LL Cool J returns to Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday as his Rock The Bells festival honors the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
Courtesy of BP’s office
Queens will become the center of the hip-hop universe this week with the return of LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells festival at Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 5, featuring performances by Queen Latifah, Method Man and Redman, Ludacris, Salt-n-Pepa, De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane, Brand Nubian, Monie Love and Black Sheep, among other legends.
For St. Albans’ favorite son LL Cool J, the founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, the stellar lineup is part of a citywide recognition of the 50th anniversary of the genre
“This is a special year for the culture and for Rock The Bells in curating this experience, bringing together the icons of Hip-Hop,” he said announcing the Forest Hills Stadium event. “I’m doing this for Queens, for NYC, and for the Hip-Hop culture. There’s no better place for me to perform during this moment in Hip-Hop than my hometown.”
It will also be a homecoming for Sandra Dayton and Cheryl James, who became friends while attending Queensborough Community College in 1985 before forming Salt-n-Pepa. The origins of hip-hop in the borough are the subject of Queens Public Library’s star-studded, two-day summit on Aug. 3 and 4 at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City. Guest speakers will include rappers Darryl McDaniels of Hollis legends Run-DMC and KRS-One.
“Recognizing, celebrating and preserving hip-hop, as well as exploring its roots, influence and impact, are critical to understanding the history of New York City, our nation, and entire generations that connect and express themselves through this cultural phenomenon,” Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott said. “We are thrilled to host the Hip Hop 50 Summit in the borough of Queens, which has played a significant role in hip hop’s rise from a local art form to a global movement.”
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