The first two editions, released in 2013 and 2014, featured an abundance of artists who are circumventing traditional R&B and hip-hop today, in contrasting ways. There’s “alt-R&B” darling Kelela; unconventional string duo CHARGAUX; standout Soulection producer Sango; Lemonade collaborator and Brooklyn creative Melo-X; the ever-intriguing wanderer Willow Smith; fiery UK MC Little Simz; and literally dozens more. Vol. III — mixed and mastered by Leon Kelly and executive produced by New York doer-of-all-things, Diane “SHABAZZ” Varnie — invites the latest wave of box shatterers to percolate under one roof.

Born Cachee Livingston, Cash has made it her mission to thoughtfully create a safe space for these artists, where they’re encouraged to play around with new flows, sounds and directions. MADEINTYO — SoundCloud’s hip-hop boy wonder and Mr. Skr Skr himself — exclaims somewhat in awe at the very end of his track on Vol. III: “That s*** was amazing!” Produced by Odd Future‘s Left Brain, the dense, sample-heavy atmosphere of “LAMN” is miles away from what the rapper is accustomed to rhyming over; out in the real world, he sticks pretty closely to his tried and true producer, K Swisha. There was (and is) nothing wrong with his formula — but this venture to another place was necessary for his growth, and Cash helped make it happen.

Artists also have the opportunity to work through themselves on Love The Free Vol. III. The tape is brimming with kids who are new to the music game, and thus still endearingly rough around the edges (shouts to 18-year-old Marco McKinnis, keep grinding). There are also polished acts who’ve been on the scene for a minute in one way or another, and might still be trying to find their own way (one time for Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe, daughter of the Vanessa Williams).

And then there are moments of reintroduction, like with Xavier Omär, formerly known as SPZRKT (who we’ve shown love to before). Omär “broke up” with Christian hip-hop last year after brief flashes of success alongside Sango, and has been primed to move into a less restricted section of the industry since then. You can almost hear him evolve in real time on the second half of “Scarlett Vibe,” produced in its entirety by New York-via-London musician Hiko Momoji.

On the flip side, there are instances here of beautiful confidence. Many of the artists featured are self-assured and don’t need to experiment much, but they do embrace a new place to revel in their own abilities and take it to the next level (looking at you in particular, BOSCO and Lil Yachty). Cash is bubbly, yet poised, through every evolution, but when the Internet’s favorite human, DJ Khaled, and the most carefree black girl of them all, Solange, have special guest appearances, they’re gently nudging the DJ (who’s standing in for all of us) forward in her abilities: they relay messages of hope in the forms of both love and self-preservation.

Love The Free Vol. III is a patient journey toward personal excellence. As she’s been since Vol. I, Kitty Cash is at the front of her pack, leading the way with a steady hand and a discerning ear fixed to the streets. It will be interesting to see where the artists of this installment end up a year or so from now — but it’s even more exciting to think about what Cash herself will do next.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Featuring local artists including GoldLink, Reesa Renee and Future Band, Broccoli City also booked acts from New York (hip-hop veterans Just Blaze and Cam’ron), Grand Rapids, Mich. (producer Sango), Atlanta (hip-hop duo Big Face Paper Gang), and Los Angeles (D.C.-born singer Kelela), where the next Broccoli City Fest will take place on May 3.

See our photos from the event below:

Ben Frank Jr. (center) of the Atlanta-based hip-hop duo Big Face Paper Gang parties with the crowd.

Alison Carney and her new band, Butterfly Tree

D.C.-based hip-hop artist Chaz French

Virginia-based MC K.eYe.D

D.C.-based band Future Band blended hip-hop, rock, go-go, and jazz.

Future Band

D.C.-based, Grammy-nominated R&B singer Reesa Renee

D.C. hip-hop artist RAtheMC briefly joined singer Reesa Renee on stage.

Michigan producer Sango played his signature brand of remixes and his own productions.

L.A.-based and D.C.-born R&B singer Kelela performed tracks from her mixtape “Cut 4 Me.”

Kelela

Kelela

Producer Just Blaze played several of the hits he produced for Jay Z and others.

Virginia MC GoldLink

GoldLink

Hip-hop veteran Cam’ron headlined.

Cam’ron

Jowe Head and The Fleeting Glimpses, Foul Swoops, Luke Reddick, and DJ Paul Krolian
Thursday, April 17 at CD Cellar, by donation

British musician Jowe Head is best known for his time in the Brit noise-pop band Swell Maps in the 1970s and then the indie-pop band Television Personalities in the 1980s. He’ll be opening for the legendary Loop in Baltimore Friday night, but we’re exceedingly lucky to have him play a special D.C.-area show on Thursday night with a backing band of D.C. musicians called The Fleeting Glimpses, featuring members of The Plums, Harness Flux, and America Hearts. Joining Jowe Head at this show are the energetic Foul Swoops and Luke Reddick from Dudes and Post-Nasal Drip.

Kill Lincoln, Boardroom Heroes, Still Alive, Collapser
Friday, April 18 at Rock & Roll Hotel, $12

Ska-punk band Kill Lincoln certainly keeps busy: the local septet plays regularly around town, and this show is the kickoff for a national tour. They promise to play a bunch of new songs at this show, where they’ll play alongside D.C. pop-punk band Boardroom Heroes, Chicago ska band Still Alive, and local punks Collapser.

Warning: This song includes explicit lyrics.

Black Panties, The Sniffs, Radiator Greys
Friday, April 18 at the Pinch, $7

It’s always fun to see a show at a dive bar with good food: wander upstairs between bands for the Pinch’s famous duck fries and a beer. Head downstairs to see St. Louis garage-punkers Black Panties, D.C. pop-punk band The Sniffs, and Radiator Greys, atmospheric noise from Select DC’s Josh Levi.

Warning: This song includes explicit lyrics.

Broccoli City Festival
Saturday, April 19 at St. Elizabeths Gateway Pavilion, $29 to $45

I’m not clear on why chicken and waffles and lobster rolls are being sold at a festival that’s supposed to be about healthy living, but setting that aside, the ostensibly eco-friendly fest Broccoli City is a fine place to catch big names in hip-hop (including Cam’ron, whose trip to D.C. will hopefully go better than his time here in 2005, when he was shot three times) alongside up-and-coming acts with local roots, like R&B artist Kelela and Virginia MC GoldLink. Go for the fresh rhymes, stay for the fresh juices. (Ally Schweitzer)

Cloud Cult
Saturday, April 19 at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, $18 to $20

Experimental indie rockers Cloud Cult hail from Duluth, Minn. (fun fact: also the birthplace of Bob Dylan and the home of slo-core rockers Low). The eight-member band features string players, horn players, and a visual artist (!), and this “An Evening with…” show will feature two full sets of the band’s music, one acoustic and one electric—so expect a wide breadth of songs from the group’s two-decade career.

Andrew W.K., Adam Warrock, Rare Candy
Saturday, April 19 at Black Cat, $20

D.C.’s new comic-con Awesome Con is this weekend, but you don’t have to be into comics to enjoy this after-show, featuring performances by Andrew W.K., “overly enthusiastic hip-hop” artist Adam WarRock, and Baltimore’s synth-rock video-game tribute band Rare Candy. Note that AWK will also be giving a lecture at the Con, as well as signing autographs—hopefully slightly more engaging than his last area appearance, when he DJed rock songs before Black Sabbath’s show last summer.

The Pietasters, Caz and the Day Laborers
Saturday, April 19 at DC Brau, $12

Shows at bars can be great, but a show at a brewery means you’re getting beer right from the source. DC Brau celebrated its third anniversary this week, and the party continues with a performance by D.C. ska band The Pietasters and rocksteady group Caz and the Day Laborers. Last year, the Brau collaborated with Colorado’s Ska Brewing on a Pietasters beer called the Tasters Choice, a coffee doppelbock. DC Brau hasn’t said publicly whether they’ll be brewing more of the Tasters Choice, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they brought out a special batch of it for this show.

Pentagram, Satan’s Satyrs, Coke Bust, Unholy Thoughts
Saturday, April 19 at the Mary Graydon Center at American University, $20

Doom-metal legends Pentagram are playing their first show in the District proper since their infamous 2005 Black Cat show where vocalist Bobby Liebling overdosed backstage and collapsed during the band’s first song. Liebling has appeared to be a little more under control at recent shows (although he does wear some ridiculous shirts on stage). Also performing are the blues-rock inspired Satan’s Satyrs, hardcore punks Coke Bust, and Richmond’s hardcore Unholy Thoughts. Note that American University is a dry campus, so no drinking or smoking at this show.

Omar S, Chris Burns, R&B
Sunday, April 20 at Dirty Bar, $13 in advance

Detroit producer Omar S has made his FXHE imprint one of the best American dance labels out there, and he’s done that while remaining somewhat isolationist and stubbornly attached to doing things his way. If that state of mind is what keeps producing records as great as 2011’s “It Can Be Done But Only I Can Do It“—a killer, if occasionally X-rated encapsulation of his warehouse-ready sound—well, stay grumpy forever, Omar S. (Ally Schweitzer)

These and other show listings can be found on ShowListDC.