Mad Decent Block Party

Now in its third year, the Mad Decent Block Party has grown alongside the reputation of its founder, globe-trotting DJ and “Paper Planes” producer Diplo, and for the first time it’s big enough to branch out into cities beyond its native Philly. It’s been visiting a different town every Saturday since the end of July, and the fourth and final date on its tour is at the Hideout, where it’s serving as the venue’s 2010 block party. The one-day, one-stage event, held Sat 8/21 from 1-8 PM, unites several artists signed to the Diplo-founded Mad Decent label with a well-curated selection of local talent. On the Mad Decent side: Blaqstarr, a DJ and producer whose originals reconnect Baltimore club music and retro hip-house; Bosco Delrey, whose blend of dancehall and rockabilly works far better than it should; Maluca, who makes pop music influenced by R&B and reggaeton but a few notches to the left of KISS FM; Po Po, two brothers who smother new-wave synth pop with brain-damaged noise rock; and Paul Devro, whose DJ mixes make sense of Mad Decent’s passionate love for genres as disparate as rap, punk, and underground dance music. Representing Chicago are hip-pop chanteuse Kid Sister, gangsta-rap sensation Freddie Gibbs, party-starting DJ and promoter Willy Joy, and Pilsen-based DJ and production crew Ghetto Division, whose recent popularity owes a lot to a review on the Mad Decent blog that raved about their blends of house, B-house, and dubstep. The party will also feature carnival attractions—mostly unspecified at press time but including a dunking booth that may very well be occupied by a world-famous DJ or two—and in a promo video Diplo has promised a “super secret headliner in each city.” The event is all-ages and free with RSVP at maddecentblockparty.com. A free preparty goes down Fri 8/20 from 5-9 PM at the Diesel store at 923 N. Rush, with special guests yet to be announced.