The Greatest Hip-Hop Show Ever
Rock the Bells: hip-hop rings at Merriweather
Ra-Jah S. Kelly
No Soulja Boy for The Roots and crew.
While it seemed to be a bold claim, the lineup included such hip-hop luminaries as Nas, RZA and Raekwon plus KRS One (wearing what appeared to be a hands-only version of the Incredible Hulk costume), Pete Rock and Murs hosting.
So it had to be good, right?
Absolutely. With two stages and more than 10 hours of music, the Rock the Bells fest delivered on its promise, particularly during a stretch on the main stage that featured Reflection Eternal, Common, Big Boi, The Roots, Busta Rhymes and Nas.
Although Damian Marley canceled a scheduled performance with Nas, leaving Nas to rock solo, most fans' biggest complaints were tough choices -- like RZA on the second stage or The Roots on main.
However, consider for a moment that the lineup was curiously absent of artists with the title "little," "small," "boy" or "kid" in their stage names (Little Wayne, Yung Joc and The Cool Kids, we're looking at you!). Unlike last year, 2009's lineup seemed to be designed to highlight a period of hip-hop and artists at odds with much of the newer music being produced.
As KRS One sidekick Supernatural said to thunderous applause during a freestyle: “I'm a grown man, not a Soldier Boy.”
Posted Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 - 10:42 AM EST
