Wednesday: >> A joke could be made about the munchies, Thanksgiving, and Method Man & Redman, but we'll spare you. The dynamic duo will be at the 9:30 Club along with Termanology and Alexandria native, Big Pooh. $27.50, 7 p.m. >> DJ Oji will come down from Baltimore to join D.C.'s Eddie Twain, DJ Divine, and Double 07 at the Warehouse (411 New York Avenue NE) for a pre-Thanksgiving house music workout. $10, 10 p.m.......

Tuesday: >> Maxwell is in town today and tomorrow at Constitution Hall with his special guest, Jazmine Sullivan. Tickets may or may not still be available, so you can go to Craigslist or the conventional route. $60-$150, 8 p.m. >> Funk band Mojai features Three Stars alum Flex Mathews on the rhymes. They'll be performing at Bossa Bistro & Lounge. Free, 10 p.m. Wednesday: >> Michael Franti has been recording for over a decade, most......

The internet age has brought people from all over the world together. Perfect examples of this are rapper/singer/comedian Phonte of the Durham, North Carolina-based hip-hop group Little Brother, and Nicolay, a Dutch-born producer. After posting several beats on the music-oriented Okayplayer site, Nicolay found himself getting a message from Phonte, who'd turned heads on his group's debut album, The Listening, praising his skills. Shortly thereafter, the two were exchanging vocal and music tracks electronically,......

Tuesday: >> Local vocalist Afi Soul will be performing at the Red Lounge along with Jamilla and the D.C. All Stars. Free, 9 p.m. Wednesday: >> Philly-based Diplo has been a strong advocate of the Baltimore club music sound, as well as a once little known artist named MIA. He'll be at the Black Cat along with a host of special guests. $15, 7:30 p.m. >> Starting tonight, Underdog The DJ and Cam Jus are......

Wednesday: >> Despite being saddled with the "controversial" label, Minneapolis emcee Brother Ali (pictured) has garnered acclaim from multiple publications. He'll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel along with BK One, Mr. Lif, Toki Wright, and local act, Educated Consumers. $17, 8 p.m. Friday: >> Common is ramping up for the December release of his Universal Mind Control album. He'll be stopping by Love for a performance. $20-$60, 9 p.m. >> A monthly staple,......

Hearing her tell it, you'd think emoniFela has been making music for a number of years. The truth of the matter is she's not old enough to vote in next week's election and when she was born, the emerging medium for recorded music, CDs, came in long, rectangular cardboard packaging. Yet at age 17, the high school graduate has already rocked stages on both the West and East coasts while rubbing elbows with the likes......

Wednesday: >> Local artist Tamara Wellons found herself with a house hit several months back, and now is set to release her album, Life Is. She'll be at Bohemian Caverns. $20 in advance, 8 p.m. Thursday: >> Beatdown is back with local producers matching up in a battle of beats. Slated to appear are Kokayi, Shaka, Theory, Bad Abbot, and E-Minah. The competition will go down at Club Felix. $TBA, 9 p.m. Friday: >> D.C.......

Tuesday: >> The Philly-based husband and wife group, Kindred The Family Soul, will be holding a listening party at Bohemian Caverns for their new album, The Arrival. RSVP at: TheArrivalDC@yahoo.com, 6 p.m. Wednesday: >> Ursula Rucker (pictured) has been a fixture on the spoken word circuit for years and has worked with The Roots and Masters At Work. She'll be performing two shows at Bohemian Caverns in support of her latest effort, Ruckus Soundsysdom. $15......

Ron Trent Wednesday: >> As far as we can tell, Janet Jackson intends to show up for her concert at the Verizon Center. She'll be joined by LL Cool J. $49.75-$129.75, 7:30 p.m. Friday: >> Howard alum Eric Roberson is in town for a special homecoming show at the intimate Bohemian Caverns. Joining him will be rising soul star, Algebra. $20 in advance, 8 p.m. >> Go-go godfather Chuck Brown will be performing at......

Entering its fourth year of existence, the Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Festival will be taking place October 8-11. Last year's lineup featured seasoned veterans Bahamadia and MC Lyte, among others. This year, there's a heavy emphasis on female up-and-comers who look to make names for themselves in the near future. As it has in the past, CASRAM puts a premium on artistry and providing a venue for acts that deserve greater attention. Wednesday:......

Friday: >> Baltimore's Fertile Ground will be taking part in the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. They'll be performing at the 9:30 Club. $25, 6 p.m. >> The Roots, Gym Class Heroes, and Estelle will be in Baltimore at Ram's Head/Power Plant Live. $40, 7 p.m. >> Seattle soul singer Choklate has built a strong following on the U.S. indie soul scene after the release of her self-titled debut album. Joining her at the Publick Playhouse......

Tuesday: >> "R&B Live" is a new event taking place at Posh after successful runs in other cities. The inagural show will feature Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry. $40, 8 p.m. Wednesday: >> Cleveland crooner Avant is back and at the Birchmere for the night. $29.50, 7:30 p.m. >> Red Bull's Big Tune is a head to head producer competition with 12 beatmakers vying to be one of two from D.C. to advance to the championship......

Mos Def, photo by Terrence Jennings, Jill Newman Productions The projection screen at the back of the stage flickered to life with a giant from the District's past, when it truly was Chocolate City. The clip featured Petey Green, the legendary talk show host, who gave the audience his own inimitable thoughts on the proper way to eat a watermelon. Thus began Amino Alkaline--The Watermelon Syndicate, Mos Def's new concert production that teams the......

Thursday: >> Jaguar Wright has always been neo-soul's bad girl, and that's been a large part of her appeal. The Philly native will be at The Republic for her D.C. engagement. $20, 8 p.m. Saturday: >> Local Afrofunk band Chopteeth will release their self-titled debut album next week and will celebrate with a show at the Black Cat. Joining them will be Head-Roc, Farafina Kan, and DJ Nitekrawler. $15, 9 p.m. Sunday: >> One of......

Karizma Wednesday: >> Ever since she burst onto the scene with Groove Theory, Amel Larrieux has maintained her status as a top flight vocalist, dabbling in R&B and jazz. She'll be taking up residence at the Birchmere for two successive nights. $35, 7:30 p.m., also Thursday. Thursday: >> Probably best known for his "Wonder-full" parties, DJ Spinna is a sought-after producer of both house and hip-hop music. He'll be making two appearances today, the......

Green Tea Tuesday: >> Howard alumna and American Idol background singer Sy Smith will be in town performing with local soul mainstay Wes Felton at Bohemian Caverns. Smith recently released her third album, Conflict. $5 after 8 p.m., 6 p.m. >> Argentinian dub artist Federico Aubele will be performing at the 9:30 Club. $15, 8 p.m. Wednesday: >> The Rhythm & Soul series presents Ebony Jackson and Komplex. They'll be performing at Bohemian Caverns......

Keyboardist and producer Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson may not be a household name but he's been quietly amassing a strong list of credentials, particularly in the world of hip-hop, in D.C. and beyond. He's contributed his talents to projects by Slum Village, Little Brother, and Kev Brown as well as released nine solo projects. A native of metropolitan Detroit and former collegiate baseball player, Zo! was an integral part of the music scene there until he......

Tuesday: >> Knee Deep is the headlining act but Janelle Monae (pictured) is also on the bill. Monae has been praised by the likes of Erykah Badu and Sean "Diddy" Combs, who signed her to his Bad Boy label. She'll be at Iota in Arlington. $10, 8:30 p.m. Thursday: >> Without question, Darfur has become one of the great human tragedies in recent history. Amnesty International will be hosting a show at DC9 featuring Elikeh......

Wunmi Wednesday: >> Def Jux rapper Aesop Rock has been an underground hip-hop figurehead for roughly a decade. Now based in San Francisco, the New Yorker will be back on the East Coast at the 9:30 Club. $20, 7 p.m. >> D.C. area-based Zwei have been performing on the indie soul scene for over five years now. They'll be this week's featured act for two shows at Bohemian Caverns' "Rhythm and Soul" series. $10......

Wednesday: >> Tony Terry had a big R&B hit in the early 1990s with "With You." Now on the indie scene, he'll be performing a two show set at Blues Alley. $35, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. >> "This Ain't No Disco" goes down at Saint-Ex. Free, 10 p.m. Thursday: >> Chaka Khan's distinctive vocals have made her a musical force for the past 30 years. For her performance at the Warner Theatre, she'll be......

Devine Nature Tuesday: >> There isn't much much to say about Gnarls Barkley other than Craigslist is probably the best way you stand a chance of seeing them tonight at the 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. Wednesday: >> Originally from the Boston-area, Noel Gourdin has been getting kudos for his song, "The River". He'll take the stage at the Birchmere in Alexandria with opening act Angela Johnson. $25, 7:30 p.m. >> Back in D.C. for......

Muhsinah Wednesday: >> Bomani Armah has his album out now, Radio Friendly, and will be performing at Busboys and Poets' U Street location. $10, 9 p.m. Thursday: >> Charlotte native Calvin Richardson will be at the Birchmere in Alexandria. $35, 7 p.m. >> Three Stars and Unbuckled 7 alumna Muhsinah (pictured) is back home, along with her bandmates J. Laine and Slimkat 78, a.k.a. The Capricorns, and joined fellow electro soul stars J*DaVeY for......

If there's a singular take-away point from Sunday's Rock the Bells show, it's that hip-hop has built up enough cache over the years to warrant a day-long concert attended by folks ranging from their teens to those with gray hairs in their goatees, at near capacity levels. That's impressive. Even more impressive might've been the main stage's power lineup: Rakim, De La Soul, Mos Def, The Pharcyde, Nas, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface,......

Wednesday: >> Following in her father's footsteps, Lalah Hathaway is a singer with a great deal of soul. She'll be at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna. $25-$40, 8 p.m. Thursday: >> A few months back we visited the National Portrait Gallery's continuing exhibit, RECOGNIZE!. The celebration continues with a "Hip-Hop Happy Hour" at the Gallery. The happy hour itself begins at 5 p.m. but WKYS-FM (93.9) will be doing a live broadcast from 2......

Kissey Asplund Tuesday: >> Ann Arbor, Michigan-based band Nomo will bring their highly regarded Afrobeat-influenced sound to the Rock and Roll Hotel. Opening for them will be Funk Ark, Deep Sang and DJ Meistro. $12, 8 p.m. >> Legendary R&B artist Al Green will be at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna to perform his hits and maybe even some material from his latest release, Lay It Down. $25-$42, 8 p.m. Wednesday: >> Returning......

Purple St. James Tuesday: >> Today kicks off the Hip-Hop Theater Festival's seventh year in D.C. The opening "Brave New Voices" event will take place at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and feature Sonia Sanchez along with the D.C. WritersCorps Slam Team. Free, 6 p.m. For more information about Festival events and ticket availability, visit their calendar. >> Probably the most consistent member of the Wu-Tang Clan, producer/rapper The RZA will be at the......

Kosha Dillz Tuesday: >> For over 40 years, Sergio Mendes has been the foremost purveyor of bossa nova music and lent his talents to the likes of Stevie Wonder and Will.I.Am. He'll be at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, VA along with Belgium's Zap Mama. $22-$44, 8 p.m. Wednesday: >> This week's installment of Bohemian Caverns' "Rhythm and Soul" series features two shows from the well-regarded artist, Vinx. $15, 8 p.m. and 10......

Wednesday: >> This edition of "The Beatdown" will be held at Geisha and feature the production prowess of Justus League member Khrysis (pictured). Joining him will be his Away Team compatriot, Sean Boog, as well as Kount Fif, Nick Da 1Da, Midas and DJ Nfinit. $10, 8 p.m. >> Bohemian Caverns once again plays host to an up and coming artist as a part of the Rhythm & Soul series. This week, San Francisco-based musician......

Wednesday: >> Bobbito Garcia's last time in town was a beautiful exploration of Stevie Wonder's catalog. Today, he'll be teaming up with locally-based rapper/producer/DJ, Roddy Rod at Liv for "Sole(ism)", a launch party for the Artistic-Sole shoe design outfit. $8 in advance/$12 at the door, 8 p.m. >> Atlanta's Anthony David made a name for himself on the indie soul scene by writing songs for friend and Grammy winner, India Arie. Next week he'll release......

It's not everyday that The Sugarhill Gang, Sisqo, and Dru Hill are hanging around a party at a house in D.C.'s Chinatown. The artists were in town yesterday to lobby, not for thongs or hip hopping to hippie, but for the Performance Rights Act, which would give terrestrial broadcast royalties to performers of songs. Currently songwriters and composers get royalties. The party, held in an ultramodern house, was organized by SoundExchange, a music industry non-profit......