Kendrick Lamar

Upcoming: Backstreet Boys, Imagine Dragons, Mindless Behavior, Stoney LaRue, etc.

Backstreet Boys: With DJ Pauly D., Sat., Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$89.50. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr., Spring, 281-363-3300. Carlos Vives: Fri., June 28, 8 p.m., $21-$139. Toyota Center, 1510 Polk, Houston, 713-758-7200. Casey Donahew Band: Fri., June 21, 10 p.m., $12. ... More >>

Depeche Mode, The Cure, Kings of Leon, Phoenix, Lionel Richie Head 2013 ACL Fest Lineup

Moments ago, Depeche Mode, The Cure, MUSE, Kings of Leon, Atoms For Peace (featuring Thom Yorke and Flea), Lionel Richie, Phoenix, Wilco, Vampire Weekend, The National, and Eric Church were announced as the headliners of the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival, which plans to expand to identical ... More >>

The Rocks Off 100: Mike Meegz, Scoremore's Houston Lieutenant

Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're in there too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Mike Migl, aka Mike Meegz, is Houston ... More >>

Upcoming: Barry Manilow, Titus Andronicus, Sheryl Crow, Jonas Brothers, Mudhoney, etc.

Angry Samoans: With Swingin' Dicks, Die Rottz., Fri., April 12, 10 p.m., $12. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, Houston. Bang Bangz: Sat., April 13, 1 p.m., Free. Cactus Music & Video, 2110 Portsmouth St., Houston. Barry Manilow: Sun., May 19, 8 p.m., $29.99-$139.99. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lak ... More >>

Kirko Bangz Hits Cover of XXL's "Freshman 10" Issue

Congratulations to Houston rapper Kirko Bangz for making the cover of XXL magazine's annual "Freshman 10" issue this month, only a couple of years after he first drew national attention with the single "Drank In My Cup," and several months after "Drank" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart. ... More >>

Houston's Recent Onslaught of Sold-Out Shows: What's Up With That?

Regular concertgoers in Houston have probably noticed more sold-out shows in the area over the past year. Just a few years ago, sellouts were generally reserved for the biggest marquee acts at Toyota Center, Bayou Music Center, and Reliant Stadium's RodeoHouston shows. These days, though, it seems ... More >>

The Best Hip-Hop at SXSW 2013

I remember going to SXSW a few years ago without a place to sleep, less than $100 to spend, no agenda, badge, wristband, or RSVP. I bar-hopped up and down Red River, made friends, snuck into Stubb's, ate cheese pizza and drank Lone Star. After years of busting my ass as a music photographer and wri ... More >>

The Rocks Off 100: DJ Candlestick, One Niceguy and a Very Busy DJ

Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're in there, too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? "My name is DJ Candlestick, but my f ... More >>

Top 10 Educated Guesses for Free Press Summer Fest

Tomorrow, we will know who will be playing the fifth annual Free Press Summer Fest June 1 and 2 in Eleanor Tinsley Park. We know this because Monday, our rivals over at the Houston Chronicle revealed that they will have an exclusive announcement of the FPSF lineup sometime Thursday, thanks to what w ... More >>

Rap Capitalism

ScoreMore is the successful byproduct of booking agents Sascha Stone Guttfreund and Claire Bogle trying to deliver the acts they wanted to see.

Four ScoreMore Tales That Didn't Make Our Cover Story

This week's Houston Press cover story is about ScoreMore, the Texas-based concert promotion company that has, in the estimation of many, become a vital part of the rap ecosystem in the Southern United States. For these types of long-form stories, a fair amount of research and reporting is involved ... More >>

Grading XXL's Past 5 "Freshman 10" Classes

Apparently there are still rappers who want to make the XXL Freshman 10 class this year. Take Riff Raff, for example. He wants it so badly that he has been following everyone on Twitter who votes for him in the contest. The magazine began running its annual list of noteworthy, "undiscovered" rappe ... More >>

Old Gold: The Explosion of Vintage Jewelry In Hip-Hop

In the past year, the hip-hop scene has traded in a great deal of its diamond-encrusted Jesus pieces and record-label logo necklaces for items with a bit more "vintage designer" style. From coast to coast, we are now seeing entertainers and tastemakers flash their vintage Chanel and antique Versace ... More >>

Will Long.Live.A$AP Be the Biggest Houston Rap Album of 2013?

There are a few things you should know about A$AP Rocky. He's a pretty motherfucker. His new album, Long.Live.A$AP, is at the top of the charts. And it might turn out to be the biggest Houston rap album of the year. Except that it's not really a Houston rap record at all, of course. A$AP Rocky is ... More >>

Saturday Night: Red Bull Thre3style Regional Qualifier at Fitzgerald's

Red Bull Thre3Style DJ Competition Regional Qualifier Fitzgerald's January 19th, 2013 The illustrious Fitzgerald's was once again the center of the city's rich music scene Saturday night, as it hosted the Red Bull Thre3Style Houston qualifier. Five of Houston's brightest and most talented DJ stars ... More >>

A Full Dance Card

The 2013 RodeoHouston lineup reflects Houston, not Texas.

The Rocks Off 100: Rapid Ric, Mixtape Mechanic

Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're in there too. Who? "Mixtape Mechanic" Rapid Ric, a studio owner and producer, has been DJing in Texa ... More >>

An Open Letter to Tall People at Concerts

Dear Ridiculously Tall People at Concerts, Enjoying the privilege of being tall must be such a joy. You get to do everything short people can't: Picking apples off the tops of trees; early predictions of oncoming storms; slapping high-fives with Jesus -- and perhaps the most self-indulgent of them ... More >>

5 Rap and R&B Artists We Want to See Here In 2013

Last year Houston saw a wide range of artists from the urban field, including Kendrick Lamar (three times), A$AP Rocky, Drake, Nicki Minaj and more. In another year where performances and live shows may wind up trumping actual music sales, there's a slew of artists who haven't made a visit to H-Town ... More >>

Inglorious Basterds

12 things we learned about Houston rap in 2012.

Saturday Night: Kendrick Lamar at Warehouse Live

Kendrick Lamar Warehouse Live December 29, 2012 Through maturation, adults come to accept that their survival is dependent on mundane workaday rituals of 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; punch in-punch out; all work-no play. Kids, however, and as it pertains to this story, teenagers, still indulge in the luxury of s ... More >>

Saturday Night: Kendrick Lamar at House of Blues

Kendrick Lamar, Jhené Aiko House of Blues December 29, 2012 There have been many monumental moments in House of Blues' rap history. There was Jay-Z's show in 2008 that christened the venue and kickstarted its now four-year run as one of Houston's eminent music halls, while Trae Tha Truth's Street ... More >>

So How Were Those Kendrick Lamar Shows Anyway?

Marco Torres texted Rocks Off shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday evening to say that a line was already forming around Warehouse Live for Kendrick Lamar, who was scheduled to perform at 10 p.m. The scene appears to have been the same at House of Blues, where he went on a couple of hours later. The 25-ye ... More >>

10 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: December 28-30

Hayes Carll's Burlesque Circus and Sideshow Freakout House of Blues, December 28 Singer-songwriter Hayes Carll's songs are populated by widescreen people of oddity and quirk, so it makes total sense for him to put his own special twist on the holidays. At Friday's House of Blues free-for-all, Carll ... More >>

ScoreMore Stoked For Saturday's Sold-Out Kendrick Lamar Shows

It's no great secret that the live-music scene around Houston can be a little, well, dead around the holidays. There are enough "thank God we're off tour" shows by local and regional acts to make it worth fans' while, but because the music business is generally among the first to shut down for the y ... More >>

Kendrick Lamar

Upcoming: The Residents, Every Time I Die, The English Beat, Sleepy LaBeef, Mondo Generator, Etc.

Allstar Weekend: With Cute Is What We Aim For, Tiffany Alvord, Beneath The Sun., Wed., Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m., $18.00-$68.00. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. Augustana: With Lauren Shera., Tue., Jan. 29, 8 p.m., $14/$17. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston. The Bandulus: With Los Gritos, El ... More >>

Kendrick Lamar Adds Second December 29 Houston Show, at House of Blues This Time

Few artists in 2012 can play two concerts in one night, and sell out the first one. Based on strong street cred and the critically adored album good kid, m.A.A.d city rapper Kendrick Lamar has done it in Houston. The artist has already sold out his December 29 Warehouse Live gig, and he has now ad ... More >>

Fun Fun Fun Fest Saturday In Review: Kreayshawn, Refused, Girl Talk & More

Saturday's FFFF was a dusty affair, with merch tables making money off bandannas and other face coverings hand over fist. Where did that phrase come from, by the way? What do hands and fists have to do with making money, aside from petty crime? SLIDESHOW: PiL, Refused, A$AP Rocky: Fun Fun Fun Fest ... More >>

So What Happened to That Kendrick Lamar Show Anyway?

If you had penciled Kendrick Lamar in your Halloween-week concert plans (Bieber, Manson/Zombie tonight, Nas/she-might-show-up-on-time Lauryn Hill tomorrow) you might be disappointed. The Compton rapper whose debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city has become the talk of music (besides Taylor Swift), won' ... More >>

Upcoming: Willie Nelson, Local Natives, Fun., The Manichean, Taj Mahal, etc.

Al Stewart: Fri., Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m., $58-$98. Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N., Spring. Alejandro Escovedo: Fri., Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m., $28. Dosey Doe Music Cafe, 463 FM Road 1488, Conroe. Alex Cuba: Fri., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., $15/$16. McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, Houston. Angelspit, Myparasites, C ... More >>

Upcoming: Band of Horses, Devin the Dude, Keane, Shadows Fall, Etc.

The Abyss, PuraPharm, The Scars Heal In Time, Obscured by Echoes: Sat., Oct. 13, 8 p.m., $5/$8. Notsuoh, 314 Main, Houston. Amplified Heat: Fri., Oct. 19, 9 p.m., $10. Continental Club, 3700 Main, Houston. Band of Horses: Wed., Oct. 24, 8 p.m., $25.00-$30.00. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston ... More >>

The 10 Silliest Headlines In Rap News This Week

You are a human and you have eyeballs and you also have the Internet, so you've likely read some things. That's sort of what this is, except sort of not too. We went through a ton of headlines of hip-hop "stories" from the past week, picked out the ten most egregious one, pasted them below, then ad ... More >>

What Are the Seven Best Songs to Come Out in 2012?

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 >>

Coachella: Best Of Weekend 2, Day 1

Our friends at LA Weekly and OC Weekly are at Coachella again. Here's what they're up to. It's "hot, sultry and steamy," they say. Here's the best of what they saw Friday. Other Lives: Amidst the day's scorching heat -- when most sane people were asleep in their tents or at a fancy pool party -- a ... More >>

Coachella 4/20: People Were Smoking Weed

Friday was 4/20. It was also Coachella. And so, the percentage of festival-goers who were stoned rose from a paltry 75 percent to a full 98 percent. (These estimates come courtesy of our editor, LA Weekly's Ben Westhoff, who did a small survey with a margin of error of plus or minus 45 percent.) Be ... More >>

Last Night: A$AP Rocky At Warehouse Live

A$AP Rocky Warehouse Live February 26, 2012 For more photos from Sunday, see our slideshow. Who is A$AP Rocky? The simple answer is that he's a kid from Harlem who's real name is Rakim, who proclaims himself a "pretty muthafucka," and who loves all things Houston. From the flows to the purple dran ... More >>

5 Musicians Who Changed Their Names to Inspire Jim Crane and the Astros

​This week, the new owner of the Houston Astros Jim Crane opened Pandora's Box of Hearty Suggestions For A Struggling Franchise and discussed changes to the team. Cheap beer (yay!), cheaper seats (double yay!) should be one of the first things but Crane suggested that the Astros do the unthink ... More >>

Saturday Night: Kendrick Lamar at Warehouse Live

There's nothing in Kendrick Lamar's catalog that suggests he's a capacity crowd artist. He doesn't chase radio glory. He doesn't make what you call, um, hits. He's just starting to log big name cosigns. Yet, on Saturday, Warehouse Live was packed from end to end with hip-hop fans eager to catch a gl ... More >>

These Are The Five Best Chopped Not Slopped Tapes of 2011

Not No. 1​In the paper this week is a listing of some of our favorite local albums. One of the tapes on the list -debatable in its localness--is OG Ron C and DJ Candlestick's chopped not slopped version of Frank Ocean's nostalgia, Ultra. Here's what was written about it: Traditionally (or hi ... More >>

The Ten Best (Non-Houston) Rap Albums of 2011

A deal, then: Let's pretend like this was some really clever, insightful preamble; ideally, when you finished reading it, you would've immediately said, "Dang. That was a really clever, insightful preamble." Let's pretend it had some sort of neat underlying agenda, something that directly discusse ... More >>

7 Houston Rap Tributes by Non-Houston Rappers

Are you happy with your current city? Yeah? Then feel free to ignore this list of rappers from other cities drooling over all things Houston. It's likely to breed envy. Some of these come from gushing fans and some are random, but the vast majority illustrate just how much rappers love Houston. Dig ... More >>