The year in New Orleans music was full of Grammys, viral videos and unfortunate losses. It all adds up to a historically insular music scene on the verge of getting the national recognition it's always deserved. We look back at 2012 and look ahead to 2013:

With the local spring festival season often crowded and the ever-expanding national summer festival season pulling in more and more acts, New Orleans citizens know all too well the feeling of viewing their favorite bands’ tour schedules and seeing their city leapfrogged and left out.  But we have finally come to fall, and event calendars around town are filling up quickly with out of town acts as well as unique local alternatives and new combinations of old favorites.

Even if you can't get a fresh dose of Mystikal in person while he's in jail, there will still be a chance to hear that familiar voice. The New Orleans rapper, who is fresh off a set at Jazz Fest last week, has also been recording new music in advance of his scheduled Monday reporting date for an 81-day prison term for violating his probation, and plans to release a mixtape while he's in the clink. To get more details about what's in store for a comeback rapper who will have to make another comeback, Billboard caught up with him in that city where you find most New Orleans rappers: Miami. Read the interview here.

On Friday at the Jazz Fest, it's your only chance to see a legendary soul singer, a local rapper plays one of his last gigs before heading back to jail and some serious acoustic guitar shredding is planned to close out the day. Make scanning the cubes a little easier with these suggestions:

After JazzFest, Mystikal is heading back to jail. The much-loved New Orleans rapper, who just released a new single, was ordered back to prison for 90 days starting May 14 because he violated probation. According to The Advocate, the recent Cash Money Records signee, who was released in 2010 after serving six years for committing extorting and sexual battery against his hair dresser, was arrested in February on a domestic abuse battery charge in Ascension Parish.

Earlier this week, we talked about two Friday night benefit concerts that offer an opportunity to give back before Christmas. Over in the Warehouse District at Generations Hall, there's yet another chance to help the the youth of the city. Newly-minted Cash Money millionaire Mystikal will headline the Give Back Benefit, hosted by the One Peach One Love One World Foundation at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Drive). Proceeds from the $25 admission fee goes to benefit the foundation's programming educational programming, neighborhood beautification, scholarship programs and research opportunities for urban youth.

Back in the golden '90s, the thought of No Limit star Mystikal signing with Cash Money Records would've seemed either an act of pure treason, or a sign that the man born Michael Tyler went down to the crossroads to make a deal with the devil himself. After all, Hot Boy B.G. recorded diss tracks aimed at Mystikal like "Fuck Big Boy", and the dreaded don responded. But New Orleans hip-hop is a bit different these days. The big stars only visit during Thanksgiving, and anyone can work with Mannie Fresh. Thus did Mystikal sign with Cash Money today, and Birdman decreed the Big Tent period of NOLA rap fully underway.

by Dan Goodman

Against the backdrop of Halloween and Voodoo fest, there is much to be overlooked on this action packed weekend in New Orleans. After the festival ends, there is yet more music to be had for your listening pleasure. With the crowds swelling and the thirst for great music at a high, the weekend is a great excuse for reunions, unusual collaborations, and, in at least one case, straight balling. With their bling outshining much of the bill, the Baller's Ball rolls into the Maison on Frenchmen St. Saturday night.

Sure, we sent them the horns and the swing. The funk and the kings (of the street). But this year, NOLA exported some seriously diverse music from the provinces to the nation.

Hola Nola- and hola a surprisingly exciting fall concert lineup headed our way. From old names (Sister Hazel, Suzanne Vega) to newbies (Million Young), local reps (Mystikal), and my personal faves (Cocorosie, Ratatat, J. Newsom), as the weather cools down the music's heating up. So save up for these upcoming gigs.