Bay Area Beats

A beatsmith who takes inspiration from a wide palette of sounds, from the Doobie Brothers and the Doors to Stevie Wonder and Sergio Mendes, Alameda’s Trackademicks might be one of the Bay Area’s most open-minded hip-hop producers and rhymers. He’s also a gateway drug for those who might normally find the genre repetitive and clichéd. Earlier this year, he attracted the attention of New York–based record label Fools Gold (run by tastemakers Nick Catchdubs and Kanye West’s DJ A-Trak), which released the single “Enjoy What You Do,” a cheeky club track with more than a small nod to the Bay Area as well as '80s popsters Wham! Similarly, San Francisco’s Alexander Spit, with tipsy anthems like “Mimosa” and funny faux braggadocio like “I’m Hella Iller Than You,” deflates rap’s typical posturing with song that don’t take themselves so seriously. Tonight’s show is hosted by L.A.’s Luckyiam, a soulful MC who represents Living Legends, a long-running collective with crew members spread across California and now Japan, with DJing provided by local mixologist Ant-1. An evening of unconventional beats and lyrical flows, California-style, awaits.
Fri., Sept. 4, 9 p.m., 2009