Top

music

Stories

Lists

Five ways Kickstarter is helping the local scene

By Patrick Rodgers
Blogs

Black Flag at the Rainbow Music Hall 1984

By Mark Sanders
Interviews

The Doors' Robby Krieger on his new album

By Jon Solomon
Blogs

This season's American Idol is...

By Cory Lamz
Interviews

ManCub's Alex Anderson goes DIY on new EP

By Patrick Rodgers
Photos

Dubstep for dummies

By Britt Chester
Interviews

Creed's Scott Stapp on how he used to be

By Kelsey Whipple
Blogs

NORAD Dance Bar to open next month

By Britt Chester

Pin It

Meet the Pirate Signal, one of Denver's most compelling hip-hop acts

A A A Comments (15) By Dave Herrera Thursday, Jun 11 2009

"I realized this is a fork in the road," he says. "The choice is: worst thing that ever happened to me or best thing that ever happened to me. I'm going with best. I recently wrote a letter to Joey where I was like, 'You know what, man, may peace be with you, bro. I'm not really stressing any of that, dude. I moved on. I wish you the best, and I'm sorry for whatever I did to you.' It hurts in the respect that that was one of my best friends."

But it didn't hurt the Pirate Signal, which is once again gaining momentum, beginning with a buzzed-about performance at Sundance. "The things that scare me about the industry or performing is not 'What am I capable of?'" Abraham concludes. "It's like, how will I be judged because of where I'm from, because that's the shit that's out of my control. I know if they'd just give me a chance, I'll be fine. You know what I mean?"

Now hear this: Yonnas Abraham (left) and Alejandro Martinez are the Pirate Signal.

Details

The Pirate Signal at the Westword Music Showcase, with more than fifty of Denver's finest acts, 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13, Verizon Wireless Stage, 12th and Acoma, $9.33 in advance, $20 day of show, westword.com.

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

For a full interview with DJ A-what, visit blogs.westword.com/backbeat.

Check out this week's featured ad for Music

Bill Bass Concerts

View Ad View Website

More Ads >>

Get the Music Newsletter

Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Email
to Friend

Write to
Editor

Print
Article

dh 06/20/2009 12:45:00 AM

Ignore the previous comment. This is the correct link: http://ad.vu/6wxm

dh 06/19/2009 11:56:00 PM

For more on DJ A-What visit: http://ad.vu/89xc

Sara 06/18/2009 7:42:00 PM

I was fortunate enough to attend the westword showcase music festival last week and I think The Pirate Signal are so phenomenon on the stage. I think they are one of the best bands I have seen in long time. Their stage presence and the energy they exude are just amazing.

SpitFyer 06/17/2009 12:09:00 AM

Respect to REAL hip hop group from Denver. It funny to see cats like the Flobots and 3OH!(brother)3 get the play and recog as hip hop artists, when anyone with ears knows its junk. 3oh!3 has a great marketing machine, which is the reason for their success, and Flobots hit a niche with the DNC. But seeing these guys and comparing apples to apples, hands down Pirate Signal blows them out the water. If they don't get big, there is something worng with that. Keep on repping, and skys the limit.

Tom 06/15/2009 5:06:00 PM

Once again, way to go The Pirate Signal! I loved the article, by they way. WW writes in a style (almost always) that really gives great insight to the artist. I remember when Sam and DJ Awhat had to pick up that award last year � I loved how in the article they noted that Yonnas was absent to receive that award � ironically almost as if he didn�t want to be in town to accept an award for the song about LEAVING Denver. And, of course, the cover is brilliant.

hiphopfan 06/15/2009 12:21:00 AM

The pirate signal are great live. Would have liked to hear about what A-What brings to the table or tables as he is a great deejay. Yonnas is right though, denver is wack. there are a lot of reasons why, most of it is 107.5's fault and lack of no college radio in denver. thankfully the internet helps expose people to local artists. i just wanted to mention, i like how joe thunder and selector sam contexualize mile high hiphop. the way that they bring together gangsta and underground hiphop and all styles in between for fresh mixtapes is really great. I think that their projects show how hiphop, if used in a positive way can bring together a scene and make every one better.

coolafricana 06/14/2009 9:42:00 PM

Congradulations to The Pirate Signals and keep up the good work. I can't wait to see you guys here in Los angeles and long beach again. Your show is electrifying.

Ralphie1015 06/12/2009 9:20:00 PM

NICE! Denver's underground scene is about to pop, and The Pirate Signal's one of those groups that will be first to get noticed. Good article, I'll be catching them Saturday on the outdoor stage!

local supporter 06/12/2009 6:16:00 AM

big ups to the pirate signal and all the heads in denver making strides for greatness! y'all deserve the positive exposure... much respect to food group, i mean FOOD CHAIN for getting love the best of issue this year. keep on keepin on-

vickie 06/12/2009 12:49:00 AM

Two thumbs up The Pirate Signal

Dj Awhat!! 06/12/2009 12:23:00 AM

Yo Everybody thanks alot for all the Support We (THE PIRATE SIGNAL) really appreaciate it and also check us out on Saturday if you can as well as I'll be djing Friday Nite at El Camino Tavern on 32nd & Lowell 8pm with DJ Peter Black "Soul Revival" Fridays soul & Funk all nite long as some Hip Hop as well we are really proud to be and represent Denver CO Stand Up !!!!!!!

DJ Low Key 06/11/2009 8:16:00 PM

Nice article...Props to Yonnas & A-What for all the hard work and thinkin about and beyond Denver at the same time, not a lot of cats here think like that...Pirate Signal has been one of Denver's best hip hop acts for a while now, it's good to see them gettin more shine...

Mane Rok 06/10/2009 9:26:00 PM

Thats whats up Family! 2 LIFECrew acts....2 to go.

DenverScener 06/10/2009 9:23:00 PM

Anyone who ever saw Yonnas do battle after battle and freestyle after freestyle at East high school parties in the late 90s knew this Cat would blow one day. The Pirate Signal are far and away the only true blue good hiphop in Denver. The problem with the Denver Scene is every group you listed in the article. "Unimpressed" as Yonnas said is an understatement, none of those cats have found their artistic voice, rather they just cut and paste some east coast here, west coast here, nothing original or "rocking" like the Pirate Signal (at least tries to) provide. Learning to rock the mic like a rockstar is the first step in the right direction, lazy beats and lazt raps are what is wrong with CO hiphop and all the groups mentioned in the article provide just that. Bring back the Break Mechanics, they were at least fun! By the way I am not affiliated with the Pirate Signal nor friends with Yonnas. I just go and see tons of music and write my opinions here on te backbeat, hate me if you like, I'm just telling the truth, so step up your game CO hiphop!

Quibian Salazar-Moreno 06/10/2009 8:59:00 PM

Great feature Dave! Much love to The Pirate Signal!

Meet the Pirate Signal, one of Denver's most compelling hip-hop acts

Details

Related Content

More About

Like this Story?

Bill Bass Concerts

View Ad View Website

Get the Music Newsletter

Most Popular Stories

Find a Concert

Slideshows»

Westword on Facebook

Best of Denver

2012 - Arts & Entertainment

Now Click This