Also this issue: Smart Bombs The Def Jux crew bring the noise and the news. -A.D. Amorosi Atmosphere -A.D. Amorosi Salif Keita -A.D. Amorosi Sleater-Kinney/Yeah Yeah Yeahs -Sam Adams The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -Sam Adams Parks & Wilson -Sean O’Neal The Anniversary/ Burning Brides -Chris Parker Skeleton Key -Maura Johnston

October 17-23, 2002

beat box

Beat Box

compiled by Ain� Ardron-Doley

Here today, gone tomorrow and back again, it’s The Beat Box baby! If this week isn’t enough for you, what is?

Under 21ers party hardy this time around.

Damned if this Friday night ain't super-crackulatin'! There's no way to A, B or C your way out of it, 'cause what about D? Party at A, with Philly's very own queen of the word. Ursula Rucker bursts back on the scene as the headliner for the 215 Festival Afterparty. Fri., Oct. 18, 9 p.m., $10, The North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808, www.215festival.com. Get down at B, as The Greater Philadelphia Hip-Hop Alliance presents Party for the Cause, a fundraiser for AIDS Walk Philly 2002. Pay like you weigh tonight, no guestlist crap. Fri., Oct. 18, $10, 18+, bring flier so the AIDS Walk receives half the cover, SPAK4959@aol.com or 215-439-0192 for a flier, Egypt, 529 N. Delaware Ave., 215-922-6500. Or shake sumptin' at C, House Party 908 where DJs spin it every which way for the bump-and-grind crowd. Fri., Oct. 18, 10 p.m.-until the cops come knockin', all ages, $5, 908 N. 20th St., houseparty908@yahoo.com. And finally, check D, The Revenge of the Robots Tour with El-P, Mr. Lif, RJD2, Cage, Copywrite and DJ Fakts One and, rep'n for the hometown, it's Arrakis familia, Digs Darklighter and Uncle T. Plenty. Fri., Oct. 18, $16, all ages, Transit, Sixth and Spring Garden Sts., www.r5productions.com. Arrakis is back again as Name producer, DJ (for Rennie Harris), engineer and First Element Quartet (a DJ Band) frontman, Mr. Cisum spinning Some Ol’ Hot Joints! Sat., Oct. 19, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $5, $3 before 11 p.m., Silk City, Fifth and Spring Garden sts., www.arrakisrecords.com.

Revel in song, poetry and a discussion of the power of the human spirit at the Urban Harmony workshop performance. Unveiling excerpts from the forthcoming musical addressing the state of the urban community during Bush's reign of pro-militarism and social unrest are poets Carlos Gomez, Monica Peters, Warren Evans and Lamont ³Napalm² Dixon with the a cappella sounds of the VOICE Ensemble. Sun., Oct. 20, 5-7 p.m., free, The Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St., Uhshow@creators-child.com.

Cap off the week with a trip to Gasoline. No, not Iraq -- the club, silly. R5 Productions hosts its second hip-hop show of the week with the God Loves Ugly 2002 Tour starring Atmosphere (Slug, Mr. Dibbs and Blueprint), Murs, Brother Ali and DJ BK One, DJ Jay Bird and special local guest Kenneth Masters (Arrakis again!). Tue., Oct. 22, 8 p.m., $15, all ages, Gasoline, Eighth and Callowhill sts., www.r5productions.com.