*Poet Saul Williams has set aside dates in March and April to promote his latest album "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust," a project based on lyrics adapted from poems in Williams' 2006 book "The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop."

       "NiggyTardust," a collaboration with Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, was released online for free (or for a $5 contribution) in November. According to Reznor, the album had been downloaded 154,449 times as of Jan. 2, with 28,322 choosing to pay $5 for it.

       "The NiggyTardust concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show," the poet said in a statement. "It allows me to put my theatre training to use.      

       "I've also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets etc. and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind."      

       Williams' tour will kick off March 12 at Austin, TX's SXSW music conference. The emcee will play a pair of shows during the influential festival before heading to the West Coast for a 30-city run in March and April. The dates are listed below.

March 2008
12, 13 - Austin, TX - SXSW
17 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Plaza Club
18 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
19 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
21 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
22 - Santa Barbara, CA - Club Mercy
24 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
25 - West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
26 - Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse
27 - Phoenix, AZ - Chandler Gilbert Community College (spoken word performance)
28 - Phoenix, AZ - Estrella Mountain Community College (spoken word performance)
29 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
31 - Dallas, TX - The Loft

April 2008
1 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
3 - New Orleans, LA - The Parish
4 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft
6 - Annapolis, MD - Ram's Head Tavern
7 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
8 - Boston, MA - Paradise
9 - New York, NY - The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
11 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
12 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse
13 - Montreal, Quebec - La Tulipe
14 - Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club
16 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
17 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
18 - Chicago, IL - Martyrs
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre
21 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
22 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up
23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court