Proud Olympia hip-hop vet Afrok will be officially old Friday March 29, He's throwing a talent filled party/show to celebrate. The big 30 is upon him, and while that makes me feel old as well - I've been watching him develop into the artist he is today for 14 years - it also makes me appreciate Olympia's solid hip-hop scene, which Afrok indeed helped build.

Friday at the Urban Onion Lounge, Afrok and his band, The Movement, will lead a musical charge followed up by plenty of other organic hip-hop talent he's bringing out for his special occasion. Afrok handpicked local rappers Akeem, MC Swamptiger and Sky Hatter - who just dropped a dope new video for his single "She's My Hip-Hop" - to perform at his historic event. In addition to the Olympia area rappers, Afrok also invited his friend and OG Seattle native Gabriel Teodros to be a part of the fun filled evening. Teodros has been a staple in the Seattle hip-hop scene since it first REALLY started bubbling in the early 2000s and has been putting in work since then, including the release of a new album last year, Colored People's Time Machine. Teodros is a very unique and talented individual that also happens to be a strong community organizer and overall, a very good, humble dude. Oh and kids, this show is all ages until 11 p.m. and ... (whisper voice) he's a good friend of Macklemore.

Every time Afrok and The Movement play a show in Olympia it's to a packed house. It's safe to day under the special circumstances and the talented guests he's invited, this is going to be a show you're not going to want to skip.  Afrok is an Olympia hip-hop vet, and in case you're somehow not yet familiar, this is a great opportunity for you to check him out, and possibly get a slice of cake too.

URBAN UNION, AFROK'S 30TH BIRTHDAY BASH, AFROK & THE MOVEMENT, GABRIEL TEODROS, SKY HATTER, MC SWAMPTIGER, AKEEM, DJ LUVVA J AND DJ ANDREW JAMES, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 8 P.M., ALL AGES UNTIL 11 P.M., $5, 116 LEGION WAY SE, OLYMPIA, 360.943.9242