Rock The Bells Lineup Announced, Coming To NJ

The 2012 Rock The Bells lineup, as well as locations for the yearly, multi-city music festival, have been announced. This year’s Rock The Bells roster seems a bit less classic old-school, with a mix of veterans and newer acts set to hit venues in California and New Jersey. Headlining this year is a reunited Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, a group that once sat atop the charts, before separating, briefly reuniting, and separating again.

The New Jersey stop is a change of pace for Rock The Bells, which will roll into PNC Bank Arts Center September 1 and 2. Among the lineup from the Tri-State area that will be able to hit up something of a home stage, Method Man & Redman, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Salt-N-Pepa, Prodigy, Naughty By Nature and Dipset. Also of note, a reunited Hit Squad is slated to appear on all dates, featuring EPMD, Redman, Das Efx, K-Solo and Keith Murray.

The biggest name from the New York hip hop world, Nas, listed as a top biller alongside artists like Kid Cudi and Wiz Khalifa.

New York-based, non-New York-sounding A$AP Rocky is also scheduled to rock the bells, as is fiery MC/activist Immortal Technique.

RZA will share hosting duties alongside frequent host Supernatural.

UPDATE: At a 6/14/12 New York City press conference, it was announced that Big Sean, Curren$y, M.O.P., Sean Price and Action Bronson will all be added to the New Jersey lineup.

Reaction to this year’s announcement has been mixed. Past years have seen monumental lineups, including the return of Lauryn Hill, and typically focused on old-school and underground acts more in line with the tastes of hip hop purists. To the chagrin of many such fans, some of this year’s lineup, including artists like Khalifa and 2 Chainz, isn’t enormously appealing.

However, with the chance to see Ice Cube, Lupe Fiasco, old school legends and a reinvigorated Nas, there should still be plenty bells to rock for everyone.

For full information, including lineup additions, visit www.rockthebells.net.