The free association that characterizes JDirty’s new mixtape is a double-edged sword: While his lyrics are unpretentious and seemingly effortless, they often come off as too effortless, with obvious, sometimes sing-songy rhymes prevailing. Still, it’s nice that the MC doesn’t take himself too seriously, dishing some legitimately funny lines: On…
HOODIE ALLEN @ SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | 9/23/12 In the moments before Hoodie Allen took the stage at Summit Music Hall, the anticipation was reaching a breaking point, and the tension was as thick as the combination of the smoke drifting off the stage from the machines and the smoke…
Quote/Unquote is our periodic feature in which we hunt down noteworthy lyrics, examine the best lines and then get the story behind the song. This week, we got some insight from Logistixx of the rap-fusion group Drop Switch to find out what he had in mind while he was crafting…
CrazyWorld begins like a vivid nightmare. The apocalyptic tone of Grizz’s lyrics, along with the urgency in his voice, immediately raises the stakes of the album. Grizz points out the damning omens he finds around him but provides no easy solutions; it’s a bleak picture. Then, near the halfway point,…
Monyy’s aptly named Crack Vol. 1 offers a perspective that’s stuck in the trappings of street life, but with aspirations of something more. While the tape’s lo-fi sound gives it a rugged feel, inspired production allows the tracks to breathe. Monyy’s main focus is the corporate music industry, for which…
See also: Meet Maulskull, the highly prolific Johnny Appleseed of underground hip-hop Welcome to the revamped version of Quote/Unquote, our feature in which we hunt down some awesome lyrics — or in this case rhymes — and get the story behind the song. This week, we unearthed a few gems…
Following in the footsteps of fellow Pittsburgh native and Taylor Allderdice graduate Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller is well known for making feel-good music. His breakout mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin’ Incredibly Dope Shit), an homage to the notably dark Larry Clark film, and followup Best Day Ever were beloved by casual and…
Yesterday afternoon, across the street from the Westword offices, the first Sniagrab tent popped up on the sidewalk outside Sports Authority in anticipation of huge discounts on sporting gear. With a new law banning urban camping on the books, Sports Authority acquired a permit from the city to allow prospective…
If you’re up early, you’ve probably already noticed that we put the paddles to Heavy Rotation and brought that feature back to life. We’ve done the same with another dormant feature, Flier of the Week. Starting today, we’ll once again be paying tribute to the tried and true, time-tested method…
SNOOP DOGG and ICE CUBE @ COMFORT DENTAL | 2/4/12 With a lineup in which the youngest performer was Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at 35, one might assume that this show was doomed to an early bedtime and fading energy as the night wore on. In reality, the crowd…
See also: The third annual Spirit of Hip-Hop celebrates the four elements and keeps the culture alive What began as a casual Friday cookout/dance get-together has blossomed into a full-blown community hip-hop jam — and you don’t need to be a hip-hop-head to appreciate the Worm Tank Jam going down…
See also: – Snoop Dogg at Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, 8/17/12 – Review: Snoop Dogg at Snowball, 3/3/12 – Review: Snoop Dogg at the Fillmore, 3/2/12 Artists do what they can to control their image, from their songs to their videos to their Twitter feeds and Facebook pages. They hire publicists…
“The show is just a full-blown celebration of all things mod, retro and mid-century,” says Denver Modernism Show organizer Dana Cain. “It’s a huge, mod, mid-century lovefest.” And there will be a lot to love at the show, which runs today through Sunday. The National Western Complex will be filled…
The Youth Connection will host a poetry slam/open-mike event at 4 p.m. today in Civic Center Park, in conjunction with Senator Mike Johnston’s Summer of Safety program. The slam is the last in a three-part event series designed to provide local youth with healthy, safe and exciting activities — and…
People were flipping out in the plaza outside Fado Irish Pub on Saturday. Between drunken refs, a brief rain delay, match announcers competing with blasting music from DJ Escal8 and general alcohol-induced chaos, the madness level among competitors and spectators alike at Flipcup’alooza approached shitshow levels. By the end of…
Stuck with nothing to do this weekend but twiddle your thumbs? Here’s something else you can do with your hands. This Saturday, Quincy Dancer will host the seventh annual Flipcup’alooza Tournament & Block Party at Fado Irish Pub. But this isn’t just your average flip cup party, if there is…
When District Judge Sheila Rappaport handed down her (now appealed) decision in Lobato vs. Colorado, the word she used to describe Colorado’s education-finance system was “unconscionable.” That harsh description is backed by stats provided by Great Education Colorado, a nonprofit that describes itself as “a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization that…
Drinking games aren’t simply about who can drink the most the fastest; that would be silly and pointless. Drinking games are about who can drink the most the fastest…and then perform competitive dexterous feats. This past weekend, the Irish Rover hosted a flip-cup competition that was a benefit for the…
Denver has ten sister cities, each with its own customs and priorities. Among them is Nairobi, Kenya. City Councilman Albus Brooks, so much a fan of Kenya that he named his daughter after the nation, recently led a trip of Manual High School students (and one teacher), plus private sector…
BIG K.R.I.T. @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7.18.12 See Also: – Big K.R.I.T. at the Marquis, 10/21/10 – Mr. Midas and Big K.R.I.T. collab on “Back On” Big K.R.I.T. calls himself the King Remembered In Time, an appropriate name, because he truly is timeless. When the big king stepped on stage,…
Schmoozing and boozing — that was the scene at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House last Friday just before the ten finalists of Galvanize’s [i4c] campaign, a city-specific initiative to grow socially and environmentally impactful startups through capital, community and curriculum, would be judged Shark Tank-style, with just three winning the…
Watsky is a San Franciscan poet/rapper, now based in Los Angeles, who first gained recognition as a slam poet. As a performer, he’s about as diverse as they come: serious, silly, cocky and heartfelt — sometimes all at once. His cross-genre appeal is demonstrated by his impressively varied resumé: winner…
