Going four years strong, the annual Rock the Bells has really stepped up the competition for similar hip-hop festivals like Atlanta’s Birthday Bash and Hot 97’s Summer Jam. Featuring all-star lineups, first-string secret guests and A-list reunions, Rock the Bells has quickly become the latter-day Woodstock of hip-hop, the lyrical Lollapalooza, the Coachella of “C.R.E.A.M.”

While this year’s show hosted much-anticipated reunions from celebrated groups the Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as a high-profile performance from the controversy-laden Nas backed by a full live band, the night’s secret guests stole the show. No questions asked. Needless to say, New York was more than well represented, as virtually every headliner and guest hailed from the East Coast, constantly reminding fans of the true birthplace of hip-hop.

The first headlining slot went to the renowned De La Soul, who after two decades in the game proved their much-deserved place in hip-hop history with ease. Digging deep into their catalog of hip-hop classics (but surprisingly skipping “Me, Myself and I”), De La Soul drove the crowd wild when they brought out Black Sheep for an animated, participatory performance of “The Choice Is Yours.”

Mos Def followed a chilled-out, somewhat boring show by the Pharcyde, who didn’t get much of a reaction from the crowd except for the expected “Passin’ Me By,” and a raucous Raekwon and Ghostface co-op, who brought out the largest (Wu) entourage of the night. Though Mos Def kept heads bouncing, he lit the stage once he invited buddy and fellow Black Star member Talib Kweli to break into “Definition.” While Talib was probably a predictable choice, Mos Def had one last ace up his sleeve when he invited Pharoahe Monch out for “Simon Says,” skipping out on “Oh No,” unfortunately.

Method Man and Redman, the self-proclaimed Starsky & Hutch of hip-hop, gave one of the night’s best, most vibrant performances, but things got intense when the duo brought out a train of old-school hip-hop figures that included Slick Rick and EPMD, as well as DJ Kool and Keith Murray, who broke into Redman’s rendition of “Rapper’s Delight” alongside Erick Sermon.

As if a Nas performance weren’t enough already, the Queensbridge MC did the impossible: He brought out a former foe, the one and only Jay-Z, for the most unexpected guest appearance. While the crowd went berserk over Hova, he only stuck around for one song, “Success,” to claim his throne as the King of New York.

A Tribe Called Quest closed the night with classic cuts spanning two decades of hip-hop, including “Bonita Applebum,” “Find a Way,” “Check the Rhime” and “Jazz (We’ve Got).” Still, hats off to A Tribe Called Quest for bringing out Busta Rhymes to unleash his spastic, breakout verse for an almost entirely a cappella version of “Scenario.

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