With mushroom shards embedded in minds melded to drum machine circuitry, Doseone and Jel of Themselves let it all hang out on the experimental tip. Hip-hop's bastard sons of abstracted persuasion, Anticon calls an Oakland warehouse home as it personifies a DIY ethic usually associated with a punk label such as Dischord.

With festivities opened by Austin's MC Fatal, Houston's Grit Boys, and Play-N-Skillz from Dallas, this may be the only SXSW hip-hop showcase this year that emphatically leans away from alt-rock aesthetics in favor of dirty, dirty inclinations. Louis players Sylk Smoov and Austin's own Bavu Blakes who's been witnessed of late riding the wave of his Hydroponic Sound System-produced single 'Play the Role' the Murder Dog lineup was hand-picked by Matt Sonzala, the host of Houston's much acclaimed Damage Control radio program on KPFT. Paul Wall's former partner in rhyme Chamillionaire also joins the fray. Bun B of Port Arthur's UGK provides as fitting a match as any, linear relations persisting by way of scheduled performances by Watts, Ron C., Magno, and Mike Jones of Houston's Swishahouse clique. United by electro sensibilities and the tendency to lyrically spit rather than to merely rhyme, Murder Dog magazine pairs the grimy, post-garage blitzkrieg of East London's Dizzee Rascal with an all-star cast of Down South rap heroes. Hermanos Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza, born, raised, and still living in San Angelo, became Austin's favorite band with a self-titled CD that sprinkles Latin sabor over meat-and-potatoes Texas blues and rhapsodic live shows. LLB owned 2003 like the Oklahoma Sooners own UT's Longhorns. Don't let the 'brass band' title fool you, either this is a thoroughly modern juggernaut that mixes hip-hop street beats with Crescent City fonk and butt-rockin' R&B into a hypnotic groove all their own. One of the crown jewels of New Orleans music. Please check Grupo FantasmaĪfter a yearlong Wednesday night residency at Antone's, this dynamic, climbing toward a dozen members horn- and percussion-driven Latin powerhouse has developed into one of the hottest bands in Austin.

Saturday PicksAll showcase times subject to change.

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