Fall in Love with Hip-Hop: The Ocean State’s lineup is so fresh and so clean

Fall is a beautiful season, yet our lives tend to become as crisp and changing as the leaves. Don’t let your flow slip away as you encounter stress after deadline after change. Find a consistent beat and walk to it, find peace within, and you will be useful and productive for others and yourself.

Fortunately, we live in an artistic hub that attracts prominent artists of all genres. As you strive to fall into the beat of your own drum, let some of the biggest names in hip-hop help.

Let’s kick it off with a man of faith, Ace Hood, performing at The Met on September 15. After many successful years under DJ Khaled’s “We The Best” music label, Ace Hood went independent in 2016. Although he hasn’t put out a proper album since that departure, I can confidently say as a fan that his projects have never rung more sincere, his personality more mature and his faith in self and in God more unadulterated. His career’s workflow is unabated, releasing one or two projects a year, but maybe you just know him as that fit rapper often showing his abs on his project’s art covers. For tickets/info visit themetri.com

Newport, open up your heart, ears and soul for the iconic legend Rakim who’s coming to the Newport Blues Cafe on September 18 . Returning to RI after five years, the “God MC” is one of the finest lyricists and most influential rappers to ever rock the mic, inspiring rappers with a cerebral and eloquent rhyme scheme, an illustrative cadence flow and delivery, and an expansive and precise vocabulary. He’s always teamed up with supreme producers, establishing one of the most formidable rap duos ever with Eric B. One of Rakim’s biggest inspirations is John Coltrane and both have fathered generations of budding and innovative musicians. For tickets/info visit newportblues.com

Sponsored by Live Nation, catch Young Thug & Machine Gun Kelly at URI’s The Ryan Center in Kingston on October 5 (joined by YBN Nahmir and Strick). Thugger’s had a busy summer, appearing on Ed Sheeran’s entirely banal Collaborations No.06 while releasing his own album So Much Fun in August. It was more original and versatile than other recent projects, and though containing some unnecessary features, it net him his highest charting single ever, “The London” ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott. Fresh off a beef with Eminem, MGK rode the momentum and released Hotel Diablo in July, which was surprisingly thorough with some standouts, but was also typical MGK, with some great features and some wasted ones (the Trippie Redd track should’ve been better). For more info/tickets visit ryancenter.com.

Kung Fu Vampire is visiting FMH on October 6 with his band. His live shows are something to behold, a unique take on “horrorcore” he calls “goth hop,” often rapping against drug use and advocating for healthy living. Local PVD rapper Khary visits the Fête Lounge in PVD on October 24. He describes himself as “weird” and a “blend of ‘90s-era rap and internet-age experimentation.” I’m loving his recent EP THIS on Soundcloud, and it even features some amazing artwork. And if know what’s good for your ears, head to FMH for some throwback West coast boom-bap on October 27 to see underrated legends Fatlip & SlimKid3 perform songs from one of the most classic hip-hop albums ever, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde. Slimkid3 is one of the founders of The Pharcyde and Fatlip started his career with them too. For tickets/info visit fetemusic.com Also, don’t sleep on some of these non hip-hop acts (but do stay rested): Dr Westchesterson w/ DJ Hotmess @ Revival Brewing Company on September 14, Nahko And Medicine For The People @ The Strand on September 22, Isaiah Jamel @ Malted barley on November 1, and Dark Star Orchestra @ The Strand on November 23.