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Music

Rock the Bells Music Festival 2008

Posted by Carlos Weisz / July 17, 2008

13 Comments

rock the bells music festival.jpg
This Sunday July 20th, Rogers Picnic has some seriously stiff competition in the famous traveling summer Hip Hop all-star tour, Rock the Bells.

Rock the Bells music festival has grown into the premier hip hop festival in North America. Every year, since it's inception in 2003, the festival keeps growing into a stronger community, showcasing the best in new and old-school hip hop.

This year the most anticipated headliners on the tour are A Tribe Called Quest and West Coast troupe The Pharcyde, who re-united this year for the festival. This shows the caliber that this festival has to offer, when someone like Mos Def is not considered a headliner.

Last year Daft Punk made it worth going all the way up to Arrow Hall with the best concert of 2007. Expect no less this year with one of the most solid lineups I've ever seen. I mean, come on! Tribe Called Quest!? De La!? Nas!?

All I can say is that Guerilla Union is doing something right, and hope they keep on doing it.

Rock the Bells Festival 2008
Sunday July 20th, 2008
Arrow Hall
6900 Airport Road

Featuring:

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, NAS, THE PHARCYDE, MOS DEF, DE LA SOUL, RAKIM, METHOD MAN & REDMAN, MURS, SPANK ROCK, KID SISTER, THE COOL KIDS, WALE, JAY ELECTRONICA, B.O.B., KIDZ IN THE HALL, AMANDA BLANK. HOSTED BY B-REAL, SUPERNATURAL & SCRATCH and DJ GREEN LANTERN

Get Tickets at:
www.ticketmaster.com

And here's a little warm up:



Tribe Called Quest photo by Jive Records.

Discussion

13 Comments

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Safari / July 17, 2008 at 08:36 am
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Are we sure about that complete line-up? Cuz I'm excited to see Wale, Jay Electronica, & B.O.B.
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Carlos / July 17, 2008 at 08:46 am
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I hope so! i checked different sources, and it seems that's the confirmed line-up for Toronto.
I heard there might be some surprise guests too!
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Sameer Vasta / July 17, 2008 at 08:57 am
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I'll be there! And yup, that's the confirmed lineup for Toronto. No Ghostface, MF Doom, or Immortal Technique, but I can deal with that. I'm pretty upset Little Brother's not showing up for the Toronto show though...
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duthie / July 17, 2008 at 09:01 am
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given the organizer's track record for Rock the bells in Toronto the last few year's I predict this to be a bust. half the line up probably won't show up or be allowed to cross the border. Plus there in Chicago the night before and will be to hungover to put on a good show.
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Carlos / July 17, 2008 at 09:49 am
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I think the opposite. Given what happened last year, i'm sure the promoters will make sure things go smoothly this year, otherwise they will loose the Toronto crowd. Also given the size of the venue, if things don't go smoothly people won't put up with it.
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AC / July 17, 2008 at 09:57 am
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I've never heard of this venue. What's it like? Is it an indoor or outdoor show?
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Adam L. / July 17, 2008 at 10:08 am
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Can't wait!! Looking forward to hearing some samples of Meth/Redman's Blackout II album as well...going to be a scene.
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E-tron / July 17, 2008 at 10:54 am
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what?!?!? no spank, kid sis or floss? boo-urns
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Corina / July 17, 2008 at 10:55 am
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too bad they shoved rock the bells way out at aerohall... rogers picnic has the $ to get the better venue.
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Carlos / July 17, 2008 at 11:47 am
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@AC - Arrow Hall is a huge warehouse kind of space, usually used for big conferences. I've only been there for Daft Punk, and the sound was actually pretty good. Hope it's good this time too.

@E-tron - I think Spankrock and Kid Sister are playing on Sunday, Flosstradamus isn't. Or did you read somewhere they are not?

@Corina - yeah it's too bad it had ot be in Arrow Hall, it kind of makes it an experience of it's own, i guess...
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Deonus / July 21, 2008 at 11:50 pm
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The concert was the best concert I've ever seen. However, I'm pissed that we got there late, That we missed most of Pharsyde and all of Mos Def waiting in line for ATCQ. But fuck, that's
nothin. The all quality hip hop on stage for one night. If you didn't go to it but had the chance you are a fuckin fool. I don't think there will ever be a concert line up where everyone showed up that good again. It's so good I might go to it twice. Q-Tip flipped his rap around on one of the few first songs but outside of that they didn't miss the mark in my book.
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Deanna / July 24, 2008 at 02:23 pm
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Considering the enormous line ups, lack of organization and horrendous sound system, I sure wouldn't call this best show ever. I think the artists, especially De la, Pharcyde, Red and Meth and Nas deserve mad props for putting on such a great show in probably the worst venue they've had to encounter. I'd like to say the same for Mos, but I missed the majority of his set waiting in the hour long line up for a beer. And I'm sure I'm not alone in my utter disappoint with Rakim for walking off stage because of the shit sound system.

Word of advice to organizers: don't insult some of the sickest rap artists of today by booking them in the shittiest arena in Toronto. O, and please find an event company that knows how to run a beer tent.
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Deanna / July 24, 2008 at 02:23 pm
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Considering the enormous line ups, lack of organization and horrendous sound system, I sure wouldn't call this best show ever. I think the artists, especially De la, Pharcyde, Red and Meth and Nas deserve mad props for putting on such a great show in probably the worst venue they've had to encounter. I'd like to say the same for Mos, but I missed the majority of his set waiting in the hour long line up for a beer. And I'm sure I'm not alone in my utter disappoint with Rakim for walking off stage because of the shit sound system.

Word of advice to organizers: don't insult some of the sickest rap artists of today by booking them in the shittiest arena in Toronto. O, and please find an event company that knows how to run a beer tent.
Reply

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