Promoters Planetroc announce that Akon has withdrawn from the Episode One show due to personal reasons and the NZ show, venue and date have been moved to accommodate this change. Akon hopes to tour Australasia next year and regrets that fans will have to wait awhile longer to see him perform.
Rap music and movie star T.I. will still perform for the very first time for Episode One on Saturday 9th November at West Auckland’s Trusts Arena along with New Yorkers French Montana, and, now also, Bridgette Kelly – who has since been added to the bill following Akon’s cancellation.
Bridgette Kelly has been tipped as the next Alicia Keys - regularly filling in for Keys when performing the song Empire State of Mind with Jay Z. Bridgette has worked with many name producers such as Frank Ocean, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, Jerry Wonda, James Fauntleroy II, Ryan Leslie, and Shea Taylor.
After years of anticipation, T.I. (also known as T.I.P. and Rubberband Man) – will finally perform his first Australasian show. His many hits include Bring Em Out, What You Know, Big Shit Poppin' (Do It), Swagga Like Us (featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne), Dead and Gone (featuring Justin Timberlake), Ball (featuring Lil Wayne), plus a guest performance on the current smash hit Blurred Lines with Robin Thicke. T.I. has won three Grammy Awards and was dubbed "the Jay-Z of the South" by Pharrell Williams. He has also appeared in movies like American Gangster (alongside Denzel Washington),Takers and Identity Thief.
One of the hottest rappers on the streets of New York right now is Moroccan born French Montana. His recently released debut studio album Excuse My French was produced by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and features tracks with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Drake, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne.
Despite the venue and date change, all tickets to Episode One remain valid. Existing Floor and Gold ticket holders will be offered a free additional ticket (one per purchased ticket) and Silver and Bronze ticket holders, a free T.I Episode One T-shirt per ticket purchased. Refunds will also be available for a limited time.
