Busta Rhymes

420 Extravaganja party announced for 4/20 weekend

The 4/20 weekend this year is shaping up to be a massive, city-wide event. Not only is the traditional 4/20 political rally again taking at Denver's Civic Center Park, but the crew from High Times has claimed the Mile High as their city of choice for the first-ever Cannabis Cup on American soil. An ... More >>

So that guy you see twirling the sign on the side of the road? He's probably listening to Slayer

Alright, how many times have you driven past that dude on the corner, the one twirling his sign like a madman, and thought to yourself Wow! That dude is rocking out. Wonder what the hell he's listening to? Wonder no more. Mystery solved. It's Slayer. At least that's what this particular gentleman wa ... More >>

The ten worst hip-hop Christmas songs

Every holiday season, we're blessed with great renditions of classic Christmas songs to warm our spirits, but along with that also comes a lists of well meaning yuletide flops. This is especially the case in hip-hop, in which rhyming about Christmas has not always produced the best results. Here are ... More >>

Rapper Hopsin is weird and proud

Backbeat's top five spins, week of October 1-7

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be too surprising to find that the most common (and our mutually favorite) topic of conversation among all of us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't yo ... More >>

Local hip-hop acts pick their favorite Tribe tracks and muse on the influence of Q-Tip

This Saturday, some of the hottest local talent will be getting busy on fifteen stages throughout the Golden Triangle for the annual Westword Music Showcase. After the Showcase wraps, Q-Tip, hip-hop's premiere rapping, producing, trendsetting, superstar will rock a rare DJ set at City Hall Amphithea ... More >>

Radio Slave

Saturday, March 24, Artwork Network, 878 Santa Fe Drive.

"Victory" is a great example of Biggie's flow and tenacity

Biggie was most famous for his mafia style and lyrics tinged with his famous "don't give a fuck" style. The track "Victory," released posthumously, is the best example of this. When this joint dropped, it was clear that the Brooklyn MC was prepared to take his game to another level. The lyrics, both ... More >>

The 54th Grammys: who will win (Adele) and who won't (Lady Gaga)

From power pop to power ballads, rock anthems to rap staples, the nominees of the 54th Grammy Awards, which airs this Sunday night, sees no dearth of great music. There's little doubt that it will be Adele's night, but others, like Kanye West and Mumford & Sons, could win big too. Continue reading f ... More >>

Sounds of Blackness: J Dilla

Happy birthday, J Dilla!​Ah, J Dilla. His influence and production style brought forth beatmakers carrying their backpacks filled with treasures from the basement into the mainstream. Even more so after his death. A cult-like following surrounds his legacy. Born James Dewitt Yancey in February ... More >>

Tech N9NE on being a major artist with a loyal fanbase while remaining fiercely independent

​A fiercely independent artist with a diverse, dedicated and ever expanding cult following, Tech N9NE (due tonight at the Fillmore Auditorium) has a hustle that simply cannot be knocked. Currently in the midst of an 82-date tour in support of his latest album, All 6's and 7's, the rapper has s ... More >>

Radio Slave, July 2 at the hi-dive

Slim Cessna, A. Tom Collins, Serious Moonlight and DJ MU$A top our weekly playlists

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Chris Brown is an ass who doesn't deserve another chance

​It's been a big week in the inexcusable career resurgence of Chris Brown. Rihanna allowed her restraining order against him to be eased. Apparently someone sitting on some unreleased photos of the damage Brown inflicted on his former girlfriend thought this would be a good opportunity to shar ... More >>

Day Job: Kevin Kain promoter by night, law school student by day

​Kevin Kain (aka Kevin Henderson) can typically be found posted up in the VIP area of the hottest clubs on any given weekend night, and occasionally a Thursday appearance at Club Vinyl's Reggae on the Roof.

Cut Chemist at the Gothic, 12/10/10

Paul LukesCut Chemist on Friday night at the Gothic Theatre.​ CUT CHEMIST J Flash • Skwared 12.10.10 | Gothic Theatre DJ Skwared took the stage at 9 p.m. Surprisingly, the kid in the Tap-Out hat knew his hip-hop. He started his set with Newcleus' "Jam On It," went into Juan Atkins' "Clear" ... More >>

Nosaj Thing at the Bluebird, 11/20/10

​ NOSAJ THING With Jogger • Toro Y Moi 11.20.10 | Bluebird Theater This is not a diatribe dedicated to hating on electronic music, music made via laptop, patchy synths or anything else that involves playing instrumentation off of a card table. This is simply a timeline of Saturday night's ... More >>

2010 DMC Finals in NYC: Cysko Rokwel reflects on the competition

​ As reported here last week, nearly half of the finalists competing for the US DMC title in New York City this past weekend hail from Colorado. Unfortunately, none of the five local contestants, who battled it out in front of a celebrity crowd against some of the most talented and well-seaso ... More >>

Top five TV themes ripe for mashup

Have you heard "Office Musik" yet? It's Clockwork mashing Lil' Wayne's "Hustler Musik" with the theme from The Office. It's good. So good that we listened to it about fifteen times yesterday. So good that it was Hype Machine's number one track at the same time that Entertainment Weekly wrote it up ... More >>

Freeloader: "I Don't Know" by Brikabrak and Naeem Oba

​Earlier today, we posted a Q&A with Brikabrak and Naeem Oba, and now we present you with a free track from the pair to download. Built upon a beat laid down by King Karnov, the track, "I Don't Know," centers on Naeem Oba's rhymes, which he recorded at CCM studios on Colfax, and Brikabrak's de ... More >>

Beyond Playlist: Modeselektor Body Language Vol. 8

​Modeselektor Body Language Vol. 8 Get Physical Music On Modeselektor's Body Language mix, the duo show an inventive and exciting approach to track selection and mixing. It's not easy to pull together a set that includes everything from Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes to Animal Collective, with ... More >>

Last Night: Rock the Bells at Red Rocks

Aaron Thackeray​Rock the Bells 2009 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Thursday, August 6, 2009 Better than: ringtone rap, anything associated with Auto-Tune or listening to the self-proclaimed newly anointed "King of Pop," Kanye West, talk about himself endlessly. Since 2003, Rock the Bells has been the pre ... More >>

Eminem grabs top spot at Independent Records for fourth week in a row

Eminem has been holding on to the top spot at Independent Records for a month now with his latest release, Relapse. Mos Def's The Ecstatic and Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D., both released last week, grabbed the second and third slots while Method Man & Redman and DJ Quick & Kurupt rounded out ... More >>

Denver greats pay tribute to hip-hop's greats at Get Down Wednesdays

Gotta love Denver, man. At the risk of sounding like a homer, the creativity here is invigorating. It seems cats are constantly striving to come up with compelling ways to put on shows, Stand By Your Band at the hi-dive, Denver Does Denver and now Hip-Hop Bites Back, an idea whose time has truly com ... More >>

Eminem grabs top spot at Independent Records

Eminem's Relapse grabbed the top spot for the second week in a row at Independent Records for the week ending May 31. Marilyn Manson's High End Low, released last week on Interscope, came in second while Tech N9ne, Method Man & Redman and Busta Rhymes rounded out the top five. See the full break ... More >>

From Mile High to Monolith, breaking down Denver's summer music fests

The Mile High Music Fest returns to Dick's with Tool, Widespread Panic and the Fray. With so many music festivals to fill up your summer and drain your pocketbook, we put together a handy rundown of Denver's fests, in order of their appearance on your calendar. Which are you looking most forward to ... More >>

Counting Crows, Rock the Bells and Black Keys shows announced

Just when we thought the Red Rocks summer line-up couldn't get any hotter, three more shows were just added to the schedule, including Counting Crows and Augustana on Wednesday, July 29, Rock the Bells '09, featuring Nas, Damian Marley, Busta Rhymes and more, on Thursday, August 6, and the Mountains ... More >>

Rap-Up: DJ Sabotage makes finals for Scion Hypeman contest

As we write this, DJ Sabotage is most likely on his way to Los Angeles, where he'll compete in the finals of Scion's Hypeman contest. What's a hypeman, you ask? Flavor Flav may be the most famous hypeman, but you definitely can't forget folks like Spliff Star (Busta Rhymes's hypeman), Fatman Scoop ( ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: Black Hollywood, Lil Kim, Naughty By Nature, Eminem

Friday Rap-Up: Scribble Jam, Run-DMC, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z

Over the Weekend...Paid Dues Festival @ Fillmore Auditorium

Friday Rap-Up: Showcase Hip-Hop History, Grandmaster Flash, Nas, Eminem and LL Cool J

Delegating Denver #36 of 56: New York

Freeloader

The best in legitimate, artist-approved downloads.

Friday Rap-Up: SP Double, F.O.E., Ghostface Killah, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne

Last Night: Rock the Bells @ Red Rocks

Bring Hip-Hop Back

Busta Rhymes

The Big Bang (Aftermath/Interscope Records)

Ciara

Saturday, June 11, Coors Amphitheater, 303-830-8497.

Club Scout

NBA All-Star Weekend

The Hustler

DJ Clinton Sparks has become a rising star by working harder than anyone else.

Following Suit

North High stages stark Blood Wedding

Tha Liks

X.O. Experience (Loud/Columbia)

Q-Tip

Amplified
(Arista)

Playlist

Beyond the Fugees

Pinning down Wyclef Jean, one of hip-hop's hottest commodities.

Playlist

Feedback

Simply the Quest

A Tribe Called Quest meets the press--in a manner of speaking.

Rhymes Pays

It's not easy being as wild as Busta Rhymes.