Erykah Badu

The ten best concerts in Denver this weekend

LEFTOVER SALMON @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | FRI & SAT, 3/29-3/30 Leftover Salmon has graced the the bluegrass scene with their talents for 23 years and counting. With the passing of Mark Vann in 2001, the band hasn't produced an album in eight years. The new addition of Andy Thorn, carried over from Emmitt ... 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 >>

OMFG! Turbonegro is coming to Denver! So's Bassnectar and Soundgarden. See who else...

Turbonegro is finally coming to Colorado! Granted, it's with the new frontman -- whose name I haven't even bothered to learn yet because, well, he's got some big shoes to fill taking over for Hank von Helvete -- but it's still Turbonegro! Last time I saw these dudes, they literally rocked my face of ... 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

Flying Lotus on how J Dilla really did change his life by making music that was deep and heartfelt

Flying Lotus is one of the most innovative electronic producers out right now. Born Steven Ellison but better known these days by his stage handle, the L.A.-based artist began making beats at the age of fourteen, and with his omnivorous taste in music, he's gone on to create lush, detailed music wit ... More >>

The Best of SXSW Music: Saturday 3/17/2012

So, we come to it: the end of all things. Four days of madness, Doritos, Skrillex and finally, St. Patrick's Day. Before we bid SXSW 2012 farewell, allow us to share our favorite moments from SXSW day four. Later, we'll let you know which shows weren't so hot. Find our favorites below, and if there ... 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 >>

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 >>

Lizzie Huffman is a Pretty Old Soul

Janelle MonÁe

Sunday, May 29, 1STBANK Center, 303-830-8497.

Five rap albums to take on the mothership when the government shuts down at midnight

​Tonight when the clock strikes midnight, you should expect calamity, destruction, and famine to sweep the nation, because word on the street says the government is shutting down. Word to Chicken Little: A bunch of awful things are supposed to happen...we think. They don't pay us the big bucks ... More >>

Wu-Tang, Erykah Badu, Yelawolf and more at the Village Voice/Frank 151 SXSW Showdown

Photo: Nate "Igor" SmithGZA the Genius of Wu-Tang Clan. See the full slideshow from last night.​Last night at the the Austin Music Hall, we helped music fans and industry nerds cross a few groups off their bucket lists, as well as see another singer-as-DJ and hear the ear-ringing guitars of a ... More >>

FanTrail app aims to mobilize fans. Take to the Oars one of the first acts on board for launch.

​It's no secret that smartphones have changed the way we experience music, but most of the apps we've seen thus far have been spotty, poorly realized cash grabs that have little or nothing to do with the artists in question.

Village Voice Media and Frank 151 throw down at SxSW with Wu-Tang Clan and Yelawolf

​WU-hah! If you're going to SXSW this year, be sure to mark Thursday, March 17 on your calendar with a big fat red circle. Austin Music Hall is the place to be from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. for our annual Village Voice Showdown, being co-produced by Frank 151. This year, Wu-Tang Clan is headlining the ... 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 >>

Our 55 favorite musical releases of 2010

Pretty Lights, Ween and Jay-Z filled our playlists this week

​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 >>

The National, Bassnectar, Sleigh Bells, the Slits filled our playlists this past week

​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 >>

Air Dubai, Lil Wayne and DJ Krush fill our playlists this week

​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 >>

Nofrendo on being funkier than a mosquito's tweeter and taking listeners on a journey through sound

​ Nofrendo (aka Joseph Meezy) is the beat making equivalent of Nina Simone. Built on his love for soul and all things raw and gritty, his production style begets welcoming anachronistic melodies. Quite different from the sped up soul sample moves of many producers, he takes the properties of ... More >>

Big Boi, the Roots, Rick Ross, FOE & Whygee dominate our playlists this week

Jason StoffBig Boi, shown here at this past weekend's Pitchfork Festival, dominated our 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?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, ... More >>

Erykah Badu, Brian Eno on our playlists this week

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Erykah Badu offers a window seat to her soul at the Fillmore

​ Erykah Badu • Janelle Monae 06.16.10 | Fillmore Auditorium Before Erykah Badu's set, a DJ was spinning and doing live mixes of pop hits of yesteryear, stopping or slowing down the music every now and then to let the crowd enthusiastically fill in the blanks. During "Poison" by Bell Biv D ... More >>

Win an unbelievably rad Erykah Badu prize pack that includes tickets to tonight's show

​ In case you haven't heard, Erykah Badu's in town tonight at the Fillmore with Janelle Monáe, whom we caught at Red Rocks this past weekend with MGMT. Not only do we have tickets to the show tonight, but they're part of a rad prize pack that includes a T-shirt, two CDs, stickers and -- for ... More >>

10 Most WTF Music Videos of 2010 (NSFW)

​ Above is a screen grab from Lady Gaga's video for her latest single, "Alejandro." Her official website says the full video is "coming soon," and if this Gagapedia entry is to be believed, it will involve deaths, surprise twists, vampire fangs and was directed by fashion photographer Stephen ... More >>

The Chain Gang of 1974, Jónsi, Wire Faces and more 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?" So 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 ... More >>

B.o.B., Bop Skizzum, Tommy Metz and The Pirate Signal 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?" So 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 ... More >>

Sharon Jones, Erykah Badu top sellers at local record stores

​While there were no clear winners across the board at local record stores, Erykah Badu took the top spot at Albums on the Hill, while Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings' latest effort, I Learned the Hard Way, claimed the top slot at Twist & Shout for the week ending April 11. Dr. Dog's Shame, Sham ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of April 5, 2010

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Lollapalooza lineup revealed. Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga among the headliners

This year's Lollapalooza lineup has been revealed. Bold face names this time around: Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire and Erykah Badu, alongside nearly ninety of the brightest emerging acts, including MGMT, Grizzly Bear, the National, Yeasayer, Phoenix, Frightened Rabbit and Edward S ... More >>

Erykah Badu, She & Him top sellers at local record stores

​Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, released last week on Motown, took the top spots at Albums on the Hill and Twist & Shout, while claiming the number four slot at Independent Records. Meth, Ghost & Rae's Wu Massacre , meanwhile, released last week on Def Jam, and She & ... More >>

Heavy Rotation: Pretty Lights, Liars, Gorillaz top our weekly playlists

Pretty Lights. Photo by Aaron Thackeray​ ​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?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, o ... More >>

Top Ten Cover Songs of the Decade

Arcade Fire goes undercover.​There have been billions of songs written in the last decade but sometimes it's not the new ones that matter, it's the reimaginings. Some people argue a great cover song is decided by it's accuracy to the original, others want something new to be brought into the m ... More >>

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu

This Amerykahn chanteuse makes statements, not singles.

Q&A with Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson of the Roots

Q&A With Erykah Badu

Friday Rap-Up: Apostle, Lil Wayne, The Game, Prodigy

Friday Rap-Up: D.O. The Fabulous Drifter, 50 Cent, Grandmaster Flash, Foxy Brown

This Week in Hip Hop

Get Down With Dave

Chappelle returns with a raucous Block Party.

Zap Mama

Monday, September 26, Boulder Theater, Boulder, 303-786-7030.

The Sugar Water Festival

Tuesday, August 2, Coors Amphitheatre, 303-830-8497.

Common

Electric Circus (MCA)

Critic's Choice

Meshell Ndegeocello

Musiq Maker

On his latest album, the Soulchild grows up.

Critic's Choice

Erykah Badu

On the Records

Backbeat contributors reflect on the releases that helped them survive the year 2000.

Angie Stone

Black Diamond
(Arista)

And the Winners Are ...

Handing out the trophies for 1997's best albums.