Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Musa Bailey, Trev Rich, Kid Vegas and Cool Ray

Back with another fresh batch of homegrown hip-hop. This week we've got new releases from Musa Bailey, who takes listeners on a musical ride through the West with How to Survive When You're Dead, plus new cuts from Trev Rich, Kid Vegas and newcomer Cool Ray. Continue on to see...

By Antonio Valenzuela

January 31, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Back with another fresh batch of homegrown hip-hop. This week we've got new releases from Musa Bailey, who takes listeners on a musical ride through the West with How to Survive When You're Dead, plus new cuts from Trev Rich, Kid Vegas and newcomer Cool Ray. Continue on to see what's good.

Musa Bailey - How to Survive When You're Dead The production on Musa Bailey's latest project is masterful. Musa describes the project as a Western, and that description fits. The production is organic, built on a foundation of guitars, piano and strings along with samples from classic films and original content that tells a tale of tragedy and revenge.

Trev Rich - "Migraines" "Migraines" is from Trev Rich's latest release, Heights 3. Since appearing on Joe Budden's mixtape, Trev has capitalized on the increased exposure by dropping solid releases like this one. The project is both lyrical and relevant as Trev laces patterns with lines like "I'm pretty sure/Being this dope at 24/Deserves some Kobe hate/I knew I'd be this dope since I was eight."

Kid Vegas - "Dominate" This track off Kid Vegas's new project, Addicted to the Life, is pure charisma and bravado, and is sure to inspire repeated listens on trips to the gym. The production is slow-rolling, with beeps, soft snares, strings and a laser-like lead that whistles through the rapper's verses.The song addresses naysayers, which Vegas says he uses for his motivation.

Cool Ray - "Patience Is Virtue" Newcomer Cool Ray drops an introspective track over stabbing synths and bass-heavy organs. Cool Ray's delivery is half spoken and half sung, which is interesting just because it's different. Ray displays a deep Southern drawl and a calm demeanor that is reminiscent of Young Dro. The song is catchy and a smooth listen.

• BACKBEAT'S GREATEST HITS • - The fifty best rap lyrics of all time - The ten biggest concert buzzkills - Five more concert buzzkills - From Phish to Floyd, the ten best light shows

Follow @Westword_Music

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.