Timbaland

Benny Loco

Lines
Self-released

Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells: "I just wanted it to sound like a gang of ferocious women."

Since forming in 2008, Sleigh Bells (due tomorrow night at the Ogden Theatre) have issued three records, a debut EP on M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings in 2009, followed by two full-length albums, 2010's Treats and its latest offering, Reign of Terror. The band's combination of heavy, expansive guitar r ... More >>

Anatomy of a hip-hop song: Local producers weigh in on what it takes to make a great track

David Lang / Red Bull PhotofilesBoonie Mayfield (top) and Xperiment Beats​The term "producer" has very different connotations in the worlds of rock and hip-hop. Although they're both instrumental in shaping the sound, they serve very different functions. Generally speaking, in rock, a produc ... More >>

Top ten most blatant and alleged song heists

Earlier this week, Nick Cave responded to accusations that he nicked the basis of the song "Palaces of Montezuma" from a tune by some guy named Frank Duffy called "Grey Man." It seems absurd someone as versatile as Cave would intentionally borrow a lick or two from another song. Any similarities ... More >>

Red Bull Big Tune producer battle tomorrow

Click to enlarge​Ah, the producer. It's one of the most thankless jobs in hip-hop. Apart from a few superstars like Danger Mouse and Timbaland, most producers are destined to be overshadowed by the MC on the track and displaced by a DJ in a club despite their vital role in the music-making pro ... More >>

Fray slated to sit in with Timbaland at the Gothic

​No doubt capitalizing on Joe King's recent collaboration on "Undertow," from Shock Value II, his latest effort, and the fact that the band happens to be in town that day, Timbaland has evidently invited the Fray to make a cameo at his show at the Gothic on Tuesday, January 26. We have no indi ... More >>

For the Record: Beaterator iPhone review -- is it worth $2.99?

As technology moves forward, we've found new and interesting ways to make, record and brainstorm music on the go. There has been a flood of music production and recording applications for devices like the iPhone/iPod Touch, Nintendo DS, PSP and others. Finding worthwhile applications is another stor ... More >>

Freaky Friday: "Broken Heart" - Valentine

​Today's video freakshow is framed as an appeal to superstar producer Timbaland. The young man who made the video is a Ukrainian singer-songwriter and a fan of Timba's. He's looking for a little help to become "as popular as Britney Spears," as he explains in his halting English, and he's writ ... More >>

This Just In: Rose Hill Drive to open for Jane's Addiction, second Nick Jonas show added

​After Boulder's Rose Hill Drive played Led Zeppelin II in its entirety at the Boulder Theater last New Year's Eve, the band took a year-long hiatus. The band members made quite a few announcements saying they needed some time off to re-focus. Even so, there was some speculation that the act had b ... More >>

Joe King making a name for himself apart from the Fray

​Perhaps taking a cue from his pal Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, who's written and produced songs for an array of top shelf pop acts, including Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce and Leona Lewis, Fray guitarist Joe King is steadily making a name for himself as a burgeoning songwriter in his own right. On the j ... More >>

The Rouge's red letter day continues

​Looks like the Rouge's red letter day is continuing. From kicking off the summer performing at Red Rocks to making its way up to headlining status, the band is now enjoying a healthy buzz generated by the inherent sex appeal of its shirtless, leather vested frontman its passionate live shows and ... More >>

LA Riots

Thursday, July 2, The Church, 303-832-8628.

Top Ten Dance Collections of 2008, Both Mixed and Unmixed

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. Any knucklehead with DSL and a laptop can now make an electronic track. With a half hour of clicking and fiddlin ... More >>

This Just In 9/25-10/1

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. Any knucklehead with DSL and a laptop can now make an electronic track. With a half hour of clicking and fiddlin ... More >>

Friday Rap-Up: Ichiban, Ludacris, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z

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. Any knucklehead with DSL and a laptop can now make an electronic track. With a half hour of clicking and fiddlin ... More >>

Mötley Crüe

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. Any knucklehead with DSL and a laptop can now make an electronic track. With a half hour of clicking and fiddlin ... More >>

Motley Crue

Sunday, July 27, Fiddler's Green, 303-830-8497.

M.I.A.

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Q&A with M.I.A.

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Beyond Playlist: Madonna and More

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Mini Reviews

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Q&A With Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D.

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Q&A With Howlin' Pelle Almqvist of the Hives

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Necro Loves Violence, Hates Women and Other Assorted Goodies

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

Friday Rap-Up: D.O. The Fabulous Drifter, 50 Cent, Grandmaster Flash, Foxy Brown

Since reinventing herself as M.I.A., Maya Arulpragasam has hardly been missing in action.

OneRepublic

Dreaming Out Loud
Mosley Music/Interscope Records

Duran Duran

Red Carpet Massacre
Epic

The Rockies Make a Grand Entrance

Red Carpet Massacre
Epic

A Tale of Two Rappers

How the hype played out in the 50 Cent vs. Kanye battle royal.

M.I.A.

Kala
Interscope Records

The Dead Science Pops Off

Sam Mickens and his crew have a unique view of pop music.

Timbaland

Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Blackground/Interscope

The Grandma Awards

Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Blackground/Interscope

Cowboy Troy

Tuesday, July 4, Greeley Stampede, Greeley, 1-866-464-2626.

Nelly Furtado

Loose (Geffen)

Hot Chip

The Warning (Astralwerks)

Kudu

Physical World (Nublu Records)

Missy Elliott

The Cookbook (Atlantic)

Black Eyed Peas

Monkey Business (A&M Records)

LL Cool J

The DEFinition (Def Jam)

Brandy

Afrodisiac (Atlantic)

That's a Wrap-Up

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

Styles, Slum Village and Clipse

A Gangster and a Gentleman (Ruff Ryder)
Trinity (Past, Present and Future)
Lord Willin' (Star Trak)

Discmania

Backbeat writers revisit their favorite albums of the year.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah (Blackground)

Missy Elliott

Miss E...So Addictive (The Gold Mind/Elektra)

Various Artists

Romeo Must Die: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(Blackground Records)

Handsome Boy Modeling School/Quannum Projects

So...How's Your Girl?
(Tommy Boy)

Quannum Spectrum
(Quannum Projects)

The Wide World of Rap

Exploring the endless variety of today's hip-hop.

Playlist

Exploring the endless variety of today's hip-hop.