FIND MORE MUSIC COVERAGE AT WESTWORD.COM/MUSIC MUSIC Up and Away DENVER’S HIP-HOP COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO TWO OF ITS BIGGEST STARS. BY CLEO MIRZA Denver’s hip-hop community is preparing to say goodbye to two of its greatest assets, M.T.G. and Jay Triiiple (born Monica Medina and Alyssa Taylor, respectively), who are trading the Rocky Mountains for California beaches this fall to attend the prestigious Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP). The artists, who also happen to be best friends, have lit up stages across Colorado, winning fans through their authenticity and work ethic, and producing some of the best hip-hop music to come out of the state. Triiiple and M.T.G. were encouraged to apply to LAAMP by another young female artist from Colorado, Kayla Rae, who was in the program last year. LAAMP only accepts 45 applicants for its nine-month session, and because Triiiple’s application was accepted fi rst, M.T.G. assumed that meant hers was not. “I’m from California, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m just going to go back home and use the connections I have, and just support Triiip,’” M.T.G. recalls. “Then I ended up getting an email saying that I got an interview, literally a month later, and I also was accepted.” LAAMP was founded by the Norwegian songwriting and producing duo Stargate, which has worked with artists such as Mi- chael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Ri- hanna and Nas. “They started the program to mentor artists, songwriters and producers. Forty-fi ve of those are selected to come to the program and pretty much make music, learn from each other, learn all about the music industry, and just become better at their craft,” Triiiple explains. Throughout the course, attendees will be mentored by Stargate as well as other renowned music-industry professionals (current and former mentors include Benny Blanco and Ne-Yo). “I just hope to get better,” says Triiiple. “To be around other people who are better than me, in a sense, or know more than me, so I can be inspired. Denver is an amazing city, but sometimes you run into a lot of stagnancy, and I know that’s not going to be the case out there. Just knowing that everybody there is there to create music, I know that everybody is going to be focused, with little to no drama. I hope.” M.T.G. says her objective is “just growth. That’s the biggest thing that I’m excited and nervous for, because I know with growth comes a lot of emotions, pressure, and things that you need to do to work on yourself. It’s scary, but at the same time, I’m really, really excited.” The work ahead is daunt- ing, but the two women are grateful that they’ll be able to experience it together. Neither of them remembers exactly when their friendship started, but it was fostered through live performances, deep conversa- tions and meandering car rides. “We didn’t get close until 2020,” says Triiiple. “I was doing a bunch of shit, and I would just invite her, because I knew her and she’s got dope vibes. She’s always down for the turn-up. I was doing all this stuff, and I would always ask if she wanted to come. She would always be down and would give me rides home, and we would just talk.” M.T.G. agrees that her role as the perpetual designated driver gave them lots of time to bond: “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I never have. So I’m always sober, and I like driving, and I’m always like, ‘Yeah I want to go!’” M.T.G. and Triiiple have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Denver’s music scene, and have endeavored to make it more welcom- ing, collaborative and inclusive for budding artists. Kelsey O’Sullivan, founder and pro- ducer of The Knock, a local hip-hop concert series where both M.T.G. and Triiiple have performed, recognizes their impact. “M.T.G. and Triiiple have both played pivotal roles in shaping the way females are received by the hip-hop community in Denver. Their talents have demanded the undeniable respect from their peers and the local hip-hop fan base,” O’Sullivan says. “M.T.G. is one of the greatest freestylers I’ve ever met, and Triiip’s presence and fl ow put her on a level all her own.” Triiiple and M.T.G. say they were initially Clockwise from top left: Jay Triiiple, LPeez, SheWhoWontBeNamed, Spinks, Kerrie Joy, M.T.G. and Dani Jay were all part of a recent showcase put on by The Knock. stronger, and M.T.G. and Triiiple are not the only ones willing it to happen. They’re leaving the city in capable hands, thanks to people like O’Sullivan and like-minded artists who are determined to keep the spirit of collabora- tion alive. “Kelsey, she’s amazing, and I love what she’s doing with the Knock. I’ve been a part of a lot of shows, and I like the way that she operates and tries to get people involved. She makes an effort to make it a community, and not just another show,” says Triiiple. “She’s so supportive,” echoes M.T.G. interested in LAAMP to learn how to be of better service to their peers. While Triiiple plans to stay in L.A. after completing the program, it’s important to her to return to Colorado, as well, so that she can share the wealth of knowledge she’s bound to gain. “I’m not just doing this for myself. I want to get better so I can be a better team player, so I can be more valuable,” she says. “Hopefully I can come back and show the community how it’s supposed to go. I’ve seen a lot in this scene, and we could be doing a lot better. I think we’re getting there, but it takes more of us moving around and coming back so we can understand how it operates in places where it’s already been operating.” Slowly but surely, the sense of community among Denver’s hip-hop artists is getting “She’ll just call me and be like, ‘What’s up? Tell me how you’re feeling, I’m here to listen.’ It’s super dope, and it’s not just like a promoter trying to hit you up to do a show — both her and Eryk [Fisher, co-founder of the Knock].” They also applaud the efforts of fellow musicians who are activists as much as they are artists, such as Nelo (born Chinelo Cary Tyler) and Kerrie Joy, co-founders of the nonprofi t Kaleidoscope Project. “Nelo is an amazing man, and I’m really blessed to have met him recently and con- nect with him. He really lives and breathes community; that’s his principle. He wants to see people win,” Triiiple says of her friend and collaborator on her latest single, “Stay Ready.” The love is mutual, Nelo confi rms: “Jay Triiiple is the type of person and artist who comes along once in a lifetime. When- ever I hear her music, I’m taken aback by the complexity of her bars. M.T.G. is captivating because she brings so much of her personality into her music and sound. After each song, you feel like you know her better.” Nelo and Joy’s nonprofi t, which provides funding to Black-owned businesses and BIPOC activists, even gave Triiiple a grant to help with her tuition costs. “Everything we say about Nelo, same goes for Kerrie Joy,” Triiiple continues. “She’s amazing, I love her. They’re partners in the Kaleidoscope Project, and I received my fi rst grant ever from them, just to help with the GoFundMe.” For Joy, supporting M.T.G. and Triiiple was a no-brainer. “Jay Triiiple and M.T.G. are some of my favorite artists, because they are dedicated to their craft, their community and their humanity,” she says. “Not only are they ridiculously talented — and I mean bars on bars — but they are lights in what can feel like a cold, dark world, and I can’t wait until everyone catches their shine.” Before they leave in mid-September, the two also plan to host a big sendoff show where all proceeds would benefi t their tu- ition funds. It will be one of their last perfor- mances in Denver for the foreseeable future, so don’t miss the chance to experience these two incredible MCs live. (In the meantime, you can catch Jay Triiiple at the Taste of the South Festival on August 20.) “Our community will be missing the light they carry, but we are crazy excited to see their journeys unfold,” O’Sullivan says. Bon voyage, ladies. Jay Triiiple will be at the Taste of the South Festival on Saturday, August 20, at Civic Center Park, Colfax and Broadway; admission is free, but registration is required on Eventbrite. 21 westword.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | WESTWORD AUGUST 18-24, 2022 L8GACY LLC
