Mr. Midas

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Hustle Man, Whygee, Drop Switch and Fly4Wird

Another week, another fresh batch of local hip-hop. We've got new joints from the Southern-flavored but fully local Hustle Man, as well as a new cut from Whygee that name-checks one of East High School's most famous former students, plus a nighttime call to action from Drop Switch and a sneak peek a ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Mr. Midas, Myke Charles, Smoke G & 2MX2 and Int'l Petey

The Colorado hip-hop scene is starting off strong in the new year. Here we are less than a month in, and already we've been treated to a number of choice cuts. This week, we've got a fresh batch of local hip-hop, including a new track from Mr. Midas, featuring L.A.M.A. Squad, Foodchain and SP Double ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from Pries, SP Double, Myke Charles, Molina Speaks, AG Flux and more

Another week, another batch of fresh hip-hop from the Mile High City. Pries draws all eyes to him with The Lonely Kid Show, the tireless SP double shows his proficiency on "The Mission Statement," Myke Charles, FL and the ReMINDers take on some G.O.O.D. music in "The Mourning," Black Mask member AGF ... More >>

Getting stoned with MU$A

Our state recently made history by voting to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In honor of this momentous occasion -- and while the specific legalities are being ironed out with the feds -- we thought we'd take a few minutes to catch up with various members of our musical community, the known ... More >>

Getting stoned with Brandon Taylor

Our state recently made history by voting to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In honor of this momentous occasion -- and while the specific legalities are being ironed out with the feds -- we thought we'd take a few minutes to catch up with various members of our musical community, the known ... More >>

Pot 107.1, Denver's Dope Hits, gets extinguished to make room for the return of Jack FM

Update 12/4/12: Well, that was short-lived. Turns out Pot 107 was an aberration after all, and not a actual format. If you tuned in to the 107.1 frequency this morning hoping to hear Denver's Dope Hits, you no doubt noticed that, rather than hearing an endless loop of ganja goodness, you were greete ... More >>

Getting stoned with Benjamin King Anders

Last month Colorado made history by becoming the first state where residents voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In honor of this momentous occasion -- and while the specific legalities are being ironed out with the feds -- Backbeat, our music blog, decided to catch up with various mem ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from SP Double, Mr. Midas, SF1, Turner Jackson and Kid Hum and more

There's a ton of fresh music from the scene, including Colorado Crates Vol. 1, a free compilation hosted and mixed by SP Double and featuring a bunch of local favorites, including SP, Mr Midas, Innerstate Ike, Foodchain, Cola Diva, Spoke In Words and more. Speaking of Spoke In Words, he's also dropp ... More >>

Backbeat's five most listened-to songs and albums, week of September 5, 2012

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be too surprising to find that the most common (and our mutually favorite) topic of conversation among all of us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and boy, wouldn't you ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T. at the Bluebird, 7/18/19

BIG K.R.I.T. @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7.18.19 See Also: - Big K.R.I.T. at the Marquis, 10/21/10 - Mr. Midas and Big K.R.I.T. collab on "Back On" Big K.R.I.T. calls himself the King Remembered In Time, an appropriate name, because he truly is timeless. When the big king stepped on stage, all stern-face ... More >>

SP Double at Gothic Theatre, 7/14/12

SP DOUBLE @ GOTHIC THEATRE | 7.14.12 See Also: - SP Double has come a long way, and it shows - Mr. Midas on Son of the Crack Era, hip-hop unity and the downfall of King Midas - Morning Star is striving to make his rise in the Denver rap game - "Welcome to the CO" The doors opened at 8 p.m., but t ... More >>

Weekend's best live bets: Five Finger Death Punch, Myke Charles, SP Double and more

See Also: - Myke Charles has talent and charisma to spare - SP Double has come a long way, and it shows - Q&A with Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch - Q&A with Joe Queer of the Queers Welcome to the weekend! You've worked hard, and now it's time to treat yourself to some live music. Good news: ... More >>

Ru with a view: A mainstage travelogue from our Westword Music Showcase emcee, Ru Johnson

Because I live in the club district, for me, the Westword Music Showcase started around 5 p.m. the day before and went on through the evening. Outside my window, the workers toiled and clanged away throughout the night, building the production. By morning, there was a complete stage, and the heat wa ... More >>

2012 Westword Music Showcase schedule

Alright, it's here! Finally! The waiting is over! The eighteenth annual Westword Music Showcase. You've probably already printed it out, cut it out, copied and highlighted the schedule, but just in case you haven't, here's the most up-to-date version of today's lineup for the Showcase. All of the TB ... More >>

Our complete guide to the June 23 Westword Music Showcase

See also: Twelve types of Denver musicians

2012 Westword Music Showcase schedule

Okay, time to officially start getting excited now. The annual Westword Music Showcase is a little more than a week away. Did you pick up your tickets yet? If not, you can still get them at the discounted rate. Prices go up day of the show. By now, you've already seen the lineup of who's playing the ... More >>

Kajmir Royale

Heir to the Throne
Self-released

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 >>

DJ Ktone's fifth annual Greatest Show on Turf begins tonight at Sutra with Denver Got Next

DJ Ktone's fifth annual Greatest Show on Turf begins this evening at Sutra Night Club with Denver Got Next, a showcase of the hottest up and coming hip-hop talent coming out of the town. On the fifth edition of his annual week-long birthday celebration, Ktone is out to make this year's festivities b ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from the Foodchain, Prime Element and more

Good day and good rap! This week we have a ton of fresh local hip-hop for you, some new videos, some new cuts and some new faces. We've got new videos from the Foodchain, TC Crook, Babah Fly, as well as a sneak peek at Prime Element's new clip for "Listen Up," and new tracks from newcomers Jahni Den ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from Spoke in Wordz, Mr. Midas and King Foe, with Lokon

New year, new things, new rap! You know the deal. Every week we scoured the scene for the freshest hip-hop. This week, we've got Spoke in Wordz doing his thing with an Eric Heights-directed joint that was actually filmed inside Denver International Airport; Mr. Midas gets all elevator-sexy on his jo ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from Mr. Midas, Yonnas Abraham and Spoke In Wordz, and Rockie

Mr. Midas and Ruckus pay tribute to their Grandma on "Tender Kisses"​The rap that's out this week is all over the place, in the clubs, perched on precariously high ledges and, as always, in the motherfucking streets, son. Mr. Midas puts moving pictures to his song "Tender Kisses" for a video t ... More >>

Get a sneak peek of DJ Ktone's upcoming comp, Left Lane Music Vol. 1, due out in November

For his latest project, Left Lane Music Vol. 1, DJ Ktone pulled together a slew of different rappers with different styles. Featuring the likes of Tone Skarfo, Mr. Midas, FOE and Aires Jackson, among others, the first installment of the comp and its planned followup (due out sometime in the first qu ... More >>

2011 Westword Music Showcase Awards: The Pirate Signal now officially retired with fifth win

Photo by Clarence HesterMeet the latest member of the Showcase hall of fame: Yonnas Abraham of The Pirate Signal accepts his act's fifth consecutive Westword Music Showcase Award.Well, it's a wrap. The seventeenth annual Westword Music Showcase Awards are now officially in the books. Although there ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase 2011

The Westword Music Showcase celebrates seventeen years, a lifetime for some of 2011's performers

Mr. Midas

Flight Risk
Self-released

Mr. Midas gives a sneak peek of his upcoming Flight Risk mixtape, due out on Memorial Day

​Still riding high off the success of his full length album, Son of the Crack Era, Mr. Midas is gearing up for a Memorial Day release of his latest project, a mixtape titled Flight Risk. Conceptually, he says the mixtape is an extension of his debut, while others open doors to a different them ... More >>

Nipsey Hussle at Casselmans, 4/14/11

​ NIPSEY HUSSLE KDJAbove • Mr. Midas • TC Crook Tytanik • Mid Wes T • Nyke Nitti • EC3 04.14.11 | Casselman's Bar & Venue The people got down last night at Casselmans for the Nipsey Hussle show, and not only did the West Coast performer bring out damn near every Crip in this city, ... More >>

Calling all Chevy owners: Mr. Midas is filming a video, and he wants you to floss your ride

​Got a Chevy? Mr. Midas is looking for you. This Saturday at noon, the rapper is filming a video at Swansea Park, at 48th and Clayton, and he wants you to come show off your ride. The single, "Feeling Me," is from his award-winning album, Son of the Crack Era, and features Rockie, his frequen ... More >>

Will Guice and Mr. Midas pay homage to Nate Dogg with "Regulators 2.0"

​After the untimely passing of G-Funk era staple Nate Dogg, the hip-hop community was once again reminded of its mortality. As is typical during the time of mourning, memorial funds were established for the family and loved ones of the late crooner, followed by an outpouring of benevolent memo ... More >>

Foodchain, Mr. Midas, Pries, Rockie, LKeys at Rockstar Lounge, 3/25/11

Kate LevyPries doing his thing​ FOODCHAIN Mr. Midas, Pries, Rockie, LKeys 03.25.11 | Rockstar Lounge Last night at Rockstar Lounge, there was a plethora of rappers, instruments and singers on hand for a free show being touted as "history in the making" and featuring LKeys, Pries, Rockie, Mid ... More >>

Myrical Child

More Than a Mixtape
Jewell Tyme

Last night: Denver Got Next showcases hot new talent and polished pros at Sutra, 03/09/11

Britt Chester​ Denver Got Next, the jump off for DJ Ktone's five day long birthday bash, went off without a hitch last night. Sutra was the place to be to see some of the city's hottest new acts and more than a few pros. A top shelf celebration, Denver Got Next boasted a red carpet out front ... More >>

The Greatest Show on Turf, DJ Ktone's five day b-day celebration, may just live up to its name

​DJ Ktone's birthday celebration is being hailed as "The Greatest Show on Turf," and with it's five days of celebrations featuring some of Denver's most prominent hip-hop artists, it's tough not to believe the hype. There are autograph signings, red carpets, Moolah Boyz and rap tactics galore.

Denver musical acts to watch in 2011

BLKHRTS, Wu-Tang 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?" 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 >>

Mr. Midas

Son of the Crack Era
Self-released

Colorado beat box competition ends with fracas

​ Last night at the beat battle competition in Aurora, things got off to a pretty lively start. The place was crawling with DJs, hip-hop heads and, of course, the producers who were to enter the battle. It was all beats and rhymes, until somebody got chased out of the bar and the cops shut th ... More >>

Tonight: Local hip-hop producers slated to clash at Colorado Beat Box in Aurora

​ Looks like we have another producer battle on our hands. Colorado Beat Box is going down tonight at the Spillway (3740 East Quincy Avenue) in Aurora. According to Yak of PMG Solutions, the company presenting the battle, the competition is designed to show the skills and production chops of ... More >>

Mr. Midas: Crack killed us and fed us

Hip-hop video wrap-up, Mr. Midas, Pries, Iman S and M6, Hypnautic and Sole

​The hip-hop scene has been incredibly busy these past few weeks churning out visual components to coincide with their individual projects. Don't miss Mr. Midas and his chartered plane on "Run My Town," a shirtless Pries in the snow on "I Don't Care," a pair of sparse cityscape clips from Iman ... More >>

Anatomy of a hip-hop song: Local producers weigh in on what it takes to make a great track

David Lang / Red Bull PhotofilesBoonie Mayfield (top) and Xperiment Beats​The term "producer" has very different connotations in the worlds of rock and hip-hop. Although they're both instrumental in shaping the sound, they serve very different functions. Generally speaking, in rock, a produc ... More >>

Mr. Midas and Big K.R.I.T. collab on "Back On"

​Mr. Midas, whom you might recall we spoke with last month, is reportedly two songs away from completing his new album, Son of the Crack Era, and is preparing for the release of the Chris Eng-directed video "Run My Town" in early October. In advance of the album's release, we got our hands o ... More >>

Mr. Midas on Son of the Crack Era, hip-hop unity and the downfall of King Midas

Chris Eng When the crack epidemic hit the streets in the '80s, it changed the social constructs of a generation. Not only did it birth a legion of children with addicted parents, but from Jay-Z to Rick Ross, it also served as thematic fodder for some of rap's biggest names. Like hip-hop, crack comp ... More >>

#COHIPHOP Unity Concert 2 at Quixote's

​ #COHipHop Unity Concert 2 08.05.10 | Quixote's True Blue A strong hip-hop vibe permeated the air at Quioxte's last night -- fitting, since we were all there for the #COHipHop Unity Concert 2. Before everything got going in earnest, a cluster of performers and beat battle contestants choppe ... 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 >>

Listening party: Rockie's Barcode 2 mixtape

​Turf boss DJ KTone and young star Rockie recently dropped Barcode 2, the much anticipated follow up to the first Barcode installment. A mixtape designed to show the versatility and growth in Rockies flow, Barcode 2 finds the young MC smashing the chosen beats into pieces. The features from M ... 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 >>

O.N.E. (of Infinite Mindz) is an 'Inglorious Basterd'

​Infinite Mindz is currently hard at work on the followup to last year's Monkey Rebellion Musik, but in the meantime, crooning member O.N.E. is branching out on his own. He recently connected with DJ Quote for his new mixtape Inglorious Basterd, which showcases his rapping skills as well as his si ... More >>

SP Double returns with mixtape and upcoming projects

It's been a while since we've heard from SP Double, especially since the dissolution of his Boostwell crew. But from the ashes, he's dusted himself off and is gearing up to drop a collection of projects over the next six months. His new album, Loyalty, Honor, Respect, is due out sometime this fall, ... More >>