With further reporting from Taylor McGee
The 2025 Rock The Bells Pageantshook the Prudential Heart to its foundations.LL COOL Jand the annual traditional hip-hop fest was again in full impact with a lineup that boasted icons of the sport from Rakim to Scarface to Remy Ma and Busta Rhymes.
The pageant additionally paid homage to the legendary Uptown Data. Based by Andre Harrell, Uptown would form the sound of R&B and hip-hop within the Nineteen Nineties, with hits from acts like Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Christopher WIlliams, Heavy D & The Boyz, Soul IV Actual and extra.
Okayplayer was there and we’re breaking down a few of our 12 favourite moments from the stage.
1. Busta Rhymes Brings The Warmth
Busta Rhymes delivered a high-energy, rapid-fire efficiency that had the gang erupting. Showcasing a vet’s crowd management and charisma, his set included a shock efficiency of his hit single “Contact It” with Rah Digga and Papoose becoming a member of him.
2. Redman Reveals Out for His Hometown
Acting on his house turf, Brick Metropolis’s personal Redman introduced traditional Jersey power, witty stage banter, and deep cuts. And he introduced out particular company EMPD to carry out “Head Banger”–and thanked Erick and Parrish for locating him in Jersey and launching his profession again in 1992.
3. Rakim Takes Us to Church
Rakim obtained one of many evening’s loudest ovations. Dripping in Telfar, the God MC turned a “Paid in Full” into one thing religious. The R showcased the stream and charisma he’s constructed his legacy on. Because the viewers went wild for his classics, it was clear that the legend from Lengthy Island can without end transfer the gang.
4. Too Quick Brings the Bay to New Jersey
Too $hort turned up the gang with Bay Space anthems like fan favourite “Blow the Whistle.” The gang gave the West Coast godfather all of the love—and, in fact, screamed his “favourite phrase” with him in unison. And to prime it off, $hort was joined onstage by fellow legend Scarface to carry out their 1998 hit “F*** Faces.”
5. Fabolous Reminds Us of the DatPiff Period
Fabolous had one of many first performances of the evening–kicking off Rock The Bells with a classy, polished efficiency. Mixing classics like “Make Me Higher” with early aughts mixtape nostalgia, Fab had the women attentive and the fellas rocking.
5. Scarface Leads the Soiled South
The Soiled South represented; as Scarface gave the gang an emotional and highly effective set, particularly together with his rendition of “On My Block,” and Too $hort joined him onstage. Plies additionally introduced some Southern attraction and crowd engagement to the proceedings to the delight of the gang. His renditions of “Shawty” and “Becky” had been simple crowd-pleasers, proving his 2000s hits nonetheless resonate. And Boosie BadAzz turned as much as carry out his chart-toppers with road power–operating via hits like “Wipe Me Down” and “Set It Off.”
6. KRS-One Reveals Why He is “The Teacha.”
The Bronx statesman KRS-One gave a clinic as “The Teacha.” His a cappella freestyle section felt cathartic. Though his set was reduce quick he made positive to acknowledge the assist of fifty extra years of hip-hop. Whereas additionally mentioning the truth that he opened a temple of hip-hop.
7. M.O.P Ante’s Up
KRS set the stage—and if anybody wanted additional proof that the Bronx was completely within the constructing, M.O.P introduced uncooked aggression and crowd mosh vibes. The gang exploded throughout their fiery “Ante Up” efficiency.
8. Remy Ma Confirmed Why She’s Proper to be “Immodest”
The Bronx love fest continued, as Remy Ma made it clear the diva power was within the constructing together with her commanding presence. The round-the-way lady from the BX carried out her go-to joints “Whateva,” “All The Manner Up” (sans Fats Joe) and “Immodest.”
9. CNN Reunite
Capone-N-Noreaga introduced out the traditional Queens power. C-N-N had an electrical set. The NYC road legends acquired the gang amped with the classics “C-N-N” and “Superthug.” The duo confirmed that their legendary chemistry remains to be sturdy, virtually 30 years after their traditional debut.
10. Philly Was within the Constructing
State Property was positively within the constructing, as Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, Chris & Neef repped for Philly. Working via hits like “Rock the Mic” and “Flipside,” the road hop was well-represented all through the pageant, and the Metropolis Of Brotherly Love acquired to remind everybody that its Hip-Hop legacy runs deep.
11. LL Cool J Was LL Cool J within the Finest Manner Doable
And none apart from LL COOL J himself took the stage. The rap icon and pageant founder took the power all the best way again to 1985 with a shock efficiency of his timeless “Rock The Bells”–with Child Capri spinning in assist.
12. Uptown Data Revisited Its Legacy
Uptown Data acquired all of the love—in one of many highlights of the pageant.. In an emotional, trendy and soulful interlude, the stage was set to have a good time the golden period of Hip-Hop soul with a tribute to Uptown Data, late label founder Andre Harrell, and former CEO, the late Heavy D.
Mr. Cheeks of Misplaced Boyz took the stage for an emotional efficiency of the LB traditional “Renee”; and CL Easy delivered a heartfelt efficiency and paid tribute to these misplaced from Uptown Data. Father MC, Al B. Certain!, Christopher Williams, Soul IV Actual, Jeff Redd, Donell Jones, Horace Brown, Monifah gave a full-on New Jack Swing and R&B celebration. Felt like a nostalgic time capsule for ‘90s heads with performances of “I’ll Do 4 U,” Miss You” and “Sweet Rain”
Soul IV Actual’s “Sweet Rain” was a sing-along anthem of the evening–thirty years later and nonetheless captured the gang. Seeing label legends like Al B. Certain!, Soul IV Actual and Christopher Williams sharing the stage was a particular second that encapsulated how a lot that music meant to a era.
