Ice Cube (Rapper)

Top 10 Rap-Related Items On Etsy

Rap music is forever turning out to be a fun influence on things we'd least expect. When your grandmother starts using terms like "turn up," you realize that there is no getting away from it. Even the creative and artsy folk over at Etsy.com combine their passion for crafts with their admiration of ... More >>

For Once, the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Got It Right

Despite being sick and hacking up more different colors of phlegm than there are Power Rangers, I needed to certify that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wasn't completely mad for its incoming inductees. Rewind: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Set To Induct Rush, Heart, Donna Summer, and Public Enemy Y ... More >>

[PHOTO] Houston Texans Fan Paints House After Every Game

There are fans and then there are FANS. I happened to spot this house driving over on Houston's near northeast side last week -- before the Texans beat the Titans, obviously -- and had to grab a picture. Some people paint their faces, but this family paints its freaking house! Note the one blue X d ... More >>

Reader's Poll: The Best 40 Albums of 1992

As we close out our 1992 week here on Rocks Off -- part nostalgia trip, part making you all feel old -- we look at the best albums of that year. The rock-music world was still on a Nirvana high, and the fruits of Cali hip-hop were ripening, with widely praised and consumed albums from Dr. Dre and Ic ... More >>

Career Editing: 6 Songwriters Turned Screenwriters

Last week singer-songwriter and dubious indie sensation Lana Del Rey told Australian Vogue that film work is her "happy place" and that she plans to make the transition into writing for film and "stay there." Whether this means she will stop making music or not is anyone's guess and whether that's a ... More >>

Ask a Rapper: Bigg Fatts & Rap's 7 Best Food-Related Moments

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? E-mail sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

Musically Speaking, What Is the Best Zodiac Sign?

Sometimes some musicians just can't even be put in the same sentence as one another. Depending on people's musical preferences. It's hard to compare and can be a bit confrontational. But one thing is for sure the day on which someone is born can't be changed. And then that's where astrology comes in ... More >>

Rap Round Table: Wu-Tang vs. N.W.A. vs. A Tribe Called Quest

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Mic Skills, E.S.G., Chingo Bling, D-Risha, Kiotti, Mac, Yung Redd, Damien Randle, Yung Truth, Fat Tony Not Invited: Whoever gav ... More >>

Ask A Rapper: Tha Centop's Top 6 Sports-Related 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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? E-mail sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

The Great Escape: 8 Ways to Ditch Your Family This Thanksgiving

The holiday of plenty is finally here. The house smells of cranberries and fried delights. Your home is a bustle of relatives, cousins, aunts... neighbors? All of a sudden a severe panic envelops your body: it's only 8 a.m. You have an entire day to spend with these people - and they just keep comin ... More >>

10 Rappers As Movie Villains

​Cunning criminals, violent geniuses, charismatic characters. Villains give us chills and keep us on the edge of our seats. With more rappers now dabbling in acting, we decided to cast some of your favorite hip-hoppers as movie villains. Here are ten rappers and their evil alter-egos.

St. Ides & Hip-Hop: Would Today's Rappers Endorse Malt Liquor?

​The early '90s was a time when some of the best hip-hop music ever was being made, and the beverage of choice was malt liquor. Before rappers glorified Cristal, Ciroc and even their own branded alcohol, there were many hip-hop-inspired malt liquor ads. St. Ides in particular enlisted several ... More >>

Top 10 Texas Movie Soundtracks

​This weekend, as the rest of the world catches Harry Potter mania for (perhaps) the final time, Houston gets a serious dose of Urban Cowboy nostalgia. Theater Under the Stars' production of the Tony-nominated 2003 musical - which The New York Times called "a conclusive demonstration that it's ... More >>

Forrest Gump & Other "Generation-Defining" Soundtracks

​The Forrest Gump soundtrack debuted on June 28, 1994, a week ahead of the film itself, which would go on to smash box-office records, win numerous awards and become one of the most beloved movies of the past 20 years. It is still endlessly quotable, emotional, and entertaining, and the soundt ... More >>

Zoo Station: A Noah's Ark Of 75 Animal Songs

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee ... More >>

10 Great Instances Of Rappers Honoring Other Rappers

​People often forget that hip-hoppers are humans, too. They breathe, sleep, eat, and salivate at the sight of buttermilk donuts just like us. And, every now and then, they'll geek over other rappers, just like us. It would have been so much easier to compile a list of rappers dissing other ra ... More >>

April 29, 1992: Ten Songs About The L.A Riots

​It was 19 years ago today that the Los Angeles riots began after four white police officers, caught on videotape beating the African-American Rodney King after a drug-fueled high-speed chase, were acquitted by a Simi Valley, Calif. jury. The rest of the world watched in shock and sadness as ... More >>

Out Today: Steve Earle Is Alive, Bootsy's Aged Funk, And The Late Poly Styrene's Last Disc

​Yep, it's the third week now that we have been listening to the new Foo Fighters album, Wasting Light. We even acquired it on vinyl this weekend, so we are doubly screwed. Now we just need it on cassette tape and one of those toothbrushes that play music in your skull like you are schizophren ... More >>

Past Blasted: Alcopop And The Geto Boys' St. Ides Ad

The usual moral outrage is greeting the recent unveiling of Blast, Colt 45's entry into the "alcopop" market heretofore dominated by Four Loko. At a mere 12 percent alcohol by volume, the fruit-infused brews are twice as strong as Colt 45, which already kicks like a mule. As Eric Idle would enth ... More >>

Colt 45's Blast and The Geto Boys' St. Ides Ad

Cue the moral outrage. Colt 45 is entering the "alcopop" market with its answer to Four Loko, Blast. At a mere 12 percent alcohol by volume, the fruit-infused brews are twice as strong as Colt 45, which already kicks like a mule. As Eric Idle would enthuse in another context, "eight bottles of t ... More >>

Last Night: Ice Cube At House Of Blues

"Look at me; I'm just doing my motherfuckin' thang!" Photos by Marco Torres​Ice Cube House of Blues March 2, 2011 We all know the drill: You attend a rap show, buy a few drinks, say hello to your cousin/co-worker/pastor who also bought tickets, and then proceed to sit through a slew of openi ... More >>

Ice Cube

It's Time To Let Go Of The '90s

​No one knows when the pandemic first struck. But at some point, every hip-hop head caught the Nineties Adoration Syndrome (N.A.S.). N.A.S. is characterized by intense feelings of nostalgia, hostility toward modern music, and an affinity for chest-high acid-washed jeans. In severe cases, N.A. ... More >>

Nasty Nique EP Has The Heart Of A Champion

​This year, the New Houston Collective has really become a force. In no particular order, their attendance sheet: Fat Tony, Propain, B L A C K I E, Hollywood FLOSS, Preemo, Eskabel, Hubbard, Nosaprise, hasHBrown, Thuro, H-Kane, Delo, Les, Roderick, The Niceguys, John Dew, Montana, Virgo, Dirty ... More >>

Top Eight Worst Musician Vanity Film Projects

​Rocks Off won't speak for everyone, but if we ever found ourselves a platinum-selling artist, we kinda doubt we'd press our luck by veering off into the world of acting. We mean, it hardly ever works from the opposite direction (right, Don Johnson?), so what good can possibly come from assumi ... More >>

Ghetto Fabulous

Bow Wow strikes it rich in Lottery Ticket.

Does Being An Actor Compromise Your Rap Career?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Paul Wall, Damien Randle, Sam Sneed Not Invited: Freekey Zeekey, for getting Dipset back together ... More >>

5 Rappers Who Dissed The Radio, Sucka!

​ "Radio - suckers never play me" - Public Enemy, "Rebel Without a Pause" Eazy-E once walked up to legendary disc jockey Greg Mack and asked him what he could do to make his music radio-ready. Mack's reply? "Well, you could start by cleaning up the lyrics." Ever the savvy businessman, Eazy returne ... More >>

Slim Thug, Texas Takeover, Bun B, Mack 10 Vs. Ice Cube, Rappers on Twitter, Erykah Badu, Z-Ro, Freck Billionaire, 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: "Callin' My Phone," Slim Thug feat. Slim Wire to Wire Texas Takeover is doing an NCAA-style bracket ... More >>

Turning The Screw: Big Pokey, Bun, Trae, Jeezy, Z-Ro, Ice Cube, Waka Flocka, Dame Grease, Jay-Z & Jack White, Lil Flip, 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. "Hey, Remember That?" Single of the Week: "Who Dat Mad," Big Pokey, Big Steve and Big E Wire to Wire Bun B interviewed with ... More >>

Turning The Screw: Guerilla Foco Clan, Z-Ro, Devin, Lots Of Bun, Kid Cudi, Juvenile 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: "Reflection," Guerilla Foco Clan Wire to Wire Of course, the universe spun out of control this week. De ... More >>

Five Songs For That Glorious Last Day Of School

As Alice Cooper once sang, "School's out for summer." And we've heard that song played again and again and again on the radio on the last day of school ad infinitum every year since. And I'm sure we'll here it today, somehow, someway, somewhere...And just as you can't really avoid putting "Rock Yo ... More >>

Five Songs For That Glorious Last Day Of School

As Alice Cooper once sang, "School's out for summer." And we've heard that song played again and again and again on the radio on the last day of school ad infinitum every year since. And I'm sure we'll here it today, somehow, someway, somewhere. And just as you can't really avoid putting "Rock You ... More >>

The Best Videos of 2008, Part 2

5. Killer Mike feat. Ice Cube, "Pressure" 4. Weezer, "Pork and Beans" 3. Justice, "Stress" (above) 2. Hayes Carll, "She Left Me for Jesus" And the best video of 2008 is... 

Ice Cube: Raw Footage

Del The Funkee Homosapien: 11th Hour

First Sunday

Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan get religion

Devin the Dude

Devin the Dude performs Sunday, April 29, at Bar Rio, 6400 Richmond, 832-251-9600.

Chill with Ice

Cut and Paste

Beauty Shop is clipped straight from its predecessors

Steal These Albums

The ten most dangerous and radical hip-hop records of all time

I Want My Old-School Hip-hop

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

Westside Connection

Terrorist Threats (Capitol)

Gettin' Windy in the City

The Chicago clip crew gleefully gabs on in Barbershop 2

Good Folk

Caroline Herring shows her South side

Compton's (Back) N the House

Four discs trace the development of the original gangstas

After Schlock

If only Ice Cube's freaky Friday films could switch places with better movies

Kontroversy

Korn ignores critics of its heavy metal attitude

Mean Streets

Ice Cube's Player's Club takes African-American film to a new low point in sexism

Sssssssucks