NaS and Company Invade Red Rocks

August 2, 2018

Red Rocks Amphitheater opened its welcome mat to some of the legends of hip hop on Wednesday night. Opening the festivities were local duo The Reminders who got the crowd warmed up for the likes of Royce da 5'9", Brother Ali, Black Star and headliner NaS. The crowd filled with traditional hip hop heads listened to some of the best tracks from the Golden Era of hip hop as Black Star and NaS brought their classics to the stage. It's easy to forget just how many hit NaS has, yet he managed to include them all. A perfect night for the biggest hip hop show of the Summer at The Rocks.

Photo Credit: Milo Lee

Black Star Performed One For The Ages This Past Weekend In Denver

February 12, 2018

The history of rap will go down with the mention of certain individuals, eras, but most importantly albums that defined what the genre was all about. Released in 1998 Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star defined a movement for one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time. The album played heavy on the political and conscious stigmas that were present in the late 90's. Unfortunately it was the only album the duo would ever come out with. Both Mos Def and Talib Kweli went on to enjoy commercial success as individuals spanning an array of solo projects and leaving the door open for another album (which coincidentally was announced by Yasiin Bey/Mos Def later on that evening at a Madlib show across town). For many in attendance it was an opportunity to listen to two of the greatest lyrical emcees go back and forth playing out the tracklist from one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. We will ever get to see Black Star come through town again, I would think so especially if a new album is on the way. The 8th Light was definitely shining bright on Saturday night, we hope it never dims.

February 2018 | Denver's Most Highly Anticipated Shows

February 1, 2018

Tu 2/6 MØ and Cashmere Cat at Ogden

So you pride yourself on listening to the acts that eventually blow the fuck up, but you're also not a pretentious git who ditches the rush of the tunes soon as your makers make it big. I am talking to you, hip-hop/deejay head, with your eyes on producers who finally release their own ish! Cashmere Cat's been in the game for years, sonically sculpting hits for everyone from Ye to Grande, and now's your chance to catch him reppin entirely his own vibes. This co-headlining tour with Danish popstress, MØ (pronounced MUH), is sure to bring party from doors open til security sweeps you out the Ogden and onto cold ass Colfax.

TIX: $30ish // Pro-Tip: Don't be an asshat to the X-hands (aka Under 21) that'll surely be there not so sneakily smuggling shooters to each other. You were a teen once, too, old man.

The Velveteers photographed by Robert Castro

F 2/9 The Velveteers EP Release w/Bud Bronson & The Good Timers, Plastic Daggers at Hi Dive

Rock and roll is not dead. In fact, some of it is alive and creepy af and from Boulder?! The Velveteers "Death Hex", as Dylan Owens of Denver Post's The Know writes, is a "cut-to-the-bone single" and we quite agree. They have limited songs accessible online, so head to show and grab their tunes an old fashioned way-- buy the album at the merch stand.

TIX: // Pro Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for Karl Christian Krumpholz's next comic for Westword featuring The Velveteers. PS we <3 this band, and you can check out our previous coverage here.

Sa 2/10 Black Star at Ogden

"Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches / Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous." As Denver small talk now also includes anyone's best guess of the number of cranes along the Mile High skyline, it couldn't be a better time to hear two of raps most pioneering political figures, Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli, rage face. This last minute booking has hip hop fans ready and anticipating, but the $65 price tag may lure away the very people our conscious MCs are rhymin for.

TIX: $65 // Pro-Tip: Your friend bails and you have an extra ticket? Hand it to a fan outside the gates and make someone's night.

F 2/16 Rostam @ Globe Hall

Yep, he was in Vampire Weekend. No, he's not Jack Antonoff. He's a dude who NPR writes as "helping to reshape pop music with West African guitar licks crossed with unusual polyrhythms and joyful melodies." Collaborating with acts like Ra Ra Riot, Haim, RAC, and Discovery, you can expect a lot of bubbly beats and billowy vox tracks during his set at Globeville's Globe Hall. Unfortunately, the show is sold out, but we're sure our readers now how to navigate that lil obstacle, legally, of course.

TIX: SOLD OUT-- buena suerte // Pro-Tip: Head to the gorgeous Fort Greene bar across the street for happy hour, then p/u some bbq from Globe Hall, and gorge on cheap beer til openers Joy Again take the stage.

Sa 2/17 Classixx DJ Set @ Vinyl

GO IF: you love indie rock but kinda hate dancing, but you resolved to give less fucks in 2018, and just wanna move, man. Vinyl is a sweaty club off Broadway, and no one's gonna be worried about your two step. These LA DJs got you.

TIX: $16ish // Pro-Tip: Avoid wearing that Classixx tee you copped from H&M. It ain't them and they're suing. No, really.

Su 2/18 Majid Jordan at the Gothic

If Majid Jordan hasn't secured a spot on every playlist you've made for bae, you're doing it wrong. The Toronto duo first caught our attention when Drizzy featured them on "Hold On, We're Going Home" and later signing them to his OVO Sound. Now, fair warning-- this show's gonna be sexy af. Like, baby makin music. Like, people feelin themselves maybe not so metaphorically kind of vibes. Like, maybe you do want that shot of tequila.

TIX: $30ish // Pro-Tip: Parking can suck around the Gothic-- careful of side streets that only allow resident permit parking.

W 2/21 Brent Faiyaz @ Lost Lake

I mean, we don't wanna say he's a good place holder for your Frank Ocean fix, but he hits that nerve-- eclectic, tender & sincere, classic yet new. Faiyaz, one of the trio Sonder, and Maryland made former rapper, kicked off his solo tour in Chitown at the end of January. Seeing him at an intimate venue like Lost Lake is sure to be a moment fans will refer to years from now when he's playing global festivals and showing off his friendship with Solange-- oh wait, that's sorta already happened.

TIX: SOLD OUT // Pro Tip: Post up outside Lost Lake with your best puppy dog eyes and get yourself a damn ticket.