The Solution Showcase
Meet Fly4Wird aka Babah Fly, DJ Fast4Ward & Mike Wird, our featured Denver group for The Solution Showcase #14 on 4/24 at Beauty Bar Denver…
While you might not be familiar with the group Fly4Wird (set to perform at The Solution Showcase #14), if you’ve been in the front range over the last few years (or decade really), you should already have heard of Babah Fly, Fast4Ward & Mike Wird aka the three members of the group. MC/producer Babah Fly linked with MC/B-boy Mike Wird a few years back for their BabahWird project and more recently brought genius DJ/producer/one man band DJ Fast4Ward into the fold. Since then, the three of them have been make left of center tracks that have gotten lots of attention here in Denver and beyond. Take a quick look at their latest videos and learn more about all three members of Fly4Wird below.
Mike Wird (from his bio)
Mike Wird is the artist’s artist. A Hiphop Renaissance Man, he is well versed in all creative expressions/elements of the globally recognized Universal Hiphop Kulture, as a producer/emcee, in 2001 the independent underground release of Universal Devices was of his first contributions to a Hiphop musical work of art w/ Denver based crew, Bugaboo a staple conglomerate rockin shows in the local scenes and buzzing overseas in Europe(Amsterdam) through out the 90’s and early 2000’s.
Since, Mr.Wird has partnered with several talented, culturally minded artist with works credited to BabahFlyJedi’s 2009 release Electro Sufi, a contributing member of Denver based internationally recognized Moetavation Crew and a Mixtape/cd hosted by DJSD called Wird is Bond, with planned 2010 releases including the compilation series Mike Wird presents Afronaut Funk (vol.1), and his first full length solo work to be released soon! It’s only the beginning……..
Fast4Ward (from his profile as featured producer for The Solution Showcase #9 last year)
Denver meet Fast Forward. The elusive producer/DJ has been making a name for himself in some of the most notable Denver circles for years, but still somehow remains one of Denver’s best kept secrets. Ask 2011 World DMC Champion DJ Vajra about Fast Forward and he’ll rave about his skills, as the two have collabed on numerous projects over the years. Take a look at the clip below to see some of what these two musical geniuses do when they get together.
Fast Forward is way more than a DJ Vajra bandmate though, in fact, he’s a one man band onto himself, playing drums, keys, singing, scratching and more in his live performances. You can also catch Fast Forward and DJ Check One’s collaborative project, Fun Addicts, here. A man of few words, catch more live video from Fast Forward on his youtube channel and you’ll be sold on dude’s diverse talents, just like me, Vajra and countless other heads in Denver.
Babah Fly (from his bio)
As a child Babah Fly’s soul was searching for “the music.†His great-grandfather sang opera in Sicily, his grandfather performed in jazz clubs in New York, and his mother played piano for the church. Music was in his blood.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Babah Fly grew up listening to music, searching through his mom and dad’s old school soul, funk, folk and jazz records. At eight years-old a particular song on the radio mesmerized him. A sort of trance took over the young Babah Fly as he uttered the words, “that’s the music!†That song was “Planet Rock†by Africa Bambatta. It was the gateway into hip-hop for Babah Fly as he became a skilled B-boy(break-dancer), DJ and MC. Growing up in Little Rock, Babah was surrounded by gangs, poverty, and violence. The golden age of Hip-hop kept Babah Fly moving in a positive direction.
Besides the musical influences of artist like Rakim, Krs-One, Run DMC and the Native Tongues, Babah was heavily influenced by the teachings of the Zulu Nation, Islam, and eastern martial arts. Babah moved from Little Rock to stay with his brother in Boulder, Colorado to go to school and work on music.
Babah Fly brought his beat machine to Boulder and continued to make beats and rhymes in his brother’s apartment. One night his brother got beaten up so severely that he was in a coma for a month. Babah had full confidence in his brother’s recovery, his faith was strong and his music was the source of strength. This was a sign to Babah that his music needed to spread. Babah met and performed with RaahFounashunn, Quibian Salazaar-Moreno, Jher, RTDK and Future Reference, staples in Denver‘s Hip Hop community. Babah began performing his music at places like The Mercury Cafe and Revoluciones, where hip-hop culture was thriving in Denver.
In 1998 Babah Fly moved to Denver, Colorado and began college at Metro-State and UCD. He played jazz music under the direction of trumpeter Ron Miles at Metro and studied Music Engineering and Production at UCD. Babah Fly met another hip-hop producer named Kwasi Connors, son of jazz legend Norman Connors, and formed a group/movement called Bugaboo. The two released the album “Parallel to the Universe†that recognition in the Amsterdam hip-hop scene, winning a contest title as “The Best Album to Smoke Weed to.â€
Kwasi moved to Los Angeles and Babah got a job as a DJ at a local graffiti supply store called Art-n-Sol, where he held weekly MC ciphers. He met Mike Wird, Malik, Daymeon and produced another album called “Universal Devices.†The Bugaboo crew had expanded to four MCs and DJ SD. Their high energy performances served as an opening act for established hip-hop acts like Black Sheep, Saul Williams, AceyAlone, Abstract Rude and Sage Francis.After the Bugaboo crew went their separate ways, Babah Fly hooked up with Url Gray-V and DJ Selector Sam, and they formed a group called “Tha Fly.†They released a mix tape and smashed shows around the Midwest region, opening up for Krs One, Slick Rick, Souls of Mischief, Kool Keith, Zion I, and Crown City Rockers.
Recently, Babah Fly has re-connected with his brother from another mother Mike Wird. These MCs have performed under the name BabahWird for the past three years, toured the West Coast together, and rocked massive crowds at The Dragon Boat Festival. They are also a part of “The Denver Avengerz,†a band with drummer Brad Lee Stevens, Bassist Lavell Flamon and multi-talented DJ Fast4ward.
With all of these projects underway, he still found time to form “The High-Tops†with Panama Soweto. They are a retro-fresh mix of true school Hip Hop and spoken word.
Along with working on a BabahWird album, a Denver Avengerz album, and The High Tops, Babah Fly has now finished his solo album called “Electro SUFI.†The name Electro-Sufi represents Babah Fly’s take on hip-hop being a timeless culture that has existed since the ancient times of Kemet. Sufism descended from the ancient kemetic sciences. The culture of the Sufi’s is relative to the culture of Africa Bambatta’s Zulu Nation “Planet Rock†hip-hop. From the desire to levitate in the dance; b-boy spins to whirling dervishes, to the desire to enlighten through song and poetry; Rumi to Rakim, Hafiz to Q-tip, the album Electro-Sufi is now available on iTunes.
Catch Fly4Wird rocking with legendary DJ RHETTMATIC of the World Famous Beat Junkies, 2013 Solution Beat Battle winner Spyda T.E.K., Solution co-founders DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme and Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game’s DJ Dozen for The Solution Showcase #14 on Wednesday 4/24 at Beauty Bar Denver (608 E. 13th St). Check out more info on the showcase here.
Wednesday, 4/24 -> The Solution Showcase #14 w/DJ Rhettmatic (Beat Junkies), Fly4Wird, Spyda T.E.K., DJ Low Key, Sounds Supreme & DJ Dozen at Beauty Bar Denver…The Solution Showcase has a new monthly home, but you can still catch The Solution every Friday night at the Meadowlark!
WEDNESDAY, 4/24 -> With The Solution w/DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez back to weekly status every Friday night and winning awards for it, we realized that Fridays should stay focused on the straight up party vibe at the Meadowlark and decided to move The Solution Showcase and it’s concert/party/beat showcase/etc mixed vibe over to Beauty Bar Denver (608 E. 13th St) so we could have more flexibility and a bigger stage to play with.
UPDATE: Blu, TiRon & Ayomari are canceling /postponing their tour and we’re disappointed to say that because of that they will not be performing at The Solution Showcase #14. With that said, we’re excited to announce THE LEGENDARY DJ RHETTMATIC of the WORLD FAMOUS BEAT JUNKIES will be taking their place as our out of town special guest instead. Rhettmatic is a legend in the LA scene, having been a fixture of their nightlife circuit, working with artists like Cypress Hill, The Visionaries & Buff1 while winning quite a few DJ battle titles as well. Expect him to smash the turntables like only a legend can.
This month’s featured Denver act is recently formed CO supergroup Fly4Wird (aka Babah Fly, DJ Fast 4Ward & Mike Wird) and our featured producer is 2013 Solution Beat Battle winner Spyda T.E.K., who blew a lot of Denver heads away en route to winning the 2013 title. Solution co-founders DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme as well as Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game’s DJ Dozen will be holding down the turntables as well and our friends at Red Bull are hooking up the first 50 people through the door with complimentary new Red Bull Editions. $8 pre-sales at the weekly Solution via DJ Low Key or Lazy Eyez or at any Family Affair / $10 at the door / 21+.
.:Order pre-sale tickets to The Solution Showcase #14 online for $8:.
Friday, 2/22 -> The Solution Showcase #13 w/Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan), Diamond Boiz, Paul Junior, DJ Low Key & DJ Lazy Eyez at the Meadowlark…
FRIDAY, 2/22 -> It’s that time again, The Solution Showcase is back for another month with more of the best in national and Colorado-bred talent. Things have been great with the monthly showcase, but we’re about to make them even better. Instead of $8 at the door and $5 pre-sales, once a month we’ll be incorporating the monthly Solution Showcase into the new weekly Solution at the Meadowlark and keeping the price the same whenever possible. That means NO COVER until 11pm and only $5 afterwards most of the time, even with stacked lineups of national and CO talent. We figured the consistency would be good and if you tell a few friends about the lower price and showcases, then everybody wins.
With that said, let’s talk lineup. For this month’s Solution Showcase #13, we’ve got an all-time Solution favorite and good friend of the party, Brooklynati’s own Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan), making his solo Denver debut, complete with fresh new material and classics in tow. Von’s been out to The Solution as much as anyone over the years, but always performing with Donwill (and sometimes Ilyas) as Tanya Morgan. This time he’s gonna be out here performing tracks from Pea’s Gotta Have It, premiering new joints from his upcoming Duly Noted EP with Aeon (set to drop next month, but if you e-mail DulyNoted@DenverSolution.com we’ll send you the exclusive Solution preview) and more. He’ll be joined by Denver favorites Diamond Boiz (aka Dyalekt, Zome & Zé), Fresh Breath Committee’s Paul Junior and The Solution’s own DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez on the turntables in another top notch bill. 21+/Free until 11/$5 after/2701 Larimer St.
Meet Team LatchKey (Dealz Makes Beats, Black Jordan, DJ Hobo, Morning After, B-Smith, Big Kiem & Jack Gar), our featured Denver act for The Solution Showcase #12 on 1/26 at the Meadowlark…
In case you missed it, Team LatchKey’s two young resident producers DealzMakesBeats and Black Jordan have already been featured producers at previous Solution Showcases (#4 & #8) and the crew has been lurking around the Meadowlark both times, so we decided to make it official and bring the seven man crew in for a proper performance for The Solution Showcase #12. Rather than ramble on more about one of Denver’s best new crews, I’ll let them tell it:
The Denver Based Hip Hop Voltron, Team LatchKey has been about raw and soulful vibes, honest lyrics and party rocking since their formation in late 2010. Teamo Supremeo and The LatchKey Kids, combined to make the TLK (Team LatchKey) of today. ‘The Lint Kickers EP’ was released in Feb. 2011 and was accepted as a breath of fresh air to the city. Producers Black Jordan and Dealz Makes Beats, create the backdrop while emcees; B-Smith, Big Kiem and Jack Gar, vocalize the scenes. Plus with DJ Hobo as the groups resident turntablist, the crew hits all of the hip hop shots.
The Team has rocked stages at Hodies Half Note, Rockstar Lounge, Rex Lounge, Hermans Hideaway, Meadowlark, Larimer Lounge, Funky Buddha, Cervantes, Beauty Bar, and a DJ residency at downtown Denver’s ‘1515’ restaurant-Not including the DJ sets, basement parties and pop up street cyphers. Their June release titled ‘The EarWax EP’ is great music to smoke to, drive to, do whatever to. Black Jordan recently released BASEMENT INSTINCT, a 20+ track beat tape that is jaw-dropping with diversity. Dealz Makes Beats is wrapping up “Sunny Colorado,” over 8 different beat tapes with pure hip hop. Team LatchKey in essence is attacking the whack and bringing that champion sound back. POW!
Download music from the crew here:
.:Black Jordan – Basement Instinct (mixed by DJ Dozen):.
.:DealzMakesBeats on soundcloud:.
Check out Team Latchkey at The Solution Showcase #12, along with LA’s Yonas Michael (aka Y-O, formerly of U-N-I) making his solo Denver debut, BLK HRTS/Pirate Signal producer/mastermind Yorrissey, Solution co-founder DJ Low Key & Solution Boulder alum B-Money for what promises to be another dose of the best in hip hop at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  9pm/21+/$5 pre-sales at all 3 Family Affair locations or only $8 at the door.
Meet Yorrissey of BLKHRTS/Pirate Signal, our featured CO producer for The Solution Showcase #12 on 1/26 at the Meadowlark…
DNVR say hello to Yorrissey of BLKHRTS & The Pirate Signal, our featured PRDCR for The Solution Showcase #12. You might know him better by his previous nom de beats, Yonnas Abraham, as 1/3 of newly signed Denver hip hop headbangers/Solution Showcase #6 guests BLKHRTS or as the mastermind behind constantly award-winning Denver group, The Pirate Signal, but regardless, if you know him, you know he always keeps it interesting. Drawing on a variety of influences from all across the board and creating his own unique sound, Yorrissey’s work is usually abrasive in the best way possible. Jeff Weiss, writer for the LA Times/Pitchfork/Passion of the Wiess says, “The words and beats hit like shrapnel, with samples from “Eraserhead,†Matthew Dear and Joy Division’s first incarnation, Warsaw.”, amongst other praise. In a rare opportunity to showcase as a producer, expect to hear crazy beats of all sorts from the BLKHRTS maestro.
Check out this recent Westword interview where Yorrissey talks about signing to ORG Music and working with TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek on the upcoming BLKHRTS album, JZBL JNKNS, which is almost complete!
.:Yorrissey talks ORG Music, working with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek & what’s next:.
Now that you’re up on Yorrissey and what he’s been up to, catch him rocking at The Solution Showcase #12 on 1/26 along with LA’s Yonas Michael (aka Y-O, formerly of U-N-I), Denver up and comers Team Latchkey, Solution co-founder DJ Low Key & Solution Boulder alum B-Money for what promises to be another dose of the best in hip hop at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  9pm/21+/$5 pre-sales at all 3 Family Affair locations or only $8 at the door.
Meet B-Money, special guest DJ for The Solution Showcase #12 on 1/26 at the Meadowlark…
B-Money is about as hip hop and Colorado as it gets. From coming up as part of the Basementalism crew in the mid 2000s to hosting so many members of the hip hop scene that his old spot in Boulder was practically a #COhiphop landmark to appearing in the US DMC finals representing the state, he’s been collecting props on the local and national scenes at a steady pace. B-Money initially established himself spinning b-boy jams and college radio, but over the last few years, he’s also turned into a force to be reckoned with on both the nightclub and turntablist scenes, and was a fixture at The Solution Boulder before legendary Boulder nightclub ‘Round Midnight closed. Here’s more on B-Money via his bio in case you’ve been sleeping on a Colorado hip hop fixture:
“B*Money got inspired to climb the risers after watching old DMC battle videos and listening to DJs on the radio. Now he is fighting those battles himself, DJing on the radio, and appearing in the same series of videos he grew up watching. Radio and battling exposed him to wide range of audiences and helped land him gigs playing at festivals, clubs, and venues throughout the United States while sharing stages with some of hip-hop’s most elite acts including The Roots, The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, Ali Shaheed Muhammed (A Tribe Called Quest), Too Short, Rhazel, and The X-Ecutioners, just to name a few. With a heavy emphasis on constantly honing his turntablist skills he has been recognized as a DMC USA National Finalist and has backed and or toured with One.Be.Lo, Bionik Brown, 1865, Wheelchair Sports Camp, and The Reminders as a show DJ. But to B*Money, the foundation of DJing is being able to rock any party, and thus he prides himself on being able to play for a variety of crowds. Blending musical genres from jazz, funk, soul, rock, and pop, to dubstep, house, and hip-hop, he has been known to rock whatever audience is in front of him, appearing in venues from New York to San Francisco. He has rocked parties and events for the NCAA, The Onion, Red Bull, Sephora, Akomplice Clothing, and Illiterate Magazine. B*Money’s skills and versatility make him appealing to any crowd, at any size venue, at any time.”
Don’t miss B-Money making his Solution Denver debut at The Solution Showcase #12 on Saturday, 1/26, along with LA’s Yonas Michael (aka Y-O, formerly of U-N-I), Denver up and comers Team Latchkey, BLK HRTS/Pirate Signal producer/mastermind Yorrissey & Solution co-founder DJ Low Key for what promises to be a great night of hip hop at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  9pm/21+/$5 pre-sales at all 3 Family Affair locations or only $8 at the door.
P.S. Rumor has it B-Money will be debuting an all new video set in his Solution Showcase debut. All the more reason not to miss it!
Meet Yonas Michael aka Y-O, formerly of U-N-I, our featured out of town act for The Solution Showcase #12 on 1/26 at the Meadowlark…
.:Download Ro Blvd & Yonas Michael “Cyst”:.
Denver, meet LA’s Yonas Michael aka Y-O (formerly of U-N-I), our out of town featured act for The Solution Showcase #12 on Saturday, 1/26. Maybe you know him from his recent project with mixtape titan Mick Boogie, The Mixtape Before Blvck Swan Theory, maybe you know him as the guy with the mohawk who used to be in the exceptional rap duo U-N-I (who also happened to host our The Solution Tape #1 mixtape), maybe you heard him on “Cyst”, (his insane collab with producer Ro Blvd from last year, we play it at a lot of our parties) or maybe you’re not familiar with him at all. Either way, we’re excited to have the super talented, eclectic rapper/singer/etc back out to CO for his first solo show.
.:Download Yonas Michael & Mick Boogie – The Mixtape Before Blvck Swan Theory:.
Years ago, we first heard Y-O’s music while he was in his former group, U-N-I, right around the time that him, his former partner Thurzday, and Ro Blvd (also former Solution Showcase guests) first linked up. While U-N-I had received a lot of attention from earlier projects, their album with Ro Blvd, A Love Supreme, proved to be one of 2009’s best releases and garnered some of the attention that an incredible, modern day cult classic deserves. After that, U-N-I & Ro Blvd released a retail version of A Love Supreme (2.0) with more live elements and new songs like the “Land Of The Kings†remix with Houston legend Bun B to even more props.  Following the success of A Love Supreme, U-N-I surprised us and parted ways with Y-O changing his rap moniker to Yonas Michael and he keeping the momentum going with his diverse Lost In Hollywood project, an ambitious collections of tracks with influences from a kitchen’s sink of genres, all while maintaining his hip hop roots. More recently, Yonas Michael & Mick Boogie’s fresh The Mixtape Before Blvck Swan Theory and collabs with Ro Blvd, Casey Veggies, Polyester and H.O.P.E. have kept the vibe of exploration going with a hip hop mentality as Yonas remains one of the more forward-thinking voices in the progressive LA scene and nationwide.
.:Download Yonas Michael – Lost In Hollywood:.
Above: “A Short Film Called Lost In Hollywood” by Yonas Michael. /// Below: “Open The Door” by Yonas Michael
Above: U-N-I (Y-O & Thurz) & Ro Blvd “Land of the Kingsâ€/// Below: U-N-I (Y-O & Thurz) & Ro Blvd “Hollywood Hiatusâ€
Catch Yonas Michael making his solo Denver debut, along with Denver up and comers Team Latchkey, BLK HRTS/Pirate Signal producer/mastermind Yorrissey, Solution co-founder DJ Low Key & Solution Boulder alum B-Money for what promises to be another dose of the best in hip hop at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  9pm/21+/$5 pre-sales at all 3 Family Affair locations or only $8 at the door.
Saturday, 1/26 -> The Solution Showcase #12 w/Yonas Michael (aka Y-O, formerly of U-N-I), Team Latchkey, Yorrissey, DJ Low Key & B-Money at the Meadowlark…
SATURDAY, 1/26 -> For our twelfth edition, The Solution Showcase kicks off 2013 by importing one of our good friends from Los Angeles, Yonas Michael aka Y-O (formerly of U-N-I), as our out of town featured act. Â Y-O’s gonna be joined by super hype Denver up and comers Team Latchkey, BLK HRTS/Pirate Signal producer/mastermind Yorrissey, Solution co-founder DJ Low Key & Solution Boulder alum B-Money for what promises to be another dose of the best in hip hop at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).
Even if you’re not familiar with the name Yonas Michael or The Mixtape Before Blvck Swan Theory, his recent project with mixtape monster Mick Boogie, you should know Y-O his work in critically acclaimed (and former XXL Freshmen feature) group, U-N-I, including being one of the hosts of our mixtape, The Solution Tape #1, a few years back. Featured Denver act Team Latchkey has two producers who’s names should ring a bell, as both DealzMakesBeats & J Gunna aka Black Jordan were featured at the party last year. They’ll be joined by the rest of the crew (Morning After, Big Keim, B Smith & DJ Hobo) in the six man group’s official Solution Showcase debut. Yorrissey, producer for recently signed Denver heavyweights BLK HRTS and award-winning Pirate Signal, will be rocking beats as our featured producer for this month. DJ Low Key and Denver favorite B-Money will be holding down things on the turntables and making sure things are just as much a party as a rap show and that should round out another top notch lineup for your listening, dancing and drink pleasure. 9pm/21+/$5 pre-sales at all 3 Family Affair locations or only $8 at the door.
Meet Neon Brown, our featured CO producer for The Solution Showcase #11 on 12/22 at the Meadowlark…
Denver, meet Neon Brown, one eclectic dude and quite the producer/DJ. I first learned about Neon when he threw a J Dilla tribute at the Beauty Bar last February, but it turns out he’d actually collaborated with both previous Solution Showcase feature Fast Forward and Solution co-founder Sounds Supreme years before we even started The Solution. Since then he’s spent time in New York, where he linked up with Roots affiliate and Money Making Jam Boy Truck North, made his way back to Denver and since has moved out to the Bay Area. In the mean time he managed to drop three projects in 2012 alone; Teenagers, It’s Spring Again & Child’s Play. Check out all three projects on both his bandcamp & soundcloud pages and stay tuned “Riot Act”, the upcoming Neon Brown-produced single from Truck North featuring Homeboy Sandman, and a rumored collab with Donwill (of Tanya Morgan fame). – DJ Low Key
Here’s more on the musical madness that is Neon Brown from his bio:
“Neon Brown is a Musician/ Audio Engineer born and raised in Denver CO. He went to Audio Engineering school in New York and currently resides in Oakland CA. Over the past six years he has been working hard on his career as an Audio Engineer and Producer before then, not so hard working. He has produced for such artists as Mickey Theis and Truck North and plans to keep on with the keepin’ on. Neon has seven children out of wedlock and tends to provide for three of them even though this was not his previous plan. Neon likes sorbet, sunlight, two of his children and pizza. As a child he picked up the guitar and learned to play people. As an adult he has watched his one son to grow up into a funeral and there for will never have children again. As a wise old man he will throw lavish parties full of half naked women and seltzer where talking is optional. Space suits are his past time and when his life is over he hopes to accomplish hoop dreams. That is all. You’re welcome.”
Now that you’re up on his music, don’t miss Neon Brown at The Solution Showcase #11 on Saturday, 12/22, along with Q-Tip/No I.D. protege Spree Wilson, Fresh Breath Committee’s Fo Chief and all three Solution DJs; DJ Low Key, Sounds Supreme & Lazy Eyez at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).
BK Beats talks about his Solution Beat Battle & Solution Showcase experiences…
Solution Beat Battle winner BK Beats wrote a little something about his experiences at The Solution Beat Battle and Solution Showcase (he played at #5 as part of his prize). With The Solution Showcase #11 right around the corner, now seemed like a great time to share his experiences with everybody:
Off top, MAD love to all the folks in Denver who’ve helped make it happen for me, showed my music love, or just downright know good music and how to nurture it. Shout out to DJ Low Key for rocking with me from the start! He’s really about this music, living and breathing it, with an ear to the street at all times.
My experiences in Denver started off with the February Solution Beat Battle, Courtland Urbano and Boonie Mayfield showcase, as well as dope ass Tanya Morgan set. @Imtrumaine, a friend and fellow producer out of Chicago hit me up to let me know that Boonie Mayfield had been tweeting about the show and that I should enter. I was a bit frustrated with the music climate in Albuquerque NM or the lack thereof in my eyes so I sent in a few beats the day of the deadline as well as a little write up including some names of who I’ve produced for and such. Didn’t hear back for a week or so and started to sweat it, until Low Key hit me up and let me know I had made it into the Battle. I got a few friends together for the trip and went for it!
What was illest was that Low Key knew of most of the cats I’d produced for! Just to show his good taste and network he was more than familiar with Moe Green a bay cat, featuring a track from him on his and Sounds Supreme’s The Solution Tape #1. Add 2 was another dude Low Key was up on, great talent out of Chicago and featured performer for tonight’s party!!
The Battle was CRAZY! Everybody showed each other love, which was greatly appreciated with me being from out of town and all that, it was a lot of comradery, love for music, and overall TALENT. Met a lot of really dope folks at the battle, most of those I keep in touch with on the semi-regular. That weekend was amazing, I turned 21 the day before this show, and thus was allowed in, and all the good people definitely gave me the inspiration and encouragement to keep pushing my music… Shout out to my backup dancers as well! Winning was unreal, I’d never won ANYTHING before! I was in some serious shock when the judges made that announcement. But shouts out to Big J, Cliff Cage, Jordan, Dealz and all the other beasts I went up against. Shouts out to Boonie for the kind words, Courtland for the encouragement, and Tanya Morgan for fucking with me. That was an insane night. Left town around 2am and went straight to work off no sleep haha, waaay too excited from the show to even let that trip me out though.
As part of winning, I got to come back to do some recording at Side 3 Studios with the homie Chase and my friend Pablo who is an incredible piano and guitar player. I picked up a ton of dope/free gear from Family Affair, and ultimately got to spin a live beat set at one of the next Solution shows. Side 3 Studios was a sick experience, amazing studio and amazing folks. Really understood my vision and made the work reflect that. Chase is a really talented cat, I need to really get my $ up and go put in some more work over there! Regardless, this is where the idea for my instrumental EP with Pablo ‘Time is of the Essence†really came from. I decided to use my time at Side 3 to just record live instrumentation for this EP rather than any vocals or anything like that, and all the music came out INSANE! Pabz and Chase killed it! I can’t wait to release this stuff, it’s looking like before August, and will feature some really dope bonus cuts with a couple MC’s! Family Affair was really awesome as well! They had a lot of real clean gear from the illest in street wear brands. They’re ultimately a really well run shop! Plus they showed my music and me a lot of love just based off of the beat battle, so much love to the homies there! Had me feeling like a star, I could really get used to getting free gear haha.
But overall the sickest part about winning and coming back to Denver was The Showcase. That was my first real show ever, so I was super blessed. I got to open for some real talents like Whygee, Brik-A-Brak, and Median of JAMLA and Justus-Fuckin-League!! I put together a playlist, and Low Key showed me how to use Serato during sound check, and I basically tried to outweigh my nervousness with the amount of brand new material I had on deck. I played about 20 minutes of new stuff, some collabs, remixes and exclusives. Seemed like people enjoyed it, so that’s all I can ask for…Plus, the Meadowlark was a groovy venue! I was even blessed enough to coincidentally have my Mom in Denver for work that weekend, so she made it out! Shouts out to the girl who bought Moms and I vodka shots hahaha! Also shouts out to everyone who came out, showed me love that night, and everyone I opened for, all great folks! Might have some work coming with a few of the names mentioned above.
All my experiences in Denver and with The Solution have really been blessings, I credit you all with the drive I’ve had these past couple months, and the overall decision to keep going full steam ahead with music! Denver has so much love for my music. It’s truly still all pretty unreal! I’m super thankful for all of the big homies that helped me get my foot in the door! And hope to work a lot with this really awesome circle of folks a lot more in the future! Another example of great folks, and great music brought to you by The Solution! Hope to make it up to the city again soon. – BK Beats
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- Friday, 2/4 & Saturday, 2/5 -> The Solution w/ DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez celebrates 15 years of community, music, parties & love with 15 special guests on Twitch!
- Catch The Solution w/DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez every Friday night on Twitch!!! Download the app or stream with a browser to bring the party to your house every week from 8pm-11pm MST…
- Saturday, 2/29 at 11am -> The Solution’s 14th Annual J Dilla Celebration w/DJ Low Key, Lazy Eyez & DJ K-Nee!!! We’re teaming up with So What! The Brunch to celebrate all things Jay Dee at The Preservery – RSVPs highly recommended…
- Friday, 2/28 -> The Solution w/DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez 13th Anniversary at the legendary Roller City!!! Tickets include open bar, skate rental & more!
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- Sunday, 3/8 at 3pm -> Spring Training Goodness w/DJ Low Key and special guests DJ Love & DJ Simone Says on Vinyl’s rooftop! Live art by Sky Welkin, complimentary buttons, temporary tattoos and stickers, photos by IG: @Armando_Geneyro & more!!! March 8, 2020
- Sunday, 3/8 in Denver & 3/29 in Houston -> Goodness w/DJ Low Key & Friends Season 9 Spring Training! Aguas frescas, top notch DJs, live art & more surprises to get ready for #GDNSS Season 9… March 7, 2020
- Saturday, 2/29 at 11am -> The Solution’s 14th Annual J Dilla Celebration w/DJ Low Key, Lazy Eyez & DJ K-Nee!!! We’re teaming up with So What! The Brunch to celebrate all things Jay Dee at The Preservery – RSVPs highly recommended… February 27, 2020
- Friday, 2/28 -> The Solution w/DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez 13th Anniversary at the legendary Roller City!!! Tickets include open bar, skate rental & more! February 23, 2020
- Sunday, 12/29 at 11am -> So What! The Brunch at The Preservery w/DJ K-Nee & DJ Low Key!!! Bottomless mimosas, craft cocktails, new brunch menu & more! RSVPs highly recommended… December 27, 2019
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