Rock the Bells, which is celebrating its ninth annual concert, recently announced its 2012 lineup which unites old school and new school hip hop. The 2012 festival will be making stops at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California (Aug. 18-Aug. 19), the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California (Aug. 25-Aug. 26), and concluding at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey (Sept. 1-Sept.2).
This summer’s Rock the Bells lineup of hip-hop legacy presents some of the best in hip hop history Nas, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Naughty By Nature, Dipset, Salt-N-Pepa, Redman and Method Man, Missy Elliot and Timbaland, add local Bay Area artist E-40 and Too $hort at the Mountain View Amphitheatre in California and you know Rock The Bells is looking to create a once in a lifetime concert experience for fans.
RockBells.net reported Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will be on stage for the first time in 20 years, performing a special tribute to the late Eazy-E, as well as their breakout album E. 1999 Eternal which includes the Grammy award-winning hit “Tha Crossroads.” This could be the new beginning that front loads Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in their quest for a 2012 comeback following the heels of their short April 2011 breakup.
Also reuniting at Rock the Bells this summer is Hit Squad, comprised by the east-coast Hip Hop group of EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, K-Solo, Keith Murray, and DJ Scratch. This marks the first time the group will performing together since disbanding over financial issues in 1993 following the success of their final album Business Never Personal.
Not a fan of the old school stuff? Rock the Bells has a variety of up-and-coming artists as well as new artists who have already made a name for themselves in the industry. Some of today’s popular artists who will be making their second return back to Rock the Bells sounds stage are rappers Tyga, Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, and Yelawolf . Wiz Khalifa, Billboard Music Awards 2012 Best New Artist recipient, is currently still burning the charts with new hot single release “Taylor Gang” and buzz surrounding the release of his sophomore album O.N.I.F.C. on August 28. Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller have also teamed up for a summer tour, Under the Influence which kicks off July 26.
Rock The Bells festival started in 2004 reuniting Wu-Tang Clan four months before the death of Ol’ Dirty Bastard. In 2006, the festival moved out of the confines of California and performed its first nation wide tour series performing in 21 different venues in 32 days from Seattle, WA to Burlington, VT.
In addition to the scheduled festival dates, Rock the Bells announced on its website that the festival joined forces with the non-profit group Hope for Haiti to provide a special benefit show to support the relief efforts on island. The event will take place in December at the Bay Front Amphitheatre in Miami, FL.
If you would like to be informed of tour announcements you can sign up for the Guerilla Union newsletter. Tickets for Rock The Bells are currently on sale. Be sure to check the official festival website to get the full details on the acts coming to your area.