Emcee Chic Raw spits from the heart, and is a veteran of the Philly hip-hop game. His first and most successful mixtape Shots For The Streets dropped in 2003, but like most artists, the real buzz didn’t come until years after, and by then, he was already incarcerated for 3 years on drug-related charges. During that time in prison, he came to realize that his arrest was a blessing, and continued to collect his thoughts and words in a notebook. And with the birth of his daughter, he left his former street life behind, but you’ll still always find traces of it in his rhymes. Now, facing the daily grind to transform his art into a way to provide for his family, Chic Raw will be taking the stage as a co-headliner tonight at the TLA with his name on the marquee for Summer Slam 2013. Join him this evening alongside a new generation of local hip-hop artists like Young Savage and his crew The Inner City Hustlers, who also have their eyes on the prize. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., $20 (+fees), All Ages – H.M. Kauffman 

Blues music at its core drips with desperation gathering an internal strength, which is the byproduct of fearlessly exposing one’s personal tribulations, opening the curtain for all to see and in turn hear. Despite their youth, The Districts, playing upstairs at World Café Live tonight, have already learned the furtive power of harnessing raw yearning despair, etc. to create music that takes the things lodged deep down in the pit of one’s stomach and pulls them to the surface. Rob Grote delivers explosively intense vocals oozing with emotion, intertwined with guitar work that stealthily lies in the weeds, dishing out well-fitted fits of fury to create a dramatic dynamic. The coarse sandpaper Americana folk of Goodnight Texas, who strips it down and sucks you in with excellent strings and storytelling, will be joining them, as well as psych rock quartet Satellite Hearts. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7pm, $10, All Ages – Michael Colavita

Hot off last month’s release of Night Howl, Dream Safari (formerly known as Flamingos) will be kicking things off tonight at PhilaMOCA.  Songwriter and the creative mind behind the project, Chris Coulton, will no doubt bring the same electro dance beats that exist on his debut EP to the live setting. Hopefully those attending will have on their dancing shoes because not only does Coulton create an 80s-inspired, world sound, but he also weaves dance-pop expertly between the ambiance. Amidst the serious groove is a wistful lyricism, yearning for a time past while remaining at peace with its distance. Headlining the evening is Deli fave, Norwegian Arms. Wandering instrumentals that cascade from one emotion to the next is a mainstay for the local outfit. Also handpicked for the bill is Motor City’s Jamaican Queens, who really impressed Norwegian Arms frontman Brendan Mulvihill earlier this year at SXSW. Come out and hook up the traveling band from Detroit with some gas money. If the city just declared bankruptcy, then just imagine how much its musicians are struggling. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $8 – $10 Donation, All Ages – Shaylin O’Connell

Though the instrumentals are rather cheery in Pill Friends new track "Forget Me," their lyrics are still macabre as ever while drawing inspiration from an excerpt of Sören Kierkegaard’s The Sickness Unto Death as its intro. The song will appear on their upcoming LP that will be released via Brooklyn/Philly-based indie label Birdtapes.

Norwegian Arms just shared a new music for one of our favorite tracks off Wolf Like a Stray Dog, "At the Formerly British Council Supported Centre" (now say that three times – fast). We dig the dancin’ fool in tight jean shorts. It’s quite hilarious. The video was directed by Vika Lorionova. Norwegian Arms will be headlining tomorrow night at PhilaMOCA supported by Jamaican Queens, Sean N. Savage and Dream Safari. Enjoy!

While most of you are probably hiding out inside from the heat surrounded by air conditioning and fans like us, here’s a performance by Some Things of their song "Wandering" for The Random Tea Sessions, reminding us of the lazy summer days when you could hang out in the backyard with your friends listening to music without suffering a heat stroke. Some things consists of Danielle Dwyer on vocals, Marlee Sheaffer on guitar/vocals, and mewithoutYou/Geology‘s Greg Jehanian. And yes, that’s Birdie Busch in the background helping out a bit with the harmonies at the end along with Rebecca Goldschimdt, Heidi Karnitz and Olivia Scheaffer.

Emcee/producer and La Salle University student/basketball player Taylor Dunn just dropped his third and most impressive mixtape to date, Collective Theory. All the beats were a collaborative effort between Dunn and producers Philth Spector and Phill Blank (a 19-year-old newcomer from the UK). You can listen to and dowload the release for free via DatPiff.

Folk-punks Mischief Brew are rolling into Morgan’s Pier tonight for R5’s free concert series. The group has been fighting the power with their tunes of anarchy and the workingman’s struggles since the early aughts. You’ll more likely find frontman Erik Petersen performing solo and taking on the battle with simply his guitar and words these days so this evening will be a good opportunity to hear some of your favorite songs of rebellion on full blast. You’ll also receive an extra charge of energy when post-punk trio The Bad Doctors kick off the festivities with their cure for these heat-wave blues. So grab a cold drink and get over the hump of this workweek! Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Ave., 9pm, Free, 21+ – Alexis V.