Production/Rap pair Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will be playing at the First Niagara Center tonight alongside Talib Kweli and Big K.R.I.T. The duo achieved notoriety for their breakthrough hit "Thrift Shop" two summers ago, a music video which most of you have probably seen via YouTube, featuring Macklemore parading around a club, a parking lot, and a thrift shop in hilariously outrageous second-hand attire. Shortly afterwards their second album, The Heist, was released in October and met with very popular acclaim, reaching #1 on the iTunes hours upon debut. They have continued to create thunderously witty and energetic music videos ("Same Love," "And We Danced," "Can't Hold Us," etc) and live, their music proves to be all the more contagious. See for yourself, tonight - tickets range from $58 to $99 on StubHub. Catch you there.

Talib Kweli is everything good about hip-hop in the 21st century. Insightful, socially conscious lyrics, venomous flow, and soaring beats, not to mention he is one half of Black Star, along with the legendary Mos Def.  While Talib might not be as recognized as Def, he's certainly just as talented.  For the last ten plus years, Kweli has been putting out consistently solid albums hailed by critics and fans alike.  His 2000 collaboration with Hi-Tek, Train of Thought, is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums, although really any Kweli disc will boggle your nerves.

Tonight Kweli will be blowing out the Town Ballroom, with support from J. Pinder and local cat, Chae Hawk (7pm, $25).  Just as dangerous on a live mic as a studio rhyme, he's one of those rappers you just have to see to experience. Get your tails to Town tonight and MOVE SOMETHIN'!