This most wistful of hip-hop festivals basically posits that good rappers dont age. Thus Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, De La Soul, and Mos Def can headline Rock the Bells without one good 00s-era album among em. New York rap stalwarts Nas, Method Man, Redman, Raekwon, and Ghostface at least bring some fire, though theres not necessarily so much new material there either. From a sociological perspective though, the alliances are fascinating: Hipsters (Spankrock, Cool Kids, Santogold, Amanda Blank) are apparently deemed more acceptable than, say, the LOX; meanwhile, theyre being paired on the lower half of the bill with political radicals (Immortal Technique, Dead Prez) and throwback traditionalists (Kidz in the Hall, Wale). The common thread, if there is one, is something elusiveis it that most of these guys arent inclined to curse much? Or maybe they all disapprove of gun violence? Whatever the link, everybody here can rap, which, come to think of it. . . .
Sun., Aug. 3, noon, 2008
Two downtown musicians open a downtown club
Unlikely industry darlings Paramore kick out the jams
Sonic Youth close things out in McCarren Park
Rising star Nico Muhly goes medium-brow
Beer, BBQ, and indie rock
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