Email Author Ben Westhoff

Awards

• 2007 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards

  "Ace of Spaides"

• 2006 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards, published September 14, 2005

  "Rap vs. Rapture"

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2009 Stories by Ben Westhoff

• Regina Spektor

  published November 5, 2009

  Regina Spektor combines a whimsical, Björk-like sensibility with singing chops and genuine compassion, and she's usually able to effectively... More >>

• Comrade Ambassadors

  published November 5, 2009

  Vladivostok, a city of a half-million people in far eastern Russia on the Sea of Japan, is an isolated place for a kid to grow up. A ten-hour... More >>

• Fix Your Face

  published September 24, 2009

  Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has had plenty of side gigs over the years. Box Car Racer and +44 also featured other Blink members, while the duo... More >>

• How High

  published August 6, 2009

  Known for their sharp and hilarious turns on albums like 1999 collaboration Blackout!, Method Man and Redman have also appeared in... More >>

• Asher Roth

  published July 30, 2009

  Being a privileged white guy from the Philly suburbs doesn't disqualify Asher Roth from legitimate hip-hop MC status — not being able to... More >>

• Rick Ross: Deeper Than Rap

  published June 25, 2009

  Rick Ross is the Gorman Thomas of rappers. Forever swinging for the fences, he blasts a home run once in a while but strikes out much more... More >>

• Eminem: Relapse

  published June 18, 2009

  Having fought a prescription-pill addiction and mourned his murdered friend Proof, Eminem has chosen new album Relapse as his therapy.... More >>

• Keri Hilson

  published June 11, 2009

  As a member of songwriting fraternity The Clutch, Atlanta's Keri Hilson has been writing hit songs for artists like Britney Spears and Ciara... More >>

• Paul Wall: Fast Life

  published May 21, 2009

  Did high gas prices kill off Paul Wall? Not really — that's just a coincidence. Rather, the H-Town artist known for his candy cars and... More >>

• Ciara: Fantasy Ride

  published May 21, 2009

  On the strength of Jazze Pha and Lil Jon productions like "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step," Atlanta singer Ciara rose to fame in 2004 as... More >>

• Going Viral

  published May 14, 2009

  A virus is currently spreading among today's young people. Like swine flu, it has made life extremely unpleasant for many, but unlike the H1N1... More >>

• Crash Into Me: Predicting the Economy's Impact on the Music Biz

  published April 16, 2009

  Richard Florida's March cover story in The Atlantic Monthly, "How the Crash Will Reshape America," offers bold predictions on how the... More >>

• Jim Jones: Pray IV Reign

  published April 9, 2009

  While many established rappers are being downsized from major label deals to "independent" contracts, Harlem MC Jim Jones is climbing the food... More >>

• T-Pain, Thr33 Ringz

  published January 22, 2009

  How has T-Pain done it? He's not attractive, his fashion sense leaves much to be desired (at least for those lacking Dr. Seuss/LSD fetishes)... More >>

• Common: Universal Mind Control

  published January 8, 2009

  Despite his status as a happy, respected old-timer, Common has to rap about something, and his eighth album, Universal Mind... More >>

• Akon: Freedom

  published January 1, 2009

  The Smoking Gun Web site exposed Akon earlier this year, unearthing police documents showing he's greatly exaggerated his arrest record and... More >>