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EVENTS

By Matthew Godbey

The Post and Courier

Akil, of hip-hop's Jurassic 5 fame, will perform some of his solo work at The Pour House on James Island this week.

Akil made a name for himself as an MC for the influential hip-hop group Jurassic 5 beginning in the 1990s.

Following a stalemate with its label, Interscope Records, and the ensuing frustration J5 has suffered since the release of its fourth and final release, "Feedback," in 2006, Akil has ventured into solo ground by releasing several EPs and demos this year.

Known for its smooth, soulful hip-hop style that harks to the days of Digable Planets, DeLa Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5 became an ironic favorite with college students, rockers and punk kids across the globe.

The group's intelligent and positive mix of R&B and urban hip-hop struck a chord with the unlikely demographic and landed J5 on such tours as Lollapalooza and the Warped Tour. But most of the group's art failed to connect with the hip-hop/rap market due mainly to the explosion of the "Dirty South" style of rap that had started to dominate the radio air waves.

J5 was seen sharing the stage with an eclectic group of artists ranging from Bruce Springsteen, to Green Day, Fiona Apple, Outkast and collaborating with artists such as Nelly Furtado, the Dave Matthews Band and Incubus.

Akil's latest material is grittier. It displays his freestyle MC abilities much more dramatically than did his time with J5.

Though the message is still delivered in the same positive and intelligent box, the wrapping paper is of a much darker and heavier style.

Akil will perform at The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, on Wednesday. Both Quanstar, and Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, will be performing before and after Akil's set. Tickets are $10 in advance at etix.com, and also will be sold at the door. Call 571-4343 for more information.

The show starts at 10:15 p.m.

Randall Bramblett

"Randall is the most talented and prolific songwriter I have the privilege of knowing," Bill Berry of R.E.M. once said of Randall Bramblett. If that doesn't say enough about the blues virtuoso, then maybe the fact that Bramblett has toured and/or recorded with Widespread Panic, Traffic, The Grateful Dead, Greg Allman and The String Cheese Incident will tickle your toes. Bramblett has maintained a critically and publicly applauded career since the mid-'70s. Who says people change?

Randall Bramblett will perform at The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, on Friday night.

Tickets are $10 in advance and are available at the door or online at etix.com. Call 571-4343 for more information.

Run Dan Run

Run Dan Run began as more of an experimental hobby for 20-year-old Dan McCurry in 2006. But after friends and multi-instrumentalists Nick Jenkins and Ash Hopkins heard McCurry's ideas, the trio decided to take things to the next level. After the addition of Erin McKinley, RDR is one of Charleston's greatest indie/rock phenomenons. It has a rotating cast of guest musicians sometimes reaching an astounding 10 members. There is a noticeable dissension in the band's songs. Like a car swerving between lanes, RDR's music is a scary ride that teeters between discord and symphonic. But the music is always rich in intelligent creativity. In the risky spirit of Broken Social Scene or Bright Eyes, RDR takes indie/grunge-pop to a surprisingly hypnotic height.

Run Dan Run will appear at The Music Farm, 32 Ann St., with fellow Charlestonians The Fireworks Show and KO Friday night. Tickets are $8 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m. Visit musicfarm.com for more information.