Headspace Tour is promoting SOL's 2016 Album The Headspace Traveler

March 25, 2016 fans were treated to an excellent hip-hop experience at the Cervantes Otherside ballroom in Denver, Colorado; I know because I was there. With an old school hip-hop vibe and a superior sound system, the venue offered a perfect ambiance for the show. Before the show even started, it had all the potential for a great experience. The Headspace Tour consists of Seattle based artists such as: Otieno Terry, Brothers From Another, and SOL (as the headliner). The fans that showed up earlier in the night got a chance to catch impressive opening performances by Rooke5 (pronounced Rooks) and DOZE, both Denver based artists.

From the second the first act stepped on stage, Rooke5, I could tell I was in for a good night. Rooke5 was confident meaning he has plenty of stage experience. Rooke5 and his DJ (DJ Five8) did a fantastic job of getting the crowd engaged, using head bobbing beats this artist had the crowd rocking with him throughout his set. His track "My Story" is a pure hip-hop track that really caught the crowd’s attention. He then switched it up and performed some new music off his upcoming project. His new music consists of in your face lyrics and was little grimier than his fans are used too. Rooke5 showed off his diverse skill set and demonstrated why he is an upcoming artist that is on the rise.

Following the opening performance was probably one the chilliest artists I have had a chance to see (and meet) in a while. When Doze took stage, the vibe in the entire venue changed from high energy to chill and mellow. His demeanor, beat selection, and lyrics really made his vibe contagious. You could tell the crowd was zoned in trying to catch every bar. Doze’s delivery and conscious lyrics really expressed how genuine this artist truly is.

Ontieno Terry was next to take the stage; this artist had an absolutely captivating performance. With his dance moves, lyrics, and stage presence; Ontieno Terry put on a show that seemed like an art exhibition. I’ve seen plenty of performances but never had an experience like this one. I was amazed with his ability to captivate the audience and deliver a one of a kind performance. He left the stage to loud cheers validating his performance and proving that his set is a must see!

Taking stage before the headliner was Brothers From Another and this group brought the party to the show. Brothers From Another provided a very entertaining set that reminded me of new age Beastie Boys with a goofy old school twist. They really got the audience going with a "F*CK Donald Trump" chant, which the crowd raised a middle finger to. These guys even pulled off a 30 second photo op and got causal fans to take a photo during their set; which is a genius marketing strategy. This set provided plenty of entertainment for the fans and really set the tone for the headlining act.

With the entire venue highly anticipating his performance, SOL calmly took the stage and gave hip-hop fans an experience to remember. Using a live band throughout the entirety of his set, SOL had concert goers moving and rocking with him from start to finish. His track selection was diverse and perfect for the already entertained crowd. My personal favorite was "Growing Pains". The track discusses his adolescent years and describes his journey into his music career during his early 20’s. He finished the track by keeping it real with his fans by spitting about real life in a positive light. SOL then performed his track "Old Him" which is a throwback for the fans that have been bumping him for years. He even did a track for the ladies, which was "Need Your Love." There was an abundance of SOL super fans in the audience, so after the show I asked for their thoughts. All of the fans I talked to raved about his performance and vowed to be at his next show. If you’re a hip-hop fan and the Headspace Tour is coming to a city near you, do yourself a favor and go to the show; you will not be disappointed.

From the opening acts to the headliner, this show provided fans with an overall magnificent experience. The concert was full of entertainment with great crowd interaction. This is also a testament to the quality of fans the Denver hip-hop scene consists of. Whether your part of the music industry or a casual fan of hip-hop, Denver needs to be on you’re A list of cities to visit for shows. It has a plethora of dope local artists and great venue selection. The sky is the limit for this hip-hop scene.