H*Wood

H*Wood, an artist who, by design believes in himself, his music and his ability to succeed has hit it out of the park with his latest release Doubt Kills. Judging by the title, the project is just what it sounds like: a thematic and conceptual pep talk from the Aurora native. From his mouth, to God’s ears, as the saying goes, because the lyrical brevity, varying production methods and H*Wood’s charismatic tones makes Doubt Kills one of H*Wood’s best projects.

The single “Purple Girl” has a funky bass line and a more stuttered dance tone instead of the all out electro style H*Wood is most known to employ. He uses a more repetitive and flamboyant flow to describe his ideal woman on this track. The five song EP is succinct and right to the point. In a surprising move, “Headstand,” takes its influence and music structure from the punk rock world with H*wood making his second reference about his sundress and headband preference. Wait for the incredible guitar solo on this joint in the second half of the song to further drive home this song’s musical diversity.

H*Wood is into hippy girls who have “dirty feet and pretty toes,” as evidenced by his descriptions on Doubt Kills. It’s not all dreamcatchers and peace signs though because on the title track the MC lets his more serious flow take over with a little help from A. Rose Jackson on the hook. The backing piano helps to end the album on a spiritually high note with H*Wood opening up about his belief in God and the expectations he’s placed on himself.

This project is short, sweet, and proves yet again that H*Wood knows his lane and how best to proceed with his brand of rap/electro and jazz infused music.
- HipHoprollcall.com

No matter what you do in life," declares Brandon Bordeaux, better known musically as H*Wood, "you're going to trip, you're going to fall, you're going to make errors. But in the grand scheme of things, the grand scheme of the goals, the errors are the lessons."

Bordeaux speaks from experience. In a matter of years, after moving from Aurora to California, the rapper experienced a meteoric rise in the music business before falling just as fast. Now he's back in Colorado, better for the experience and with a new EP, Doubt Kills, that he believes not only raises the personal stakes for him as an artist, but raises the stakes for his home town.

Bordeaux found quick success in Hollywood in his early twenties with the singles "Barbie Doll" and the hugely popular "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)," a track issued on Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins's imprint that focused on the glossy materialism and party lifestyle of high-class Los Angeles. "I didn't even go through the whole 'I'm in Hollywood and I can't get into clubs,'" Bordeaux recalls of his time in L.A. "I was already blessed...and then I got signed, and when I got signed, that's when everything became, 'This is really what the industry and life as an artist pursuing this lifestyle is about.'

"I saw everything," he continues, repeating it twice more, like a bloodied Brando speaking his final words. "Hollywood is the heart of all of it, everything.... I saw how it was. I was wanted to be placed in a box. They wanted 'Could It Be You' 10,000 times. Every song had to be 'Could It Be You,' every time."'

Eventually, the heat from "Could It Be You" faded, and so did H*Wood's star. "You hear about that happening," he says. "I was hot and then I'm not. I had seen it happen, so when it happened, it was like, 'Oh, I can't go there no more? Damn.' It was just my time. My time with focusing on these things is over. That's how I looked at it. With 'Could It Be You,' that whole year, I loved it and had a great time full of great experiences, but I could not have continued to live my life that way."

Bordeaux isn't exactly excited to go into the details. He doesn't want to focus on the past. "There's a lot of dark shit that I've seen, and that's why I stay so positive — because a lot of this shit is dark," he explains. "The whole world is dark, but a lot of it originates from the industry, which originates from Hollywood. I guess just being positive and staying focused on your dream, even from the infant stages, and pushing that all the way to the end, is very important and hard to do, and that's what I really want people to do. I just want to be an example."

One person for whom Bordeaux really wants to set an example is his son, D.J., who was born when Bordeaux was only nineteen. "The announcement of [my son] coming was the most critical point in my life," he remembers. "From that moment, I just decided that I'm not going to stop [making music]. He has to see his dad at least run, run to the dreams, run to the goals. Because if he doesn't at least see that, then it's just going to be right down the same cycle, because I didn't get to see that, and my pops didn't get to see that, and his pops didn't get to see that. So eventually, somebody just has to be the one who's like, 'You know what? Win, lose or draw, this is for the better.'"

Bordeaux extends this mentality beyond his personal credo, though. He wants positivity and self-confidence to be the foundation of his music from now on. "I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to even chase this," he says. "That's enough for me to stay positive, no matter what. I want to be an example to my family and other people, everybody, that if you just stay positive and work hard, good things will come — but that all starts with killing the self-doubt." This type of thinking fuels Doubt Kills. "When you think of a good idea and those million reasons why you shouldn't do it," he says, "ignore those."

Regardless of the difficulty Bordeaux found while in California, he credits his time there with preparing him for what he's aiming to do now that he's back home. "I say that I went to Hollywood University, because that's exactly what it was for me," he points out. "It was like college; I stayed - Westword Backbeat

No matter what you do in life," declares Brandon Bordeaux, better known musically as H*Wood, "you're going to trip, you're going to fall, you're going to make errors. But in the grand scheme of things, the grand scheme of the goals, the errors are the lessons."

Bordeaux speaks from experience. In a matter of years, after moving from Aurora to California, the rapper experienced a meteoric rise in the music business before falling just as fast. Now he's back in Colorado, better for the experience and with a new EP, Doubt Kills, that he believes not only raises the personal stakes for him as an artist, but raises the stakes for his home town.

Bordeaux found quick success in Hollywood in his early twenties with the singles "Barbie Doll" and the hugely popular "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)," a track issued on Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins's imprint that focused on the glossy materialism and party lifestyle of high-class Los Angeles. "I didn't even go through the whole 'I'm in Hollywood and I can't get into clubs,'" Bordeaux recalls of his time in L.A. "I was already blessed...and then I got signed, and when I got signed, that's when everything became, 'This is really what the industry and life as an artist pursuing this lifestyle is about.'

"I saw everything," he continues, repeating it twice more, like a bloodied Brando speaking his final words. "Hollywood is the heart of all of it, everything.... I saw how it was. I was wanted to be placed in a box. They wanted 'Could It Be You' 10,000 times. Every song had to be 'Could It Be You,' every time."'

Eventually, the heat from "Could It Be You" faded, and so did H*Wood's star. "You hear about that happening," he says. "I was hot and then I'm not. I had seen it happen, so when it happened, it was like, 'Oh, I can't go there no more? Damn.' It was just my time. My time with focusing on these things is over. That's how I looked at it. With 'Could It Be You,' that whole year, I loved it and had a great time full of great experiences, but I could not have continued to live my life that way."

Bordeaux isn't exactly excited to go into the details. He doesn't want to focus on the past. "There's a lot of dark shit that I've seen, and that's why I stay so positive — because a lot of this shit is dark," he explains. "The whole world is dark, but a lot of it originates from the industry, which originates from Hollywood. I guess just being positive and staying focused on your dream, even from the infant stages, and pushing that all the way to the end, is very important and hard to do, and that's what I really want people to do. I just want to be an example."

One person for whom Bordeaux really wants to set an example is his son, D.J., who was born when Bordeaux was only nineteen. "The announcement of [my son] coming was the most critical point in my life," he remembers. "From that moment, I just decided that I'm not going to stop [making music]. He has to see his dad at least run, run to the dreams, run to the goals. Because if he doesn't at least see that, then it's just going to be right down the same cycle, because I didn't get to see that, and my pops didn't get to see that, and his pops didn't get to see that. So eventually, somebody just has to be the one who's like, 'You know what? Win, lose or draw, this is for the better.'"

Bordeaux extends this mentality beyond his personal credo, though. He wants positivity and self-confidence to be the foundation of his music from now on. "I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to even chase this," he says. "That's enough for me to stay positive, no matter what. I want to be an example to my family and other people, everybody, that if you just stay positive and work hard, good things will come — but that all starts with killing the self-doubt." This type of thinking fuels Doubt Kills. "When you think of a good idea and those million reasons why you shouldn't do it," he says, "ignore those."

Regardless of the difficulty Bordeaux found while in California, he credits his time there with preparing him for what he's aiming to do now that he's back home. "I say that I went to Hollywood University, because that's exactly what it was for me," he points out. "It was like college; I stayed there from [ages] 20 to 24. That was my school. That was how I learned everything.... I look at 'Could It Be You' and I say, 'That was an awesome accomplishment, and that's a great trophy. But just like all the other trophies, they go back into the case.' It's time for me to go do something different, and with [Doubt Kills - Westword Magazine

n what some are saying could hold the honor of being the summer jam of 2010, H*Wood‘s “Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)” has made waves online, garnering nearly 70,000 spins on YouTube and buzz from top gossip sites such as JustJared.com. The track was arranged by Grammy award-winning producer Rodney “DarkChild” Jerkins, the mastermind behind such hits as Lady Gaga‘s “Telephone” and Pussycat Dolls‘ “When I Grow Up”.
H*Wood hails from Aurora, Colorado, a city we’ve never heard of, making his adoption of the name “H*Wood” all that more understandable. The rapper was found on Myspace after spending 12 hours a day online promoting his music and perfecting his craft. At 22, he’s now signed by Jerkins under the DarkChild label and is preparing to push “Could It Be You” to the masses.
- RyanSeacrest.com

H*Wood first broke onto the music scene when he was 22-years-old with his hit song, “COULD IT BE YOU,” in 2010. Ever since, he has been gaining momentum and was even invited to perform at this year’s Pre X Games Launch Party.
H*Wood was so excited to perform at the event and said that he felt blessed that his fans embraced his track, “W.O.R.K.,” which was also embraced by the X Games market. The invitation to perform came at the perfect time, as it allows H*Wood to experience the X Games for the first time, and it happens to be in his native Colorado. H*Wood mentioned that he’s going to be on the lookout for Shaun White … and that he could tell the snowboarders a part from everyone else, due to their goggle tans.
2013 is looking bright for H*Wood, as he’s already in the midst of promoting his debut album, FIRST LIGHT, which dropped on November 1, 2012. Definitely check out the mixtape version of the album, “MILE HIGH MIX,” which was mixed by DJ Bedz. Not only is DJ Bedz the OFFICIAL DJ OF THE DENVER NUGGETS and radio host at 95.7 ‘The Party,’ but also, he’s H*Wood’s longtime friend that H*Wood has known since he was 17-years-old. H*Wood said of DJ Bedz, “He has been involved every step of the way. He’s my biggest supporter.”
While working hard to make great music and testing different sounds, H*Wood has found his niche within the industry, making fusion records, and he hopes to be known as a ‘fusion great.’ Within his music, you can hear him fuse rap with elements of EDM, Dubstep, live music and more.
Helping him evolve his sound are incredible artists he has collaborated with, including: Red Lion, Adrian X (Drake’s lead guitarist) and Eddie Fisher (OneRepublic). OneRepublic is based in H*Wood’s home state of Colorado and he and Fisher met last summer, when they wrote the first song for H*Wood’s album, First Light. With both artists residing in Colorado, the unfathomable shooting in Aurora personally affected both artists. In fact, First Light is an ode to H*Wood’s hometown of Aurora. H*Wood said, “‘Aurora’ means morning, the first light of day. I want my music to be the light. I hope to inspire, move and motivate people.”
Along with great musical success, he is also striving to better other aspects of his life. The biggest change for him has been quitting smoking cold turkey, after having smoked for the past 10 years. Upon quitting, even with a new pack of cigarettes in his hand, he never felt the desire to go back. One of the biggest differences that he could physically feel after quitting was that he was able to sing while sitting down. Since there isn’t as much smoke going into his lungs, his airflow has improved and he also has a lot more energy. H*Wood hopes to inspire others to quit their bad habits by DOCUMENTING HIS JOURNEY.
How has H*Wood been able to accomplish so much in such a short period of time? He believes that life is all about dream chasing and hard work. “It’s important to write out your major goals and make process every day. Always push forward. Never expect life to hand you anything.” Some life mottos that help him seize each and every day are: (1) Be the change that you want to see in the world, (2) Remember that life is about simplicity and (3) Look 10-15 years down the line and be that person now.
H*Wood has definitely been following his dreams and realizes that life is a journey. He said, “[...] rapping chose me, I didn’t choose it.” From dreams of being an Air Force pilot, to wanting to become a history teacher, he continued chasing his dreams while attending Mason State, where music was a side project while working for the school’s radio station. He founded the station’s first hip-hop show, which is still on-air today, and showcased his brother’s music. With a new found passion in music, he yearned to learn more about the industry by working as a manager, DJ, club promoter, song writer and, finally, a rapper.
H*Wood’s dreams are becoming realities and more and more doors are opening for him. He hopes to have a 5-8 song EP out by the end of the summer and shortly afterwards, in September, he’s going on a college tour. - FamousJoJo.com

More than an album that crosses over genres and blends hip-hop and a dance sound, H*Wood’s latest album First Light is gutsy and honest. The beat selection is absolutely superb. Check for Adrian X’s production on “Young Beast,” where H*Wood gets primal and carnal on the hook. There’s something to be said for rapping over formless beats and dropping Lion King references, all of which H*Wood accomplishes with ease on “Young Beast.”
For the most part the beats are definitely ahead of the hip-hop times we’re working in. The project opens up with the title track “First Light,” giving H*Wood the opportunity to explain where he’s from (Aurora, Colorado) and touch on the pain his city felt after the Aurora Theater shooting. “The Journey” details the struggles of a young MC trying to make it in the game and H*Wood is more than believable, he’s relatable.
The “W.O.R.K” remix is as poignant as ever (the album’s lead single) with Amanda Hawkins’ soaring vocals over the chorus. This is the big club record on the project that maintains H*Wood’s songwriting integrity. The lyrics get a bit cheesy on “Gone,” a track about a chick that is “outta sight.”
There are some hefty tracks on First Light with a number of songs touching down at well over five minutes. The beats are worth it and the determination in H*Wood’s voice makes all within earshot stand at attention. Club sound be damned, this project is diverse and mainstream enough to take over radio and the clubs while boom-bap/808 laden enough to keep the streets listening. Win. - HipHopRollCall.com

Collin and Brandon Bordeaux have been making music together since they were kids. The two brothers, better known in local hip-hop circles as H*Wood and Kid Vegas, act as each other's business partners, musical critics, marketing team and confidants. The former, who has returned home after four years in Los Angeles, is dropping his new album First Light today. It's the first release for the Denver native since leaving Dark Child Records, the imprint run by former manager Rodney Jenkins. From the sounds of the genre-bending tracks on the album, which infuse EDM with soul and hip-hop, he's clearly grown since the days of "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)." - Westword Backbeat

H*Wood (real name Brandon Bordeaux) is one of the first MCs in Denver to employ a strict pop sound behind his verses. H*Wood's flow is flamboyant and rhythmic, with his latest single, "Work," an example of his pop-infused production and compelling rhyme structure. After several record deals (most notably with pop-R&B producer Rodney Jerkins), H*Wood returned to Denver from Los Angeles this year to continue parlaying his independent rap movement into a living, breathing thing. He has some pretty credible characters in his corner, too, like Denver Nuggets music man DJ Bedz of 95.7-FM/The Party, who is H*Wood's collaborator on his new project "First Light."

- The Denver Post