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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 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 >>
Friday, November 16, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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.
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 >>
[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 >>
Aaron ThackerayRock 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 >>
Shawn KeithBoon DocAfter 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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
American Gangster
Roc-A-Fella
Wednesday, April 25, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.
Your guide to deep thoughts.
The Loneliest Punk (Delicious Vinyl)
Street's Disciple (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)
Local MC Apostle prepares to battle for the keys to the Kingdom.
Kelis gives thanks to more than her mammaries.
God's Son (Columbia)
Going back to his roots, Scratch gives lip service to the lost art of beatboxing.
Rapper Nas steps back into the ring, fists flying.
Exploring the endless variety of today's hip-hop.
