Hip-hop icons Nas and Lauryn Hill team up for their first joint tour, Life is Good/Black Rage. This double act showcases the best of two distinct styles that work off of and with each other as Nas combines his jazz influences and famed rhyming lyricism with Hill's neo-soul rapping. Fri 7 p.m.

Go underground to hear some of the freshest sounds in music today. Oakland-based hip-hop collective, Hieroglyphics spits innovative lyrics and drop solid beats infused with funk, jazz, and soul in its must-have albums 3rd Eye Vision and Full Circle. The married duo behind the ReMINDers turn their love for each other into music.

Straight out of Queens, Nicki Minaj has been twisting the notions of hip-hop since she first landed on the charts three years ago. Her unique, rhythmic, lyrical style is reminiscent of artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Missy Elliott, with a twist that is entirely her own. Minaj's outrageous diva costuming and performance techniques make each show a striking episode of theatrics.

Make waves with hip hop’s malcontent rapper, Aesop Rock. Known for defying stereotypes and making his own musical rules, Aesop Rock combines hip hop beats with melodic vocal lines. His edgy, defiant lyrics have earned him his place among rap enthusiasts, while his creative tones and riffs have gained him recognition among new music appreciators of every genre.