Email Author Ru Johnson

2010 Stories by Ru Johnson

• Kevin Kain is very much alive and well!

  published Dec 29, 2010

  Y'all can cancel the Amber Alert. Kevin Kain is alive and well. Very much so. Last night, the local Twitterverse was buzzing with word that promoter Kevin Kain had allegedly been killed in a car accid... More >>

• KDJ Above joins KS-107.5 roster of mixers

  published Dec 29, 2010

  KDJ Above, a resident in the club rocking scene, is joining the KS-1075 team in a move that has set Denver's hip-hop world ablaze. This past year, KDJ has been a regular at Gallery 22, as well as the ... More >>

• YTCracker on the virtues of Nerdcore and the finer points of hacking

  published Dec 16, 2010

  YTCracker rolls with a crew and movement known as "nerdcore," the epicenter of all things sophisticated and geeky. The rapper -- aka Bryce Case, who pronounces his name as "whitey cracker" -- and hi... More >>

• Jagwire

  published December 16, 2010

  In the world of rap and circumstance, there is room for pretty much everyone. Unreleased Tension, Jagwire's latest, carves out the MC's... More >>

• 2010 5280 Urban Music Awards wrap up

  published Dec 13, 2010

  The Red Lion Hotel on I-225 and Parker, the venue that hosted last night's 5280 Urban Music Awards, is just west of nowhere. Really, it's in southeast Aurora, but to an inner city gal like me, it mi... More >>

• Tonight: Silent Disco, a revolutionary dance party

  published Dec 10, 2010

  Silent Disco is precisely what it sounds like: a silent dance party of revolutionary proportions. All music will be provided through wireless headphones only. Thus, the Silent part of the Disco. DJ Up... More >>

• This weekend: 5280 Urban Music Awards

  published Dec 10, 2010

  Last year's 5280 Awards, a ceremony dedicated to honoring the Mile High City's hip-hop and R&B artists, caused a bit of stir in the scene, mainly due to the process by which the nominees were chosen. ... More >>

• Whiskey Blanket

  published December 9, 2010

  In the age when the Roots released their eleventh studio album, the epic How I Got Over, all bands intending to use live instrumentation... More >>

• Talib Kweli at Cervantes, 12/03/10

  published Dec 03, 2010

  ... More >>

• Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp on rockin' the mike and making people think twice

  published Nov 30, 2010

  The most immediately noticeable thing about Kalyn Heffernan is that she's in a wheelchair. What takes a little more time to absorb and appreciate is that the petite Irish woman in the Timbaland boot... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Wolf Blitzer gets his Dougie on at the Soul Train Awards with the help of Doug E. Fresh

  published Nov 29, 2010

  Wolf Blitzer, the white-haired politico from CNN, can usually be found musing on the hysteria of world politics. Last night, however, he stole the show at the Soul Train Music Awards by hitting his il... More >>

• Meet Haven the Great, a Jewell Tyme affiliate about to smash it on his own like King Kong

  published Nov 24, 2010

  Jewell Tyme affiliate Haven the Great is an absolute beast on the mike. You probably known him either from backing up other members of the crew or guesting on albums like Dispensary Music by his cousi... More >>

• Local reaction to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West's acclaimed new album

  published Nov 23, 2010

  Kanye West released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy yesterday amid rave reviews -- Pitchfork gave it a perfect ten rating, Spin gave it nine out of ten stars, Rolling Stone gave it five stars, Urb g... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Ludacris, Melo, Lala and Sway stop by George Washington High School for Get Schooled tour

  published Nov 21, 2010

  Ludacris, Carmelo Anthony, his wife, Lala Vasquez, and Sway Calloway from MTV surprised 1400 students at George Washington High School on Friday afternoon for the Get Schooled national challenge and... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Anatomy of a hip-hop song: Local producers weigh in on what it takes to make a great track

  published Nov 18, 2010

  The term "producer" has very different connotations in the worlds of rock and hip-hop. Although they're both instrumental in shaping the sound, they serve very different functions. Generally speakin... More >>

• J. Cole at the Fox Theatre, 11/17/10

  published Nov 18, 2010

  ... More >>

• Denver's emerging hip-hop producers speak out

  published November 18, 2010

  Kid Hum is as thoughtful about his choice in food and drink as he is about his process of making beats. Early on, he sips wine and discusses... More >>

• Ghostface at Summit Music Hall, 11/06/10

  published Nov 08, 2010

  ... More >>

• Doomtree at Marquis Theater, 11/05/10

  published Nov 08, 2010

  DOOMTREE With Yonnas Abraham 11.05.10 | Marquis Theater Doomtree, the hip-hop consortium out of Minneapolis, rocked the house for a sold out crowd on Friday at the Marquis. There's seven members of... More >>

• brikAbrak asked to join GirlGrabbers

  published Nov 03, 2010

  At Casselman's Monday night, at a listening party for Gypdahip's latest mixtape, Magic, in a move that surprised everyone -- if for no other reason than no one saw it coming -- brikAbrak was asked to ... More >>

• King FOE & Whygee

  published November 4, 2010

  Dispensary Music is a compilation of soulful beats and political rhetoric that centers on the unprincipled use of drugs and an... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Brace yourself for Yonnas Abraham's Sextape and the reinvention of The Pirate Signal

  published Oct 29, 2010

  Yonnas Abraham of The Pirate Signal has been busy revamping the look and feel of his group, adding a new DJ and guitarist, along with a ton of new material. A new album titled, You're Always Leaving... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  A first look at Young Doe's "Droptop" video

  published Oct 26, 2010

  Young Doe puts a little hip-hop spin on the show Cheaters with his new video for the song "Droptop," featuring Texas recording artist Chalie Boy. The Damon Jamal-directed clip features a host of loc... More >>

• A first look at Pries's "Supa Lovin'" feat. Rockie

  published Oct 25, 2010

  "Supa Lovin'" is the track that just won't go away. Not only does the cut appear on Pries's second mixtape, Late for Class, but it's also slated to appear on Transfer Student, his forthcoming album, w... More >>

• Get your shine on at Sneaker Prom and Shoe Shine this weekend at 303 Agency and City Hall

  published Oct 22, 2010

  This weekend's Sneaker Prom and Shoe Shine are easily becoming among the most popular sneaker events in the country. Having involved over 200 artists and businesses over the years, both are outstandin... More >>