Where the rappers are at this week

So by now I have beaten you all over the head with Pop. We’re on an’ poppin’ now and life is good, but read on for some gentle reminders and last-minute mentions, and have fun out there, kids.

But first, two extruh-large new releases on the local tip this week. Loud Lary Ajust open up the skies on the O Mon Dieu EP with “Rap Queb,” while Maybe Watson adopts the persona of Dreak and gets “2rap4keb.”

Plus, Danny Brown is coming next week. Here’s what’s up.

Friday: As mentioned several times lo these past weeks, P-Funkateers Bernie Worrell and Fred Wesley mix it up tonight at Cabaret du Mile End (5240 Parc), following a free symposium, led by Socalled, at 2 p.m. at Pop HQ.

Also, Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na brings it all the way live from Cali at Cabaret Underworld (1403 Ste-Elisabeth).

AND The-Dream at Olympia (1004 Ste-Catherine E.).

Alternately, head the the Red Bull Thr3eStyle’s Montreal eliminations at le Belmont  (4483 St-Laurent).

Saturday: Atlanta’s very big, very dope Killer Mike puts it on — for free — at Cabaret du Mile End, and also takes part in a Q&A sit-down with former SXSW hip hop director, Austin radio maven and champion of Southern rap Matt Sonzala, to whom I was randomly introduced via e-mail last week.

Sonzala stressed to me, immediately and unsolicited, how much he loves Pop and Montreal, this being his ninth consecutive visit to the fest and his 13th to the city.

“I have come with Bun B and as a rep for SXSW,” Sonzala explained to me when asked what he appreciates about Montreal. “Last year, I was here with the Tontons, two years ago with B L A C K I E, Fat Tony, Aspiring ME and Blunt Fang.

“So I am pretty close with Dan [Seligman] and Melanie [Turner] and some of the other fest folks, some of my favourite people, and it’s really my favourite festival.

“When Dan booked Killer Mike,” he continued, “he hit me up and told me and he told me he wanted to do a talk with him, and then asked me to do (it)”.

“I like the [small] size of it, for sure, but it does feel really close-knit. I meet a ton of people every year,” Sonzala enthuses. “[I get to] see a lot of music I wouldn’t see otherwise — mostly young Canadian bands. And it’s just a great city to come to at the beginning of fall. It’s so dope!”

Having heard Sonzala speak on a fascinating CMJ panel, and also having had the good fortune to meet and interview Killer Mike, I can’t recommend this pow-wow enough, from 5 p.m. Saturday at Pop HQ (3450 St-Urbain), free to the public.

Also Saturday night, free at le Belmont, catch Tommy Kruise, Black Atlass and Joey Bada$$/Pro Era young blood production up-comer Lee Bannon from 10 p.m.

Reggae fanatics, take heed: dancehall kingpins Yellowman and Josey Wales let Babylon burn at Eglise Pop (5035 St-Dominique), with local Mossman and a “warm-up” with selector Spoon-Bee

It also bears repeating that there’s an Alaclair Ensemble set and an A K U A show the same night, if you need more options.

Sunday: This is so, so indirectly related to hip hop, but I like it anyways so it’s gettin’ some love: BBAM! Gallery (3255 St-Jacques) hosts a reading of the works of late beat poet and beloved yippie freak Allen Ginsberg, in the French language, free, from 3 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday: After much border parperwork hoopla and no fewer than three scheduled appearances cancelled these past two years, Detroit rap golden boy, he of the onstage-beej, Danny Brown makes his much anticipated MTL debut.

As for the Wu-Tang Clan, the show has been pushed back from Oct. 3 to Nov. 29, which is still better than being cancelled. Keep the faith. ■

 

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