Mobb Deep

The ten best concerts in Denver this weekend

PRINCE @ OGDEN THEATRE | SUN & MON, 5/12-5/13 Prince became a household name after the release of his third album, 1982's 1999. Over the years, his perfectly realized blend of rock, pop, funk and jazz has proved equally popular with audiences and critics. Throughout the '80s, Prince released hit rec ... More >>

Mobb Deep

Friday, May 10, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

The ten best concerts to see in Denver this week

SHABAZZ PALACES @ LARIMER LOUNGE | MON, 5/6/13 In the first half of the '90s, Ishmael Butler went by the moniker "Butterfly" as part of the rap trio Digable Planets. After the outfit's 1995 split, the group performed one-off shows here and there, but since 2009, Butler has released music with Tendai ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 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 >>

Disarming lyrics and vivid imagery make Danny Vincennie Extra Kool

Ten essential gangsta rap albums

Many hip-hop fans, those who love rap -- hell, even some rappers -- have an aversion to gangsta rap for its objectionable content. Common named the rise of gangsta rap as one of the many steps in hip-hop's downfall in "I Used to Love H.E.R.," a sentiment that, of course, began a contentious relation ... More >>

The music fan's guide to voting

The defining narrative of American politics since the turn of the millennium seems to be that 'We the people' are screwed no matter who gets elected. Elect a Republican: We engage in pre-emptive war, the national deficit skyrockets, and we sacrifice education and infrastructure investment. Elect a D ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from BLKHRTS, Subculture Icons, Mr. Midas with SP Double and more

We've got a slew of new hip-hop to share with you this week: BLKHRTS collaborate with Rockie and Innerstate Ike on FOE's joint, "My Team Winning," Six O'Clock and friends, meanwhile, represent the underground with their Mobb Deep/Alchemist-esque joint as Subculture Icons, Fort Collins MC Moss gets h ... More >>

Aloe Blacc, Harry Nilsson, Kid Cudi 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 >>

SP Double released from Digital Dollar, back in Denver with a new plan and completed album

​ When SP Double signed with Digital Dollar, a record label run by Brian Hutcheson out of Orlando, Florida, it appeared as though he was gone for good. SP moved his whole operation out to the Sunshine State, and got right to work, perfecting tracks for his new album, Loyalty, Honor, Respect, ... More >>

Graffiti Black on his muses, inspiration and the four categories of Colorado hip-hop

​Hailing from Montbello, Graffiti Black is a 23-year-old producer, writer and graphic designer known for creating sharp and distinct sounds that are both vibrant and accessible. He flips familiar elements and samples with flair and an experienced ear. Artists such as Innerstate Ike, Mr. Midas, ... More >>

Top Five reuses of Teddy Pendergrass Songs

​It was sad news when we found out Teddy Pendergrass had died on Wednesday of colon cancer. As others began collecting the best of his songs into comprehensive and downright exhaustive lists, we started thinking about who had used his sultry baritone or music for other ends. His songs have bee ... More >>

Gangcharger creates beauty from harsh noise

Q&A with Ethan Ward of Gangcharger

Tom MurphyGangcharger's Ethan Ward at the Meadowlark​Gangcharger started out as something of a side-project Ethan Ward did with a few friends. Few probably saw or remember the earliest incarnation of the band, but when it started up full force at the end of 2008, even if you didn't like the ac ... 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 >>

Rap-Up: 93.3 KTCL adds hip-hop artist Improv to Top 10

Nowadays, alternative rock station 93.3 KTCL is showing more and more love to hip-hop music on the air. First it was the Flobots being added to daily rotation last year, then it was the addition of Judgemental (of Basementalism) to Ralphie's First Trax show on Saturday mornings (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) that ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: On Point, Lil Wayne, Scarface, Common

Friday Rap-Up: Side 3 Studios, Kanye West, Common, Rappers on Sean Bell verdict

Friday Rap-Up: Basementalism, Hip-Hop 4 Obama, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Juvenile

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

Friday Rap-Up: SP Double, F.O.E., Ghostface Killah, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne

Friday Rap-Up

Rap Sheet

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

Mobb Deep

Monday, May 22, Gothic Theatre, 1-866-468-7621.

Spray-On Soul

Getting Up is a flawed but fascinating ode to graffiti 's early years.

The Hustler

DJ Clinton Sparks has become a rising star by working harder than anyone else.

Mobb Deep

Amerikaz Nightmare (Jive Records)

Mobb Rules

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

Don Is Breaking

With a new full-length album and his own record label, Denver rapper Don Blas is lighting up the local hip-hop scene.

Judgment Day

Backbeat contributors offer up their favorite recordings of 1999.

The Prize Patrol

The biggest musical winners from 1996.

Rhymes of Passion

The Fugees are determined to make rap, not war.