The Rock the Bells Festival, presented by hip-hop icon. actor and 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee LL Cool J showcased some of the genre’s best from the 1980s and 1990s at Prudential Center in Newark as part of the North 2 Shore Festival. Busta Rhymes, Redman, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, and a star-studded tribute to Uptown Records were just some of the many highlights of the event, which last took place in 2023, six days before the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
New York’s Busta Rhymes, who first burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1991 as a member of Leaders of the New School, performed “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and was joined by Newark’s Rah Digga and Brooklyn’s Papoose to perform the remix of “Touch It.” Video messages from global music icons Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson preceded performances of “I Know What You Want” and “What’s It Gonna Be?!” his hits with the two divas.
The rapper born James Todd Smith, being the consummate artist that he is, performed the song that the festival is named after, “Rock the Bells,” while also previewing a forthcoming Paramount+ docu-series entitled “Hip-Hop Was Born Here,” co-produced by Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
Record executive and producer Eddie F. celebrated Uptown Records and its founder, Andre Harrell, who passed away in 2020. Male singers took center stage as Jeff Redd performed his “You Called and Told Me,” Horace Brown performed “Things We Do for Love,” Soul for Real performed “Candy Rain,” Donell Jones performed “Where I Wanna Be,” and “U Know What’s Up.” Christopher Williams inspired the crowd to their feet with the remix of “Every Little Thing U Do” and “I’m Dreamin’.” Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz, CL Smooth, Father MC, Al B. Sure!, and Monifah also took the stage.
Arguably the best stretch of the show was back-to-back-to-back performances by three of hip-hop’s greatest. Brooklyn’s Big Daddy Kane brought his usual high energy to the stage and gave the crowd his biggest hits, including “Raw,” “Set It Off,” “Smooth Operator,” “Warm It Up, Kane,” and “Ain’t No Half-Steppin.’”
“Peace and love and much respect to LL Cool J and Rock the Bells, peace and love to hip-hop, and it’s great to see you in the building,” the man born Antonio Hardy said.
Rakim, who DJ Grandmaster Flash joined during his set, performed “Microphone Fiend,” “Paid in Full,” and “Eric B. Is President.”
KRS-One took the energy up another level when he touched the stage, as he performed “Step Into a World (Rapture’s Delight),” “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know,” “Sound of da Police,” and “50 More Years of Hip-Hop.”
Other performers included hip-hop artists Redman, Too Short, Scarface, Fabolous, Plies, Boosie, M.O.P., Remy Ma, Capone-N-Noreaga, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, and Chris & Neef, as well as singers Lil Mo and Monifah. Rock the Bells Festival, as per usual, is a well organized event that starts and finishes on time, catering to a genre of music that turns 52 next month.