Setting aside his recent appearance on the season premiere of the CW’s 90210, the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Trinidad rapper Theophilus London’s career is more indie than mainstream as of now. London, who is 24, often cites Morrissey as a main inspiration (he’s released a mixtape called This Charming Mixtape and, for his “Humdrum Town” single, borrowed some lyrics from “William, It Was Really Nothing”); he’s collaborated with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Sara Quinn of Tegan & Sara, and Beyoncé’s more hipster little sister, Solange. London fancies himself a style maven, decking himself out in velvet jackets and gold jewelry, and the opening track of his debut Timez Are Weird These Days, “Last Name London,” mainly consists of him repeating his own name over and over again—and so he appears to be just as obsessed with himself and particularly his appearance as any Kanye West is. Mainstream or not, you just can’t take the swag out of hip-hop. With Friendly Fires. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Wed., Oct. 19, 8 p.m., 2011