Soundset 08 to kick off April 22

Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents brings you Soundset 08: the official Midwest kick-off festival of the summer with eight hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day.

Confirmed artists for Soundset 08 include: Atmosphere, Dilated Peoples, Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, Little Brother, DJ Babu, Rhettmatic, J-Rocc of the World Famous Beat Junkies, Brother Ali, Eyedea & Abilities, P.O.S, Blueprint, Mac Lethal, Abstract Rude, I Self Devine, Musab, Psalm One, Grayskul, Los Nativos and more to be announced!

In 1997, Rhymesayers gathered over two dozen local artists and more than a dozen local DJs and B-Boy’s to perform at a South Minneapolis warehouse until dawn to a capacity-filled crowd. Two years later, Rhymesayers expanded the concept at First Avenue, with Soundset Wednesdays, drawing a crowd of over 1700 people for the opening night and maintaining sellout capacity for its entire run. This was the birth of Soundset and a catalyst for the success of Rhymesayers, now one of indie Hip Hop's most successful and respected labels worldwide.

On stage, Soundset 08, year one. Atmosphere, fresh off their sixth studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold and a 20-city album release tour, come back home to Minneapolis to headline Soundset 08.

As forerunners of the independent west coast rap movement, the legendary Dilated Peoples (Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience and DJ Babu) will join us from Los Angeles, CA. On the wheels of steel, from the West Coast, we welcome the World Famous Beat Junkies (DJ Rhettmatic, J-Rocc and DJ Babu), performing individual DJ sets. Reigning from NYC’s Def Jux camp, Aesop Rock, along with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, return to Minneapolis after last year’s sold out performance at First Ave.

North Carolina MC’s, Phonte and Big Pooh, aka Little Brother bring to the stage one of the finest shows in Hip Hop. After much broad critical acclaim for his Undisputed Truth album, Brother Ali is set to deliver his raw emotion and political views to the Twin Cities. Rhymesayers’ artist and local hero, P.O.S, of Doomtree fame, returns to the Dome parking lot after performing there on last year’s Warped Tour. 16 artists performing on the main stage, a second stage with additional local artists, a slow & low custom car show, skate demo and more fun for the whole family!

Tickets for Soundset:
Fan Presale Info: The Soundset Special 3-Day Fan Pre-Sale (4.09 – 4.11) begins Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 11:00AM local time through http://www.ducatking.com and at Fifth Element, 2411 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55405. Presale tickets for this special 3-Day Fan Presale are $20.

National Public On Sale: Tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday April 12th at 1:00PM through www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $25

Visit our websites for the latest Soundset 08 lineup, music and information! www.myspace.com/soundset www.rhymesayers.com

Confirmed Tour Dates:
04.22 Chicago, IL The Metro
04.23 Chicago, IL The Metro
04.24 Toronto, ON Opera House
04.26 Boston, MA The Roxy
04.27 New York, NY Webster Hall
04.28 Philadelphia, PA
04.29 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
05.02 Austin, TX Emo’s
05.03 Austin, TX Emo’s
05.05 Phoenix, AZ Marquis Theater
05.06 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
05.07 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
05.08 San Francisco, CA The Regency
05.09 San Francisco, CA The Regency
05.12 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
05.13 Seattle, WA Showbox
05.14 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
05.16 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
05.17 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
05.18 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
05.25 Minneapolis, MN Metrodome Parking Lot - Soundset 08