Gang Starr

Nosaprise Opens His Book of the Dead Vol. 1

You have to hand it to Nosaprise, although you can't help but worry a little too. This month The Houston rapper/musician's grownup job as an arts teacher presented an opportunity for him to attend a lecture in Nigeria -- travel expenses paid -- and he stuck around to visit family and perform a littl ... 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 >>

Scruncha Roo Picks The Worst Rap Album/Song Names

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. Not ... 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 >>

Playbill: What's In The DNA Of Titan Blood?

​I get a lot of local music across my desk, mostly defanged and bloodless. Things that I feel an obligation to enjoy, an act which is starting to take it's toll on a soul. I'm too nice to say something sucks because something-something social contract. Cool story, bro. Like James Hetfield sang ... More >>

Saturday Night: House Of Pain At Warehouse Live

​House of Pain, Big B Warehouse Live March 26, 2011 See more jumping around from Warehouse Live Saturday in our slideshow. Walking up to Warehouse live Saturday night, Aftermath wasn't sure what to expect of House of Pain's Houston reunion stop. We heard through the grapevine, "it had been ... More >>

Everlasting House

House of Pain reignites Celtic pride that once had nation jumping around.

2011 South By Southwest Supplement

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

Homecoming

Gang Starr's DJ Premier still mourns partner Guru.

Drink With Mike Stinson, Help Terrible Eagle, Learn How Weed Won The West, Buy Summerfest Tix At Urban Outfitters

MCM's boss came across the above video of Mike Stinson's "I've Got No One to Drink With Anymore," from the local honky-tonk transplant's brand-new (and excellent) album The Jukebox In Your Heart, while he was waiting for her to turn in this article. As a staunch proponent of Coors Light, he strongl ... More >>

Kashmere Reunion Stage Band

The Return of the Kashmere Stage band

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

What's Going On?

Murs

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

I Want My Old-School Hip-hop

How come there's no Pharcyde or De La Soul on the dial?

Shelf Life

Long after Britney Oops her way to obscurity, these releases will continue to sing

No Pimps Allowed

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

Into the Groovy

Raving about Simon Reynolds's techno-historical treatment, Generation Ecstasy

Rotation