CONTACT HIGH—Long before Ke$ha gave copy editors fits with her ridiculous dollar-sign name, New Orleans emcee Curren$y was laying down colossal rap jams with his relaxed, down-South drawl. Joining him will be Nipsey Hussle, whose "Feelin' Myself" is one of the best bangers of 2010. EAC
w/Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, Smoke DZA, Feind, Cornerboy P; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $20, all ages
BOOKISH—NYC sound collagists the Books bring their immaculately crafted, speech-sampling sounds through town tonight for a one-of-a-kind live show that'll take your preconceptions of what constitutes music and turn 'em inside out. Don't miss the dark-hearted funeral rock of San Diego's the Black Heart Procession, too. NL
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $20, all ages