Inspired by Philip Bailey’s song of the same name, One Eyed Kings, the MC/producer duo of Bravo One and Mr. Bostic, have produced a new track called “Children of the Ghetto,” which is built around a sample of the Bailey tune and features Molina, Akir, and Big Samir. The outfit…
The epic monsoon that swept through Denver last night took out more than just trees. The torrential rainstorm also wiped out Peter Black’s entire music catalogue when his car, which contained his Mac Book and virtually all of his music gear, was flooded. A veteran of the Mile High music…
Tons of fresh local hip-hop for you to vibe on this week. We’ve got a snippet of Mic Coats from the Food Chain spitting over a Mass Prod beat from the crew’s new “brunch” project, a new track from Anxious from his forthcoming Almost Famous album, a new joint from…
After DJ Quik canceled on Casselman’s at the last minute due to “gang activity” and “threats on his life,” all hell broke loose, with everyone buzzing about where (and exactly who) would be performing and where. As it turned out, Bizzy Bone, fresh off the plane in a ponytail, rocked…
Word on the street is Atlanta’s cocaine rap king Young Jeezy is making his way to the Mile High City on August 23 at the Ogden Theatre. The TM103 tour is a continuation of Jeezy’s “Thug Motivation” series of albums and will no doubt feature a wide array of tracks…
This week in rap, we have the latest video from Aires Jackson, a project featuring Lenny Lenn and his brother James Ray, a brand-new funk track from Naeem Oba that’s so ill it came with a “this will make you dance” disclaimer, another new video snippet from Spoke In Wordz,…
Independent, the latest release from the rapping/producing duo of James Ray and Lenny Lenn, is brilliantly unapologetic from the start. Over the course of fifteen solid tracks, which are chock-full of guest appearances, the brothers declare their independence with sturdy rhymes over diverse prodution. On the standout “You’ll See,” featuring…
Considered a legend as much for his distinctive production style — which helped propel the West Coast movement in the ’90s — as he is for his perfectly groomed head of hair, DJ Quik is a staple in the hip-hop game. Stepping onto the scene with his debut album, Quik…
TECH N9NE at the FILLMORE AUDITORIUM | 7/1/11You have not seen devoted fans until you’ve seen hundreds of folks styled in red and black with faces painted and ready for lyrical war at a Tech N9NE concert. Last night at the Fillmore, the Kansas City heavyweight shut it down with…
A fiercely independent artist with a diverse, dedicated and ever expanding cult following, Tech N9NE (due tonight at the Fillmore Auditorium) has a hustle that simply cannot be knocked. Currently in the midst of an 82-date tour in support of his latest album, All 6’s and 7’s, the rapper has…
MUSIQ SOULCHILD at CITY HALL | 6/30/11I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m cynical about R&B shows. Too often it’s a bunch of love drunk couples slow writhing under dark lighting and not enough bass for my hip-hop heart. But last night at City Hall, soul champion Musiq Soulchild…
For Better or Worse, the second release from Prime Element’s A.V.I.U.S., sounds like it marinated in a backpack carried around any variety of East Coast cities, from Boston to Philly. A choice blend of boom-bap-tinged beats were handpicked from various artists by Prime Element producer Es-Nine, who has an ear…
Talk about truth in advertising: Musiq Soulchild’s moniker is the absolute truth and nothing but the truth. Born Taalib Johnson, the R&B crooner sounds like the direct descendant of soul music’s finest, a long line of emissaries that includes Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross, among others. In 2000,…
Tonight at Cervantes’ A.V.I.U.S. is releasing his sophomore solo effort, For Better or Worse, in a dual release party with Mane Rok and Es-Nine, who are dropping En Stereo — a tribute to the deejay and MC collaboration. We already gave you a sneak peek of A.V.I.U.S.’s new joint, now…
On For Better or Worse, his sophomore solo release, A.V.I.U.S., the frontman MC for Prime Element — a trio that also includes Es-Nine and DJ Cysko Rokwel — sounds reflective and thoughtful. Scheduled to come out this week on the Kamikaze Airlines label, home also to Prime Element, the eight-track…
Exemplary production on Innerstate Ike’s latest release, Moolah Music, immediately bolsters the rapper’s larger-than-life lyrics, which center on the notion of making “moolah” by perfecting the art of your hustle. With a gravelly delivery that is distinctly his own, Ike reflects on the routine of rise, grind and repeat, with…
What do you get when a New York-born, California-bred songstress and a French-born producer with influences ranging from J. Dilla and DJ Shadow combine forces? The duo known as Dinner at the Thompson’s. An electro-funk-soul outfit with enough talent to fill a room twice between them, vocalist Lucille Tee and…
Today is 2Pac’s birthday. Had the young MC lived to see this day, he would have been forty years old. It would take days of paragraphs to capture the impact ‘Pac had on society and music in general, particularly hip-hop. A poet, actor, ‘hood scholar and the mightiest thug, the…
A.V.I.U.S., the MC frontman for Prime Element, is set to release his highly anticipated sophomore solo effort, For Better or Worse, on Thursday, June 23, as part of a dual release party with Mane Rok and Es-Nine, who are releasing En Stereo. We’ve got two brand-new tracks from A.V.I.U.S.’s new…
Avery Sunshine (due tonight at the Soiled Dove as part of the road to the Vail Soul Series) will bring her signature smile, style and grace to the stage this evening. A soul-stirring force, the Pennsylvania native is a whirling ball of energy and, well, sunshine, who is sure to…
These days, there seems to be more music than ever coming out of the Mile High City, from the hip-hop scene in particular. The masters have been hard at work, and the novices are on the come-up. This week, we’ve got a Britney Spears track remixed by Davey Boy, a…
Flight Risk is a mixtape of what are essentially leftover joints from Mr. Midas’s album Son of the Crack Era, with several new concept-driven collaborations thrown into the mix. Chock-full of posse cuts and interludes supporting the “flight risk” theme, the rap is exceptional, and not just from Midas. “Make…
