Words/Photo: Jiro Kohl
If you went on Saturday you probably got heatstroke, and if you went on Sunday you may have even drowned, but whichever day you went to Rock the Bells on Randall’s Island, you got some dope performances and maybe saw an ugly tattoo or two. Click through for what Mass Appeal took in at the show.
Slug is dope
Say what you want about the emo-king of hip hop, but dude has a catalogue of bangers, courtesy of in-house producer Ant. On stage he ripped “Modern Man’s Hustle” and “Godlovesugly”. He also made an incredibly astute observation when he said, “Why do I have to come to New York to see a crowd full of dudes?” I was asking myself the same thing all day.
Pharoahe Monch’s singers need to hit me on the hip, ASAP
Everyone knows that Pharoahe’s flows blow shows like afros, but backed by two fly ass back-up singers, the energy was off the hook as he performed older classics and songs off his newly released Desire.
Best Dressed: Murs
Murs tore shit up on the Paid Dues stage, performing with Slug as Felt and with his Living Legends crew. Normally, when you think NASCAR, you think thousands of drunk rednecks watching a never ending left turn, but Murs proved that the quasi-sport can be hip hop too, rocking a blue drivers suit in the 100 degree heat. Get that man a bottle of water, please.
Rock the Bells AKA the cargo short and ugly tattoo convention
I’m not sure what it is about the lineup, or some notification that I never received, but apparently it was mandated that if you have an ugly tattoo, you must take your shirt off and reveal it. It looked like there were freakin’ monsters growing out of cargo shorts.
Chuck D’s pushups were kind of weak
No disrespect to one of the greatest groups of all time, but yo Chuck, you gotta’ go all the way down on those things, man!
C-Rayz Walz holding a white baby
For the first time, C-Rayz was not wearing a raccoon on his head but, he chose to accessorize with the other, other white meat. One of the more random things to see, it definitely made Mass Appeal remember why we love obscure underground MCs the way we do.
The headliners brought the ruckus
Most people in attendance would readily tell you they were there to see Wu-Tang and Rage. Both headliners delivered all their hits, as well as their token ODB sing-along / political pep talk. On the real, both of these legendary groups did their thing, and while we aren’t ones to bitch about the current state of whatever, it brought us back to the ‘90s in a big way. Now, if I could only find my Sega Genesis.
Best Songs (In no particular order)
5. Murs – “L.A.”
9th Wonder’s precise and fluid production on this joint off of Murray’s Revenge, translated into a raw love song (for Murs’ hometown) that even Slug could ride to.
4. Public Enemy – “Bring the Noise”
PE brought out Anthrax’s Scott Ian to rock the guitar on “Bring the Noise”. Him, Chuck, and Flav all clustered together and…brought the noise. We later saw Ian riding around in the back of a golf cart.
3. Cypress Hill – “Hits From the Bong”
This weed-smoking anthem was introed by Cypress’ least known member, Bobo, firing up a four foot glass bong in front of a giant inflatable Buddha with a weed leaf on his stomach. Pretty much everybody lit up at this point. Not to say we endorse such activity, but, yeah, we endorse it.
2. Wu-Tang Clan – “Bring Da Ruckus”
The best opening song in history, the best opening verse in history, the best opening bars in history. Ghostface catch the blast of a hype verse! No matter how many times we hear it, it reminds us of the first listen we gave to the 36. Oh, what a day that was.
1. Rage Against the Machine – “Killing In the Name Of”
Although having Rage as the headliner attracted the most clown-ass mu’fuckers ever seen, when they performed this track, they blew shit up. Mosh pits erupted, people were passing out left and right, and it was great. Zach even switched up the lyrics to, “some of those that hold office, are the same that burn crosses.” RIP Strom Thurmond.
