Best Hip-Hop Artist 2024 | The Lord's | Nightlife | Phoenix
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Best Hip-Hop Artist

The Lord's

We may not be the Bronx or Queens, but the Valley still has a solid hip-hop scene. Names like Mega Ran and MC Magic might dominate that resulting conversation, but you must give the appropriate nod to the "little guys," including The Lord's. The outfit, which includes vocalist Preston Dobbins and mixer/producer Richard Lam, has this distinctly '90s approach to hip-hop, where it's all about the minimalist beats that rumble with force and purpose and lyricism that's all about wordplay as much as it is deeply engaging storytelling. They are a throwback to rap's underground heyday, when the genre was more interested in spinning yarns about the real glories and troubles of everyday life. Yet there's no denying The Lords' modern sheen, and they intriguingly filter ideas, sounds and energies for songs that comment on and add to the framework of life in 2024. They may not be the undisputed champs of Phoenix, but The Lord's bring us hip-hop with the purity, deliberateness and emotion as it was once intended. And for their endless bounty, we are truly blessed.

Best Band

Snailmate

Admittedly, Snailmate aren't going to be everyone's cup of tea. That's because the band — keyboardist/vocalist Kalen Lander and singer/drummer Bentley Monet — purposefully make difficult music. They cheekily call it "genre-fluid" so they can shapeshift from song to song, blending hardcore, rap, electro and whatever other shiny bits they glom onto to continually confront listeners. But as they proved with last year's "Stress Sandwich," Snailmate's poking and prodding fosters a deep emotional understanding. Under all that chaos and noise are two people just trying to get through life, and there's heaps to relate to and apply to our own personal journeys. It would explain how Snailmate have garnered shows across the world: Theirs is a catharsis that crosses borders and languages to help everyone feel things more deeply and thoroughly. Plus, they continue to evolve on record and on the stage, becoming a fun and frenetic musical creature who generates parties wherever they might go. So, no, Snailmate are not for everyone, but they're often everything to those who have consumed their neon-colored brand of musical moonshine.

Best Album

Chrome Rhino

As a rule, anything called "These Precarious Experiments Determine What The Future Will Be" demands your unyielding attention. Local rockers Chrome Rhino have nailed more than just the album title with this 14-track sonic smorgasbord of wonderfully nerdy prog rock, sensuous glam rock and oversized space rock. Chrome Rhino have come a long way since March 2021's "I Think They're After Me," which while pleasant and entertaining, only hints at the songwriting chops and sheer ambition of Chrome Rhino collectively. "These Precarious Experiments...," meanwhile, seems to better capture both the band's core ability and charm as well as their energetic live show. From the sleek, slow-burn of the space blues jam "The Void (You Only Have Yourself To Blame)" to the New Wave-tinged "Gemini," the LP truly achieved the "shiny and dangerous" tag the band have touted. There's an overarching concept involved (albeit with a little more subtlety than some similar offerings), but the real story is that Chrome Rhino have elevated their craft with joy and precision alike. Welcome to the future. It totally rocks.

Best DJ

Pete "SuperMix" Salaz

Pete "SuperMix" Salaz is regarded as the godfather of Phoenix's electronic dance music scene, and it's not just an empty honorific. Few local DJs are as universally beloved as Salaz, and many can attest to his generous nature, iconic status and phenomenal talents as a mixmaster. A club owner, producer, promoter and guru, he's helped shape generations of local DJs since his days spinning records alongside Eddie Amador in the late '80s. He's given opportunities to up-and-comers at Monarch Theatre and Bar Smith, the downtown Phoenix nightspots he co-owns. And his dance events are the stuff of Valley legend, from underground parties such as Chupa and Red Monkey to Solstice Saturdays, his long-running house night with DJ Senbad. Salaz has also influenced many while showing off his skills in the DJ booth, where he deftly weaves house and world music into intoxicatingly exotic mixes. And at times, he's doing so with a loftier purpose than just getting people moving on the dance floor — fostering mindful listening in hopes of improving connections and communication between human beings. As the vocal track Salaz occasionally plays during his sets states, "Just listen, not only with your ears, but with your heart." Wise words indeed.

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