My Global Hustle

Nas and Steve Stoute Join SXSW Music Conference as Featured Speakers

March 1, 2012 – Austin, Texas - The South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference is pleased to announce two additions to its schedule: “The SXSW Interview: Nas and Steve Stoute," presented in collaboration with leading brand-marketing firm Translation on Friday, March 16 at 3:30 PM, and "A Conversation with Steve Stoute and Dan Charnas” on Saturday, March 17 at 11:00 AM, both in the Austin Convention Center.

Queens rapper Nas, widely considered to be one of the most accomplished and talented artists to ever hit the mic, established his place amongst the hip-hop elite with the 1994 release of his debut album, Illmatic. The impact of his distinctive lyricism and thoughtful storytelling reaches far beyond hip hop culture and has earned him a global audience of millions. Throughout years of multi-platinum album sales, critical acclaim, controversies, and fame, Nas has undoubtedly solidified his position as one of the greatest rappers of all time. On the heels of his collaboration with Damian Marley, Nas is currently preparing his next studio album.

In this special SXSW Interview, Nas will be joined in conversation with Steve Stoute, his former manager and longtime friend. As the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Translation, author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, and former music executive, Stoute has been an instrumental figure in utilizing the power of hip-hop culture to revolutionize the way brands connect with audiences. This meeting of visionaries will be a highlight of the SXSW Music Conference you won’t want to miss!

The following day, Steve Stoute returns to the conference in a special conversation with Dan Charnas, experienced journalist, author of The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, and current editorial director of InteractiveOne. Charnas' previous work with The Source, Profile Records, and American Recordings provides him with a unique perspective for the conversation. The discussion will look at how hip- hop has spurred creativity and spawned enterprise throughout the global economy as the predominant cultural force of the new century, a phenomenon Stoute calls “The Tanning Effect.”

The SXSW Interview: Nas and Steve Stoute
Friday, March 16
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Room 18ABC, Austin Convention Center

A Conversation with Steve Stoute and Dan Charnas
Saturday, March 17
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Room 12AB, Austin Convention Center

SXSW 2012, the world's leading music industry event, marks the 26th edition by presenting this highly anticipated convergence of all things music. SXSW aims to educate and inspire participants by offering numerous industry events and countless networking opportunities. The previously announced Bruce Springsteen keynote will anchor four days of panels, interviews, workshops, peer meetings, music gear expo, and a trade show exhibition. After a full day of events at the Austin Convention Center, attendees take to the streets for the world-renowned music festival which showcases over 2000 acts from over 55 countries on 100 stages throughout downtown Austin. SXSW Music Conference and Festival takes place in Austin, Texas from March 13 – 18, 2012. For more information on every aspect of SXSW please go to http://www.sxsw.com.

SXSW® 2012 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Sonicbids, Chevrolet, IFC, Pepsi, Doritos, Monster Energy, freecreditscore.com, Esurance, AT & T, Dell and The Austin Chronicle.