With its freshly minted debut album Green Music for Blue People, Tampa hip-hop duo Blac Soap has successfully put its own twist on the freaky, funky style of rap pioneered by Atlanta acts such as Outkast and Cee-Lo. MCs Seif (Seif Bushrah) and Fly Beads (Reginald Ferguson) strut like fur-coat-covered gangsters on the club banger "Thug Hippy," which makes hardcore threats sound curiously cheerful. Over post-disco synth runs, the pair winningly transports listeners back to their childhood days on the title "1985." The album also contains the quirky, highly addictive love jam "French Vanilla." Blac Soap will perform at Da' House Party, an event that will also feature food, giveaways and an art exhibition.
Da' House Party with a live performance by Blac Soap, 9 p.m., Wed., April 9, The Honey Pot, Ybor City, $5
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2008.