The prolific rap star is also slated to join hip-hop’s elite on what is fast becoming the hottest live show of the summer, the 2007 Rock The Bells North American Festival Series.  Featuring a revolving pantheon of legendary street-edged/rap stars, including Wu-Tang Clan, Rage Against The Machine, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Jedi Mind Tricks and others, Banner will kick off the celebrated journey, which will perform for nearly a quarter of a million people during its five week run in Mansfield, MA on July 26. (see dates below).
Emerging from more than a year of in-depth humanitarian and philanthropic efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina, the
It was Banner’s 2005 release Certified that set a new standard for hip-hop scorchers, with his smash single “Play†garnered more then 50 million in radio audience and climbed into the Top 5 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, causing more than one esteemed urban publication to peg the star as hip-hop’s ‘thinking man.’  The outspoken Banner has been perfecting his signature brand of rap rock and street tinged anthems ever since his stunning 2003 Gold-plus debut,
Banner and his home-grown charitable organization, ‘Heal The Hood,’ have been honored by the Black Caucus of Mississippi’s state legislature for their Herculean efforts on behalf of the victims displaced by the terrible devastation from Hurricane Katrina. Banner’s ‘hands-on’ philosophy about ‘affecting’ positive change was in full effect during the crisis and its aftermath, with the socially conscious star personally dedicating a year out of his schedule to aid and support those in need, raising more than $500,000, and distributing the funds to dozens of southern communities and organizations in ravaged southern Mississippi, Alabama and New Orleans. The driven activist was also awarded the Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes Humanitarian Award in 2006 by
The multi-talented Banner also made his acting debut in last year’s acclaimed Craig Brewer directed (Hustle & Flow) movie, Black Snake Moan, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci.
2007 Rock The Bells North American Festival Dates:
DATES:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â CITIES:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â VENUES:
July 26th          Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
July 28th          New York, NY           Randall’s Island
July 29th          New York, NY           Randall’s Island
August 7th        Dallas, TX                   Smirnoff Music Center
August 8th        Houston, TX               Reliant Park
August 11th      San Bernardino, CA    Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen
August 12th      San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheatre (parking lot)
August 18th      San Francisco, CA      McCovey Cove (parking lot)
August 19th     Â
August 21st     Â
August 22nd    Â
August 25th     Â
August 26th     Â
August 29th     Â
September 1st Â