that Kendrick Lamar’s decision to bring on Anthony Saleh as manager arrives about 10 weeks after the 13-time Grammy winner (and 37-time nominee) announced plans to exit Top Dawg Entertainment following the release of his upcoming fifth studio album. In another far-reaching career move, Lamar in March of 2020 launched a company called pgLang , and the business in September of 2021 released the debut album of Lamar’s cousin Baby Keem.

Who Is Anthony Saleh?

Anthony Saleh is a Los Angeles-based manager and financial professional who was executive vice president of Troy Carter’s Atom Factory between 2010 and 2012.

Additionally, Saleh in 2016 signed on as partner at technology investment firm WndrCo and remains part of the Silicon Valley- and Los Angeles-based company, according to his LinkedIn profile. WndrCo has invested in startups like Tracklib, Dapper Labs , and Audioshake , to name just some.

When Did Anthony Saleh Debut His Management Company?

About six years before exiting Atom Factory, as mentioned, Anthony Saleh founded an artist-management company called Emagen Entertainment Group. The C3 Presents veteran Saleh has served as the entity’s CEO during the last 15 years, and Emagen has quietly developed a roster that includes Nas, Gunna , Alina Baraz , producer Turbo, DJ BA.D., and, of course, Kendrick Lamar.

Regarding the scope of Emagen’s services, the business handles “detailed management of artist affairs including day-to-day management and scheduling, talent bookings, tour management, merchandising, assistance with licensing and publishing deals,” and more, according to its website.

The Los Angeles-based agency “is also available to offer assistance with branding and endorsements, development of marketing strategies, plan implementation, and more services on the creation and production spectrum.”

How Long Have Anthony Saleh and Nas Worked Together?

Anthony Saleh began working with Nas at the age of 23, according to Forbes , as the “Patience” artist was making changes to his team and inner circle. Nas subsequently gave Saleh (along with L.A. Reid ) an executive-producer credit on his untitled ninth studio album (2008).

Forbes likewise elaborated upon the role that Saleh played in managing Nas’s finances and helping him to make lucrative investments. It’s worth noting in conclusion that Nas, via his QueensBridge Venture Partners, earned north of $40 million on an investment in cryptocurrency-exchange platform Coinbase earlier this year.

Predictably, given his longtime business relationship with Nas, Anthony Saleh has been tied to QueensBridge. Saleh also founded a company called Emagen Investment Group – which arrived on the scene four years after Emagen Entertainment – and the business has made a number of investments to date, according to Crunchbase. These plays include support for Coinbase in 2013 (the same year in which Nas invested), and the firm has since cashed out of the interest.

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No mention of Future’s career that Anthony Saleh played a role in building? Not sure of their current business relationship, but when Future was at the top of the charts and the biggest rapper on the streets a few years back, Anthony was his manager.

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Kendrick Lamar Now Has The Same Manager As Nas

Kendrick Lamar is switching things up behind the scenes as he readies his forthcoming album, which he announced will be his final release on Top Dawg Entertainment .

The Compton rapper’s latest change is to his inner circle as he is now managed by Anthony Saleh, who also oversees the career of fellow Hip Hop heavyweight Nas .

The news was revealed in a recent music industry roundup on HITS Daily Double , as spotted by TIDAL’s Chief Content Officer and veteran rap journalist Elliott Wilson.

“Kendrick’s new manager touts hip-hop superstar’s first U.S. live show in years with huge Vegas engagement. Bet everything on the K. Dot,” the blurb reads, referencing Kendrick’s headlining performance at Day N Vegas festival on Friday (November 12).

“Didn’t realize my guy Anthony Saleh @Dude_Br0 was managing Kendrick Lamar,” Wilson tweeted on Monday (November 8) along with a clip of the story. “Wow. Big moves. Congrats.”

Anthony Saleh is a veteran music executive and the founder and CEO of Emagen Entertainment Group, an artist management firm that boasts Nas, Gunna and multi-platinum producer Turbo (Lil Baby & Gunna “Drip Too Hard”) on its roster.

He became Nas’ manager when he was just 23 years old and has worked with the rap icon for over a decade. Together, they launched the venture capitalist company Queensbridge Venture Partners , through which they’ve invested millions in startups such as Dropbox, Lyft and Coinbase.

“I want [my artists] to have complete control over their creative input and allow me to do what I do best, which is run the business and sell whatever is created,” Saleh said in a 2016 Forbes interview . “If I have to be involved in the creative, I’m not as effective with the business.”

Since the start of his illustrious career, Kendrick Lamar has been managed by former TDE co-president and producer/director Dave Free , who introduced a young K. Dot to the label’s founder, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, in the 2000s.

It’s unclear whether Dave Free remains involved in Kendrick’s career in a managerial capacity, although the two continue to work together as the co-founders of pgLang , the creative company they launched in March 2020. Kendrick and Dave also form the award-winning video directing duo The Little Homies.

related news

Kendrick Lamar Announces Next Album Will End TDE Career: 'See You Soon Enough'

August 20, 2021

Naturally, news of Kendrick Lamar sharing the same manager as Nas lead to chatter surrounding a potential crossover between Anthony Saleh’s clients. “Need that Nas & Kendrick collab… Hit-Boy on production,” one person wrote under Elliott Wilson’s tweet.

King Kendrick and Nas Escobar have yet to link up on wax, but the excitement over a photo of the pair hanging out shortly after the launch of pgLang proves the enduring appeal of a collaboration between the revered lyricists.

Fans also continue to await word on Kendrick Lamar’s new album , the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN.

[ Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named Future and YG as clients of Anthony Saleh’s management firm. The article has since been updated. ]

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Nas’ Manager Anthony Aymen Saleh Joins C3 Presents

Nas manager Anthony Aymen Saleh is joining production, management and promotion company C3 Presents, according to  Billboard . Saleh will become the company's Executive Vice President of Management.

C3 has grown to become one of the largest festival promoters in the country in recent years, producing Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits in addition to more than 1,000 shows in venues across the country. The company also deals in artist management and as a partner in Big Day Out Australia as well as international Lollapalooza events in Chile and Brazil.

“After much thought and prayer, I've decided to take my talents to C3,” Anthony, who had previously worked at the Atom Factory with artists such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Toni Braxton, said in a statement to Billboard . “I'm extremely excited about creating a true full-service company on the foundation the C's have built through the live concert business. I’m really looking forward to merging our relationships and joining the C3 family.”

Saleh was the executive producer of Nas' 2008 album Untitled , and also booked the rapper's 2007 European Hip-Hop Is Dead tour.

“We welcome Anthony Saleh in to our C3 management family," said C3's Charlie Walker. "His experience in managing careers and forward thinking work in the progressive tech movement will play a pivotal role in the continuous growth of our company."

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Over the last 15 years, Nas has visualized the show he wants, and Gabriel “G-Code” Zardes has helped bring it to the stage as a member of the icon’s management team in every capacity. The ​​general manager of Emagen Entertainment Group has been such an integral part of Nas’ journey, he’s seen how the Queens legend inspired the biggest stars to show their fandom.

“[Will Smith] said, ‘I wish I could come out onstage,’ and I told him he should introduce Nas that night. He walked out onstage, and when the lights came on, he couldn’t say any words because of the crowd going crazy,” Zardes tells REVOLT. “He was chilling, but when ‘Made You Look’ came on, he took his shirt off, ran out there, and started going crazy.”

In this installment of “Tour Tales,” one of Nas’ closest managers discusses his perfectionism onstage, that time the living legend skipped the Super Bowl to perform with JAY-Z, and how he’s saved a few Nas shows without fans knowing. Read our exclusive conversation below.

When did you first start going on tour with Nas? What were your earliest roles?

My boy was managing him full time at the time. He went on “The Rock The Bells Tour” in 2008. I was around doing whatever. Toward the end of 2008, he had some solo shows. He had a booklet that had my name under road manager. I had no idea what went into being a road manager.

What were your earliest impressions of how he put his show together?

He’s a perfectionist. He talks about the show he wants, and then he’ll go out and do the show. It’s on everybody else to keep up. Sometimes he won’t even rehearse, and his performance will be exactly how he wanted it. He will notice something that was off that nobody else saw. Over the years, I started being in a lot of shows as the guy with the LA hat on because everybody else has on Mets hats. So, my LA hat stands out, so he can see me whether I’m in the crowd or on the side of the stage. What he would do is look for me, and I’ll just give him a head nod or something to tell him he’s too loud on the mic . I can mimic his entire show from ad-libs to words he won’t say on the mic — including crowd participation and everything — because he’s such a perfectionist that he does everything the way he wants to hear it. Early on, I also noticed that a lot of people around him weren’t telling him anything. I pride myself on being straight up, so I’ll say to him, “Yo, it could have been better. Yo, this was off. You were yelling.” And he respects that more.

What were some incidents at Nas’ shows where you saved the day?

There was a show we did at the University of Toronto — uh, I think it was the University of Toronto — and our DJ couldn’t make it. Nas was like, “Man, we’re probably going to have to cancel the show.” I was like, “I know the show, and I got Serato on my laptop.” I plugged it up, and I knew the whole set list. I knew everything. So, I deejayed the entire show. Toward the end, he said, “Play that record how we normally do it.” There’s a record where our DJ normally transitioned into old parts of his records where he’s saying “Nas” at different times and in different ways. I was like, “I ain’t got it.” He laughed and told the crowd, “That’s my man back there. He’s not really a DJ.” The crowd wasn’t booing, but sort of laughing booing. I said, “Hey, man, I got a mic too. My mic is on” (laughs). I played the next record, and the track had scratches in it. So, I started making my hands look like I was scratching the record. He was like, “Oh, alright. You doing your thing.”

There was another moment when we did Art Basel in 2011. It was supposed to be some cool little artsy thing, but they opened up the back part of the venue and made the audience space bigger. We decided to get Leon Mobley, a legendary percussionist. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I had this DJ app on the iPad with real turntables and everything, and I happened to have the whole set on there. I put it behind the CDJs, plugged it up, and started DJing the records. In the middle of the show, Nas asked for a canvas, and then he just started painting onstage. He was smoking in one hand with the mic in the other hand, and then he started painting. We stopped the show for a little bit, and they auctioned off the painting in the middle of the show. It sold for $14,000.

When you’re a legend, you can perform at almost any artist’s show. What was it like seeing Nas and JAY-Z come together at Carnegie Hall in 2012?

We were in Indianapolis at the Madden Bowl, which is always the day before the Super Bowl. We did the Madden Bowl the morning before and flew up to Indy. JAY’s people reached out and said they wanted him to come to perform at JAY’s show. We didn’t know if it would be the day of the Super Bowl. It was going to be the day after the Super Bowl. The morning of the Super Bowl, we got tickets and everything, thinking we were going to the game. But we had to go, and as the Super Bowl was happening, we were rehearsing (laughs). But we killed the show. It was an amazing moment.

What were JAY and Nas’ interactions like at that show backstage?

They have respect for each other , and they laugh and joke. They talk to each other about music, life, and everything. They’re really in tune with everything. They’re music buffs who are really in tune with the music. So, they’ll be trading stories every time. I’ve been around them, and they’ll just be like, “Yo, remember this time? They had this record.” They got their relationship. They’re both private guys.

Another legend Nas performed with was Will Smith, who joined him onstage in Philly at Electric Factory in August 2011. Please tell me how that even came to be.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Will Smith’s best friend, Charlie Mack, hit me that day and said, “We saw y’all in town for a show.” I told him to pull up. I had his passes and everything on me. Before the show, Nas didn’t want to be inside the building. He wanted to stay on the bus and just chill on the tour bus. I never met Will, and as I walked through the parking lot, Will walked up and said, “Gabe, what’s up, man?” I told him, “What’s up, man? I’m actually about to go see Nas. Do you want to come?”

Usually, I’ll hit Nas before anybody comes. I’ll say, “Yo, I’m headed your way with such and such.” But, this time, he wasn’t responding.” Will came on, and they chopped it up and everything. Will told him he loved the Distant Relatives album. We were on “The Distant Relatives Tour” with Damian Marley . He was going through the songs he liked. Later he said, “I wish I could come out onstage,” and I told him he should introduce him that night. He walked out onstage, and when the lights came on, he couldn’t say anything because the crowd was going crazy. Then Nas came out and dapped him up and started performing. He was chilling, but when “Made You Look” came on, he took his shirt off, ran out there, and started going crazy. We had the live band going crazy. He didn’t even want to get off the stage.

What is your favorite tour experience?

It would have to be “The Distant Relatives Tour.” We were still recording the album while we were touring. We were doing a whole bunch of records. That was a pivotal moment because I was literally going from the show to the studio, and I’d be in the studio with him all day. He works early, so I’ll leave that studio and go to the studio at night with Damon and his crew. We toured like crazy. We were in New Zealand, Australia, South America, and all over.

Over the years, what has been in Nas’ rider?

It has changed. It used to be stuff we never touched, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (laughs). There were also Turkey wraps, fruit, Patrón, and Grey Goose. We used to give the Grey Goose to one of Damian’s right hands. He used to always come saying, “I need that Goose.” We were on Patrón patrol, and we would do shots of it. We did a show in London; it was Damian’s birthday, and [Amy Winehouse] came. I knew about her drug issues, but I ignored the alcoholism. He and I would do a shot right by the stage every time we did a show. We were in the back, and she came in, and I asked her if she wanted something. Nas motioned to me, but I didn’t pick [it] up, and I poured her some. We started the show, and she was on the side of the stage dancing. Then I realized the crowd could see her dancing and having a good time and everything. The whole time, she’ll come around, and be like, “What’s up? What do you have?” I was pouring Patrón all day long. I didn’t know. When everybody saw her dancing, they’d say, “Go get Gabe.”

How has your role changed?

It went into manager around 2014 or 2015. I do everything. My partner Anthony Saleh is someone I got in the game with. He’s the big dog. There wasn’t a conversation between us about splitting responsibilities. He just started sending everything my way, and we split the duties. I travel with him too. So, I started doing a little bit of everything. I hired a tour manager some years back.

What is coming up for you and Nas in 2023?

We have a big show on Feb. 24 at Madison Square Garden — “The Trilogy Series” with King’s Disease 1-3 . After that, we’ll probably be touring again in the States and Europe. We’re just figuring it out.

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What’s it like touring with wu-tang young dirty bastard filled us in.

When Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard tragically passed away in 2004, he left rather large shoes to fill behind.

Who could possibly replace one of the most iconic, unique and electric voices in Hip-Hop?

Thankfully, his son, Young Dirty Bastard, aka Bar-Sun Jones, was ready and raring to go.

“I basically got assigned to Wu-Tang when I was around 17,” Jones told the New York Post in an exclusive interview. “My first tour, they came to Atlanta and were like, ‘Yo, come on stage’ and I didn’t know what the heck I was doing at the time.”

“I went up and killed it. And ever since then, I just kept going.”

17 years later, Jones is still going strong with Wu-Tang who are gearing up for their ‘N.Y. State of Mind Tour’ with co-headliner Nas.

“Get ready for that classic experience,” Jones said about the tour. “Y’all know all the words. What I love most about the live shows though is seeing parents hand down the music to their children.”

In YDB’s case, that’s quite literal as he takes over on tracks his father made famous.

“My favorite has to be ‘Shimmy, Shimmy Ya.'” he shared. “‘Brooklyn Zoo’ too. I perform six to seven songs each show.”

However, Jones isn’t a robotic clone of his father onstage.

“Yes, it is my father’s music you guys are hearing me perform,” he pointed out. “But it’s definitely Bar-Sun Jones performing up there. There’s more energy. I might jump in the air, do a a split or a backflip.”

And now that they have the first show of the tour out of the way — Wu Tang performed with Run The Jewels in Colorado on Sept. 8 — the Staten Island legends are gearing for their huge show at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 15 with Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Maxwell , Sean Paul, EPMD and more.

“MSG is the big one, especially for old school hip hop fans. It is filled with old memories. And the fact that I get to be a part of that is like so amazing.”

The tour isn’t the only major project on Jones’ calendar though. In addition to working as an entrepreneur, he’s also a screenwriter.

“I have a screenplay called ‘Reunites,'” he told the New York Post. “It’s about a hockey team that is less fortunate. They just want a shot to be included in society instead of being pushed on to the other side of the fence.”

Of course, we had one more question.

Our team had to know what Young Dirty Bastard would name his son. Younger Dirty Bastard? Youngest Dirty Bastard?

He answered our silly query politely.

“His name probably would be Future Dirty. Or Generational Dirt.”

Wu-Tang Clan will headline at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sept. 27 and Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Sept. 29.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Wu-Tang Clan and Nas 2023 tour schedule

A complete calendar including all North American concert dates, venues and links to buy tickets for all upcoming ‘N.Y. State of Mind Tour’ shows can be found below.

‘Hot 97 Hip Hop Forever’ at Madison Square Garden

Before the tour gets underway, Wu-Tang will headline at  MSG with Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige .

They’ll be joined by fellow legends  Maxwell ,  EPMD ,  Tyrese  and  Sean Paul  at the one-night-only event curated by the one and only Funk Flex.

If you want to grab tickets to the historic concert before it’s too late, you can  snag seats here .

Wu-Tang Clan members

Although the Staten Island collective has been together since 1992, there has been little turnover in the group’s history other than the untimely passing of Russell Tyrell Jones aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard in 2004.

As a quick refresher, here’s who you can expect to see when Wu-Tang performs:

RZA  (Robert Fitzgerald Diggs) GZA  (Gary Grice) Method Man  (Clifford Smith) Raekwon  (Corey Woods) Ghostface Killah  (Dennis Coles) Inspectah Deck  (Jason Hunter) U-God  (Lamont Jody Hawkins) Masta Killa  (Elgin Turner) Cappadonna  (Darryl Hill) Young Dirty Bastard  (Bar-Sun Unique Jones)

You can get a closer look at the group’s history via their biographical Hulu series “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.” The show wrapped its third and final season earlier this year.

Nas new music

The Grammy-winning Nas is riding high after a busy past few years.

In 2020, Nas released the 13-track  “The King’s Disease”  with producer Hitboy and subsequently won his first Grammy in the process.

Featuring soulful samples, tight flows and top-notch verses from Charlie Wilson, Big Sean, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, Anderson .Paak and more, the record set the stage for  “The King’s Disease II.”

The 2021 album was just as well received as the first entry in the “King’s Disease” canon and nabbed a nomination for Best Rap Album but lost to Tyler, The Creator’s “Call Me If You Get Lost.”

Finally, in November 2022, Nas’  “The King’s Disease III,”  the first album in the trilogy to not include any guest appearances, dropped.

If you want to hear all three, you can check out the “King’s Disease” trilogy  here .

Huge hip-hop tours in 2023

2023 has been a great year for live hip-hop.

Here are just five of the biggest tours that should be circled on your calendar these next few months.

•  Drake with 21 Savage

•  50 Cent with Busta Rhymes

•  Doja Cat with Ice Spice

•  Playboi Carti

•  Travis Scott

Who else is touring? Check out our list of the  52 biggest concert tours in 2023 here  to find out.

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Nasir Jones took himself from the Queensbridge projects to become a worldwide star by creating some of the most influential Hip Hop records of all time.

The son of a Jazz musician, Nas was born with a musical thirst, one that was channeled into hip hop under the influence of neighbor and friend ‘Ill Will’. Even after dropping out of high school, Nas continued to educate himself, utilizing his intellectual life view in his rhymes as he began to garner attention from the likes of producer Large Professor. At just 18, Nas recorded a stand-out verse on Main Source’s ‘Live at The Barbeque’ propelling him to new heights and even securing him a record deal from Columbia under the management of 3rd Bass’ ‘MC Serch’.

With the hype building, Nas was hailed as the best MC since ‘Rakim’ and delivered a certified classic album with his debut, Illmatic. Nas’ complex and insightful rhymes met with world class production and made for a hip hop album unlike anything before it. The album received five mics from ‘The Source’ and is now considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

The album however, did not translate into commercial success and with mounting pressure from his label, Nas began to slide towards a more mainstream sound for the next run of albums which included ‘I Am…’ and ‘Nastradamus’.

It took a now legendary beef with fellow New York rapper Jay Z to set him back on the right track. Nas countered Jay’s ‘The Takeover’ with the lethal diss song ‘Ether’ which fuelled the release of the ‘Stillmatic’ album and re-secured Nas’ place as one of Hip Hop’s premier talents. He has maintained this success through follow up albums and huge festival appearances and in 2014 a documentary was released documenting the importance of ‘Illmatic’ and Nas on Hip Hop’s history.

Live reviews

I caught my favourite rapper Nas at XOYO. It was my first time seeing him perform live after years of listening to his music from the other side of the world, so I was stoked to finally get the opportunity. Supported by DJ Green Lantern, the intimate show was filled with Nas fans young and old in a basement like setting, giving the illusion of an old school underground Hip Hop show. Nas ran through tracks from his eleventh studio album ‘Life Is Good’ but it was clear his intent was to take us on a journey back to where it all started. Going as far back as ‘Illmatic’, his first studio album to perform classics like ‘Represent’ ‘If I Ruled the World’ and ‘Hate Me Now’. He tested his fans by holding out the mic on various occasions to see if we knew the lyrics - don’t worry Nas, we got you! We recited the lyrics as we bounced to the beat of each track with nothing but love and energy in the atmosphere as Hip Hop took back the night.

Nas displayed his humble, witty demeanour in the scattered intervals of the show where he shared stories with the crowd. At one point he took requests, giving us the power to decide what we wanted to hear. The New York native gave a surreal performance of the 2001 hit ‘One Mic’, closing his eyes as he poured out the lyrics to a mesmerised audience. He even took the time out to sign CDs and other memorabilia during his sold out 90 minute performance. This came after the lyrist caught sight of an Illmatic vinyl, stopping him in mid-sentence and proving that he had real supporters over in London. I was ecstatic to get two albums signed that I brought in anticipation but realistically did not think I would.

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NAS's performance simply-put, is a flash-back throughout the years and albums. If I Ruled The World (Imagine That), my most memorable song from his set. It was a chilled summer evening, at Summer Set Music Festival back in 2012. Crowd was buzzing with lighters in the air, speakers blasting and NAS putting all he had into that mic. Wearing a blue and white shirt and jeans, with a tiny bit of bling and his shades, he electrified the stage. Coming out and getting the crowd pumped by saying, "Put Your Hands Up" and, "I love the smoke ya'll putting up in the air" often. Beats spewed out of the speakers with no vocals, NAS actually rapped all his song! No lip-syncing, no background vocalists, just him and the crowd. Now of course the die-hard NAS fans knew every word and rapped along with NAS, as for me, I rapped what I remembered, but it didn't matter how much of a fan you were or were not when you saw his performance. Because when he finished you came out a die-hard fan and a satisfied concert-goer. Since NAS doesn't really put out much new stuff, its easy to catch up on his music. So you can enjoy his performance to the fullest, every time.

Not a fan of the venue (United Center). Nas requires a smaller venue bc his lyrics, not his energy, take precedence. The UC is for a mega popstar with a large gross allegiant fanbase (e.g. Taylor Swift, Kanye West). There's no intimacy amongst fans at the UC, either. Overall, it's a terrible place for most artists.

Nas is my favorite rapper hands down. Id love for him to perform fan hits, not billboard hits. I wish he were as daring a performer as he is a rapper. Most Nas fans dont like "Hate Me Now" or "I Know I Can" but bc theyre his biggest singles, they'll be played instead of "The Rise and Fall", or "Take It In Blood", "Blaze a 50" or how about "Wanna Play Rough?". Maybe Chicago's an awful city for an artist. It's ironic that Nas's fearless lyrics and depth of content is suppressed by his entertaining stage presence fueled by the need for "Mass Appeal".

This was one of the most epic events I've EVER attended! Nas by himself is enough! But, couple this legendary icon with the infamous Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Wallah, magic has taken place! He performed his 1st album with the Symphony in chronological order which was so melodic. Then once he finished illmatic the symphony cleared the stage and gave a helluva encore by performing all his mainstream hits and even a couple of his newer tracks from Nasir ( his newest album to date). To say I was pleased is an understatement! I was enthralled!!! Nas will forever be a class act in my eyes!

I was blessed with the opportunity to see Nasir, DMX and Lil Kim @ the Colliseum (WVU Mountaineers basketball court)in Morgantown,WV... I was right up in front row at center stage to hear one of my Top 5 favorite Hip-Hop artists and it was GREAT! Didn't care much for Lil Kim but Nasir and X made the show worth it. I got the opportunity to throw my demo up to Nas and it was taken backstage... I just wonder if he ever took the time to listen to it... Definitely a memorable concert for me

Nas was EVERYTHING!!!!! This was my first time having the opportunity to be blessed with watching him perform live and he didn't disappoint! He had energy from the beginning to the end of his set, taking us down a road on memory lane with his classics and keeping us current with his new joints, accompanied by a live band and background vocals of the late great Natalie Cole's nephew. AMAZING!!! I can't wait for another chance to see him again!

It was amazing! The opening act was a DJ which was great because it kept the crowd going, without having an opening act that nobody was really interested in. Nas was great, he performed all the songs people would have wanted to hear and he had a live drummer and DJ which made the whole experience better. I wish the show had started earlier so that he could have been on for longer.

I've been a big Nas fan since the late '90s. I've seen him live 3 times and this is the show I've wanted to see. This was Nas kicking it confidant and on point with no backups. The venue was perfect for his style of rap, not an arena but big enough to fit all his fans. Pair it with the amazing documentary and it was one of the best events I've been to period.

Nas is Amazing!!!! I love how personal he is with his fans and hes still sexy as ever. Wish he woulda did Ether the. Loved the new artist Nick Grant and Wale really rocked the crowd!!!! Dissapointed Lauren Hill couldn't make it but looking forward to seeing both of them really soon. Can't wait till the next show.

He is so AMAZING!! Great performer. So many classics, i could watch him live all day everyday lol! Banger after banger. Definitely worth every penny! Watching him just made me fall even more in love with his music especially with all the garbage hip hop out these days.

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Past concerts

All Points East

Electric Picnic

Nas - Locus Festival

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Nas tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Nas in concert? Find information on all of Nas’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Nas is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 20 concerts across 12 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• Los Angeles (LA) (45)
• New York (NYC) (32)
• Denver (25)
• Las Vegas (22)
• SF Bay Area (22)

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• Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley (80)
• Wu-Tang Clan (71)
• Ms. Lauryn Hill (48)
• Faith Evans (42)

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Wu-Tang Clan, Nas Join Forces for ‘NY State of Mind Tour’

By Kat Bouza

Hip-hop titans Wu-Tang Clan and Nas are hitting the road this fall, bringing a taste of the Big Apple to fans across North America with their joint NY State of Mind Tour.

The co-headlining tour kicks off Aug. 30 in St. Louis and includes stops in Atlanta, Tampa and Dallas before wrapping Oct. 4 with a performance at Los Angeles’ historic Hollywood Bowl.

Nas recently performed a career-spanning retrospective at the Grammys to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of his 2002 album,  God’s Son . Wu-Tang, meanwhile, was recently honored by the Library of Congress when the group’s 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was chosen for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.

Tickets for the NY State of Mind Tour go on sale Tuesday, April 26 at 10 a.m. local time. (Some dates offer a presale exclusive to American Express or Citi cardholders. More information can be found via Live Nation or Citi Entertainment .)

NY State of Mind Tour

August 30 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre September 1 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center September 2 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre September 3 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre September 4 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage September 7 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center September 8 – Camden, NJ @ Waterfront Music Pavilion September 9 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre September 10 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center September 13 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center September 14 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach September 16 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live September 17 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek September 18 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion September 20 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre September 21 – Tampa, FL @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre September 22 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre September 24 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center September 25 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater September 26 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion September 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion September 30 – Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre October 1 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena October 2 – Wheatland, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre October 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl

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Nas embarks on a nostalgic journey: The Illmatic 30th anniversary tour

Hip-hop icon Nas is set to take fans down memory lane with his upcoming tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his seminal album, “Illmatic.” This tour promises to be more than just a series of concerts; it’s a homage to the album that shaped a genre and a generation.

Nas, born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones on September 14, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York, is widely recognized as one of the most influential rappers in the history of hip-hop. His early career began in the late 1980s when he started recording demos under the guidance of Large Professor and adopted the moniker "Nasty Nas"

His breakthrough came with a guest verse on the song “Live at the Barbeque” by Main Source in 1991, which showcased his unique blend of street knowledge and lyrical prowess2. This appearance led to his debut single “Halftime,” which was featured on the soundtrack for the film “Zebrahead” in 19923. The single’s success helped Nas secure a deal with Columbia Records3.

Nas’s debut album, “Illmatic,” released in 1994, received universal acclaim and is often cited as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time1. It featured production from some of the most respected figures in East Coast hip-hop and painted a vivid picture of inner-city life in New York with its complex wordplay and storytelling4.

Following the success of “Illmatic,” Nas’s subsequent album “It Was Written” propelled him into mainstream success with hits like “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” featuring Lauryn Hill1. Despite facing criticism for some of his later works being inconsistent or too commercially oriented, Nas’s early contributions to hip-hop have cemented his status as a pivotal figure in the genre

A timeless classic turns 30

In 1994, a young Nasir Jones introduced the world to “Illmatic,” an album that would become a cornerstone of hip-hop. Now, 30 years later, Nas revisits this masterpiece, performing it in its entirety to audiences across the globe. The tour is not just a celebration of the album’s anniversary but also a testament to its enduring legacy.

The tour that’s more than just music

Nas’s journey will kick off overseas, with fans in the UK and Europe getting the first glimpse of the anniversary performances. The tour will then make its way to the United States, where American audiences eagerly await the return of the rap legend to the stage. Each performance is set to be an immersive experience, transporting fans back to the golden era of hip-hop.

Illmatic live: A rare experience

For many, the chance to hear “Illmatic” live is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The raw energy and lyrical prowess that Nas brings to the stage are unmatched. Fans can expect to hear classics like “NY State of Mind” and “The World Is Yours” with the same passion and intensity as when they first dropped.

The impact on hip-hop culture

“Illmatic” is more than an album; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Its influence on hip-hop is immeasurable, inspiring countless artists and shaping the sound of a genre. Nas’s tour is not only a celebration of his work but also a recognition of the album’s impact on music and society.

Join the celebration

As Nas hits the road for this monumental tour, fans old and new are invited to join in the celebration. It’s a chance to witness history, to be part of a moment that honors one of hip-hop’s most influential works. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see Nas perform “Illmatic” live – a tribute to the album that continues to resonate 30 years later.

This article was originally published on rhymejunkie.com as Nas embarks on a nostalgic journey: The Illmatic 30th anniversary tour .

Nas goes live on-stage in…

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Nas x Wu-Tang Clan = NY State of Mind

Nas and Wu-Tang Clan are teaming up for the “NY State of Mind” Tour, the year’s most talked-about rap show and one that’s coming to roughly two dozen markets across America in the coming months – and one you can catch live and in person, thanks to the amazing tickets on this website! But since we’re talking about two of the most enduring talents in hip hop history here, you know that the best sets won’t last for long.

So if you want to catch these titans performing songs like “If I Ruled the World,” “Protect Ya Neck,” “C.R.E.A.M.,” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” back to back, then check the Nas Tour schedule below and get your tickets today!

Thursday, August 29th, 2024 8:00 PM

Nas & Las Vegas Philharmonic Encore Theatre At Wynn Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, August 31st, 2024 8:00 PM

Sunday, september 1st, 2024 8:00 pm, friday, november 15th, 2024 6:45 pm.

Nas Royal Albert Hall London, United Kingdom

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 Nas Drops “Magic 3” on His 50th Birthday: The Grand Finale of an Epic Trilogy

In a monumental celebration of his 50th birthday, Nas , the iconic wordsmith of Hip-Hop, gifts the world with the grand finale of a remarkable trilogy – “Magic 3.” This magnum opus, brought to life by Nas’ longtime collaborator and production maestro, Hit-Boy, comprises 15 brand-new tracks. As the final chapter in their legendary partnership, “Magic 3” solidifies the duo’s status as one of Hip-Hop’s most prolific and dynamic pairings.

This project marks the sixth album crafted by Nas and Hit-Boy in just three years, following their previous triumphs in the “Magic” series. The saga began with “Magic” dropping on Christmas Eve in 2021, followed by the explosive release of “Magic 2” this past July, featuring heavyweight collaborators like 50 Cent and 21 Savage .

What makes “Magic 3” even more extraordinary is that it lands on Nas ‘ 50th birthday, aligning perfectly with the golden jubilee of Hip-Hop itself.

True to his word, Nas teased fans with a cryptic video captioned “The Finale” on his social media, leaving the Hip-Hop community in anticipation. The official announcement of “Magic 3” arrived on September 12th, 2023, adding to the mystique surrounding this project.

Throughout their collaborative journey, Nas and Hit-Boy have gifted fans well over 70 tracks, featuring remarkable guest appearances from the likes of A$AP Rocky , Eminem , Lauryn Hill , and The Firm . Their exceptional streak of high-quality music has undeniably etched its name into the annals of Hip-Hop history, leaving fans wondering about Nas’ next move in his illustrious career.

As we eagerly dive into “Magic 3,” here’s a glimpse of the tracklist, promising a sonic journey like no other:

1. “Fever”

2. “TSK”

3. “Superhero Status”

4. “I Love This Feeling”

5. “No Tears”

6. “Never Die” Feat. Lil Wayne

7. “Pretty Young Girl”

8. “Based On True Events”

9. “Based On True Events Pt. 2”

10. “Sitting With My Thoughts”

11. “Blue Bentley”

12. “Jodeci Member”

13. “Speechless Pt. 2”

14. “Japanese Soul Bar”

15. “1-800-Nas-&-Hit”

With “Magic 3,” Nas and Hit-Boy invite us to witness the culmination of an extraordinary era in Hip-Hop, leaving us with a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead in the legendary Nasir Jones’ storied career.

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8 Keys to Becoming a Successful Tour Manager

Managing tours can be wildly difficult. It’s not for the faint of heart.

The days and nights can be long, and it’s easy to become discouraged out on the road.

But if you follow a set of guiding principles, your job will become easier, people will respect you more, your team will achieve great results, and you’ll go farther in your career.

I’ve been a tour manager for the last 12 years, and I want to share with you 8 things that helped me succeed along the way.

1. Secure Your Job

First, it’s important to ​ secure your job ​.

I always tell young tour managers, “You can’t effectively take care of other people unless you take care of yourself first.”

And that starts the moment you get contacted about managing a tour.

You need to know exactly what you’re expected to do and how much you’re going to be compensated if you complete the job and do it well.

This concept of knowing how much you’ll be paid may seem elementary to you, but I’ve seen so many touring crew (including myself) get so caught up in how cool the job is that they forget to clarify how much money they’re going to make.

If you jump into managing a tour without first clarifying your job description and compensation, you’re setting yourself up for future disappointment and possible resentment - forcing you to regret working your dream job.

2. Learn the Artist’s Vision

The second key to becoming a successful tour manager is to ​ learn the artist’s vision for the tour.

You can better prepare for a tour when you know the overall vision.

This includes the whole touring process - travel styles, production, personnel, spending, culture, vibe, etc.

And I recommend learning all of this before you start doing any planning, budgeting or advancing.

When you learn the artist's vision, you’ll be able to make quick and easy decisions about what has to happen in order to execute each show.

Plus, you’ll be able to anticipate what your artist needs before they even realize they need it.

3. Communicate Well

The third key to becoming a successful tour manager is to always ​ communicate well ​. Great tour managers are great communicators. On the phone, over email, and in person.

There are three general guiding principles that I like to follow when communicating in my job: be quick, be concise, and be considerate.

These principles are especially important to remember while sending emails, but they also carry into other means of communication as well.

First, let’s talk about being ​ quick ​.

Respond quickly when someone reaches out to you.

We’re working in a fast paced, constantly changing industry and our communication should reflect that.

No, you don’t always have to be on your phone or in front of a computer, but don’t neglect your email or texts about an important subject.

The longer you wait to communicate about a problem, the bigger it can grow. Second, be ​ concise ​. Get to the point. Be direct.

You’re going to be very busy on the road, and the people you’ll be talking with are just as busy, if not busier.

Managers, agents, and labels have rosters full of artists that have different schedules and teams to attend to.

So be concise, but don’t leave out anything important - which may seem contradictory.

You’ll need to learn to filter through the information, communicating only what is essential.

It’s also important to learn how to read and write emails without tone.

Being short ≠ being rude.

Most people aren’t being rude when sending an email that says a single sentence like, “Please send.”

Being concise helps us maximize our time. Sometimes that means sending a really short email.

But being concise does not give you permission to intentionally be a jerk.

Even if you’re at odds with someone you’re working with, rude communication is always looked down upon and will never fare well for you.

Third, be ​ considerate ​.

Think about these things when communicating to your team:

Who is my audience?

Does this person need to know all of this information?

How should I communicate with this person?

Consider who you’re communicating with. Are you communicating with your crew? Your manager? Your artist? A venue representative?

For example, you may only need to communicate a schedule to your crew, but you may want to communicate every detail to your manager.

You may want to make sure your artist’s personal email isn’t copied onto a chain with the venue staff when going over production details.

One of the most important things to learn when communicating is how to communicate with your artist.

You need to learn how ​ they ​ like communicating.

Every artist and team you’ll work with will communicate differently. So you’ll need to learn how everyone likes to communicate and then adhere to those standards.

Tour managers and production managers are typically expected to be better communicators than other types of touring professionals.

But no matter what job you have on the road, if you communicate well with all parties, people will love working with you.

Remember to be quick, be concise, and be considerate in all of your future communication.

4. Follow Up

Key number four, ​ follow up on ​ all ​ show details. You can’t assume promoters, production personnel, and venue representatives will always know what you need.

I didn’t learn this until I made a ​ huge ​ mistake.

About a year into my career as a tour manager, I got a call to go on the road with an artist.

On my first day as the new tour manager with this artist, we showed up around 10AM to headline a large US festival.

Everyone was excited because it was a warm, gorgeous day and we were about to play for over 10,000 people.

Then the stage manager brought me some bad news. There were no instruments on the stage, backstage, or waiting for us on a truck.

We had flown to this show, and typically when you fly to a show you have to rent backline locally.

I realized in that moment I had forgotten to follow up on ordering backline for the show.

Through some quick and creative problem solving, we found the right instruments and saved the show.

But unfortunately, my first weekend with a new artist quickly became my last weekend with that artist.

If only I had followed up on the backline order.

Not following up on that ONE detail cost me my job, over $20,000 of income that summer, and an important business relationship.

Don’t make the same mistake I did.

Even if everything has already been confirmed weeks in advance, following up on all the details 24-48 hours before the show will help keep small items from falling through the cracks.

5. Stay Organized

The fifth key to becoming a successful tour manager is to ​ stay organized. A huge part of being a great tour manager is knowing how to organize the flow of many different types of information.

At times you might feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant with the amount of information being thrown at you, but you have to stay organized.

There are many different project management apps you can use to stay organized, but I recommend simply using Google Sheets.

It’s free, it’s customizable, it’s collaborative, and it’s in the cloud - meaning you always have the information you need at your fingertips.

In case you’ve got an event coming up and you don’t have a good advance sheet, I want to share mine with you.

I’ve organized arena-level tours, mini-festivals, single shows, and live stream events all with the same sheet.

Click here , download it, and customize it how you want by clicking File > Make a copy.

6. Keep a Great Attitude

Key number six, ​ keep a great attitude! No one wants to be around someone who’s a drag on the road.

In our ​ How to be a Tour Manager ​ course, I teach about what it means to be a good “hang” on the road.

Touring is extremely interpersonal. You’re always surrounded by people you have to live and work with.

How you interact with others and how you respond to tough situations on the road will ultimately determine whether or not you will be hired again by that artist.

Touring professionals who are in extreme demand typically have good attitudes and are enjoyable to be around.

I said it earlier, touring is not for the faint of heart. There will be days on the road where you will just want to scream (or cry).

Learning how to be extremely optimistic and keep your stress levels in check even in tough situations will be a major key to your future successes on the road.

7. Don’t be afraid of conflict

You may strive to always have a good attitude, but ​ you can’t be afraid of conflict ​. That’s key number seven.

I’ll be the first to admit, engaging in conflict is not fun. But it’s absolutely necessary! Because nothing great can ever be done without engaging in some form of conflict.

You can’t hike up a mountain, lose weight, win a ball game, learn something new, or manage a great tour without engaging and navigating through some type of conflict.

The word conflict has a bad connotation; it gets a bad rap. But did you know that conflict within a team can actually be ​ healthy ​?

If you’ve built trust with your team and your team respects each other, conflict becomes more than just an argument.

With trust present, conflict ultimately becomes the pursuit of truth or the pursuit of the best possible outcome in a scenario.

So if you are in pursuit of the best possible outcome in a scenario, why wouldn’t you confront someone if they’re hurting the vision or the goal of the team?

Why wouldn’t you have a conversation with someone who is not helping your team (or tour) achieve great results?

Learning how to actively address conflict head-on rather than sweeping it under the rug is going to help you overcome many tough situations in every part of your life, and it’s going to help you manage a more successful tour.

8. Continually Improve Yourself

Lastly, you have to ​ continually be improving yourself ​.

Why do you need to continually improve yourself?

Because ​you are a product.

You get paid in exchange for what you’re worth and for the services you provide.

And if you want to keep getting hired and paid more money on the road, you have to continually be improving the ​ value ​ of the product or service that you provide.

For example, say you only know how to push cases and pack a truck. Well, you’re only economically worth about $15 bucks an hour.

And if you know how to set up and tune instruments properly, you’re worth a little more.

If you know how to lead a crew, you’re worth a bit more.

And if you can manage a tour, mix a show, lead a crew, set up instruments, and make sure every piece of gear is in top working condition every night, your value will keep going up and up and up.

You as a product become way more valuable because you are able to provide more services.

You save the artist money because they don’t have to bring out multiple people on the road to do all the jobs. You’ve got it covered.

You save the artist money because you keep all their gear in working order.

You give your team peace of mind because they know they can count on you to lead them on a tour.

And when you can prove that you save the artist lots of money, they’ll have no problem increasing your pay.

Because to them, working with YOU is a great investment, rather than working with someone else who doesn’t think like you.

I’m sure you get the picture here.

No matter what job you have, you are a product on the market, and you should continually be improving your skills and services to increase your value.

Once again, here are 8 Keys to Becoming a Successful Tour Manager:

Secure your job.

Learn the artist’s vision for the tour.

Communicate well.

Always follow up on ​ all ​ show details.

Stay organized.

Keep a great attitude.

Don’t be afraid of conflict.

Continually improve yourself.

A Great Way to Improve Your Skills

If you’re ready to up your game and learn how to lead your team on the road, join Tour Management Made Easy . It’s a program for young tour managers with bi-weekly coaching sessions and access to our ​ How to be a Tour Manag ​ er course. It could be the best thing you’ve ever given yourself.

Whether you’re a current touring professional or a student dreaming of becoming a tour manager, Tour Management Made Easy will help you gain the knowledge, the tools, and the confidence to be able to hit the road and successfully manage your next tour.

When you enroll in the program, not only will you immediately start gaining a new skill that’s valuable to artists on the road, but you’re also going to learn tips, tricks, and step-by-step processes that will make people love working with you. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by a community of people who are growing together.

Click here to learn more

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Ranking every Premier League manager by how likely they are to attend the Oasis reunion tour

Oasis are back, in news that is sure to delight away days casuals across the country.

No band enjoys more popularity among football supporters in the United Kingdom than the iconic Manchester band, who are set to play their first gigs in 16 years next summer.

We’ve ranked all 20 Premier League managers by how likely they are to be to attend.

20. Unai Emery

We could just about envisage Emery being into The Cure. The Chameleons might be his Manchester band of choice.

But let’s be honest, that’s entirely based on his jet-black locks. It’s a stretch.

We love Unai, but ultimately he strikes us as fundamentally uninterested in anything outside of football. The kind of man that’d go for a romantic meal with his wife but chew her ear off about how to structure a good mid-block or why the relationist approach of Fernando Diniz could never work in Spain or England.

19. Oliver Glasner

It freaks our nut a bit that Glasner is eight years younger than Noel Gallagher.

Categorically not mad fer it . The diametrical opposite, in fact.

18. Erik ten Hag

It’s not just the fact that the Gallagher brothers are Manchester City’s most famous celebrity fans, but Ten Hag doesn’t strike you as the gig-going sort, does he?

This is a man who once wore a linen suit on the touchline. Not a chance is he risking getting covered in beer or p*ss.

17. Nuno Espirito Santo

Once you’ve read the description of the Nottingham Forest manager as a wizened old Jedi, you’ll struggle not to think of it every time you see him.

Can you picture Nuno at an Oasis gig? Exactly.

16. Marco Silva

We like Silva. He’s doing a superb job at Fulham.

But he also feels like some kind of lab-made footballing replicant. A journeyman playing career in Portugal followed by a string of managerial jobs in England. We are frankly unable to imagine him in any context outside of standing on the touchline or giving hacky looks to poor BBC reporters.

Seeing Silva at a gig would be like seeing your old geography teacher in Tesco. Weird and somehow wrong.

15. Julen Lopetegui

Santo, Silva, Lopetegui… We’re not on the most “fun” run of names here, are we? Throw us a bone here, Premier League.

Lopetegui will not be going to the Oasis comeback gigs, no. Don’t be daft.

Meanwhile we’re left daydreaming about an alternate reality in which a 75-year-old Neil Warnock is doing the futile job of trying to keep Coventry City up, wholly unafraid to play to the gallery and descend into self-parody in his post-match interviews. Speaking of which…

Enjoy it lads , but enjoy it by being disciplined… @NoelGallagher @liamgallagher — Neil Warnock (@warnockofficial) August 26, 2024

14. Thomas Frank

There’s a fair degree of overlap between the two, but those wide, wild eyes speak more of The Hacienda   than Knebworth.

More likely to see Frank spending Brentford’s off-season next summer queuing from head to toe in black at Berghain than paying £9 for a lukewarm pint of Camden Hells at Wembley.

13. Ange Postecoglou

“Listen, mate… The only dates at Wembley I’m interested in are the cup finals next year.”

We can already hear those slightly sycophantic journalist guffaws when Big Ange gives a withering response to the final ‘fun’ question at the end of a Thursday press conference. Fully focused on the task at hand.

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12. Andoni Iraola

He’ll consider it. Those cardigans are the hallmark of a man with a surprisingly large vinyl collection.

More of a Pulp or Belle & Sebastian man, though.

11. Eddie Howe

He’ll consider it. If only to give Jason Tindall some company.

More of a Blur man, though.

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10. Mikel Arteta

Arteta will go. In a private box, of course.

Sure enough he’ll enjoy the gig, but the whole time he’ll be making mental notes for his next LinkedIn spiel when the Arsenal squad return for the first day of pre-season.

It’ll be all about how the performance emphasised the value of teamwork and why the Gallaghers burying the hatchet ought to serve as inspiration for forming brotherly bonds.

Pass us the bucket.

9. Fabian Hurzeler

As with every other mention of the Brighton manager anywhere, we’re obliged to start with Hurzeler’s age. We don’t make the rules. Thirty-one years old, don’t you know?

The German was only a year old when ‘Definitely Maybe’ was released and 16 when Oasis played their last gigs back in 2009.

As uncomfortable as we are with the very concept of the Millennial Premier League manager, Hurzeler represents a key cohort of who’ll make up the crowds at Oasis’ comeback shows – those who were too young to see them the first time around but grew up listening to them thanks to their parents .

Full apologies if we’ve sent you spiralling into an existential crisis, there.

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8. Enzo Maresca

More on Pep Guardiola in a bit.

If Pep himself is there, so too will be his replica.

7. Arne Slot

We’re still getting to know Slot. It’s early days, but the first impressions are he’s a pretty unassuming guy.

The shininess of that bonce would be right at home in a metal or techno crowd, but those incredibly superficial judgements aside we reckon his taste is pretty strait-laced.

As confirmed by our gumshoe digging, which brought us to a recent profile in The   Mirror :

“Arne Slot loves pop music. From the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen, the new Liverpool boss is such a sucker for a good tune that he once went to a rock festival just days before leading Feyenoord into the Europa Conference League Final.

“Slot is a regular gig-goer. He never misses the Amstel Live event in Rotterdam – even when Jose Mourinho’s Roma are on the horizon. It is only a matter of time until he turns up at the famous Cavern Club to see where the Fab Four first thrilled their fans.”

6. Gary O’Neil

We mean no disrespect when we say how difficult we’ve found it to find anything interesting at all to say about the fella.

It’s precisely that sheer normalness that makes him a strong candidate to feature in the upper echelons of this ranking. Ask a 41-year-old British bloke their favourite band and Oasis is surely as close as you’ll get to a stock answer.

5. Steve Cooper

“I wouldn’t say it’s a hidden talent. It’s something I can do, it’s usually to myself and no one else can listen!” Cooper told Nottinghamshire Live  after performing an impromptu Oasis cover during Nottingham Forest’s promotion celebrations a couple of years back.

“I was lucky enough to meet Noel Gallagher once at the Sports Personality of the Year and that was a real honour. He won’t remember but I do. I like my music but you won’t see me playing the guitar too often, certainly not in public.”

Anyway, here’s Wonderwall:

4. Pep Guardiola

*Pep Guardiola voice* He will be there.  So so happy. Like you wouldn’t believe.

For obvious reasons, Guardiola has to be somewhere near the top.

And yet… We’re not saying that Pep doesn’t not like Oasis. He chose ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ as part of the soundtrack to his life in an interview with the BBC and sounded pretty genuine. He’s also a big fan of Coldplay, so we’re not suggesting he’s too cool for school.

Call us cynical, but as with him modelling that trying-too-hard official Man City Hacienda merch, we just don’t buy Guardiola as an adopted Mancunian. Too Catalan sophisticate. Man’s never worn a kagool in his life.

3. Kieran McKenna

Ipswich’s inspirational manager might’ve been born and raised in London, only spending a couple of years serving as part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff at Old Trafford, but he possesses the face of a Mancunian.

We can’t explain it, he just does.

Would you bat an eyelid if we told you he spent a few years as a guitarist for some Oasis-inspired landfill indie band called The Minks?

Their 2006 debut single reached 34 in the UK charts but they were dropped by their label before an album ever saw the light of day.

2. Russell Martin

Don’t ever doubt we’re a serious journalistic outlet here at Planet Football. We do our research. And in doing so we’ve come across this TikTok where the Saints boss discusses his music taste.

“A bit of Gerry Cinnamon, a bit of Lee Dunford. I love The Beatles, I love Fleetwood Mac, I love Oasis… I’m a sucker for anything with a guitar,” he says.

Case closed.

1. Sean Dyche

Call us unimaginative but Dyche is the ideal figure for our ongoing Premier League manager rankings. Pint test?  High. The ‘High Performance’ grading? Low. A contestant on ‘The Traitors’ ? High, obviously.

The man doesn’t do half-measures, and we honestly felt a bit lost in those six months or so between his time at Everton and Burnley.

Make a Venn diagram of every key demographic queuing up for Oasis tickets and the intersection will resemble the face of Sean Dyche. He’ll be 54 years of age next summer, meaning he was 23 when they first broke through.

He’s got the disposable income, loves live music and is on the record as an Oasis fan. You better believe he’ll be relieving the glory days of his youth along with tens of thousands of other blokes who look and sound just like him.

You know what? Absolutely fair enough.

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WEATHER ALERT

16 advisories in effect for 8 regions in the area

Spain's leader begins west africa tour in mauritania to tackle irregular migration to canary islands.

Renata Brito

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Migrants disembark at the port of on "La Estaca" in Valverde at the Canary island of El Hierro, Spain, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Migrants arrived by boat after a thirteen-day voyage from the coast of Senegal. (AP Photo/Maria Ximena)

BARCELONA – Spain's prime minister embarked on a three-day tour of West Africa on Tuesday as the European nation struggled to contain the number of people making the dangerous Atlantic voyage by boat to the Canary Islands .

The Spanish archipelago — located close to the African coast and used as a stepping stone for migrants and refugees trying to reach continental Europe — has seen more than 22,000 people disembark on its shores since January, according to Spain's Interior Ministry, more than double the number of irregular arrivals for the same period last year.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez begins his visit in Mauritania before continuing south to Gambia and Senegal. The three coastal nations have become the main departure points used by smugglers to launch overcrowded boats. Thousands of Malian refugees fleeing violence and instability are among those embarking on the perilous Atlantic route to the Canaries, as well as unemployed youth from Senegal , Mauritania and other West African nations who seek better job opportunities abroad.

There are also increasingly more teenagers and children traveling alone to the Canary Islands, which has overwhelmed the local government responsible for their care. Spanish authorities say they are bracing for even more arrivals this fall when sailing conditions in the deadly Atlantic Ocean between West Africa and the Spanish archipelago are more favorable.

To tackle the issue, Sánchez is expected to sign several bilateral agreements with his African counterparts and strengthen cooperation between Spanish and local security forces working together to combat people smuggling. Spain will also expand its circular migration program, which allows migrants to come and work in Spain temporarily in areas like agriculture. To address the root causes of migration, the Spanish government said that it would also announce longer-term investment and business partnerships in the areas of development, connectivity and education.

It's the second time that the Spanish leader visits Mauritania this year. In February, Sánchez traveled to the largely deserted and impoverished nation alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and announced 210 million euros (around $235 million) to help the country curb migration. Seen as a beacon of stability in the volatile Sahel region, Mauritania hosts about 200,000 Malian refugees on its border.

Follow AP’s coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration .

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Taylor Swift sings with 'producer of the century' Jack Antonoff in London

LONDON — After the crowd lost it seeing Florence Welch perform "Florida!!! " with Taylor Swift , the Eras Tour star invited another guest to the stage on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium.

"I believe this is our 131st of this tour," Swift said in her tangerine dress. "That's so many and so many different acoustic songs. And I'm always trying to come up with something new."

She toyed with the surprise guest announcement.

"And you know, I think a lot about why I'm lucky enough to get to do a show like the Eras Tour. So it's because I've been fortunate enough to find friendships over the years that have been collaborative," she said. Fans started chanting, "Jack," because he had been noticed leaving the floor of the Eras Tour an hour prior.

"And I get to make music with one of my best friends in the world," Swift said, introducing Jack Antonoff to the stage.

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"I thought we would do a few songs that are some of me and Jack's favorite songs," Swift said before diving into "Death By a Thousand Cuts" from "Lover."

"Should we do it?" she said to Antonoff and he replied, "I really want to do it."

The teasing was in reference to their song "Getaway Car" from "Reputation." The wristbands glowed green.

"I think they've earned it," Swift said before singing, "No, nothin' good starts in a getaway car."

When they approached the bridge, they recreated the viral video of when they wrote the song. "Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys / That was the last time you ever saw me (oh!)."

At the end of the double song mashup, the two strummed their guitars and held them high in the air with one hand while hugging with the other.

"London, the producer of the century, Jack Antonoff," Swift said, and Antonoff headed toward the back of the diamond to exit down the platform.

'So Long, London'

"So London, you know we have done a lot of shows on the Eras Tour so it is kind of rare that I have a song that I haven't performed before and yet here we are," she said playing the flowery piano.

Fans guessed she would perform "So Long London" from "The Tortured Poets Department" at her final show in Wembley. And she did. Swift has seven songs left to perform from her 11 studio albums.

She did not announce "Reputation (Taylor's Version)" like fans anticipated.

Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the  free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.  

Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X as @BryanWestTV .

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