Regarding the rise of Houston rapper Riff Raff, Action Bronson may have said it best when he famously answered confounded Twitter followers after releasing his “Bird on a Wire” collaboration with Sir Raff, saying simply: “RIFF RAFF IS MORE ENTERTAINING THAN YOU.” Raff’s eccentric style is such an overblown, entertaining performance in itself that the obvious question of “Is he joking?” has become nearly irrelevant. From reality show wash-out (see: season two of MTV’s From G’s to Gents (or don’t, really)) to dropping post-lyrical YouTube-captured gems like “Swang a motorcycle/leanin’ like the Eiffel” (“Marc Jacobs”), to actually signing with Diplo’s Mad Decent label, the guy has somehow parlayed a bizarre slice of notoriety into a tangible career, making him not only more entertaining, but also more successful—and in a strange, cruel, joke of a way, just plain smarter than any of us. With Slow Dance, Billy the Fridge, Peta Tosh, Bryce Bowden, hosted by Neema. TODD HAMM

Mon., Sept. 24, 7 p.m., 2012