Chingy

Lil' Flip

Kim Jong-il Dropping The Bass: In Memoriam

REEEERRRRR WUB WUB WUB WUB REEEEEEERRRRRRR WUBBBBBBBBBBBBB​Maybe all along, the Dear Leader's starvation and darkness deal with his oppressed people was just his way of keeping them slim and hot, for fun in the dark, because we all know only fun things happen in the dark right? Like that Lady ... More >>

Remember Kung Fu Banda's Rock and Rap?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Kung Fu Banda Rock and Rap (Self-made, 2011) This week's YMF is a special edition. Many of ... More >>

Tupac Shakur: Who Should Play Him In Upcoming Movie?

​Think you've got what it takes to portray the embodiment of rap music? Let's be honest: You probably don't, but you can still throw your bandana in the ring and audition online for the starring role in an upcoming Tupac biopic. There's no guarantee that the role will take your rap career any ... More >>

Dr. Seuss' Top Five Hip-Hop Disciples

​In honor of Dr. Seuss' 106th birthday last week (March 2), Rocks Off's present to you is the most Seussical rappers of all time, MCs who excel at the art of poetic rhyming and whimsical wordplay. Their rhymes constantly remind us that Dr. Seuss could have been a platinum rapper in this lifeti ... More >>

Rap's Top Ten Lyrical Blunders

​Most rap boasts revolve around three things: cash, chicks and anus - as it turns out, rappers love to brag about their ass a lot. But after years of bragging about the same three things, redundancy blurs the line between braggart and ridiculous. Even the best of the best MCs have succumbed to ... More >>

Ask a Rapper: New Houstonian EX-L Eazy on How HAM! His New Hometown Is

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to introducinglisto ... More >>

Paul Wall: Fast Life

Local Album of the Week: Paul Wall's Fast Life

Paul Wall Fast Life www.grillsbypaulwall.comDid 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 diamond grills has suffered from being too closely identified with a regional sound that is no longer fashionable. Just a ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Bun B, Trae & Lil Keke, Rihanna, Snoop, Eminem vs. Nick Cannon, Jay-Z, T.I., E-40, South Park Mexican and More

Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off's weekly rap post. It probably won't rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. Single of the Week: "Grey Cassette," Trae feat Bun B and Lil Keke Wire To Wire Ummm, we're not going to link to them, but s ... More >>

Artist of the Week: Benjamin

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to introducingliston@gmail.com. It didn't strike us u ... More >>

Five Spot: Axl Rose is Not Impressed by Dr Pepper's Fun and Games

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every week, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and list five reasons why it's either brilliant or dumb-assed. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com.   Back in March, Dr Pepper (easily one of our favorite doctors, right behind J., Scholls and Dre) set forth a ... More >>

All's fair in love and war for St. Louis rapper Black Spade

First Come, First Serve

Encore or Bust?

Stressing about the 'Stros begins anew

Feelings, Nothing But Feelings

The New York Times misses the point in its attack on "rockism"

Blizzard of Oz

Dubya, Ashlee and Bill O'Reilly have spun Racket's mind into the twilight zone; also, two local retro-cool institutions bite the dust

Local Rotation

Lil' Flip, U Gotta Feel Me (Sony Urban/Suckafree/Columbia)

Paul Wall, Chick Magnet (Paid in Full)

Family Feud

Hip-hop turns 25, and the battle lines are drawn

Bash-ing the Bigwigs

Come Super Bowl week, you can still party downtown, even if you're not very important

Hip-hop, Tejas

Latinos take on rap music and make it their own

Dirty South Mix Tape Tour

Sunday, August 24

Serious Cinema

Set in 1948, Kedma explores a present-day problem