LOCALS ONLY
Local hip-hop artists and their fans rarely get to hear their music played on the radio. But in recent years, opportunities for local hip-hop artists to get their music on the air have grown immensely. Local hip-hop artists like Dent, Babah Fly, Catch Lungs, Infinite Minds, Deca and a host of others have seen their music get some local radio love in the last few months. There’s a hope that the exposure will help the Colorado hip-hop scene get some attention the way the Colorado rock scene recently has.

For over a decade, Radio 1190’s Basementalism hip-hop show (Saturdays, 4-7pm, 1190AM) has had an open-door policy in regards to Colorado hip-hop artists and have at least one song from a local in each three-hour show.

“There aren't all that many outlets for MCs and groups in Colorado to get their music heard,” Basementalism host Judgemental said on why they support the local scene. “The actual amount of music we receive has increased so much over the years and we listen to everything we get but it's just impossible to play it all. So for every really solid track we get sent there are two or three songs that need work before we'll put it on.”

DJ Chonz, host of KS107.5’s Future Jamz show (Sundays, 7pm to 8pm on 107.5 FM), agrees with Judgemental on keeping nothing but the best quality Colorado hip-hop on the airwaves. During his show he has a “Local Spotlight” where he showcases a new song every week from a local artist.

“I just want to inspire artists in Denver to continue to do their music,” Chonz said. “I also want to show the different kinds of sounds we have here in Denver and, of course, to raise the bar in quality. Artists can hear other artists and understand the quality of the local music that is being played is the best of the best in Colorado. So if you aspire to be the best no matter what type of hip-hop you do, you are listening to the top quality in the state.”

Even though DJ Bedz has recently scored contracts with 107.1 One FM (Sundays, 9-11pm) in Denver and 96.1 The Beat in Colorado Springs (Saturdays, 8-10pm) for his own mix shows, he’s playing local artists on a national level during his White Shadow Radio Show on XM 66 Raw every Friday from 7-8pm.

“We're all in this together, and it's just my way of trying to help raise the national profile of all the hip-hop folks out here,” Bedz said. “I have a lot of Colorado pride built in naturally. I want our talent to have the opportunity to be heard.”

KGNU’s The Eclipse Show is the longest running hip-hop show in the Denver/Boulder area headed by Chris Nathan with DJ Notch, DJ Dsrn, Z Rok, Matthew Martinez and a revolving door of hosts and guests. Every Sunday from 7-10pm on 1390 AM or 88.5 FM, you can hear the latest in hip-hop, both local and national. And the good thing about all these shows is that most of the DJs upload the previous shows to their websites.

Foxy Brown coming home
According to SOHH.com, Foxy Brown will be released from Rikers Island on April 18, after serving only eight months of a one-year sentence for violating her probation from a number of charges including felony assault, leaving New York state without permission, and a few other incidents.

"[She's] is not getting out early,” Foxy’s manager, Chazz Williams told SOHH.com. “Foxy served her entire sentence [under] good time, that is, days deducted by the law, that every prisoner gets unless it’s procedurally taken [away] for breaking prison rules."
Once released, Foxy will go straight to work on finishing and releasing her album, Brooklyn’s Don Diva. It was originally supposed to drop on February 5, but was pushed back to wait for Brown’s release to promote the album.

Jay-Z, Beyonce tie the knot
After a weekend of speculation, it became official: Jay-Z and Beyonce are husband and wife. Last Saturday, Jayonce hosted an extravagant soiree at the rapper’s Tribeca penthouse inviting only close friends and family including Gweneth Paltrow, Chris Martin (of Coldplay), Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child), Beyonce’s parents, Jay-Z’s mother, and several others.

Movers and delivery men were ushering flowers and candles into the building and black, limo-tinted SUVs, carrying guests were waved into the building as well. A chauffeur driving one of the vehicles confirmed that a wedding was definitely taking place. Mary J. Blige pretty much confirmed that Jay and B were married when she congratulated them at a concert that weekend. Jay-Z and Beyonce have been dating since 2002, but neither of them has admitted it.

50 Cent kicks Young Buck out of G-Unit
To thwart rumors that have been swirling around him, 50 Cent called into radio station Hot 97 in New York to clear the air. Young Buck, a member of 50’s G-Unit group and label, has been talking slick about his boss saying that G-Unit owes him money and he has yet to see a royalty check, implying 50 is keeping all the profit for himself.
"I was giving him the benefit of the doubt,” 50 told Hot 97’s Miss Jones, DJ Envy and Michael Shawn. “You can take this as official notice; pretty much you can say Young Buck is no longer in the group G-unit but signed to G-unit as a solo artist."
Young Buck hasn’t been too involved in recent G-Unit projects like mixtapes and other appearances. Buck is, however, featured in 50’s upcoming video game, 50 Cent: Blood in the Sand.

NEW RELEASES

The Grouch
Show You The World
It’s been almost five years since we’ve gotten a solo album from Living Legend group member Grouch, and not much has changed. He’s still spittin’ the whimsical rhymes over grimy, underground beats with guest appearances from MURS, Raphael Saadiq, Abstract Rude, Bicasso, Scarub, and others.

The Living Legends
The Gathering EP
Those of you waiting for The Living Legends’ next full length will have to wait a bit longer, but to hold you over, the super-group is offering a seven-song EP. All eight members, Aesop, Bicasso, Eligh, Grouch, Luckyiam, MURS, Scarub, and Sunspot Jonz, appear on all seven songs, so if you like posse cuts, this EP is for you.

Truth Universal
Self-Determination
Not very many people have heard of New Orleans rapper Truth Universal, but he’s not your typical southern emcee. He’s influenced by the uplifting, Black awareness hip-hop of the early 90’s and his album reflects that. The album also features Stic.Man (of dead prez) and Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers) to give that revolutionary stamp.

-- Quibian Salazar-Moreno