(NEW SOUL MUSIC) Can hiphoppers espouse peace without getting scorned as corny? Unlikely, but if anyone deserves respect for pushing spiritual vibes within instrumental-hiphop parameters, it’s Ammoncontact (L.A.’s Carlos Niño and Fabian Ammon). The duo’s new, aptly titled With Voices allows them to fortify their heartily languid soul-jazzisms (think Gil Scott-Heron jamming with Last Poets in Bill Laswell’s studio) with lyrics that uplift and inform. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000. 8 pm, $10, 21+.)

Dave Segal is a journalist and DJ living in Seattle. He has been writing about music since 1983. His stuff has appeared in Gale Research’s literary criticism series of reference books, Creem (when...