This Saturday, the monthly Soundclash beat battle is putting on a special party at the Howlin Wolf. Legendary hip-hop producer and DJ Pete Rock will be on hand for a full day of hip-hop and sneaker culture starting at 3 p.m. with Kicks and Snares presented by Soundclash along with KevinNottingham.com, BlackSmith Music, and The Source Magazine.

Producer/DJ Pete Rock

As one half of the seminal duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth and then later during his solo career, Rock gained critical acclaim and worldwide recognition, partly for merging jazz with hip-hop, and he has worked with everyone from Wu-Tang Clan and Ghostface Killah to Public Enemy and Run-DMC.

Along with a DJ set from Pete Rock, Kicks and Snares also includes a beefed-up schedule of local rappers and DJs, including Dee-1, Lyrikill, Truth Universal, DJ Tony Skratchere, DJ EF Cuttin, Skipp Coon and Mister Nick, Aqua Force, and many more.

In addition to the 25 artists and 5 DJs, the event is also featuring live graffiti displays, break-dancing, cash prizes and giveaways, and a huge sneaker section where an attendee or vendor can buy, sell, or trade shoes. The event is encouraging artists and producers to network, giving everyone a chance to get feedback and make professional connections.

Starting at 9 p.m., Pete Rock will be a featured guest judge in the March Soundclash, with various artists vying for the title of this month’s best beat production. The show will include performances from several MCs as well.

Pre-sale tickets are available for $10 for just the Kicks and Snares party or $20 for both the party and the beat battle at http://kicksandsnares.eventbrite.com.

Here are some clips from January’s Soundclash:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_h9Ma9aWLg[/youtube]