GZA of Wu Tang Clan heads to the Sinclair on June 27. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
You were all ready for Hip Hop Summer, then LL Cool J bumped his The F.O.R.C.E Live date at the TD Garden from June 25 to Nov. 19. While you can rock the bells with LL, the Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more this fall, you can also celebrate all 50 years of hip hop all summer long in Boston with classic albums live, dance throwdowns, groundbreaking local acts and more.
GZA, June 27, the Sinclair, Cambridge
Kung fu is so hot right now! (Thank you, Michelle Yeoh.) But Wu-Tang Clan honcho GZA dug deep into samurai, ninja and martial arts culture back in the ’90s. And then, on “Liquid Swords” in 1995, he paired them with metaphysical questions, rages against injustice, an epic vocabulary, and so much more. At the Sinclair, he will do the whole album with the perfect support act, Boston’s STL GLD, kicking off the evening.
Michael Franti & Spearhead, June 29, Leader Bank Pavilion
Franti has been a force in political hip hop since his ’90s band, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. But he’s also a crazy and wonderful hippie who is happy to pull reggae, folk, funk and soul into his sound. Spearhead is the sound of sunshine and love married to the fight for social justice.
Drake, July 11 & 12, TD Garden
How do you get to headline the Garden for a two-night stand? First, you chart 11 No. 1 singles – the most for a hip hop act. Second, you make one of those No. 1’s the monster anthem “Nice For What.” That’s it. Two simple steps.
Nur-D & Cliff Notez, July 12, Middle East Up, Cambridge
Boston’s best… Well, what is it that Cliff Notez does? Let’s call it dreamy, poppy, broken-and-rebuilt indie hip hop. So anyway, Boston’s best dreamy, poppy, broken-and-rebuilt indie hip hop experimenter joins Minnesota’s Nur-D on this tour stop. It’s a nice pairing as Nur-D has a real, well, dreamy, poppy, broken-and-rebuilt indie hip hop vibe.
United Styles 2023, July 16, Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge
The Pro Breaking Tour helps local dance group the Floor Lords celebrate its 42nd anniversary. For decades, the Floor Lords have been expanding hip hop culture and defining (and redefining) the art of breakdancing – the Floor Lords host classes in locking, krump and more at their Cambridge studio. A series of 3 v. 3 crews will battle on the dance floor at this anniversary party for thousands in prize money.
Ice Cube & Cypress Hill, July 29, TD Garden
You know Ice Cube from his breakout role in “22 Jump Street.” You know Cypress Hill from ordering the London Symphony Orchestra, possibly while high, on “The Simpsons.” But did you know both were hip hop icons? Come see Ice Cube reclaim his rap crown while Cypress Hill (and Millyz and Twista) open the show.
Janelle Monáe, Sept. 17, MGM Music Hall
“Dirty Computer” was the best album of 2018 – the ideal synthesis of hip hop and pop (she became Chuck D and Cyndi Lauper all at once) with gospel, disco, and Beach Boys harmonies tossed in. But we had to wait half a decade for the follow up. Worth it. Close down the season with the queen of weird and perfect music.
