CMJ 2012: Guide to Performances by Rap’s Elite and R&B’s Stars

All the real music heads in New York City (and from all over the world) know exactly where to be this week to fulfill their tastes for artists who are diamonds in the rough. The CMJ Music Festival, which is back again for its 32nd year with showcases, parties, panels and workshops, will be held throughout the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan from Tuesday October 16 to Saturday October 20.

Many emerging acts across genres can be found during the festival right before their blossoming moment. Virtually unknown in the early 2000s, Janelle Monae, a 2008 CMJ alumna, carried her infectious theatrical soul to success the following two years with her debut album, The ArchAndroid Suite II. Harlem's own A$AP Rocky and Compton spitter Kendrick Lamar, who both performed at CMJ showcases in 2011, made respective impact in 2012.

This year is no different with "almost famous" acts in hip-hop and R&B appearing on various stages across the city. This includes 19-year-old West Coast rhymer and former Odd Future member Casey Veggies, who has been making his own way around the hip-hop scene for the past five years, and 17-year-old Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$, whose 1999 mixtape caused his name to buzz this summer. Also holding down the raw acoustics is 23-year-old Jennah Bell, a singer who owns organic soul and opened the 2012 BET Awards.

More established artists in the game including BIG K.R.I.T. and Robert Glasper Experiment will also be making appearances. Then there are veterans like Mystikal and Q-Tip. Seems like a lot of shows to catch, right? The BoomBox's guide to the 2012 CMJ Music Festival will make navigating the performances way easier. It's guaranteed to help any hip-hop and R&B lover, occasional or faithful, find their way.

Oct. 16

Robert Glasper Experiment

8PM

SOBs

200 Varick St.

New York, NY 10014

Oct. 17

Eric Roberson: SolVillage

9 PM

SOBs

200 Varick St.

New York, NY 10014

Oct. 17

Maffew Ragazino, Tek of Smif-n-Wessun & El Gant

7:30PM

The Paper Box

17 Meadow St.

Brooklyn, NY 11206

Oct. 17

Flatbush Zombies & Bodega Bamz

8PM

Santos Party House

96 Lafayette St.

New York, NY 10013

Oct. 17

Flying Lotus & Ali Shaheed Muhammad

9PM

Le Poisson Rouge

158 Bleecker St.

New York, NY 10012

Oct. 17

Kilo Kish

10:45 PM

DROM

85 Ave. A

New York, NY 10009

Oct. 17

Nina Sky

10:50 PM

The Studio at Webster Hall

125 East 11th St.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 18

Big K.R.I.T., Joey Bada$$ & Smoke DZA

6PM

SOBs

200 Varick St.

New York, NY 10014

Oct. 18

Casey Veggies, Mr MFN Exquire & Travi$ Scott

10PM

SOBs

200 Varick St.

New York, NY 10014

Oct. 18

GZA, Killer Mike & Haleek Maul

7PM

Irving Plaza

17 Irving Pl.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 18

Chuck Inglish (of the Cool Kids) & Chase N Cashe

11PM

The Studio at Webster Hall

125 East 11th St.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 19

Mystikal & Silkk the Shocker

6:30PM

Irving Plaza

17 Irving Pl.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 19

Ghostface Killah & Asher Roth

8PM

Gramercy Theater

127 E. 23rd St.

New York, NY 10010

Oct. 19

AraabMUZIK

10:30PM

Webster Hall

125 East 11th St.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 19

Q-Tip

11PM

Irving Plaza

17 Irving Pl.

New York, NY 10003

Oct. 19

City Aviv

8PM

Knitting Factory

361 Metropolitan Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11211

Oct. 19

Jennah Bell

6PM

Rockwood Music Hall

Stage 1

196 Allen St.

New York, NY 10002

Oct. 19

Jhene Aiko, Christian Rich & Bridget Kelly

11PM

200 Varick St.

New York, NY 10014

Oct. 20

Theophilus London & Chip tha Ripper

6PM

Gramercy Theater

127 E. 23rd St.

New York, NY 10010