Pitchfork

Photos by William Kirk

Rock the Bells, the touring hip-hop extravaganza we've called probably the best in the country right now, kicked off its month-long hike around the country this weekend with a two-night stint at Randall's Island, New York. (OK, there was one show in Mansfield, Massachusetts on Thursday, but who's counting?)

It was a reunion spectacular as the Wu-Tang Clan joined newly-reformed Rage Against the Machine, and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian beefed up Public Enemy's roster during "Bring the Noise". Rounding out the night's acts were Talib Kweli and Mos Def (though no Black Star), Rakim, Cypress Hill, and many, many more-- including a stage for the Paid Dues crew. More photos and the rest of the festival dates below.

WU-TANG CLAN


RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE


PUBLIC ENEMY (With Scott Ian)


MOS DEF


TALIB KWELI


RAKIM


CYPRESS HILL


WU-TANG CLAN








RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE








PUBLIC ENEMY






MOS DEF




TALIB KWELI


RAKIM


CYPRESS HILL


THE CROWD


Rock the Bells:

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