On August 13, 2025, a bustling basement venue on Market Street in Denver buzzed with energy as sixteen rappers faced off in an electrifying competition known as Aux Wars.
Unlike a typical concert, these artists connected their phones to the sound system and played short snippets of their tracks to the lively crowd, creating an atmosphere filled with excitement and enthusiasm.
This year marked the second installment of Aux Wars, an event where artists share their music with a hyped audience. The competition derives its name from the “aux” cable used to connect the rappers’ phones to the sound system. Notably, one participant, Gabbana Nova, played a captivating track named “Colorado,” which resonated with the crowd.
In his lyrics, Nova rapped, “C-o-l-o, r-a-d-o … Please don’t come around, thinking we just riding ski slopes.”
The night was hosted by local rap luminaries DNA Picasso, Trev Rich, and RANSTEEZ, who aim to connect veteran artists with newcomers to the Denver rap scene.
Picasso emphasized the importance of bridging generational gaps in the local music scene, stating that each new generation has a responsibility to learn about the artists who paved the way for them.
“I feel like each new generation that comes up has a duty to, obviously they’re doing their own thing, they’re coming up, they’re fresh in the game, but they have the duty to learn the landscape and who’s out here,” Picasso noted.
Picasso is committed to finding a balance between his own artistic ambitions and fostering opportunities for emerging talent.
He believes older artists have a responsibility to create connections with the younger generation.
“This kind of work that I’m really focused on right now is new in the sense that there haven’t been people who are still running this race as an artist (while) also giving the opportunity simultaneously,” he explained.
This year’s Aux Wars adopted a streamlined format compared to its predecessor, featuring a four-round bracket system and two judges for the final rounds.
“It was super high energy, super fun. A lot of artists that I’d never heard before, a lot of artists who never heard each other before, never met each other before,” Picasso commented after the competition concluded.
Each participant was allotted ninety seconds to play one of their songs. In the first round, winners were determined by crowd reaction, gauged by the loudness of the cheers for each track.
The judges’ expertise came into play during the second round. Omar Mitchell, a writer and creator of the music blog Dope at its Finest, as well as a collaborator with The Recording Academy and Universal Music, was among the judges.
After witnessing the talent on display, Mitchell remarked, “We have some really, really dope talent in Colorado.”
The other judge, Lala, who is a DJ at KS107.5 and the host of the podcast LockedwithLala, emphasized the importance of highlighting local artists and bringing them together through platforms like Aux Wars.
“We got a lot of culture just seeping through and there’s not really a platform for them,” Lala said, underlining the significance of events like Aux Wars in strengthening the community.
Each judge had the authority to award one point per round, while the crowd could also contribute another point. The criteria for judging included sound quality, originality, replay value, and songwriting.
Before the competition began, contestants were required to bring a professionally recorded and mastered track, as the venue’s sound technician could not adjust the levels for any audio issues.
Mitchell particularly emphasized the replay value of the songs, and as the event concluded, Picasso inquired which track he would add to his playlist. Mitchell responded enthusiastically that he would include them all.
In an exciting announcement, he stated, “I’m going to go ahead and have all of the artists send me their music, and we’re going to get their music sent off to Universal’s media team, 1824, and we’re going to also go ahead and get it sent off to The Recording Academy as well,” which drew cheers from the audience.
“All of the artists here tonight were winners,” he added, although there could ultimately be only one champion.
Gabbana Nova, a Denver local, emerged victorious with his track “Colorado,” which is gaining traction on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Nova expressed his ambition of elevating both his career and the visibility of Denver in the broader rap scene.
“I’m definitely one of those people that rep my city,” he affirmed. “My hit song is called Colorado, so I do want some people to see the culture that’s here.”
His victory came with a comprehensive “brand development package,” consisting of a photoshoot, a radio interview on KS 107.5, and an opportunity to pitch his music to record curators and labels.
After claiming the top spot, the 28-year-old artist took control of the aux cable once again, playing a victorious track he had prepared, an exciting anthem titled Aux Wars Freestyle, which electrified the crowd.
“I kind of thought I was gonna win today. (I’m) not trying to be cocky, but I’m just really passionate about my art,” Nova stated confidently.
In conclusion, Picasso encouraged both fans and artists in Denver to share similar passions and contribute to the local music scene, noting, “I’m a real champion of the local scene in general, but specifically hip hop and R&B, because I feel like these are some of the genres that need a little bit more shine. We need more camaraderie, we need more events like this. We need more builders, less extractors.”
He urged the community to focus on collaboration and growth within the rich tapestry of Denver’s vibrant music landscape.
image source from：denverite
