Since its inception, Rock the Bells has been the hip-hop festival of choice for many fans of the genre, what with its mix of reunited classic groups, established MCs and younger up-and-comers. This year, the festival's theme seems to be classic albums, as organizers have confirmed Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim, KRS-One and Slick Rick will all be playing their most critically beloved albums, in their entirety, at each of the confirmed festival dates.
You heard right: Wu's Enter the 36 Chambers, Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full, KRS-One's Criminal Minded and Slick Rick's The Great Adventures Of will all played in the order you've come to love, and in succession, too.
The official Rock the Bells website site also points to the addition of Street Sweeper Social Club (Tom Morello with the Coup), Murs and 9th Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, Jedi Mind Tricks and a number of other performers, with more to be announced.
On top of this, the festival hints at performances by a number of "surprise guests," which, as the site points out, will include ex-Fugee Lauryn Hill. Rumours circulating the night before the official line-up announcement indicate that A Tribe Called Quest might also be set to make some guest appearances.
As of yet, only four dates have been announced - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC, on August 21, 22, 28 and 29, respectively - and it's unclear whether more announcements are on the way.
In the past, Rock the Bells has been the site of reunion performances by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, Rage Against the Machine and the Wu-Tang Clan, who played their last show with Ol' Dirty Bastard at the festival's 2004 edition.
Here's hoping more dates are announced soon.
You heard right: Wu's Enter the 36 Chambers, Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full, KRS-One's Criminal Minded and Slick Rick's The Great Adventures Of will all played in the order you've come to love, and in succession, too.
The official Rock the Bells website site also points to the addition of Street Sweeper Social Club (Tom Morello with the Coup), Murs and 9th Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, Jedi Mind Tricks and a number of other performers, with more to be announced.
On top of this, the festival hints at performances by a number of "surprise guests," which, as the site points out, will include ex-Fugee Lauryn Hill. Rumours circulating the night before the official line-up announcement indicate that A Tribe Called Quest might also be set to make some guest appearances.
As of yet, only four dates have been announced - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC, on August 21, 22, 28 and 29, respectively - and it's unclear whether more announcements are on the way.
In the past, Rock the Bells has been the site of reunion performances by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, Rage Against the Machine and the Wu-Tang Clan, who played their last show with Ol' Dirty Bastard at the festival's 2004 edition.
Here's hoping more dates are announced soon.
