The Soul Rebels will perform with GZA, Curren$y and Dee-1 on September 28

Hip-Hop icon GZA to perform with The Soul Rebels in New Orleans

UPDATE: This show has been canceled with no immediate plans for rescheduling.


When The Soul Rebels rock the Joy Theater stage on Friday, September 28, they’ll be joined by an MC whose body of work is that of a genius.

The Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA is a progenitor of metaphysical rap with an illustrious career as both a founding member of arguably the most influential hip-hop group of all time and a venerated solo act. His platinum-selling 1995 LP Liquid  Swords is considered a standard-bearer for anyone else’s philospoher-as-rapper approach. Despite not having released a solo record in a decade, he remains a pre-eminent guest on stages around the world, touring frequently with Wu-Tang.

Next month, he’ll join OffBeat’s 2018 Brass Band of the Year, The Soul Rebels, for a New Orleans performance. The hip-hop infused group and MC have performed frequently in the past, recently rocking the Blue Note in New York City. Earlier this year, they linked for a prestigious Tiny Desk Concert performance at NPR.

Winter Circle Productions has also enrolled some dynamite local hip-hop to round out the lineup. Curren$y boasts one of the most expansive bodies of work in New Orleans rap and helms Jet Life Recordings, responsible for cultivating emergent local talent. Dee-1 is a former OffBeat cover star who recently took home a Best of the Beat Award. Big Freedia will also be a special guest.

Tickets for the September 28 performance are available here. Doors for the all-ages show open at 9p.m.