Maybe he’s simply looking for an “Around the Way Girl.”
LL Cool J — the Grammy-winner from St. Albans who’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — returns to his home borough to bust rhymes at the Rock The Bells Festival at Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 5.
He’s also the CEO of this second annual Hip Hop-athon, whose star-studded lineup includes Hollis-bred Run-D.M.C., Queensbridge’s Roxanne Shanté, Salt-N-Pepa (starring Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, who met while students at Queensborough Community College), Queen Latifah (New Jersey), De La Soul (Long Island), Method Man (Staten Island), Swizz Beatz (the Bronx), and The Roots (Philadelphia) featuring Queens-born DJ Z-Trip. Other special guests are expected, too.
Ticket prices vary depending on the package (i.e. VIP1, VIP2). The doors open at noon on Aug. 5, and the concert is slated to start at 1 pm.
Rock The Bells is organized into four themed shows: The King of Queens Homecoming; A Native Tongues Celebration; Queens of the Mic; and a 35th anniversary recognition of The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.
“The stage is set for the overdue acknowledgment and celebration of our culture and the fans who live and breathe it,” stated Rock The Bells President James Cuthbert. “This lineup represents icons and artists from various decades, cities, and styles, ensuring fans have the best Hip-Hop experience possible.”
Located at One Tennis Place, Forest Hills Stadium is a hallowed entertainment ground where the U.S. Open’s center court tennis matches took place from 1923 to 1978. After a renovation, the state-of-the-art facility has hosted big name concerts since 2013. Click here for the rest of the 2023 schedule.
Top image: LL Cool J; bottom image: Forest Hills Stadium/Adam Macchia