A rather bombastic Thursday full of hip hop, electro-funk and jazz-ness. Info below...Drake vs. Lil Wayne Two of the biggest names in the hip-hop game come together for one epic co-headlining “Drake vs. Lil Wayne Tour” that barrels into Tampa for a Thursday night throwdown. Drake is the Canadian vocalist-emcee who often gets flack for being soft (his Degrassi High days will haunt him forever) but has some serious and unquestionable talent, not to mention good looks, charisma, and three platinum-certified albums with dozens of charters and 13 No. 1 Hot Rap hits. New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne is Drake’s nastier, crunkier Southern counterpart whose brassy honking intones have been slinging verses over 11 albums, all gold, platinum or multi-platinum sellers with their own share of No. 1 hits. The twosome frequently appear on each others’ tracks, among them “Successful,”“Forever,”“Miss Me” and “The Motto” by Drake, and “She Will,”“Love Me” and current radio smash, “Believe Me” by Lil Wayne. Expect there to be much overlap between the two sets, many of these songs included. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater, Tampa)—Leilani Polk
Archnemesis with Redstar, Glasshouse, Diaz Everyone needs an Archnemesis, particularly those of us who enjoy funky, soulful electro-jams that get by on the strength of smile-inducing grooves rather than grimy beats or trendy styles. Jamband fans, hip-hop heads and EDM aficionados should all find something to like. Two Tampa transplants, Redstar (from Baltimore) and Glasshouse & Diaz (the former from Okinawa), provide beat-driven support. (Crowbar, Ybor City)—Scott Harrell
Naughty Professor HA! Get it? It’s a pun! NOLA outfit Naughty Professor has the temerity to describe itself using the long-done term “acid jazz,” but the group’s sound is pretty firmly rooted in true-jazz origins, with enough Big Easy R&B to widen its appeal beyond that realm. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) —SH
ALSO TONIGHT
Rock the Park with The Tattered Saints, Oliver & Co., Kyle Chason Thurs., Sept. 4, Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa
Boxcar Hollow Thurs., Sept. 4, Mandarin Hide, St. Petersburg
Kasondra Rose and the Sleepless Thurs., Sept. 4, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Singer-Songwriter Night @ The Bunker with Camille Dupree & Broken Fetters, 10th Concession; Joel Jadus Thurs., Sept. 4, Tre Amici at The Bunker, Ybor City