> Activist hip hop act the Coup previews its upcoming album; Hawtin homie John Acquaviva brings his techno to Ruby Skye

Groups like Oakland's The Coup are what give the Bay Area hip hop scene a reputation for something other than its snazzy slang. Established in 1991, the duo of incisive rapper/poet/activist Boots Riley and surreally talented DJ Pam the Funkstress has routinely called bullshit on local, state, national, and global corruption, and figured out how to make it sound funky. Their timing has been truly frightening, though. Their last album, Party Music, with Twin Towers ablaze on its cover, was released the same week as 9/11, forcing an artwork change after its initial run. The new Coup LP drops next year, and reportedly dozens of songs have been recorded, so this performance will likely provide a rare opportunity to influence the final track selection, as the band will undoubtedly be doing some road-testing. Beatboxer Kid Beyond and hip hop groups Lifesavas and the Shape Shifters open on Friday, Nov. 11, at Mezzanine; call 625-8880 or visit www.mezzaninesf.com for more info.

The Coup's Boots Riley.

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More About

• John Acquaviva
• The Coup (Musical Group)
• Pam The Funkstress
• Hip-Hop and Rap
• Electronic Music

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Italian-born DJ John Acquaviva has called Ontario, Canada, his home for most of his life, but as one of the most elite and in-demand techno DJs, he calls the world his stage. He co-founded the seminal techno labels Plus 8 and Definitive with cohort Richie Hawtin, and the two have been techno stars throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the States for 15 years. In recent years, Acquaviva has been a consultant for and early proponent of Final Scratch software, which allows for MP3 files to be played on turntables through specially encoded pieces of vinyl. It's a handy way for Acquaviva to have tens of thousands of tunes (which he meticulously catalogues by tempo and style) at his disposal on any given night. Rest assured that no matter the direction the crowd dictates, Acquaviva will know what to do. Jose Torres (aka DJ Flame) will open up the main room while Ras Cue will spin hip hop and downtempo upstairs when John Acquaviva appears on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Ruby Skye; call 693-0777 or visit www.rubyskye.com for more info.