Also this issue: Yeah, You Know Yeah Yeah Yeahs live up to the hype. -A.D. Amorosi The Philadelphia Singers -Peter Burwasser The Notwist/Styrofoam -Brian Howard Matthew Shipp/ Khan Jamal -A.D. Amorosi Vienna Teng -Nicole Pensiero Jazz Violin Summit -Kyle Parker Crooked Fingers -Paul Burress The Gig -Nate Chinen on Jazz

April 3- 9, 2003

beat box

compiled by Ainé Ardron-Doley

Ever seen Freddie Foxxx onstage swinging a ball and chain and looking real, real mean? Well, have no fear, this time the man behind Industry Shakedown, Mr. Bumpy Knuckles, ain’t bringing the pain; he’s bringing the knowledge to Michael Coard’s Hip Hop 101 lecture/workshop. Thu., April 3, 7 p.m., free, Temple University, Anderson Hall, 11th and Berks sts., 215-552-8714.

Each and every first Friday, there's a new sheriff in town with just one mission: to incite the head-nod. On the ones and twos, it's DJs Chasekillz, Exion, EDK, Opal, 7:30 and special guest MC Supastition. Nod is sponsored by L-R-G (clothing sponsor of Baby Blak, Kanye West and ?uestlove), so the giveaways don't get much hotter. Fri., April 4, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., free before 11 p.m., $5, Ulana's, Second and Bainbridge sts., 215-922-4152.

Time for the fifth annual screening of arts activist and Day of The Poet founder Kevin O'Neill's spoken word video documentary

Red Clay Country (The Milieu Will Kill You). Filmed at Graterford, America's fifth largest

maximum-security penitentiary, the documentary

(first aired in 1998)

explores the sociopolitical, racial and personal ramifications of incarceration straight from the mouths of members of the Inmate Poetry Project. DJ Razor Ramone on deck.

Fri., April 4, 9 p.m., $10, Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914.

Hip Hop Awareness 2003 promises to be the hot spot. It’s hosted by Slim Dsm with performances by Arz Nova, Quills, Hobyahs, Dirty Rats, Le Grand and Prophets of the Ghetto. And if that’s not enough, there will be a full house of DJs, b-boys and b-girls, vendors, giveaways and an open mic from 8-9 p.m.! Sat., April 5, 8 p.m., $5, Philadelphia University, Althouse Hall, School House Ln. and Henry Ave.,

www.hobyahs.com

.

Looking for the party of the week? Well, here it is: Once and For All: The DJ/MC Battle Royale. Upstairs at the Five Spot kicks off with live performances by Baby Blak, Chief Kamachi, Outerspace, Kufie and ill turntable tactics from The Skratch Makanics. Now that’s talent, folks. Speaking of talent, hats off to West Philly’s own Baby Blak (of Ill Advised) for his freshly inked solo deal with Brit label BBE! Wed., April 9, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $6 ($4 with a book for "Books Through Bars"), The Five Spot, 5 S. Bank St., 215-574-0070.

Don’t want to party? Stay home and watch Drexel University’s The Avenue over and over (Mon.-Fri., April 7-11, 4 and 11 p.m., DUTV Channel 54, www.dutv.org/avenue). They’ll be airing a special interview with the Squarebiz folks and rotating a new crop of videos all week!