Are you surprised I’m writing about rap? Well, you shouldn’t be. I fucking love rap, hip hop… whatever else it might be called. It’s not my fault mainstage hip hop artists avoid Colorado like the plague.
Ok, that might be hyperbolic, but still, I see less rap tour posters than metal, rock, punk, indie, or almost any other genre. And then there’s the Colorado rap scene which… well, let’s just say I understand.
Or, I did understand. Because what the fuck happened tonight?
Talib Kweli, career artist from Brooklyn, you know how it is. And if you don’t, I’ll tell you: he’s confident and creates a contagious vacation during his show. He whisks you back to your time as a wee little sperm because you’re not almost 50 years old and old school NYC hip hop is full of historical words. It’s a journey through time with video and rhymes and a man on the stage that exudes experience and kindness that connects both kids and the hip hop heads besides us.
And that’s not to say modern day rap isn’t historical. Something… something… suck my dick, something something… else I missed. You know how it is, that describes the 2020’s to a T. But when you want actual words and emotions, you probably go with someone like Talib Kweli.
Talib Kweli and his dj, DJ Spintelect. Watching DJ Spintelect anchor the show was an art form and I’d feel like an absolute prick not to give him a mention.
But what about those Colorado motherfuckers? I wanna name them by name:
Zino Dope
Ego (& friends)
Mr Grigsby
U.T.I.C.A.
Bullhead*ded
some dude and his fiance who fell into “don’t say our name” syndrome
Because they made me realise that Colorado actually has a decent, good rap scene. It’s not just something something mumble bumble bang bang fun gun 808. Colorado actually has energetic, rhythmic, melodic, something to say hip hop music.
While Talib Kweli has put in his hours on stage and it showed, the openers all had something to prove. And that also showed, because I thought like, all of them were on the tour. Until they said, “I’m from Colorado!” And as we know, rappers from Colorado don’t go on tour. For some reason.
They should. They should go show other states that Colorado ain’t to be overlooked. Colorado isn’t just metal and indie rock.
Based on tonight, Colorado is also home to one of the best rap scenes in the country. But for some reason, I’m only hearing about it now.
Also, there wasn’t actual a contest. I don’t know why I titled this in that way. Talib Kweli was not fighting the opening acts in an MMA style brawl. It was a normal show.
