Photos: Rock The Bells 2008

Another year, another festival, another blissed out moment in hip hop history.  Overall, this past weekend’s Rock The Bells at Shoreline Amphitheater was a classically mellow affair with measured rounds of head nodding, way-back-when jamming and some well timed wildin’, drinkin’ and smokin’ the f- out, courtesy of Messieurs Redman and Methodman.

Performers on both stages were on their game but while the big names-from Rakim to The Phaycyde to Tribe Called Quest to the Bay’s own Blackalicious-rocked the packed main arena with the energy of old school heads proving they could still kick it, the hyperactive young guns on the second stage, including the Kidz in the Hall, Berkeley’s The Pack, Spank Rock and Amanda Blake, buzzed over their pint sized audience like first graders after way too much sugar.  Where do these kids get all that energy?

As the sun rolled down behind the hills of the amphitheater and headliners Tribe put the finishing touches on a satisfying old school set, the crowd was all smiles and hip swaying, secure that if the day’s perfomances were any indication, hip hop’s past and future were in good hands.  Check the pics inside.-kwan