LOTS OF SHOWS >>>

The weekends come and go! It seems like every other day I'm sitting down at my computer and telling ya'll what to go do on the weekend. I like it when they come more than they go. Here are your instructions for the first weekend of 2013.

Tonight will have ya at The Loch's. The downtown Tacoma venue is fully up and running. Do not let the lack of a new sign out front deter you. The cheap drinks and quality sound system that you enjoyed when the spot housed Hell's Kitchen still exist. For $5, which is a steal on a Friday night, you can catch W.O.L.F. Gang (MC Coo Beanz and Joey Moody), J.U.I., Sic Ill, Gho$t Kapone, Cauze-n-Efekt, 36uh0! with D.J. Reign on the wheels and hosted by myself.

Tonight's show at The Loch's is an off-the-beaten-path sort of line up - full of top quality hip-hop, but not necessarily artists ya get to see on bills every weekend. J.U.I. is a veteran M.C. from Tacoma who could have put out the sleeper best album of the year in 2012. He has an intelligent, wordy, nerdy, stiff yet fonky-flow. There is no one else that even sounds remotely like J.U.I. in the rap game.

Cauze-n-Efekt and 36uh0! are two of the more promising and popular crews from Olympia. I believe this is their first Tacoma show, so come show some neighborly support for your down south brethren. It is a good chance to see some of the best that Olympia has to offer.

Also, many consider DJ Reign to be the best hip-hop D.J. in Tacoma. He is running things down at The Loch's. I know he has some good things ready for us in 2013. Come get reacquainted with Reign and acquainted with the new spot, Loch's. If this show goes well, there will be plenty of more hip-hop on Friday nights there. Perhaps in 2013, Tacoma hip-hop can move out of the Thursday realm and into the prime weekend spot for shows.

Saturday, also at The Loch's, is the young upstart outfit P.M.E. - Power Moves Entertainment - album-release party. The young, motivated Tom Hutch heads P.M.E. The album features Luni Coleone among others, so maybe the $10 entry fee will be worth it. Expect to see Controversy the Misfit, Gazmo the Gr8 and Abom. Controversy is one of the most hyped, animated performers Tacoma has to offer. Gazmo the Gr8 is a polished local M.C. who has ties to California. He puts out some of the better music in Tacoma. He is also big in the blogosphere. He has the potential to be one of the top M.C.'s in T-town.

Who was the first host of B.E.T.'s Rap City? If ya say Chris Thomas, then I know you are old school. He was the first host of the show, followed by Prince Dejour, Joe Clair, Big Lez, Big Tigger and the list goes on. Well, the first mayor of Rap City, Thomas is performing stand-up at the Temple Theatre Saturday night. Ticket information is at Ticketmaster or call 800.745.3000.

Sunday is actually the busiest day of the weekend for hip-hop. There is the Graffiti Garage cipher at 1 p.m. Then, that night at The Loch's is the MusiKKast Records and Entertainment Industry Showcase and Mixer. This consists of an artist showcase competition, model showcase and all-around networking extravaganza. Young Jay Weed is on the bill. The night is hosted by the statesmen-like 6-Deep the Messenger. There are all kinds of good prizes to be won, like free beats, mastering, promotional material and airplay. Go to http://musikkast.com/pnw-industry-mixer-competition/ to register.

LINK: What's The Word? hip-hop column