Pitchfork

Rock the Bells-- which we called "probably the best hip-hop festival in the country" back in March-- starts its reign as the best hip-hop tour in the country** tonight, July 26, in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

The tour's lineup has expanded in recent weeks and months, and depending on which show you attend, you may see a fair number of the following acts:

Wu-Tang Clan, the Roots, MF Doom, Nas, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, UGK, Public Enemy, Rakim, Rage Against the Machine, EPMD, Pharoahe Monch, David Banner, M.O.P., Erykah Badu, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Cypress Hill, Slum Village, Hieroglyphics, Blackalicious, the Coup, Felt, Sage Francis, Murs, Boot Camp Clik, Immortal Technique, Living Legends, Jedi Mind Tricks, Brother Ali, Cage, Mr. Lif, Grouch & Eligh, Hangar 18, Blueprint, Lucky I Am, DJ Mike Relm, DJ Icy Ice, DJ C-Minus, DJ Rocky Rock, Rahzel (as a host), and Supernatural (also as a host).

Plus, you'll get to hang out in baseball stadium parking lots (totally not lame!). Maybe Barry Bonds will wait until August 18 to break the home run record, and you'll catch the ball in the middle of Murs' set and be totally rich for life! Wait... nope, the Giants are away that day. Just the music then.

** unless Christopher Wallace is resurrected for a Don't Look Back-style Ready to Die tour and brings Outkast along with him to do Aquemini

Dates:

07-26 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
07-28 New York, NY - Randall's Island (with Paid Dues)
07-29 New York, NY - Randall's Island (with Paid Dues)
08-02 Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
08-04 Miami, FL - Bayfront Park Amphitheatre
08-07 Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Center
08-08 Houston, TX - Reliant Park
08-11 San Bernardino, CA - Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen (with Paid Dues)
08-12 Chula Vista, CA - Coors Amphitheatre Parking Lot
08-18 San Francisco, CA - McCovey Cove Parking Lot
08-19 Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
08-21 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
08-22 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08-25 Minneapolis, MN - Metrodome Parking Lot
08-26 Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion
08-29 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Center
09-01 Honolulu, HI - Blaisdell Center