Juvenile (Rapper)

The 5 Worst Musical Careers By Professional Boxers

Rocks Off is waiting for the day that our 52-year-old mother sits us down for a serious talk and says that she's ready to pursue her dream of becoming a rapper. She'll say, "Mi hijo, you know Lil Casper's mom, Brenda, on 4th Street? Her boyfriend set up a home studio for her. She's spitting that ... More >>

Last Night: Red Bull Skooled Tour at Warehouse Live

Check out our slideshow of last night's Red Bull Skooled Tour launch. "Excuse me while I get the turntables straight. Til then, let me help you get some pussy. This the "help you get some pussy hour"!" Before spinning a single record on the turntables, New Orleans' most noted producer/part-time em ... More >>

Baller Blockin: 7 Independent Hood Rap Movies

We have the post-holiday blues today. Part of it is because we ate too much bread pudding and drank four bottles of Andre champagne. The other part is because, for yet another Christmas, we didn't get Baller Blockin in our stocking. By now we thought we'd be curled up in bed, watching hood DVD's wit ... More >>

The City of Z

Zanzibar blends hip-hop with occasional poetry for a proper Wednesday evening.

Artist of the Week: The Curious, Courageous Second Lovers

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 sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Few bands in the history ... More >>

Ask A Rapper: J. Cole vs. Big Sean, the Worst Song of 2011, More

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 introducingliston@gmail.com ... More >>

The Great Grinding Debate: Which Song Is Freakiest?

Bun B: "I wouldn't know. At all."

Swagometer: Brawling Strippers & Fat Tony's Filthy New Band Name

Despite what you may have heard, swag isn't dead yet; at least not in Houston. Have any swagged-out projects or general ideas? E-mail alliswagoner@gmail.com. Ryan GrimesBest. Photo. Ever.​Aside from working every day at Girls Rock Camp Houston, this week provided Rocks Off with its usually co ... More >>

More Local Music News Than Half-Price Deals At Cactus

Another week, another teeming cup runneth over, full of local music news. Here's our latest installment of Magnolia City Mixtape. ​This week's soundtrack comes from Roosh Williams, whose Common Struggles of a Modern Man album just dropped. Roosh also has a video for the track "No Hard Feeling ... More >>

Making It Rain

Author suffers strip clubs, skeptics for book on Southern rap.

The Southern Way: UGK 's Top 12 Disciples

​On April 26, 1988, 23 years ago today, UGK kicked off a long and influential career with the release of their cassette-only debut, The Southern Way. It's impossible to overstate the duo's Texas-sized influence on Southern rap. The slow-rolling, tough-talking grooves showcased on seminal albu ... More >>

Top 10 Louisiana Bands Of All Time

​Pardon the geographical pun, but besides Texas, our neighbor to the east may be the most musical state in these United States. And in terms of per capita, Louisiana, which ranks 25th in population to Texas' second, is probably second to none. Outside Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, the program m ... More >>

Last Night: Trace Adkins At RodeoHouston

Photos courtesy of Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo​Trace Adkins Reliant Stadium March 2, 2011 Aftermath admits that before Wednesday night, we were by no means experts on the bellowing country crooner known as Trace Adkins. After the show was over, however, we felt like buying every album he's ... More >>

Rap-A-Lot's Prince Wants To Reunite Cash Money Family

​If you thought Rap-a-Lot had a solid outing last year with Pimp C's posthumous debut and Bun B's perfect Source score for Trill OG, wait till you see what J. Prince has lined up for 2011. The Houston label's Commander-in-Chief spoke to TheSource.com about his plans for the year. You can exp ... More >>

Rocca Fellers

Former pool hall is Houston's newest hip-hop spot.

The Top Five Hurricane Katrina-Related Rap Songs

​New Orleans is home to many rappers, including Lil Wayne and Juvenile. So, when Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast five years ago this weekend, it only felt natural for hip-hop to step up and capture the debacle on wax. It's been five years since the disaster and this Katrina-inspired playlist ... More >>

The Curious Case of the People's Champ

Paul Wall is neither a cartoon nor an asshole.

Y'all Musta Forgot: Lil' Flip's The Leprechaun (And That Awful Cover)

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' Flip The Leprechaun (Sucka Free Records, 2000) ​Ah, Flipperace. Most people don't remember this ... More >>

Five Spot: Five Obscure UGK Features, With Downloadable Links

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. ​Yo, maybe you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's some concerts an ... 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 >>

Ultimate Victory

Fences with Paul Wall mended, upcoming tour planned, Chamillionaire is comfortable being the rapper next door.

Don't Call it a Comeback. Call It a Cultural Moon Rising.

​ During the Washington, D.C. sniper hunt of 2002, you didn't want to be the person who owned a white van in that metropolitan area. That's because the alleged sniper, who randomly killed ten people and critically injured three, was supposedly driving one. Everyone was looking for that vehicle des ... More >>

Five Spot: The Hot Boyz Are Reuniting, Watch Your Knees

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Note: A regular reader passed along a story that interested us greatly, so fo ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Chalie Boy, Royce da 5'9", Saigon, Soulja Boy, Jay-Z, Adam Yauch, 50 vs. Fabolous, Young Gunz, Method Man, Big Moe, 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: "I Look Good" remix, featuring Bun B, Slim Thug and Juvenile Note: We initally hated Chalie Boy's "I Lo ... More >>

Five Spot: The Proper Way to Phrase a Cop-Killing Song

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. How much does this suck: Antavio Johnson, some no-name rapper from a place t ... More >>

2008 in Texas Albums and Local EPs

Bun B's II Trill

Bun B’s II Trill: An Underground King, alone on the throne

Grand Theft Auto X: The Screwston Chronicles

Devin the Dude

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

Juvenile

Reality Check

All-Star Jam

Z-Ro

Let the Truth Be Told

The Youngest Ballerette

Ten-year-old Sucka Free signee Kayla talks about what it means to be young, gifted and brown

Hot 'n' Heavenly

Have a hell of a time at Club Envy's Halloween Ball

Playbill

Modern Art 101

Keep it real at the MoMA exhibit

Big Tymers and Lil' Wayne

Friday, December 13

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Ruff Ryders boast about boozing; Cash Money brags about billfold size. At least the rap's good.

Local Music News

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fashion

Rap Space

Will hip-hop ever find a home in Houston?

New Old 97's

Graduation Day