10 unbeatable rap shows & parties this week

From the homegrown to the American to the international, some great artists are coming to MTL stages PLUS the parties you don’t want to miss.

shineMan, it’s crazy out there, people. Flaming green orbs, hail storms, rainbows, the premature ejaculate of Habs fans, full moons, half moons, eclipses, shitty paving jobs in the port, detours, apple cores, killer ladybugs.

It’s the great fall in Montreal, ladies and gents, and we’re right at the edge of it.

Watch your step out there.

Thursday: Many an emcee has warned you about steppin’ in le Cypher. Last week’s kick-off for this new hip hop/soul weekly was a success by all accounts. Event organizer Vincent Stephen-Ong (interviewed here last week) has stressed to me repeatedly that the initial four-week run is intended to put oil in the machine and “iron out the kinks” from the jump. Considering the house band rehearsed in secret for a year and half, I’d say that foresight is in Stephen-Ong’s skill set. So in short, week two only promises to make it a little better.

This week’s opening guest is Jahsun and Conn-Shawnery live collab dArk mAAt’r. Talk about rips in time. Their “cosmic freedom funk” will liberate your mind, but careful what your ass does next — especially if it’s “try to get on the mic” when the Urban Science band take over with the session. Use caution. 4483 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $4

You may also opt to Melt at Blizzarts with this week’s guest and Cult MTL October print issue subject GrandBuda.”Melt.” Don’t say I didn’t warn you what might happen. 3956A St-Laurent, 10 p.m.

Friday: Poirier, Kyou and Mr. Touré assure you Qualité de Luxe at la Marche à Coté. But don’t let all those friendly-sounding names fool you. There a stranger dangers…but not many. 5043 St-Denis, 10 p.m., free before 11 p.m./$5

Except your own fuckin’ Knife & Fork at la Sala Rossa. Never forget what Grandma said about your forks and knives, kids — they’re not toys! The rebel dance-stitution collective hosts guest L.A. Foster, which I believe was some sort of hostage situation in the late ’70s. 4848 St-Laurent, 11 p.m., PWYC

Saturday: Protect ya neck indeed at Hip Hop Café, because BoomBap Elements #3 let’s the breakers loose in an open forum from 2 p.m., with Detroit’s Mr. Bee guesting on the decks. 4801 Parc, 2-7 p.m.

Treading darkness and light, the multidisciplinary talents of ex-child soldier-cum-entertainer Emmanuel Jal come full spectrum at Phi Centre, with a discussion led by Ferrari Sheppard from 9:15 p.m. followed by a live performance by Jal and his band. Look for our interview to come for a better understanding of the significance of Jal’s role in hip hop society and the sheer urgency of the entire affair. 407 St-Pierre, 9:15 p.m., $12.75

Meanwhile at Cabaret Underworld, you can bet on somethin’ bad with thug luxury raps from NC’s Deniro Farrar and Denzel Curry. That’s bad meaning good. Taigenz gets it open like a St .Cat sinkhole. 1403 Ste-Elisabeth, 9 p.m., $15

Monday: Black Milk. Need I frighten you any further. Live poison out Detroit. Drink up. You’ll forget that it was ever Monday, and that you had nothing good to wake up for the next day, anyways. 1403 Ste-Elisabeth, 10 p.m., $9

SHAMELESS SHINE: Now snap outta that reverie and face the Enemy with me, next Friday, Oct. 24, at the BBAM! Gallery, where I’ll be dropping the greatest hip hop record of all time, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, on Mr. Ralph’s Record Player. This mostly-monthly, held in the SouthWest’s coolest curio emporium, invites artists to play a vinyl that inspired their craft over a cocktail-hour mixer, subsequently giving a talk on the album. I thought it sounded so dope I invited myself to do one as a journalist, and now I find myself preparing to explain how one of the blackest albums of all time shaped me as a person and a reporter. I can honestly suggest you come and hear me try to reason it all out, because I am sure to embarrass myself past new heights of entertainment.

A $15 cover gets you two drinks, or two vinyls priced at $5 or under, or a mix-and-match. Drinks are otherwise fairly priced, given that the idea isn’t to get sloshed. Most of the constantly ongoing cultural events at this boutique/gallery are free, so with proceeds going back to the venue, it’s more than worth it for us all to have been there and had fun. I’d love to see you there. 3255 St-Jacques (across from Lionel Groulx metro), 7-10 p.m., $15 (includes 2 drinks or 2 vinyls priced at $5 or less)

EXTRA HEADS-UP: Y’all know me. I love Brother Ali and I ain’t low-key, so neither should you be. The prodigal Rhymesayers wordsmith returns to Montreal after four years and change, bringing his off-album, small-venue Home Away From Home tour to the Phi Centre (407 St-Pierre) on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with tour openers Bambu and MaLLy. With tickets priced at $35 in advance and $40 at the door, with a limited capacity, I wouldn’t wait around for the night-of. Make a safe plan, fellow Ali fan. ■
 
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