DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK

The second annual Rock the Bells Festival is going down at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on 8/5, and we have the lineup.

LL COOL J, who wrote the 1985 single of the same name and curated the festival, unveiled the roster on Thursday night (4/27) via Instagram. As expected, the bill is stacked with hip-hop legends, including Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Method Man, Redman, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Smif-N-Wessun, Swizz Beatz, Boot Camp Clik, Fabolous, MC Sha Rock, Roxanne Shanté, Monie Love and The Cold Crush Brothers.

"I feel like hip-hop is indispensable," LL COOL J said. "And I feel the same reverence in the way Paul McCartney gets celebrated, the way Bob Dylan gets celebrated or Mick Jagger... I feel like these artists, these kings and queens, deserve that same treatment for this art form."

Rock the Bells President James Cuthbert added, “We’ve made it a priority to honor hip-hop culture! This is a celebration for artists who paved the way and the legions of fans around the world throughout hip-hop’s 50th anniversary year. The stage is set for the overdue acknowledgement and celebration of our culture and the fans who live and breathe it. This lineup represents icons and artists from various decades, cities and styles, ensuring that fans have the best hip-hop experience possible.”

Co-produced by The Bowery Presents, the festival will also provide immersive experiences highlighting hip-hop’s impact on fashion, art and food. Tickets are available here. Check out the official trailer below while we practice the Smurf, the Popeye and the Jerry Lewis.