Jay-Z tour outlines ‘Blueprint’ for summer concerts with Ciara

While his latest studio album is in its final stages of production, rap mogul Jay-Z has announced plans for just a handful of summer concerts to promote the upcoming release. Only five concerts have been confirmed for the tour, which features a full backing band.

Jay-Z launches his venture with a July 3-4 pair of shows at the Pearl Concert Theatre in Las Vegas, NV. The tour quickly crosses over to the East Coast, where it leaves off with a July 12 show at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta, GA. The current itinerary is listed in full below, but more dates will be announced in the future.

R&B vocalist Ciara will be the opening act for the currently confirmed dates. The singer revealed her involvement with the tour on May 12 in an early-morning post on her official Twitter account. She noted, “I will say it because the information has been leaked…me and Jay-Z will be going a 10-city tour run together! More details coming soon!”

Ticket presales begin today, May 13, followed by public on-sales on May 15. Live Nation is handling primary ticketing for the tour as part of its 10-year contract with Jay-Z. The rapper was one of the first recording artists to sign an all-encompassing “360-degree” deal with the company in 2008, similar to deals with Madonna, Nickelback, and Shakira, among others.

Jay-Z is promoting his upcoming album, “The Blueprint 3,” tentatively scheduled for a September 2009 release. The effort follows 2001’s “The Blueprint” and its 2002 follow-up “The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse.” In 2007, the rapper released his tenth and most recent studio album, “American Gangster,” inspired by the movie of the same name.

Jay-Z itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)