by SCOTT C

Big tings a gwan this weekend, as the weather slowly catches up with a city that is ready for balmy afternoons and hot nights. If you're in the mood for a night out that will have all your bases covered, you may want to invest in Hold Up Mental II, going down at Bain Mathieu (2915 Ontario E.) this Saturday, June 4. Nomadic Massive, Kalmunity and Cuba's Obsèsion will be performing together, with live painting courtesy of Monk-E. There'll also be some ill dancers in the place, and a showcase of some of the hip hop videos from the Montreal International Hip Hop Film Festival. Tix are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door ($12 with a student card), and are available at Moog Audio or Off the Hook.

What are you doing Sunday? It's not a trick question, but you'd be dumb not to peep Wu Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck with Afu Ra and Planet Asia at Foufounes this Sunday, June 5. After you get home from church, pick out your Sunday best and make a move to what will be a night to remember. Also on the bill are DJ Blast, Eye 2 Eye and Pako & Pesh. Tix are $12 at the door, or $22 if you bought into the Non Phixion penny-saver deal.

Let's just agree that Monday will be our day of rest next week, because Tuesday, June 7, is when Digable Planets bring their reunion tour into Montreal for a show at la Tulipe. Ladybug, Doodlebug and Butterfly epitomized the early '90s fusion of hip hop and jazz with their first LP Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), but my shit will always be 1994's Blowout Comb. After 10 years of working on solo projects and other things, they're back, sharing the stage with K'naan, Kobayashi and DJ Huggs. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are a cool $25.

There's still time to be a superstar DJ, people! The 2005 DMC Montreal elimination goes down Thursday, June 30, at Jet, and there's still room for you. Check www.dmc-quebec.com for the application and any info you'll need to join the ranks of Kid Koala, A-Trak, DJ Blast and Mana. If the high life behind the decks doesn't do it for you, perhaps you're down for some MC battles instead. The LIHQ (Ligue d'improvisation hip hop du Québec) go into their semi-final rounds for 2004-2005 on Sunday, June 12, at the SAT at 7:30 p.m. Microphone fiends go head to head in one of Montreal's greatest inventions, the b-boy/battle-rhyme game show, while the audience will also get live performances from Sans Pression and Skratch Bastid. Tix are $10 in advance, and $15 at the door.

Five reasons I'm slicker than most:
1. Rick James "Mary Jane" Green Lantern's Evil Genius Mix (Motown)
2. Nathaniel "La La La" (Earth Angel)
3. Digable Planets "Borough Check" (Pendulum)
4. Cee Knowledge & Sun Ra's Arkestra "Space is the Place" (Counter Point)
5. Cherry Wine "Dazzlement" (Babygrande)

I COULD USE AN ARCADE RIGHT NOW... fathead@videotron.ca

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