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

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 Kings”/// Below: U-N-I (Y-O & Thurz) & Ro Blvd “Hollywood Hiatus”

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.

Tags: The Solution Showcase, U-N-I, Y-O, Yonas Michael

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.  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.

Tags: B-Money, Black Jordan, BLK HRTS, DealzMakesBeats, DJ B Money, DJ Low Key, Family Affair, J Gunna, Mick Boogie, Pirate Signal, Team Latchkey, The Meadowlark, The Solution Showcase, U-N-I, Y-O, Yonas Michael, Yorrissey

Meet Thurz aka Thurzday, one of our out of town artists for The Solution Showcase #9 on 9/22 at the Meadowlark…

Denver meet Thurz (aka Thurzday).  I first learned about Thurz’s music via his now defunct group, U-N-I, right around the time that him, his former partner Y-O and Ro Blvd 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 exceptional, well-received, borderline classic album should.  Shortly afterwards, 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 acclaim.

After the success of A Love Supreme, Thurz and Y-O decided to part ways and release music as solo artists.  Thurz proceeded to drop his excellent conceptual solo debut L.A. Riot, loosely based around the ’92 riots in LA, with help from the likes of Roots’ frontman Black Thought, Dr. Dre co-producer DJ Khalil, acclaimed singer BJ The Chicago Kid & Strong Arm Steady.  Check out the videos below from the album, “Colors” (produced by Ro Blvd & featuring SAS) and a live performance of “Los Angeles” featuring both Ro Blvd and Exile.

Above: Thurz “Colors” from L.A. Riots /// Below: Thurzday, Ro Blvd & Exile at the Okayplayer x Stones Throw Showcase last year at A3C

At the top of this month, Thurz premiered his new project, 517 W Queen Tape, on Complex’s site to overwhelmingly positive results.  The free 16-track mixtape finds Thurz a little more light-hearted than L.A. Riots and features the likes of Killer Mike, BJ The Chicago Kid, Ro Blvd and more while getting heads excited about his upcoming sophomore album, Blood On The Canvas. Download it below and get familiar with one of the best from the West.

.:Download Thurz – 517 W Queen Tape:.

Now that you know Thurz, catch him at The Solution Showcase #9 with his Cali compatriots Ro Blvd & Free Speech, #COhiphop greats Prime Element, elusive DJ/producer Fast Forward, DJ Low Key & more on Saturday, 9/22 at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  We know there are a lot of other events going on the same night, so we’re starting early at 7PM sharp on the patio stage (for the first time ever!) and giving anyone who shows their ticket/ticket stub from another 9/22 event $3 off cover (only $5 for this crazy lineup instead of $8) to help you maximize the last official day of Summer.  21+ /// $5 Pre-sales now available at all three Family Affair locations & get you 15% off your entire purchase /// $8 at the door /// Doors at 7pm.

Tags: The Meadowlark, The Solution Showcase, Thurz, Thurzday, U-N-I

Meet LA’s Ro Blvd, one of our out of town guests for The Solution Showcase #9 on 9/22…

SATURDAY, 9/22 at 7PM -> In one of the great tragedies of hip hop, LA’s Ro Blvd somehow remains one of the most slept-on producers out, despite having produced the entirely of U-N-I’s modern LA rap classic A Love Supreme, working with both members (Thurzday & Y-O) post U-N-I-breakup, crafting the cult classic Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth with his BrekFast Club crew, as well as producing jams for LA favorites El Prez (“Gone”), Skeme (“I’m So Cold”), Krondon, Shawn Jackson & more.  If you’ve been paying attention to The Solution for a while, you might also recognize Ro as one of the hosts of The Solution Tape #1 (along with fellow Solution Showcase #9 guest Thurzday and Y-O, back before U-N-I split up).  We were first introduced to his earlier works in 2004 or so by one of his first collaborators and fellow Solution Showcase #9 guest Free Speech and have since watched Ro develop a progressive, diverse but still signature sound that just oozes California smoothness.

Above: Ro Blvd feat. Thurzday “Great Going Good” from Heart Pounding Panic /// Below: Thurzday (produced by Ro Blvd) “Colors” from L.A. Riot.

A few weeks ago, Ro released his official solo debut and one of our favorites of 2012, Heart Pounding Panic, featuring collaborations with Thurzday, Y-O, Micah James, Krondon, Cali Cush, Shawn Jackson, former Solution/Goodness guest Theo Martins & more.  The lead singles; the super banger “Great Going Good” (check the video above), the dream-like “Cyst” & laid back BBQ-anthem “Summer Solstice” are all ridiculously good and have been getting steady spins at Solution & Goodness events all year, so you’re probably familiar with them even if you don’t know the tracks by name.  Hit the links and videos in this post to get more familiar with Ro’s music, the quality it exudes is far more telling than anything I can type in a post.

Above: Heart Pounding Panic Advanced Listening Party Video /// Below: Ro Blvd’s remix of Common “The Corner”

Now that you’re a little more familiar, don’t miss Ro Blvd at The Solution Showcase #9 with LA’s Thurzday & Free Speech, CO hip hop icons Prime Element, elusive DJ/producer Fast Forward, DJ Low Key & more on Saturday, 9/22 at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  We know there are a lot of other events going on the same night, so we’re starting early at 7PM sharp and giving anyone who shows their ticket/ticket stub from another 9/22 event $3 off cover (only $5 for this crazy lineup instead of $8) to help you maximize the last official day of Summer.  21+ /// $5 Pre-sales now available at all three Family Affair locations & get you 15% off your entire purchase /// $8 at the door /// Doors at 7pm.

To get more familiar with Ro Blvd, check out a few more videos for Ro-produced songs below, this fantastic Smoking Section interview with him Y-O & Thurz from when A Love Supreme dropped, and the great inset interview with Andrea 3Stacks after the jump to get familiar with one of the best young producers out.

Above: U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Land of the Kings”/// Below: U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Hollywood Hiatus”

Above: U-N-I & Ro Blvd feat. Miguel “Lately 2.0” /// Below: U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Desha Dayana”

› Continue reading

Tags: Ro Blvd, The Meadowlark, The Solution Showcase, Thurzday, U-N-I, Y-O

Saturday, 9/22 at 7PM -> The Solution Showcase #9 w/Ro Blvd (LA) feat. Thurzday & Free Speech, Prime Element, Fast Forward, DJ Low Key & more at the Meadowlark…

SATURDAY, 9/22 at 7PM -> After getting things back on track with another packed Solution Showcase last month, we’re back for The Solution Showcase #9 with wunderkind producer Ro Blvd (LA), Thurzday (LA/formerly of U-N-I) & Free Speech (The Bay/BrekFast Club), CO hip hop icons Prime Element, elusive DJ/producer Fast Forward, DJ Low Key & more at the Meadowlark (2701 Larimer St).  You might remember Ro Blvd and Thurzday as 2/3 of the hosts from The Solution Tape #1 (back before U-N-I split up).  They’ll be joining Free Speech (of Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth/BrekFast Club fame) as our featured out of town acts for the night.  We’ll also be featuring A.V.I.U.S., Es Nine & Cysko Rokwel aka Prime Element as our Denver artists and acclaimed musician/producer/DJ Fast Forward as our featured CO producer.

Also, we know there are a lot of other events going on the same night, so we’re starting early and giving anyone who shows their ticket/ticket stub from another 9/22 event $3 off cover (only $5 for this crazy lineup instead of $8) to help you maximize the last official day of Summer.  And don’t worry if you’re not familiar with someone on the bill, a big part of The Solution Showcase is about discovering dope new music and we’ll be linking up music, videos and more info on all the artists as we get closer to the party. So stay tuned to DenverSolution.com to learn more about the performers and hopefully we’ll see you on 9/22! 21+ /// $5 Pre-sales now available at all three Family Affair locations & get you 15% off your entire purchase /// $8 at the door /// Doors at 7pm.

UPDATE #1: Since 9/22 marks the official end of Summer on the calendar and we’re starting early anyway, we’re going to do something fun and new and have the first half of the party on the patio’s outdoor stage (including some of our featured performances).  We that said, we’re going to kick things off right at 7PM.  This isn’t the month to come out fashionably late, but it should be worth beating the clock to get a bonus night in on the patio.

Tags: DJ Low Key, Family Affair, Fast Forward, Free Speech, Ro Blvd, The Meadowlark, Thurzday, U-N-I

Friday, 5/14 -> Special guests U-N-I + Family Affair Pop Up Shop #1 at the Solution…

FRIDAY, 5/14 ->  We’ve got a great last minute surprise for y’all,  LA’s own Y-O & Thurzday aka U-N-I aka the hosts of our mixtape will be rockin live at the Solution at Bar Standard (1037 Broadway).  And if that wasn’t enough, we’re still gonna charge the regular door because we love you (free until 11, only $5 after, it doesn’t get much better than that, right?).  But wait, it gets better, Family Affair is taking the night to another level by creating a one night only, pop up shop featuring fresh new gear from Undefeated, Diamond Supply Co., The Hundreds, Kid Robot, 10 Deep, Stussy & more, plus a special sale with $15 tees & $50 hoodies and copies of the Solution Tape #1 signed by U-N-I with every purchase.  21+ / doors at 9 / Free until 11, only $5 after.

BTW, if you’re not up on U-N-I yet, here’s a video crash course:

Tags: Family Affair, The Solution Mixtape #1, U-N-I

.:DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1 (hosted by U-N-I & Ro Blvd):.

It’s been a long time coming, but we promise it’s worth the wait…Ladies and gentlemen, we’re proud to present to you, DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1…Hosted by our good friends and some of our favorites artists out, U-N-I & Ro Blvd, and featuring exclusives and world premiers from some of the top new MCs and producers in hip hop including all three members of Tanya Morgan, Donnis, Exile, DJ Day, Che Grand, Buff1, Adad, 8thW1, Whygee, Kid Hum, Kooley High, Median, Theo Martins, Mike Baker, 1 O.A.K., Moe Green & more, as well as some of our favorite newer tracks…Check it out below and leave us a comment to let us know what you think, cool?

.:DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1 (hosted by U-N-I & Ro Blvd):.

.:DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme – The Solution Tape #1 (hosted by U-N-I & Ro Blvd) (extended untracked/podcast style version):.

Tracklist:

1. DJ Low Key & Sounds Supreme “Question:What’s The Solution?”
2. U-N-I & Ro Blvd “The Solution Tape #1 Intro”
3. Donnis & Ro Blvd “Meet Me At The Solution”*
4. Moe Green “Round & Round”#
5. Donwill “808 Hi”*
6. Ilyas “Put It Up”#
7. Von Pea & Suhburb “Toss It Over”*
8. Kooley High feat. Median & Halo “What The Deal”*
9. Whygee & Kid Hum “I Play The Wall”*
10. Adad “Hi”#
11. BJ The Chicago Kid “Sky’s The Limit”
12. Theo Martins “Kirby’s Airwalk”#
13. Erykah Badu “Jump in The Air”
14. 8thW1 & 2 Hungry Bros “Talkin'”#
15. Ro Blvd “Desha Dayana Instrumental”
16. U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Land Of The Kings”
17. Donwill “Love Junkie”
18. TiRon & Ayomari “Ms. Right”
19. FRESHselects x Waajeed feat. Buff1 “You”#
20. El Prez & Ro Blvd “Lil Miss Popular”
21. Food Chain “Who Ridin'”
22. U-N-I “Beautiful Day” (Live at the Akomplice Season 11 Release Party)*
23. Exile & DJ Day feat. Von Pea, Donwill & Che Grand “Live at the Solution – 6/26/09”*
24. Exile & DJ Day “Funky Beats Interlude – Live at the Solution”*
25. Sounds Supreme “Intro”
26. Raheem Devaughn & Phil Ade “Pretty Girls (Remix)”
27. Chip Tha Ripper “Thank God”
28. Nneka feat. Jay Electronica “Walking (J.Period remix)”
29. Skyzoo “Beautiful Decay”
30. Othello & DJ Vajra “Connect For”#
31. Kidz In The Hall “Jukebox”
32. U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Stylin'”
33. Lupe Fiasco “Lean”
34. Nametag feat. Skyzoo “Back On My Shit”
35. Seven feat. Talib Kweli “Go Slow (DJ Premier Remix)”
36. Whygee & Gyp Da Hip “The Solution Freestyle”*
37. Gorillaz “Stylo (Chiddy Bang Remix)”
38. U-N-I & Ro Blvd feat. Miguel “Lately”
39. Mike Baker & 1 O.A.K. “The Solution (Mile High)”*
40. U-N-I & Ro Blvd “Shouts”

* Exclusive to the Solution Tape #1
# Exclusive world premier

Tags: #COHipHop, lessondary, Ro Blvd, Solution Exclusives, The Solution Tape #1, U-N-I

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