When Bostonist thinks about Somerville (as we so often do), the first two-word phrase that comes to mind is "hip hop." OK, not really. We know of plenty of MCs from Boston and environs, but none from the Cambridge of Medford. Nevertheless, Union Square will play host this Saturday to the Hip Hop History Jam, sponsored by the Library of Vinyl Experience and the Somerville Arts Council as part of its ArtsUnion project.

From 4:00 to 8:00, local DJs will do six sets representing (the) six eras of hip hop history: Funk & Soul, Jamaican Roots, Birth of Hip-Hop, Old/Middle School, Golden Age, and Back to the Future. (Bostonist didn't know there were six eras of hip hop history either. Just think what other things you might learn by attending!) Each set will feature contributions from local artists representing the four basic elements of hip-hop culture: MCing (i.e. rapping, beat-boxing, and general crowd-pleasing), Breaking (i.e. break-dancing, also sometimes known as B-boying), Writing (i.e. graffiti), and of course, the DJing. The Floorlords will be there, so expect awesome crazy acrobatic dancing and drumming and such. Numerous MCs will be there, so freestyle rhyming will surely take place. If some human beat-boxing does not break out, Bostonist will be very very surprised - especially considering the propensity of MC/Mayor Curtaton-Loc to show up at local events. In short, it promises to be a good time: old-school hip hop events that put a real emphasis on the skills involved - good rhyming, good dancing, great beats, and the like, are a world apart from most of the rap on the radio these days, and a world better (we think). Bostonist doesn't know exactly what sort of crowd this Union Square event will draw, but we can say that every time we've been to an event of this kind anywhere else (by which we mean Boston and New York), the environment has been upbeat, rollicking, and contagiously fun.

Photo courtesy of flickr.com / user: Stewart Butterfield