118 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS Dallas legend The D.O.C. and featured Snoop Dogg. The collective achieved many firsts for North Texas hip-hop, including an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” From music festival debuts to first hits, every artist on the label is poised to be Dallas’ next bur- geoning rap star. ..................... Top Ten Records 338 Jefferson Blvd., Dallas toptenrecords.org Top Ten Records has long carried a repu- tation for being something greater than just a place to pick up some vinyl — it’s Dallas’ longest-standing record shop for a reason. Recently, though, the nonprofit community space has really stepped things up with a more steady flow of regular pro- gramming. Here, you’ll find artists, pop culture fans with trivial pursuits and your annoying friend who loves to talk through- out the movie all sharing the same retro space. The Star Power open mic on Wednesdays curates a lineup of local per- formers on the come up. Meanwhile, the free, monthly Late Night Hours concert series boasts intimate, “NPR Tiny Desk- style” listening sessions. If you need a laugh (and don’t we all), you’ll want to stay up on the DIY pop-up comedy shows, and honestly, anything else they feel like cook- ing up over there. .................. Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics 971 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas blackcatrnc.com Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, which is exactly why it works. The Cedars shop has spent four years building a reputation on taste, not trend-chasing, with especially strong selec- tions in Japanese records, metal and under- ground comics. It’s part record store, part scene hub, part beautifully nerdy rabbit hole. The mix of music and comics could feel gimmicky; here, it feels organic, like a reflection of the community that keeps showing up for it. Black Cat has carved out a niche by going deep instead of broad, and Dallas is better for it. ......................... Andrew Sherman drewlio.com Nothing compares to seeing your favorite band perform live, but Andrew Sherman’s photography comes about as close as possi- ble. Whatever the venue, whatever the genre, the Dallas-based photographer cap- tures performers’ attitude and energy in stills that seem liable to burst into action at any moment. There’s no limitation he can’t turn into an advantage; instruments, stage lights and other performers all seem to line up perfectly to frame Sherman’s subjects as needed. Whether he’s capturing a quiet mo- ment between sets, a band operating with explosive theatricality or turning his camera on the crowd itself, no one captures the Dal- las music scene like Andrew Sherman. ......... Akai 1740 Crockett St., Dallas musumedallas.com Listen, we’re sick of everything being falsely deemed a “speakeasy” too, but Akai actually fits the bill. Hidden in the unsus- pecting Arts District in downtown, this lush, ruby-toned club pulsates from be- hind Musume, a Japanese steakhouse — trust us, you’ll absolutely feel like Rihanna as the bouncer walks you through the restaurant’s kitchen to get to Akai. The space also recently got a sophisticated re- design that only elevated the sexiness of the room. Weekends here are almost al- ways booked with a stellar slate of DJs, and the Japanese-inspired specialty cocktails (we recommend the Geisha and the Blood Moon) and bottle service easily rival the classic club experience you’ll find any- where else in the city. Photo by Ashley To / @ashlizzey Small Town performing at Top Ten Records d