Las Vegas Strip casinos have been known for hosting some of the biggest music stars of pop, rock, R&B, country, and jazz for residencies for decades.
Today, several huge stars have major residencies scheduled through the end of the year and into 2025.
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Planet Hollywood Las Vegas’ PH Live is hosting superstars in a couple of different genres with country and pop star Shania Twain performing eight shows in November and December 2024 before extending her “Come On Over” residency for nine more shows in January and February 2025.
Global supergroup Black Eyed Peas performs their first residency on the Las Vegas Strip when they launch their 3008: A Space Odyssey engagement at PH Live for 15 shows beginning on Feb. 15, 2025.
Superstar rock star Lenny Kravitz debuts his first residency on the Strip with Blue Electric Light Las Vegas at MGM Resorts International’s Dolby Live at Park MGM Oct. 18, 19, 23, 25 and 26, 2024.
Another iconic Las Vegas Strip headliner, Janet Jackson, has scheduled her all-new residency at Resorts World Las Vegas for 10 shows in December, January, and February. The “Nasty” singer’s most recent Las Vegas residency was her “Metamorphosis” shows at MGM Resorts International’s (MGM) Park MGM from May 17-Aug. 17, 2019.
Hip-hop and rap star residencies, however, have been scarce in Las Vegas and only began hitting the city in 2024. Wu-Tang Clan performed what is considered Sin City’s first hip-hop residency at the Theater at Virgin Hotels for four shows over February and March 2024.
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The most popular hip-hop show in Vegas has been the Lovers & Friends Festival, which in 2023 featured hip-hop artists including 50 Cent, Pitbull, Busta Rhymes and Master P & No Limit Soldiers. Unfortunately for Lovers & Friends fans, the May 2024 festival was cancelled because of the threat of dangerous weather.
The Strip hosted its first major hip-hop residency when legendary New York hip-hop stars Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh joined DJ Cassidy for his “Pass the Mic Live” residency for six shows in July 2024 at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip.
The biggest rap solo residency to debut on the Strip was superstar rapper Lil Wayne’s rare dual residency at rival casinos Drai’s Nightclub in Caesars Entertainment’s (CZR) The Cromwell on June 29 and July 12 at Zouk Las Vegas in Genting Group’s Resorts World Las Vegas.
Nas performs during All Points East Festival 2024 at Victoria Park on Aug. 17, 2024 in London. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Joseph Okpako/Getty Images
Nas returns for popular Las Vegas Strip residency
And now, legendary hip-hop artist Nas returns to his classic Las Vegas Strip residency at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Resort, accompanied by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, for three more shows Feb. 5, 7, and 8 in 2025.
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The popular rapper completed the initial sold-out shows of his residency at the Encore Theater on Aug. 29, 31 and Sept. 1, also backed by the Las Vegas Philharmonic. The residency celebrated the 30th anniversary of the superstar’s groundbreaking “Illmatic” album that he released in April 1994.
Tickets for the new shows are available at Ticketmaster.com or LiveNation.com.
Nas has recorded eight multi-platinum and platinum albums, and won his first Grammy award in 2020 for Best Rap Album for his “King’s Disease.”
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