The all-hiphop festival has been a catch-as-can affair since the days of the legendary Fresh Fest. Knuckleheads fuck it up for everybody, promoters get shook, cops grumble, and insurance rates go sky-high. Because of these and other reasons, that kind of touring rap extravaganza has historically been so rare that something like the Smokin' Grooves tour from back in the day felt like an emergency UN food drop—particularly to the hungry souls marooned in the rap backwater of Seattle. It's been awhile since we've seen something like that out here, so allow me to put you onto one of the fastest-growing festivals yet.
No, Rock the Bells ain't just an LL Cool J song—it's also a massive hiphop festival that's been popping off in SoCal since 2003; the minds behind it have taken the show on the road, and will be setting up shop at the Showbox on Wednesday, December 13. Rock the Bells' Seattle stop will be headlined by Redman, Ghostface, and Raekwon, and features Smif-N-Wessun, Supernatural, DJ Kool, DJ Mr. Supreme, and Big Von.
Man, I can't think of the last time my dude Reggie "Red" Noble was here (ummm, maybe the old Jay-Z/DMX/Red & Meth tour from '99), but there's no fucking way I'm missing one of my favorite MCs. Redman (AKA Funk Doctor Spot) secured a place in rap's Hall of Fame long before he ever met Method Man; since his days as one of the mighty EPMD's Hit Squad, he's balanced a gargantuan, weeded-beyond-all-comprehension personality with a generous portion of what they used to call "the hardcore." Hopefully, President Carter will stop fronting and release Red Gone Wild (Reggie's sixth solo LP) sometime in the next 10 years.
What can I possibly say about Tony Starks the Ghostface Killah that hasn't been said (by people far better than me) already? Not much, except that Ghostdini will be dropping More Fish this month, which is more a Theodore Unit crew album than a solo joint. If you didn't see Ghost earlier this year, shame on you—but here's your chance to avoid surely burning in the sulfur pits of hell. His Wu-Tang bredren (and recent Aftermath signee) Cigar Shallah Raekwon the Chef will be serving "Heroin Only" to the fiends eagerly anticipating the release of the sequel to his bulletproof classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
Smif-N-Wessun were here with the rest of their Boot Camp Clik associates just recently—shame on me this time... I have paid penance by banging Dah Shinin' constantly—and damn, that shit will never get old. Supernatural's legendary freestyle skills never will either—at the Rock the Bells in San Bernardino this year, Nat rhymed off the top for over nine hours straight, shattering the previous record. Uh, Breath Control, hello!
I say all that to say this: Do not sleep, nap, blink, or otherwise miss this show, as it is undoubtedly the best way to cap off '06... after all, what's more Seattle than a bunch of East Coast rap?
