Nas Will Perform at New Hip-Hop Festival at the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center has been a staple performing arts complex in the nation's capitol since 1971. Next year, the cultural institution will introduce the new One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide festival and one of rap's greats will kickstart the event: Nas.

According to the Associated Press, the Queens, N.Y., emcee will perform songs from his classic debut album, 'Illmatic,' with the National Symphony Orchestra. The festival will also celebrate the other elements of hip-hop including deejaying, graffiti writing and B-boying.

The week-long event held in Washington, D.C., features international hip-hop artists such as Puerto Rico's Calle 13 and Somalian-Canadian rapper K’NAAN, who each represent how far the culture has evolved and spread across borders.

"Hip-hop is clearly something new and different for us," Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser said. "I think to do something very current is important. We're trying to speak to many different audiences."

The One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide festival will take place March 28 to April 7, 2014 with free and ticketed performances.

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