It’s about time — another b-boy battle in Tacoma. The honest truth — Tacoma is blessed to have some of the best in the world and some of the best b-boy battles on the left coast. I’ll gladly argue with anyone who wants to disagree.



This weekend South Sound hip-hop will rear several of its heads to boost Crime Stoppers’ reward for information about what investigators are referring to as a “suspicious” fire and the death of 20-year-old University Place resident Beverly Ann Steward-Hill — a dear friend of the local hip-hop community.



First the important stuff. Saturday, June 24, just after 6 p.m., a fire blazed at Castellan West Apartments, which rests in the 2600 block of 70th Avenue West in University Place. Inside one of the apartments destroyed by the fire investigators found the body of Steward-Hill and her dog Zeus. Investigators are treating the fire as “suspicious,” which means it was probably arson and, either by cause or coincidence, murder. Crime Stoppers offered a $1,000 reward for information about the fire or Beverly’s death. That reward grew to $3,000 thanks to donations.



This weekend’s b-boy battle/art show will donate all proceeds to boost the reward even higher. So show up.



The b-boy battle will pit five against five on the floors of Temple Theater’s Grand Ballroom. DJs Reign and Save1 will spin while judges whittle crews down to eight finalists who will battle for cash in quarter, semi and final rounds. Meanwhile, local graf writers and others will offer wares.



[Temple Theater Grand Ballroom, Saturday, Nov. 3, doors at 5 p.m., battle begins at 6:30 p.m., $5, bring more if you have a soul, 47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.2042]