Nas (Rapper)

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 >>

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 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 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 >>

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 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 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 >>

Nas and Lauryn Hill

Friday, November 16, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.

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 >>

The Killers at 1STBANK, the Wallflowers at the Ogden, Nas and NOFX at the Fillmore

If you thought last week's new show announcements were killer, brace yourself. This week's show is just as killer, er make that Killers. After being missing in action for the past couple of years, the Las Vegas quartet is making its triumphant return this November at the 1STBANK Center in support of ... 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 >>

Jay-Z's come a long way from the Marcy Projects

What do you know about Jay-Z? Born Shawn Corey Carter in December 1969, the Brooklyn corner boy from the Marcy Housing Projects, who used to flip kilos of coke as fast as he flipped rhymes, turned his life of trial and tragedy into one of triumph and success, making a ton of money and marrying the g ... More >>

Slug from Atmosphere on the fictionalization of his lyrics and unwinding with some online chess

​Sean Daley helped launch an empire when he co-founded Rhymesayers Entertainment, home to P.O.S., Brother Ali and, of course, his outfit, Atmosphere.The rapper otherwise known as Slug is an unstoppable force with endless vision and nonstop determination, which has helped make Rhymesayers one o ... More >>

That's a Rap: Nofrendo pays tribute to Gil Scott-Heron, Qknox takes on Nas and more

​This week in rap, the beat makers are holding it down. We've got Nofrendo, with his KMD drum-and-bass remixed track featuring a Gil Scott Heron sample that's most appropriate with the poet laureate's passing. Mass Prod from Food Chain shows a bit of his Donald Byrd/Roy Ayers influence with hi ... More >>

Gaga's "Judas" isn't controversial! It's been done. Better.

Bruno MedinaDelicous religious cleavage. ​We live for releases of controversial and eye-opening videos that cause a stir. And we're personally offended when one comes out that claims to be groundbreaking but just rips someone else off. We know it's hard for these new popstresses to come up wit ... More >>

Tonight: Hip Hop Fest at Cervantes' featuring Fashawn

​Though his debut album, Boy Meets World, came out in 2009, rapper Fashawn has flourished more within the realm of the mixtape, a format he's been using since 2006. Among his many mixtape releases came Ode to Illmatic, a track-by-track take on the classic Nas album that showcased Fashawn's unc ... More >>

When animals attack - musician edition

​We're all familiar with Ozzy Osbourne's infamous unprovoked attack on a bat in the early '80s, but rarely do you hear stories about animals attacking musicians. Until now, that is. Earlier this week, Bloc Party and Ash guitarist Russell Lissack was reportedly attacked by a lion cub while visi ... More >>

If President Obama has a thing for hip-hop, here are five artists to add to his iPod

​In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, our president revealed that his music palette has expanded slightly in recent years with a little help from his personal aide, Reggie Love. New additions to his usual standbys of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones include Nas and Lil' Wayne. It's a lit ... More >>

Mile High Music Festival: Cypress Hill, Nas, Damian Marley, The Samples

Aaron ThackerayThe Samples.​Boulder alumnus the Samples packed the area in front of the Wolf stage with their bluesy, funky jams with heavy dance hall/world influence. They played "Did You Ever Look So Nice" and the segued into "Giants," with Blues Traveler's John Popper jumping in on harmonic ... More >>

Damian Marley waves the Lion of Judah flag with Nas at Mile High Music Festival

Aaron ThackerayDamian Marley (left) and Nas on the Kyocera main stage.​My first set of the day was Nas and Damian Marley, mostly because I walked in and that was who was playing the main stage. Normally, straight-up reggae is a little boring to me, and to be sure: The reggae crowd was out.

Mile High Music Festival Schedule Announced

​Less than a month left until this year's Mile High Music Festival. Figured out your itinerary yet? We have. Well, sorta. My Morning Jacket, Weezer, Phoenix, Drive-By Truckers, Ozomatli, Damian Marley & Nas are on our shortlist so far. The full schedule was just released a few moments ago, and ... More >>

$16 million to recover $391,000: The RIAA just blew a lot cash. Here's ten more of the industry's greatest wastes

[via Flickr]​Last week, it was revealed the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) spent $16 million to recover $391,000 from lawsuits involving peer-to-peer file sharing. No, we didn't print that backwards; you don't need to adjust your screen -- they really did waste that much mone ... More >>

Last Night: Rock the Bells at Red Rocks

Aaron Thackeray​Rock the Bells 2009 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Thursday, August 6, 2009 Better than: ringtone rap, anything associated with Auto-Tune or listening to the self-proclaimed newly anointed "King of Pop," Kanye West, talk about himself endlessly. Since 2003, Rock the Bells has been the pre ... More >>

After Rock the Bells tonight, make your way to Mario's Double Daughter Salotto for the Beat Cave

Shawn KeithBoon Doc​After rocking with folks like Nas, Reflection Eternal, Damian Marley and a host of other legendary hip-hop artists at the Rock the Bells concert tonight, be sure to make a stop at Mario's Double Daughter Salotto (1632 Market Street) for the Beat Cave, an event showcasing the st ... More >>

The Pirate Signal, Boon Doc, to compete in Red Bull producer battle

If you're available tonight around 8 p.m., Beta Nightclub (1909 Blake St) will be hosting the Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle, a hip-hop producer head-to-head competition. The event, which is a premier national hip-hop event, will be hosted by well-renowned rapper/producers Exile and Black Milk.Twelve ... 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: BreakEfx, Nas Book, Young Jeezy, Kanye, Jay-Z

Live Review: Rock the Bells Tour

Friday Rap-Up: 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Nas

Friday Rap-Up: F.O.E., Rock the Bells Tour, Nas, EPMD

Vintage Q&A with Kelis

This Week in Hip Hop

Jay-Z

American Gangster
Roc-A-Fella

The Lost Northern State Article

Last Night: Rock the Bells @ Red Rocks

Feastival

Nas

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

Lost List

Cred Sheet

Your guide to deep thoughts.

Fatlip

The Loneliest Punk (Delicious Vinyl)

Nas

Street's Disciple (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)

The Beatdown

Local MC Apostle prepares to battle for the keys to the Kingdom.

Shake It Up

Kelis gives thanks to more than her mammaries.

Nas

God's Son (Columbia)

He's Got the Beat

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

Fighting the Power

Rapper Nas steps back into the ring, fists flying.

The Wide World of Rap

Exploring the endless variety of today's hip-hop.

Playlist