Even in our congenial, supportive hip-hop scene, rappers are still frequently throwing down the gauntlet and trying to outdo each other. Or at least that's the impression one gets after hearing today's announcement from Doomtree, Inc., that the local hip-hop collective is turning its seventh annual Blowout bonanza into a seven-night extravaganza Dec. 4-10 featuring five nights in 7th Street Entry and two in the First Avenue main room. That's taking Atmosphere's seven-night Entry run in 2003 just a notch higher.

Of course, there are a lot more people involved in Doomtree. Case in point: Each of those five Entry shows will be curated by one of the crew's five rappers. Opening night belongs to Sims (Dec. 4), who is wrapping up his "Bad Time Zoo" headlining tour with Lazerbeak Saturday at the Fine Line. After that will come Mike Mictlan's show (Dec. 5), Dessa (Dec. 6), P.O.S. (Dec. 7) and Cecil Otter (Dec. 8), with guests each night to be announced. Then the usual giant show with all seven members will take place again Dec. 9 and 10. Let's hope there's not another major snow storm like the one that shut down the city last year (but didn't actually ruin Blowout; the group even added a third night just to spite the weather and accommodate fans who had to miss the second night).

Adding to the already hyperactive momentum this year is the fact that another all-crew Doomtree album is set to come out just in time for the Blowout marathon. Details on the disc, titled "No Kings," continue to come to light as its makers talk more and more about it. Here's the latest, from P.O.S.:

"It's the first time we're really all been in a room together to make a record," he said, referring to the fact that they holed up in a cabin for a week. "All of us have worked really hard over the years to define our own styles and find our own voices since our first record, and I think it shows. Plus, we're all away a lot more, so just getting to hang out together with our best friends for a week was a major thing."

Tickets for the Blowout shows go on sale Saturday at noon through First Ave's site and outlets. However, members of Doomtree will be hanging out and personally selling tickets during happy hour Friday at the Depot Tavern (next door to the Entry, 4-6 p.m.).

(Also, FWIW, I think the Doomtreers themselves would be the first to scoff at the Atmosphere comparisons; Slug & Co. could probably do a month of shows and still sell out.)