Here's a friendly reminder to go see Glasses Malone at the Backstage Bar and Grill, Sunday, March 25. All too often in Tacoma we are stuck having to pay $20 to see someone washed up like Warren G, Coolio, Tone Loc or Skee-Lo. So, a $10 chance to see someone actually current in our city is worth it. Thank Mac Meeze when ya see him for setting up the show and tell him to bring more people to Tacoma!

If you're looking for a good place to hear a lot of hip-hop from the 253 I suggest pugetsoundmixtape.bandcamp.com. Volume 3 is now available for download and it's a three-disc compilation - almost anyone and everyone has a song featured on there. Find someone ya like and then go explore that artist's discography. Sic Ill of Darxiide Entertainment puts these mixtapes together. There will be an all-ages release show for Volume 3 at Tahoma Tea Co., behind Urban Exchange, with details to come.

One of the best singles so far this year is "No Bull" by DJ Phinisey, featuring Rockwell Powers, Jay Barz and Xperience. That's a killer combination of MCs and they damage the beat indeed. The single is available for download at djphinisey.bandcamp.com. I'm personally looking forward to Phinisey releasing his full-length record. I expect it to be one of the best releases of 2012. His recording studio, Remedy Recording, is still the go-to spot for all your recording and mastering needs. It's professional yet homey, secluded yet nearby. And Phinisey knows what he's doing.

Sawchosiz just dropped a video, "Mind of Sawchosiz" - YouTube it. It's Sawchosiz at his best, mixing his battle raps with his twisted sense of humor, and finishing it all off with horror-core images. To really appreciate Saw's personality, YouTube "Shit the Joker Says." It's a hilarious skit that's just too hard to explain.

To stay caught up on the state-jumping Logics, hit-up 2dopeboyz.com and download Logics' newest free EP, Live From the $in. It's got Washington state production from Rising Son, D.J. Semaj, Mike Weed, and guest-verses from Mic Phenom, Element of Second Family, Chief Noo and Grynch.

[Backstage Bar and Grill, Glasses Malone, Sunday, March 25, 9 p.m., $10, 6409 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.564.0149]