It's a tour custom-made for college campuses. With a full-scale arena run waiting in the wings, hip-hop top dog Jay-Z has embarked on a journey through the nation's college music halls, kicking off last week at Penn State. And he's enlisted a backpack-friendly cast of openers, led by the colorful rap-rock hybrid group N.E.R.D.

The tour's stop at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center on Wednesday will be Jay-Z's first area appearance since a Palace of Auburn Hills show in spring 2008. It follows the September release of "The Blueprint 3," the latest chart-topping critical success from the 39-year-old rap elder.

Jay-Z's supporting cast features the sort of worldly, progressive hip-hop that goes down well with the smart set. Most notable is the Pharrell Williams-led N.E.R.D., which just turned itself into a quartet with the addition of vocalist Rhea, as the group looks ahead to an album release early next year.

J. Cole -- the first signee to Jay-Z's new Roc Nation label -- is a German-born, North Carolina-raised emcee who's getting his first taste of national touring. Rapper Wale, born in D.C. to Nigerian parents, has released prominent mixtapes for several years and is set to drop his debut album in November, "Attention: Deficit," produced by Mark Ronson of Amy Winehouse fame.