In this week’s My Philosophy, Larry tells you where to go if you’re craving some hiphop:

I’ll be damned! Summer’s done snuck up on us after all. Now all you poohbutts are bitching about the heat. Well, on Thursday, July 17, Seattle’s live hiphop hotbeds have much to offer: Capitol Hill’s Comet Tavern hosts the send-off date of the Less Is More tour featuring Northwest road warriors Tulsi, Specs One, Animal Farm (minus crew member Hanif), and DJ Able; at Fremont’s High Dive you’ll find “The Come Up!” featuring up and comers such as that fast rhymin’ George Zelaya (“The Real Grunge Rap King”), Know Choice, Notion, and Ripynt. Mr. Zelaya I haven’t written too much about—I don’t have any of his shit—but a cursory listen to the hardcore choppage up on his MySpace page (myspace.com/georgemusic) tells me he’s far from a hobby rapper.

Hear Tulsi here.

Otherwise, there’s also…

Jesse Lacey, Kevin Devine, Brian Bonz
(Chop Suey) As lead singer of the unfortunately underrated rock band Brand New, Jesse Lacey’s usual stage persona is that of an angst-ridden, slightly demented heartthrob. His band’s songs are turbulent anthems that appeal to the highly emotional, the supposedly misunderstood—in short, the young. And though they’re clumped in with acts like My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, and 30 Seconds to Mars, Brand New’s lyrics are generally much smarter than their screamo-rific, clichéd peers thanks to Lacey’s love of literature. Live and alone, he showcases those lyrics with just an acoustic guitar and usually beefs up the set with some surprisingly decent covers of Jawbreaker and Neutral Milk Hotel. MEGAN SELING

Bobby Bare Jr., Jason Dodson
(Tractor) It seems like Bobby Bare Jr. passes through our beloved city every few months. Of course the door is always open for Bobby and his Young Criminals Starvation League. The Northwest has a soft spot for those country misfits who don’t quite fit in with the Nashville crowd. That’s not to say that the younger Bare qualifies as an outlaw; he doesn’t carry the same aura of rebellion that defined Waylon and Willie. Naw, Bobby just wants to have a good time. Get people off their asses. Have a few beers. Maybe sing a few sad songs in between his rowdier tunes. And as long as he’s willing and able to bring the party, Seattle will hoot and holler right along with him. BRIAN COOK

There’s always more here.