Hip-Hop in Fort Collins Redefined [- Hide]
Scene Magazine, 2005

Is hip-hop in Fort Collins docile? While we have our fair share of talented hip-hop artists, is hip-hop being slowly tucked away into the shadows of our perception? You would be hard pressed to find a young adult in Fort Collins without any hip-hop in their music collection. However, hip-hop certainly isn’t the musical standard of Fort Collins. There aren’t nearly as many hip-hop shows in town as other genres and the caliber of hip-hop promotion tends to get outshined by bigger acts.

Even so, local hip-hop guru, Ben Laub (Grieves), redefines the genre with a spectacular array of rhythm and lyrical brilliance. What is it that separates Grieves from the rest of the flock? It could be the positive, optimistic attitude of his music. Tracks like “State of the Mind” unburden the usual unpleasant realities to which we have all become victim, while having a plethora of headphone candy to which you can’t help but bob your head. When asked what drives him to make such enthusiastic music, Grieves exclaims, “Hip-hop has a great feel,
to me that’s what hip-hop has always been.”

With the negative stigma rap and hip-hop sometimes carry, it’s a treat to see someone not pointing fingers, but rather being constructive with their musical talent.
“Hip hop has gotta breathe to man! It’s not all about graffiti, violence and destroying shit”, Grieves says. “My dad used to take me to jazz clubs when I was a kid”, he says, “Music has always been a very important part of my life; it’s always been something I can retreat to. I think that I get a lot of influence from stuff that surrounds me. The music I was making here [Fort Collins] versus the music I was making in Seattle is different, and then when we went on tour this summer, every new place we went was completely different, and it was nice to be able to soak all that up, and put it out.”

Where will Grieves be in the next five years?

Man, probably still slaving my ass away in a kitchen, probably still paying rent. But hopefully Ill be a lot more developed in my music, Grieves says, I’m definitely going to go on tour again. Try and do the same thing as last time, but not so hardcore that I lose all my money! I love playing in Fort Collins, man. I think the hip-hop scene here is good, Grieves says. It’s a bit dormant, but a lot of people out here make pretty positive music. It would be nice to see a few more people coming out to make an effort at hip-hop. I keep my information on the back of the CD, so if you want to email me, Id love to hear you’re feedback. Anything, I love hearing it.

Grieves says, regarding his recent CD, Every Hell Has Its Springtime. You can purchase his CD at the Finest Records at Elizabeth & Shields in Fort Collins.