The Blue Scholars are gearing up for the re-release of their eponymous debut in June; the redux will of course feature a new intro, bonus tracks, and a DVD of the "Freewheelin'" video. If ya ain't heard, the boys will also be rocking the same stage as Kanye West, Modest Mouse, and the Pixies (swoon) at the Sasquatch! Festival Memorial Day weekend at the gorgeous Gorge in George-where I once saw a dude get beaten like a smoker for the dregs of his bottle of Courvoisier... ahh, misty watercolor Summer Jam memories. Now speaking of the Louis Vuitton Don, have you heard that new Kanye cut "Diamonds Are Forever"? Not bad, as the beat kinda sounds like Sir West has stepped up his game-but goddamn, that Andre 3000-aping "Fo-eva eva" hook is annoying as all hell. I hope Late Registration gets better marks than that.

"Yeah, I chews gum and beef jerky/Eats chicken and turkey/Nigga you might wound me but you neva will hurt me..."

That Frisco-bred game spitter Andre Nickatina (formerly known by the sobriquet Dre Dog) will be bringing his thuggish theatrics to our neck of the woods. Catch his cryptically titled "Midnight Northwest Horns & Halos" tour at Neumo's on Saturday, May 28.. Nickatina is from that school of the Bay where one's lyrics drip game and/or stunning brutality, while the production varies from cartoonish and tinny to grimy trunk slappers. Dude is not always my (pimp) cup of tea but is nonetheless good for some insane quotables.

Yo, parents! Need something to keep the rugrats occupado on Saturday, May 21? Bring them out to the Rainer Beach Community Center from 4:00-8:00 p.m. for the Temple of Hiphop Festival for Kids. You can show your seeds "each element of hiphop-and how it can benefit their lives in a positive way." I'll be there schooling the youths on the writing game along with Emily Youssef from the Tablet-who, unlike me, will actually know what she's talking about.

My dude Cliff (ex-Maroon Colony, remember them?) wanted me to tell y'all to check the Guitar Center DJ Battles going on in all their locations every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. this month. The grand prize is a hiphop-friendly Scion, and runners up can win cell phones, audio equipment, and Royal Elastics kicks.

If you're anything like me, most nights you're up waay later than need be, watching Adult Swim and laughing like a lobotomized rhesus monkey. So you're familiar with MC Chris, who's voiced many characters on the Swim, including Sealab's Hesh and a few of the baddies on Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Perhaps you need more-in which case you should check m'man out at El Corazón (FKA Graceland) on May 21... get there early and peep the elegant stylings of the Saturday Knights.

Oh, and speakin' of the idjit box, listen closely to MTV in the future, cause they're gonna be using instrumentals from Oldominion producer Mr. Hill on future seasons of The Real World and Road Rules. See what happens when people stop being nice... and start listening to Deadlivers. ■