May 2- 8, 2002

beat box

Beat Box

Ooh! Beat Box is hot to the touch.

Temple University delivers hip-hop for the second week in a row with its popular open-mic and lyrical showcase, Baptism by Fire. This time around, featured artists include Side Effect, M-Ski, United by Fate, Plan Be, Malachi Brothers, Icon the Mic King, Next of Kin, 20M, Bohemian 5th, IOS, Oldhead and Reef. And don't forget, it's DJ Statik on the ones and twos. Wax on. Fri., May 3., 10 p.m.-1 a.m., Temple University, Mitten Hall, Broad St. and Berks Mall,

, $3 with T.U. I.D., $5 w/o.

MC/DJ/Coup D’Etat recording artist J-Live spins strong alongside the Ill Vibe Collective (that would be DJs Lil’ Dave, Statik, Panic and Philee Blunt) at this month’s BodyRock. Shake a leg. Sat., May 4, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., The Aqualounge, 323 W. Girard Ave., $7.

After a decade on the indie grind, Blackalicious, the Oakland duo of Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel, snagged a deal with MCA and released their major label debut, Blazing Arrow this past Tuesday. The veterans are set to rock The Khyber. Mon., May. 6, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, $10.

Smell that sinsemilla? The High Times Tour blows its smoke through Philly with the ever-so-bangin’ lineup of Non Phixion, Smif-n-Wesson, Afu-Ra and Buckshot! Although touring in support of the weedy, wacky debut album from High Times Records, THC: The Hip-Hop Collection Vol. 1, all of the artists on the bill have plenty of their own material to spew. So come, go gaga for ganja as local Arrakis boys Digs Darklighter and Uncle T open up the festivities. Tue., May 7, TLA, 334 South St.,

, 8 p.m., $15, $17 DOS.

Need some publicity? Exposure? Want to start a magazine? How do you get your album reviewed? Dying to know? Ta-da! It’s Docta Shock’s Urban Music Press workshop. Expect panelists like The Daily News’ Al Hunter Jr., Audiogliphix magazine’s K-C Bajai, UPN’s Ralph Fox and The New Observer’s Yanina Carter and more. And this is a Beat Box Pick of the Week, ’cuz for damn sure a lot of artists, so-called managers, promoters and their ilk desperately need to be in attendance, and it’s just five bucks. Wed., May 8, Inez Too Ballroom, 624 S. 62nd St., 6-9 p.m., information at 215-748-2360 or urbanmusicbiz@aol.com, $5

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