8 Must-See Hip-Hop Tours This Summer

The summer concert season is quickly approaching, as we close out the month of April. It’s comparable to Christmas for avid music fans. It doesn’t get much better than beautiful weather complimented by beautiful people dancing to bass-laden tunes. Excess amounts of cheap alcohol and THC add to the excitement at summer concerts.

Numerous acts will be taking their talents throughout the world during the summer months that approach. After the brutal winter that much of the country experienced this will be a welcome change of pace (and weather, obviously). This may be your only chance this year to catch your favorite act, or that elusive artist who rarely tours. From the charismatic and mysterious upstart, GoldLink, to chef turned rap and weed connoisseur, Action Bronson, these are eight tours you do not want to miss this coming summer.

The most promising export of the growing DMV music scene is handsdown, GoldLink. The young upstart is coming off the success of his debut project The God Complex and is also working closely with the legendary Rick Rubin. If you can achieve the almighty Rubin co-sign with only one project under your belt, it is safe to say you are doing something right. GoldLink has taken the rap world by storm while only releasing music under the moniker for a little over a year. From a relatively unknown and mysterious artist to a world renowned rapper known for his effortless flow, relatable wordplay and his impeccable production selection. The 21-year-old rapper crafted his own genre of bouncy hip-hop that utilizes upbeat dance-friendly production.

GoldLink will be embarking on his first headlining tour of his career. The 13-city tour will begin June 9^th in Brooklyn and culminate in Vancouver on June 26^th. With stops in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago and several other cities in between, there is more than likely a stop you can make the trek to. Don’t worry hometown fans, Link said he has a “special surprise” for all the DMV natives out there. His live energy is even more powerful than what we here from his debut project and the dance-laden nature lends well to a live setting.

Late in 2014 J. Cole dropped one of the better-received albums in 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The largely personal offering is one of his best releases to date and impressed with standouts “A Tale of Two Citiez,” “G.O.M.D.,” “Fired Squad,” “St. Tropez,” “Wet Dreamz” and “Apparently.” For an artist that is constantly ridiculed by the infinite trolls on twitter (and HNHH, we see you too) for being “boring,” he kept audiences engaged throughout the album. It not only boasts radio singles but also brash bangers that can keep most hip-hop fans nodding along. Cole is currently embarking on an ambitious tour that his third studio album deserves. The first act recently came to a close in Providence, RI and the second act is an all European tour beginning in May with dates in Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France, Belgium and the UK. The third act of the tour is an ambitious sweep of North America alongside Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, YG and Pusha T. There is literally a show for anyone and everyone on the 29-date trek as Cole and friends take to some of the larger amphitheaters and arenas throughout North America. The tour begins on July 12^th at the home of the Lakers and Clippers and convenes in Cole’s hometown of Fayetteville, NC on Aug. 29. It is quite an impressive feat to do 29 shows in a little over a month and a half. It is evident that Cole is certainly not as “boring” as the HNHH trolls would have you believe.

Everyone’s favorite chef-turned-rapper will be heading out on a headlining tour throughout the world in support of his latest release Mr. Wonderful. He's described this album as his “Journey moment.” For those unfamiliar Journey are an incredibly popular band best known for their karaoke favorite “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Bronson certainly captures their energy, and much of the album does feel as though it were created in the 1980s.

Bronson is well known for his live performances and the antics that accompany them. Marijuana smoke suffocates all in attendance as both Bronson and his fans burn the venue down with the devil’s lettuce. If you’re lucky you will see a fan rush the stage only to be chokeslammed by the 300-plus-pound mammoth rapper, to the delight of the crowd. Bronson recently cause pandemonium as he tossed a flat screen TV out as a gift of appreciation for the packed house. Bronson will be bringing his weed-laden rhymes and energetic live performance along for a 44-date tour in which he cruises through the U.S., Canada, and much of Europe. If there is one tour on this list you cannot miss when it hits your city this summer, it’s Bronsolino's.

King Kendrick Lamar has not slowed down since he burst onto the scene with his debut album Section.80. He has dropped two more albums since, his most recent being the controversial and revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly. Lamar is one of the few truly revolutionary voices left in hip-hop, which is a genre that was built on the concept of being different and speaking out against oppression. He effortlessly displays his storytelling skills throughout and his raucous flow is not lost among the jazz-laden production. Lamar has solidified his spot in hip-hop history as one of the best of our generation. His live show, backed by a live band, is one of his more impressive talents, and he makes for one of the best rappers to see live.

Although not labeled specifically as a 'tour' Kendrick will be taking his talents to some of the more prominent music festivals throughout the world this coming summer. Lamar will be trekking across North American and also a few stops in Europe. Among the festival stops he'll make:

Sasquatch (George, WA, May 22-25)

Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN, June 11-14)

Summer Jam (New Jersey, June 7)

Summerfest (Milwaukee, MI, June 30 - July 5)

Osheaga (Montreal, QC July 31, August 1 +2)

Essence Festival (New Orleans, July 2-5)

Wireless Festival (London, England July 3-5)

Outside Lands (Golden Gate Park, SF, August 8)

Les Ardentes (Belgium, Brussels July 9-12)

Reading Festival (Reading, England August 28-30)

This may just be the best rap tour collaboration in recent memory. The two crooners are coming together for a five-city tour. Both artists recently released a well-received project, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and 56 Nights respectively. Crack a Miller Lite (or whatever your beverage of choice is) and live vicariously through Future as you "fuck up some commas," despite the fact that you work a shitty 9 to 5 job and live month to month. Splurge on a $10 vodka Redbull for your girl as she eye fucks Drake while he croons "just hold on we’re going home!" Don’t get too jealous, because she’s going home with you, and Drake has a couple records for all of us who lean towards rap and not his female-friendly R&B cuts. Drake’s latest release was one of his more rap heavy offerings.

Drake and Future’s “Jungle” tour will begin May 24 in Houston at the Toyota Center followed by stops in Detroit, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto and lastly New York at Governor’s Ball on June 5^th. If you are on the East Coast you should probably venture to Governor’s Ball in NYC as the three-day festival also features notable acts in Bishop Nehru, Rae Sremmurd, Kaytranada, RATATAT, Logic, Flying Lotus, A-Trak and several more worth seeing.

Odd Future leader Tyler, the Creator has garnered a massive fan base through his rebellious content and brash style of delivery. Teens struggling to find their place in the world relate to the outlandish struggles of Tyler. Kill people, burn shit, fuck school. "I’m f*ckin radical, n*gga. I'm mother*ckin' radicaL," Tyler boasts on the appropriately titled "Radical." This controversial style of rap has alienated parents and made their children fans. His antI-establishment content has created a cult-like following that sell out every single one of his shows.

With the recent release of his third studio album, Cherry Bomb, Tyler and his Odd Future cohorts will be taking the show on the road. The 13-track album has been well-received thus far and has collaborations with Kanye, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, ScHoolboy Q and Kali Uchis. Oddly enough it does not feature any of his Odd Future brethren. Tyler continues to grow as an artist as he works to find his sound and push the boundaries with his already-controversial music. He will be spending his entire summer touring with one of the most ambitious rap tours of recent memory, to the delight of his fans. The 75-stop tour will be making stops across the globe. A lengthy trek through North America, stops in much of Europe and even two in Russia. I can only imagine how Tyler’s antics will be greeted in Putin’s paradise of oppression.

To see every single tour date, head here.

Gone are the days of Three Six Mafia. No more “poppin” our collars in the name of fashion. Luckily for all contemporary hip-hop fans Juicy J did not let the split hinder his creativity and ability to create ignorantly brilliant music. The veteran has captivated audiences for the past 20+ years with his charismatic flow, outlandish lyrics, and his overall braggadocios style. The drug and sex-laden lyrics that dominate his music now have hypnotized a new generation of fans. His discography continues to grow as does his fan base, which is one of the most diverse in recent memory. Loyal Mafia fans find themselves raging among college students who may or may not have just popped their first Xanax bar and more than likely decided to sneak in a joint. “We trippy mane!”

The rap veteran will be hitting the road in support of his forthcoming album The Hustle Continues or THC for short. The 25-date tour begins May 14 in Houston and will be hitting all the major markets throughout the country. With stops in L.A., Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philly, NYC, D.C., Atlanta, Miami and many more this is a tour that nearly everyone can check out and it will be well worth it. Get trippy with Juicy as he will be certain to run through old Three Six famous and a bunch of newer material that has garnered the attention of a new generation of fan. All the tour dates can be found below.

May 14 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
May 15 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
May 17 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
May 19 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
May 22 – Los Angeles , CA – Hollywood Palladium
May 23 – San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
May 26 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
May 27 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
May 30 – Denver, CO – Fillmore
June 3 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
June 5 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
June 6 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
June 7 – Detroit, MI – St Andrews Hall
June 8 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
June 10 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
June 12 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome
June 13 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA
June 15 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
June 17 – Washington DC – Fillmore
June 18 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
June 19 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore
June 20 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
June 25 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
June 26 – Orlando, FL – Venue 578
June 27 – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore
June 28 – Tampa, FL – Ritz Ybor

Joey Bada$$ took the hip hop industry by storm with his old school sound and impressive wordplay. For such a young up-and-coming artist he had a much more mature sound than his contemporaries. Joey helped usher in a new era of hip-hop to New York City, once the mecca of hip-hop.