Big KRIT

3 Loco at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 5/17/13

3 LOCO @ CERVANTES' MASTERPIECE BALLROOM | 5/17/13 First there was silence. Then there hysterical screaming, as Andy Milonakis walked on stage. "Pussy, pussy, pussy, marijuana," he rapped over and over again. Yup. This was definitely a 3 Loco show. What a curse 3 Loco faces; they're completely avera ... More >>

The fifty greatest rap groups of all time

There's something great about a hip-hop group. From the beginning, it was never intended to be a solo endeavor; rap began in cyphers at block parties, and the first established rappers were components of a collective centered around the more important DJ. Even now that the rapper is the star, it's n ... More >>

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

The ten greatest southern rappers of all time

It took a long time for the south to be recognized as a major player in the hip-hop scene, and it still has a ways to go to be held in the same regard as the East and West Coasts, but with the emergence of a new breed of countrified rappers such as Big K.R.I.T., Future, Yelawolf and 2 Chainz (and ev ... More >>

Bonnaroo lineup includes trio of Colorado acts

If you missed the hour-long live-stream a bit ago in which "Weird Al" Yankovic announced the headliners for this year's edition of Bonnaroo, rest easy. We've got you covered. We took notes on all the acts announced thus far. Prepare to be overwhelmed. There's roughly ten billion on the bill, includi ... More >>

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Moovers and Shakers 2012: Backbeat writers praise the year's best local albums

See also: Backbeat writers sound off on the year's best national albums

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Backbeat writers sound off on the year's best national albums

See also: Moovers and Shakers 2012: Backbeat writers praise the year's best local albums

9th Wonder on how hip-hop is like pills in the applesauce, a gateway to knowledge and history

A revered hip-hop producer who got his start with Phonte and Big Pooh in the North Carolina-based group Little Brother, 9th Wonder has worked an array of top shelf artists from Jay-Z and Destiny's Child to Mary J. Blige and Ludacris, among many others. Known as one of the best samplers in hip-hop, w ... More >>

The twenty best hip-hop shows of 2012

As much of a stronghold as our town is for EDM, Denver is also a hotbed of hip-hop. Although we've always held true to the assertion, and such a declaration would seem perfectly reasonable to even casual observers, the point was never driven home more definitively than when we took a look back at th ... More >>

The five best concerts this week: Nov 12-16

Welcome to another week! Plenty of goodness awaits you. As always, we've got all of this week's shows listed in our concert calendar if you'd prefer to get a full view of what's going on. Otherwise, we've narrowed it all down and picked out the best shows that are the most worth checking out this we ... More >>

Lecrae

Thursday, September 27, Ogden Theatre, 888-929-7849.

Ten Best Concerts This Week: Sept. 24-28

It's officially fall now, according to the calendar -- and, well, the thermometer -- but that doesn't mean things have cooled down here in the Mile High City. While most of the shows have moved indoors, there's still plenty to choose from, including Rise Against at the Fillmore tonight and tomorrow ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T. at the Bluebird, 7/18/19

BIG K.R.I.T. @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7.18.19 See Also: - Big K.R.I.T. at the Marquis, 10/21/10 - Mr. Midas and Big K.R.I.T. collab on "Back On" Big K.R.I.T. calls himself the King Remembered In Time, an appropriate name, because he truly is timeless. When the big king stepped on stage, all stern-face ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T.

Wednesday, July 18, Bluebird Theater, 888-929-7849.

Afghan Whigs, Amanda Palmer, Aimee Mann and Seether lead this week's new shows

See Also: - Mumford and Sons, Brother Ali, Henry Rollins and Melvins Lite lead this week's shows - Morrissey, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, Dinosaur Jr., Jackson Browne lead new shows - Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Shinedown, Godsmack, Steve Vai and Kimbra lead new shows Oh, man, what a fall we have to look ... More >>

Mumford and Sons, Brother Ali, Henry Rollins and Melvins Lite lead this week's shows

While things are slowing down a bit somewhat with summer concert announcements, the fall show season is beginning to shape up nicely with new shows from (updated) Mumford & Sons, a trio of dates with Brother Ali in October, as well as the Melvins Lite and Henry Rollins in September and an October da ... More >>

Morrissey, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, Dinosaur Jr., Jackson Browne lead this week's shows

Denver's summer concert season is proving to be every bit as hot as anticipated, and the fall is shaping up to be just as heated with new dates from Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and E-40, who are due back in town at the end of August, followed by Rascal Flatts in September, Dinosaur Jr. in October and Morri ... More >>

Chartbreaker: Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" and Adele's 21 claim the top spots

It was a big week for a certain Canadian this week, as the import's song finally overtook Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know." And no, we're not talking about Justin Bieber, but she is his protege. Carly Rae Jepsen's inescapable viral and radio hit, "Call Me Maybe," conquers the Billboard Ho ... More >>

Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Shinedown, Godsmack, Steve Vai and Kimbra lead this week's shows

A fresh batch of new shows announced this week, including Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller at Red Rocks, the Head and the Heart and Blitzen Trapper at the Boulder Theater, Kimbra at the Ogden Theatre, Shinedown and Godsmack at Comfort Dental and Steve Vai at the Ogden. Page down for a full rundown plus lo ... More >>

Jane's Addiction, Swans, Aaron Freeman lead this week's shows

Things might be slowing down a bit with the bigger concert announcements, but there was still a fair amount of activity over the last week, including Jane's Addiction at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Swans and Xiu Xiu at the Gothic Theatre, and Aaron Freeman (aka Gene Ween) at both the ... More >>

Gotye, Silversun Pickups, 3OH!3, Matisyahu and Justin Bieber lead this week's shows

While the concert announcements have started tapering off a bit, there's still some big shows that have been announced, including Gotye's Red Rocks show in August, Channel 93.3's Big Gig in September featuring Silversun Pickups, 3OH!3, the Hives, the Wombats and others at Red Rocks. Also, Matisyahu ... More >>

Rise Against, Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, Passion Pit, Alabama Shakes lead this week's new shows

And it don't stop. Another batch of great shows announced this week, including Rise Against, who's due for a pair of back-to-back nights at the Fillmore in September, as well as Peter Gabriel, who will be performing his album So in its entirety a few nights later at Red Rocks. Wait, there's more: th ... More >>

Skrillex and Neil Young at Red Rocks, moe., Dethklok and Lamb of God among new shows

Every week, just when we think we've seen the best of the upcoming concert season and that things couldn't possibly get any more compelling, there's a whole new batch of new shows to make us flip our lids. This week: Skrillex at Red Rocks in August, preceded a few days earlier by two Neil Young show ... More >>

Leonard Cohen, Big Gigantic, Big K.R.I.T. and Thurston Moore lead this week's new shows

A lot of big concert news this week. Really big. Emphasis on big, both in stature and some literally in name: Leonard Cohen is coming back to Colorado this fall for a date at the 1STBANK Center. Before that, though, Big Gigantic is slated to make its Red Rocks debut in September, Big K.R.I.T. will b ... More >>

The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012

The last few days, Village Voice Media's indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we've been culling another list: the worst shit. The acts that ranged from huge bore-fests to downright lame. Below, you'll find our cr ... More >>

Alert: SXSW coverage ahead

"What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." -- Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don't have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all of the above building ... More >>

The best national music releases of 2011

Ten Best Electronic Shows of 2011

How does one go about defining the best electronic music shows of the year? A lot goes into it, trust me. There is the production aspect, which looks upon the lighting choreography and the overall visual spectacle. Then, there is the actual music, which volleys between producers and DJs, both of whi ... More >>

Review: Freddie Gibbs at Cervantes', 12/14/11

​FREDDIE GIBBS at CERVANTES' | 12/14/11Freddie Gibbs, sans fellow headliner Fashawn, played to a sparse crowd at Cervantes' Other Side last night. Hitting the stage in front of a crowd warmed up by Diamond Boiz, BLKHRTS and Platt and Beadebe, Gangsta Gibbs took to the stage wearing a white T-s ... More >>

Halloween Events: Great American Taxi, MiM0Sa and Designer Drugs (win tickets!)

This weekend is huge. It's one of those, "If you aren't here, then you aren't having as much fun as me" kind of weekends. The deck is stacked with amazing things to do, so pick a card -- any card. We've got some passes to Designer Drugs at Club Vinyl to give away, so leave us a comment on a memorabl ... More >>

Nominees announced for 5280 Hip-hop Awards, taking place this year at the Paramount Theater

Marcus Gadison/ColorazziInnerstate Ike at last year's awards​Last year's 5280 Hip-Hop Awards was a spectacle in so many ways. Every single rapper, producer and videographer in the scene was on hand for the ceremony. This year's edition of the awards, slated for December 11, promises to be bigg ... More >>

Get a sneak peek of DJ Ktone's upcoming comp, Left Lane Music Vol. 1, due out in November

For his latest project, Left Lane Music Vol. 1, DJ Ktone pulled together a slew of different rappers with different styles. Featuring the likes of Tone Skarfo, Mr. Midas, FOE and Aires Jackson, among others, the first installment of the comp and its planned followup (due out sometime in the first qu ... More >>

Photos: Pretty Lights at Red Rocks, 8/13/11

​PRETTY LIGHTS at RED ROCKS | 8/13/11The second sold out night of the Pretty Lights Music showcase was the perfect way to end a hometown run for Derek Vincent Smith, who plays music under the Pretty Lights moniker. With some help from Big K.R.I.T., Michael Menert, Gramatik and Skream, Smith d ... More >>

Pretty Lights, DJ Craze, Thievery Corporation and more on this weekend's Dance Card

Pretty Lights.​There's so much on our Dance Card this weekend that we know you'll have a tough time deciding whether you'd rather see Pretty Lights or Thievery Corporation at Red Rocks. Why not do both? Or select one of the other events on our list that's more to your taste? Whatever you decid ... More >>

Curren$y and Method Man's Smokers Club tour due in Denver at the Ogden Theatre on Oct. 30

Kate Levy​Smoke 'em if you got 'em: After, ahem, cough, cough, blowing folks away Summit Music Hall this past spring on his Jet Life Tour, Curren$y is coming back to the Mile High City with Method Man on the Smokers Club Tour, with Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Fiend, The Pricks, and Corner Boy P. ... More >>

The Chain Gang of 1974 listed among SPIN's 35 Must-Hear Acts at SXSW

​ Props to the Chain Gang of 1974, who has really captured the attention of the editors at Spin. Last fall, after the outfit's performance at CMJ, the magazine praised the act for delivering one of the best sets at the festival. And now, the group, led by former Denverite Kamtin Mohager, now ... More >>