This article is about the hip-hop festival. For the LL Cool J song, see Rock the Bells (song).
Rock the Bells was an annual hip-hop festival that originally took place in Southern California only, but has since toured throughout the world. The concert featured a line-up of high-profile alternative hip-hop artists, often headlined by a more mainstream artist. The first festival was held in 2004, featuring a re-united Wu-Tang Clan, who performed four months before Ol' Dirty Bastard's death. That festival is covered in depth by a documentary film also called Rock the Bells.
Wu-Tang Clan performing at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts on the opening night of the 2007 tour.
Rock the Bells 2007 had 3 major venues scheduled; July 28 and July 29 in New York, August 11 in San Bernardino, and August 18 in San Francisco. These select shows were headlined by a reunited Rage Against the Machine, and co-headlined by Wu-Tang Clan. The artists appearing in the shows appeared in rotating slots over the two-show weekend in New York, and selected performances for the remaining duration of the 20 shows, which were head-lined by the Wu-Tang Clan. Five cities also had a second stage called the Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Stage. Rage Against the Machine was the festival's first non-hip hop act to be featured.
In July 2007, the Rock the Bells festival came to New York City, and this event became particularly noteworthy. Upon selling out the massive Randall's Island venue very quickly, the one-day stop in NYC was expanded to two days, and a number of new and exclusive guests were added to the bills. The festival included the full Paid Dues festival lineup performing on a second stage, reunited headliners Rage Against the Machine and Wu-Tang Clan, guest appearances during the show (including Scott Ian performing Bring the Noise with Public Enemy), a special performance of Black Star from Mos Def and Talib Kweli and one of the near-final performances of noted hip-hop luminary Pimp C.
2008 also marks the first year that Rock the Bells went global with four stops in Europe and one in Japan. Highlights of the series include a first time date in Toronto, plus a return to the Glen Helen Pavilion in San Bernardino where last year's show sold out with a capacity crowd of 45,000 people.
On the evening of May 24, 2011 Guerilla Union once again held the Rock the Bells Launch Party. Rapper Supernatural revealed the lineup for this year's edition of the festival. Keeping in the spirit of the 2010 artists, the more prolific acts on this year's festival will be performing a selection of "classic" albums in their entirety. These include Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Nas' Illmatic, Erykah Badu's Baduizm, Cypress Hill's Black Sunday, Mos Def & Talib Kweli's Black Star, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., Mobb Deep's The Infamous, Gza's Liquid Swords, Souls of Mischief's 93 'til Infinity, Black Moon's Enta da Stage and Masta Killa's No Said Date. Additionally, Currensy and Mac Miller will be appearing exclusively on the west coast dates while Evidence will appear only on the East Coast. More recently, rapper Common has been added to three shows, performing his album Be.[1]
*Denotes that the artist will be appearing only in select cities
2012 Festival Series
From early May to June, Guerilla Union unveiled the full lineup for the latest Rock the Bells festival series.[2] It was also revealed that this year's festival will consist of three, two-day weekend events, with two shows on the west coast and one in the east.
^Tickets and Lineups The Boston show originally scheduled for September 10 was postponed until September 24 before being officially cancelled. Problems cited include: weather and scheduling conflicts.
^"UPDATE: Rock the Bells Founder Says Eazy-E & ODB Will Not Appear as Holograms - XXL".
^ Tickets and Lineups The Boston show originally scheduled for September 10 was postponed until September 24 before being officially cancelled. Problems cited include: weather and scheduling conflicts.
External links
Rock The Bells – Official Website
Guerilla Union – Official Website
Paid Dues – Official Website
– Live photos from the 2009 Stop in Toronto
[VIDEO] Rock The Bells 2010 – Hip Hop Quotables
Exclusive Footage of the Tour – Official Website
Rock The Bells – Official Website for the film covering the 2004 festival
Rock the Bells 2010 Announcement
[PHOTOS] Rock The Bells 2011
May 14, 2023
rock, bells, this, article, about, festival, cool, song, song, annual, festival, that, originally, took, place, southern, california, only, since, toured, throughout, world, concert, featured, line, high, profile, alternative, artists, often, headlined, more, . This article is about the hip hop festival For the LL Cool J song see Rock the Bells song Rock the Bells was an annual hip hop festival that originally took place in Southern California only but has since toured throughout the world The concert featured a line up of high profile alternative hip hop artists often headlined by a more mainstream artist The first festival was held in 2004 featuring a re united Wu Tang Clan who performed four months before Ol Dirty Bastard s death That festival is covered in depth by a documentary film also called Rock the Bells Rock the BellsGenreHip hop musicDatesMid to Late SummerLocation s United StatesYears active2004 2013Founded byGuerilla UnionWebsiteRock The Bells Official Website Contents 1 Festivals 2 Club Tour 3 2007 Festival Series 3 1 New York City Dates 4 2008 Festival Series 5 2008 International Festival Series 6 2009 International Festival Series 7 2010 Festival Series 8 2011 Festival Series 9 2012 Festival Series 10 2013 Festival Series 11 See also 12 References 13 External linksFestivals EditDate City Country Venue LineupJuly 17 2004 San Bernardino United States National Orange Show Wu Tang Clan Redman Dilated Peoples Sage Francis Supernatural DJ Nu Mark of Jurassic 5 Eyedea and Abilities Fantastik 4our DJ Mark Luv DJ Icy Ice DJ Abel November 13 2004 Anaheim Anaheim Stadium Parking Lot A Tribe Called Quest Xzibit Cypress Hill Jurassic 5 Special Guest Little Brother The CMA Crown City Rockers Self Scientific DJ Revolution DJ Mark Luv DJ Icy Ice July 30 2005 San Bernardino National Orange Show Nas KRS One Special Guest Redman Raekwon and Ghostface Killah Cuban Linx Living Legends DJ Qbert Guru from Gang Starr Cut Chemist from Jurassic 5 DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill Non Phixion Supernatural The Visionaries Oh No Med Percee PAugust 5 2006 Wu Tang Clan Lauryn Hill Special Guest Mos Def Talib Kweli Redman De La Soul Dilated Peoples Living Legends Aesop Rock w Rob Sonic amp DJ Big Whiz Del the Funky Homosapien Immortal Technique B Real from Cypress Hill The Visionaries Murs 3 16 Planet Asia UGK Dirty Heads w DJ Rocky Rock Supernatural Surprise performances by Black Sheep DJ Kool and Sen Dog alongside B Real August 6 2006 Concord Sleep Train Pavilion Wu Tang Clan Mos Def Talib Kweli Redman De La Soul Living Legends Immortal Technique Murs 3 16 Zion I Supernatural Planet Asia Dirty Heads w DJ Rocky Rock Club Tour EditThe concept was taken from the original highly successful annual West Coast hip hop festival and transformed into a full fledged United States tour Date City Country VenueNovember 21 2006 Washington D C United States 9 30 ClubNovember 22 2006 Myrtle Beach House of BluesNovember 24 2006 Greensboro The N ClubNovember 25 2006 Hartford WebsterNovember 26 2006 Allentown Crocodile Rock CafeNovember 28 2006 New York City BB KingsNovember 30 2006 Boston AvalonDecember 1 2006 Providence Lupos Heartbreak HotelDecember 2 2006 Buffalo Buffalo BallroomDecember 3 2006 Burlington Higher GroundDecember 6 2006 Chicago House of BluesDecember 8 2006 Park City Harry ODecember 9 2006 Denver Ogden TheatreDecember 12 2006 Vancouver Canada Plush NightclubDecember 13 2006 Seattle United States The ShowboxDecember 14 2006 Portland Roseland TheatreDecember 15 2006 Sacramento EmpireDecember 16 2006 San Francisco MezzanineDecember 20 2006 Los Angeles House of BluesDecember 21 2006 San Diego House of BluesDecember 22 2006 Anaheim House of BluesLineupRedman Raekwon Keith Murray Supernatural EPMD Ghostface Killah Pharoahe Monch Smif n Wessun Dirty Heads DJ Kool 2007 Festival Series Edit Wu Tang Clan performing at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield Massachusetts on the opening night of the 2007 tour Rock the Bells 2007 had 3 major venues scheduled July 28 and July 29 in New York August 11 in San Bernardino and August 18 in San Francisco These select shows were headlined by a reunited Rage Against the Machine and co headlined by Wu Tang Clan The artists appearing in the shows appeared in rotating slots over the two show weekend in New York and selected performances for the remaining duration of the 20 shows which were head lined by the Wu Tang Clan Five cities also had a second stage called the Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Stage Rage Against the Machine was the festival s first non hip hop act to be featured Date City Country VenueJuly 26 2007 Mansfield United States Tweeter CenterJuly 28 2007 New York City Randall s Island July 29 2007August 2 2007 Atlanta Hi Fi Buys AmphitheatreAugust 3 2007 Charlotte Verizon Wireless AmphitheatreAugust 4 2007 Miami Bayfront ParkAugust 7 2007 Dallas Smirnoff Music CenterAugust 8 2007 Houston Reliant ParkAugust 11 2007 San Bernardino Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen August 12 2007 San Diego Coors Amphitheatre parking lot August 18 2007 San Francisco McCovey Cove parking lot August 21 2007 Salt Lake City USANA AmphitheaterAugust 22 2007 Denver Red Rocks AmphitheatreAugust 25 2007 Minneapolis The MythAugust 26 2007 Chicago Charter One PavilionAugust 29 2007 Clarkston DTE EnergySeptember 1 2007 Honolulu Blaisdell ArenaLineupMain Stage Rage Against the Machine Wu Tang Clan Cypress Hill The Roots Public Enemy Erykah Badu Rakim Mos Def Talib Kweli Nas Black Star Mos Def and Talib Kweli EPMD Pharoahe Monch Immortal Technique Jedi Mind Tricks David Banner UGK Supernatural Rahzel Murs 3 16 Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Stage MF Doom Living Legends Felt Sage Francis Murs 3 16 Brother Ali Cage Mr Lif Living Legends The Grouch amp Eligh Hangar 18 Blueprint Lucky I Am The Coup Blackalicious Ice Water Inc Sen Dog from Cypress Hill Hieroglyphics New York City Dates Edit In July 2007 the Rock the Bells festival came to New York City and this event became particularly noteworthy Upon selling out the massive Randall s Island venue very quickly the one day stop in NYC was expanded to two days and a number of new and exclusive guests were added to the bills The festival included the full Paid Dues festival lineup performing on a second stage reunited headliners Rage Against the Machine and Wu Tang Clan guest appearances during the show including Scott Ian performing Bring the Noise with Public Enemy a special performance of Black Star from Mos Def and Talib Kweli and one of the near final performances of noted hip hop luminary Pimp C New York CityJuly 28 2007 July 29 2007Guerilla Union Main Stage Paid Dues Independent Stage Guerilla Union Main Stage Paid Dues Independent StageRage Against the Machine Wu Tang Clan Public Enemy Cypress Hill The Roots Black Star EPMD Pharoahe Monch Doom Immortal Technique Jedi Mind TricksHosted by Rahzel Supernatural and Hi Tek and featuring Mike Relm Icy Ice C Minus DJ Rocky Rock and DJ Mark Luv Felt Living Legends Brother Ali Sage Francis Cage Mr Lif Grouch amp Eligh Hangar 18 Blueprint Lucky I Am Rage Against the Machine Wu Tang Clan Public Enemy Cypress Hill Erykah Badu did not perform Rakim Mos Def Talib Kweli Pharoahe Monch Immortal Technique Boot Camp Clik UGK Jedi Mind TricksHosted by Rahzel Supernatural and Hi Tek and featuring Mike Relm C Minus and DJ Rocky Rock Felt Living Legends Brother Ali Sage Francis Cage Doom Mr Lif Grouch amp Eligh Hangar 18 Blueprint Lucky I Am2008 Festival Series Edit Rakim performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland on July 27 2008 also marks the first year that Rock the Bells went global with four stops in Europe and one in Japan Highlights of the series include a first time date in Toronto plus a return to the Glen Helen Pavilion in San Bernardino where last year s show sold out with a capacity crowd of 45 000 people Date City Country VenueJuly 19 2008 Tinley Park United States First Midwest Bank AmphitheatreJuly 20 2008 Toronto Canada Canada Arrow HallJuly 26 2008 Mansfield United States Comcast Center July 27 2008 Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion August 2 2008 Miami Bayfront ParkAugust 3 2008 Wantagh Jones Beach Theater August 9 2008 San Bernardino Glen Helen Pavilion August 16 2008 Mountain View Shoreline AmphitheatreAugust 23 2008 Greenwood Village Fiddler s Green Amphitheatre September 6 2008 George The Gorge Amphitheatre LineupMain Stage A Tribe Called Quest The Pharcyde Special Guests Nas Ghostface and Raekwon MF Doom Rakim Mos Def Talib Kweli De La Soul Method Man amp Redman Immortal Technique Dead Prez Murs Blue Scholars Sage Francis Little Brother Jedi Mind Tricks Bigbox Culture Club Stage Spank Rock Amanda Blank The Cool Kids Kidz in the Hall DJ Afrika Bambaataa Flosstradamus Wale Santogold Kid Sister B o B Tyga Jay Electronica Devlin amp Darko Ninjasonik Blaqstarr Tyler Pase Plastic Little The Pack 2008 International Festival Series EditDate City Country VenueOctober 31 2008 Prague Czech Republic T Mobile ArenaNovember 1 2008 Amsterdam Netherlands Heineken Music HallNovember 4 2008 Stockholm Sweden AnnexetNovember 5 2008 Helsinki Finland Helsinki Ice HallNovember 9 2008 London England Indigo2 The O2 ArenaNovember 10 2008 Paris France ZenithLineupNas Mos Def De La Soul The Pharcyde Supernatural amp Scratch Epmd 2009 International Festival Series EditDate City Country VenueJune 27 2009 Tinley Park United States First Midwest Bank AmphitheatreJune 28 2009 Clarkston DTE Energy Music TheaterJuly 5 2009 Toronto Canada Molson AmphitheatreJuly 12 2009 Columbia United States Merriweather Post PavilionJuly 18 2009 Mansfield Comcast CenterJuly 19 2009 Wantagh Jones Beach TheaterAugust 1 2009 Burnaby Canada Deer Lake ParkAugust 2 2009 Calgary Shaw Millennium ParkAugust 6 2009 Morrison United States Red Rocks AmphitheatreAugust 8 2009 San Bernardino San Manuel AmphitheatreAugust 9 2009 Mountain View Shoreline AmphitheatreRock the Bells 09Main Stage Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Stage Surprise ActsNas amp Damian Marley Wu Tang Clan New York City only Cypress Hill Calgary only Mos Def Toronto only Ice Cube San Bernardino only The Roots Common Busta Rhymes Big Boi EPMD House of Pain featuring La Coka Nostra Reflection Eternal Tech N9ne Dragon Fli Empire K naan Raekwon Chali 2na The Knux Rza Gza Slaughterhouse Slum Village Evidence amp The Alchemist M O P Psycho Realm Buckshot Necro Sage Francis Eyedea amp Abilities Tabi Bonney Mystik Journeymen Mickey Factz B Dolan Short Dawg Hosted by KRS One Supernatural Murs and Pete Rock Washington D C Skillz AZ Styles P Pharoahe Monch Boston Krizz Kaliko Kutt Calhoun New York City Jadakiss Ice T The Lox DJ Premier Styles P Method Man U God Gravediggaz2010 Festival Series EditOn the evening of May 24 2010 Guerilla Union held the Rock the Bells Launch Party at Key Club in Hollywood CA The launch party featured surprise guest performances and the official announcement of the 2010 season lineup New to the festival this year is a Classics theme the headlining acts will be performing the following classic hip hop albums in their entirety A Tribe Called Quest performing Midnight Marauders Snoop Dogg with Warren G Tha Dogg Pound The Lady of Rage and RBX performing Doggystyle Wu Tang Clan entire group with Boy Jones first son of Ol Dirty Bastard performing Enter the Wu Tang 36 Chambers Rakim performing Paid in Full KRS One performing Criminal Minded Slick Rick performing The Great Adventures of Slick Rick and DJ Premier and Lauryn Hill as special guests Unannounced guest appearances included The Madd Rapper Large Professor Busta Rhymes Skyzoo Swizz Beatz and Nas Date City Country VenueAugust 21 2010 San Bernardino United States NOS Events CenterAugust 22 2010 Mountain View Shoreline AmphitheatreAugust 28 2010 New York City Governor s IslandAugust 29 2010 Columbia Merriweather Post PavilionRock the BellsMain Stage Second StageSnoop Dogg with Warren G Tha Dogg Pound The Lady of Rage and RBX A Tribe Called Quest Wu Tang Clan with Boy Jones ODB s first born son Lauryn Hill Rakim KRS One with Black Moon Slick Rick DJ Premier Street Sweeper Social Club Murs amp 9th Wonder Wiz Khalifa Clipse Immortal Technique Brother Ali Jedi Mind Tricks Supernatural DJ Muggs with Ill Bill DJ Rocky Rock Big Sean Yelawolf Hosted by Peter Rosenberg D Schwartz and K Salaam2011 Festival Series EditOn the evening of May 24 2011 Guerilla Union once again held the Rock the Bells Launch Party Rapper Supernatural revealed the lineup for this year s edition of the festival Keeping in the spirit of the 2010 artists the more prolific acts on this year s festival will be performing a selection of classic albums in their entirety These include Lauryn Hill s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Nas Illmatic Erykah Badu s Baduizm Cypress Hill s Black Sunday Mos Def amp Talib Kweli s Black Star Raekwon s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Mobb Deep s The Infamous Gza s Liquid Swords Souls of Mischief s 93 til Infinity Black Moon s Enta da Stage and Masta Killa s No Said Date Additionally Currensy and Mac Miller will be appearing exclusively on the west coast dates while Evidence will appear only on the East Coast More recently rapper Common has been added to three shows performing his album Be 1 Date City Country VenueAugust 20 2011 San Bernardino United States San Manuel AmphitheaterAugust 27 2011 Mountain View Shoreline AmphitheatreSeptember 3 2011 New York City Governor s IslandSeptember 24 2011 CANCELLED Mansfield Comcast CenterRock the Bells 11Rock the Bells Stage 36 Chambers Stage Paid Dues StageNas with AZ Pete Rock and DJ Premier Ms Lauryn Hill Erykah Badu Cypress Hill Black Star Common Random Axe Hosted by Peter Rosenberg Raekwon Ghostface Killah Mobb Deep Genius Gza Black Moon Mac Miller Currensy Childish Gambino Masta Killa Killah Priest Hosted by the Rza Supernatural and Boy Jones Immortal Technique Doom Slaughterhouse Big K R I T Souls of Mischief Evidence Blu Exile Fashawn Macklemore amp Ryan Lewis Freddie Gibbs Roc Marciano Hosted by Murs Denotes that the artist will be appearing only in select cities2012 Festival Series EditFrom early May to June Guerilla Union unveiled the full lineup for the latest Rock the Bells festival series 2 It was also revealed that this year s festival will consist of three two day weekend events with two shows on the west coast and one in the east Rock the Bells 12San Bernardino Mountain View HolmdelNas Bone Thugs n Harmony Kid Cudi Wiz Khalifa J Cole Atmosphere Common Ice Cube Method Man amp Redman DMX Eve Jadakiss Wu Block featuring Raekwon Ghostface Killah Jadakiss Sheek Louch Styles P Dipset Kendrick Lamar Currensy Sean Price Deltron 3030 Hit Squad 2 Chainz Tyga Pusha T Immortal Technique E 40 amp Too Short DJ Quik Naughty by Nature Salt N Pepa Big Daddy Kane Lance Robertson amp Friends Yelawolf Murs Fashawn Prodigy Zion I Grouch Eligh Schoolboy Q Ab Soul Future Dom Kennedy YG Watsky Jay Rock Hosted by Rza amp MC Supernatural Nas Bone Thugs n Harmony Kid Cudi J Cole DMX Eve Mac Miller Atmosphere Common Ice Cube Method Man amp Redman Wu Block featuring Raekwon Ghostface Killah Jadakiss Sheek Louch Styles P ASAP Rocky Dipset Kendrick Lamar Deltron 3030 Hit Squad 2 Chainz Tyga Pusha T Immortal Technique DJ Quik Mix Master Mike Naughty by Nature Salt N Pepa Big Daddy Kane Lance Robertson amp Friends Yelawolf Murs Fashawn Slick Rick Zion I Grouch Eligh Schoolboy Q Ab Soul Dom Kennedy Action Bronson Watsky Jay Rock Hosted by Rza amp MC Supernatural Nas Bone Thugs n Harmony J Cole Big Sean Common Ice Cube Method Man amp Redman DMX Eve Jadakiss Wu Block featuring Raekwon Ghostface Killah Jadakiss Sheek Louch Styles P Dipset Currensy Sean Price Deltron 3030 Hit Squad 2 Chainz Tyga Pusha T Immortal Technique DJ Quik Mix Master Mike Naughty by Nature Salt N Pepa Big Daddy Kane Lance Robertson amp Friends Yelawolf Murs Fashawn Prodigy M O P Slick Rick Zion I Grouch Eligh Schoolboy Q Ab Soul Future Dom Kennedy Action Bronson Watsky Jay Rock Hosted by Rza amp MC Supernatural2013 Festival Series EditOn May 14 Guerilla Union held a launch party in Los Angeles At that event they announced performances by Black Hippy Big K R I T Brother Ali Chase amp Status Common Bone Thugs n Harmony including a virtual performance by the late Eazy E Currensy Danny Brown Dilated Peoples Dizzy Wright Dom Kennedy E 40 Earl Sweatshirt Hit Boy Hopsin Immortal Technique Jhene Aiko Joey Badass and the Pro Era Juicy J Jurassic 5 Kid Cudi Lecrae Logic Mimosa Rakim Riff Raff Snow Tha Product Talib Kweli Tech N9ne Too Short Tyler The Creator and Wu Tang Clan including a virtual performance by the late Ol Dirty Bastard Other performers added by the start of the festival included ASAP Mob Girl Talk J Cole Jurassic 5 KRS One Deltron 3030 Slick Rick Doug E Fresh Chief Keef and a New York only headline performance by Pretty Lights The 2013 series was hosted by Murs and Hot 97 s Peter Rosenberg To mark the 10th anniversary of Rock the Bells Wu Tang Clan was meant to reunite but Raekwon and Ghostface Killah did not make appearances Originally the series was scheduled for eight dates two nights each in San Francisco Los Angeles Washington D C and New York City However due to poor sales the east coast shows were canceled 3 See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rock the Bells List of hip hop music festivals List of electronic music festivalsReferences Edit Tickets and Lineups The Boston show originally scheduled for September 10 was postponed until September 24 before being officially cancelled Problems cited include weather and scheduling conflicts 2012 Lineup UPDATE Rock the Bells Founder Says Eazy E amp ODB Will Not Appear as Holograms XXL Tickets and Lineups The Boston show originally scheduled for September 10 was postponed until September 24 before being officially cancelled Problems cited include weather and scheduling conflicts External links EditRock The Bells Official Website Guerilla Union Official Website Paid Dues Official Website Live photos from the 2009 Stop in Toronto VIDEO Rock The Bells 2010 Hip Hop Quotables Exclusive Footage of the Tour Official Website Rock The Bells Official Website for the film covering the 2004 festival Rock the Bells 2010 Announcement PHOTOS Rock The Bells 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock the Bells amp oldid 1151900265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
