Small town boasts hot hip-hop show

Why pretend like the ASUW will come through with ridiculous concerts when Western Washington University in Bellingham does it nearly every year?

Saturday the Black Eyed Peas, Mixmaster Mike, Aceyalone, Swollen Members, Prospect Champions and Universal will converge on the WWU campus for a daylong concert in that school's own Red Square.

After a late cancellation by Talib Kweli, the Peas will hopefully fill in with its energetic stage show that includes a band, b-boying and the incredibly tight female vocalist it brought to Bumbershoot two years ago.

Though many will travel to see the L.A.-based group, the real treat should be the performance of the lesser known, but highly respected Aceyalone of Project Blowed. Acey has put out four solo releases and contributed to albums by Freestyle Fellowship, A-Team and others.

His last show in Seattle with Abstract Rude packed the Paradox to capacity on the same night when Xzibit and The Liks were in town. Unlike Acey, Abstract Rude has decided to put his next project out on Battle Axe Records, founded primarily by Swollen Members.

Consisting of Prev and Mad Child, Swollen has built a strong underground scene in Vancouver, B.C., and will release its second album, entitled Bad Dreams, later this year. Although the debut Balance had plenty of worthwhile guest appearances from the likes of Dilated Peoples, Del and Everlast, its dark soundscapes and narratives stood out as the strong point.

Another technician of sound, Invisibl Skratch Pikl and former Beastie Boys DJ Mixmaster Mike, will get busy on the ones and twos. Joining him as the house DJ will be DV-One along with E-Real as the emcee of the event. The latter two recently came together as Universal in the wake of the move of Black Anger's Kindu to Virginia.

And not to be overlooked, Prospect Champions runs things up in Bellingham and has proved itself elsewhere. One of two emcees, Surge, narrowly lost in the semifinals of the Brainstorm Emcee Battle earlier this year before destroying everyone else to get to that point.

Bellingham will also host The Liks, Pharcyde, Paradyme and Homeskool Productions at the Civic Field on June 8. Two years ago Pharcyde and Souls of Mischief played on the same bill for the city's best hip-hop show ever. If the lack of shows by ASUW bothers you, just take the short drive up I-5 to Bellingham.