Nas, Cudi and Missy to Rock the Bells

The traveling hip-hop festival Rock the Bells has announced the lineup for its 2012 outing, which will drop by New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, featuring headlining sets from Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa and Nas.

Produced by the promotions company Guerilla Union, Bells originally focused on the scrappier, backpacky side of hip-hop (Sage Francis and Murs were regulars), but as the festival has grown in popularity and touring has become the main way many performers make a living in today's music industry, Rock the Bells has increasingly found a place for more and more platinum-certified superstars and hip-hop legends. 

This year's edition will feature Missy Elliott and Timbaland's first full-length performance in many years, as well as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony performing the album E. 1999 Eternal in its entirety and Method Man & Redman performing their collaborative album Blackout.

On the indiesh-end of the spectrum, Yelawolf, Atmosphere and Kendrick Lamar are playing, and Kid Koala, Dan the Automator and Del will perform their future-funk odyssey Deltron 3030 for the first time in more than a decade.

Also, parents who want to responsibly introduce their kids to hip-hop will be delighted to know that "Yo Gabba Gabba" host DJ Lance Rock will be teaching the young folks how to dance properly.

Tickets for Rock the Bells go on sale May 19 at 10 a.m.

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