OK, so hip-hop supertour Rock The Bells won't be making a 2009 stop in Minneapolis.  Considering that the Soundset festival already brought a number of rap heavies this year, the absence may not be much to fuss over...but, if you're really disappointed, you could always make the trip to Denver (the show in Chicago was on Saturday).  Still, for those that won't be able to come up with the cash or the time to head out of town, some of the tour's brightest stars will be stopping in Minneapolis. 

Case in point: Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley are slated to share the headlining spot on the Bells lineup, and will be performing at First Ave tonight.  After Nas guested on Marley's "Road to Zion", the duo decided to collaborate on a full length album (entitled Distant Relatives) which was initially scheduled for release in June.  It's since been pushed back, with no firm date set--but that just means Minneapolis will get a live preview of the material before the album drops.

It was a weekend of free expression, equality and lots and lots (and lots) of rainbows. Pride parades took over the streets in many major cities this weekend, spilling into nightclubs and parks, too. Minneapolis is reputed to have one of the best Pride weekends in the nation, something you can definitely see in our slideshow below. 

To check out photos of Minneapolis/St. St. Paul Pride weekend, click here. 

For Pride photos from around the United States, click here.