History of Denver Hip-Hop
Image above: Denver R&B artist Yasmine Emani at Two Moons Music Hall, Denver CO.
Denver is becoming a rap and hip hop hub. Here’s why that’s significant.
Local artists and bookers on the long path to Denver’s hip hop scene, and the rich history that shouldn’t be forgotten.
DNA Picasso, a Denver-based hip hop artist, remembers the early days of Denver’s hip hop and rap scene. Originally from New York, Picasso lived in cities like Chicago and Atlanta, where the scene was more defined — not just by the talent, but also by the sound of the city.
“Hip hop in Denver is a melting pot,” Picasso said. “You get so many people coming from other places, and the sound really reflects that.
DNA Picasso appeared in a write up last year about artists in the Denver music scene to watch, and has been named one of Denver's best rappers. He is one of several hip hop and rap artists who are polishing their craft in the Mile High City. AEG, the world's largest entertainment conglomerate, hosted a weekend-long hip hop showcase in Denver in late 2025, naming Denver as one of the up-and-coming scenes for hip hop and rap. This, on the backs of other scenes like film making their mark in Colorado (Sundance Film Festival heads to Boulder in 2027).
“There were a lot of artists out here just beginning to scratch the surface of what they wanted to do as artists,” Picasso said. “It was about 10 people doing their thing, and then a bunch of us youngins throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.”
Picasso points to the Five Points neighborhood as a historical starting point to understanding the hip hop scene in Denver. The neighborhood is known for its rich Black history as well as being an incubator for rap and hip hop, back then and now. Not everyone who lives in Denver is familiar with this history though, according to Picasso.
“I would like to see us rally around that Black history in Five Points,” Picasso said. “People bringing awareness to that history keeps it alive so we can keep welcoming Black musicians, Black artists, back into the space so we can create more culture around that legacy.”
Picasso has been making music in Denver for nearly a decade, and he points to people like Daniel Hargrove, booker at the popular music venue Cervantes for more than a decade. Hargrove, who is known as a reliable source of booking opportunities for rap and hip hop acts, says Picasso is one of several artists who creates a supportive scene for other artists in Denver.
“There are working artists here who really make Denver a scene worth investing in, showing people that there are more ways to become a successful artist other than becoming super famous and signing huge record deals,” Hargrove said.
While Hargrove doesn’t believe Denver has a specific ‘sound,’ he points to the Blog Rap wave (speaking to a hip hop and rap movement that resulted from the dawn of the internet and accessibility to sound engineering tools) as something that launched many artists who are currently working in the scene today.
“It’s easier than ever to make music, so more people are doing it,” Hargrove said. “It’s exciting to see the innovation that’s happening in the music scene right now, across genres.”
In 1993, Deuce Mob, a Chicano rap and hip hop group, became the first Colorado-based rap group to sign a major record deal. This, taking place at a time when rap and hip hop weren’t allowed in most spaces, according to local artist Mane Rok, who came up in the early 2000s.
“The scene was nonexistent back then,” Rok said. “There were very few venues that would host rap and hip hop concerts, shout out to the gay bars because they really held it down.”
Rok remembers the momentum that was gaining ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted the growth of the arts like in so many other major cities. Along with the gentrification of Five Points and the long-standing communities being pushed out of the neighborhood, Rok believes that the changing urban landscape impacts what is remembered when we think of Five Points.
“People are jogging around with their dogs,” Rok said. “A lot of the people who made that community aren’t even there anymore.”
As AEG and other local venues put more weight and resources behind rap and hip hop shows, Rok believes that the continual influence on the Denver scene will make itself known through those willing to invest in the community. As a born and raised Coloradan, Rok is more proud than ever to be from the Mile High City.
“It’s Denver all day every day,” Rok said.
When Picasso looks ahead at what the future of entertainment looks like in Denver, he hopes that a more cutthroat and competitive market starts to form as the talent pool becomes more and more skilled.
“Colorado in general is very soft for lack of a better word,” Picasso said. “We give access to literally anybody. You can go to a festival and you can see somebody who's a great artist, super seasoned, and then the same lineup features a really green performer.”
Even though Denver’s scene could use some tough love, Picasso finds hope in how many young artists are pursuing their passions and making great work locally.
“What excites me is just how much music is coming out of the city, different genres, different artists, different age groups,” Picasso said. “It’s about how connected everybody is. I think the community is in a better place than it's ever been, but we got a lot of work to do.”
