Sole DXB, in partnership with Cadillac, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai Tourism and Sprite is proud to announce its stellar music lineup for 2018. The region’s biggest cultural festival returns for three-nights, two-days on December 6, 7 and 8, 2018 at d3. Tickets now on sale at www.soledxb.com/tickets.

This year, Sole DXB welcomes Hip Hop royalty, as well as fresh talent from across the globe. Set to perform for the first time in the UAE, legendary Queensbridge Rapper Nas will headline the main stage on Saturday. On Friday, adidas originals will present critically acclaimed rapper Giggs. Within the PUMA space, emerging artists Masego and “Lil Bebe” singer, DaniLeigh, will make their debut performances in the UAE on Friday and Saturday night respectively. Joining Saturday’s line-up is America’s R&B duo Lion Babe, and one of the industry’s first female rappers, Roxanne Shante. Supporting Friday’s main stage this year, will be Northampton artist, Slowthai, bringing a mix of grime, rap, and garage, as well as South Africa’s rising star Sho Madjozi.

This year SOLE DXB will not only boast music performance with world-renowned artists, but the forward-thinking festival continues to flex its discovery muscle as even the curated fresh talents exemplify the definition of towering talent and influence.

Nas – Gifted poet. Confessor. Agitator. Metaphor master. Street’s disciple. Tongue-twisting genius that irrevocably changed the game at age 17 when he appeared on Main Source’s 1991 classic ‘Live at the Barbeque’. Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones, with his blues musician father Olu Dara in his blood created one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.  Two decades on, Nas remains an incendiary, outspoken and brutally candid rapper on the recently released Life is Good, his tenth album and sixth to debut at the top of the Billboard 200.

Lion Babe – The New York City Rap Duo made up of Lucas Goodman and singer Jillian Hervey, which recently performed at Coachella earlier this year, will light up the Sole DXB stage with their hit Wonder Woman, which peaked at number one on Billboard’s interactive chart – Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists.

Roxanne Shante – New York battle rapper and pioneer female MC, Roxanne Shante, will also make her Middle East debut at Sole DXB. Having started rapping at the age of 14, her recent biopic, Roxanne, Roxanne, co-produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams, received critical acclaim when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

Giggs – British rapper presented by adidas originals is set to raise the roof on Friday. His first album, Walk in da Park, reached critical acclaim and he has since worked with Ed Sheeran, Anthony Hamilton and Styles P. His third studio album, Landlord, reached number two in the UK Album Chart and last year, he appeared on a selection of Drake tracks and followed up with Wamp 2 Dem.

Slowthai – The exciting upcoming UK talent will join the Friday line up. His music is unmistakably British, treading a line between grime, rap and garage – riding rough-edged beats with an adolescent charisma and confidence that recalls buzzy pirate radio sessions and handicam freestyles. All of this is encapsulated in his live shows that are drenched in sweat and spit and booming with the sound of Slowthai’s hooky flows and street-smart bars being chanted back at him.

Sho Madjozi – One of the most exciting acts to come out of South Africa in recent years. A rising star from rural Limpopo who shot to fame after featuring in the hit track Gqi by OkmalumkoolKat in 2017, she has since released tracks with Dj Maphorisa, Wanlov, Ms Cosmo and others. Her single Dumi hi Phone with PS DJz went viral, gaining her a growing following from all over the country. Famous for bringing Xitsonga (Shangaan) to the mainstream and for her exhilarating performances in which she wears a traditional skirt called Xibelani, Sho Madjozi has played the biggest shows in South Africa since she came out last year including Black Coffee Block Party, Rocking the Daisies, Trace Festival, FillupFNBStadium and Afropunk Johannesburg, and recently, her first American show at Afropunk Brooklyn.

Masego – Presented by PUMA for his first performance within the region, on the Saturday. Mentored by DJ Jazzy Jeff, and debuting a spin of smooth jazz on R&B, the self-taught saxophonist, rapper and producer has created a new wave of music.  His debut album “Lady Lady” debuted on four Billboard charts, with his COLORS performance of ‘Navajo’ receiving over 20 million views.

DaniLeigh – The Dominican-American singer will be yet another debut performance within PUMA’s space on Friday night. Emerging into the music scene originally as a dancer, directing a music video for her now mentor, Prince. DaniLeigh’s latest single “Lil Bebe” was released this month, channeling vibes from her inspirations including Drake and Aaliyah.

Sole DXB will also host regional live talents Chyno , Zenden Lavon, Reem Ekay and F1DEL.

Stay tuned to Sole DXB channels for more announcements on the line-up, in the coming weeks.