BeatBox

Of all of hip hop's sonic tangents, from turntablism to crunk to Miami bass, beat-boxing is among the most endearing, if not exactly the most enduring. Its practitioners can summon a gasping, booming, and bouncing universe of sound from enclosed hands and expert breath control, and no one person represents the craft of beat-boxing better than old-school legend Doug E. Fresh. As part of the highly influential mid-'80s Get Fresh crew, he pioneered the craft, and Slick Rick's classic '89 jam "The Show/La Di Da Di," wherein Fresh spits, bops, and pops, is arguably beat-boxing's crowning moment. While he was largely absent throughout the '90s, Doug E. Fresh has been experiencing a revival of sorts lately after appearing on the Nas and Ludacris song "Virgo." It may be premature to cite a beat-boxing renaissance, but at the very least "Virgo" is a reminder of how fun hip hop can be. Catch Fresh in action when he makes a rare West Coast appearance on Wednesday, April 6, at the DNA Lounge; call 626-1409 or go to www.dnalounge.com for more info. -- Sam Chennault

In its one year of existence, the monthly party "Triple Power" has mined the fertile depths (and disparate factions) of the local electronic scene to come up with eclectic evenings. A typical night features visual artists, DJs who spin everything from house to breakbeat to techno, and miscellaneous performers, such as the tribal drummers and belly dancers who will help the event celebrate its birthday this month. The party, inspired by experiences at Burning Man, is a dream come true for resident DJs Shanti (who has the tendency to throw fun booty-shakin' tunes into her mixes) and Giamma (who often features electro and acid house sounds from his native Italy). They will be joined by DJs OOAH the Turntable Junkie, Goldilox, El Papachango, and Tung on Saturday, April 9, at Sublounge; call 552-3603 or visit www.triplepower.org for more info. -- Tamara Palmer

"East vs. West." It's hip hop's version of the Hatfields versus the McCoys, Burr versus Hamilton, the Sharks versus the Jets. This Saturday at 26 Mix, some of the region's finest DJs attempt to settle this bicoastal debate once and for all -- or at least until the next time hip hop fans and alcohol intersect. True Skool founder and acclaimed local DJ Ren the Vinyl Archeologist joins Triple Threat turntable master Apollo in representing the East Coast, while Hella Records' TD Camp and Almighty DJ's Myk-One hold it down for the West. Expect a trip down memory lane as N.W.A clashes with Public Enemy and Kool G. Rap exchanges gangsta taunts with Too $hort. Luckily, all the beef and bullets will be on vinyl; call 826-7378 or go to www.extra-classic.com for more info. -- Sam Chennault