The Carmelo soap opera is far from over but the Knick's season is. The Denver Nuggets however live to fight another day.
After all this this season's drama the Nuggets could very well lose game 5 in OKC and finish with with a better record and one more victory in the playoffs than Carmelo's team.
I would go out on a limb to say that is a small victory for the average basketball fan in Denver. Who we're drug through countless rumors and mis-formation in what could have been a disastrous season.
George Karl's regular season asset is his playoff flaw, steady patience. In the regular season, the steady patience and demeanor of Karl pushes his team to be B+ in every aspect, in the last four seasons leaving the Nuggets with the usually benchmark 50 win season.
BUT,
In the playoffs I have often been crucial of Karl because of his personal choices. Karl simply plays in-effective lineups for too long.
In the game 3 loss, i was yelling at the TV for Karl to put J.R. Smith in with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, down by eight points to OKC. Karl waited until :48 seconds left to insert Smith down by 8 points. Smith immediately hit a three taking the lead to 5. A free throw or two later, one more 3 from Smith and a last minute heave and they lost by 3, 97-94.
The Nuggets organization should hope Karl retires at the end of this season and everything can end nice and clean. The new roster of whatever players will be left after free agency need a fresh start. Karl must go if we are going to attract any decent free agents or make it to the next level.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Police Brutality does not go away quietly
The disbelief in the voice of Addison Hunold still lingers in his voice as he re-tells the story of his run in with the Denver Police Department on June 19, 2009.
The incident although almost two years ago seems unreal to Addison who describes the incident as, “unbelievable. I can’t still remember it like it was yesterday.”
Addison was passenger to driver Alex Landau on that evening when the Police pulled over the pair for what DPD reported as an illegal left-turn.
Hunold said, “A black guy and a white guy in a big Cadillac. They thought we we’re doing a drug deal or something.”
Hunold admitted that the two had been smoking marijuana in the car before being pulled over and said the car “reeked” of the smell.
When cops approached the vehicle they mentioned the smell when asking for the identification and insurance of Landau.
When re-approaching the vehicle officers asked both to step out of the vehicle and before being searched Hunold surrendered his marijuana voluntarily saying, “I figured he would find it anyway.”
Hunold was naive to the law of proper search and seizer but Landau wasn’t
Landau allowed the police to search the inside of the vehicle but after being asked if they could search the trunk Landau notified the officers that they would need a search warrant to do so. That’s when the abuse began.
Hunold admitted that although his view was impaired sitting in the police cruiser he could see several police piling on top of Landau. He was unaware of the total abuse they inflicted on Landau.
During the episode Landau reported that the police beat him with their fist, batons and flash lights repeatedly until he was unconscious. Although beat to a pulp and brutalized by the police Landau had the awareness to make the paramedics photograph him. The image is a focal point of the investigation and will be certainly used in the oncoming legal pursuit by Landau.
One of the main officers identified in Landau’s case, Ricky Nixon, was fired on April 11, 2011. The firing resulted from another case in which it has been determined he and another officer lied about an incident outside of Denver Diner in 2009.
Hunold said of the officers firing, “it’s about time,” as he reluctantly chuckles.
The civil case has yet to begin but the case of popular opinion is swirling in Denver as the Mayoral race heats up with the issue of police brutality at the forefront.
The incident although almost two years ago seems unreal to Addison who describes the incident as, “unbelievable. I can’t still remember it like it was yesterday.”
Addison was passenger to driver Alex Landau on that evening when the Police pulled over the pair for what DPD reported as an illegal left-turn.
Hunold said, “A black guy and a white guy in a big Cadillac. They thought we we’re doing a drug deal or something.”
Hunold admitted that the two had been smoking marijuana in the car before being pulled over and said the car “reeked” of the smell.
When cops approached the vehicle they mentioned the smell when asking for the identification and insurance of Landau.
When re-approaching the vehicle officers asked both to step out of the vehicle and before being searched Hunold surrendered his marijuana voluntarily saying, “I figured he would find it anyway.”
Hunold was naive to the law of proper search and seizer but Landau wasn’t
Landau allowed the police to search the inside of the vehicle but after being asked if they could search the trunk Landau notified the officers that they would need a search warrant to do so. That’s when the abuse began.
Hunold admitted that although his view was impaired sitting in the police cruiser he could see several police piling on top of Landau. He was unaware of the total abuse they inflicted on Landau.
During the episode Landau reported that the police beat him with their fist, batons and flash lights repeatedly until he was unconscious. Although beat to a pulp and brutalized by the police Landau had the awareness to make the paramedics photograph him. The image is a focal point of the investigation and will be certainly used in the oncoming legal pursuit by Landau.
One of the main officers identified in Landau’s case, Ricky Nixon, was fired on April 11, 2011. The firing resulted from another case in which it has been determined he and another officer lied about an incident outside of Denver Diner in 2009.
Hunold said of the officers firing, “it’s about time,” as he reluctantly chuckles.
The civil case has yet to begin but the case of popular opinion is swirling in Denver as the Mayoral race heats up with the issue of police brutality at the forefront.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Cost of Rehabilitation
The Denver Post report on April 7th is a sad story and is exemplary of the underlying problem with the institutional programs in this country.
I am going to be very delicate about this because I know it involved someone elses life, Anna Villalobos, who I am saddened for.
The perpetrators name has not yet been released but it's ok because I know who it is. It's a name that has troubled me for most of my life. The man who killed his girlfriend in Wheatridge on Thursday, then turning to shoot himself when discovered, I witnessed shoot another person over 20 years ago with my own eyes; my mother.
The situation litters my stomach with deep emotions that only someone who has experienced something similiar could empathize with. Deep rooted hate, anger, love, and other emotions batter my brain in waves as I ponder over the death of a person I have loathed vigoursly throughout my life.
The attempted murder that he committed in 1987 in Lakewood Colorado with a .357 pistol at point black range was not enough to put him away forever and the family of Villalobos nows has to endure the same wave of emotions I am reliving now.
Not only we're there drugs involved in the original attempted murder but the man ran from police for a week before he was caught. In prison he went to school, it appears he worked hard and with the help of a certian former Colorado State Senator he fought for his parole and they gave it to him.
Unfortunately the State didn't act responsibly in accordance with his parole terms and notify the first person he tried to murder. Having to see him walking across a crosswalk in mid-day must have been horrifying to my mother on her drive home from work and i could see the stress on her face as she told me the occurance.
The simple fact of the matter is, the State failed on all accounts. They failed in the first case to give him life without the possibility of parole. They failed by paroling him and not notifying the families he helped to destroy. They failed Villalobos because now her death and her families mourning is all due to the ineptitude of the legal system.
I remember walking up to my house, unlocking the door and being presented with a loaded gun that unloaded in my mother and a failed attempt that went above my sisters head before he fled the scene. And I have witnessed and lived the aftermath of what a person seeking destruction can create in others lives.
It's unfortunate that Villalobos family and imparticular children have to go through for the next few years and my deepest sympathies go out to them.
At least he took his own life so the possibility of parole will never be presented to a jury again.
I am going to be very delicate about this because I know it involved someone elses life, Anna Villalobos, who I am saddened for.
The perpetrators name has not yet been released but it's ok because I know who it is. It's a name that has troubled me for most of my life. The man who killed his girlfriend in Wheatridge on Thursday, then turning to shoot himself when discovered, I witnessed shoot another person over 20 years ago with my own eyes; my mother.
The situation litters my stomach with deep emotions that only someone who has experienced something similiar could empathize with. Deep rooted hate, anger, love, and other emotions batter my brain in waves as I ponder over the death of a person I have loathed vigoursly throughout my life.
The attempted murder that he committed in 1987 in Lakewood Colorado with a .357 pistol at point black range was not enough to put him away forever and the family of Villalobos nows has to endure the same wave of emotions I am reliving now.
Not only we're there drugs involved in the original attempted murder but the man ran from police for a week before he was caught. In prison he went to school, it appears he worked hard and with the help of a certian former Colorado State Senator he fought for his parole and they gave it to him.
Unfortunately the State didn't act responsibly in accordance with his parole terms and notify the first person he tried to murder. Having to see him walking across a crosswalk in mid-day must have been horrifying to my mother on her drive home from work and i could see the stress on her face as she told me the occurance.
The simple fact of the matter is, the State failed on all accounts. They failed in the first case to give him life without the possibility of parole. They failed by paroling him and not notifying the families he helped to destroy. They failed Villalobos because now her death and her families mourning is all due to the ineptitude of the legal system.
I remember walking up to my house, unlocking the door and being presented with a loaded gun that unloaded in my mother and a failed attempt that went above my sisters head before he fled the scene. And I have witnessed and lived the aftermath of what a person seeking destruction can create in others lives.
It's unfortunate that Villalobos family and imparticular children have to go through for the next few years and my deepest sympathies go out to them.
At least he took his own life so the possibility of parole will never be presented to a jury again.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
That's my DJ; Dj Vajra
If last week’s selection represented the street of Denver’s hip-hop scene, this week’s selection of Dj Vajra represents the underground and scratch crowd.
After blazing to a third place finish in the Red Bull Thre3style competition this summer, Vajra is easily one of the best turntable masters in the box state.
After being sought after by the producers of the competition, Vajra, who retired competitions in 2004, decided to do the event under the moniker Dj MagMANimus.
Rocking a gas mask for the competition, DJ Vajra showed the judges, the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff and Quest Love of the Roots, why he is one of the best. Although previously retired from the battle scene, he said this battle made his reconsider his position.
“When I was touring I always used to think that if I lost a battle to someone, it hurt my product working with other people… Now I feel like I am ready to get back into the battling scene,” he said.
Vajra is also a mainstay in the underground hip-hop scene and has rocked with almost everyone making waves in Denver: DJ Chonz, Whygee, DJ Checkone, Bigwheel Electrosoul, Venus Cruz and many more.
After watching several YouTube videos of Vajra, DJ Q-Bert, the legendary scratch DJ, called up Vajra. “I was surprised when he told me I was one of his favorites in the world,” said Vajra.
Within two weeks of the phone call, Vajra went to San Francisco to rock with Q-Bert and has maintained a friendship in which they share ideas and techniques.
“Vajra is one of my favorites because he is consistently trying to push the limit(s) and boundaries in music — to keep this DJ art alive. He is a perfectionist,” said Dj Chonz of KS 107.5.
Having the respect of his peers is important to Vajra, and working with people he respects, like DJ Chonz, Sound Supreme and others, helps to keep him sharp.
“The only way for a person to reach full potential is to have like-minded people to sit down with and bounce ideas off of,” said Vajra.
Vajra is so versatile one may catch him spinning at a club or backing a live band with ill cuts and mixes at your favorite local bar.
With over 15 years of rocking the tables under his belt, Vajra has been on world tours with the likes of the Roots, played half–time for the Denver Nuggets, was a resident of Basementalist (a college radio show in boulder) and even still makes appearances on the show.
The crate-digging enthusiast was also the winner of the regional finals in the DMC competitions from 2001 – 2004, but was unable to capture the national finals. DMC is an international DJ-only record label that has been established since 1983. Their annual-competitions have become the litmus test for a DJ’s skills.
With no shortage of people to work with, catch Dj Vajra at Round Midnight in Boulder on Thursdays and Fridays.
Keep up with Dj Vajra at www.djvajra.com
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thats My DJ: Week 1
Quite frequently we overhear people around town say, “There’s no good music in Denver.” But Denver is blessed with some of the best DJs in the nation.
Over the next few weeks, The Met will be highlighting some of the DJs holding Colorado down within the mainstream and underground scenes. To kick off this series, we salute one of Denver’s biggest DJs — K-Tone.
“You don’t even know who K-Tona is,” is likely to be a soundbyte one hears on a project by DJ K-Tone. K-Tone hails from the Park Hill neighborhood, and despite that common soundbyte, is known as Denver’s Turf DJ. He is also part of a national affiliation of DJs known as The Core DJs.
“That just means I represent my city and state to the fullest, in an uplifting and positive way,” K-Tone said.
He started spinning in college when his cousin, DJ Krhyminyl, a Philadelphia DJ, gave him his first set of turntables more than 11 years ago. The craft of mixing hip-hop music into mixtapes has since turned into a lucrative career, and following suit, K-Tone has been playing some of the biggest parties in Denver.
He’s also taken his mixtape hosting around the country, working with artists like Twista, DJ Drama, Chingo Bling, Lil Scrappy, Slim Thug and countless others. On his Internet-broadcasted, weekly radio show, “Turf Time,” hosted on www.ustream.com, K-Tone plays track after track of Denver’s best and brightest artists, giving listeners a break from the over-saturated Top 40.
His accomplishments also include being a finalist in the Building Connections DJ competition the last two years, beating DJ Quote in 2009 and losing to KDJ Above in 2010.
Recently he has flooded social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and his fan base, with a movement called the “Moolah Shuffle.”
“[It’s] just something that we came up with to help motivate people to get their money in a positive way, whether you get up at 6 a.m. to go to work or you work [the] graveyard shift,” K-Tone said. “However you get it, when you know you’re getting your check come Friday, you gonna be doing the ‘Moolah Shuffle.’ So it’s more like a feel-good shuffle when you know you’re getting paid somehow,” he added.
Aside from being a successful DJ, K-Tone also owns his own promotional company, Still Livin Entertainment. He just completed a project with Tytanik and TC Crook as well as a joint project with KDJ Above.
As a whole, he feels Colorado doesn’t get enough attention for the scene it has cultivated. Local artists like Rockie, Young Doe, Kevin Pistols, Tytanik, TC Crook and Mr. Midas are overlooked, K-Tone said.
K-Tone’s skills as a DJ have allowed him to travel all over the world, but he never forgets to wear his hometown Rockies baseball hat. And spreading that positive message of unity to the young artists in The Box State is important to him.
“Make sure your business is on point,” he said. “Make sure your team is really on your side, and don’t worry about the negativity.”
FJP Blows the House Down
The Future Jazz Project has not only been around for almost a Decade in Denver but,”Will blow your mother (Bleeping) house down,” Venus Cruz sang. And they did.
First Venus brought up Lady Speaks, who was in the house, to the stage. Finally adding Isis Speaks to the set whose voice was a great addition to the evening.
FJP did their usual thing of DJ Checkone and Charlie Murda beats with Venus blazing the frequencies but the evening was blessed with cameos.
Iris Speaks told the crowd in a rare appearance, “I was trying to decide if I should go to Big Boi or FJP and I said you know Im gonna go to FJP.”
When MC Big House brought Ace to the stage to exchange rhymes the crowd was primed. KC Sidwell played a crazy slap bassline that left the emcees kneck jerking which they both laced nicely.
By the end everyone graced the stage and the crowd was shouting “1 more”, 1 more.” To which the musicians obliged.
The Future Jazz Project is one of those bands you can’t believe are not playing all over the world and Denver has been blessed to have them for 9 years.
Checkone gave fans a sneek preview of his new poster print line as well… more to come I’m sure.
Catch Venus Cruz on KUVO 89.3 Wed 10-12pm
The Drummer Dameion Hines at www.Djcheckone.com
Charlie Mertants on Bass at Appalooza Grill 16th and Welton every Tuesday10pm-2pm
First Venus brought up Lady Speaks, who was in the house, to the stage. Finally adding Isis Speaks to the set whose voice was a great addition to the evening.
FJP did their usual thing of DJ Checkone and Charlie Murda beats with Venus blazing the frequencies but the evening was blessed with cameos.
Iris Speaks told the crowd in a rare appearance, “I was trying to decide if I should go to Big Boi or FJP and I said you know Im gonna go to FJP.”
When MC Big House brought Ace to the stage to exchange rhymes the crowd was primed. KC Sidwell played a crazy slap bassline that left the emcees kneck jerking which they both laced nicely.
By the end everyone graced the stage and the crowd was shouting “1 more”, 1 more.” To which the musicians obliged.
The Future Jazz Project is one of those bands you can’t believe are not playing all over the world and Denver has been blessed to have them for 9 years.
Checkone gave fans a sneek preview of his new poster print line as well… more to come I’m sure.
Catch Venus Cruz on KUVO 89.3 Wed 10-12pm
The Drummer Dameion Hines at www.Djcheckone.com
Charlie Mertants on Bass at Appalooza Grill 16th and Welton every Tuesday10pm-2pm
Friday, January 21, 2011
Astro-funk-enomal
Mike Wird has been a cornerstone figure in the Denver hip-hop scene for more than a decade, collaborating in projects such as the 900 Pound Gorilla project and the Denver Avengers. Wird’s recent release Astrofunk Vol. 1 is more of a community art project that features some wonderfully talented contributors than an independently distributed album.
Astrofunk Vol 1. delivers high level, consistent production from some of Colorado’s most talented producers and DJs, as well as production and mixing by Wird himself. The outcome is a musical journey through smooth samples and timely cuts that reek of a classic hip-hop manifesto a la De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest.
The album is well-balanced. While a mellow and uplifting song like “Coming Forth by Day” massages the listener with DJ Cavem Moetavation’s tribal drum patterns, songs like “Memory” and “So Close” bring the listener back to the basic elements of hip-hop with DJ Cyskco Rockwell’s scratching, cutting and magnificent delivery.
“Each song has a unique enjoyment that wouldn’t have been the same without everyone who was involved,” said Wird of the large group of collaborators.
The appearance of superb songstress Venus Cruz on the track “Denva City” is the album’s most interesting and shining song— here Wird gives listeners his perception of life in Denver. Venus does not sing in her usual soothing tone, but with more of a Marsha Ambrosia style of delivery, suiting the track’s dark vibe.
Once past the incredible sounds of the album, Wird’s rhyme content clearly stands out, representing Colorado’s intelligent community with educating and thought-provoking lines.
Although the album does lack anything remotely radio-friendly or ringtone-saleable, the album is a genuine piece of fine art crafted by a collection of fine artists. Even Guerilla Garden’s Jeremy “Jolt” Ulibarri added to the project, designing the astronaut on the cover.
Wird is already working on Vol. 2 of the series as well as working on collaborations with the 2kool clothing line.
Check out the album at mikewird/bandcamp.com
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