Saturday
Had Guns N' Roses written a hit about the folks here, it may have gone like this: Take me down to Stoic City/Where the chat's not mean and the words are pretty. That's why the idea of the Rap Battle series starting at the Red Raven Espresso Parlor is so intriguing. The point of freestyle hip-hop battles is deriding the opposing emcee, and everything from mothers on down is fair game. It's open to all comers, but reticent locals not keen on such aggressive consideration of each other's flaws can still enjoy the show, says organizer Aaron Coggins, who is filming a documentary about the local hip-hop scene. The round-robin rounds of the six-month tourney start Saturday and will continue through April, with semis and finals to follow. An area emcee will also perform at each show, kicking off this week with Blitzkrieg. The insults start at 7. Cover is $5. (701) 478-7337
