BeatBox

It's right to consider Gavin Cheung one of drum 'n' bass' most enduring hierarchs. More than a decade ago, he moved from pirate-radio experiments as a teen into London's fledgling rave scene, swapping records with young dance-music godhead Danny Bukem back in the days when people were referring to drum 'n' bass as "hardcore." By the mid-'90s, Cheung had renamed himself Nookie, created some bona fide anthems ("Give a Little Love," "Only You"), gained an international following (he's hugein Japan – really), and released countless 12-inches. When he gets behind the decks at this month's installment of "SOMA Sessions," expect deep, musical drum 'n' bass with no shortage of surprises. Nookie is joined by Ultraviolet and "SOMA Session"'s own DJ M on Friday, Feb. 27, from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. at AsiaSF, 201 Ninth St. (at Howard), S.F. Admission is $11 in advance, $15 at the door; call 255-2742 or visit www.somasessions.com for more info.
– Nate Cavalieri

Hip hop royalty descends upon Oakland this Friday to rap about politics. No, not political rap, but an actual discussion about "The Intersection of Hip Hop and Electoral Politics," moderated by hip hop mogul Davey D and featuring the genre's politicized granddaddy KRS-One, local music scholar Jeff Chang, and others. The ideas fly at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, at the We the People Auditorium, 200 Harrison (at Second Street), Oakland. Admission is free. Join KRS-One later that night for some real rapping when he brings his polemics as well as a mix of old- and new-school beats to Historic Sweet's Ballroom, 1933 Broadway (at 19th Street), Oakland. Jahi and the Life, D'Jam Hassan, Sake-1, and the Youth Speaks poets open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; call (510) 434-9385 for information on both events, or go to www.umaproductions.com.
– Andrea Goode

A lot of DJs hide behind gimmicks, but these are often musical or technical, rather than mammary. New York DJ Portia Surreal, who aims to cross over from her roots in the fetish and goth scenes to the wider world of dance music, plays a mix of house, breakbeat, and electro. But chances are people will focus less on her DJ skills and more on the fact that she spins topless. When she joins "Odyssey" to party down this Saturday, a Playboy model (Christine Vinson) will be the guest hostess while the Men of Exotica provide the requisite beefcake to make this a truly politically correct erotic event. Dance your tits off with Portia and "Late Night" residents LuLu, Mario Dubbz, Double K, and Richard R. from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Sno-drift, 1830 Third St. (at 16th Street), S.F. Tickets are $15; VIP bottle-and-boot reservations can be made by calling (510) 287-8700. For more info, go to www.latenightevents.com.
– Tamara Palmer