DJ Premier

Robotic Pirate Monkey

Booty Snatch
Self-released

Where to party in Denver on 4/20

See also: Pot critic William Breathes answers your cannabis queries in a special 4/20 edition

Raekwon's thoughts on storytelling in hip-hop

This Friday, Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan is teaming up with DJ Premier to celebrate 4/20 with the legendary DJ Premier at the 420 Extravaganja this Friday, April 19, at HoodLab. This show marks the first time Raekwon and DJ Premier share a bill. We spoke with Raekwon about the prospect of performing ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

In honor of Amendment 64: Ten stoner anthems, overt hip-hop odes to Mary Jane

Today's election marks a potentially monumental day for our state. With Amendment 64 on the ballot, Colorado is on the cusp of being the first state to regulate marijuana like alcohol. In honor of what could be a historic moment in the legislative annals of the Centennial State, we've compiled ten o ... More >>

Yasiin Bey at Cervantes, 10/05/12

YASIIN BEY @ CERVANTES' MASTERPIECE BALLROOM | 10/5/12 When Yasiin Bey stepped on stage at about half past midnight, the crowd was hungrily awaiting his arrival, freshly energized from an impressive set by Binary Star and ready now for the main event. Dressed in fitted white slacks, white collared ... More >>

DJ Premier and Pete Rock at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 9/22/12

DJ PREMIER & PETE ROCK @ CERVANTES' | 9/22/12 At the end of their set last night at Cervantes', DJ Premier's Houston Astro's hat was dripping with sweat, while Pete Rock appeared to have barely broken one. Over the course of their set, though, the two matched wits furiously playing through the genr ... More >>

The ten best concerts this weekend: Sept. 21-23

Hola, amigo! Welcome to the weekend! A massive amount of musical goodness awaits you this weekend, the first of this fall season. Whatever you feel like getting into, there are a ton of shows to choose from, whether you're looking for metal, rock, hip-hop or just want to party down like there's no s ... More >>

Paradox & DJ Sean P

Mending
Phatmass Records

New Colorado Concerts: Kreayshawn at the Fox, Sleigh Bells at the Boulder Theater and more

See also: - Alanis Morissette, State Radio, Adventure Club and more - Bruce Springsteen, Waka Flocka Flame, Chevelle and more - Gov't Mule two nights in September, Primus in November and more - The Who, New Order, the Script, Minus the Bear, Cursive and more - Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Odd Future ... More >>

Celebrating the life and rhymes of Biggie Smalls

This week, we're celebrating the life of the late, great Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G., who died fifteen years ago this week. One of hip-hop's most important teachers, Biggie Smalls, as he was affectionately known, empowered corner boys everywhere to tell the story of their struggle ... More >>

Re:Generation strives to break down barriers

This past Sunday during his acceptance speech on behalf of his band the Foo Fighters for Best Rock Performance at the 54th Annual Grammy awards, Dave Grohl made some comments that stirred the ire of some folks. Lauding the fact that Wasting Light, the album in question, had been recorded in his gara ... More >>

Re:Generation director Amir Bar-Lev: "I think real music lovers do their homework"

What happens when contemporary electronic musicians, DJs and producers are teamed with old masters of rock, jazz, soul and country? That's the question posed by the new documentary Re:Generation, which opens for a limited run of screenings around Denver on February 16. The film follows musical colla ... More >>

Ten best hip hop shows of 2011 in Denver

Eric GruneisenTyler, the Creator at the Ogden Theatre this past October​There were so many hip-hop shows and concerts this year, it was hard to keep count. The shows of note, though, were bangers and crowd pleasers and showcased dynamic artistry. With so many epic moments (?uestLove and Jazzy ... More >>

Review: DJ Premier, DJ Vajra and DJ Mu$a rock Shoe Shine 7, at City Hall, 11/19/11

DJ PREMIER at CITY HALL | 11/19/2011The masses came together last night to pay respect to one of hip-hop's living legends, DJ Premier at City Hall. Making his way cooly onto the stage to screams of "Preemo," DJ Premier got right to work with "Nas is Like." Half-man, half amazing, indeed, the New Yor ... More >>

DJ Premier

Saturday, November 19, City Hall, 303-832-8628.

DJ Premier on having a humble respect for the game and going back to using the old slang

Catch DJ Premier this Saturday at City Hall for Shoe Shine 7​DJ Premier is one of the greatest producers of all time. Ask anyone. He's a trailblazing pioneer that has influenced pretty much every hip-hop producer and beat maker doing it. Maintaining longevity unlike any producer or DJ in his l ... More >>

Geoff Barrow of Portishead on Blue Lines, Banksy, Silver Apples and his act's early success

Portishead​Portishead (due Thursday, October 27th, at 1stBank Center) wasn't the first band associated with the aesthetic of trip hop but it is the most commercially successful with major hits in the 1990s. The thing that made the band so remarkable was that the sound it crafted wasn't one tha ... More >>

Gramatik on joining Pretty Lights Music and what he has in store for his show at Red Rocks

​Gramatik (due at the Fillmore tonight and tomorrow at Red Rocks with Pretty Lights) used to be an MC who rapped with his buddies over his beats. He grew up in Slovenia listening to DJ Premier, Guru, Rza, Dre, and an arsenal of hip-hop and break beats fills his catalog of sample options. Now, ... More >>

Five reasons Dilla's still missed five years later

​ The hip-hop purists among us are very familiar with the story and legacy of James Dewitt Yancy, better known as J. Dilla. Having come up in the hip-hop underground scene in Detroit and later emerging as one of the most influential producers in hip-hop, it was Dilla's death at the height of ... More >>

2010 Red Bull Big Tune Finals, 11/18/10

Jennifer Boyer​ RED BULL BIG TUNE FINALS 11.18.10 | Metro, Chicago First there were eighteen. Then there was one. Last night at the Metro in Chicago where the 2010 Red Bull Big Tune finals took place, aspiring producers from around the country competed against each other in the hopes of rece ... More >>

RIP Guru, gone at the age of 43

​ By now you've heard about the loss of Keith "Keithy E" Elam, aka Guru, who passed away yesterday. If you're reading this right now, you're probably grappling with the tremendous loss of Guru and reflecting on the monumental impact he had on rap music -- despite the fact that he never really ... More >>

Guru shows love to Colo. hip-hop artists

For those unaware, Guru is founder and one half of legendary hip-hop group, GangStarr. Although the status of GangStarr is up in air (Guru says the group is done; DJ Premier says they're on a long break), the duo haven't talked since 2003. In the meantime, while DJ Premier is producing Christina Agu ... More >>

The Friday Rap-Up: Ice Cube, Phife, 50 Cent, Jam Master Jay

Friday Rap-Up: 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Nas

Distrakt

Distraktions
Yard Rock Records

Christina Aguilera

Back to Basics (RCA)

The World Within

When DJ Vadim traveled to the ends of the earth, he found hip-hop in every corner.

Living Out Loud

After a difficult beginning, J-Live gives hope to hip-hop.

Universal Man

Cultural awareness, positivity and groove are all part of the Common cause.

Mos Def

Black on Both Sides
(Rawkus)

Critic's Choice

Scene & Heard

Native Intelligence

Robbie Robertson digs into his past so he can move into the future.

Playlist

After Further Review

Putting the season's major releases to the test.

The Closing of the American Ear

We have more musical choices than ever before. So why are so few of us taking advantage of them?

Damage Control

Jeru the Damaja aims to save rap from itself.

SPECIAL EFX

DAS EFX TRIES TO KEEP IT GOING THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

PLAYLIST