Driving Dillz: 5 Greatest Acts of Rock the Bells in New Jersey

I saw so many acts along the way I couldn't help but make a list. Sometimes you see these people like four times a year.

We see them late in the middle of Austin during SXSW or somewhere during CMJ and A3C, and if we're lucky a real show in some random city while we have a day off on tour. Rock The Bells brings all the people together you will never see at once, and luckily I got to experience it only 15-20 minutes from the house I grew up in. I feel since its such a homegrown effort , why not give some exclusivity to this home grown site.

Ok...shall we?

1. DMX

I'm not sure why people want to see a car crash in NASCAR 500, but to see DMX as wild as he is and tear down a stage like no other, it's truely an inspiration. I don't think I'll ever be able to do it as such, but his performance and interaction with Method Man backstage was almost as cool as his show in a ampitheatre. When I see him rock, I wonder if they pay him cash on the spot to him, or to someone who represents him. These are just things I think about.

2. Action Bronson

Although he was on the smaller stage and I performed right before him, I though it was one of the best shows for all of Rock The Bells NJ. He went through the joints on Blue Chips but managed to get live in a crowd and jump down to the concrete to start a iphone mash pit where everyone whipped out flip cams. His show made me think, damn I should've done that, but he jumped down witha giant joint and got to pass it to his fans. I don't smoke so I'd probably pass them a water bottle or something. 

3. J. Cole

By far one of the cooler cats I met and someone who I have rocked with, J. Cole is repsonsible for most of the females in attendance at Rock The Bells. Much to your dismay, the girls are not there to see Wu-Block (not saying they won't enjoy it!) His live band puts him in a class of his own, and its dope to see him get so big in such short time. I actually played the outdoor Summer Jam stage with him in 2010 when he dropped that hot ass verse on the Jay-Z song. 

4. Nas 

He brought out a crazy band and light show, a singer, Large Professor and Scarface to shock the crowd of NJ. Hip Hop is a girl, Life is good, and I want Nas to know that he really elevated the guarentee of Large Professor for his overseas shows. That was the coolest shit he could've done. Nas hooked him up with future bread, and lets hope some future collaborations.

5. Big Daddy Kane

Oh man. Kane got all the classics, rocked for about 300 people early in the day and still got the livest synchronized show in the game. He has the foot work and the only guy that can come into a festival anywhere in the world. The fact that he brought out Masta Ace and Craig G to the Symphony.

But What About...??

If you are wondering who #6 would be, lets give it to WU BLOCK. It actually became a nearly full Wu-Tang show, plus the entire LOX was there.

Side Notes: Blame it on the rain. The weather didn't help this festival one bit, but the people surely were grateful.

Superlatives:

Remember the things you got in school like most athletic or most likley to smoke pot after school? Here are some RTB superlatives.

- Biggest disappointment was the fact that DJ quik set got rained one, and M.O.P., Immortal Technique and Hit Squad did not get to perform from the same damn rain.

- Coolest band members: Deltron 3030 had some really sweet violinists that were walking around buying merch from everyone in the day.

- Dopest tent: Hieroglyphics merch booth is always super fresh and the guy who holds it down, Igor, is always hooking up fans with a sweet deal.

- Most expensive beer: Budlight $13

Okay..next festival up?? 

Rosh Hashanah? :)

see yall soon on the next adventure.

- Kosha Dillz

(@KoshaDillz)