Hip-Hop and Rap

Pusha T

Tuesday, May 14, Ogden Theatre, 888-929-7849.

A rundown of the rap world's favorite drugs

Drug culture isn't relegated exclusively to rock, obviously. For its part, the rap game is equally loaded with drug references of all kinds, from Promethazine and DMT to LSD and PCP, and likewise addled with its own cautionary tales and fatalities. While there's nothing as concrete to suggest that d ... More >>

Ten best hip-hop shows in Denver this month

FLOBOTS @ AGGIE THEATRE | FRI, 5/3/13 Half a decade after releasing the platinum single "Handlebars," which made rounds on radios across the country, the Flobots have grown significantly, both as a musical group and as a philanthropic force within the Denver community. Since parting ways with Univer ... More >>

JRebelZ on female MCs finding their own voice instead of playing second fiddle to men

JRebelZ is steadily making a name for herself in the local hip-hop scene. Known otherwise as Jaqueline Rodriguez, JRebelZ came to Denver from El Paso more than a decade ago, and says Nas is the one who sparked her passion for rhyming. We recently caught up with the MC, who just dropped a video for h ... More >>

The ten best diss tracks of all time

Since hip-hop's genesis, beef has been as integral a driving force to the art as bravado. There's been some titanic tangles over the years, from Canibus facing off with LL Cool J to Jay-Z and Nas locking horns with one other, all of which have resulted in some relentless and incendiary rhymes being ... More >>

Boston Marathon bombing suspect was a rap fan: Ten song lyrics Dzhokhar Tsarnaev tweeted

Time and distance provide prospective -- isn't that what they say? Sure enough, the further removed we are from the recent Boston Marathon bombing, the more the picture appears to be coming into focus of the two brothers alleged to have conducted the terror plot. From analyzing their online presen ... More >>

Did Daft Punk "Get Lucky" with Pharrell, or vice versa? Examining Pharrell's ten greatest misses

Before it was even released, "Get Lucky," the first single from Daft Punk's forthcoming album "Random Access Memories," set the world on fire. From the fan edits of the track to the sixty second commercial from Saturday Night Live to the album teaser from Coachella, "Get Lucky" generated more than t ... 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 >>

Method Man and Redman at Cervantes', 4/20/13

METHOD MAN & REDMAN @ CERVANTES' | 4/20/13 Appearing to a sold out crowd, hip-hop and weed icons Method Man and Redman turned Cervantes into a backyard house party as the MCs delighted the crowd with classic hits and an energetic stage show that showcased their timeless music. The ballroom served as ... More >>

The twelve best concerts in Denver this weekend

LUCERO @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | THURS, 4/18/13 Outside of perhaps the Hold Steady -- which shares a proclivity for Bruce Springsteen -- nobody plays straight-up rock these days as convincingly as Lucero. Led by Ben Nichols's gravelly croak, Lucero borrows liberally from the Boss and Lynyrd Skynyrd on so ... More >>

The fifty greatest rap groups of all time: 50-26

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 >>

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 >>

The ten greatest East Coast rappers of all time

The East Coast, particularly New York, is the mecca of hip-hop. It's birthplace and still the most reliable source for pure, uncut, unadulterated rap music. Chronicling the great MCs from the region would result in a list of hundreds. Ranking the top ten proves somewhat limiting, but it's also an en ... More >>

The ten greatest Midwest rappers of all time

The Midwest is the bastard child of the American rap scene at large -- unsung and independent, with a massive chip on its shoulder. The most talented artists from the Midwest have succeeded each with their own unique style and flavor, regardless of what was making money elsewhere in the country at a ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Chris Karns (formerly DJ Vajra), Lil Bad, Pries and J Dubb

Another week, another fresh batch of Colorado hip-hop. We've got a brand new mix from Chris Karns, who is retiring his DJ Vajra moniker. We've also got a new single from Pries, along with fresh cuts from Lil Bad and AP and J Dubb. Continue on to see what's good this week in local hip-hop. See also: ... More >>

The ten greatest West Coast rappers of all time

West Coast rap is sometimes disparaged by hip-hop purists for it's perceived lack of lyricism and substance, but what it lacks in lyrical acrobatics and "message," it more than makes up for in personality. Whether the aesthetic is raw and violent or chill and relaxed, the sentiment comes through equ ... More >>

The ten most underrated rappers of all time

What contributes to a rapper's underrated status? Is it the unwillingness to compromise? The inability to compromise? An early demise? Bad promotion? Possibly all of these things and more? Whatever the case, with these rappers, it's certainly not for a lack of talent. We put together a list of the t ... More >>

Here's what the Denver Nuggets are listening to

On Friday night, I had the chance to chop it up with some of the Denver Nuggets in the locker room before they completely whooped ass on the Brooklyn Nets. With the exception of my two favorite players (who evidently don't do interviews before a game, as they both tersely informed me), everybody was ... More >>

The ten best hip-hop shows in Denver this April

SAGE FRANCIS @ FOX THEATRE | THU, 4/18 When evaluating an artist like Sage Francis, the question inevitably arises: Should a musician be cherished for the values they hold and their loyalty to said values or their ability to make enjoyable and listenable music? If it's the former, then Sage Francis ... 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 >>

The 50 best rap lyrics of all time: Complete list

Last week, we took a look at the fifty worst rap lyrics of all time. Going through all the dreck and drivel to get to the crème de la crème of crappiness was tedious and rather exhausting. This week, we even things out by taking a look at the other end of the spectrum and examining rap lyrics to f ... More >>

The 50 best rap lyrics of all time: 50-26

Last week, we took a look at the fifty worst rap lyrics of all time. Culling through all the dreck and drivel to get to the crème de la crème of crappiness was tedious and rather exhausting. This week we even things out by taking a look at the other end of the spectrum and examining the fifty best ... More >>

The 50 worst rap lyrics: The complete list

We've finally arrived: The The best of the worst. The creme de la crap. The unholy of unholies. If you thought 50-11 were bad, you ain't seen nothin' yet. These are the lyrics that can turn a good album sour, and make a bad album laughable. Included are quotes from Eminem, Lil B, J. Cole, 2 Chainz, ... More >>

Indie hip-hop icon Murs on touring the country while juggling a festival

The 50 worst rap lyrics of all time: 20-11

We've almost reached the end of our countdown of rap's most dreadful lyrics. Think you can stomach ten more? Good. Purely by coincidence, today's selections feature some of hip-hop's most memorable scientific and mathematical gaffes. And we're not talking anything complicated, here; we mean basic ma ... More >>

The 50 worst rap lyrics of all time: 30-21

This week, we've presented the first two editions of our worst lyrics in hip-hop. Today, the parade of awfulness continues. These next ones are even worse than before, and we're only halfway done. Be prepared for lines from Lil' Wayne (again, again), Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and Pitbull. Keep reading ... More >>

The 50 worst rap lyrics of all time: 40-31

Okay, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, and it does. Yesterday, I ran down some of the lamest lines, the worst rap lyrics from 50-41, and today we inch ever closer to the top of the bottom. Spoiler alert: Lil' Wayne makes the cut (again), as does Jay-Z (twice), as well as Eminem, Atmo ... More >>

The fifty worst rap lyrics (50-41)

Listen, before I breakdown rap's worst lyrics, you should know, I don't hate Lil' Wayne. No, really. I like him just fine. But even good rappers get caught slipping, as evidenced by the fact that Lil' Wayne makes several appearances on this list. And while picking low-hanging fruit is the nature of ... 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 >>

Ras Kass

Thursday, February 28, Oriental Theater, 720-420-0030.

Ten most enigmatic figures in hip-hop

Sometimes there are figures in music whose mysterious and inscrutable magnetism transcends the music they make. More than musicians, they become cultural figures whose every move is analyzed every which way in an effort to figure out what's going on in that great gray matter, as Frank Ocean puts it. ... More >>

Ten acts that helped make hip-hop more accessible to mainstream audiences

Hip-hop is a world unto itself. Its rich tradition of spoken word poetry, self-referential subject matter and electronic and sample-based production make it, in many ways, a difficult musical form to adapt to, especially if you come from a more traditional background. These ten acts helped make rap ... More >>

Hip-hop 101: Adam Bradley is revolutionizing education...one rap at a time

See also: The poetry of Jalon Martin, Adam Bradley's Montbello rap student

Ten best hip-hop shows in Denver this month

February is already off to a good start for hip-hop with a pair of great shows this past weekend, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at Icelantic's Winter on the Rocks and Brother Ali with Prof, Danny Brown and Evidence at Cervantes'. Even excluding those shows, the rest of the month looks to be just as enti ... More >>

The ten best storytellers in hip-hop

The art of storytelling has existed since before recorded history, so it's somewhat surprising that the practice didn't take off in hip-hop, an originally oral tradition, until the late '80s. Since rappers discovered just how captivating a well-told story could be, the storytelling track has become ... More >>

MGK on his time in Denver and how his live performance is the best hip-hop has ever seen

Machine Gun Kelly (named after the infamous early 20th Century gangster) is well-known for his rapid-fire delivery, rabid fan base, "Wild Boy" persona and crazy antics (during a performance for a Microsoft Store, he was stomping across tables, destroying several computers before getting shut down by ... More >>

A-L

Future Classic Music
Self-released

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 >>

Ten best hip-hop Christmas songs

For as many ill conceived hip-hop Christmas cuts that have been produced over the years, there have been as least as many that were great. While they're not all necessarily fun, feel good songs meant to get you in the spirit of the season, and some deal directly with the ills of the holiday or criti ... 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 >>

T.I. at 1STBANK Center, 12/15/12

T.I. / KS-107.5 JINGLE JAM @ 1STBANK CENTER | 12/15/12 After a bit of a wait, the lights dimmed. Screams of delight filled the 1STBANK Center, fighting for preeminence in a veritable bass-made earthquake. A booming, overpowering voice delivered a fiery sermon as the man of the evening finally took ... 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 >>

Win tickets to see T.I. at 1STBANK on Saturday

Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, T.I.'s brand new album doesn't hit until Tuesday, but there's a solid chance you'll get to hear at least part of the record, including "Hello," the new cut featuring Cee Lo that just dropped, at 1STBANK Center when T.I. headlines KS 107.5's Jingle Jam with Lupe Fiasco ... More >>

Public Enemy at the Ogden Theatre, 12/8/12

PUBLIC ENEMY @ OGDEN THEATRE| 2/4/12 Flava Flav was in top form last night at the Ogden Theatre, from hamming it up informing everybody that Manny Pacquaio got knocked out in the sixth round to sharing the story of how he came to wearing the ever-present iconic clock around his neck. But it was whe ... More >>

Action Bronson

Wednesday, November 28, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399; Thursday, November 29, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

Action Bronson on how he and Alchemist wrote Rare Chandeliers underwater while scuba diving

Before he gained notoriety as an MC with his 2011 studio debut Dr. Lecter, he was well respected as a New York chef (his lyrics are still garnished with references to foods of all sorts). But while he shares a profession with Raekown, another well known New York Chef, the Wu-Tang member he most freq ... More >>

BurntMD

Not So Black & White
Self-released

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 >>