This one was a surprise: The legendary De La Soul is playing Venue of Scottsdale (formerly the Cajun House) on June 20.

Tickets are (gulp) $30. Get ’em here.

I saw De La Soul multiple times in the group’s prime (once with A Tribe Called Quest and Souls of Mischief … unreal), and I fear a show like this could taint those memories. That’s not to say the group can’t still bring it, but it’s definitely not 1993 anymore, Toto.

Anyway, one of these weeks I’m going to have a De La Soul Remix Week. I have De La remixes left and right. Here’s one for ya.

• De La Soul | Eye Know (The Know It All Mix)

For years now, indie/underground rap fans – and rappers themselves – wouldn’t be caught dead listening to mainstream rap because all they rap about is “guns, cars and bitches.” That was a clear line in the sand. Uh-uh. No way my favorite artist does that. Well, what happens when the indie/underground rappers start rapping about, well, guns, cars and bitches?

Kidz in the Hall, who are playing some dates with El-P and Dizzee Rascal and later hitting the Paid Dues Festival and Rock the Bells tour, have unleashed what should be this year’s summer jam: Drivin Down the Block. I’ll give you one guess what it’s about. And here’s the thing: I love it.

Drivin Down the Block is the new Kick, Push, and Lupe is just skitching on its bumper.

But here’s the question: What makes it OK now to dig a track that celebrates aimless cruising – “got my seat on recline, turn up the Alpine” – when the same track by a mainstream artist would be shunned by the cool kids (no pun intended)? I don’t really have an answer. It’s just a curious phenomenon.

Hey, any track that cites The Low End Theory is A-OK by me: “Drivin’ down the block/ my ‘Low End Theory’ tape in / playing number 6 / ‘Show Business’ is my shit.”

Check the orginal and the remix by El-P, who, in his production and new verses, again shows his uncanny ability to be a funcrusher plus.

• Kidz in the Hall | Drivin Down the Block
• Kidz in the Hall | Drivin Down the Block (El-P remix)

And don’t forget the video:

With El-P and Dizzee Rascal about to head out on tour together and Def Jux releasing Maths + English in the U.S. (April 29), we get our first taste of this transatlantic collaboration.

El-P’s remix of Where Da G’s – which strips out some the looped synths in favor of El’s drums of death – will be featured on the American CD release of Maths, which you’ll probably be able to snag at the Def Jux store.

• Dizzee Rascal (feat. UGK) | Where Da G’s (El-P remix)

In doing some reading on the Editors – I’m interviewing bassist Russell Leetch today in advance of the group’s Feb. 12 show in Tempe – I discovered the group’s producer, Garrett “Jacknife” Lee, remixed Run-D.M.C.’s track It’s Tricky, from the seminal Raising Hell album.

I don’t mean to disparage the art of the remix or Garrett Lee. But … but … does Run-D.M.C. really need to be overhauled for the club set? Can’t we leave perfection alone? And, yes, Raising Hell (and Tougher Than Leather, for that matter) is damn-near perfection in my mind. I don’t want to dance to Run-D.M.C.; I want to bob my head and wave my arm to them. Remix Bloc Party. Remix Interpol. Just leave Run-D.M.C. alone. And, yes, I hate the designated hitter, too.

If nothing else, the remix appears to feature a verse that’s not on the album cut. “They say I’m overrated, musicians really hate it” is the first line in the first verse, as opposed the original, “I met this little girlie, her hair was kinda curly.”

• Run-D.M.C. | It’s Tricky 2003 (feat. Jacknife Lee)

But while I’m at it, let me just show my disgust with Urban Outfitters, that oh-so mecca of hip that has co-opted Run-D.M.C.’s image so the cool kids can feel down. Words do not describe how annoyed this makes me. What’s worse is the product description on the men’s T-shirt:

“Trust us, you be illin if you don’t cop this cotton tee with vintage Run DMC graphic at the front.”

*Waif-ish employee flips swoopy bangs.*: Get it? You Be Illin’ is the name of a Run-D.M.C. song! Oh, man. That is so clever.

Please, hipsters, stick to your skinny jeans.

The concert calendar has been slooooow around here lately. But there are signs of life, including a Feb. 1 show at the Brickhouse from Mr. Lif, who put out the fantastic Mo’ Mega last year on Definitive Jux.

I got a chance to catch Lif at the Paid Dues Festival, but I’m eager to catch him in a smaller venue that isn’t outdoors in the dead of an Arizona summer. He’s calling this the Road to the Super Bowl tour; the big game is at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 3, in case you weren’t paying attention. So it’s only appropriate that he plays Phoenix that weekend.

Kudos to the guys at Universatile Music, who are bringing this show – and so many other hip-hop acts – to the Valley.

• Mr. Lif | Brothaz
• Mr. Lif and Cannibal Ox | Brothaz (remix)