A Tribe Called Quest headlines the Rock the Bells concert, which gets underway at noon. Doors open at 11 a.m.
Most years, concert organizers try to get a great musical act or group that's broken up to reunite for the festival. Last year, it was Rage Against the Machine and the year before, it was A Tribe Called Quest, who return this year.
In 2004, the festival's first year, it was Wu-Tang Clan.
This year, it's The Pharcyde. The act, which took a bit of a hiatus in the mid-1990s before releasing the 2000 EP, Chapter One: Testing The Waters, rose to prominence in the 1990s with hits such as Drop, Passin' Me By and Runnin.
During a press conference to promote the festival, the artists said they're eager to get back to performing before a live audience.
"When we make it to the stage it has to be dope," said Imani.
"It's going to be historical (because) it's unexpected," continued Fatlip. "No one was thinking this could happen, especially myself."
Even the headliners were eager to see the reunited act.
"It's like, yo, where you all been?" said A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg.
Check out The Pharcyde's music by visiting www.myspace.com/thepharcyde.
The concert lineup is a veritable who's who of the hip-hop scene, also featuring Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, Method Man, Redman, Murs, Spank Rock, Kid Sister, The Cool Kids, Wale, Jay Electronica, BOB, Kidz in the Hall and Amanda Blank. It's emceed by B-Real, Supernatural and Scratch and DJ Green Lantern.
Tickets cost $75, $90 and $175. Call Ticketmaster at 416-870-8000.
For more information, visit www.guerillaunion.com/rockthebells.
cclay@mississauga.net
