Brother Ali, Evidence, Toki Wright, BK-One

(Neumos) In boxing, fighters whose skin opens up easily are known as bleeders. Minneapolis albino rapper Brother Ali doesn't box—he's just such a puncher vocally that he comes on as one.

(When he was portrayed as a slugger in the ring on the cover of 2004's Champion EP, no one raised an eyebrow.) And while Ali can be as jaunty as any MC around—see "Forest Whitaker," from 2003's Shadows on the Sun, which revolves around the hook line "You ain't got to love me"—lyrically he is, yes, a bleeder. His last album, 2007's The Undisputed Truth, bore the scars of an ugly breakup with his first wife, the mother of his eldest son; as he acknowledges on "Fresh Air," from the new Us (Rhymesayers), "Not two years ago, I was homeless/I mean, crashing on the couches of my homies." MICHAELANGELO MATOS

Nick Lowe, Aimee Mann

(Moore) Nick Lowe has written some of our era's most poignant ("[What's So Funny 'Bout] Peace, Love, and Understanding"), ebullient ("Skin Deep," "Cruel to Be Kind"), and raunchy gems. Per the latter category, see the immortal 1979 LP Labour of Lust, which contains such beauties as "American Squirm." A sleekly contoured amalgam of country, rockabilly, pub rock, and power pop, Lowe's catalog abounds with instantly catchy tunes and slyly humorous lyrics, which he sings, paradoxically, like a London-bred cowboy. Recognize a master craftsman. DAVE SEGAL

Rock 'n' Roll Family Feud: Mad Rad vs. They Live!

(Re-bar) Rappers?! B-b-b-but! It says "rock 'n' roll" right there in the name! Some troglodytic leather-and-denim heshers might get their shits all in a fit about this one, but it would, as ever, be their loss. Mad Rad and They Live! are both highly entertaining comic hiphop outfits, ideal contestants for Rock 'n' Roll Family Feud's faux TV game show. As for who will win, I have to go with They Live!, whose MCs include Stranger hiphop columnist Larry Mizell Jr., a font of music-trivia knowledge of all genres. I'm sure Mad Rad will be perfect gentlemen, win or lose, of course. Between bouts of trivia, both bands perform live, and everybody wins. ERIC GRANDY

And there's always more in our complete music calendar listings.