Heineken’s Red Star Access annual program kicks off in Chicago on August 18 this year. Hip hop musicians Nas and Pusha-T and comedian Affion Crockett with music provided by DJ Kiss will perform at the launch event.

Photo: a snapshot www.followredstar.com, clickable

The other cities the tour will be hosted in are Atlanta, D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. Many other hip hop artists including Trey Songz, Kendrick Lamar, B.o.B, Rev Run will perform on stage and Heineken will also present limited edition products from four popular clothing labels. For this year, Heineken has partnered with such New York-based apparel brands as Rocksmith, Black Apple, and New Era, and LA-based brand, Diamond Supply Co. for the first time ever.

The collaboration results in a series of limited edition T-shirts and snapback hats. Each product, available in black, white, grey and green, features core Heineken iconography including the Red Star Access logo.

«Heineken is excited to partner with today’s leaders in hip hop,» says Pattie Falch, Brand Director, Heineken Sponsorships. «We are also pleased to engage fashion brands to extend the experience beyond music at our events.»

The tour will offer fans not only music concerts but on-site entertainment stations where they will be able to play video games and take part in various sports activities and try mixing tracks in a special zone powered by the djay app, Algoriddim. At photography stations they will have a chance to make photos of themselves which will be displayed on screens on stage and throughout the venue.