We’re all pretty ecstatic about this one.

Sunday

Mos Def has put out one of the best hip-hop albums of the year with The Ecstatic, an odd progression for the emcee-turned-actor-turned-emcee. This is exciting because after suffering through True Magic many of Def’s fans weren’t feeling all that ‘ecstatic’. But now, as Mos Def has regained his throne again with some of the catchiest and entertaining hip-hop of the year, that $35 show at the 9:30 Club seems all the more interesting.

Tuesday

Akron/Family is the type of band you don’t fully experience until you see them live. This folk-influenced experimental rock band doesn’t force themselves into defined roles like guitarist, vocalist, and drummer; instead, everyone plays their part. Whether that involve group chanting, improvisation, or odd recording techniques, it all finds its way into the live show. And for $12 advance, $15 at the door, you’re basically paying the cost of a CD to witness this band’s music for the first time. Even if you’ve heard their recordings before, their live show promises to hold your attention.

DC residents are lucky—this week, they not only get to see Mos Def at the 9:30 Club, they get to see one of the groups that was instrumental in helping to shape Mos Def’s career and music: De La Soul. These guys helped to create a new uprising in the form of jazz rap while massively contributing to the underground hip-hop scene. If you haven’t heard of these guys, do yourself a favor and check out their quintessential Three Feet High and Rising. Either way, find your way to the 9:30 Club to see these guys perform with the Rhythm Roots All Stars for $25.

Wednesday

When a good set of punk bands strolls through the Black Cat it’s impossible not to pay attention, especially when a three band concert will only cost you $8. This show, brings together The Mishaps, The Mostly Dead, and The New Dumb, three aggressive bands that all really bring the ‘rock’ back to punk rock, so make sure to head down for this Black Cat backstage show.

There is a lot about Mos Def’s latest release, The Ecstatic, that simply doesn’t fit in with the rest of his catalog. This isn’t the voice that the MC spoke with on the classic Black On Both Sides or Black Star, and, luckily for listeners, it isn’t the washed up Italian Job actor trying to drop some True Magic on his audience, either. Instead, this album is best understood as a great return to hip-hop relevance.

Everything great about The Ecstatic is unexpected, especially after the standard issue single, “Life In Marvelous Times”—a steel-laced track filled with a little too much upbeat instrumentation—was released months ago in preparation for a December release date. Delays and expectations aside, the finished product arrives at eager listeners’ headphones boasting a confused array of unconventional production techniques and a new take on old beat-making.

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