Before most Curren$y performances, a cloud of weed smoke signals the artist’s arrival, so his visit to the Howard Theatre right after D.C. is scheduled to legalize pot is a timely one. The New Orleans-bred rapper’s penchant for getting high is well known to listeners, but his appeal extends beyond that particular passion; the jester carves out a niche in modern hip-hop by mixing his razor-sharp wit with a goofy sense of humor. His smooth drawl and delivery are punctuated by random pop-culture references that range from sitcoms like Family Matters and Full House to the more infamous moments from MTV’s The Real World. Curren$y’s catalog, while vast (he’s been releasing tracks since 2002), lacks huge hit singles. But don’t try to explain that to his fans—judging from the audience’s tendency to recite each track lyric-for-lyric, you’d swear he’s dominated the airwaves. Curren$y performs at 8 p.m. at the Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. $30–$65. (202) 803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com.