Waka Flocka Flame

Waka Flocka Flame is an artist known just as much for his antics on stage as off. The rapper (born Juaquin Malphurs) hit the scene in 2009 with a monster single, “O Let’s Do It,” which not only spawned a new era of down-south bounce rap, but also ushered a young man with little rap experience under his belt to the forefront of the new-school hip-hop class. While the New York-born, Georgia-bred MC does have a penchant for violent lyrics — his name, “Flocka Flame,” bestowed upon him by his mentor Gucci Mane, is an onomatopoeic throw to a “street-sweeping” automatic weapon when it’s aimed to fire — there is a cutting eloquence amid the madness. No doubt he’ll rock tracks from his Warner Bros. Records debut, Flockaveli, with the fervor and charisma that keep him in heavy rotation and constant demand, making this a must-see show.