The Pharcyde

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 >>

New shows: Billy Bragg, Cold War Kids, Zac Brown Band, Dark Star Orchestra and more

A number of new shows have been announced this week since our weekly Mile Highlights post dropped on Tuesday, and they all go on sale this weekend, so we thought you should know about them. Among the new dates, we've got shows at the Gothic (Billy Bragg, Cold War Kids, Sevendust, Coal Chamber and La ... More >>

New shows: Animal Collective at the Ogden, the Avett Brothers at Red Rocks, the Revival Tour

After the comforting lull of the holidays, things are starting to ramping back up nicely on the concert front. Some big announcements this week, including Animal Collective, who is slated to return to Denver for a show at the Ogden Theatre with Dan Deacon, and the Avett Brothers who are set for a tw ... More >>

New shows: Lotus three nights at Boulder Theater, Crystal Castles at the Gothic and more

A perennial favorite in Colorado, Lotus is making its way back to the Centennial state for a trio of shows at the Boulder Theater, while Crystal Castles is set to return for a date at the Gothic Theatre and Anthrax tops the Metal Alliance tour, a stacked bill at the Summit Music Hall this April that ... More >>

New shows: SnowBall Music Festival adds STS9 and other acts, the Pharcyde at Fox and more

New week, new year, new show announcements -- the biggest one this week involves STS9. Fresh off a three-night New Year's Eve run at the Fillmore comes word that the outfit has been added as a headliner at this March's SnowBall Music Festival. We've got the full run down on that below, as well as wo ... More >>

A-Trak at Rhinoceropolis, 10/18/12

The scene from A-Trak's house party last night at Rhinoceropolis: People were pushing, shirts were off, sweat was dripping to the ground like so many leaky faucets then rising from the beer soaked floor to form the most disgusting sauna you can imagine. The best moment of the show, which came during ... 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 >>

Win tix to see Cee Know the Doodlebug of Digable and Fatlip of the Pharcyde at Herman's

This Wednesday night, a pair of fierce MCs, Cee Knowledge (aka Doodlebug of Digable Planets) and Fatlip of the Pharcyde, will be throwing down at Herman's Hideaway, alongside a stacked bill of local cats, including Quiz, Turner Jackson and Made Fresh Daily. We've got tickets for this gig, which will ... More >>

Weekend's best party bets: #TheSolution5, As Nasty As They Wanna Be and more

Path One#TheSolution5 continues tomorrow night with the Art of Records at Family Affair. Here's a sample of the dopeness that awaits you: Path One's take on Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde There's tons of fresh goodness for you to get into this weekend, including a dance performance at Dikeou, reggae ... More >>

The Solution celebrates five years with #TheSolution5, which kicks off tonight at Beta

If you're a hip-hop head in Denver, there is simply no place else to be tonight than Beta for #TheSolution5's kickoff event, the Solution's 6th Annual J.Dilla Celebration, which of course is a celebration centered on the life and music of the late J. Dilla. Actually, if hip-hop's your thing, if you ... More >>

Sounds of Blackness: J Dilla

Happy birthday, J Dilla!​Ah, J Dilla. His influence and production style brought forth beatmakers carrying their backpacks filled with treasures from the basement into the mainstream. Even more so after his death. A cult-like following surrounds his legacy. Born James Dewitt Yancey in February ... More >>

Hugh Cleal spins January 6 at Bar Standard

Mile Highlights: Shows announced/on sale this week, local radio playlists and top local sellers

​ Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week. On the concert front: Peter Gabriel and Widespread Panic are coming to Red Rocks in June, while Sade is due at the Pepsi Center in August. Meanwhile on local radio, My Body Sings Electric, Pacific Pride, the Sunshine House and String Chees ... More >>

Del the Funky Homosapien on the things lacking in hip-hop today, Gorillaz and cassette tapes

​ If you ever get the chance to speak with Del the Funky Homosapien, your first thought will most likely be something like this: "Wow! He is one quiet, enigmatic dude." However, as you'll discover, once he opens up, he is a wealth of information. Embarking on his twentieth year as an artist, ... More >>

Five reasons Dilla's still missed five years later

​ The hip-hop purists among us are very familiar with the story and legacy of James Dewitt Yancy, better known as J. Dilla. Having come up in the hip-hop underground scene in Detroit and later emerging as one of the most influential producers in hip-hop, it was Dilla's death at the height of ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Kinetix and Broken Social Scene 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 >>

B.o.B., Bop Skizzum, Tommy Metz and The Pirate Signal 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 >>

The Weekend Showdown: King Rat Reigns

​ We would hate for you to miss out on all the awesome that happens every weekend in our fair city, so we've decided to run down five of the best shows in one easy-to-swallow post, with video and audio. Tell us -- and the rest of the world -- what we missed in the comments. On Friday night, ... More >>

This Just In: 30 Seconds to Mars, John Butler Trio, Gipsy Kings shows announced

​Thirty Seconds to Mars sold out the Ogden Theatre last December, so it's not too surprising that when Jared Leto and company return to the area on Friday, May 7, they'll will be headlining the roomier Fillmore, with Mutemath and Neon Trees opening the show. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Februa ... More >>

Q&A with DJ A-What from the Pirate Signal

Because of his outsized persona, Yonnas Abraham is the face that most people generally associate with the Pirate Signal. If you look over dude's shoulder, though, there's another cat that cuts an equally impressive figure in his own right on the ones and twos. That distinguished chap's name? Alejand ... More >>

Denver greats pay tribute to hip-hop's greats at Get Down Wednesdays

Gotta love Denver, man. At the risk of sounding like a homer, the creativity here is invigorating. It seems cats are constantly striving to come up with compelling ways to put on shows, Stand By Your Band at the hi-dive, Denver Does Denver and now Hip-Hop Bites Back, an idea whose time has truly com ... More >>

Top 10 Reissues 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. It's time to rank the best of what went around and came around again. BILLY JOEL The Stranger (Columbia/Legacy ... More >>

Rap-Up: 93.3 KTCL adds hip-hop artist Improv to Top 10

Nowadays, alternative rock station 93.3 KTCL is showing more and more love to hip-hop music on the air. First it was the Flobots being added to daily rotation last year, then it was the addition of Judgemental (of Basementalism) to Ralphie's First Trax show on Saturday mornings (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) that ... More >>

Live Review: Rock the Bells Tour

The Flobots rise and shine

Last Night ... DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Kid Koala @ Ogden Theater

Last Night: Common @ The Fillmore Auditorium

Westword Music Showcase 2006

Be there or be square!

Take the Plunge

A music festival unlike any other hits the slopes of Telluride.

Busdriver

Wednesday, February 22, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Tre Hardson & Fuqawi

Friday, December 2, Round Midnight, Boulder, 303-442-2176; Sunday, December 4, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

Fatlip

The Loneliest Punk (Delicious Vinyl)

The Beatdown

Low Budget Soul makes local hip-hop sound like a million bucks.

The Pharcyde

Humboldt Beginnings (Chapter One Records)

Danger Mouse & Jemini

Ghetto Pop Life (Lex Records)

Best Place to See Emerging Hip-Hop Talent -- Boulder

Fox Theatre

Critic's Choice

Blackalicious

Turning Pro

The Procussions take their homegrown hip-hop to the West Coast.

Altar Ego

The Wendel-Endsley Group finds sanctuary in sound.

Swan Song

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

Into the Light

The Jurassic 5 make a heroic ascent from the hip-hop underground.

Swept Away

Chief Broom disbands; Dave Baker thinks big; the latest in music Web sites.

Pull the Strings!

A weird concept makes Being John Malkovich a one-of-a-kind experience.

Playlist

Another Descent

The Descendents live to punk again.

Letters

Playlist

Top of the Hill

B-Real says Cypress Hill's message is still blunt.

PHAR OUT

SHE AIN'T HEAVY

SHE'S THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES' N'DEA DAVENPORT, A SOUL SONGSTRESS FOR THE NINETIES.