Hip-Hop a Deux

Nelly burst onto the scene in 2000, spitting nursery-rhyme-inspired raps that had hip-hop purists cringing in their fitted caps. But soon everyone was chanting “Down, down baby” as his first album debuted at number three on the Billboard charts, and it seemed like the St. Lunatic was gonna be in the biz for the long haul. Eight years and a couple of pounds of muscle later, Nelly is still relevant, his rhymes are still catchy, and we’ll go out on a limb to say he’s one of hip-hop’s sexiest. Thursday he performs at Revolution (200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) at 8 p.m., so go watch him make it hot in thurr. Tickets cost $44 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

If your hip-hop palate tends more toward Big Daddy Kane and Jiggaman, stay in town and hit PS14 (28 NE 14th St., Miami) for the album-release party of a rising star who’s carrying the weight for the MCs of Generation X. Spend a night with a Fly Guy, better known as Rahsaan, a Brooklyn/Miami hybrid whose unique swag and flow earned him a spot on the Rock the Bells tour and major respect from industry giants. Says Rahsaan: “There’s something people hear and see in my music that continues to separate me from the pack. I don’t spend time trying to be different; I just do what comes natural and represents my integrity as an MC.” To catch Rahsaan in his element, RSVP at www.publicwizardinc.com/RSVP. Doors open at 10 p.m. Admission is seven bucks at the door and five with RSVP.
Thu., Sept. 25, 2008