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JUNE 6 T.I.Love, $40
The self-proclaimed "King of the South" brings his ATL drawl and flow to Okie Street NE. Love continues to be one of the best nightspots in the District to watch a live performance. But despite the lavish space, it will probably be packed, so get there early. Give Marc Barnes and company credit for securing T.I. to perform: He has kept a low profile of late because of his recent legal troubles. This should be one of the hottest nights of the summer.
JUNE 13 Alicia KeysVerizon Center, $49.50-$125
Along with hits from her most recent platinum-selling album, "As I Am" ("No One," "Like You'll Never See Me Again," "Teenage Love Affair"), Keys will unlock her library of songs from her three other platinum CDs. Her MTV "Unplugged" performance proved she has the chops to perform and interact with an audience. And with Keys emerging from her sometimes private shell and incorporating more dance into her shows, the "As I Am" tour should be just as much a treat for your eyes as for your ears.
JUNE 14 Aceyalone, Dilated Peoples, 88 Keys and the AlchemistClub Five, $20
A founder of the influential Los Angeles crew the Freestyle Fellowship in the '90s, Aceyalone has been dropping rhymes for years and is easily one of the best there is on the microphone. Also on the "Fresh Rhymes and Videotape" tour is Dilated Peoples, a group with a devoted fan base in the underground hip-hop community, along with Alchemist, who has been a frequent producer for the group. And you can't ignore anyone who names Q-Tip and Pete Rock as influences, as New Yorker 88 Keys does (not to mention that his new CD is being produced by Kanye West).
JUNE 29 Raheem DeVaughn And Chrisette MicheleMerriweather Post Pavilion, $30-$45
DeVaughn is one of the best up-and-coming voices in R&B and a Washington area native. This is the concert to take a date to; DeVaughn's smooth, soulful songs will set an appropriate mood. Michele's silky vibe and jazzy voice also deliver.
JULY 27 Rock the BellsMerriweather Post Pavilion, $40-$83 ($140-$183 limited VIP packages)
Remember when hip-hop was really hip-hop? Back when tracks were about flow and skill, not floss and bling? When there was only one woman in the video? If so, Rock the Bells is definitely for you. The show includes a who's who of MCs with substance behind their rhymes, including A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface, the Pharcyde and the man who proclaimed hip-hop dead, Nas.
-- David Betancourt
