Non-stop hip-hop

Bocafloja will drop socially conscious rhymes at The Roots Factory.
- Photo by Quilomboarte

Finding good hip-hop nights in this town often can be tough. Popular dance parties like Booty Bassment get packed to the rafters by 10 p.m. I love backing that ass up, but I prefer breathing air that isn't thick with steam emitted from the bodies of more than 100 hoodrats all crammed onto a small dance floor. Good thing there's more hip-hop available in our fair city this week.

Anyone looking to let out their inner vivrant thing should consider getting down at Graffiti Rock, a night of golden-age hip-hop, R&B, soul and other urban sounds happening at Spin City Lounge (618 E St. in Chula Vista). DJs Switch, Buddha, Grimm and Ron will spin the jams thatíll burn your gams on Saturday, March 9. While I recommend dressing to impress at all times, lazy sweatpants lovers will be happy to hear there's no dress code at the club. Another bonus: no cover charge.

If you want to bob your head to some quality live hip-hop, stop into The Roots Factory (1878 Main St. in Barrio Logan) when the space hosts Bocafloja, also on Saturday, March 9. The rapper / poet / spoken-word artist from Mexico City is known for his powerful rhymes that touch on racism, social and political oppression and the struggles of working-class Mexicans. He'll be joined by Dominican rapper Hache ST, Central Valley rhymer Cambio and Oakland's cumbia makers Bang Data. It all goes down at 6 p.m.

Those wanting to really get their grind on can do it on Friday, March 8, at U-31ís (3112 University Ave. in North Park) Faded Fridays. Beatknockers and DJ R-You will play hip-hop along with top-40 mashups, remixes and other rump-shaking sounds.

Bar Dynamite (1808 W. Washington in Mission Hills) will also bring the beats for Boom Bap on Tuesday, March 12. For no cover charge, you get hip-hop goodies from DJs Matrox, L, Tramlife, Habitat and Hevrock. But they wonít stick to spinning rap cuts; theyíll also get the dance floor bumpiní with soul, funk, R&B and breaks and grooves to add a little palette cleanser to the party.