In the ‘90s, getting a hold of any recording by Slum Village was a feat in itself. Founded by groundbreaking producer J Dilla along with rappers Baatin and T3, the trio from the Conant Gardens neighborhood of Detroit became the stuff of legend thanks to a debut album, Fantastic (Vol. 1), that floated around underground for almost a decade before its official release in 2006.
Less Ummah-fied than A Tribe Called Quest, and grittier than De La Soul, the group first known as Ssenepod dominated open mic nights alongside Motor City staples like DJ House Shoes with songs that painted a picture of life in a part of the city that is ingrained in the DNA of not just rap, but dance music and pop.
Dilla, who left the group before it reached wider audiences, passed in 2006, and Batin followed three years later, but surviving founder T3 (aka, Trés, née RL Altman III) has kept Slum Village alive. The group is a duo these days thanks to Trés and Young RJ—son of RJ Rice, frontman of ‘80s electro group R.J’s Latest Arrival. The young producer initially crossed paths with Dilla & co. at his dad’s ill-fated John Salley collab Hoop Sound Studios, and has been in the Slum Village family ever since, releasing an LP as recently as 2022.
Tickets to see Slum Village play Crowbar in Ybor City on Sunday, July 6 are available for $30.83 including fees.
Opening the show is Ohio producer Vice Souletric. And while Ybor City is coming up on the year anniversary of the last Ol’ Dirty Sundays, the afterparty for this show will surely have the vibe of the district’s long-running courtyard party.
See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.
Dionne Warwick Wednesday, June 18. 8 p.m. $90.90. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa
Jeff Brawer and Dan Padilla Thursday, June 19. 7:30 p.m. No cover. New World Brewery, Tampa
The Resilient w/Adam Keys Friday, June 20. 8 p.m. No cover for veterans and first responders, $19.98 for everyone else. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Madison Morris w/Josh Gibbs Saturday, June 21. 8 p.m. $7. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa
Velvet Sky w/The Scream Queens/Tragic Friday, June 27. 7 p.m. $10 at the door. Brass Mug, Tampa
Eli Mac Sunday, June 29. 7 p.m. $17. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Dissectomy w/Deadweight/Crypt Keeper/Law of Casualty/Fear of Infirmity/Blue Corpse Saturday, July 5. 6:30 p.m. $15 at the door. Brass Mug, Tampa
The Dead of Summer Party: Thin Spaces w/High Press/Face The Fence/Grim Gardener/Social Wreckage Saturday, July 12. 6 p.m. $10 at the door. Brass Mug, Tampa
Ajeva’s Hometown Throwdown: The Ain’t Sisters Saturday, July 19. 7:30 p.m. $19.10. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Hindley Street Country Club Sunday, July 20. 7 p.m. $44 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Celo w/Myr/Butler b2b Gram/Lucky b2b Terzi Friday, July 25. 10 p.m. No cover w/RSVP before 11 p.m. $15.57 for guaranteed entry. The Ritz, Ybor City
Bear Ghost w/Spaceman Bob Saturday, July 26. 8 p.m. $22.85. Crowbar, Ybor City
Violent Vira Monday, July 28. 8 p.m. Prices TBA. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Girl Named Tom Friday, Aug. 8. 8 p.m. $37 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Velvet Sky w/Mind of Fury/The D.O.O.D./Silver Bullet Smile/12 Gauge Confessional Saturday, Aug. 9. 6 p.m. $12. Brass Mug, Tampa
Mobb Deep w/Big Noyd/DJ L.E.S. Saturday, Aug. 16. 8 p.m. $39.42 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Phoneboy Thursday, Aug. 21. 6:30 p.m. $32.75. Crowbar, Ybor City
Jerry Cantrell w/Filter Tuesday, Aug. 26. 7 p.m. $55.95. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
KC and The Sunshine Band Thursday, Sept. 4. 8 p.m. $109.40 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tampa
Lee Brice w/Ashley Cooke/Lewis Brice Thursday, Sept. 11. 6 p.m. $54.75 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Absolution Fest 2025: Actors w/Leaether Strip/Qual/Then Comes Silence/House of Harm/Cathedral Bells/Haunt Me/Dancing Plague/Ruined Conflict/Wingtips/more Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 2-4. 6 p.m. $62.84 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
Christian Nodal Saturday, Nov. 29. 8 p.m. $62.10 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa
UPDATED 06/03/25 7:48 p.m. Updated when tickets for Slum Village went back on sale.
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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2025.