.:The Solution w/ DJ Low Key & Lazy Eyez:.

Flashback 10/17/08: Mickey Factz – Madlib: Beat Konducta Freestyles at the Solution MP3s…

In case you missed it back in October ’08, we had 2009 XXL Freshman member and the newest member of Lupe Fiasco’s All City Chess Club crew, Mickey Factz, come through the Solution for a surprise visit.  We were having a release party for Madlib’s Beat Konducta Vol 5 & 6:A Tribute To Dilla that night and winding down everything when Mickey showed up around last call and proceeded to spit some off the top freestyles while an intoxicated DJ Low Key rocked Madlib beats.  Check out Mickey’s debut album later this year and download his Solution freestyles below:

.:Mickey Factz – Freestyles at the Solution – 8/17/08 (Live in Denver, CO):.

Tags: All City Chess Club, Beat Konducta, Madlib, Mickey Factz, Stones Throw, The Funky Buddha, XXL Freshmen

I Remember: The top 3 Solution moments from DJ Big Styles fka Styles & Fashion and Dunn the Signtologist…

To get ready for the 4th Anniversary of the Solution on Friday, Feb. 4th, we’re checking in with some of our favorite regulars and people around Denver to hear what their favorite moments from the party have been.  Here’s favorites from Denver hip hop legend Big Styles fka Styles N’ Fashion and nationally renowned, Denver-based artist Dunn the Signtologist; stay tuned for more classic memories leading up to the party on 2/4.

Styles & Fashion’s Top 3 Solution Moments:

1. DJ Low Key channels Charlie Murphy at his birthday party at the Solution at the Shelter: We all know DJ Low Key, but do we really know Low Key? I know him as a Southern gentleman, discriminating tastemaker and heterosexual male Subaru loyalist (a first!). So imagine my shock and awe when at his birthday party back in ’07 at the OG solution when he broke character and “rocked the mic.” After performances by Che Grand and Tanya Morgan (which I largely missed, you will see why in solution memory #3) suddenly over the loudspeakers we all hear: “Aight you bitches! this is the last motherfucking song of the night! shout out to all the people who bought me drinks tonight! I’m fucked up! Bitches! Where is the afterparty? Shout out to motherfucking Che Grand up in this bitch!” I thought sure it was Charlie Murphy, but nope, it was Justin Green, aka DJ Low Key stumbling over his words and his feet at the end of the night.

2. The GOOD Fridays reunion at the Solution at 3014: It was just a couple of months ago, but already it’s one of my favorite Solution moments. After a lil’ bit of hype (internet buzz I think is what the young folks call it) I hustled on over to 3014 Colfax to be embraced in what I thought was sure to be some revisionist history. Who are rap fans if not complete revisionists? The original GOOD Fridays was ahead of its’ time, back when people thought Kanye sucked, rap music had sold out, and no one supported “real hip hop”. Thank God those days are gone! “Rap fans are always jumping at the chance to claim the past. This is going to be big” I thought to myself as I strutted with pride toward the Solution and swung open the door to find: a half empty bar, a few die hard fans and a solemn DJ Low Key. “Cheer Up homeboy!,” I yelled at Low Key over Sounds Supreme surprisingly NOT playing “Lady Don’t Tek No” by Latryx (I almost didn’t recognize him.) “This is just like a real GOOD Friday, everybody swears they’re coming, no one actually does.” I felt bad for ruining the Solution for a night, but it felt good to reconnect with the folks that did come out. DJ Massv, one of the OG GOOD Fridays crew got his car towed before he could even make the venue, so he didn’t attend. Gotta love this rap shit.

3. Jessica aka “The Bartender” – I know what you’re thinking: Styles, do we need to blow this chick’s head up anymore? Yes, yes we do. Aside from DJs, “The Bartender” has been the only mainstay for me at the Solution. You never forget your first time, and my first time was back in ’07 at Low Key’s birthday party. What’s crazy for me is how directly this night mimicked the lyrics to T-Pain’s hit from the same year, ironically titled- wait for it: “Bartender.” (I know right! T-Pain is a GENIUS!) Follow the eerie parallels: 1) I had just broke up with my girl, and had gone to the club. 2) I was just looking for someone to talk to and show me some love. 3)Everybody was jocking me as soon as I stepped in the spot. 3) We can all agree that Jessica is a prettly lil’ thing, and the bar at that time was up at the top. 4)When I ordered my beer she indeed showed me some love (well she had to, the manager at Bar Standard recognized me and comped my beer! ) 4) She gave me drinks to drink 5) I drunk em. 6)I could have sworn that I thought she she thought I was cool. 7) I gave her a wink 8)she winked back…..and that’s where the similarity ends. Yup, I ignored the live performances and instead hit on “the bartender.’ Of course I thought I was brand new, in reailty I quickly became another statistic on the “Dudes at the Solution who have hit on me” chart that I imagine the nerdier version of Jessica has on her laptop. But for a few minutes many moons ago, life absolutely imitated art. God Bless T-Pain, and God Bless the Solution.

Dunn the Signtologist’s Top 3 Solution Moments:

1. The first time I was able to hang my art in conjunction with the Solution at the Funky Buddha: It was a crazy place to hang work wiring signs to posts and pipes around the covered rooftop venue. It turned out to be an amazing event it was one of the first hip hop themed nights in Denver I had been able to display my artwork. I remember the great experience of watching everyone dancing, drinking, networking and interacting with my artwork.

2. The Akomplice Season Six Release Party at the Solution at the Shelter:  A fashion show put on by Akomplice & an art show put on by The Signtologist was set up on the roof top of along with a stage for some special guests Akomplice brought along. It was one of the first events I had done with Akomplice and was the perfect meshing of street wear with street art presented to The Solution’s fan base. This was first of many shows Akomplice & The Signtologist did with The Solution over the years.

3. The Solution Returns at 3014:  My first time walking into The Solution and it’s newest home at 3014 on Colfax. The Solution has lived a lot of places around Denver over the years and done so many huge events! But for a minute it went missing in action and was homeless and there wasn’t a place in Denver to go on Fridays for guaranteed great hip hop. I was so happy to walk into 3014 and see nothing had changed just the venue. It’s always been about great music, people dancing, seeing the same family always in attendance and feeling once again that familiar community vibe. Thanks for all the memories fellas!

Tags: Akomplice, Charlie Murphy, Che Grand, DJ BIg Styles, DJ Massv, DJ Styles & Fashion, Dunn the Signtologist, GOOD Fridays, Jessica the Bartender, Radio Bums, Tanya Morgan, The Funky Buddha, The Shelter

I Remember: The top 3 Solution moments from Brittney the Square and DJ Dozen…

To get ready for the 4th Anniversary of the Solution on Friday, Feb. 4th, we’re checking in with some of our favorite regulars and people around Denver to hear what their favorite moments from the party have been.  First up, we have R&B/soul music guru Brittney the Square and the youngest DJ in charge aka DJ Dozen sharing their top 3 Solution moments; stay tuned for more classic memories leading up to the party on 2/4.

Brittney The Square’s Top 3 Solution Moments:
1. The 2010 (4th Annual) Solution J Dilla Tribute w/ Slum Village at Bar Standard:  SV is the first hip hop group that really got me listening to hip hop back in 2002.  So, to meet them and see them perform at The Solution was amazing.  Although I spent most of the night in the back corner away from the party soliciting donations for the J Dilla Foundation, the night still managed to make my top 3 list for a few reasons:  1. meeting SV and seeing them perform some of my favorite tracks 2. eating all the damn donuts (powdered and chocolate were the preference) 3. hearing tracks that I had no idea Dilla produced and buggin’ out about it and of course, 4. supporting a good cause.

2.  Meeting my boyfriend at the Solution at the Funky Buddha:  It was either my first or second night ever at The Solution and I was helping out with usual stuff when Low Key introduced me to, who would later be, my future boyfriend.  When we met, we immediately got on the subject of, of course, music and our music preferences.  We talked about not only hip hop, but soul/r&b, which is my favorite.  I was impressed that he knew all of my favorite artists and I think he was impressed that I was so into and passionate about the same music as he was.  It took me awhile to really come around, but eventually I did.  Hate to admit it, but you can find love at the “club”.

3.  My third favorite Solution moment doesn’t have a name.  It’s just those random nights dancing and vibing to good ass music with your favorite people.  That’s what it’s all about, right?

DJ Dozen’s (yes, that’s him rocking the Thugnificent look for Halloween) Top 3 Solution Moments:
1.  The first annual Solution J Dilla tribute at Milk:  I hit up the party with Dealz, Mike Lee, and Gully Gabby; it was my first time seeing midwest music embraced in CO. At the ripe age of 18, I stepped out to see what this good music was all about. I still remember sittin wit Dealz and every so often yelling “Dilla Made This Too?!?” It was def a good experience.

2.  Exile, DJ Day, Tanya Morgan and Che Grand at the Solution at the Funky Buddha:  After a long day setting up and facilitating there is nothing better that to get an unexpected crazy live show.  Coming in, I knew that DJ Day and Exile were set to perform but at no point was I ready for the Micheal Jackson Tribute or for Donwill, Von Pea and Che Grand to rip freestyles over their beats mid party!!! Crazy night but super fun!

3.  Solution moments come in a blur for some of us who attend on a regular basis, not at all because they are the same, it’s more like having extra fun. Like I go out normally but the atmosphere aint like this; in the club jammin all night, with ya hands in the air, not worrying about any problems.  Of course there’s drinks too, but just an overall good feeling vibe going through everybody in the building.

Tags: Bar Stanard, Brittney the Square, Che Grand, Dealz Makes Beats, DJ Day, DJ Dozen, Donwill, Exile, J DIlla, Milk, Slum Village, Tanya Morgan, The Funky Buddha, Von Pea

Friday, 2/26 -> DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1 Release Party + The Solution’s last night at the Funky Buddha…

FRIDAY, 2/26 ->  We’re finally dropping the Solution Tape #1, hosted by our good friends U-N-I & Ro Blvd, just in time to celebrate our final night at the Funky Buddha.  We’ve held down the Funky Buddha’s rooftop for the last 2+ years and while our time there has been awesome, it’s time for us to move on to a bigger and better spot, where we can take the Solution to the next level.  With that said, we’re looking forward to our new home, a few blocks away at Bar Standard (1037 Broadway). Bar Standard has a stage, great sound system, impressive lighting, a recently renovated interior, two AMAZING rooftop decks for summer and all sorts of other useful features that we plan to make the most of (starting with our 4th annual J Dilla tribute on 3/5).

But anyways, back to the party on 2/26.  You know the music’s gonna be on point, we’ll be giving copies of DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1 (hosted by U-N-I & Ro Blvd) to the first 100 people, we’ve got clothing giveaways from Akomplice and two lucky Solution fans are gonna win a dope new Denver Diggers fitted, courtesy of Frank151 (find out how to win in the post below).  Don’t miss your chance to witness the end of this chapter of the Solution!!!  No cover / 21+ / Music at 9.

Tags: Denver Diggers, Ro Blvd, The Funky Buddha, The Solution Tape #1, U-N-I