Where tha Lady Was: Rock The Bells Wrap-Up

On Saturday, Hip-Hop invaded Governor's Island in a major way. Rock the Bells 2010 was on deck and it was the best Saturday I had spent in awhile. Great music, great company and best of all, I witnessed the return of Lauryn Hill. Yes, Lauryn Hill, whom we have been summoning back to existence since I started Tweeting last year, finally blessed us with her presence. Since this is the biggest RTB news, I will start with her. I have been hearing people's opinions about her performance. Now I am going to give you mine. Granted, she is not the Lauryn we knew from '95 but, she can still do the damn thing. No, her voice is not the same but she can still flow. She took us through her hits with re-vamped beats and melodies. I caught up with Ms. Hill backstage where we had a brief chat. The area backstage was hectic so we had to do things quick and when we could get it in. She basically expressed to me that she had been to "hell and back" but that she "remains positive". I made sure to tell her that she is almost a daily conversation topic when discussing the best female rapper. The smile on her face made me wanna cry. She shook my hand and said. "Thank you sis. I appreciate the love folks are sharing with me here today. I really am." And then she went about her way. The look in her eyes still seemed distant. I can't imagine what she went through but it definitely took it's toll.

Lauryn Hill performing "Ready or Not"

*wipes tears* Okay enough of that...

Old school represented as usual. Eric B and Rakim, KRS-One, Slick Rick (and his entourage of chains) all represented their respective albums, performing the classics. It is a shame that albums are not created like those any more. People are focused on the single, not the album.

The show was on point from beginning to end. Aside from seeing Miss Hill, I was excited to see A Tribe Called Quest. Their set was amazing. Their energy was through the roof. I dug deep into the "lyrics learned" section of my brain and went in as if I was a member of the group. They went through all the classics, "Bonita Applebaum", "Scenario", "Electric Relaxation". They did a J. Dilla tribute and out of the mouth of Q-Tip, "J.Dilla The best producer ever..." while Swizz Beats stood on the stage... LMAO

Tribe performing "Scenario, Check tha Rhyme"...

Backstage View of A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star

Consequence and Phife Dawg

The Wu shut it down as usual. If you have ever been to a Wu show, you know what it is. With the entire Clan in tow, including Old Dirty Bastard's son who performed his father's parts from the songs on the 36 Chambers album. He looks and sounds just like his father. It is a little freaky.

Wu performing "Da Mystery of Chessboxing" with an appearance by lil ODB

A Wu performance is definitely something you have to see. Outside of the Dogg Pound, they are the only other Rap "Group" that can deliver a hardcore performance. The Snoop moved through Doggystyle and enlisted the help of the Dogg Pound usual suspects. Warren G, Lady of Rage and RBX were also on hand to perform. It was amazing to see this crew, created so many years ago, still come together and deliver a Class "A" performance. Snoop did the damn thing, long blue bandana suit and all.

Snoop on his way to the stage, focused on tearin' it down

Snoop doin' the damn thing... "It Ain't no Fun"

Ladies Rage and Blogga playing with the Blackberry taking self pics before she hits the stage.

Jay and Bey...

RZA choppin' it up with my camera ace @IRunsNY

I did a few interviews and have a few cameos on film. Footage coming soon!!! There were a lot of people on deck to see the show as well. Jay and Bey, Swizz and Alicia, Chris Rock, John Legend, Mary J. Blige were all backstage enjoying the show. Rock the Bells is a show that I make it my business to attend. If you have never been, you need to re-evaluate your love for music and get to one.

Where @LadyBlogga will be ... ROCK THE BELLS!!

Guerilla Union… You are my HEROES!

I am Rock the Bells Junkie. I’ve been to every show, even in the rain. Last year I was there with precious cargo in tow. Rock the Bells is a day long festival for music lovers like myself and many of you. This year, the show is taking it back to when Hip Hop was just that. If you have never been to a Rock the Bells show, you need to get up, get out and get there this year. The Rock The Bells Tour line-up is takin’ it back to Old School. On the bill are legendary Hip-Hop artists performing their legendary albums… Yes you heard correctly.

This Classic show will have Wu-Tang Clan performing tracks from “Enter the Wu-Tang”, Eric B and Rakim doing “Paid In Full”, Boogie Down Productions doing “Criminal Minded”, Slick Rick will be doing “The Adventures of Slick Rick” and I am sure the bill will grow as the dates of the performance gets closer. There’s no gum drop and lollipop Hip-Hop here folks. I have attended many a show and this by far may be the best one.


I am a little disappointed that there aren’t any women on the line-up. I am sure there are some classic females they could add to the bill. Monie Love, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah… Aww hell even Salt N Pepa. But females haven’t been on the tour. Jasmine Solano broke that ice last year with her debut Rock the Bells appearance as the “First Lady Rockin’ the Bells”. Hopefully this year, they will give her a slot to shine. Since she is on tour with Wiz Kalifa right now, and Wiz is on the bill too, I am hoping the Union steps up and offers her a slot. *Okay Guerilla Union, I’ll wait for a response…*

If you are in New York City, you need to be at Governor’s Island on August 28th, rain or shine. The tour kicks off in San Bernardino's NOS Events Center on August 21, and will end in Washington DC on the 29th at the Merriweather Post Pavillion. On the side stages will be other artists including The Clipse, Yelawolf, Immortal Technique, Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean. I am telling you folks, get your cameras and be prepared to spend the day with good music and great company. If you plan on going to the show, email me at LadyBlogga@gmail.com and let’s see if we can link up. You know I only speak the truth so when I say this is not to be missed, I mean it!!

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Tha Lady Blogga pays homage to the only Lady “Rockin’ the Bells’…

(Photo via www.photobytone.com)

Rock the Bells has been a part of my vocabulary for years. So when my hubby surprised me with near front row seats for my birthday, I was ecstatic!!! Being at Rock the Bells is like being at Hip-Hop school and all the wack acts (Souljah Boy, Hurricane Chris, etc. etc.) need to come and sit in the audience with a pen and notepad to take notes.

First and foremost, I want to address the fact that there were no ladies on the bill this year. Until the tour came to NYC and had a contest about winning an opening performance spot hosted by Ed Lover. Many were called but the chosen was one and SHE (yes I said she) did the damn thing. The winner of the contest was a female DJ/rapper by the name of Jasmine Solano (@jasminesolano).

She has been on the scene for a while now and can be found spinning for various spots in NYC, including the popular Monday night “Electric Punanny” party at Sway. When she’s not manning the turntables, she’s on the mic, performing “That’s Not It” or “Coco Puff”. My personal favorite is “That’s Not It”. Wearing some cool ass leopard black tights, she worked the stage at Rock the Bells and made her presence known. My only gripe is that the crowd wasn’t as big as it should’ve been for her. She was the only chick on the bill. That deserves kudos in itself.

The line-up this year was impressive. I am not going to get into all that but…
I was thoroughly impressed with the Wu-Tang performance. It was only supposed to be RZA, GZA and Ghostface Killah. We were pleasantly surprised when the other members of the Wu stepped out and blessed the stage, right down to my man Meth!!! Yes, Method Man blessed the stage, ran through the audience and the whole bit. Needless to say, my love for the Wu was rekindled and I cannot wait to see what they bring next. In memory of Old Dirty, they reincarnated his performance in his eldest son who had the look, knew the lyrics and had the spirit of his father (may he R.I.P.). That was definitely a good look for the Clan!

In the wake of all this wack ass music I am forced to listen to on the radio, Rock the Bells and the BHF (Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival) have helped me get through it. There are still more performances to be seen and I wish I could hit them all up. I urge you to support REAL hip-hop and all that these artists bring to the table…


Check out Jasmine Solano - www.myspace.com/jasminesolano