ROCK THE BELLS with NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY, COMMON, BIG BOI, RZA, EPMD, REFLECTION ETERNAL, SLAUGHTERHOUSE, SLUM VILLAGE, M.O.P., TECH N9NE, K’NAAN, CHALI 2NA and the KNUX at Molson Amphitheatre (909 Lakeshore West), Sunday (July 5), 2 pm. $36-$151. rockthebells.net.
Rap fest Rock The Bells touches down Sunday with a lineup that’s tighter than Brüno’s lederhosen. In addition to the reunited Reflection Eternal, the back-in-business EPMD, Wu-Tang queen bee the RZA, hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, deepest voice in rap Chali 2na and hosts KRS-One and Pete Rock, this year’s RTB boasts some major headliners. Here’s a breakdown of the big three.
[rssbreak]
NAS
Government name
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones
Aka Nasty Nas, Nas Escobar, Nastradamus
Representing Queensbridge, New York City
Welcome to jam-rap He’s sharing the Rock The Bells stage with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. The two recorded a joint (ahem) album under the name Distant Relatives.
Hip-hop quotable “I never sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death,” from N.Y. State Of Mind
Scandalous His wife, singer Kelis, recently filed for divorce while seven months pregnant with their child.
We need a little controversy Tried to name his last album the N-word proclaimed hip-hop dead on his previous one staged a protest against Fox News appeared in his Hate Me Now music video hanging from a cross.
What’s beef? Went to war with Jay-Z in one of rap’s most epic battles. In a shocking reconciliation, he later signed to Jay’s label.
Double-dip Sampled Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida on two different songs, Thief’s Theme and Hip-Hop Is Dead.
Whatever happened to That full-length album with DJ Premier he’s been promising for years?
COMMON
Government name
Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.
Aka Common Sense
Representing Chicago
Hip-hop quotable “If revolution had a movie, I’d be theme music,” from The 6th Sense.
Who you wit? Currently dating tennis pro Serena Williams, he was previously in a long-term relationship with Erykah Badu.
What’s beef? Feuded with Ice Cube in the mid-90s. (The two are both on the Rock The Bells bill in the U.S.)
He’ll be back Played a futuristic freedom fighter named Barnes in Terminator: Salvation.
WTF Partnered with Microsoft for a clothing line called Softwear.
Must be the money Appears on the latest Jonas Brothers album, Lines, Vines And Trying Times.
Whatever happened to The Standard, the power duo he formed with Q-Tip in 2007?
BIG BOI
Government name
Antwan André Patton
Aka Daddy Fat Sacks
Representing Atlanta
En pointe Collaborated last year with the Atlanta Ballet for a stage production called Big.
Under par Starred in Who’s Your Caddy? as C-Note, a golf-loving rapper hell-bent on joining a racist country club.
What’s beef? Bickered with Outkast protege Killer Mike via interviews and YouTube videos.
Must be the money Is the “spokesmodel” for Coca-Cola’s Full Throttle energy drink.
Hip-hop quotable “I’m cooler than a polar bear’s toenails,” from ATLiens.
Sneakerboxxx Told CNN he owns about 400 pairs of Nike shoes.
Next up His album Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty is due this year.
music@nowtoronto.com
