Video // Rakim Guerilla Union Interview @ Rock The Bells 2008

A little one-on-one with Rakim. I usually tend to like the mentality that emcees/producers that came up in the 80's and 90's have. By and large, what I hear is a really straight forward, no nonsense attitude. Do your thing, be original, be consistent, strive to be prolific, and respect the dude next to you that's trying to go for theirs. Not everyone is going to like you, or your style, but perseverance is what's up. Inspirational words.

via Smartenupnas

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The Commission // Rock The Bells 2008 [ Mixtape ]

THE COMMISSION - ROCK THE BELLS 2008

01. Nas - Queens Get The Money
02. Nas - Nas Is Like
03. Nas - NY State Of Mind
04. Nas feat. Busta Rhymes - Fried Chicken
05. Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty
06. Pharcyde - Passin Me By
07. Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder
08. De La Soul feat. Redman - Oooh
09. Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique
10. Eric B & Rakim - Pain In Full
11. A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario
12. A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhyme
13. Pharcyde - Can't Keep Runnin Away
14. Nas feat. Lauryn Hill - If I Ruled The World
15. Immortal Technique feat. Crooked I - Lick Shots
16. Wale feat. Skyzoo - The Hacksaw Jim Duggan
17. The Cool Kids - Black Mags
18. The Cool Kids - Jingling
19. Dead Prez - Hip Hop
20. Kidz In The Hall - Driving Down The Block
21. A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It
22. Raekwon feat. Nas & Ghostface - Verbal Intercourse
23. Murs - Bad Man
24. Nas - Hero
25. Ghostface - Mighty Healthy
26. Raekwon feat. Ghostface, Method Man & Cappadonna - Ice Cream
27. Immortal Technique - 4th Branch
28. Method Man - M.E.T.H.O.D. Man

DOWNLOAD // The Commission - Rock The Bells 2008 [ Mixtape ]

via OUHH

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Video // Rakim on KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells

The legendary Rakim & DJ Green Lantern on KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells.

Look out for videos from Redman, Raekwon, HUSHH, Kid Capri & DJ Scratch later in the week.

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Video // Jay Electronica on KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells

Jay Electronica kickin' it for and with DJ Green Lantern on KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells

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Video // De La Soul On KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells

De La Soul & DJ Green Lantern sit down with KarmaloopTV @ Rock The Bells

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Pics // Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

I took an ungodly amount of pictures. I pretty much liquidated a fresh set of batteries before the concert was even over.

You got the videos. Now here are some highlights of the better shots I've been able to sort through. See the rest at our Flickr photostream.

Crowd


Murs


Charge that phone, son.


Immortal Technique


Wale


Wale


Supernatural


Supernatural & DJ Scratch


Dead Prez


De La Soul


Mos Def


Mos Def


Ghostface Killah


Raekwon


Slimkid3 (Pharcyde)


Redman


Jarobi White


Nas


To see all Rock The Bells Miami content, hit the RockTheBell2008 label.

It was a great 12+ hours of Hip Hop. Definitely looking forward to next year.

More about → Pics // Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Video // Pharcyde @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

The audio on these is pretty shit, but there's no sense in sitting on them if they're already on our YouTube Channel. For what it's worth (visually speaking), enjoy the Pharcyde live at Rock The Bells Miami.

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Video // Supernatural & DJ Scratch @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Supernatural and DJ Scratch doing some ill shit. Arguably one of the best performances of the entire festival, in my opinion. From the aspect of creative flow, live appeal, and getting the audience reaction they did given the time they performed -- these guys killed it, hard.

Supernatural was freestyling off whatever was being thrown on stage and DJ Scratch was constructing beats on the fly based on mere beat-boxing. Impressive on the flow, and on the beat improvisation. Suparnat even came down to the crowd afterwards and chilled. Nice cat.

For a second I thought I was listening to Rahzel at first, yeah, alright. The name is DJ Scratch, recognize me.

My bad.

Audio is aight here. I got Pharcyde videos but the audio is shit. I can share them but the audio is shit. You can thank the skull-shaking, teeth-rattling, sinus-clearing, ear drum violating subs at the base of the stage for that.

Word to ear-plugs.

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Video // Mos Def @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Mos Def getting into some Miami Bass, and then sharing a few words on how he's not feelin' pictures right about now. He's down to meet everyone and chill, and it's all love, but no pictures -- please.

Phenomenal performer, and you can see it that he just connects with his audience. The entire amphitheater was vibing.

I'm not done yet. Watch me now.

More about → Video // Mos Def @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Video // De La Soul @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

De La Soul performing Supa Emcees over the Livin' Proof instrumental.

Did I mention that Pos is a ferocious live emcee? Yeah, he is.

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Video // Dres of Black Sheep @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

It's funny because I had seen him back-stage and didn't think much else beyond "oh shit, it's Dres."

Alright. Next thing you know, cat jumps on stage during De La's set.

So De La do their thing and then Dres destroys the place with The Choice Is Yours.

The digicam has a size limitation, so the first clip is short so I could capture the entire thing on the second one. The first clip show Dres and Pos making everyone get down low, as is in the video.

More about → Video // Dres of Black Sheep @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Video // Nas @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Nas performing NY State Of Mind, you also hear a bit of It Ain't Hard To Tell.

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Video // Raekwon & Ghostface Killah @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Rae & Ghost performing Can It Be All So Simple and Mobb Deep's Eye For An Eye (Your Beef Is Mines).

You might be able to see Ghost's kid off to the right. Look for the mini-Ghost.

Those subs were skull-rattling. You could go even 4-5 rows back, and your eyeballs were still vibrating in your head. Interesting sensation. Word to ear-plugs.

More about → Video // Raekwon & Ghostface Killah @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Video // Murs @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Murs going to work, also early in the afternoon.

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Video // Wale Freestyle @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Let's just go ahead and get this started. I got plenty to go through.

Here's a little Wale acapella freestyle. He went on early in the afternoon when it was still damn hot anywhere you went -- shade or not. Being the first time I see him live, I was impressed by homie's performance and stage presence.

More to come. Exclusive.

Peace to Contagious Musiq

More about → Video // Wale Freestyle @ Rock The Bells 2008 - Miami

Q-Tip // The Renaissance Release Info

Q-Tip's sophomore solo effort, The Renaissance will finally see release on October 14th via Universal/Motown. I've already heard some reviews stating that it's a bit more R&B than expected, but I'll wait for more with open ears. It sounds like it's going to be a more seasoned Q-Tip album anyway, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I like love the Soulquarians vibe.

LINK // Q-Tip Returns To Roots On The Renaissance

via Spine + Billboard

If you slept:

DOWNLOAD // Q-Tip - Gettin' Up Practice @ Rock The Bells 2008

DOWNLOAD // A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario [ Unreleased Version ]

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Q-Tip // Gettin' Up @ Rock The Bells

Excerpt:

Q-Tip, "Gettin' Up"

Although he's performing with A Tribe Called Quest during Sunday's Rock the Bells fest at Jones Beach, the hip-hop producer will also play this smooth, groovy track off his forthcoming solo album, "The Renaissance."

DOWNLOAD // Q-Tip - Gettin' Up

via GULLY via NYPost

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Video // RockTheBells 2008 Chicago Recap

Video comes courtesy of RubyHornetTV. As much as I want to watch this, I'm not gonna and just save myself for the real deal next week when RTB invades Miami. It was a p-h-e-n-o-m-e-n-a-l show last year and I'm expecting no less this year; especially with that hefty (and once-in-a-lifetime) line-up. Tickets are still available, and reasonably priced for the quality talent you'll get to see.

I love Hip Hop.

via 2dopeboyz

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