by SCOTT C

I don’t want you thinking that everything worth checking out at the Jazz Fest has already gone with the wind, so don’t forget about Automato and Def Jux droid RJD2 when they play Club Soda tonight, Thursday, July 7, at midnight. Tix are $17.50. Can’t stress the importance of catching Detroit’s Platinum Pied Pipers enough, with Waajeed and Saadiq taking the Stella Artois stage tonight at 10 p.m., for free. The Montreal grooves of Artist of the Year take the same stage on Friday, July 8, while Kid Koala plays an after-hours gig at Circus, also on Friday, for those of you who have a hankering for some hometown turntable tricknology. Toronto favourite K-OS plays the big room at Metropolis at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 9. Tix are $26.50.

Jazz Fest aside, if you’ve been following the Montreal Underground DJ Battles, then you know that DR One (aka Medicine Man) is set to defend his long-standing M.U. DJ Championship title against DJ Chief K (aka Don Juan) tonight at le Swimming. 10 p.m. is the time, and it’s best that you’re inside when the joints start flying, because, as you well know, it ain’t safe no mo’...

Shazam! And with that, we have yet another summer hip hop festival for all y’all who just can’t get enough. Hip Hop You Don’t Stop jumps off on Saturday, July 9, from noon to 8 p.m. at NDG Park (Sherbrooke W., corner Girouard), featuring performances by Abra, X-Wam, Atach Tatuq’s Dee, Egypto and Naes, Groundwerks, LIHQ, Structure and DJ Nerve, Butta Beats and Waahli. You can expect DJ sets from Jaber, DR One and Maysr, and live painting from Other, Giver, Labrona, Monk-e and more. You can also register for their rap competition and freestyle contest at Kent Park on July 30, where MCs will compete for over $300 in prizes and the chance to open for Saukrates, Wordsworth and Masta Ace. Go to www.hiphopyoudontstop.com for more details, or call Chuck at 802-4371 for the lowdown on how to apply.

Seven reasons a festival is a terrible thing to waste:
1. Beady Belle “Goldilocks” (Jazzland)
2. Mathematics ft. Method Man & P.I. “John 3:16” (Wu Tang)
3. V ft. Jill Scott “Born Again” (BBE)
4. East River Rituals ft. Robert Owens “You Can’t Fight It” Fred Everything remix (CLM)
5. Aaron Jerome “Man Trouble” (Wah Wah 45s)
6. Medeski Martin & Wood “Midnight Birds” SA-RA remix (Blue Note)
7. Skip Jackson “Microwave Boogie” (On Track)

KNUCKLE SANDWICH AT BLIZZARTS THIS FRIDAY… fathead@videotron.ca

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