Scarface (Rapper)

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 greatest East Coast rappers of all time

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 >>

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 >>

Here's what the Denver Nuggets are listening to

On Friday night, I had the chance to chop it up with some of the Denver Nuggets in the locker room before they completely whooped ass on the Brooklyn Nets. With the exception of my two favorite players (who evidently don't do interviews before a game, as they both tersely informed me), everybody was ... 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 >>

The 20 most coveted Colorado music-industry jobs: The complete list with five new profiles

In our series of coveted Colorado music-industry jobs, we've covered a range of jobs, from guitar tech and handling publicity to being tasked with overseeing digital music delivery from a vast electronic music catalog to band management. Today, we complete our list of the most coveted Colorado music ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

The ten best movies featuring rappers

Wu-Tang has been immersed in kung-fu for so long, it was inevitable that one member of the Clan would make a major appearance in a martial arts movie at some point. The RZA appeared briefly in Ghost Dog in 1999, but only for a passing moment, though he did produce the soundtrack. In The Man with the ... More >>

Ten essential gangsta rap albums

Many hip-hop fans, those who love rap -- hell, even some rappers -- have an aversion to gangsta rap for its objectionable content. Common named the rise of gangsta rap as one of the many steps in hip-hop's downfall in "I Used to Love H.E.R.," a sentiment that, of course, began a contentious relation ... More >>

In honor of Amendment 64: Ten stoner anthems, overt hip-hop odes to Mary Jane

Today's election marks a potentially monumental day for our state. With Amendment 64 on the ballot, Colorado is on the cusp of being the first state to regulate marijuana like alcohol. In honor of what could be a historic moment in the legislative annals of the Centennial State, we've compiled ten o ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the most common (and mutually favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off ... More >>

Our top five spins this week, September 24-30

In this very special edition of Heavy Rotation, you not only get a through-the-keyhole view of our musical proclivities, but you also get a few words from us on our top pick of the week. Keep reading to find out what Mark Sanders considers musical comfort food, why Kelsey Whipple can't think of Spac ... More >>

Backbeat's five most listened-to songs and albums, week of September 5, 2012

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be too surprising to find that the most common (and our mutually favorite) topic of conversation among all of us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and boy, wouldn't you ... More >>

The 50 worst sports movies of all time

Slap Shot 2: Number 28.​The sports movie is rarely versatile: an outsider, or group of outsiders (wrong race, wrong gender, wrong species), have uncanny talent in their field, but the old guard (typically, white, old men), don't like the change the new person represents. So the rebels have to ... More >>

DJ Premier on having a humble respect for the game and going back to using the old slang

Catch DJ Premier this Saturday at City Hall for Shoe Shine 7​DJ Premier is one of the greatest producers of all time. Ask anyone. He's a trailblazing pioneer that has influenced pretty much every hip-hop producer and beat maker doing it. Maintaining longevity unlike any producer or DJ in his l ... More >>

King Mob, Modern Witch, Married in Berdichev and Hideous Men at The Meadowlark 2/4/11

Tom MurphyKing Mob​ Most people who have seen Ben Martin perform have probably seen him as a guitarist and singer in experimental rock band Lil Slugger. But for last night's show he teamed up with his brother Sam for a duo that made some legitimately soulful synth pop. Turns out Ben is a tale ... More >>

Meet Julox, a southern gentleman with a distinctive Colorado flow that's all his own

​ Julox, a southern native who relocated to Aurora in 1991 is a busy man. With more than twenty projects already under his belt and eight more on the way, including a joint project with UGK records, this dedicated rapper is proving that he truly is trill. Although he draws inspiration from sp ... More >>

Devin the Dude

Tuesday, May 11, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

The Chain Gang of 1974, Jónsi, Wire Faces and more 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?" 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 >>

RIP Guru, gone at the age of 43

​ By now you've heard about the loss of Keith "Keithy E" Elam, aka Guru, who passed away yesterday. If you're reading this right now, you're probably grappling with the tremendous loss of Guru and reflecting on the monumental impact he had on rap music -- despite the fact that he never really ... More >>

Being King of the Mountain for F.O.E. means setting his sights outside of Denver

Q&A with Time

​Time, aka Chris Steele, has been involved in the Denver hip-hop scene for over a decade, and his current and future collaborators include Sole of the Anticon collective, Talib Kweli, Drake, Kool Keith and C-Rayz Walz. The snarkier hip-hop aficionados refer to the form Time writes and performs as ... More >>

Axe Murder Boys due at 10th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos

Have you seen this? The infomercial for the "most controversial music festival in the world," the 10th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos? Redamndiculous. Everywhere you look, as host Sugar Slam so eloquently puts it, there's some different shit popping off. Indeed. They should call this little shind ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: On Point, Lil Wayne, Scarface, Common

Friday Rap-Up: Black Hollywood, Lil Kim, Naughty By Nature, Eminem

Julox

Catfish, Shrimp-n-French Fries
Ugly Azz Entertainment

Vintage N.E.R.D. Profile

Friday Rap-Up: 25 Colorado Rappers Spit on One Song

Street Kings

Boys will be boys in Street Kings' shallow look at dirty police.

Friday Rap-Up: Dent, Ice Cube, MC Serch, Yo-Yo, Eminem

Best 2007 - Houston: Teeing Off with Scarface

Pimp C, Free at Last: Remembering a Down South Legend

Good Clean Smut

In the Market

Need a knife, a bong or maybe a soccer ball? Clara Market on East Colfax Avenue has it all -- just bring food stamps.

Coke Dreams

In Scarface, slinging yayo is the name of the game.

Bun B

Trill (Rap-A-Lot/Asylum)

The Beatdown

John Huntington's Club Rubber bounces into town.

Geto Boys

The Foundation (Rap-A-Lot)

The Hustler

DJ Clinton Sparks has become a rising star by working harder than anyone else.

The Beatdown

Bashing hip-hop is not going to solve LoDo's recent problems.

The Beatdown

Don't start no stuff, won't be no stuff.

Rie Rie

Rie Rie (Mobruled Productionz)

Best Metal Detector in a Club

Paladium

N.E.R.D. Alert

In Chad Hugo's world, art and commerce co-exist.

Nas

God's Son (Columbia)

That's a Wrap-Up

Backbeat writers sound off on a few of their favorite musical things from 2002.

Piracy, Hip-Hop Style

Skyjack Radio briefly took over Denver radio -- and its pilots are eager to hit the airwaves again.

Swan Song

By refusing to follow the flock, Ugly Duckling has emerged as a wholly individual hip-hop creature.