Rick Ross

Friday Rap-Up: Pimp C Dies, Spice 1 Shot, Lauryn Hill Still a Pain in the Ass

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

Alan Parsons as Living History and Other Assorted Goodies

Over the Weekend...F.O.E. and Jewell Tyme with The Pirate Signal, Makk Beez, A-Co, Julox, et. al. & The Snake Pit

Flobots Blowback Begins

Friday Rap-Up: Frank E, Xzibit, 50 Cent, Slick Rick

Friday Rap-Up: Julox, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Aftermath Records

Friday Rap-Up: DJ Vajra, Lil Wayne, Nate Dogg, 50 Cent vs. Kanye: Pt. 2?

Busted Rhymes: The Top Ten Most Preposterous Rap Songs of 2008

Over the next couple of weeks, Backbeat will feature some Top Ten lists from around the Village Voice Media chain. Click here for previous year-in-review coverage from Backbeat and VVM. Hip-hop A-listers including Rick Ross, Akon and Plies were caught grossly exaggerating their gangster credentials ... More >>

Rick Ross

Port of Miami (Def Jam)

DJ Khaled

Listennn: The Album (Koch Records)

Heavy Rotation, our top five spins for the week of April 20, 2009

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of a ... More >>

Rick Ross top seller at Independent Records

Rick Ross's new album, Deeper Than Rap, released last week on Def Jam, topped Independent's best seller list for the week ending April 26. Asher Roth's new disc, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, grabbed the second spot while the Dream, UGK and Jadakiss rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown afte ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, April 27 edition

Maris the Great, in living (or at least almost living) color. Grrrrrr. Today in Backbeat Online: • Moving Pictures: Casselman's Bar & Venue, MBV, Autumn Film, Primasonic, Maris the Great, Adai, To Be Eaten and Dualistics. • A first look at the new Fray video. • Are you doing your part to hel ... More >>

Tech N9ne grabs top spot at Independent Records

Tech N9ne's new album, Sickology 101, knocked Rick Ross' Deeper Than Rap down to the second spot on Independent's best seller list for the week ending May 3. The Dream and Keri Hilson grabbed slots in the top ten for the fourth week in a row. See the full breakdown after the jump.

Tech N9ne top seller at Independent Records

For the second week in a row, Tech N9ne's Sickology 101 and Rick Ross' Deeper Than Rap grabbed the first and second slots at Independent Records for the week ending May 10. Keri Hilson, Gorilla Zoe and the Dream continue to hold on to slots in the top ten. See the full breakdown after the jump.

Freeway and Jake One

Thursday, July 22, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

Big Boi, the Roots, Rick Ross, FOE & Whygee dominate our playlists this week

Jason StoffBig Boi, shown here at this past weekend's Pitchfork Festival, dominated our 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?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, ... More >>

Big Head Todd & the Monsters, the Books top sellers at local stores

​Big Head Todd & the Monsters' ninth studio album, Rocksteady, released last week, took top spots at Albums on the Hill and Twist & Shout, while the Books' latest effort, The Way Out, also issued last week on the Temporary Residence Limited imprint, debuted in top four slots at the two stores, ... More >>

Best Coast, Big Boi top sellers at local stores

​While there weren't any unanimous winners across the board, Best Coast's debut, Crazy For You, released last week on Mexican Summer, took the top spot at Wax Trax and the tenth spot at Albums on the Hill for the week ending August 1. Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty, ... More >>

Beside Rick Ross and Big Boi, we're all listening to completely different stuff this week

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Arcade Fire, the Books top sellers at local stores

​The Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, released last week on Merge, claimed the top spots at Albums on the Hill and Twist & Shout while checking in at number five at Independent Records. The Books' latest effort, The Way Out, meanwhile, and the Black Crowes' Croweology, a double album of the band's ... More >>

Mile High Music Festival day two travelogue: BoomBox and Z-Trip

As I crossed the festival grounds toward the Bison tent, where BoomBox was scheduled, I caught strains of Matt Morris and his amazing voice, and Ozomatli getting their reggae-style funk on. I reached my destination just as BoomBox took the stage and immediately knew I was in for a good time. They op ... More >>

Arcade Fire, Los Lobos top sellers at local stores

​Arcade Fire's latest effort, The Suburbs, continues to dominate the local charts, claiming the top spots at Albums on the Hill, Twist & Shout and Wax Trax for the week ending August 15. Los Lobos' Tin Can Trust, released August 3 on Shout! Factory, performed well, as did Wolf Parade's Expo 86 ... 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 >>

Iron Maiden, Arcade Fire top sellers at local stores

​ Final Frontier, Iron Maiden's fifteenth studio effort and first album in four years, debuted at second spot at Albums on the Hill and came in third at Independent Records. Arcade Fire's latest effort, The Suburbs, is still performing well and took the top slot at Albums on the Hill for the w ... More >>

Ryan Bingham, Arcade Fire, Git Some top sellers at local stores

​Ryan Bingham, who won an Oscar for his theme song to the film Crazy Heart, claimed the number two and four spots at Albums on the Hill and Twist & Shout with his new album, Junky Star, released last week on Lost Highway. Arcade Fire's The Suburbs and the Black Keys' Brothers, meanwhile, cont ... More >>

American Tomahawk, Chromeo, Black Milk fill our playlists this week

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Of Montreal, Kayne West and Air Dubai fill our playlists this week

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Air Dubai, Lil Wayne and DJ Krush fill our playlists this week

​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 >>

Kanye West's SNL performance and a collection of everything else he's been up to

Kanye West has been busy the past couple of months making everyone else in music look lazy. Not only did he perform on Saturday Night Live over the weekend with two of the best musical performances we've seen in a while, but he's also been dropping free MP3s in a series called "G.O.O.D. Fridays." ... More >>

Wiz Khalifa has a global outlook on life

Kanye West has been busy the past couple of months making everyone else in music look lazy. Not only did he perform on Saturday Night Live over the weekend with two of the best musical performances we've seen in a while, but he's also been dropping free MP3s in a series called "G.O.O.D. Fridays." ... More >>

Wiz Khalifa at the Ogden Theatre - 10/07/10

​ WIZ KHALIFA With Yelawolf 10.07.10 | Ogden Theatre Last night at the Ogden Theatre for the Denver leg of the Waken Baken tour, Wiz Khalifa completely set it off. The scene at the beginning of the night was set by throngs of teenage girls in Wiz Khalifa shirts, mixed in with a thick crowd t ... More >>

Aloe Blacc, Harry Nilsson, Kid Cudi fill our playlists this week

​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 >>

What the riders were jammin' at the Backyard Bang

Britt ChesterBackyard Bangers​This past Saturday, we stopped by the Backyard Bang, which stretched between Lincoln and Sherman on 12th. We noticed the riders all had headphones in, so being all about the music, we asked them what they were listening to during their respective drops, rail slide ... More >>

Our 55 favorite musical releases of 2010

Britt ChesterBackyard Bangers​This past Saturday, we stopped by the Backyard Bang, which stretched between Lincoln and Sherman on 12th. We noticed the riders all had headphones in, so being all about the music, we asked them what they were listening to during their respective drops, rail slide ... More >>

Laurence Maroney, Broncos bust arrested in St. Louis, says he needs to be smarter (VIDEO)

Big pic below.​Update: As we shared yesterday in an item on view below, Denver Broncos running-back bust Laurence Maroney was arrested in St. Louis on a weapons charge. At this writing, however, he has not been officially charged, and he's already attempting to do image repair, as seen in an a ... More >>

Social Distortion and the Decemberists top sellers at Independent, Twist and Albums

​Social Distortion's Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, released last week on Epitaph, claimed the top spot at Independent Records this week and came in second at Twist & Shout, while the Decemberists' latest effort, The King is Dead , released last week on Capitol, debuted at number one at both A ... More >>

Earth, Deca, DeVotchKa, Mogwai, Hindershot, Warsaw and Adele 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 >>

Girl Talk's Greg Gillis on whether or not his new album "broke the Internet" as alleged

​Girl Talk is a phenomenon. Who knew this one time biomedical engineer would breathe fresh life into the mash-up movement? Although pioneers such as Z-Trip and Kraftwerk were blending samples long before Greg Gillis - who performs under the Girl Talk moniker -- stepped on the scene, for some r ... More >>

Lil Wayne coming to Comfort Dental Amphitheatre on August 30

​Lil Wayne: Love him or hate him, it's almost impossible to ignore the Young Money Mastermind. If you haven't heard yet, Weezy F Baby is bringing his I Am Still Music tour to Comfort Dental Amphitheatre on Tuesday, August 30, with the Boss Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. B ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Nobody files more frivolous lawsuits than Lindsay Lohan

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Snoop's sitcom has already jumped the shark

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Rollin' In My '64: Ten famed (and great) rap songs about a Chevy

Donk.​The Chevrolet car company was founded 100 years ago today to compete with the Ford Model-T. But who cares about 100 years ago? The golden age of Chevrolet was from 1960 to 1976, from the Impala to the second-generation Caprice. This writer learned to drive on a '64 Impala in various stat ... More >>

Otis Taylor, Nathaniel Rateliff, Leftover Salmon, Hopsin and more on tap this weekend

Len IrishOtis Taylor puts Boulder in a Trance this weekend​It's another big weekend for music on the Front Range. Tonight, Otis Taylor kicks off his Trance Blues Festival, which runs from this evening through Sunday and is spread across a variety of venues in Boulder. Elsewhere, Nathaniel Rate ... More >>

2012 Grammy Nominations: Kanye West and Adele clean up, Katy Perry earns pair of nods

​Grammy nominations for 2012 were announced last night during the Grammys Nomination Concert -- which was, oddly, just that: a concert, not a nominations show. Nominations in four major categories were announced, plus performances by major players in mainstream music like Lady Gaga, who perfor ... More >>

Girl Walk // All Day director Jacob Krupnick on the mash-up of Rick Ross and ballet

Girl Walk // All Day star Anne Marsen​It's like a mash-up of mash-up: The film Girl Walk // All Day takes the manic moods of remix master Girl Talk's 2010 record, All Day, and pairs it with a story of Girl and her city, told through dance. In advance of tomorrow's screening at the Denver Fil ... More >>

Music fan's "Drake" tattoo takes celebrity worship to a new level

Girl Walk // All Day star Anne Marsen​It's like a mash-up of mash-up: The film Girl Walk // All Day takes the manic moods of remix master Girl Talk's 2010 record, All Day, and pairs it with a story of Girl and her city, told through dance. In advance of tomorrow's screening at the Denver Fil ... More >>