ONLY ONE, ILLMACULATE, GRAY MATTERS, ALPHABET STEW, CLOCKWERK
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) Illmaculate is not your favorite emcee’s favorite emcee—he is your favorite emcee’s worst nightmare. Although Illmaculate is now apparently retired from the battling circuit, he could still probably eat any rapper alive in a battle of putdowns, and if you haven’t ever seen him or his contemporaries (the Sandpeople) live, I suggest you do so now. There’s not much out there in the world of underground hiphop that is more skillful than what the performers on tonight’s bill provide. If you like hiphop, or don’t know what good local hiphop sounds like, get yourself to this show—it’ll be fodder for a conversation ten years from now, “I saw Illmaculate way back when….” GRAHAM BAREY

MP3:
Illmaculate - Live or Die

Illmaculate is half of the duo that just took home a mighty $40,000 from the World Rap Championships in New York City. There are a slew of YouTube clips of him and his freestyling partner, The Saurus, including the one below, where they knock off Detroit’s Quest Mcody and Marvwon. It’s a little long, but if like brutal put-downs and clever rhyming, take the time to watch it.