Urban Music Festival

R 'n' b and hip-hop lovers are in for a real treat at Dubai Festival City as superstar Akon headlines the Urban Music Festival along with New York rapper Fat Joe.

The two will be joined by American duo Black Violin and Dubai-based singers Kaspah and Ash, featuring P. from Black Park.

Rap DJs Cutmaster Swift and Ready D will be spinning some tunes to warm up the crowds and will also engage in an exciting DJ battle.

Apart from some of the world's best urban music, there will be dancers, a two-storey suspended bar, a graffiti wall and more activities to keep everyone entertained in between performances.

Hip-hop fans, roll up your sleeves and get ready to rumble this weekend at the Urban Music Festival headlined by Grammy Award-nominated singer Akon.

Fat Joe

Joseph Antonio Cartagena, aka Fat Joe, is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent, who is signed to Imperial Records. He's most famously known for his single Lean Back, which was a No 1 hit in 2004 and is still a major anthem in clubs around the world.

His first album was Represent, released in 1993, followed by Jealous One's Envy in 1995. From 1998 to 2006, he was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing four albums.

Around the release of his album All or Nothing, Fat Joe started a highly publicised feud with rapper 50 Cent, who had attacked Fat Joe in his song Piggy Bank.

Fat Joe's latest album The Elephant in the Room was released in March 2008.

Cut-master Swift

Once Cutmaster Swift became notorious on the underground, he entered the DMC World DJ Championships in 1988 as back-up to a friend and went on to win it.

In 1989, he won the UK and World DJ hampionships and won the UK Championships again in 1990. He has produced a series of battle records called Battle Breaks and is currently working on his fourth album.

Akon

Senegalese-born singer Akon, who was in Dubai last year for the launch of MTV Arabia, rose to fame following the release of his single Locked Up from his 2004 debut album Trouble.

His second album, Konvicted, which has been certified triple platinum with over four million records sold worldwide, earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single Smack That, featuring Eminem.

The r 'n' b singer-songwriter has since been nominated for five Grammy awards and in 2007 won the American Music Award for Favourite Male R 'n' B /Soul Artist.

Black violin

Black Violin consists of two classically trained musicians who combine their violins with hip-hop beats to create a completely unique sound.

KeV Marcus and Wil B, along with their DJ TK, played a great show at the Dubai Desert Rhythm Festival last year.

They have toured with Linkin Park's lead singer Mike Shinoda throughout the US, performed at the NFL kick-off party with P Diddy, at the Billboard Awards with Alicia Keys and been featured on Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Lil'-Kim and Brooke Hogan's albums as well.

Don't miss it

What: Urban Music Festival
When: Friday April 18
Where: Dubai Festival City
Tickets: From Dh200
Info: For more information, email tickets@csmentertains.com