De La Soul

Ten rappers and the artistic movements they exemplify

Stylistically, rap has exploded, and the pieces fall everywhere from the mind-bogglingly complex to the unbelievably simple, from the brazenly dissident to the unapologetically mainstream. Rappers' influences seem to come from everywhere, but the stylistic differences between an Aesop Rock and a 2 C ... 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 >>

The best concerts in Denver this weekend

ALABAMA SHAKES @ OGDEN THEATRE | SAT, 3/9/13 A number of bands are returning to a Southern-rock sound these days, but much of the music they're making is too derivative to be interesting. Alabama Shakes, fresh off a date warming up for Neil Young, bucks that trend. The group's members, who met in hi ... More >>

The ten best hip-hop shows this month

The hip-hop, as you know, doesn't stop. It's a new month, which means there's another fresh batch of dope shows for you. And trust: March has plenty of freshness on tap, from revered elder statesmen like De La Soul, Naughty By Nature and GZA to newer cats like Tech N9ne, French Montana and Kendrick ... 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 >>

Del The Funky Homosapien on putting more thought into the lyrics for Deltron's new album

Twelve years in the making, the sequel to Deltron 3030 has attained mythical stature in many underground hip hop circles. The original -- a turn-of-the-millenium sci-fi concept record that sprang from the collaboration of Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan The Automator and Kid Koala -- balanced a dark, ... 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: De La Soul at Cervantes', 10/29/11

​DE LA SOUL at CERVANTES' | 10/29/11De La Soul brought the noise to Cervantes this past Saturday. There was a notable air of nostalgia for '90s-era hip-hop, and people simply lost their minds when Posdnuos, Dave and Maseo rocked classic tracks like "Me, Myself and I" and "Stakes Is High," cuts ... 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 >>

In honor of Modest Mouse and Big Boi: A look at the Top 10 rap/rock collaborations of all time

​In case you haven't heard yet, Modest Mouse is working with Big Boi on its next album. Seriously. Yeah, we're having a hard time even trying to imagine what that's going to sound like. The news, however, did get us thinking about the ten of the best and rap/rock collaborations. You know Aeros ... More >>

Gorillaz at Wells Fargo, 10/24/10

Jon SolomonDamon Albarn of Gorillaz​ GORILLAZ With N.E.R.D. 10.24.10 | Wells Fargo Theatre In what will probably now become a legendary appearance at Wells Fargo Theatre last night, Gorillaz brought out a Colorado crowd in its truest form -- Dads, ravers, white people with dreads, babies, br ... More >>

Freeway and Jake One at the Bluebird

Rachel Romero​ Freeway & Jake One • Mane Rok 07.22.10 | Bluebird Theater The evening began with a soulful performance by longtime LIFE Crew ambassadors, Mane Rok and DJ Tense, who performed tracks off of Mane's first solo effort, The Ugly Truth, as well as a few throwback tracks from his e ... More >>

Freeway and Jake One

Thursday, July 22, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

Devin the Dude

Tuesday, May 11, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

Ralphie does Coachella without credentials

This isn't your daddy's Woodstock, your hippie cousin's Bonnaroo or your yuppie Chicago Uncle's Lollapalooza. This is Coachella, man, and it attracts the most pretentious music fans on the planet, who all choose to gather in grassy polo fields and endure intense desert heat for the same reason. We ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, September 1 edition

Drooling yet?​Mr. Ryan, you have my gratitude. Today in Cafe Society: • Meet Mr. Burger: Tom Ryan of Smashburger. • Fantasy football party deals abound in Denver. • Stomp Them Grapes moving north. • Otto's is outta Market Street. • End of summer pinot party tonight at Lala's Wine Ba ... More >>

Motorhead, Black Crowes, Butthole Surfers shows announced

When Motorhead rocked the Fillmore Auditorium last September, Lemmy and crew had the Misfits in tow. When the band hits the venue again on Saturday, September 26 the metal legends will co-headline with Reverend Horton Heat, and Nashville Pussy gets things warmed up. The Black Crowes also return the ... 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 >>

Party Like It's 1999: Your election-night party guide

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

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

Rock & Roll Grill

A recent benefit ends up helping no one.

Friday Rap-Up: F.O.E., Rock the Bells Tour, Nas, EPMD

The Rap-Up: Apostle, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mos Def, Beyonce

Delegating Denver #36 of 56: New York

Beyond Playlist: Charles Mingus and More

This Just In...

The latest nightlife news.

Copper Wired

Bid winter a fond farewell in the high country.

Bob Dorough

Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19, Dazzle, 303-839-5100.

Vinyl

Tuesday Ladies' Night returns.

Overseas MP3s

For just pennies a tune, you can build a primo music library and support free enterprise in Russia.

RRAAHH Potential

RRAAHH Foundashun shows what can be done when you have more talent than money.

Gorillaz

Demon Days (Virgin)

Soul School

After fifteen years of the grind, De La Soul is still schooling folks.

The Roots

The Tipping Point (Geffen Records)

Hacked Off

Bubbling beneath the sweet-sounding hill music of the Hackensaw Boys is a wellspring of political discontent.

Critic's Choice

Hackensaw Boys

Critic's Choice

Themselves

Styles, Slum Village and Clipse

A Gangster and a Gentleman (Ruff Ryder)
Trinity (Past, Present and Future)
Lord Willin' (Star Trak)

Discmania

Backbeat writers revisit their favorite albums of the year.

Hit Pick

Kingdom

Best Hip-Hop DJ

DJ Chonz

In the Thick of It

For more than a decade, the Jungle Brothers have remained members of hip-hop's original tribe.

The Wide World of Rap

Exploring the endless variety of today's hip-hop.

Playlist

The Shadow Knows

DJ Shadow makes instrumental music. But he can't keep quiet about the state of hip-hop.

Simply the Quest

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

THRILLS

PRESS RELATIONS