Amidst the fickle, ephemeral beast that is popular hip-hop, Nas has remained a vital and relevant force across 10 albums and 20 years. With music in his blood, Nas wrote his first verse at age 7 and, with 1994’s Illmatic, created one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time before he could legally drink. 2014 sees the 20th anniversary of the seminal Illmatic; the release of a special edition, titled Illmatic XX, as well as a worldwide tour.

It seems almost trite today to discuss the universal impact and acclaim that Illmatic had on rap. Put simply: the album has long been considered a masterpiece not just in hip hop, but music as a whole, inspiring countless subsequent rappers and establishing Nas as the most vivid storyteller of urban life since Rakim and Chuck D. Whether it’s rhyming about politics, hip hop, race, religion, other artists or personal relationships, Nas has consistently brought unparalleled and unprecedented levels of honesty wrapped up in his signature poetic wordplay.

Bringing his epic and universally acclaimed back catalogue to New Zealand shores (2011’s Life is Good was hailed as his ‘most emotionally raw record’ since Illmatic by MTV), this is a chance to see the hip hop heavyweight in his element, spitting the rhymes that saw him begin an upwards trajectory that shows no sign of slowing. Taking the stage at Auckland’s Powerstation 17 January, this is a chance to see one of rap’s finest. Get in quick to see hip-hop’s greatest poet in his element celebrating twenty years of Illmatic and beyond. Nas’ catalog speaks for itself.

Nas is joined at both shows by esteemed hip-hop producer DJ Green Lantern, who has served as DJ of the Shady Records family and produced tracks for the likes of Ludacris, D-Block, and a noted remix of the Nas and Tupac collaboration Thugz Mansion. As a radio host Green Lantern a renowned personality, helping to break new underground hip-hop including Ghostface Killah.