Even after a couple of days since hearing the news of his death, it’s still hard to believe that Michael Jackson is really gone.  When losing any music legend there will always be a ton of events to celebrate the musician’s life so I can only imagine just how many of these MJ tribute parties we will start seeing popping up.  This past weekend DJ Spinna hosted one at Sputnik and tonight is one you will definitely want to check out.  Ladies Love, the outfit that has been throwing the “Ladies Love Dilla” parties present a special edition tonight (06.29.09) for “Ladies Love Michael Jackson: A Musical Tribute” at Santos Party House.  Manhattan’s best female DJ’s including Beverly Bond, Nina Sky, Miss Saigon, Kiss, Shorty Wop, and Tara all throw down sets in tribute to the King of Pop.  Some big name special guest performers are also expected to make their way through.  Doors open at 10:00 PM with no cover if you wear your MJ attire.

Also, although not confirmed yet, you can bet that there will be something real special at Southpaw on July 4th for their monthly party with The Rub.  DJ Ayres of The Rub is responsible the classic ‘Michael Jackson Mix’ with 53 minutes of MJ chart toppers and exclusives.  Download it here if you haven’t heard it.

Highline Ballroom, Liberty Event Management, and Water Taxi Beach team up this summer to present a large lineup of ticketed and free concerts over the next few months.  With a short boat ride over to the island this is a unique and fun space which will make for a fun concert going experience.  Of course the biggest concerts taking place there are not free but still worth checking out.  On 08.04.09 Erykah Badu headlines a Tuesday night at The Beach.  Later, Mos Def comes through on 09.12.09 with the “Ecstatic Tour” in support of The Ecstatic which was released a few weeks ago.  These are just two of the many shows going down, all which are listed on their website.  Tickets to Badu go on-sale Saturday for $52 and Mos goes on sale two days later for $35.

See photos and a recap of Mos Def’s show at Nokia Theater in March ‘08 (pictured above)

Beastie Boys, Tool, and Coldplay already headline the 2009 All Points West Festival. The APW kickoff show at Nokia Theatre on 07.30.09 has a lineup that is just as good for the true hiphop heads. To kick it off, Ghostface Killah and Method Man & Redman both take the stage for a night of Wu family and Brick City. DJ JS-1 opens the night. Red & Meth’s recent release The Blackout 2 is in the top 20 on the Billboard charts and proved to be worth the long wait. Tickets are on-sale now for $35.

Kick your weekend off the right way tomorrow (06.26.09) and head over to South Street Seaport after work.  Paper magazine will be presenting the ‘Sounds Like Paper 2009′ concert, a free outdoor show highlighting artists featured in this month’s summer music issue.  Chester French, who have no shortage of past shows or upcoming shows in NYC (they play Summer Stage in July opening for Q-Tip) perform first.  Kid Cudi closes the night out while Les Savy Fav DJ inbetween sets.  The concert kicks off at 5:30 PM at the Pier 17 Stage.

In Cudi news, his debut album Man on the Moon: The Guardian is looking like it will be out in August.  With the biggest hiphop single to hit the radio and clubs this year we’ll see if he can carry the heat and the hype with him on a full legnth.  He also performs with Asher Roth and 88-Keys in July for the now sold out show at Nokia Theatre.

Chali 2na, one of hiphop’s most identifiably voices comes to Highline Ballroom on 07.13.09 for a rare solo performance.  Most well known from his days with Jurassic 5, the baritone rapper has been a bit quiet since the group parted ways two years ago.  He’s found his way into some interesting projects and collabs with the likes of Long Beach Dub Allstars and Roots Manuva but otherwise there’s been a lack of material from the rapper who I’ve always felt could have a solid solo career.  Check out the Highline show to see what he’s been up to and hear what’s new.  Tickets are $20.

Last month was a hectic one for Tanya Morgan in preperation for the release of Brooklynati.  With album release shows and in-store promotions the guys were all over Manhattan.  On 07.08.09 they bring it back home to Brooklyn for a show at Southpaw.  Torae & Marco Polo coheadline the show.  No ticket info available yet.

Torae & Marco Polo also perform later this month at the S.O.B.’s double album release party

GFC New York, the city based artist management company will present their artist showcase ‘The Black Apple’ on 07.14.09 at S.O.B.’s. Headlining is Mickey Factz who also celebrates his birthday the same night making his return to the S.O.B.’s stage. Although he may be the biggest name on the night thus far because of his feature in XXL’s 2009 freshman class, make sure to keep an eye out for Stalley who performs as well.  The party also promotes the release of his new mixtape Madstalley.  Give a listen yourself on his MySpace if you don’t know him yet but he’ll definitely be an artist to keep an eye on this year. Jade and FKi round out the bill. Tickets are $12.

Kid Cudi and Asher Roth, two of the year’s biggest rookies hit the road together this summer for ‘The Great Hangover Tour.’ The tour stops at Nokia Theatre on 07.15.09 with support from 88-Keys and B.O.B. Tickets range from $27-30 and are on-sale now.

Around this time last year Atmosphere had just released their lastest album and went out on tour in support of it. They stoppped in New York for a show at Webster Hall and it was surprising that the ‘When God Gives You Ugly Tour’ didn’t return to New York for another play. Rhymesayers has just confirmed though that the tour is back on the road for July and hitting plenty of cities they missed last time. They’re back at Webster Hall on 07.27.09 to do it again. Tickets are $25 and on-sale now.

In the begining of April Sneaker Pimps first started releasing details on their annual massive sneaker tour. Originally scheduled for the end of May, the New York Sneaker Pimps show is actually this week on 06.26.09 at Terminal 5. Besides the tons of stuff already there for the true sneaker heads, any hiphop head will want to making their way over to check this lineup. Headlining the night is a solo performance from Big Boi of Outkast, Jadakiss, The Clipse, The Cool Kids, Wale, DJ Clark Kent, Team Facelift, and others. Zoo York will present a live skate demo and just about every overpriced trendy clothing and sneaker company is onboard as a sponsor. Tickets are still on-sale and only $25 for a stacked music lineup.

See photos of The Clipse’s last New York performance at The Studio at Webster Hall.

Here’s a scary fact.  Twenty years ago a Long Island ground group names De La Soul released their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising.  A lot has happened over the last two decades with tons of music from De La, lots of change in rap culture, and during that span the group distinguing themselves as pioneers in hiphop.  To celebrated the twenty year anniversary of the Prince Paulk produced classic, De La Soul will go out on tour with The Rhythm Roots All-Stars, a ten piece band that will be backing them for all their shows.  The tour stops in their hometown New York on 08.13.09 at Nokia Theater.  Tickets are $30.  Despite being a NY group De La hasn’t been doing a ton of shows.  Besides a slot on the Rock the Bells tour last year and a 2006 Summer Stage show with The Roots and MF Doom, I can’t recall the last show they’ve headlined in New York City.

News was already posted here about the new DJ JS-1 album No Sellout: Ground Original 2 which hits stores on 06.30.09. The same day, Blaq Poet drops his new album The Blaqprint featuring production by DJ Premier. JS-1 and Blaq Poet team up for a joint record release party the night of the 30th at S.O.B.’s with lots of guests stopping through for the event. DJ Eclipse, Premier, Blaq Poet, NYGz, Rahzel, Large Professor, Sabac Red, Sadat X, Marco Polo & Torae, and Masta Ace are already confirmed with plenty others expected to show as well. Tickets are $10 in advance, show starts at 9:00 PM.

Dead Prez wil celebrate the release of their new album Pulse of the People on 06.21.09 with a release party at Highline Ballroom. DJ Green Lantern spins throughout the night as well. Tickets are $10, show starts at 8:00 PM

‘End of the Weak’ holds it down weekly at Pyramid.  To end June they bring in a big Sunday lineup with Pumpkinhead, C-Rayz Walz, Quest, and K-Swift as part of the 42nd mc challenge.  Show starts at 9:00 PM.

DJ JS-1 has made his name well known in the hiphop community by not only frequently spinning at parties all over the city but his production work as well. Underground classics like Claimstake feature his tight production with hot verses from emcee’s he has teamed up with. On 06.23.09 he releases No Sellout: Ground Original 2 which has an even more impressive lineup on it than his past albums. KRS-One, Large Pro, Sean Price, Killah Priest, Copywrite, and Chino XL are just a few of the nearly two rapper’s who lend the mic to the record.

You can also catch JS-1 in action the week before his album drops when he joins DJ Premier and DJ Eclipse for the ‘Like They Used To Say’ party at APT. He joins two other big name DJ/producers for their Monday monthly on 06.15.09. Cover is $10 at the door.

The Stuy Town vilalge announced their 2009 Music on the Oval concert series for the summer.  Much like the City Park’s Foundation, they’ll present free shows throughout the summer on Wednesday nights.  Clearly the board that programs this has a strong liking to Daptone productions.  On 06.10.09 they welcome in The Budos Band with music from the Honeydripper who will DJ throughout the evening.  Two weeks later Ticklah spins and also performs with Easy Star All-Stars.  The complete lineup is listed on Stuy Town’s event website.

Correction - Ticklah is only DJing, not performing with Easy Star All-Stars

The 5th annual Afropunk Festival hits Brooklyn again this summer with new music, film, art and skating/BMX for three days over July 4th weekend with the film series running even longer.  It’s always a highlight of the summer in Fort Greene when the Afropunk crew takes over with their block parties and live music and work from local artists.  The block party is next weekend on 06.12.09 with art and DJs.  Complete festival music and film inside.

See photos from the 2007 and 2008 Afropunk Festivals.
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October of last year introduced the ‘What the Funk?!’ party, a night dedicated to soul music and mostly James Brown.  It makes a come back tonight (06.06.09) at Love with DJ Spinna and Rich Medina.

“Spinning Funky JAMES BROWN Exclusives, Covers, JB Samples & Funky-Soulful Hits Of JBs` God Children & The Afro Funk Pioneer FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI`s Entire Music Catalog, Afro House, Afro Soul and more.”

Cover is $10 at the door with the flyer or an RSVP to keistarproductions@gmail.com.  Doors open at 10:00 PM; 21+.

If you haven’t already heard, Frank 151 who is already deep in the promotions and clothing game will enter another relm with the launch of ‘Frankradio,’ the company’s new record label in partnership with Baby Grande.

‘Frank is releasing their first two albums on our new label “Frankradio” on June 23rd thru Baby Grande Records. We are releasing U-GOD’s album “Dopium” which features Ghostface, Raekwon, GZA, Method Man and Sheek Louch from D-Block. The second release is from Grand Puba. His album “Retroactive” has features from Kid Capri, Q-Tip, Brand Nubian and a host of others.’

Both records hit stores at the end of the month and in celebration of the releases Frank will throw the official record party on 06.18.09 at Le Poisson Rouge. U-God and Grand Puba will be performing live with special guests. Party gets started at 11:00 PM.

In addition to offering some of this week’s new album releases to purchase, Fat Beats will be presenting live in-store events in conjunction with them.  Jay Stay Paid is the new release from J Dilla featuring unreleased beats and tracks from his final years. Today (06.01.09) at 7:00 PM DJ Evil Dee will host an exclusive in-store listening party at Fat Beats where he will play the new album and broadcast live for his radio show.

Head back over again tomorrow (06.02.09) for round two for the already announced Double Barrel  in-store with Marco Polo & Torae.  The release party later in the night at Sutra is the real place to be.  The Toca! Tuesdays party is hosted by DJ Tony Touch with DJ Evil Dee & DJ Eclipse on the 1’s & 2’s and welcomin in special invited guests Buckshot, Sean Price, DJ Premier, Masta Ace, Lil Fame of M.O.P. & more.  Doors open at 10:00 PM.