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Kanye West recruits Common, Fantasia for fall tour
Controversial rapper Kanye West has lined up a 46-date fall tour to back his top-selling sophomore effort, "Late Registration."
The two-month jaunt hits a mix of arenas, universities and theaters, and includes multiple-night stands in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles.
West drew fire from some quarters and praise from others when he strayed from the script during an appearance on a recent NBC-TV telethon to help Hurricane Katrina victims, during which he said President Bush "doesn't care about black people."
The controversy didn't seem to hurt sales of "Late Registration," which hit stores Aug. 30 and has spent two weeks atop The Billboard 200 album chart. The set features the single "Gold Digger," featuring a guest appearance from actor Jamie Foxx.
At last month's MTV Video Music Awards, West took home Best Male Video for "Jesus Walks." The song appears on his 2004 platinum-selling debut, "The College Dropout."
Common , "American Idol" winner Fantasia and newcomer Keyshia Cole will serve as opening acts. On May 24, Common released the album "Be." The video for the title track, featuring sports stars Carmelo Anthony, Quentin Richardson and Terrell Owens, is streaming on his website.
Fantasia is pushing "Free Yourself." The album features "I Believe," a song which garnered Billboard's R&B Hip-Hop Awards for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles-Sales. Cole released her debut effort, "The Way It Is," in June.
