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Photo Essay: Rock The Bells 2011

August marked the start of one of independent and underground’s most-coveted events. Each year tens of thousands of fans flock to cities around the country to bare witness to what is without a doubt the most-massive and impressive display of hip hop performances.

Rock The Bells has become a milestone for which other festivals are measured by, and yet remains deeply-rooted in hip hop culture in a way that no other music festival is. aboveGround sent photographers to three of the four Rock The Bells stops to capture the performances and the scenery at each of these magnificent events. We’ll be updating this photo essay with each of the events that our staff took part in.

All photography from Rock The Bells LA courtesy and copyright, Shante Gillette Photography.

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  Hip Hop’s Lost Identity: Revisiting EPMD’s ‘Crossover’
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  Headspin, Headshots, & History: Big Zach’s Quest to Chronicle Twin City’s Hip Hop
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  Lights, Camera, Rappin: Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys Present Hip Hop for the Eyes
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  Is Record Store Day Actually Hurting Record Stores?
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  The Real Hologram: Why Coachella Sucks for Hip Hop Fans
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  From Fantasy to Reality: Tonedeff Talks About His Long-Awaited ‘Chico and The Man’ Album with Kno
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  Thanksgiving Feast: 10 Hungry Grind Time Battlers
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  You Need This Music: Wax, KRS-One, Final Outlaw, Chris Faust, Notes To Self

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