DJ Premier

Five Great Violent Hip-Hop Songs (for Lupe Fiasco)

Lupe Fiasco used to be a talented, socially conscious rapper known for putting out really good hip-hop albums. Since he hasn't done one of those in a while, he's more well known these days for criticizing President Obama and espousing conspiracy theories about 9/11. Recently he was back in the news ... More >>

Saturday Night: Rakim at Fitzgerald's

Rakim Fitzgerald's February 16, 2013 In the beginning, The God MC, legally known as William Michael Griffin, Jr., best known as Rakim, became one-half of one of hip-hop's very first groups, Eric B. and Rakim. The pair recorded a series of classic albums (Paid in Full, Follow the Leader) that have ... More >>

New Music From Scarface, Nas, Trae, Kirko Bangz, Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Z-Ro... In 2 Songs

Let's not dance around this too much. Two songs came out Thursday that you need to hear. The first inexplicably comes via DJ Khaled, rap DJ/producer/screamer/barterer. His new album(!?) comes out this August, which respectable Houstonians will be strong-armed into purchasing because it includes gu ... More >>

New Doc The Art Of Rap Spills Hip-Hop's Secrets

Rap wasn't always like Lil Jon's yelling his famous "What!?" and "Okay!", or repeating your name over and over throughout the song like Houston's own Lil Flip. Nowadays most see rap as lyrics telling a woman how to position herself or look for a man, rhymes about money and talk of toking up. But th ... More >>

The Space City Beat Battle & The Best H-Town Producers Ever

Despite a venue conflict, the championship edition of the Space City Beat Battle will go on Saturday evening at the Mercury Room. If you've never been to one it's almost like watching a ritualistic rite of passage where cocksure arrogance and chest pounding reign supreme. Sample based producers who ... More >>

The Six Best Movie Samples In Rap Songs

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 sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

Who Are The Greatest Rap Duos of All Time?

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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com.  ... More >>

2011 South By Southwest Supplement

Buxton takes its bump to the roots-rock big leagues in stride.

10 Things You May Not Know About Notorious B.I.G.

​A lot has been said about the late great Notorious B.I.G., a man whose life was as large as his frame and whose lyrical prowess is well-documented in hip-hop history books. But how well do you know Big Poppa? In commemoration of the 14th anniversary of Biggie's death, here are some interestin ... More >>

Rel The Chosen Throws A Beautiful Release Party

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Thomas/Primary Focus Photography​One year ago, a cat named Diamond Dave got at Rocks Off about a fresh new voice in Houston's hip-hop underground, and it was because of that interaction that we wrote a Behind The Lyrics piece on an Alief rapper named Harkore. We' ... More >>

Rel The Chosen Flows With Soul On Beautiful Music

​If Houston's Rel The Chosen was trying to make an impression, the single CD he handed us in a plain white cover at DJ Premier's show a few months ago at Numbers wasn't doing the job. The music on the CD, however, made a spectacular impression and certainly made up for any lack of marketing ... More >>

The Stories Behind Five H-Town Rap Anthems

​You know the song as soon as the beat drops. You rap them better than the artists themselves do at concerts. You'll slap your little brother for butchering the lyrics. But do you know the real life stories behind these five H-town rap anthems? Pull up a chair, grab a bag of popcorn, and a co ... More >>

DJ Premier: A Pillar Of Hip-Hop History

​Maybe it's leaving behind our twenties and embracing our thirties, but we've been so concerned with the past lately... history, that is. We've been talking to our grandmother in the last few months about her life as a young child growing up on the Texas border. You truly don't know someone b ... More >>

What Are The Two Best Rap Songs Of The Year?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Bun B, Chuckway, Preemo, Fat Tony, LeS, Killa Kyleon, Scooby, hasHBrown, Propai ... More >>

Is Bun B's Trill OG Really Worth The Source's Highest Rating?

Ed. Note: Unlike The Source, Houston Press style abbreviates "microphone" as "mike." ​Bun B's Trill OG has become the first hip-hop album to earn 5 mikes in The Source since 2005. In case you haven't picked up a copy of the magazine since the Clinton administration, here's a breakdown of its ... More >>

Justin Bieber Chopped & Screwed

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. H.I.S.D. "Lando" Music Video (PeaceUvMine.com) from PeaceUvMine on Vimeo. Single of the Week: "Lando," HISD Wire to Wire Sc ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 8: Devin the Dude's Just Tryin' Ta Live

Roughly 84,000 rap albums that have been released in Houston since 1989. We're counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email it to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Devin the Dude Just Tryin' Ta Live (Rap-a-Lot/Asylum, 2002) ​In t ... More >>

The Return of the Kashmere Stage band

Beat Kings

Beat Kings: The History of Hip Hop

The Edge of the Spotlight

Trouble for "Texas Troubadour" Chris Knudson

Lyin' Scion

How deep is this Toyota subsidiary's love of hip-hop?

Various Artists

The Kings of Hip Hop, Compiled and Mixed by DJ Premier and Mr. Thing

Murs

Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition (Def Jux)

Cee-Lo

Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine (Arista)

No Pimps Allowed

Common and Black Eyed Peas dare to raise the artistic standards of hip-hop

Rotation

Heeeeere's Branford!

The Tonight show behind him, Branford Marsalis moves to "de-ghettoize" music

Rotation