Devin the Dude

Raw Power

Iggy & the Stooges headline the fifth Free Press Summer Fest.

Introducing the Rappers of Kickback Sunday's New Cypher Video

We've written about Kickback Sundays before, an event hosted by clothing/apparel store SF2 that champions the Houston underground rap scene. The weekly (but seasonal) competition for upstart rappers offers an assortment of prizes, ranging from free CD pressings and beats from a few of the city's pre ... More >>

Devin The Dude Is Here To Satisfy You... And That's It

Hello. It's Friday. And Devin the Dude is alive. So let's celebrate. This is "You'll Be Satisfied," the first single from his upcoming EP, Seriously Trippin. It just came out. There are no tricks here and there are no gimmicks here. It is simply a traditionally Devin track, which is just about the ... More >>

Where to See Some Live Music on Thanksgiving (and the Wednesday before)

We all need a place to mellow out after a day of dealing with family. Don't get us wrong, we love our families. It's just that, getting together with the extended crew can take a toll and relaxing with some live, local music helps take the edge off. Holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving fit neatl ... More >>

Remember Marcus Manchild's Preseason 2?

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. ​There are probably more than a few people who might argue that Marcus Manchild is the best rap ... More >>

Recasting The Geto Boys From Houston's Under-25 Ranks

​So here's how this happened: Thursday night, while prepping the next installment Houston Press Underground Rap Awards, which we were planning on featuring in this space at this exact moment, a side note for an award spiderwebbed into a way-too-long e-conversation with several people that wa ... More >>

Remember SYDTHEMAN's Singin' Rappin' & Cussin'?

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. ​SYDTHEMAN Singin' Rappin' & Cussin' (2011, Self-released) Reigning Artist of the Week SYDTHE ... More >>

Remember Lil O's Grind Hard, Pray Harder?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Lil O Grind Hard, Pray Harder (Bar None Ent, 2011) A decade ago, the ageless Lil O released D ... More >>

Ask A Teenage Rap Promoter: How Did That Happen?

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 >>

Fat Tony's 10 Favorite Food Songs

Marco TorresTony does some pre-awards shopping.​Earlier this afternoon, online of course, the Houston Press revealed the winners of our very first ever Houston Web Awards. The awards will be handed out in the flesh tomorrow night at Momentum Audi on Richmond, because it's still very hard to em ... More >>

Fat Tony's 10 Favorite Food Songs

Marco TorresTony does some pre-awards shopping.​You can work up quite an appetite pointing, clicking and surfing all day long. Earlier this afternoon, online of course, the Houston Press revealed the winners of our very first ever Houston Web Awards. The awards will be handed out in the flesh ... More >>

Upcoming: The Blow, Incubus, Kyuss Lives, Opeth, Etc.

​The Blow: Fri., July 8. Fitzgerald's. Bury Your Dead, Evergreen Terrace: Sun., July 10. Warehouse Live. CJ Ramone: Sun., July 17. Warehouse Live. The Dear Hunter, Wild Orchid Children: Mon., Aug. 22. Warehouse Live. Dwight Yoakam: Fri., July 8. Arena Theatre. Filter, Saliva: Wed., Aug. ... More >>

League Of Extraordinary G'z Pack Power Of The Closed Fist

Each Wednesday or thereabouts, 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. League of ... More >>

Upcoming: Glassjaw, Mike Watt, Too Short, Etc.

​D.R.I, Death Angel, Lazarus A.D., Early Man: Sun., Feb. 13. Numbers. Electric Touch, The Manichean, Jody Seabody & The Whirls: Fri., Jan. 7. Fitzgerald's. Glassjaw: Sun., Feb. 20. Warehouse Live. Joe Pug: Fri., April 1. McGonigel's Mucky Duck. Jon Black, ilL Liad, Kyle Hubbard, Jody Seab ... More >>

No Shame

Dr. Dog shrugs off faint praise.

Like Hell Yeah

Upsets and upstarts at the 2010 Houston Press Music Awards

Vanilla Ice And 11 Other Artists Dallas Can Keep

​Tomorrow night at 2016 Mainstage, Houston gets to relive its (our?) dark white-rap past when Dallas native Vanilla Ice hits the stage at the venue formerly known Sammy's On Main. Yes, that Vanilla Ice, from our haughty neighbors to the north who can do no wrong in the eyes of Texas Monthly. ... More >>

Casting Scarface With Houston Rappers

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 >>

Upcoming: D.R.I., Neon Indian, LCD Soundsystem, Texas Tornados, Etc.

​The American Heist, Hell City Kings, Blackmarket Syndicate, All At Sea: Sat., Sept. 4. Walter's on Washington. Atlanta Rhythm Section: Sun., Nov. 14. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Best Coast: Sat., Nov. 6. Fitzgerald's. Blitzen Trapper: Tue., Oct. 12. House of Blues. Bring Me The Horizon, Au ... More >>

Why Would Anyone Ever Set Out To Be A Rapper?

Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday (that isn't a national holiday) Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Fat Tony, Yung Redd, Thurogood Wordsmith and K ... More >>

Five Rap-A-Lot Albums Worth Reissuing

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. We'll incorporate the number five in there somewhere. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​You have to love Rap-A-Lot records. News leaked ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Drake, Devin The Dude, Hickoids, Record Store Day, Molly Hatchet, Mono, Weatherbox, Etc.

​Celtic Thunder: Sat., Nov. 13. Verizon Wireless Theater. Dash Rip Rock, The Hickoids: Fri., May 21. Continental Club. Devin The Dude, The Coughee Brothaz: Tue., April 20. Warehouse Live. Drake: Thu., May 20. Verizon Wireless Theater. Fates Warning, Futures End, Six Minute Century: Fri., July 9. ... More >>

Y'all Musta Forgot: Odd Squad's Fadanuff Fa Erybody

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Odd Squad, Fadanuff Fa Erybody (1994, Rap-A-Lot/Priority) ​The Odd Squad is what The Coughee Bros., n ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 1: The Geto Boys' We Can't Be Stopped

Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. We're counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday - or we were. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email it to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Note: With all due respect to Prince Johnny C, Raheem, K-9, ... More >>

Five Spot: We Beat Down a Burglar, and New Music From Paul, Jay'Ton, Devin, Bun, Pimp and Coota

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​I caught somebody trying to break into my house Wednesday. And I pu ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 6: Scarface's Mr. Scarface Is Back

Roughly 84,000 rap albums 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. Scarface Mr. Scarface Is Back (Virgin, 1995) ​There's this phenomenon ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Killa Kyleon, Destiny's Child, New Boyz, Lil' Flip, Devin, Trae, Cham, Freddy Gibbs, Weezy, Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Rihanna, etc.

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: "H-Town State of Mind," Killa Kyleon Killa is so, so, so good at flipping at other people's songs. Wire ... More >>

Artist of the Week: Sigur Ros-Sampling White Rappers Guerilla Foco Clan

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. ​ At a recent Devin the ... More >>

Free Press Staffer's Death Darkens Westheimer Block Party

www.freepresshouston.com ​The first bit of news to report from this weekend's Westheimer Block Party is not a happy one at all. Late Saturday night, Free Press Houston staffer Lee Powers, 19, fell to his death from the Hazard St. bridge over U.S. 59. Powers, who also worked as a cook at Mang ... More >>

A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas: Houston and "Brazoria"

The final installment of our Five States of Texas project brings it all back home, to the new state of Brazoria, encompassing all of Southeast Texas from the Brazos Valley to Sabine Pass. ​Patron Saint: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. A master of rock and roll, country, Cajun/Creole, blues and jazz, n ... More >>

Aftermath: Even More Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park

Photos (except where specified) by Adam P. NewtonHipster... or hippie?​ Let's get the obligatory Summer Fest comments, critiques and criticisms out of the way first: yes, it was hot; yes, unfortunately, there was limited water available; and yes, there was a glaring lack of box-office infrastructu ... More >>

Fresh Fruit

Mango's attempts to resurrect Westheimer's bohemian past.

Artist of the Week: JUZCOZ

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. We listen to a lot of ... More >>

Moments the Grammy Awards Would Rather Forget

Soy Bombed

Houston, Texas, America, Meet Huntzville...and Watch the Eff Out

Hard to believe it's been 20 years since gangsta rap went overground with N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton. Through Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg to Tupac and Eminem, it launched most of hip-hop's biggest stars for a good decade, but these days even artists like T.I. and Lil Wayne have sacrificed serious st ... More >>

Rap-A-Lot's J Prince Wins SEA Image Award

Laptop Battles

Blogging: Hip-hop's new element?

Fuck-off Friday: It’s Too Hot to Work Anyway

Last Night: Nightfly Goes to the Music Awards

Bored with Apathy

Houston's old-school punks reunite to aid a stricken legend

That Was the Year That Was

Looking back on the local scene in '06

Mr. Renfrow Risin'

A fresh coffeehouse and some familiar radio voices shine new light on the Houston scene

All-Star Jam

A Pack of Mutts

The lone wolves of 2005

Best Beats from the Bayou

H-town's top ten rap jams

Crüe Cuts

On the phone with the Mötley bunch

Z-Ro

Let the Truth Be Told

Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey! Bands, Bands, Bands!

A South By Southwest diary

Let's Go Down-town!

Now, live music is waiting for you

Rogue Bosoms, Bouncing Booties and Pac-Man Raps

Looking back on the '04