THEY'RE JINGLING, BABY
Oct 1, 2005 12:00 PM, Wasim Muklashy
It may have been a tad on the hot side, but this year's third annual Rock the Bells festival, July 30, had plenty for everyone. Hosted by RZA, B-Real and Mr. Choc at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernadino, Calif., the bill included Guru, QBert, Sage Francis, Hieroglyphics, Living Legends, Redman, Nas and Cuban Linx (featuring Raekwon and Ghostface). Although the original lineup also boasted Cut Chemist and DJ Muggs, both missed the event due to heat exhaustion and a missed flight. But the buzz kill dissipated with some party-rockin' mash-up beats and feats from DJ Z-Trip.
While the Hieroglyphics crew had everyone shufflin' their feet and chanting choruses, the crowd didn't really know how to react to burly, bearded Francis and his heavy lyricism, but he held their attention, nonetheless. By the time Living Legends took the stage, the sun finally backed off and an increasingly packed and rehydrated crowd got ready to get down. After an hour wait, things turned anxiously tense by the time Redman took charge. But he re-energized the crowd, and when Nas and Cuban Linx (with surprise guests KRS-One and Talib Kweli) hit the stage, there was no way to contain the excitement. The sun may have gone down, but the house overheated once again.
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