BeatBox

Ten years old this year, the Ohio-based Scribble Jam is both a festival of all elements of hip hop (including the oft-overlooked graffiti and b-boy arts) and a battle to be the top Scribble Jam MC. The first rounds of the competition take place over a nationwide tour, with the finalists ultimately vying for the title and a $10,000 prize in Cincinnati in August. The tour comes equipped with its own veteran performers, such as the outrageously talented and eccentric DJ Mr. Dibbs and rapper Blueprint. These cats have been unwavering in their dedication to representing Midwest independent hip hop nationally for even longer than Scribble Jam itself and have enjoyed numerous visits to San Francisco. Watch them do what they do best and catch some wild-card local hopefuls as Scribble Jam celebrates the essence of hip hop culture on Saturday, June 11, at Slim's; call 255-0333 or visit www.slims-sf.com for more info.

C-Rayz Walz, an underground MC from the Bronx, fancies himself to be something vicious -- his sophomore album for the Def Jux label is called Year of the Beast, and its best song is "Mark of the Beast," which he produced. But his bark is definitely worse than his bite, and that ferocity describes his quick wit more than his fighting abilities. That doesn't mean Walz is afraid to call out plagiarists: On "The Essence" (from his debut album, Ravipops), he remarks how "Jay-Z stole my blueprint for the single," and goes on to say who Jigga got the record from. You gotta respect a guy who's brave enough to step to Hova. J-Live and Vast Aire join C-Rayz Walz for what they're calling "The Best Damn Rap Tour" on Tuesday, June 14, at the Independent; call 771-1421 or visit www.theindependentsf.com for more info.