Serious hip-hop's for the birds: Pigeon John's goofy humor

San Joaquin ValleyÐbased DJ WiiJ specializes in high-energy mash-ups of crazy hybrid styles. He even co-produced an album's worth of material merging Queen with 50 Cent's G-Unit. Instead of using a computer keyboard to mix tunes, though, WiiJ programmed two Wiimotes (wireless Nintendo game controllers) to trigger songs and samples. His technique has to be seen to be believed, and WiiJ debuts this ingenious new format at "Bootie" on Saturday, May 12, at DNA Lounge at 9 p.m. Admission is $12; call 626-1409 or visit www.bootiesf.com for more info. — Tamara Palmer

Los Angeles nonprofit NextAid fights against the global AIDS pandemic with its youth center in Dennison, South Africa, for children orphaned by the disease. The organization, which eventually hopes to include housing in addition to its educational efforts, is partially funded by proceeds from electronic dance music benefits. Nineteen Bay Area DJs (including luminaries like house jocks Garth and Rick Preston) helm 14 hours of dancing to myriad styles at "For the Future" on Sunday, May 13, at Café Cocomo starting at noon. Admission is $10-15; call 824-6910 or visit www.nextaid.org for more info. — T.P.

Fun isn't always measured by glasses of bubbly or breezys on the shoulder, and few rappers understand this better than L.A.'s Pigeon John. That isn't to say he's prudish; but rather he's playful, mixing barbershop schlock with a Calypso croon on top of round-the-way indie hip hop. His style approximates Shock G in his prime, though with less of the humptied one's sexually nefarious embellishments. Pigeon's last album, Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party, received a modest critical reception; the world wasn't ready for him. San Francisco, on the other hand, is ripe for his blend of goofy, affirmative hip hop. Pigeon John will appear with RJD2 and Happy Chichester on Tuesday, May 15, at Mezzanine at 9 p.m. Admission is $20; call 625-8880 or visit www.mezzaninesf.com for more info. — Sam Chennault