BLAZE IT UP

Once, there was a time when Elephant Man headlining Hot 97’s reggae spectacular On da Reggae Tip was cause for abandon—he’s a consistently invigorating performer, with a proper disregard for taste. But this year, his name at the top of the bill feels like a concession to nostalgia, especially because his most recent album, Let’s Get Physical, was a scattershot affair. But nostalgia seems to be the order of the day—veterans Capleton and Junior Reid are also atop this bill. (Also, worst of all, the carpetbagger Wyclef Jean is slated to perform.) Far more exciting will be the younger opening acts: the bluster-filled Assassin; the oozing-like-molasses Serani; and Demarco, currently the sweetly-synthetic-voiced T-Pain of reggae.

Fri., Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m., 2008