Aka Mid-Summer's Ritzy Sunset Phunk! It's another rundown of the hottest online sounds, compiled by your favorite B-Boy blogger, El Q!
This weekend marks yet another huge festival for Los Angeles, as Sunset Junction 2008 gets underway. If you're one of the lucky Angelino's like I am, you already know that there is never any shortage of things to do, in our sun baked spot. Every single weekend brings more cool shows that I end up hating myself for missing. Last weekend ended with me, mad at myself for not getting time off and hustling my press passes for Rock The Bells!
I work weekends and have been to almost all of the RTB events here in Cali. I had more than enough time to work the angles and get into the show, or go the media civilian route and actually buy tickets. The ever increasing ticket prices, Africa like heat, and carbon copy performance line-up all worked against my decision to attend. Instead, I stayed local and actually made a few pennies, but I digress.I love what Chang the GU crew have done with their rap festival/tour. They took the underground Hip-Hop stance and did it when everyone said it couldn't be done. They brought legendary rap performances that will live on, like our version of Woodstock! Moments like the last live performance the entire Wu Tang Clan, the reunion of A Tribe Called Quest, and Guinness World Record breaking rhymes that were spit with fury by Supernatural, are all RTB highlights. THE RTB crew has tons to be proud of. Now if they can just switch that line up a bit and get some acts that have not visited SoCal for the last 4 years straight! DAMN!Rock The Bells had its usual star power in the house, with A Tribe Called Quest, Method Man & Redman, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon The Chef, Immortal Technique, Mos Def and Nas (did he really bring Jay-Z on stage in NY?) all headlining the show. Their past performances at the b-boy fest were all memorable and worth seeing. Therein lies the problem for me, all of the above names have headlined the show before! On top of that, those of us in Los Angeles have had more than enough opportunities to see these same acts a little closer to home! Ghostface, Nas, De La Soul, and Mos Def are all regular LA party rockers, so the thought of trekking to San Bernadino again this year just wasn't as appealing to me.I hear the show was amazing, and well worth the drive. New jacks like Wale, Blue Scholars, Kidz In The Hall, Jay Electronica, and B.o.B are all on the bill this year, thankfully giving Hip-Hop heads something new to bop to. Hopefully next year's show will have some real surprises headlining, not just doing guest appearances that you might have missed if you were hitting up the bathrooms or buying expensive water. If you guys are running out of ideas for possible acts for next year, let me throw you a few suggestions to mill over!Q.Rock639's Rock The Bells Wish ListPublic Enemy: must have group at any outdoor festival and welcome return to RTB!George Clinton: Parliment/Funkadelic: Why not?System Of A Down: If you are gonna rock out with your Flava Flav clocks out, like the 2007 Rage Against The Machine bill, try to get these guys!LL Cool J: Why is the man who made the song that your festival is named after, not on the bill? Make it happen!RUN D.M.C: Do I have to break it down to you why these guys need to be here? At least in NY & LA!Ultramagnetic MCs: Hmmmmm....Outkast: MAKE IT HAPPEN!The Clipse: Whats that? You would like to see The Clipse in LA? Yeah , me too!
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