Rock The Bells Adds A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$ To 2013 Line-Up

Rock the Bells has added several artists to its 2013 line-up. 

A$AP Mob has been added to Rock the Bells dates in the third and final announcement of the bill. A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Ant, A$AP Twelvy and A$AP Nast will be performing in all markets, as will Action Bronson, Young Dirty Bastard (a son of Ol’ Dirty Bastard), The Internet and Joey Bada$$ with Pro Era. Logic is now slated to perform at the festival’s Washington D.C. and New York stops.

Aside from this news, day-passes will be now be sold for Rock the Bells. “As we’ve grown into a two-day festival, we’ve learned a lot,” Guerilla Union’s Chang Weisberg said in a press release. “Unfortunately, not all our fans have the ability to attend both days. Due to overwhelming demand, we are providing a single day ticket for those who still want to experience Rock The Bells, but can’t commit to both days.”

Rock the Bells is scheduled to feature family-endorsed virtual performances of Eazy-E and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, as reported by HipHopDX last week. “Despite initial reports of problems with rights clearances, I’m very pleased to announce that the estates are both 100 percent on board,” Weisberg said in the press release. “Furthermore, not only are the families on board with the virtual performances, they are actually participating with the creation of them. This ensures the authenticity and integrity of the performances. It’s a monumental moment for music and technology that Eazy’s and ODB’s children have lent their DNA to these historic performances. Their bodies, faces, and voices have been captured to help recreate their fathers’ avatars. The process has been extremely rewarding to say the least. Seeing family members honoring their fathers in such a unique way has been incredible to witness. Watching Tomica Wright [Eazy-E’s widow] share her most intimate perspective to make sure every detail is authentic and accurate has been a blessing. I almost cried watching Young Dirty Bastard channeling his father’s uncanny stage charisma. It was pure magic. I cannot wait for the family members to see all their hard work. It will truly be historic.”

Weisberg spoke with HipHopDX about family involvement in the virtual performances last week. 

“The actual DNA of the performance will have their DNA in it, which is unlike anything I believe has been done at this point with this type of experience,” Weisberg said. “It’s pretty serious. I think people assume [family members] will consult, but when it’s all said and done, the DNA of the family is going to be in the performance in such a way that is so beautiful and incredible that I want to share more. We’ve been documenting this, photographing it and by far it’s the most compelling and interesting thing I’ve been involved in with Rock The Bells because it’s so different and feels so much more important. It’s not about what the fans want and it’s not about what I want. It’s about what [family members] want and that’s what’s awesome.” 

Young Dirty Bastard will be involved in the Ol’ Dirty Bastard virtual performance. 

“My involvement with the performance is very, very alike, a-alike,” Young Dirty said to HipHopDX. “I basically camouflage. I’m blending in. I camouflage with it…When I first heard about it, it was like, ‘I’m about to be an avatar.’ You know? On a James Cameron level. That’s what we gon’ bring to the world. No one has ever seen it on this level and it’s going to be the best.” 

Play Gig-It and AV Concepts are collaborating to produce the virtual performances. Play Gig-It is focusing on the animation and AV Concepts will work on the technical design of the holographic-appearing performances, according to Guerilla Union’s press release. “The only company in the world experienced in creating outdoor holographic projections in uncontrolled environments, AV Concepts’ veteran creative team will also collaborate on the creative content, bringing their in-depth expertise and advanced filming processes in producing three-dimensional, life-size illusions,” Guerilla Union said.

Rock the Bells also announced a national sweepstakes where one winner in each market will have a chance to witness a soundcheck for the virtual performances. Winners will also receive two-day tickets to the festival in their market and hotel accommodations for the weekend. 

The full festival line-up, as published by Guerilla Union, can be found below.

ROCK THE BELLS 2013 FESTIVAL SERIES LINE-UP

ACTION BRONSON (now performing in ALL MARKETS)

A$AP MOB (featuring A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Ant, A$AP Twelvy, and A$AP Nast)

A-TRAK (performing in Los Angeles and Washington DC only)

BIG K.R.I.T.

BIG SEAN (performing in Washington DC and New York only)

BLACK HIPPY (Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock)

BIG DADDY KANE (performing in Washington DC only)

BODEGA BAMZ

BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY

BROTHER ALI

CHASE & STATUS

CHIEF KEEF

COMMON

CURREN$Y

DANNY BROWN

DELTRON 3030 (performing in Los Angeles and San Francisco only)

DILATED PEOPLES

DIZZY WRIGHT

DOM KENNEDY

E-40 AND TOO SHORT

EARL SWEATSHIRT

FLATBUSH ZOMBIES

FREDDIE GIBBS

FREEWAY

GIRL TALK

HIT-BOY

HOPSIN

IAMSU (performing in Los Angeles and San Francisco only)

IMMORTALTECHNIQUE

J. COLE (performing in Los Angeles, Washington DC, and New York only)

JHENE AIKO

JOEY BADA$$ WITH PRO ERA

JUICY J

JURASSIC 5 (performing in Los Angeles, Washington DC, and New York only)

KID CUDI

KRS-ONE

LECRAE

LOGIC (performing in Washington DC and New York only)

MIMOSA

PRETTY LIGHTS (performing in New York only)

PROF

PUSHA T

RAKIM

RAPSODY & 9TH WONDER (performing in Los Angeles and Washington DC only)

RATKING

RIFF RAFF

SEAN PRICE

SLICK RICK & DOUG E. FRESH

SNOW THA PRODUCT

SMOKE DZA

STALLEY

SUPERNATURAL

TALIB KWELI (performing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC only)

TECH N9NE

THE INTERNET

TRINIDAD JAMES (performing in Los Angeles and San Francisco only)

TYLER THE CREATOR (performing in San Francisco, Washington DC, and New York only)

WALE (performing in Washington DC and New York only)

WU-TANG CLAN

YG (performing in Los Angeles and San Francisco only)

YOUNG DIRTY BASTARD

RELATED: Rock The Bells Says Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Eazy-E Holograms Are Family-Endorsed