SPIN

The eighth annual traveling hip-hop festival Rock the Bells kicked off Saturday at Los Angeles' San Manuel Ampitheater -- and SPIN sent writer Ian Cohen and photographer Noah Abrams there to capture all the action, from the backstage parties to the onstage performances, including RZA (above), Nas, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Cypress Hill, Raekwon, and others.

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This year's installment of Rock the Bells featured full performances of classic albums, including soul singer Erykah Badu strutting through her 1997 neo-soul benchmark Baduizm.

"She exuded a loose and unhurried vibe," says SPIN's Ian Cohen. "She even introduced 'Sometimes' as a song 'probably' written about Andre 3000, her baby's daddy and most likely her only rapper ex that'll never show up to play Rock the Bells."

"Time has proven that the best way to ensure a long career in the live touring business is to make inroads with marijuana enthusiasts. Those dudes are loyal," says Cohen. "It's quite possible Cypress Hill understands that better than anyone."

The Los Angeles hip-hop troupe performed their 1993 smoker's delight, Black Sunday, which "was a great choice since its call-and-response vocals translate well to a festival setting. And though the fest's stage was dealing with delays, Cypress Hill managed to start 15 minutes before their scheduled set time of 4:35 P.M. -- you do the math."

"Rock the Bells was essentially Wu-Tang & Friends," says Cohen of the New York group (member RZA above, left). One of those "friends," Chicago rapper Common (right), joined Mos Def and Talib Kweli for a "spirited run through 'Respiration' that reminded everyone that Black Star was a really fun record."

The Queens, NY, rapper performed his classic LP Illmatic.

In 2010, the reclusive Fugees singer emerged to perform an impromptu set at Rock the Bells, but in 2011 "she sounded far better," says Cohen. One exception: Airhorns. "What the hell was up with the airhorns during The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill?!?!? Hey, those don't belong there..."

The Wu-Tang Clan member ripped through his 1995 solo effort Liquid Swords.

The Chicago rhyme-sayer poses for a portrait backstage.

After performing his group Mobb Deep's influential 1995 LP The Infamous, rapper Prodigy joined Nas -- who he grew up with in the tough Queensbridge Housing Projects of Queens, NY -- for "Made You Look," from Nas' 2002 album God's Son.

The Wu-Tang members twist up a blunt backstage.

Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Ron Artest stood side stage for much of Nas' set swigging from a bottle of Grey Goose, "just in case it wasn't clear who was having the most fun out here," jokes Cohen.