Keyshia Cole is bringing her The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour with special guest Tink and Wale to Dickies Arena on July 26th!

Presale is available Thursday, April 24th from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. with unlock code DICKIES. Tickets go on sale the public Friday, April 25th at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com.

Joining Keyshia on tour are XXL Freshman 2015 alumnus Tink, award-winning artist Wale, Platinum artist Friday, and GRAMMY-nominated artist Jeremih (on select dates). Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning hip-hop legend Lil’ Kim will join Keyshia in Lincoln, CA, as well as on all UK & Europe dates. Brooklyn, NY, and Greensboro, NC, will feature Billboard chart-topping rapper Jadakiss & 2x GRAMMY-winner T-Pain as special guests, respectively.  

“I’m so grateful to be celebrating The Way It Is 20 years later with the fans who have been with me since day one,” says Cole. “This album changed my life, and being able to take it on the road — from city to city, country to country — is truly a full circle moment, and blessing.” 

The Way It Is will be released on vinyl for the first time since its original 2005 release as a 20th anniversary edition double LP on black vinyl and also on limited edition Rose Garden Pink Translucent color vinyl via A&M/UMe on June 20, the day before the album’s 20th anniversary. The limited-edition color version will feature a gatefold sleeve with photos from the classic CD release and include the rarity “Love (Acapella)” as a bonus track. Fans who pre-order the vinyl will receive exclusive access to the first pre-sale to purchase tickets for the North America dates. Pre-order now here: https://www.keyshiacoleofficial.com.  

Released in June 2005, The Way It Is marked a pivotal moment in R&B—introducing Keyshia Cole’s unfiltered storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and signature blend of vulnerability and strength. Twenty years later, she’s bringing that same energy back to the stage, giving fans a chance to reconnect with the songs that soundtracked so many real-life moments. Fresh off a standout performance at this year’s Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina, Keyshia is ready to take it nationwide. From “I Should Have Cheated” to “Love” and beyond, the tour will spotlight the records that helped define an era, delivered with the raw emotion and authenticity that made her one of the genre’s most impactful voices. 

Keyshia Cole is a Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter, and television personality known for her powerful vocals, emotional storytelling, and raw authenticity. Born and raised in Oakland, California, she rose to fame with her 2005 platinum-certified debut album, The Way It Is, which introduced her signature blend of vulnerability and strength. The album’s success led to her hit BET reality series, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which further cemented her as a cultural icon.  Her chart-topping follow-up albums—including Just Like You, A Different Me, and Woman to Woman—solidified her status as a defining voice in R&B, earning her four Grammy nominations and multiple industry accolades. Dubbed the “Princess of Hip-Hop Soul,” Cole’s career spans music, television, and talk show hosting, including her time as host of One on One with Keyshia Cole on Fox Soul. This year, Keyshia celebrates the 20th anniversary of The Way It Is with an international anniversary tour, giving fans around the world the chance to experience the music that shaped a generation. With over 15 million albums sold worldwide and an enduring connection to her fans, Keyshia Cole remains one of the most influential voices in modern R&B. 

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Combining the power of the live event with a focus on true artist development, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industries. Operating across five continents, the company has an unparalleled commitment to artistry, creativity, and community. Its tentpole festivals and multi-day music events — which include the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside British Summer Time at Hyde Park, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, Rock En Seine and All Points East — continue to set the bar for the live music experience. AEG Presents promotes global tours for artists such as Justin Bieber, Zach Bryan, Sabrina Carpenter, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Celine Dion, Elton John, Carin León, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Tyler, The Creator, in addition to — through its network of clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and renowned partner brands such as The Bowery Presents, Cárdenas Marketing Network, Concerts West, Frontier Touring, Goldenvoice, Marshall Arts, MCT Agentur, Messina Touring Group, PromoWest Productions, and Zero Mile Presents — creating and developing an unmatched infrastructure for artist development and audience reach. More information can be found at www.aegpresents.com.

Free Lunch is a multifaceted creative shop founded by Timothy Hinshaw, focused on authentically bridging the gap between culture and corporate America. Prior to launching Free Lunch, Tim spent 5 years at Amazon as the head of Hip-Hop and R&B where he led the streaming service’s industry strategy and partnerships across the genres, inclusive of the global flagship brand, Rotation. At Amazon, Tim brokered exclusive livestream deals for Amazon Music and Prime Video with Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, Drake and many more. Before his time at Amazon Music, Hinshaw created the Urban Music division at Fender Guitars and worked in music marketing for Vans. Hinshaw started his career in music co-managing his brother, superstar songwriter Charles ‘Prince Charlez’ Hinshaw, which led to a joint venture label deal with Island Def Jam and global Co Publishing deal with Rondor/Universal Music. Free Lunch is a safe haven for artists of all facets. We always leave the door cracked a little to let GOD in.