With the help of video DJ team Eclectic Method, Outside Lands has announced their 2010 line-up. The annual festival, held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, will feature performances by Kings of Leon, The Strokes, Al Green, Gogol Bordello, Nas & Damian Marley, Bassnectar, Chromeo, Pretty Lights, Mayer Hawthorne & The Country and more. A few changes this year: the festival has been moved to the middle of the month, and reduced to two days from the usual three. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (June 2) and are $125 while supplies last (more info HERE). Be sure to check out the video announcement after the jump…

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After over a year of anticipation, Nas and Damian Marley have finally announced a release date for their collaborative effort, Distant Relatives. The album, whose title refers to the bond between the two artists as well as their connection to their African ancestry, explores the deep-rooted connections between hip-hop and reggae, drawing musical and lyrical influences from Africa.

The duo will perform at Highline Ballroom on May 17 to celebrate the album’s May 18 release. Tickets are available HERE. Listen to “Patience” below, and click through for a trailer of Distant Relatives.

Nas & Damian Marley – “Patience” (via EARMILK)

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Last week, the third and final phase of the Ultra Music Festival was posted, adding LMFAO and Sander Kleinenberg (among others) to the already massive line-up that includes Damian Marley and Nas, Passion Pit, Tiesto, A-Trak, Bassnectar, Crookers, The Bloody Beetroots, Major Lazer, and hundreds more.

This year will feature some special collaborations – Florence (from Florence and the Machine) will join Swedish House Mafia on the Ultra Main Stage on Saturday, and Kelis, whose sound as taken a turn towards electro, will team up with Benny Benassi for a few songs.

Four new arenas have been added to the festival grounds – the UMF Ibiza Tent, the UMF Brazil Tent, the Root Society Dome, and the Heineken Dome Experience – bringing the total to a staggering ten (yes, TEN) stages.

Another new addition to Ultra is Sonic Forest, an interactive installation by artist/composer Christopher Janney that will entice festival goers into a unique environment with aural and visual components. Sonic Forest is composed of eight-foot tall aluminum poles that trigger melodic and environmental sounds as people move through the “electronic trees”. Independent drummers will be present in the Forest during various parts of the installation. Sonic Forest has been featured at Bonnaroo, All Points West, and Coachella in the US, and various festivals around the world.

This is shaping up to be the best Ultra to date, and is certainly not to be missed if you’re going to be in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out The HiFi Cartel Guide to the Winter Music Conference for more events in Miami that week.

Last Sunday, we hit up Washington DC for Rock the Bells, a touring festival featuring this summer’s hottest hip-hop line-up. The day started off with disappointing news: co-headliner Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley would not be performing due to a family illness. Fortunately, K’Naan, Tech N9ne, Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek), Common, The Roots, and Busta Rhymes almost made us forget that Marley was a no-show.

Tech N9ne stood out with a powerful set. They thought through every aspect – including blocking, delivery, costumes, make-up – and it showed in their performance. The skill and speed of their rapping was unreal and they even threw in some popping and locking.

It wasn’t until Nas took the stage that we were reminded of Damian Marley’s absence. Not to say that Nas wasn’t great, but the main draw of the tour was the collaboration between the two artists and a preview of their upcoming album, Distant Relatives. To his credit, Nas did his best to make it up to the crowd, bringing in pal AZ (who, along with Nas and Foxy Brown released 1997′s The Firm), Styles P and Pharoahe Monch to help carry the show. Still, I can’t help but feel like we missed out on something major.

Despite Marley’s absence, the show was stellar and everyone on the tour more than delivered. If you’re a fan of hip-hop, we highly recommend that you check it out this weekend. Tickets are still available for shows at the Comcast Center in Boston on July 18 and at the Jones Beach Theater in New York on July 19.

Check out some photos from the show below and watch a preview of Distant Relatives after the jump…

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