Old School Hip-Hop

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Ten best hip-hop Christmas songs

For as many ill conceived hip-hop Christmas cuts that have been produced over the years, there have been as least as many that were great. While they're not all necessarily fun, feel good songs meant to get you in the spirit of the season, and some deal directly with the ills of the holiday or criti ... More >>

MC Lyte questions the current state of hip-hop

Last night at Auraria, MC Lyte shared her views on the current state of hip-hop, a broad range of topics ranging from the diminishing role of females to the dwindling voice of hip-hop overall and its lackluster effectiveness to her personal triumphs and downfalls. With style and grace, she left many ... More >>

MC Lyte and Crazy Legs to visit for Sankofa Lecture Series, inaugural Hip-Hop Legacy Literacy Conference

Hip-hop and it still don't stop. This afternoon at 1 p.m., the inaugural Hip-Hop Legacy Literacy Conference kicks off with a screening of Ice-T's Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap documentary in the St. Cajetan's building on Auraria, and tomorrow, the Sankofa Lecture Series welcomes its fall ke ... More >>

Karl Denson on musical roots, moving on after Lenny Kravitz and creating Beastie Boys tribute

Karl Denson (due on the main stage at this weekend's Westword Music Showcase) is hard to pin down. The saxophonist and bandleader may have strong roots in the traditional jazz of giants like John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, but that hasn't stopped the musician from exploring funk, R&B, hip-hop and m ... More >>

Photos: The Beastie Boys in Denver, a visual history from the archived newspaper ads

By all accounts, the Beastie Boys performed in the Denver metro area ten times over the course of two decades, beginning with the act's first show at the Mammoth Events Center on Friday, February 13, 1987, and culminating with its Rock the Vote double bill at the Fillmore with Tenacious D on Monday, ... More >>

Beastie Boys Check Your Head turns twenty

See Also: • Prince's Sign of the Times turns 25 • Velvet Underground & Nico turns 45 • More Today in History posts When the '80s became the '90s, everyone stepped up their game. Rap matured lyrically and became more sophisticated sonically, while rock became more intelligent and emotionally r ... More >>

Review: Salt-N-Pepa at the Gothic, 12/17/11

​Salt-N-Pepa brought the noise last night at The Gothic Theatre for Jammin' 101.5's Twas the Jam Before Christmas. The house was packed and both Salt and Pepa looked amazing in bedazzled outfits and gold rope chains. The two took us down hip-hop memory lane with big smiles, old school dances a ... More >>

Salt-N-Pepa

Saturday, December 17, Gothic Theatre, 303-788-0984.

Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force's Planet Rock: The Album is 25 years old today

"Party people! Party People! Can y'all get funky?" You already know what it is as soon as the first twinkling bells, crowd screams and intergalactic beat drops for Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force's cult hit, "Planet Rock." Get your ass to the nearest dance floor and do an old school dance, stra ... More >>

Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill turns 25

​In hindsight Licensed To Ill -- released November 15, 1986 -- came to the table with a virtually infallible recipe: Rick Rubin produced the seminal radio-friendly rap album and Russell Simmons had not only signed Beastie Boys to a then baby Def Jam, but was also managing the three white boys ... More >>

Guns N' Roses, Joan Jett, the Cure nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

​Guns N' Roses, who announced last week that it would be coming to Denver (but no venue or date has been confirmed yet), is among the fifteen acts nominated, along with the Cure, Joan Jett, Beastie Boys, Freddie King, Donovan, Erik B & Rakim and Red Hot Chili Peppers, for the Rock and Roll Hal ... More >>

In honor of Hot Sauce Committee Part Two: A look at the Beastie Boys' top five videos

​The Beastie Boys have been shaking our ear drums with their mind-blowing rap, hilarious and brilliant lyrics, and daring beats since the '80s. Over the weekend, the crew premiered its new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (streaming below), at Madison Square Garden, center court. That momen ... More >>

Behind the controversial Anthology of Rap, co-edited by CU hip-hop professor Adam Bradley

The Beastie Boys's "Fight For Your Right - Revisited" trailer is awesome

The Beastie Boys.​The Beastie Boys have been men for quite some time now, but they've clearly never lost their sense of playfulness. The group's long-anticipated upcoming album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 (no, you didn't miss part one), is shaping up to be quite an event, judging by the just-r ... More >>

Hip-hop's ten most impactful deaths

​Today marks the anniversary of the day that the world lost the greatest rapper of all time. Christopher Wallace's untimely death on March 9, 1997, had a significant impact on the rap game. If Biggie had lived, for instance, his presence would have essentially erased the need for Jay-Z. Unstop ... More >>

Rev Run on Auraria campus today

Britt Chester​ Reverend Run was on the Auraria campus today talking all about how he parlayed his position from a life of 'hood proportions, growing up in Hollis, Queens, to one of an almost royal standard. Using his inspirational synthesis, which, if you follow him on Twitter, you can spot f ... More >>

Mane Rok and Dee Jay Tense to donate proceeds to Kool Herc to help offset medical bills

​As you might have heard, Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell), father of the breakbeat and master hip-hop visionary, was hospitalized over the weekend. Since news of his illness and subsequent trouble covering medical costs first dropped on DJ Premier's blog, there has been an outpouring of support ... More >>

KRS-One

Friday, July 9, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

Giving The Beastie Boys' Hello Nasty another shot after a dozen years

​ I remember Hello Nasty's release with remarkable clarity. I was working as a pizza-cook in Lyons -- my boss, a pseudo-ex-hipster type with a goatee and a drinking problem bought the album the day in came out. He was a huge Beastie Boys fan, as well as an unfortunate influence on my musical ... More >>

James Pants

Wednesday, December 23, Larimer Lounge, 303-291-1007.

Freeloader: Fresh Breath Committee CD release at the Fox tonight

​The other significant local hip-hop release this evening comes from the Fresh Breath Committee, who also took time to mix it up with us this week. It's pretty safe bet that all the local heads that aren't at the hi-dive will be at the Fox Theatre in Boulder for the release of CPR, the outfit's fu ... More >>

The Jukebox Effect

Photo: Claudia LopezI deejayed a Valentine's Day party at the Horseshoe Lounge on Saturday. The bar had a great vibe, as always, and the ample crowd was in the mood for a good party. It was the first time I ever had to play music for four and a half straight hours, and I was initially worried that I ... More >>

Pepper Blossom at Root Down

Rooting around Root Down

We're still looking for a revised opening date for Root Down, the new restaurant coming to 33rd and Osage. But in the meantime, we have two updates: Yesterday, the original opening date, they were putting in grass (!) around the former service station, which will have a great outdoor deck and garde ... More >>

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

Friday Rap-Up: Lupe Fiasco, 50 Cent, DMX, The Vapors movie, Infinite Mindz

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Who will be inducted next? Gaze into our crystal ball.

Aural Pleasure

The talented tongue of Atmosphere goes to work.

Critical Fatwa

Cam’ron

Westword Music Showcase 2005

Hip-Hop Stop

KRS-One brings the lowdown to church

The Beatdown

Four elements make one movement.

Club Scout

Das EFX

Peoples Get Ready

As part of underground hip-hop's newest dream team, Dilated Peoples are at the top of their game.

KRS-One

The Sneak Attack (Koch)

Back That Smut Up

As the Smut Peddlers, members of the High and Mighty hip-hop crew find new life in porn.

Scratch It Up

The steel wheels keep turning in the DMC turntable battles.

In the Thick of It

For more than a decade, the Jungle Brothers have remained members of hip-hop's original tribe.

Break Out

The beat of the street makes the Freestylers feel like dancing.

Seasoned Performers

Salt-N-Pepa are still capable of spicing up your life.

Rap Gets Puffy

Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs fathers a return to hip-hop pop.

Rooting Interest

The Roots make rap for both your hips and your head.

Run, Reverend, Run

Run-D.M.C. has seen the light--and wants to show it to you.

SPECIAL EFX

DAS EFX TRIES TO KEEP IT GOING THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL