Underground Hip-Hop

Travelogue: Snowdown, Brother Ali and Raekwon

With SIA happening in Denver all this week, there's been no shortage of shows this week. As you know, the Backbeat crew goes hard in the streets. Last night, we caught bits of Dilated Peoples, Twista, DJ Vajra and the Foodchain at Snowdown 2012, Brother Ali at the Ogden with the ReMINDers and a surp ... More >>

Review: Souls of Mischief at City Hall, 1/19/12

Photo by Britt Chester Souls of Mischief @ City Hall | 1/19/12 Following the Ninja Stylez Bboy competition in the main room, Souls of Mischief exploded from behind the stage, tearing into the opening lines of "You Never Knew" with A-Plus casually swayin' behind his all-black shades amidst flawles ... More >>

DJ Z-Trip, Souls of Mischief and more at Terminal Kings Art Project at City Hall

While earlier rumors of DJ Z-Trip being in town at the end of January proved to be just that, it turns out that he will be in town this month after all -- just not at Red Rocks. Instead, he'll be performing at City Hall for the final night of partying for Terminal Kings, an art project sponsored by ... More >>

The 20 greatest geek albums

​If the geeks are really set to inherit the earth (that's the saying, right?), then it's time we highlight the musical offerings they have on the table. With Jonathan Coulton's Artificial Heart being released last week at PAX, it seems as good a time as any to look at our favorite albums about ... More >>

Stones Throw Anniversary

Friday, August 26, City Hall, 303-832-8628.

Review: Del the Funky Homosapien at 2011 Westword Music Showcase, 6/18/11

​DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN at #WMS11 | 06.18.11"Del, Deltron 3300, Del the Funky Homosapien, Deltron Zero, Deltron Z, Dr. Bombay -- every one of the mastermind's personas -- was in full effect as he rapped and freestyled through tracks dating back as far as 1993."

Review: Electric Daisy Carnival, 6/11/11

​ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL | 06.13.11 "When the smoke machines ran out, someone -- and by 'someone,' I mean a complete fucking idiot -- blasted the room with a fire extinguisher, sending a sweet poison into the eyes and mouths of everyone."

Galactic gives props to the music, and musicians, of New Orleans

​ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL | 06.13.11 "When the smoke machines ran out, someone -- and by 'someone,' I mean a complete fucking idiot -- blasted the room with a fire extinguisher, sending a sweet poison into the eyes and mouths of everyone."

Catch Lungs, One Be Lo, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi at Marquis, 03/04/11

Ajsml Photography​ CATCH LUNGS With One Be Lo • Guilty Simpson • Elzhi Food Chain • Fresh Breath Committee 03.04.11 | Marquis Theater Detroit hip-hop was definitely in the fucking building for Catch Lungs's CD release party. In addition to the fellow locals in Food Chain and Fresh Brea ... More >>

Nyke Nitti on hustling CDs in the time of tapes, making it in the game and Louis Armstrong

​ Nyke Nitti (aka Nate Johnson and formerly known as Nyke Loc) is a veteran in the Denver hip-hop game. With over eight years of rap lore under his belt, he has watched the rise of some of the best who have helped shape the city's scene. From Innerstate Ike, whom Nitti has known since he was ... More >>

George Strait & Reba, Sleigh Bells, Cypress Hill shows announced. Tix on sale this weekend.

​Country superstars George Strait and Reba McEntire have sold close to 125 million records. combined. In his career, which spans more than three decades, Strait has had more number-one singles than Elvis, and his latest effort, Twang, debuted at the number-one slot on Billboard's Top Country A ... More >>

Lyrics Born: "I still don't feel like I've made my best album"

​Country superstars George Strait and Reba McEntire have sold close to 125 million records. combined. In his career, which spans more than three decades, Strait has had more number-one singles than Elvis, and his latest effort, Twang, debuted at the number-one slot on Billboard's Top Country A ... More >>

DJ Shadow on the potential extinction of vinyl and his massive record collection

Dean Fernando​ Josh Davis, better known as DJ Shadow, is one of those artists that invents genres. Since the release of his 1996 critically-acclaimed debut, Endtroducing....., he has been regarded as one of the founding fathers of instrumental hip-hop. Endtroducing..... made the Guinness Book ... 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 >>

Grinderman, RJD2 and Dismemberment Plan 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 >>

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 >>

DJ KAAOS on hip-hop's golden era, sticking with vinyl and playing with a drummer

​ DJ KAAOS stands apart from the crowd with his arms full of tattoos, toting stacks of record crates (which apparently require a dolly). As a DJ, he's fully committed to respecting the past, while also forging his way into the future with MF KAAOS (and no, that isn't an MF DOOM reference, in ... 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 >>

Kid Hum charts on CMJ

screenshot (click to enlarge) straight jacked from Ralphie Another Colorado hip-hop artist has charted on CMJ's hip-hop chart. Massive props go out to Kid Hum, who checks in this week at number eighteen, just one spot being J Dilla, with his latest effort Offshore Drilling. Certainly a good look for ... More >>

A quick look at albums due out this summer

screenshot (click to enlarge) straight jacked from Ralphie Another Colorado hip-hop artist has charted on CMJ's hip-hop chart. Massive props go out to Kid Hum, who checks in this week at number eighteen, just one spot being J Dilla, with his latest effort Offshore Drilling. Certainly a good look for ... More >>

The Mighty Underdogs

Thursday, March 19, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

Soul Daddy

A Safe Place
Self-released

Black Milk

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Friday Rap-Up: Scribble Jam, BET’s Rap City, Kanye West, T-Pain

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

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

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Live Review: Cinemocracy Rocks! at Red Rocks

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Cinemocracy Rocks! at Red Rocks: a review

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

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

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Last Night ... Z-Trip at Sutra

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Guru

Thursday, February 19, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Guru

Saturday, July 21, the Oriental Theater, 303-455-2124.

El-P

I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Definitive Jux

Scene and Heard

Sounds Supreme and Low Key have The Solution.

Cut Chemist

Sunday, October 29, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Jedi Mind Tricks

Sunday, October 1, Bluebird Theater, 1-866-468-7621; Monday, October 2, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Mo' Substance

Mr. Lif's thought-provoking rhymes take you back in time.

Cut Chemist

The Audience¹s Listening (Warner Bros.)

Little Brother

Saturday, March 4, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Kool Keith

Saturday, February 4, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

Aesop Rock

Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives (Definitive Jux)

Jurassic 5

Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, Fox Theatre, 303-443-3399

Critic's Choice

Roosevelt Franklin

Ready to Reload

After five years, Gang Starr reclaims its place in the hip-hop pack.

That's a Wrap-Up

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

Living Out Loud

After a difficult beginning, J-Live gives hope to hip-hop.

Critic's Choice

Anti-Pop Consortium

Into the Light

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

Handsome Boy Modeling School/Quannum Projects

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

Quannum Spectrum
(Quannum Projects)

And You Don't Stop

These student DJs are hip-hop professors.

Brother From Another Planet

When it comes to hip-hop, Dr. Octagon veteran Kool Keith is out of this world.