Elemental Science

Hip-hop is like Tinker Toys. The wall space, danceable floor surfaces, microphones and turntables are like the wooden knobs; the graf artists, breakers, MCs and DJs are like the dowels that string the knobs together to make structures. Montreal's Under Pressure Festival (www.underpressure.ca) is the deluxe Tinker Toy package, bringing together those who practice the four elements, anyone who knows how to maximise the potential of a skate ramp and bewildered onlookers. This year marks the big one-oh, and to celebrate the weekend has been extended to five days (August 10 to 14). Diplo, Chromeo, A-Trak, FP Crew, Team Canada, Applied Science and many more — including an all-French rap showcase — are on the music bill, on top of the staple breaker battles, MC fiascos, and mask-wearing spray painters. When it's all done, there will be new social structures formed, elaborate and legible-to-only-the-initiated signatures on the walls and paint-stained index fingers a plenty.