Rock The Bells Lineup: Lauryn Hill, Nas, Childish Gambino Among Rock The Bells 2011 Lineup

By
Birthplace Magazine
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The annual travelling hip hop-heavy Rock The Bells music festival is gearing up for its 2011 run, and the initial lineup of artists and venues have been announced.

Last year, the buzz around the Rock The Bells music festival was strong, as rumors regarding the headliners of the multiple-city concert tour ran rampant, hinting as A Tribe Called Quest reunion, as well as a long-awaited comeback for Lauryn Hill. At first denied, but then revealed, both were added and appeared alongside legendary and veteran performers such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One and more.

This year, Lauryn Hill is back, perhaps eager to launch Lauryn Hill 3.0, as some of her 2010 comeback performances were panned by critics, a bit understandable considering the length of her self-imposed exile. Joining Ms. Hill atop the bill, Nasty Nas, with special guests DJ Premier, Pete Rock and AZ. Also at the head of the Rock The Bells class of 2011, festival-favorite Cypress Hill, Erykah Badu and the also-recently-reunited-and-touring Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli).

Some Wu-members will be a part of the festivities, as usual, with Raekwon and Ghostface listed, as well as GZA and Masta Killa. The Rza is listed as one the hosts of the events, along with Murs and Supernatural.

New York-heavy, and recent Shady Records signees Slaughterhouse (containing Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden, two members of Birthplace Magazine’s “5 Reasons Why New York Hip Hop Doesn’t Suck“) will be rocking the stages, as well as underground favorite Immortal Technique.

The highly-acclaimed musical alter-ego of Community actor Donald Glover, Childish Gambino, is slated to appear, as well as Curren$y, Blu + Exile + Fashawn, and Mac Miller. Rounding out the initial lineup, veterans Souls of Mischief and Black Moon, newcomers Big K.R.I.T. and Freddie Gibbs, Random Axe, Evidence, Macklemore and Long Island’s Roc Marciano.

Rock The Bells 2011 will be hitting up the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernadino, California on August 20, the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on August 27, New York’s Governors Island on September 3 and finishes up in Boston on September 10.