Grammy Award-winning rapper, Kendrick Lamar has announced a string of new dates in continued support of his critically acclaimed album, "DAMN." The tour will kick off in Dublin, Ireland on February 7 before hitting up the UK and then going around Europe. It will finish up in Berlin on March 5. Having completed the US leg of the tour at the beginning of September, Lamar is planning to visit all of the biggest arenas in Europe in what is guaranteed to be one of the biggest events of the year.

The rise of Kendrick Lamar

Just six years ago, Kendrick Lamar was relatively unknown in mainstream culture.

He released a string of well-received mixtapes beginning when he was in high school but only started to gain mainstream attention after 2011's "Section.80." His popularity then exploded with the release of his major label debut, "good kid, m.A.A.d. city," in 2012, and it's been nothing but festival headline slots, arena tours, and awards since then.

2015's "To Pimp a Butterfly" delved deeper into Lamar's socially-conscious material, offering fiery treatises against the injustices faced by black people in modern America. His iconic status was confirmed when his song, "Alright," was used as a rallying cry by crowds all over America during #BlackLivesMatter protests last year. He was named one of the "100 Most influential people in the world" by Time Magazine in 2016 and his headline set at Coachella 2017 has been heralded as one of the best of all time.

Who is James Blake?

UK singer-songwriter James Blake has been announced as the support for this tour. While he may not be a household name in the USA, Blake has received a mountain of critical praise for his three studio albums and numerous EPs. He also won the highly coveted Mercury Prize in 2014 for "Overgrown" (UK album of the year).

Blake's soulful, electronic musings may seem to be at odds with Lamar's in-your-face style, but Blake is no stranger to the world of hip-hop. He contributed to "DAMN." in the form of a piano loop on "Element," but has also worked with Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Wu-Tang's RZA in the past. His stirring, piano-led melodies and experimental electronics are sure to be the perfect calming influence before what is sure to be an explosive set from Lamar.

Tickets for the tour are on sale on Friday (October 6) and are expected to set you back around $70. Make sure to act quickly because they won't be around for long.
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