Questlove

Did Daft Punk "Get Lucky" with Pharrell, or vice versa? Examining Pharrell's ten greatest misses

Before it was even released, "Get Lucky," the first single from Daft Punk's forthcoming album "Random Access Memories," set the world on fire. From the fan edits of the track to the sixty second commercial from Saturday Night Live to the album teaser from Coachella, "Get Lucky" generated more than t ... 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 >>

A.J. Boik: Local artist launches Kickstarter to make custom portrait for victim's family

Chris Bates's reaction to the Aurora theater shooting last summer was one shared by countless other Coloradans. "I felt this really strong urge that I had to do something," says the Fort Collins artist. But Bates was initially at a loss as to what. After listening to a talk about "art's ability to ... More >>

Uri Caine on playing jazz and classical music

Early in his career, pianist Uri Caine got to play with jazz legends like Philly Joe Jones and Hank Mobley. While Caine is a deft improviser and can play the hell out of bop, he's incredibly multi-faceted and also quite equally at home playing avant-garde, classical (Caine's released a number albums ... More >>

The five best jazz shows in Denver this month

We've got another great month of jazz on tap for January with a number of great shows, including saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Freddy Cole (Nat "King" Cole's brother), who will be at Dazzle for two-nights, as well as dates from the Uri Caine Trio, the Latin Jazz All Stars and Greg Garrison, who ... More >>

9th Wonder on how hip-hop is like pills in the applesauce, a gateway to knowledge and history

A revered hip-hop producer who got his start with Phonte and Big Pooh in the North Carolina-based group Little Brother, 9th Wonder has worked an array of top shelf artists from Jay-Z and Destiny's Child to Mary J. Blige and Ludacris, among many others. Known as one of the best samplers in hip-hop, w ... More >>

DJ Krush spins February 22 at the Bluebird

Sounds of Blackness: Fishbone releases documentary in honor of Black History Month

Fishbone, the self-described "disparate, all-black oddball crew," has released a documentary in honor of Black History Month. Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is a brutally honest portrayal of one of the wildest and most influential black alternative bands in our culture. Fishbone began as ... More >>

Ten best hip hop shows of 2011 in Denver

Eric GruneisenTyler, the Creator at the Ogden Theatre this past October​There were so many hip-hop shows and concerts this year, it was hard to keep count. The shows of note, though, were bangers and crowd pleasers and showcased dynamic artistry. With so many epic moments (?uestLove and Jazzy ... More >>

#FreeQuesto: Leave ?uestlove alone, NBC! A petition and tell the 30 Rock brass to back off!

​Word on the street is the suits over at 30 Rock will now be censoring ?uestlove of the almighty Roots over that whole lyin' ass bitch incident with Michelle Bachmann, in which Questo subversively played the intro of Fishbone's "Lyin' Ass Bitch" as the Republican presidential candidate made he ... More >>

Leave it to Jimmy Fallon to screw up a good thing

Despite off-screen drama, the Tribe Called Quest documentary is phenomenal

Red Bull Thre3Style brings the battle to Boulder

​On the heels of last fall's thrilling battle at Beta, judged by ?uestlove and DJ Jazzy Jeff and featuring DJ magMANimous (DJ Vajra) against DJs from across the country, the Red Bull Thre3Style is making its way back to Colorado with the legendary DJ Craze in tow. If you haven't seen the lineu ... More >>

Odd Future on Fallon: What the hell happened?

​Tyler The Creator and Hodgy Beats from LA shock rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All made an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night. If you know anything about the group, it will come as no surprise that the performance was four minutes of sheer pandemonium, culmin ... More >>

When it comes to hip-hop, it's a man's world

Red Bull Thre3Style: magMANimous from Denver takes home bronze

​ RED BULL THRE3STYLE 10.09.10 | Beta, Denver, CO Red Bull has been steadily establishing a reputation for championing the artistic expressions of up and coming artists, and this evening was no different. At Beta this past Saturday night, the Red Bull Thre3Style brought ten DJs from across t ... More >>

DJ Jazzy Jeff and ?uestlove on Red Bull and playing digital versus carrying crates

​ This past Saturday night at Beta, during Red Bull's Thre3Style competition, celebrity judges ?uestlove and Jazzy Jeff closed the night out with a live drum and DJ peformance. Before the competition kicked off and before ?uestlove and Jazzy Jeff set the place on fire with their impressive fi ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase headliners: Meet Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights

Texas isn't big enough to contain Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. After signing with Atlantic records in 2008, the Dallas-based quintet quickly started making a name for itself across the country, touring with high-caliber acts like ZZ Top and the Black Crowes before releasing Pardon Me, i ... More >>

The Robert Glasper Experiment

Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, Dazzle, 303-839-5100.

Q&A with Robert Glasper

​Robert Glasper's latest Blue Note effort, Double Booked, shows just how well the pianist straddles the jazz and hip-hop worlds. While he flexes his jazz chops within the confines of an acoustic trio setting during the first half of the disc, he delves into more forward thinking hip-hop territ ... More >>

Hey, DJ! Q&A with Ivy

​Every Friday we spotlight the hottest cats behind the decks in the MHC, grilling them to gain some insight on what it takes, exactly, to get the party rocking, to find out about their most treasured crate digging experiences and what they really think when we stumble up to them half cocked and as ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: Catch Lungs, The Roots, 50 Cent

LOCALS ONLY Colorado rapper Catch Lungs started get his name buzzed about in the local scene when he started working with producers SP Double and Flawless as part of the Boostwell Crew last year. After separating from Boostwell this summer, he began working on his own mixtape, Food for the Famishe ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: ManeLine, Hip-Hop Stars React to Obama win, Shakir Stewart Suicide, Mos Def

Al Green is still as soulful as ever

Q&A with Al Green

The Roots

Monday, June 2, Fillmore Auditorium, 303-830-8497.

Q&A with Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson of the Roots

Q&A With Erykah Badu

Al Green

Lay It Down
Blue Note

The Roots

Rising Down
Def Jam

Christian McBride

Friday, January 25, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 303-722-7994.

The Lost Northern State Article

Q&A With Northern State's Julie Potash

Prince

Planet Earth
Sony

DJ Logic

Friday, August 4, and Saturday, August 5, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 1-866-455-2264.

Get Down With Dave

Chappelle returns with a raucous Block Party.

Brother, Brother, Brother

Little Brother's new record takes hip-hop's stereotypes to task.

Love the Player

Okayplayer.com is more than just a website. For some, it's a way of life.

Kanye West

The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella)

Club Scout

?uestlove

Common

Electric Circus (MCA)

Master Blaster

Hip-hop loyalist and rock-and-roll revivalist Cody ChesnuTT has guitar, headphones -- and will travel to the center of your brain.

Bilal

1st Born Second (Interscope)

Universal Man

Cultural awareness, positivity and groove are all part of the Common cause.

Common

Like Water for Chocolate
(MCA)

Judgment Day

Backbeat contributors offer up their favorite recordings of 1999.

Letters

Rooting Interest

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