You are here: HomeEntertainmentMusic2010 01 28Article 175890

Music of Thursday, 28 January 2010

Source: Ameyaw Debrah

Blitz the Ambassador to Kick off 6-City Tour of California on Feb 10th

Blitz the Ambassador, the Ghanaian-American hip-hop artist whose video "Breathe" has been in heavy rotation at MTV2, will kick off a 6-city tour of California with an acoustic set at La Peña in Berkeley on Wednesday, February 10th. Blitz's live performance, where he leads a 6-piece band with a blaring horn section, sets him apart from the pack as a unique musical force in hip-hop.

After a series of high-profile local gigs like opening for Big Daddy Kane at Celebrate Brooklyn! And sharing the stage with the Roots at the Okayplayer Holiday Jam, Blitz is set to take his band, The Embassy Ensemble, and their live show to the West Coast.

Following the show at La Peña, Blitz and the Embassy Ensemble will travel to CSU Chico on February 11th, Sacramento on February 13th, San Francisco for an exclusive performance with Soul singer Martin Luther at the Elbo Room on February 15th, and then Los Angeles for a set at the UCLA Hip-Hop Congress on February 17th, before wrapping up with a set at Afrofunke in Santa Monica on February 18th.

Blitz the Ambassador's Stereotype was recognized as the Best Album of the Year by DJBooth.net and the Society of Cinema and the Arts, who said that despite his independent status, his use of "rousing horns beat-wise...and the passion and urgency with which Blitz delivers his rhymes make him impossible to write off." Last year ended with a flurry for Blitz, as he completed a recording session for MTVu's House Band that featured John Forte, among other special guests.