Thurs, Aug 4, Lyrics Born

A Bay Area hip-hop mainstay since the ’90s, Tokyo-born, Berkeley-raised Lyrics Born launched his music career while studying at UC Davis and deejaying at KDVS 90.3 FM. His first single, 1993’s “Send Them” (released under the name Asia Born), set the stage for a decades-long livelihood that has included a lengthy stint as one-half of the Latyrx duo, as well as numerous solo discs such as 2010’s super funky As U Were. Throughout, his music’s reflected a booty-shaking, brainiac aesthetic: It’s smart and quirky but always totally danceable. 2708 J Street, www.lyricsborn.com.