Rock The Bells is coming in smoldering hot this Sept. 7 and 8 at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino! This year’s ultimate hip hop festival will feature Wu-Tang Clan, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Common, Dilated Peoples, E-40 & Too Short, Jurassic 5, Rakim, Supernatural, Talib Kweli, Tyler The Creator, Girl Talk, and many more. If you love hip hop, beats and rhymes — you need to get up on Rock The Bells!
You can purchase a two-day pass to Rock The Bells for $165 + service fees by clicking here; or you can test your luck and try winning a pair with us! We’ll be giving away a couple pairs of weekend passes to Rock The Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater courtesy of Guerilla Union and Grimy Goods. We’re also going to run an Instagram giveaway! So be sure to follow us! Does that sound fresh to you? Read the contest details below for a chance to win a pair of weekend passes to Rock The Bells! We will select winners on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Winners will be notified via email and announced via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Good luck!
CONTEST DETAILS
1. First make sure you’re following Grimy Goods on Twitter here and/or “like” our Facebook page here. We will verify.
2. Next, leave a comment below letting us know what your favorite hip hop song of all time is and why? Be sure to leave your valid email address when leaving a comment so we can notify you of your win (if selected as a winner). Email addresses are kept private and are not seen by the public.
3. When you’re done with your comment, send us a Tweet (see below) or you can post on our Facebook wall. If you post on our Facebook wall, you need to tag the Rock The Bells Facebook page in your entry comment as well!
TWEET: Yo @GrimyGoods! I want to win a pair of weekend passes to @RockTheBells Los Angeles Sept. 7 & 8! Hook it up! http://ow.ly/nU7JU
FACEBOOK: Just leave a comment on our wall letting us know you entered our contest for tickets to Rock The Bells Los Angeles. BE SURE TO TAG ROCK THE BELLS IN YOUR FACEBOOK WALL COMMENT!
For more information about Rock The Bells, click here. To enter other Grimy Goods contests, click here.
Take a look at the entire Rock The Bells 2013 line-up below.
BIG KRIT
BLACK HIPPY
BODEGA BAMZ
BONE THUGS N HARMONY
BROTHER ALI
CHASE AND STATUS
COMMON*
CURRENSY
DANNY BROWN
DILATED PEOPLES
DIZZY WRIGHT
DOM KENNEDY
E-40 & TOO SHORT
EARL SWEATSHIRT
FLATBUSH ZOMBIES
HIT-BOY
HOPSIN
IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
JHENE AIKO*
JUICY J*
JURASSIC 5*
KID CUDI
LECRAE
MIMOSA
PROF
RAKIM
SNOW THA PRODUCT
SUPERNATURAL
TALIB KWELI
TECH N9NE
TYLER THE CREATOR*
WU-TANG CLAN
ORIGINAL VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES BY OL’ DIRTY BASTARD AND EAZY-E
* Denotes performing in select markets.
As a lover of music it is extremely difficult to choose just one. My favorites range from Brother Ali’s Forest Whitiker, Macklemore’s Inhale Deep, Afro Classic’s Keep the Faith to Nujabes’ Lady Brown. I found some of my favorite quotes through Lupe Fiasco, Joe Budden, Lauryn Hill, blue & exile’s (my list can go on & on & on
Choosing one hip hop song is difficult but I’d have to say an all time favorite of mine is Kendrick Lamar’s A.D.H.D., covering the everyday life routine of people in my generation on their working grind and the typical house party situation that follows the day shift, “hope to take the pain away from the feeling that you feel today, you know when you’re part of section 80 and you feel like no one can relate cause
You are, you are, a loner, loner,
Marijuana, endorphins make you stronger, stronger.”
Hope to be seeing this guy perform at RtB 2013!!
Notorious Big – suicidal thoughts, i can somewhat relate what he’s saying and going threw the whole thing… how i used to feel i would just wanna end life like “slits my wrists and end this bullshit”.. with hip hop i can relate so much to rappers storys ! from growing up in the hood, growing up to doing bigger and better things.
so many great hip hop songs to choose from ! but the one song i always play is “Nas is like”. If only he was there this year at RTB. This would be my first year ! please help me out with the tickets. <3 !
Juicy by Notorious B.I.G.! Cuz it’s too good.
my favorite hip hop song is “Hip Hop is dead” by nas. I enjoy this song because i remember this was one of the first tracks i ever heard from nas and hip hop. it brings back so many good memories from junior high.
Douggyyy@yahoo.com
my favorite hip hop song is “Hip Hop is dead” by nas. I enjoy this song because i remember this was one of the first tracks i ever heard from nas and hip hop. it brings back so many good memories from junior high.
Fave song is Mary j blige & method man’s you’re all I need… Cos I’m a fucken romantic.
My musical consciousness is so vast, varying from EDM and Trap music to rock, r&b and a lot more. But being from LA, my musical roots stem from West Coast Hip Hop. Last year seeing Ice Cube and WC headline RTB in San Bernardino was so iconic, I could have died leaving the venue and would have died happily. At the moment, my favorite Hip Hop song of all time would have to be F*** The Police by NWA. Hip Hop, and music in general, is still a form of artistic expression. Dre, Ren, Eazy and Cube put their listeners in a court room and expressed their frustration with the racial discrimination they were all too familiar with. I dig the song so much because they switched roles with the corrupt judicial system where Dre was the judge holding the hearing allowing the rest of the group to give their testimonials on why police are wack. I find it cool because it addressed oppression so many were experiencing in LA. The track is well received not only because it was rebellious, which is an underlying quality in hip hop culture, but it was also a valid issue that needed to be addressed. It was part of a critical era in the development of the character of the genre’s culture.
My favorite song is ‘Smile’ by Eyedea and Abilities. The reason why is because too many people take smiling for granted, no matter how bad things I think you should just keep smiling and you’ll get through your toughest times. It’s just one of those songs that speaks to you whether you’re happy, sad, or anything really. Eyedea inspired me through this song, that no matter what I’m going through not to give up no matter how hard I hit the ground get back up and smile. :]
Best hip hop song of all time in my opinion has to be hip hop is dead by Nas. His lyrics spread world to all the other rappers out there that they need to step their game up. Nas is legendary
There are a million songs to choose from but the on song that I would say that is my all time favorite is Dear Mama by 2Pac! There is so much meaning to this song! The message behind how as a young man he is able to see how much sacrifice his mother has done for her children. The importance of the message being that he loves her no matter what and though they had some tough times growing up at the end of the day she was still there to be the best mother she could be, showing her children unconditional love. The power of family is great, greater than anything in the world and she taught him that growing up and now he see’s that nothing being materialist can repay her for everything she has done for them, because that love is a gift that not everyone can or will ever receive. As well as having millions of fans that he has, everyone can relate to that song one way or another and for those reason I choose Dear Mama!
My favorite song of all-time is Lost Ones by J. Cole. In this new era of
hip-hop lots of artists have lost the story-telling aspect that makes hip-hop
such a universally loved genre. Lost ones takes the very touchy subject of
abortion and tells the story of a couple struggling with their options as the
woman is now pregnant. This is something that happens nearly everyday but Cole
makes the story come to life for the listener. His first verse comes from a
first-person point of view and he explains how he wishes he could provide a
better life for the child that is on it’s way, and doesn’t want to run but he
sees no other option besides abortion. The second verse is what I think is so
unique: he switches the point of view to the woman who is pregnant and feels
betrayed and abandoned. However, he continues to speak first person. This keeps
the reader more emotionally attached to the characters cole has created and you
can truly feel their pain as they go through such a hard time. His tone of voice reflects the woman’s anger with the man for even thinking she would abort her own baby, all the more drawing the listenr in. The third and final verse comes from a third person point of view referring to the characters as “he” and “she” which allows the listener to reflect on the story. This format was all planned by cole, the song is produced by cole, and his lyricism truly makes the song a masterpiece of his own creation. The song came out in 2008 but he did not put it on a mixtape because he knew this song meant to much, and finally put it on his debut album in 2011. In an era where many feel like hip-hop is a lost art, J. Cole is keeping it alive and with a song like Lost Ones that is so lyrically and verbally meaningful, it’s hard to argue that this is one of the best hip-hop songs of all time.
My favorite song of all-time is Lost Ones by J. Cole. In this new era of
hip-hop lots of artists have lost the story-telling aspect that makes hip-hop
such a universally loved genre. Lost ones takes the very touchy subject of
abortion and tells the story of a couple struggling with their options as the
woman is now pregnant. This is something that happens nearly everyday but Cole
makes the story come to life for the listener. His first verse comes from a
first-person point of view and he explains how he wishes he could provide a
better life for the child that is on it’s way, and doesn’t want to run but he
sees no other option besides abortion. The second verse is what I think is so
unique: he switches the point of view to the woman who is pregnant and feels
betrayed and abandoned. However, he continues to speak first person. This keeps
the reader more emotionally attached to the characters cole has created and you
can truly feel their pain as they go through such a hard time. His tone of voice reflects the woman’s anger with the man for even thinking she would abort her own baby, all the more drawing the listenr in. The third and final verse comes from a third person point of view referring to the characters as “he” and “she” which allows the listener to reflect on the story. This format
was all planned by cole, the song is produced by cole, and his lyricism truly makes the song a masterpiece of his own creation. The song came out in 2008 but he did not put it on a mixtape because he knew this song meant to much, and finally put it on his debut album in 2011. In an era where many feel like hip-hop is a lost art, J. Cole is keeping it alive and with a song like Lost Ones that is so lyrically and verbally meaningful, it’s hard to argue that this is one of the best hip-hop songs of all time.
My favorite hip hop song of all time is is Born Loser By DMX. Its my favorite Hip Hop song of all time because it was one of the 1st Hip Hop songs i had ever heard and it blew my mind. I’ve been a Hip Hop head ever since. I love that song so much i spent a year or two trying to locate The Born Loser Album. I know every word to that song by heart. This song and DMX are the reason I love Hip Hop today. Hopefully I get to go to my first ever R.T.B.
My favorite hip-hop song has to be Common- I used to lover H.E.R. This song has a lot of meaning to me and is relevant today. Common states the history of hip-hop in just one song from the freestyle to west coast & gangsta rap. The beat is also another thing I love about the song it compliments the lyrics and flow so well. His analogy of hip-hop being a woman is dope too he incorporated that throughout the whole song. He captured the essence of hip-hop before it became watered down & commercialized. That track is a classic in my eyes and rock the bells brings hip-hop to the fans who love the culture. Respect from the west coast!!
I have too many songs to pick from ha but my favorite is Soundtrack to My Life by Kid Cudi. I like this song because it explains a lot of what he’s been through. Life is tough and has it’s troubles but he makes the music for the people who are going through tough times too. People who can relate to him too. People are so quick to judge someone or their life but they shouldn’t unless they’ve actually walked a mile in their shoes. And ya life is going to bring you haters but you just say “hater shake my hand but I keep the sanitizer on deck” 😉 #iwanttomarryhim
My fav hip hop song has got to be 1997 by Dom Kennedy. This song just gets me turned up everytime i hear it! Aint no day i dont ride around in my car and bump it loud! Dom is one of the realest rappers cant go wrong with any of his songs! Hope i get to win tickets to RTB and have a chance to see him do his thing on stage!
Wu-Tang Clan- C.R.E.A.M Best song ever! Good lyrics, words and rhyme have meaning 🙂 Rock the Bells!!!!!!
There is so many amazing Hip-Hop songs that it is impossible to choose from, but if I had to choose my favorite song it would have to be The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By! That song is not only classic but it is like the definition of Hip-Hop! A close second would have to be The Lords of the Underground – Chief Rocka! If I could get the tickets, it would be the best birthday ever!
Man that’s tough choosing one. Either gotta be CREAM by the WU or one mic by Nas. CREAM is that classic hip hop that first got me turned on to hip hop. And then Nas is just one of the greatest.
“Explosive” by Dre has to be near the top of my list. Aside from it being played so frequently, I have an appreciation for how many people in SoCal know and love the song so everytime it comes on, everyone is so happy to sing along. It brings out the gangster in all of SoCal-ians. And who can’t appreciate some Nate Dogg thrown in there? It’s just a good classic that everyone loves to get down to!
Favorite hip hop song of all time hands down Gang Starr – Above The Clouds (Feat. Inspectah Deck). My cousin and I first stumbled across this gem when we we’re both young as hell watching an old skate video “Sorty’s: Fulfill The Dram”. On this dude Steve Olson’s sick ass part they dropped that shizz!! We both got fuckin’ HYPED!!! It was outta hand!.. Such a good memory. Ha! The beat from beginning to end is unbeatable though, and don’t even get me started on the bars… The type of shizz I’m down to shout!! All around FYA!!! Still till this date! One of the first hip hop tunes that opened my mind up to the whole genre as well!!! Ha!
Concrete Schoolyard by J5 … nuff said!
best Hip-Hop song of all time would have to be an uplifting positive song because we need alot of that at a very dark & negative point in our Lifetime. It’s really bad in my city Pomona Ca. rite now, check the news 3 more killings all in one nite leaving 3 people dead. The tention between Afriacan & Mexican Americans is only getting back to that serious fatal 80’s era. Sometimes I wis I could just save every 1 with a song but for me that woud be a Hip-Hop track because that’s whhat interest & captivates me. With all the bad things goin on across the world I want all people to feel a connection truly as one & come together to enjoy Music positively. So for me it would have to be Krayzie Bone’s Perfect Day oof The Fixtape series Vol. 4 Under The Influence. “If this is jus a Dream, let me Dream what I dream Let me See what I see Let me Be what I wanna Be”
My favorite hip hop song of all time would have to be Crossroads by Bone Thugs -N- Harmony because of the way they all can sing and synchronize then can just spit a raw flow is amazing. There is nothing out there like Bone Thugs and they really were mean’t to be the way they all work together it blows my mind. Everytime this song would come on, a smile comes upon my face. This song really is something special and still makes me smile to this day. Bone Thugs, Black Hippy, Kid CuDi, and everyone at this festival is going to be great! I really would appreciate these tickets and hope you guys at GrimyGoods choose me to go to Rock The Bells this year please! Thank you guys for the opportunity as always, you guys are awesome and if I do win this would totally make my year to go to Rock The Bells!!
Daaaaamn.. This is crazy!! I’ve spent the last two days going over my selections but it’s just too overwhelming. I’m all over the map as far as Hip-Hop goes.. I got mad love for more recent artist like Black Hippy, Joey Bada$$ and so fourth but to choose a “favorite” song, one single song, I feel like I gotta stick with a classic. I wanna mention a well known HipHop anthem or new school track but I feel like that’s too easy..
*** Rap Phenomenon – Biggie Smalls feat. Method Man & Redman ***
I’m gunna leave it at this. I feel like these were times when HipHop was fun, raw rap skills over beats that make your head nod. These are all artist of my youth so I like Biggie, along with Red and Meth but Dj Premier was who swayed the vote.. I saw him at Rock the bells ’10 and he’s my favorite producer by far!
Thanks for the opportunity!
To whom it may concern:
Next was “Underground Airplay” by Joey Bada$$ ft. Big K.R.I.T and Smoke DZA
Followed by “Real Hip-Hop” by Das EFX
and “Flava In Ya Ear” (Remix) took 4th
“The Prayer” by Kid Cudi is the best hip-hop song of all time. “Have you ever heard of some s&#* so real”? This song is poetry. “Beyond from the heart, from the soul you can feel”.. “and if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take” This song takes me back to when i lost my close friend Madison every time i hear it. Truly it was a ” blessing in disguise”
My all time favorite Hip Hop song is without a doubt “I Can” by Nas. I was born in 93 so it’s no surprise that I didn’t get into hip hop til I was 9 and that is when that song dropped. And when I was first getting into Hip Hop, this is the very first hip hop song I really got into. It took a while for it to really grow on me and to really understand the lyrics and when I did understand the song and the whole meaning behind it, it easily became my favorite hip hop track. Nas became my first favorite artists, I bought “God’s Son” as soon as it dropped. I’m a aspiring singer/songwriter and I started singing and writing at the age of 11 and this song was such an inspiration to me cause Nas just spit the truth! It motivated me. The first verse of the song is written on the first page of my rhyme book and I always read it over before writing a new song.. When people start to doubt me, I always quote the chorus, “I Know I can.. Be what I wanna be.. If I work hard at it.. I’ll be where I wanna be.” It’s my favorite cause it’s the first hip hop song I got into, the first hip hop song that inspired me, and it’s a great song. It has a lot of meaning to me. I hope you choose me cause a lot of artists that inspire will be at Rock the Bells. It would be a great experience.
I have a deep love for kid cudi.
Day n Nite is a timesless hit with me.
I would love to see him.
Help me out with some RTB tickets please.
Much Luv!
Itsrobyncuh@gmail.com
Life Changes by Wu Tang. Great tribute to ODB, not to mention a sweet rhyme by each member!
Life Changes by Wu Tang. Great tribute to ODB, not towntipm a sweet rhyme by each member!
I was born and raised in Southern California–Compton AND Long Beach to be exact (now you know you in trouble)–so the natural choice for me would be “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” by Dre and Snoop. The “Chronic” album was my first introduction to hip-hop, and at 4 years old “Nuthin but a G Thang” was the first song I ever memorized. The beat.. the verses.. straight West Coast flavor. You can’t beat it. That entire album embodies my childhood and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for the “Chronic”–both literally and figuratively speaking 🙂
Ugh sorry iam buzzed lol my email is … lz_olivarez@yahoo.com sorry thanx ggdz
My fav is tupac..rip..me against the world! Cuz everyday life is a strugle and i can over come it!! Even if shit dont go right! There’s allways hope made love for music …thanx grimy goods even if i don’t win ur awsome (-.-.
Hard to choose i would have to say one of my favorite hip hop songs would have to be Murder was the case by Snoop Dogg simply because not only does Snoop just have insane flow but also the controversy behind it that everyone says illuminati its pretty genius to write a song the way he did. Also what really draws me in is the beat its just really put together every space is filled but its not over the top. Dr Dre is just an amazing producer hence why he was a dj before but thats what i like about Dre he really knows how to make music and make it sound clean. I make music for fun and i know how hard it its to make it sound so on point so thats why i really like this song also how long ago it was made early 90s that shows how it was the birth of the hip hop scene. Anyways that is my answer it was hard to choose i will never have a top song but that is one off the top of my head. I would love to attend RTB it would be a dream to see Bone Thugz n Chase and Status i have been waiting years for them to come back they put on a hell of a show. Thanks for taking the time to read this 😀
“Classic”-Dj Premier ft Rakim, Nas, & Krs-One
Rakim: “Ask the teenagers, OG’s and ask the kids
What their definition of classic is
Timeless, so age don’t count in the booth
When your flow stay submerged in the fountain of youth”
Nas: “Oh you went platinum, yeah that’s nice
Now let me see you do the same thing twice
Three times, four times, then a couple of mo’ times
Please, you’re Amateur Night, it’s Showtime”
Krs-One:”Instead of broadcasting how we smoke them trees
On the radio we need to hear more local emcees
Where you at?, c’mon where you at
This is the difference between emceeing and rap
Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal
Emcees spit rhymes to uplift their people”
#RTB
Please Send me to experience my first R.T.B
Lets face it Hip Hop Culture has had many banger’s throughout the years & everyone has experienced this movement in different ways. I love each & every part of hip hop from west coast to east cost, mainstream to underground, & corporate or independent. Its all AMAZING in my eyes. I’m a proud supporter of the movement always reinventing itself, I feel Hip Hop is my religion & will forever stay true to it. Hands down in my 14 years of Hip Hop growth I have never found an anthem to show more LOVE to Hip Hop then in;
“I USED TO LOVE H.E.R”-COMMON SENSE
“LOVE OF MY LIFE”-ERYKAH BADU ft COMMON
but arguably my favorite song would have to be by
Dj Premier ft Rakim,Nas & KRS-ONE
“CLASSIC”
Best hip hop song of all time? Ah there’s plenty…. Personally mine would be Can it all be so simple by Wu-Tang because we’ve all been through tough times and back then in the days some of us even living in poverty and barely making enough for food but still seeing that light at the end of the tunnel. Now and days things just get more difficult. Deaths of our loved ones caused by diseases, gang banging, shootings….. Can it be that it was all so simple then?
My favorite hip hop track of all time? too easy. C.R.E.A.M. by the Wu-Tang Clan. It was Summer of ’94 and i was chillin with my cousin Eric at my aunt’s house and i remember him throwing that shit on and me hearing WTC for the first time. I was blown away. The way they talked. Their GRIMY! and aggressive style of rhyme dumbfounded me. The way they used words with double meaning but it somehow made perfect sense every time. WTC had “swag” before that was even a word. Can honestly say I dont remember what i listened to before that. I dubbed a copy of that tape (what you kids know about that?!?) that same night and remember listening to it every morning on my way to 7th grade. It was my introduction to a whole new world and culture that has become a part of my everyday life. #CashRulesEverythingAroundMe #HipHop
My favorite hip hop song is Above the Clouds by Gang Starr. Everything about this song is perfect, and it has one of the best beats ever. Guru is just phenomenal with his opening lines. Also, getting Inspectah Deck for a guest verse was a very smart choice 🙂
I might have to give it to De La Soul’s “Pass The Plugs”. A definitive song of the group, of the native tongue and of alternative hip-hop. This is has to be one of Prince Paul’s highest moments with the group in terms of production. This song exudes the “hippie sound” people and critics gave to De La Soul, while the group raps about battling this image. “First P is passed, I am known as…” Beautiful rhythmic flow throughout the song that changed from verse to verse. One of De La Soul’s finest moments from their masterpiece album, De La Soul is Dead.
The Message by Dre all day
I will have to say “Cali-O” by Too $hort. To me, the song is not just about smoking marijuana; rather, it perfectly captures the California culture and honestly makes me happy and proud to live in arguably the most popular state in the United States. I love California.
The Best Hip-hop song of all time is Change by Tupac. 17 years later and that song is still relevant. Tupac was so real as an artist and this song epitomizes what he was about as an artist.
Best Hip-Hop song of ll time was Changes By Tupac.. 17 years later and that song is still so relevant!! Just everything He says in that song is timeless and it’s all done over a classic beat.
The best hip hop song of ALL TIME, is Juicy by Biggie Smalls, It has everything you want in a hip hop track, a good message, great beat, and dope ass lyrics, biggie is the best rapper of all time and this is his best song, his flow and word play on this song was bananas, when this song come on you cant help but smile and sing along it will never get old and will live on forever and ever.. Its All Good Bay ba baaaby!!
My favorite song of all time is for da luv of $ because thats the first song i have ever heard by bone thugs and after that i fell in love with them. i was just a kid when i first heard of them. i was only like 8 and i started listening to there music when they split so i only listened to there old stuff but now that they are together i get the goose bumps when i listen to there new stuff. I’m a really big bone thugs n harmony fan and would love to be at rock the bells for my first concert experience. Thank you
My favorite hip hop song would have to be murs & 9th wonder -walk like a man it tells a good story and the way the beat changes during different verses emphasizes what he’s saying in each Verse you can play that whole album from beginning to end and enjoy every song
best hip hop song to me… well I have soooo many but one of my top will have to be..
Rewind- Nas off the Stillmatic album.
“..it’s starts at the ending..” it’s just beyond amazing how this man tells a story backwards and it make the most sense possible. which makes the track is a classic. Nas showed nothing but true talent and skill with this clever rap. and he will always amaze me.
lyrically Nas is one of the most talented MC in my book; one of the greatest! and he is true hip hop. at least to me he will always be a G.O.A.T.