After years of having Brother Ali follow their lead, Twin Cities hip-hop kingpins Atmosphere are taking a page out of Ali's book: They will headline the second annual Day of Dignity block party in north Minneapolis on Oct. 7. In addition to the free music, the event will once again feature free food, clothing and health-care services and be held outside Masjid An-Nur, the Muslim mosque that counts Ali and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison among its worshipers.

Ali helmed the event last year as a way of helping Northside residents still reeling from the May 2011 tornado along with the already-stinging economy. His Rhymesayers cohort Freeway came to town to perform then, and this time Ohio rapper and Rick Ross protégé Stalley of the Maybach Music Group will provide some outside talent. It's unclear if Ali himself will be on hand, but considering that he has two nearly sold-out shows Oct. 5-6 at First Avenue and isn't scheduled to return to the road until Oct. 9, there's more likelihood he would be on Mars than anywhere else that afternoon. The party will last from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Click here for more details, including volunteer options. Here is last year's news story on the Day of Dignity. Look for an interview with Ali about his new album, "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color," in Sunday's newspaper.

At Atmosphere's sold-out Cabooze Plaza gig three weeks ago, Slug promised a free show in town in October but did not say where or when. Here you go. Atmosphere is not the only act from Rhymesayers Entertainment performing to help the needy next week: I Self Devine, currently on tour with Slug & Co., will head up the cutely titled Cold Flows 4 Warm Clothes benefit Oct. 6 at the Minneapolis American Indian Center (2-10 p.m., free, all ages). In lieu of a cover charge, organizers are asking attendees to bring clothes and non-perishable food items.