Posted on: July 22, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

So what has La Crescenta rapper Kenan Bell been up to since hearing that he would be touring with De La Soul? “Been practicing my shout-outs,” he cracked, adding more seriously, “I’ve been hoop-ing, trying to get my wind back. Gotta be ready.” It’s safe to assume he meant basketball, and not hula. Bell has drawn De La Soul comparisons for the alternative approach both take to their respective brands of hip-hop, “which was an honor in itself,” but now, getting to share the stage with the groundbreaking act at legendary venues like The Fillmore is, according to Bell, “simply perfect.”

Upon finishing up with De La in the West, Kenan will be heading east to play the August 16th Jelly Pool Party with Del the Funky Homosapien, backed by the East River and the Manhattan skyline. Depending on where you stand, Kenan will stand taller than the Empire State.

2009 has been a big year for young Kenan Bell: he was selected as a Playboy Rock The Rabbit artist, and got to play their legendary SXSW Late-Night Party, opening for Jane’s Addiction that night. He did two tours of duty with label-mates Illinois, and opened for Doug E. Fresh at Jelly’s ‘The Good Life’ Pool Party at the Viceroy Palm Springs. He released his first single, ‘Fruit and Vegetables,’ which was promptly featured in iTunes’ Hip Hop Indie Sportlight, and released a mix-tape called “Good News: the Mix-Tape” that was featured on the home page of Imeem and launched him to #3 on the PureVolume views chart.

All that has led to this. Now, 2009 becomes something special. A small dream fulfilled.

Tour Dates w/ De La Soul

July 23 || The Fillmore || San Francisco
July 24 || Key Club || Los Angeles
July 25 || Wave House San Diego || San Diego
July 28 || Rialto Theatre || Tucson, AZ
July 29 || Sunshine Theater || Albuquerque, NM
July 31 || House of Blues Dallas || Dallas, TX
August 1 || Emo’s Alternative Lounging (Outdoor) || Austin, TX
August 2 || House of Blues Houston || Houston, TX

Jelly Pool Party
August 16 || Jelly Pool Party: East River State Park || Brooklyn, NY
w/ Del the Funky Homosapien, Gravy Train!!!, DD/MM/YYYY

Good News
‘Good News: the Mix-Tape,’ is a ‘remix collective project,’ as Bell calls it, and includes re-workings of songs by Peter Bjorn & John, Lily Allen, Pink Floyd, Gang Gang Dance, Jose Gonzalez, Neil Diamond, Duran Duran, XTC, and Jesse Colin Young. The tracks were leaked one by one via the information superhighway over 8 weeks this past Spring.

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