High adrenaline levels, the need to move your body, and a sense of fulfillment. These are the feelings you might experience while watching the Pirate Signal perform. Instantly, Yonnas Abraham’s ingenuity becomes apparent when he busts rhymes while DJ A-What dominates on the tables, simultaneously backing the lyrics. Combined with raw and funky beats produced by both members of this local hip- hop group, their music is — in one of many words — innovative. The way these two feed off each other’s energy is contagious yet mesmerizing and sure to get any crowd live.

Both born and raised in Colorado, Abraham grew up in Park Hill and DJ A-What in north Denver. They have been making music together since 2004. Before they joined forces, each of them was pursuing music with different local artists. Abraham’s previous DJ quit and he knew A-What for a while, as they were both part of the L.I.F.E. crew. Eventually, they started working together and realized they both wanted to produce the same type of abrasive music, not to mention their energy levels were the same.

“As far as being cohesive, we just fit,” A-What said about the duo.

Their eclectic musical influences seem to create a sound that is unprecedented in hip-hop. “A lot of our influences come from outside the genre of hip-hop, but there are things going on in our culture that really have a hold on us right now,” Abraham said. He mentions groups like Flying Lotus, dub step producers Joker, Gemmy, noise rock bands and an obsession with Radiohead. A-What points out his craving for soul music like Willie Hutch, Leroy Hudson, but he’s also into jazz, rock, and of course hip-hop artists like Jay Electronica and Drake.

These guys have definitely paid their dues, traveling from state to state doing what they do. Their tour history is impressive and speaks to the caliber of music they produce. In 2008 they did the Warped Tour, Kool Keith’s summer tour in ’06, performed at the Monolith Festival last summer and recently opened for Public Enemy just to name a few. “There are only two of us but it sounds like there is 10 people up there,” A-What said. It’s true. Their passion explodes from them during a show, which is one aspect that makes them so appealing.

The Pirate Signal is not your typical hip-hop group, and Abraham agrees. “Of course not, maybe in the year 2085 something like us will be the standard rap group.” The future of rap is a good way to describe these artists and they aren’t holding back on their new album, No Weak Heart Shall Prosper, dropping May 1. Expect the same intensity, but they are keeping it fresh with funky and danceable beats as well as conscious lyrics and amazing cuts. It’s an album they anticipated making two or three years from now, but they felt it needed to be out sooner.

In the next few months the Pirate Signal will be doing plenty of shows. Feb. 19 and 20 they have two shows in Denver at the Hi-dive and City Hall, then May 1 their album release party at the Marquis. So be sure to go experience one of their live shows and surely you will understand why they we’re the winners of Westword’s best local hip-hop group three years in a row. Essentially, Abraham and DJ A-What possess the drive and talent that it takes to be the best.