Jay-Z Keeps It Real On New Tour

Jay-Z gets intimate with fans on his upcoming Blueprint Lounge tour. Unlike 1999’s Hard Knock Life package outing, which was a huge arena effort, this time around the rapper is opting for smaller venues (1,500-4,000 people size). Hey, you can’t blame an artist for wanting to see his fans.

Joining Jay are Roc-A-Fella family members Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Freeway. Jay and family will set the whole thing off September 14 in Columbus, Ohio – just four days before the release of his new album, The Blueprint.

The self-made rapper has been releasing albums yearly since his debut in 1996. In addition to being a much sought-after artist, Jay-Z is also a savvy businessman, founding his own record label (Roc-A-Fella Records), clothing line (Rocawear), and film company (Roc-A-Fella Films). Not bad for a kid from the notorious Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, N.Y.

As of press time, the Blueprint Lounge tour is set to run through the beginning of October, with the possibility of more dates to come.