The hip-hop stars align this week when four rappers representing four American cities make stops at two of downtown’s finest venues. Can’t decide which show to see? Here’s a tipsheet. You may just go to both.
J. COLE
Fayetteville
Given name Jermaine Cole
Current record Born Sinner (June, Roc Nation/Columbia). After letting some fans (including Nas) down with his debut full-length, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), he came back fierce with a self-produced, slightly angry follow-up, intent on proving his place among hip-hop’s elite. (Nas approved.)
Team Jay. After hearing Cole’s 2007 debut mixtape, The Come Up, Jay Z signed the emcee (by then based in New York) to Roc Nation.
T.O. Notes Cole is no stranger to the Dot. He played a very intimate (and sweaty) Dollar And A Dream show at 99 Sudbury in June and joined Drake onstage for OVO Fest in August.
WALE
Washington
Given name Olubowale Victor Akintimehin
Current record The Gifted (June, Atlantic/Maybach). It may have received so-so reviews, but Wale’s got bars, as evidenced by a stellar mixtape collection and two previous full releases.
Team Ross. Wale has been signed to Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group since 2011.
T.O. Notes No one can forget the hilarious beef with Toronto Raptors announcer Matt Devlin that started at a Raps/Washington Wizards game earlier this year. (Of Wale, Devlin said, “He’s no Drake.”) No hard feelings with Drizzy, though Wale opened at this year’s OVO Fest (like, his name was on the actual poster). The DC rapper has also duetted with our very own K’naan on not one, but two excellent tunes, Um Ricka and TV In The Radio.
J. Cole & Wale play Massey Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 8 and 9), 8 pm. $49.50-$69.50. RTH.
KID CUDI
Cleveland
Given name Scott Mescudi
Current record Indicud (April, Wicked Awesome/GOOD/Republic). Kid Cudi’s third full-length is his best yet, building on the dance-rap-rock fusion he created with 2009’s Man On The Moon and 2010’s Man On The Moon II. Its hooks are indelible, and the blistering psychedelic production makes you wonder what the Ohio-born, L.A.-based musician was using for, um, inspiration.
Team Ye. Despite Cudi’s recent split from Kanye West’s GOOD Music imprint (West signed him in 2008), the two are forever linked, having collabed on numerous projects, including last summer’s Cruel Summer short film and compilation album.
T.O. Notes You mean, other than his 2008 Day ‘N’ Nite being the most-played track in Toronto clubs that year? The Kid’s played the ACC before (with Lady Gaga in 2009 – he was the headliner!), as well as smaller gigs with local remix masters Keys N Krates.
BIG SEAN
Detroit
Given name Sean Michael Anderson
Current record Hall Of Fame (August, GOOD/Def Jam). Even though the most talked-about hip-hop song of the year, Control, didn’t make the album, Big Sean still made waves with his second release. Collaborations with red-hot artists like Miguel and Jhené Aiko, a video starring Miley Cyrus – Sean couldn’t be more on trend.
Team Ye. In 2005 Sean waited outside a radio station to freestyle for Kanye and give him his demo. Sean was still a teenager when he signed with Kanye in 2007. They’re now recording-studio BFFs: Sean is all over Kanye’s Cruel Summer compilation album and even features on mega-singles Mercy.1 and Clique.
T.O. Notes Sean and Drake were everywhere together this summer: Sean was the first surprise guest at OVO Fest, he was on Drake’s track All Me from new album Nothing Was The Same, and the two linked up to surprise Kylie Jenner at her 16th birthday.
Kid Cudi & Big Sean play the ACC with Logic tonight (Thursday, October 3). Doors 6:30 pm, all ages. $39.50-69.50. ACC, LN.
