The Art of Rap is back. Ice-T and DJ Evil-E will join Rakim, DJ Jazzy Jeff, the Sugarhill Gang and Big Daddy Kane for a Live Nation-produced concert at the Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas on October 18. It marks the first Art of Rap-branded event since 2023, and co-founder Mickye Bentson isn’t being subtle about what’s coming next. “Something big is bubbling with The Art of Rap,” he says. “In about a week or so, we’ll put something up and you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh shit!'”
Born from Ice-T’s 2012 Sundance-selected documentary ‘Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap,’ the festival tour launched in July 2015 and spent years criss-crossing North America with lineups pulling from hip-hop’s deepest catalog. The documentary itself featured B-Real, Big Daddy Kane, Common, Chuck D, Dr. Dre, Rakim, Eminem, Grandmaster Flash, Ice Cube, Nas, Raekwon and Snoop Dogg, and set the template for what the live events would become.
Separate from the Live Nation date, Bentson has two additional shows booked: August 27 at the Western Idaho Fair in Boise with Ice-T, Sir Mix-A-Lot and DJ Kevie Kev, and August 28 at the Benton Franklin Fair in Kennewick, Washington, with a lineup still to be announced.
Art of Rap Dates:
August 27 – Boise, ID – Western Idaho Fair
August 28 – Kennewick, WA – Benton Franklin Fair
October 18 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP