Originally from Penn Hills, John Wilson, also known as hip-hop artist Mista Scrap, is Pittsburgh’s next artist to break out and become a national artist. He has been on the hip-hop music scene since he was nine years old and has not looked back since. He was inspired by Run DMC and Cool J and other legends in the game from back in the day.

Wilson’s music is about life because he keeps it real and creates his own style. He raps about things that he has been through. He takes it seriously and it is not a joke. He also taught his son and younger brother to rap.

MISTA SCRAP

“Hip-hop music is fabricated and no one is creative anymore and the music is watered down,” he said.

“And stay out of trouble!”

There they were, the oft-repeated departing instructions from parents and teachers, grandparents and big brothers. You heard those words all your life, over and over. Stay out of trouble, as if it was easy. Stay out of trouble, as if temptation wasn’t everywhere. As if anything fun ever came from being good.

As if it was possible.

In the new book “Two the Hard Way” by Travis Hunter, two brothers from Atlanta’s inner city don’t have to bother searching for trouble.

BNY Mellon Jazz presented Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project” at Heinz Hall and he gave the audience a mesmerizing performance from beginning to end.

In the music industry for nearly five decades, he knows what it takes to captivate his audience through music and song. Young, old, Black and White came to see and hear the piano genius as he took us on a musical journey.

HERBIE HANCOCK

Hancock was joined by Vinnie Colaiuta (percussion), Lionel Loueke (guitar), Pino Palladino (bass), Greg Phillinganes (keyboard) and Kristina Train (vocals).

Thursday 26

Book signing

Borders Eastside Bookstore presents a Book Discussion and Signing with Joe Trotter and Jared Day of CMU for their book “Race and Renaissance: African Americans in Pittsburgh since World War II” at 6 p.m. at 5986 Penn Circle South, East Liberty. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-383-2493.