Let me introduce to you one of the treasures of the Los Angeles community and part of the family of Leimert Park: Verbs.

This youngster has made quite an underground impact with his rhymes and his eclectic music tastes. I love his honest and often humorous takes on life in LA, taking public transportation, new found feelings of commitment and the challenges of growing up today, which he lays over smooth beats and sometimes a live band.

But I've gotten to know him because he chooses to be involved in so many worthwhile activities. I run into him all the time both as a citizen of Los Angeles and as a roving reporter.

That was him rapping on the sidewalk during Ciclavia. That was him manning a booth during the Expo Line opening for LA Common's or Ben Caldwell. That's him working with area youth trying to find a solution to the mess at Santa Barbara Plaza aka Marlton Square. He was there at the genesis of Leimert Park Art Walk. He leads an open mic hip night at KAOS called Banannas and often apears at Brass Knuckles and Project Blowd events. He's there at THE FMLY bike rides across the city. For the Pan African Film Festival, he passes out fliers.

Now he's getting a bit of mainstream props - from none other than the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. LA's other undergound rap sensation (and there are many worthy figures) MURS invited Verbs, People under the Stairs and Skeme to star in tonight's installment of a new concert series at LACMA that explores contemporary Los Angeles hip hop, with an emphasis on the diversity of L.A.-based artists.

Verbs latest, The Progress EP3: Manifest Awesome, drops later this month.

BP Grand Entrance
$10 LACMA Members | $15 General Admission | 323 857-6010 or purchase online