Subject: Jay-Z

• Top Music Turkeys and Other Assorted Goodies

  November 20, 2007

• Friday Rap-Up

  December 14, 2007

• List of Lists and Other Assorted Goodies

  January 2, 2008

• Friday Rap-Up: DJ Bedz, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Flavor Flav

  February 8, 2008

• The Friday Rap-Up: DJ Low Key, Jay-Z, KRS-One, Buckshot, Dr. Dre

  February 29, 2008

• Friday Rap-Up: Ichiban, Ludacris, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z

  August 1, 2008

• Friday Rap-Up: Julox, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Aftermath Records

  August 8, 2008

• The Westword.com blog shortcut, August 20 edition

  August 20, 2008

• Fighting the Power

  Rapper Nas steps back into the ring, fists flying.

  March 21, 2002

• Best Record Store for Hip-Hop Hopefuls

  March 29, 2001

• Jay-Z sadly missing from inaugural soundtrack

  So I just flipped on the inauguration, a few minutes before Obama took the oath, and who do I see playing to usher in the 44th President, our first African-American president, the first president who acknowledges having Jay-Z on his iPod? Let me give you a hint. It wasn't Jay-Z. It wasn't Kanye (although I doubt he will claim this president doesn't care about black people). Hell, it wasn't even MC Hammer. Nope, it was a cellist named Yo Yo Ma, if I am not mistaken, and while I can't hate on his

  January 20, 2009

• Rie Rie

  May 13, 2004

• Wil Key

  February 12, 2009

• Shake Your Bootie

  April 3, 2008

• Jay-Z

  American Gangster
  Roc-A-Fella

  November 15, 2007

• Genre-Bending

  April 26, 2007

• Fall Out Boy

  Friday, May 11, Coors Amphitheatre, 303-830-8497.

  May 10, 2007

• Nas

  Wednesday, April 25, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.

  April 19, 2007

• Rap Sheet

  Comeback kids, rhymin' Limeys and songs about partying defined Hip-Hop Nation in 2006.

  January 4, 2007

• Jay-Z vs. Stallone

  A pop-quiz in honor of Hova and Balboa both coming out of retirement.

  December 14, 2006

• Critical Fatwa

  Cam’ron

  March 16, 2006

• Teairra Mari

  Roc-A-Fella Records Presents Teairra Marí (Roc-A-Fella)

  September 15, 2005

• Westword Music Showcase 2005

  June 23, 2005

• Terror Squad

  True Story (Universal)

  September 30, 2004

• Mobb Rules

  After six albums, Mobb Deep is still creating hell on earth.

  July 15, 2004

• DJ N-Wee

  The Slack Album (TheSlackAlbum.com)

  May 13, 2004

• Tech N9ne

  Thursday, April 29, Ogden Theatre, 303-830-2525.

  April 29, 2004

• Dead Prez

  RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta (Sony/Columbia)

  April 22, 2004

• Jay-Z

  The Black Album (Def Jam)

  February 5, 2004

• For the Record

  For national releases, 2003 wonked as much as it rocked.

  December 25, 2003

• Fade to Black

  Jay-Z hosts a listening party for his latest opus, The Black Album.

  November 20, 2003

• Nas

  God's Son (Columbia)

  February 13, 2003

• He's Got the Beat

  Going back to his roots, Scratch gives lip service to the lost art of beatboxing.

  July 18, 2002

• Feedback

  May 20, 1999

• Good Times, Gangsta Style

  The Hard Knock Life tour puts on a happy face.

  May 6, 1999

• Getting Big

  Ex-Denver DJ Big Jon Platt on how to succeed in business by really, really trying.

  October 22, 1998

• Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of August 31, 2009

  ​As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of all the things we're listening to this week. Feel free to chime in with picks of your own after the jump.

  September 2, 2009

• Jay-Z grabs top spot at Independent Records

  ​Blueprint 3, Jay-Z's highly anticipated follow-up to his two previous Blueprint albums, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records while Raekwon's latest effort, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 came in second for the week ending September 13. Insane Clown Posse's Bang! Pow! Boom!, which was the top seller last, moved down to the third slot while Trey Songz and Twista round out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  September 14, 2009

• Mariah Carey grabs top spot at Independent Records

  ​Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, released last week on Island, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the week ending October 4. Black Give Way to Blue, Alice in Chain's first album with new singer William DuVall, and Dethklok's Dethalbum II claimed the second and third slots, while Fiver Finger Death Punch's War is the Answer and Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 7, 2009

• Avett Brothers top seller at Bart's CD Cellar

  ​The Avett Brothers' I and Love and You, released last week on American Recordings, grabbed the top spot at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending October 4. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains' Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angels and Trick Daddy's Finally Famous rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 8, 2009

• Jay-Z back on top at Independent Records

  ​After holding on the top spot for a weeks in a row and then moving down to the fifth spot last week, Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 is back on top at Independent Records for the week ending October 11. Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which grabbed the top spot last week, moved down to the second slot while Ghostface Killah's Wizard of Poetry came in at number three. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 13, 2009

• Avett Brothers on top again at Bart's CD Cellar

  ​The Avett Brothers' I and Love and You grabbed the top spot at Bart's CD Cellar again for the week ending October 11. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains' Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel and Lil Boosie Superbad rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 14, 2009

• Jay-Z top seller at Independent Records again

  ​Jay-Z, who's been dominating Independent's charts for the past two months with The Blueprint 3, was on top again for the week ending October 18. Mario's D.N.A., released last week on J Records, debuted at second while Drake's So Far Gone came in at third. The Flaming Lips' Embryonic and Five Finger Death Punch's War is the Answer rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 20, 2009

• Rammstein top seller at Independent Records

  ​German industrial metal band Rammstein nabbed the top spot at Independent Records with Liebe Ist Für Alle Da, the band's sixth studio effort released last week on the Vagrant imprint. Jay-Z, who had been at number one for the last few weeks with Blueprint 3 was knocked down to the second slot while Mario, Five Finger Death Punch and Drake rounded out the top five for the week ending October 25. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 26, 2009

• Flaming Lips top sellar at Bart's CD Cellar

  ​The Flaming Lips new album, Embryonic, was the top seller at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending October 25, while Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Roseanne Cash's The List grabbed the second and third spots. Bob Dylan's new Christmas album and Kevon Edwards' Who Knew rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  October 29, 2009

• Tech N9NE top seller at Independent Records

  ​Tech N9NE's K.O.D., released last week on Strange Music, nabbed the top spot on Independent Records' charts for the week ending November 1. Michael Jackson's soundtrack to the film This is It and Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 came in at second and third, while Swollen Member's Armed to the Teeth and Z-Ro's Cocaine rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump. 

  November 5, 2009

• Jay-Z tour confirmed, Kevin Smith show canceled

  ​Jay-Z, whose Blueprint 3 has been a strong seller since hitting the streets two months ago, just confirmed his 2010 North American tour that includes a stop at the Pepsi Center Monday, March 22. Grammy-nominated rapper Young Jeezy will open the show and tickets go on sale Friday, November 13 at LiveNation.com. Live Nation also just announced that film director/actor Kevin Smith had to cancel his show at the Fillmore Auditorium on Saturday, November 21 due to scheduling conflicts with his film

  November 5, 2009

• Tech N9NE top seller at Independent Records again

  ​Tech N9NE's latest effort, K.O.D., grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the second week in a row, while Slayer's new disc, World Painted Blood, came in second and Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 grabbed the third slot. Michael Jackson's This is It and Say Anything's new self-titled album rounded out the top five for the week ending November 8.

  November 10, 2009

• Tech N9NE grabs top spot at Independent Records again

  ​Tech N9NE's latest effort, K.O.D., continues to dominate the top sellers at Independent Records and grabs the number one spot for the third week in a row. Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, meanwhile, still holds strong and claimed the second slot, while Wale's Attention Deficit, released last week on Interscope, debuted at number three for the week ending November 15. Hollywood Undead's Desperate Measures and Flyleaf's Memento Mori round out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  November 18, 2009

• Michael Jackson top seller at Bart's CD Cellar

  ​Michael Jackson's This is It came in first at Bart's CD Cellar for the week ending November 15 while Gov't Mule's By a Thread and Triple C's Custom Cars & Cycles grabbed the second and third spots respectively. Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Creed's Full Circle rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump. 

  November 19, 2009