Just a few months since he retired his old group and MC name — the Tribe & Big Cats! and Truth Be Told, respectively — the local wordsmith born Chris Hooks has already finished his first album under his new, almost-too-perfect stage name, Rapper Hooks. How could he have not used that before?
Titled "All Black Jesus," the effort shows a more experimental and intense flavor compared with his Tribe work, but boasts the same cocky, sexual, sometimes shock-rocking lyricism that stands out locally. Best example: the biting, wild-eyed gem "Mike Tyson."
P.O.S. and the Chalice's Lizzo and Claire de Lune are among the guest vocalists, and producers include Noam the Drummer, Amati and his former bandmate Big Cats. Hooks' release party is Friday at 7th Street Entry with Spyder Baybie & 2% Muck and Metasota (10 p.m., $7). …
The Chiang Banger is back. Uptown eatery Chiang Mai Thai hosts its big, free, all-ages, alleyside block party on Sunday from 2-8 p.m. with Haphduzn & Dimitry Kilstorm, Kill the Vultures, Bethany Larson & the Bees Knees, L'Assassins, Taj Raj, Shell and Botzy. … Botzy, from the newly defunct ska-rap-rock band Culture Cry Wolf, recently cut loose with his first solo record, "Buck Fotzy," a full-blown rapper collection with hints of Doomtree and waaaay-old-school blues and jazz influences. … Botzy was a local entrant in the Warped Tour lineup last weekend under Motion City Soundtrack, who was announced as headliner for the Pizza Lucé Block Party on Aug. 10. …
A little behind-the-scenes news at local West Bank institutions: KFAI hired a new executive director, Willie Dean, who has decades of nonprofit experience with YMCA. Also, the Cedar Cultural Center named Sage Dahlen as artistic director. She came to the venue in 2006 fresh from Radio K. … The Cedar, by the way, is taking proposals for its 416 Commissions, a new-music program funded through a grant by the Jerome Foundation. Details at TheCedar.org. …
Hey, old farts: The Magnolias, Brynn Arens' Oddfathers and High on Stress are playing an early set just for you at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall on Friday, 7:30 p.m. start time ($7). … Southside Desire and Black Diet have a free in-store Thursday at Hymie's Records promoting their new split single (7 p.m.). …
Grant Hart's new album from Domino Records, "The Argument," dropped Tuesday with high-profile write-ups at Spin's and NPR Music's sites. Hart has been playing U.K. dates with a new Irish backing band and hopes to bring them here soon. … The Kickstarter campaign for the Suburbs' new album wraps Friday morning. At press time, they were about $5,000 away from their $65,000 goal. …
If you missed the Americanarama shows two weeks ago, you can hear more classics with some better singers at the fifth annual Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan at Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater in St. Louis Park (6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday) It features Billy Hallquist, Matt Fink, Patty Peterson, Mary Jane Alm, Lonnie Knight, Paul Metsa, Dan Israel, Gene LaFond, James Loney and more. The show is free, but donations go to the Guitars for Vets program.
