Update: It's confirmed.
Nas, Damian Marley, the Roots, Big Boi and Common, among others, will lead this summer's Rock the Bells traveling hip-hop festival, which is set to visit 10 North American cities on consecutive weekends from June 27-Aug. 9.
Also on the bill in various markets are KRS-One, House of Pain, Reflection Eternal, Tech N9ne, Murs, RZA, Supernatural, Raekwon, Sage Francis, Pete Rock and others. Each tour stop will feature 25 artists on two stages.
The summer trek is scheduled to visit Toronto; Washington, D.C.; Boston; New York; Denver; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Miami; and Vancouver. Specific dates and venues will be announced during a later date, according to Rock the Bells organizer Guerilla Union.
Rock the Bells made its European debut last fall, visiting such cities as Amsterdam, Prague, Stockholm, Helsinki, Paris and London. The European visit arrived on the heels of Rock the Bells' 10-date 2008 summer run of North American amphitheaters, which featured A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, Pharcyde, Santogold, Kid Sister, Cool Kids and Murs, among others. Eight shows grossed $4 million and drew more than 87,000 people, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Here is a list of artists confirmed for the 2009 Rock the Bells:
Nas
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
The Roots
Common
Big Boi
KRS-One
House of Pain (with all original members, featuring La Coka Nostra)
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli, Hi Tek)
Tech N9ne
RZA
Raekwon (Cuban Linx II)
Sage Francis
Slaughterhouse (Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 5'9," Crooked I)
M.O.P.
Charlie 2na
Necro
Eyedea & Abilities
Evidence
Alchemist
Psycho Realm
Mystic Jouneymen (Sunspot Jonez, Lucky I Am)
Mickey Facts
Tabi Bonney
Supernatural
Murs
Pete Rock
Slum Village (Baatin, T3, Elzhi)
Buckshot
K'naan
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/nas-damian-marley-the-roots-lead-rock-the-1003960046.story
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