The Rebirth of Hip Hop
S.O.B.’s; August 4 at 8 p.m.; 204 Varick St, at. W. Houston; 212-243-4940
The name of the showcase is a bit overblown considering it’s headlined by Rick Ross hangers-on Triple C. But there are some promising up-and-coming emcees on the bill, including Jay Rock, the man behind the breezy Lil Wayne collaboration “All My Life in the Ghetto,” and Queens’s own Grafh.
Das Racist
Bowery Ballroom; August 6 at 8 p.m.; 6 Delancey St., nr. Bowery; 212-533-2111
The local duo behind “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” the Internet novelty song of the moment, aren’t exactly what you’d call rap purists. But they’re worth seeing live just for the off chance they can extend the good vibes of their so-dumb-it’s-genius quasi-hit over a whole night.
Styles P
Southpaw; August 6 at 9 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-0236
One third of D-Block, the nineties-rap radio staple formerly known as the Lox, Styles P enjoyed some solo success with 2002’s Swizz Beats–produced “Good Times.” He’s now one of the legions of commercially irrelevant, but still really great, emcees.
Freeway
Southpaw; August 6 and 7 at 9 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-0236
Speaking of commercially irrelevant but still really great emcees: Freeway was part of Jay-Z’s inner circle through the late nineties and early aughts, but could never quite translate his connections into mass appeal. His recent “Month of Madness,” in which he released a new song every day for 31 days, proved his gruff, live-wire flow is as unique is ever.
Big Daddy Kane
Prospect Park Bandshell ; August 8 at 7 p.m.; Prospect Park West at 9th St., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-965-8951
Rahzel hosts this free Celebrate Brooklyn! gig, featuring a full live-band performance by the legendary Kane, plus a screening of the documentary BDK: The Big Daddy Kane Story.