Bong bong, as the RZA would likely greet you—yes, that very same RZA, the Abbot of the almighty Wu-Tang, who'll be at Neumos on Thursday, July 30. Should be a damn good show, full of heavy, ill-mannered beats and cracked god-science. But if you're the kind of weak-livered sumbitch with the energy for only one superproducer showcase per week, save it for the next night. On Friday, July 31, at War Room is the Seattle edition of the Red Bull Big Tune, where the town's sickest slapcrafters will square off for a shot at national beat supremacy. This event alone would be enough to get War Room packed—but then there are this year's featured producers: West Coast legends DJ Quik and BattleCat. Are you kidding me?! Well if that don't fuckin' starch your Dickies, I don't know what will, loc.

BattleCat—the producer, not He-Man's mount—is simply one of the illest producers from the West Coast (thus, anywhere) ever. From the school of squealing, squelchy-smooth G-funk, yet totally original, BattleCat is the guy behind some of my favorite post–Death Row West-Coast jams—"G'd Up" by Tha Eastsidaz comes to mind. "Cat is one of those rare guys who has dominated with a sound all his own," says premier Seattle producer (and Big Tune mainstay) Jake One. "West Coast rap needs him in a bad way right now."

Then there's Tha Quiksta. If I have to spend even a second explaining to you who he is, I'm going to need cash in hand first. What I will tell you is this: Virtually nobody who was making hiphop music (that is, rapping and producing the shit) in 1991 is holding a candle to the dude (outside of the good Doctor). Furthermore, for somebody whose career is now old enough to buy porn and smokes, he's pushing his sound further than anybody. BlaQKout, his must-own collaboration with Dogg Pound gangsta Kurupt, is not only the best possible summertime rap listening to drop this year, it's a bold new sonic direction for Quik, his signature funk tweaked into a new level of sci-fi craziness (plus my dude can still rap his ass off). Put that in your pipe—what you do at that point is up to you.

JFK aka Ninjaface of Grayskul wanted me to pass this on to you: On Sunday, August 2, he's throwing a show, Broken Wings Fly, over at the High Dive to benefit the family of his friend Orion Underwood, RIP. Performing are JFK, Pain, Mo-X, Tomren Shannon, and Hollywood Underwood.

Finally, you can now catch me every Sunday (6–9 pm) on KEXP 90.3 FM hosting Streetsounds. It's most definitely big shoes to fill, and I want to send a shout to all the big dogs (the latest being B-Mello) who have been down with the show going all the way back to my man Nasty Nes and Rap Attack. Love and respect.