Run-DMC

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 >>

Ten rockers who found religion

We all dream of finding fame and fortune in our chosen fields, but when people actually do get rich and famous, they often discover that money can't buy happiness, or love, or whatever it is the Beatles were singing about. What's the answer, then? God? Meditation? E-meter auditing? When musicians ge ... 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 best rap lyrics of all time: 50-26

Last week, we took a look at the fifty worst rap lyrics of all time. Culling 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 the fifty best ... 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 >>

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 >>

Five famous record collections and a look at their doomed (and almost doomed) fate

See Also: • Five reasons Dilla's still missed five years later • In honor of Record Store Day this Saturday: Ten records we treasure. • Record Store Day 2012: The hunt for Junta • Complete Record Store Day coverage When Michigan record store owner Jeff Bubeck acquired several thousand recor ... More >>

Cobraconda

Spring Break
Self-released

Cash Money signed Limp Bizkit last week. No, really.

As Black History Month comes to a close, we reflect on the influential Sounds of Blackness

Black History Month 2012 has been a doozy. Beginning with the tragic and shocking death of Don Cornelius to dealing with equally troubling news of Whitney Houston's passing as the month wore on. Most interesting about this time is the ways in which the music healed us. When Whitney died, DJs played ... More >>

Review: Speedwolf at The Marquis Theater, 12/16/11

Tom MurphySpeedwolfSPEEDWOLF at the MARQUIS THEATER | 12/16/11Speedwolf vocalist Reed Bruemmer feigned surprise at the end of the band's set last night and asked the audience if they actually wanted to hear the band cover KISS. Of course everyone did, so the guys closed the record-release show with ... 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 >>

Scott Ian of Anthrax on Worship Music, comic books, Doctor Who, VH1 and interviewing Ozzy

Scott Ian of Anthrax​Anthrax (due Wednesday, October 19, at Summit Music Hall) is one of the Big Four thrash bands from the '80s and the only one originally based on the East Coast. More than most metal bands, Anthrax seemed willing to smile and display a wicked yet playful sense of humor -- e ... More >>

In honor of Modest Mouse and Big Boi: A look at the Top 10 rap/rock collaborations of all time

​In case you haven't heard yet, Modest Mouse is working with Big Boi on its next album. Seriously. Yeah, we're having a hard time even trying to imagine what that's going to sound like. The news, however, did get us thinking about the ten of the best and rap/rock collaborations. You know Aeros ... More >>

VibeSquad's Aaron Holstein on dubstep and the importance of hip-hop to his craft

​ Looking at Aaron Holstein, the man behind VibeSquaD, you would never guess he is a trained multi-instrumentalist with a background in jazz. The talented Colorado-based producer emits sounds that can make your ears bleed with pounding bass, swirling synthesizers and relentless energy -- but ... 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 >>

In honor of Valentine's Day, we present you with fifteen love songs about... inanimate objects

​It's Valentine's Day, which means the entire Internet is abuzz with songs about love -- or if people are feeling particularly sad -- songs about hate. But what about those who prefer to spread their affection to other things, like inanimate objects? Well, there are plenty of those songs, too. ... More >>

Nuggets rap Christmas in Hollis

Yep.​The NBA has a long and awkward history of team-produced Christmas music. Last year, the Nuggets did "Winter Wonderland" with all the production value of a local car commercial.This year's edition, released today, is more... well, entertaining at the very least. That's right, they remade R ... More >>

Paul the Octobus film next for The People vs. George Lucas makers about to go international

Paul the Octopus.​One of the annual oddities of the Starz Denver Film Festival is the scheduling of the closing night film (this year, the unintentionally hilarious Black Swan) on the event's second-to-the-last day. As usual, Sunday, the day after, featured a full slate of cinema, with The Peo ... More >>

Mashed landings: A rundown of the 5 worst mash-ups

flickr / nmfin​Thanks to the absurdly low cost of music and video editing software and an inexhaustible number of people who clearly have too much time on their hands, the Internet has been inundated with mash-ups. Some folks, believe this is a auspicious development for humanity. And while we ... More >>

Q&A: Meet Bianca Mikahn of Paradox

Which came first, the poet or the MC? Broaching the philosophical debate implies the two are not one in the same. History shows us otherwise, whether the funky notes of blues rattled off the tongue of greats like Billie Holiday, or, more recently, the appearance of the Last Poets on Nas's [Untitled] ... More >>

Under Fire: The Second Act

​Our former Cafe Society intern just decided to chuck college in favor of a real education: as a sous chef. In Under Fire, he chronicles his daily trials and tribulations in the kitchen. A new computer, a healed finger (the cut was all flash and no substance -- the finger was working ag ... More >>

When it comes to hip-hop, Busdriver refuses to stick to a designated route

Q&A with Regan "Busdriver" Farquhar

Photo by Brian TamborelloBusdriver with Busdriver.​ Boasting may seem like a hip-hop requirement, but it's actually possible to play the rap game without overdosing on self-love every other line. For proof, direct your gaze to the following Q&A with Regan Farquhar, who performs as Busdriver. T ... 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 >>

Friday Rap-Up: Scribble Jam, Run-DMC, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z

Live Review: Hippie Werewolves at Herman's Hideaway

Live Review: Mr. DIbbs & Rob Diktum

Sanity Claus

Separating holiday-music gifts from seasonal disorders.

Musical Mentors

Re-Creative Fusion plays with improvisation.

The Rockies Make a Grand Entrance

A Fine Frenzy

Alison Sudol is indeed someone You Oughta Know. Thanks, VH1.

Cheeky Monk

The latest news from Denver’s counter culture.

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Aural Pleasure

The talented tongue of Atmosphere goes to work.

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Slick Rick

Friday, September 17, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

Club Scout

People Under the Stairs

Critic's Choice

Bo Diddley

The Beatdown

A long-awaited Hip-Hop Summit looks like the real deal.

Roadside Profits

The Road Less Traveled (RSP/www.roadsideprofits.com)

Two's Company

Together Productions gives the city's dance scene something to rave about.

And You Don't Stop

These student DJs are hip-hop professors.

The Break of Don

The Don Kronicals are a hip-hop partnership with punch.

The Tempel of Dance

Worshipping DJ Jonas Tempel at the Church and beyond.

Run, Reverend, Run

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

Thrills for the week

Simply the Quest

A Tribe Called Quest meets the press--in a manner of speaking.

PLAYING IT COOL