On Thursday, February 10th, the Grammy Foundation and BET/Centric TV celebrated Word Revolution, their annual tribute to hip-hop, at the Ebelle Theatre in Los Angeles. Performers included Musiq Soulchild, Paul Wall, Arrested Development, Chrisette Michelle, Marsha Ambrosious, House of Pain, Phife of A Tribe Called Quest and more.

Check out the photos from the red carpet, and a full review on Centric TV soon.

Musiq Soulchild

Naughty By Nature

MC Lyte

Phife of A Tribe Called Quest

Chrisette Michele

Neil Portnow, President, Grammy Foundation

Paul Wall

Last week, Phife Dawg was not only in town to celebrate the lasting legacy of J Dilla, but he also was on a panel entitled Hip-Hop and Health Care, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union, which focused on what the urban community could do to tackle health care reform.

Phife sat down with Sonya of The Glass House DC to talk about his current plans, why he joined the Hip-Hop and Health Care summit, on making a beat with J Dilla, and wax on some West Indian riddims.

You have no excuse not to be at Liv tomorrow for DC Loves Dilla. Ma Dukes, Illa J and Phife of A Tribe Called Quest will be in the building, as well as live performances by Wayna, Kev Brown, Ardamus, Roddy Rod, Oddisee, Diamond District; Alison Carney and Phil Ade.

The event is FREE, but DONATIONS are encouraged. RSVP at their Facebook Page.

J. Period & Q-Tip – The Abstract Best Mixtape

Very dope mixtape from J. Period with inspiration from Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest. Questlove’s Randy Watson Experience makes an appearance as well. Very good look. (via Live from CGY)

Tracklisting:
1. J.Period f. Prince Paul, Questlove & Randy Watson– Rhythm (Scratch Intro)
2. Cannonball Adderly / Excursions Intro
3. J.Period f. De La Soul – Excursions (Tribute Remix)
4. Aquarius Interlude #1: Welcome
5. Q-Tip f. Busta Rhymes – Getting Up (DJ Scratch Remix) (The Renaissance)
6. Behind the Scenes: Ghetto Origins [Produced by J.Period]
7. What the Fuss f. Stevie Wonder (Shook Remix)
8. Queens Represent (Interlude)
9. Mobb Deep f. Nas & Q-Tip – Give Up the Goods (J.Period Remix) [Produced by Q-Tip]
10. Apache – Gangsta Bitch [Produced by Q-Tip]
11. ATCQ – If the Papes Come (Intro)
12. ATCQ – Check the Rhime
13. Behind the Scenes: Don’t Walk Away (Interlude)
14. ATCQ –Award Tour
15. Behind the Scenes: Award Tour (Interlude)
16. Hot Butter (Interlude)
17. J.Period f. Dres – Jazz Pt. 2 (Tribute Remix)
18. Behind the Scenes: We Got the Jazz (Interlude)
19. J.Period f. Blu– Jazz (Tribute Remix)
20. Skypager: Bob Power & Big Daddy Kane (Interlude)
21. Q-Tip f. Jay Dilla – Let’s Ride
22. Behind the Scenes: Bob Power You There? (Interlude)
23. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing (Remix)
24. Q-Tip – Move (The Renaissance)
25. Q-Tip – Breathe & Stop (J.Period Remix)
26. Respect to Phife Dawg (Interlude)
27. J.Period f. Consequence & Kid Cudi – Buggin Out (Tribute Remix)
28. ATCQ Consists Of…
29. Behind the Scenes: The Native Tongues (Interlude)
30. De La Soul f. Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, Monie Love & Queen Latifah – Buddy (Remix)
31. Respect to Ali Shaheed Muhammed (Interlude)
32. Q-Tip f. Busta Rhymes – N.T.
33. A Message From Talib Kweli
34. J.Period f. Questlove, Talib Kweli & Randy Watson – Youthful (Tribute Remix)
35. Q-Tip f. Amanda Diva – ManWomanBoogie (The Renaissance)
36. Chris Rock: Men vs. Women (Interlude)
37. De La Soul f. Q-Tip – Saturdays
38. De La Soul f. Q-Tip & Phife – Saturdays (Remix)
39. Q-Tip – She Likes to Move (J.Period Remix)
40. Dee-Lite f. Q-Tip – Groove Is in the Heart
41. Beastie Boys f. Q-Tip – Get it Together
42. Behind the Scenes: What Is Kapelka? (Interlude)
43. J.Period f. Skillz, Questlove & Randy Watson – What? (Tribute Remix)
44. Behind the Scenes: Busta Rhymes / Scenario (Interlude)
45. Busta Rhymes – Scenario (Unreleased Demo Tape)
46. Behind the Scenes: Hood R.I.P. (Interlude)
47. Hood – Scenario (Remix)
48. Aquarius Outtro
49. Behind the Scenes (Bonus): Reinvention (Kamaal the Abstract – A Million Times)

Unfortunately I didn’t get to go to Rock the Bells for its DC appearance last Sunday but I heard it was off the chain. My bad, but life got in the way. However, DJ Eurok has some amazing coverage of the event including Tribe’s tour rider and a conversation with the one and only Afrika Bambaataa. Josh Sisk from BYT got some dope photos of the event, including the one above.

The lineup for the annual Rock The Bells tour was announce this week, and this year, like last year, its already generating controversy. Last year, it was the inclusion of Rage Against The Machine as a headliner (cause they ain’t hip-hop?), and now this year, it’s the inclusion of hipster-hop acts like The Cool Kids, Spank Rock, Kid Sister, Santogold and the like.

But forget the controversy….A TRIBE CALLED QUEST IS REUNITING!! Also, what’s this? The Pharcyde (who I guess have reunited, but have played some West Coast gigs last year) are also on the bill as well as Nas, Most Def and others.

And honestly, I was going to save this for another post, but what the hell is wrong with hipster-hop?? Seriously, there are people who think that The Cool Kids are the second coming of the apocalypse? Why? Cause they’re “soft?” Last time I checked, Hip-Hop had The Fat Boys, Kid N’ Play, and Arrested Development…..and somehow it survived.

Anyway, tour Dates are below…

Sat 7/19 – Chicago, IL
Sun 7/20 – Toronto, ON
Sat 7/26 – Boston, MA
Sun 7/27 – New York, NY
Sat 8/2 – Miami, FL
Sun 8/3 – Philadelphia, PA
Sat 8/9 – Los Angeles, CA
Sat 8/16 – San Francisco, CA
Sat 8/23 – Denver, CO
Sat 8/30 – Vancouver, BC

Rock The Bells Official Website