10.10 Friday (Hip-Hop) Hidden Hall & Solid Sound present: Blu & Myka 9 Ayo Dot & The Uppercuts Destruct & DJ Zole 8pm, 21+ Hidden Hall 400 N 35th St hiddenhall.com BLU Blu, a rapper and producer from Los Angeles, is a visionary voice in hip-hop, known for weaving intricate narratives over soulful, jazz-infused beats. Emerging from the underground scene, he gained critical acclaim with his debut album, Below the Heavens, a collaboration with producer Exile that is celebrated as a modern classic. Blu's introspective lyricism explores themes of self-discovery, social commentary, and urban life, capturing raw emotion with poetic depth. Fearlessly experimenting with genres while maintaining his lyrical integrity, his collaborations with artists like Flying Lotus and Madlib further showcase his versatility. Blu’s dedication to authenticity and artistic growth has cemented his place as a cornerstone of modern hip-hop. Myka 9 Originally known as Microphone Mike, Myka 9 is recognized as one of the most stylistically advanced rappers in the 90's. His first real break was in the 1980's when he received the opportunity to be a lyrical ghost writer on NWA's first compilation, titled ‘NWA and The Posse.' He then had the opportunity to collaborate with major acts such as The Wailers, Carmen Carter, The Last Poets, and co-founded the legendary hip-hop group, Freestyle Fellowship. Today, Myka champions his often-imitated, never-duplicated lyrical style around the world. He is known for his rapid-fire, jazz-influenced, melodic rapping, and often incorporates singing and occasional scatting into his songs. Myka has said of his style, "My rhymes take the direction of a jazz trumpet or sax solo, like Miles or Trane, if I was to rhyme in the same meter as those notes...that's my concept."