I remember a time not too long ago when hip-hop music and gay clubs didn’t mix. There were a few places in town where one could go to feel the hip-hop groove, but most gay clubs focused on techno, house and other types of dance music. Today, it’s hard not to find a club around town that doesn’t have a hip-hop night, hip-hop room or that mixes it in with house music.

Hip-hop music has quite an interesting history in the United States. Hip-hop has been said to have roots in West African and African-American music, spoken word, jazz and other genres. Some have separated this musical genre into three eras: Old School Hip-Hop (Early 1970s to 1986), the Golden Age (1986 to 1992) and the Modern Age (1992 on). It’s definitely a history worth reading up on, with many talented hip-hop artists making great contributions to music.

Today, some of the hottest hip-hop artists include musicians like Akon, Diddy, Baby Boy Da Prince, Mims, Timbaland, Beyoncé, Unk, Ludacris and others. And we love to shake our asses and get down to recent hits like “Irreplaceable” (Beyoncé), “This is Why I’m Hot” (Mims), “Give it to Me” (Timbaland with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake) and “Walk it Out” (Unk). It’s fun to see all kinds of people – gay, straight, black, white and everything in between – coming together and “droppin’ it like it’s hot.” While I certainly love my hip-hop, my white-boy ass doesn’t always look so hot trying to get down to Akon. So I just bob my head as I stand against the wall and watch all the sexy boys and girls gyrate their bodies together.

There are a number of spots in town that feature regular hip-hop events. One of the most well-known spots in Hillcrest is the popular Saturday night at Numbers. Every Saturday, this club, which features three bars and two different rooms, has one of the hottest hip-hop nights in town. The hip-hop area (main bar) is always packed with sexy people, and music videos are projected on the wall above the dance floor. Arrive early! Numbers draws a crowd, and the line can be long.

If you just haven’t had enough on Saturday night, head on over to Club Montage for after-hours. This multi-level club features some of the best music in town, and the second level is where the hip-hop is. Rotating DJs play an impressive set of top hip-hop tracks from the raised DJ booth. The room looks like a grotto with a large aquarium and rock walls. Wander through the rest of the club, and you’ll be able to dance to the best dance music in town.

Speaking of Montage, they are also open on Friday nights! While the night is not necessarily a “gay night,” Montage is always welcoming to everyone. Friday night is Club Infinite, hosted by Infinite Entertainment. Headlining DJs spin the best hip-hop and Top 40 from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Check out www.clubmontage.com for more information.

Urban Mo’s is always fun on Tuesday nights. If you’re an “American Idol” fan, you can watch your favorite “AI” starts out on the patio. “Tap that Ass” starts at 9 p.m. every Tuesday at Mo’s. DJ Tova spins the hottest hip-hop from old school and new school artists. There is no cover and lots of great drink specials. Check out www.urbanmos.com for more information.

When Mo’s closes on Tuesdays, Numbers is always a fun place to end the night. “Liquid Lounge” features hip-hop and house music all night. On Thursday nights, head back to Numbers for “Nite Skool,” as the Saturday night setup is reversed: hip-hop in the dance bar, and club and house music in the video bar.

The Flame has become the popular place to spend a Friday night, and resident DJ Niknotiq always plays an impressive set. The music is diverse, and a lot of hip-hop tracks are mixed in. The Flame is hot and is one of my favorite Friday night spots.

Wherever you choose to get your groove on, just remember to always have a good time and play it safe.

Being a Barfly is hard work! There are always so many events going on, it’s hard to choose which ones to attend! First of all, I always enjoy attending the many charity events that our bars and clubs host. On April 14, Jell-O shots were sold at Mo’s to raise funds for leukemia. The hot boys selling the shots made a nice bit of cash for this worthy cause, and I had great time sucking them off – the shooters, that is!

Elate Wear hosted a “Next Top Model” event at Stingaree on April 12. The place was packed with beautiful people, and full of fun B, C and D-list celebrities. Matthew Fashion, America’s favorite fashionality was one of the “celebrity” judges on hand, and he certainly entertained the crowd with his mix of pageantry and style. Stingaree is always a fun, classy place to spend an evening, but come armed with cash or a credit card with a high limit – this place certainly isn’t $1 drink night at Flicks!

And can you believe it’s been a year? Now known as one of San Diego’s classiest lounges, Lei Lounge in University Heights is celebrating its one-year anniversary! Don’t miss the party on Sunday, April 29. The private VIP party is from 6-8 p.m., and then Lei “opens to the world” at 8 p.m. Be sure to come celebrate one of the best new places to hit the San Diego scene! Visit www.leilounge.com to get on the VIP guest list or for more information.

E-mail me your event information to editor@uptownpub.com.