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Ghostface Killah of Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan is kicking off the “The Twelve Reasons to Die National Tour” in support his new album, aptly dubbed Twelve Reasons to Die.
Throughout the tour, Ghostface will be backed by a band called Venice Dawn and led by composer Adrian Younge, who concieved the concept album and worked on the acclaimed film Black Dynamite.
The story of good and evil follows Tony Starks (one of Ghostface’s alter egos), as a soldier for the 12 Delucas, a 1960’s-era Italian crime family, ultimately turning into a vintage horror film with gangster elements.
Interestingly, Wu-Tang Clan founder and producer RZA was the one who chose Younge for the project, giving suggestions and direction throughout the project’s development.
“I wanted this album to be the album that went back and started things all over,” Younge says. “I wanted to be the first person to really bring this to hip-hop. I want to bring that organic element back to hip-hop. I’m fortunate enough that I was chosen to be that person to do it.”
Tracks on the project feature live strings, horns and drums that were recorded on 2-inch tape giving each song a depth that is often unheard in today’s music.
From Adrian Younge’s acclaimed album Something About April to composing the music for the acclaimed film Black Dynamite, to recording an album for the legendary soul group The Delfonics, Younge is looking to change the way people view Hip-Hop and infusing the genre with real compositions.
“I want to be known as a composer, not a beat-maker,” he says. “I want to be known as a composer for modern soul music.”
“I want this album to change what people think about hip-hop,” Younge says.
Twelve Reasons to Die will be available in various forms including a deluxe double CD with instrumentals and a mini comic book, plus a digital deluxe version with instrumentals and digital comic book, multiple vinyl formats and a cassette.
The album, including limited edition deluxe bundles, is available for pre-order at soultemplemusic.bandcamp.com.
Twelve Reasons to Die will be released on Soul Temple Records and is set to be distributed by RED Music on April 16th.
The 49-city national tour kicks off on March 14th at SXSW in Austin, Texas and will run thru early June ending up back in Austin.
A full listing of tour dates can be found below:
*Thursday, March 28, Los Angeles, CA., Mayan Theatre
*Saturday, March 30, World Wide, Boiler Room
*Sunday, March 31, San Louis Obisbo, SLO Brewary
*Wednesday, April 3, Fresno, CA., Fulton 55
*Thursday, April 4, San Francisco, CA., 1015 Folsom
*Friday, April 5, Orangevale, CA., The Boardwalk
*Saturday, April 6, Redway, CA., Mateel Community Center
*Tuesday, April 9, Eugene Or., WOW Hall
*Wednesday, April 10, Portland, OR., Mississippi Studios
*Thursday, April 11, Seattle, WA., Neumos
*Friday, April 12, Spokane, WA., Knitting Factory
*Saturday, April 13, Boise, ID., Knitting Factory
*Tuesday, April 16, Park City, UT., Park City Live
*Friday, April 19, Denver, CO., Summit Music Hall
*Saturday, April 20, Aspen, CO., Belly Up
*Thursday, April 25, Lawrence, KS., Granada Theater
*Friday, April 26, Chicago, IL., The Abbey Pub
*Saturday, April 27, St Louis, MO., Cherokee Performing Arts Center
*Sunday, April 28, Cleveland Hts, OH., Grog Shop
*Tuesday, April 30, Detroit, MI., St. Andrews
*Wednesday, May 1, Grand Rapids, MI., The Pyramid Scheme
*Thursday, May 2, Bloomington, IN., The Bluebird
*Friday, May 3, Columbus, OH. A&R Room
*Saturday, May 4, Pittsburgh, PA., Mr. Smalls Theatre
*Sunday, May 5, Syracuse, NY., The Westcott Theatre
*Tuesday, May 7, South Burlington, VT., Higher Ground Music
*Wednesday, May 8, Portland, ME., Port City Music Hall
*Thursday, May 9, Boston, MA., The Wilbur
*Friday, May 10, New Haven, CT., Toads Place
*Saturday, May 11, Providence, RI., The Met
*Sunday, May 12th, Philadelphia, PA., The Blockley
*Monday, May 13, NYC, NY., Gramercy Theatre
*Tuesday, May 14, Baltimore, MD. Soundstage
*Thursday, May 16, Caborro, NC., Cats Cradle
*Friday, May 17, Asheville, NC. Ashville Music Hall
*Saturday, May 18, Atlanta, GA., Terminal West
*Sunday May 19, Tampa Bay, FL., The Orpheum
*Monday, May 20, New Orleans, LA., House Of Blues
*Wednesday, May 22, Austin, TX., Emos
