In the weeks leading up to his headlining appearance California's annual Rock the Bells concert, Nas will warm up with a handful of club performances beginning July 14 in Chicago.

At deadline, just six dates were confirmed, although a 10-day hole in the schedule between a July 16 Cleveland stop and a July 26 Denver appearance seems likely to be filled. Opening acts have not been announced for any show except Denver, which will include appearances by politically charged rapper Immortal Technique and locally popular rapper Black Pegasus.

The roadwork comes in support of his latest Ill Will/Columbia album, "Street's Disciple." Released in December, the two-disc set bowed at No. 2 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on The Billboard 200. It has sold 663,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As previously reported, the Rock the Bells festival will also feature performances by Redman, the Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface, Gang Starr MC Guru, and others. The event will be hosted by Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA, Cypress Hill's B-Real and the Beat Junkies' Mr. Choc.

Here are Nas' confirmed tour dates:

July 14: Chicago (House of Blues)
July 15: Milwaukee (the Rave)
July 16: Cleveland (House of Blues)
July 26: Denver (Universal Lending Pavilion)
July 28: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
July 29: San Diego (House of Blues)
July 30: San Bernardino, Calif. (Rock the Bells festival)