Tonight, the doctor is IN as Cut Chemist takes the decks at The Shelter for some hardcore wika-wika-wika turntabalism. The biggest name they've had in for a while (hey, even I've heard of him), Cut Chemist broke in an international way as part of Jurassic 5, the melting pot group of the new hip hop underground in L.A. in the mid 90s. Jurassic 5 were critically lauded back in the day, and earned mainstream, cross-over success (they were on the Warped Tour in 2002) for their old school roots approach to hip hop music, a stark answer to the hyper-commercialism that has defined the genre since the 90s.

Despite the success of the group, Cut Chemist parted ways with them in 2003 to pursue his solo career, and has since solidified his reputation as one of the most innovative turntabalists playing today, collaborating with diverse groups including L.A. salsa/hip hop group Ozomatli and ska/punk band Less Than Jake. SmartShanghai asked Cut Chemist how he approaches these collaborations: "I usually get approached by these bands. I adapt my style to theirs. I think they call me to incorporate my flavor and so that's what I try to do."

... more with Cut Chemist here

Shanghai is reacting in a very Shanghai way to the tragedy of the Sichuan Earthquake -- throwing a bunch of parties. Promoters and venues are putting together events to get the clubbers out putting their drinking money to good use. And what's wrong with that? Hey, you were probably going to get lit up this weekend anyways -- you might as well get lit up for a good cause.


... more charity events here

This Friday, "Night On Earth" exhibition opens at MoCA, and there's more than cheese and crackers: five electronic music acts and 2 VJs will perform at "Art Lab," MoCA's new alternative art space.

Night On Earth is a three-part exhibition touring Berlin, Shanghai, and Helsinki. The exhibition is named after the Jim Jarmusch movie that follows five cabbies in five cities around the world on one crazy night. For their Shanghai stop, Asian and European artists thread together the urban cultures of three cities in one crazy exhibition.


... more on Night on Earth here