Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Wu-Tang Clan, Redman and De La Soul are among the hip-hop artists performing at the 2006 Rock the Bells festival. The concert will take place Aug. 5 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, Calif., followed by a tentatively scheduled Aug. 6 show in Northern California.

The performance lineup includes Aesop Rock, Living Legends, DEL The Funky Homosapien, Immortal Technique, MURS 3:16, Supernatural and Planet Asia. Wu-Tang Clan is expected to execute a tribute to late member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who staged his final concert with the group two years ago at Rock the Bells.

The event will also feature B-Boys, live art presentations, turntablist and emcee battles, as well as a 20-minute screening of a Rock the Bells documentary, which contains footage of the 2004 festival. The film is due in theaters later this year.

In addition, during the show Supernatural will attempt to break the record for longest freestyle rap of 8 hours and 45 minutes, currently held by Canadian rapper, D.O., according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

“Rock the Bells has become the ultimate platform of integrity for conscious, hardcore, and independent music,” says festival founder and organizer Chang Weisberg.

Tickets for the concert go on sale tomorrow (May 20). A nationwide outing will begin this fall, followed by tours in Europe and Japan in the winter.

Source: Billboard