Hip-hop veteran Nas [ tickets ] has announced dates for a headlining tour in April as he continues to back his best-selling recent album, "Hip Hop is Dead."

The rapper will kick off his schedule April 2 in Cleveland, the first of 23 cities on an outing that will focus on nightclubs and small theaters. Details are included below.

"Hip Hop is Dead," released in late December of last year, surged into the No. 1 position on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 355,000 copies during its first week in stores. The disc is the performer's third No. 1 album, following 1996's "It Was Written," and 1999's "I Am ..."

"Can't Forget About You," the second single from the new album, was released to radio in late January. The song's music video--which features Nas and singer Chrisette Michele, and was directed by Chris Robinson (Ludacris, Beyonce)--hit the airwaves in early February.