December 11-17, 2003

beat box

compiled by Ainé Ardron-Doley

If you haven’t seen Bobbito’s Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture book yet, perhaps this party can make up for it. Calling all sneaker pimps! The Ubiqlife.com Launch Party features the Hollertronix DJs (who have a rep in N.Y.C. for the most banging parties) celebrating the Nike spring collection, the Jordan collection, Jordan 2004 samples and the vintage Nike collection by Ubiq. Question: What’s Ubiq? Answer: The sneaker store in The Gallery with the fresh kicks and the big video screen. Fri., Dec. 12, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free, Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St., 215-629-0565, rsvp@ubiqlife.com.

In the city of big-name DJs, Square Biz, Soul Travelers and Beautiful Peoples spark an ill collaboration with two of the biggest: DJ Jazzy Jeff and Little Louie Vega (of Masters At Work). They'll be sharing the main stage for a four-hour marathon. That's how the song goes: "House party all night long!" Repeat. There's more: Resident DJs Brendan, Mike Nyce, Kenny Meez, Joey Blanco and Rahsaan spin upstairs and down. Fri., Dec. 12, 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m., $15 before midnight, $20, Transit, Sixth and Spring Garden sts., 215-925-8878, squarebizdishes@aol.com.

Last year the charitable Krush Unit crew raised enough cheddar to purchase seven Nintendo Game Boy Advance game systems and seven games to go with them. This time around, they want mo' money, mo' money, mo' money at the 2nd Annual Krush Unit Christmas Benefit with Side Effect, Reef the Lost Cauze, Adam12, Arcane, Splitt, SubHoodz, Supreem Da Regulata & The Untouchable Squad, Snuff, The Illustrators and Stress on the ones and twos. All proceeds benefit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Who said hip-hop was all rough and tumble? Sat., Dec. 13, 9 p.m., $7, North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808, krushunitstress@comcast.net.

Last but not least, a step in the right direction for the Grammys as Philly's own Baby Blak makes the Grammy "shortlist" -- the list of albums "to be considered for nomination" -- for his solo debut, Once You Go Blak. Not surprisingly, The Roots snag a spot, too. And then there's the Young Gunz, who burst on the scene this summer with their Billboard Hot 100 smash, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" -- those rookies are up for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

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