“Dirty is the original ratchet,” charges Wu-Tang Clan’s U-God. “People don’t even know that.” But, the world will soon when the late and beloved Wu-Tang member is resurrected in a virtual performance at the 2013 Rock the Bells during his old hip-hop crew headlining set. The hologram-like visuals — the late Eazy-E will also reappear during Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s set — were re-imagined by Rock the Bells founder Chang Weisberg after being inspired by Tupac’s posthumous appearance at Coachella in 2012.
“He taught me so much as person, as an entertainer, as a rhymer,” says U-God remembering his lost pal ODB. “I ain’t seen him in years. It’s tough.”
Rock the Bells, hip-hop’s premier music festival, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The fest’s 2013 lineup includes Wu-Tang, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Jurassic 5, Black Hippy, Common, Tyler the Creator, Danny Brown, Tech N9ne and several others. The traveling fest kicks off Sept. 7 and 8 in San Bernardino, Calif. and stops in Mountain View, Calif; Washington D.C., and Rutherford, N.J. thereafter.
For more info and tickets to Rock the Bells head to RocktheBells.net.