THE WORD FROM JOSH RIZEBERG >>>

Time flies! It feels like almost every other day I am sitting down to write a weekend show preview for ya'll. Well, it is my pleasure. Here are yo options for this weekend. ...

Tonight is the first Free Ya Mind open mic at the Colored Women's Club. Free Ya Mind is a movement started by Stella Haioulani that focusses on how art can affect positive social justice. Free Ya Mind has heavily been involved in the South Sound spoken word/poetry scene for well over 10 years. The Free Ya Mind open mics will be held at 6 p.m. the last Friday of the month. There is a sign-up sheet and a featured artist. There is also a $5 cover.

Also tonight, another hip-hop show will be held at 9 p.m. at the Central Ave Pub in Kent. This spot is becoming one of the busiest hip-hop venues around. D.J. Skrewball hosts tonight's show with Tim-Me, PME (Power Moves Ent), Tacnology Ent, Slapboy Muzik and D.J. Sith on the docket. The cover is $5.

Moving onto Saturday ... Crazy Monk from Tacoma will be in Olympia for a 7 p.m. benefit show helping low-income Olympians receive free bicycles. It's a house show, specially the Track House. Suggested donation is $5.

If ya want to go up North, hit Barboza for a set from John Crown with Jasper T. and the Homies. It's an early 7 p.m. show with a $10 cover. Tacoma super group ILLFIGHTYOU also has a show at The Comet in Seattle Saturday. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is only $5.

If ya trying to stay in Tacoma Saturday night, go to Fresh Blends Reblended at The Loch's. This show is $5 presale, $10 at the door and features D.J. Reign, D.J. Iceman, Auraswon, Lofton and Beanz & Rize. The show starts at 9 p.m. This is the second Fresh Blends Reblended.

Sunday, ya know what it is - See ya'll at the Graffiti Garages for the Northwest M.C. League Cyphers. Peaces Family!

LINK: Josh Rizeberg has the latest on Mr. Tak in his What's The Word? column