Matt Sonzala

America Is Faltering, So You Should You Download Massive Mixtape The Underground

The superheroically sincere videographer/director Sama'an Ashrawi comes to mind. So does the hyper-savvy promoter/party pied piper MC Kane. And of course the indomitable do-everything Matt Sonzala. Beyond that, few guys involved in championing underground rap in Houston are as likable as Ram, the f ... More >>

Doughbeezy, Chingo Bling, Niceguys Hope to Make Voting "Hip and Fun"

The election is coming, and even in such a polarizing political climate exemplified by Mitt Romney's "47 percent" remarks that dominated news about the presidential campaign last week, far too many people can't be bothered to vote. Disenfranchisement -- a $10 word that not only means you can't or ... More >>

The Anarchist Song Book

Noise musician BLACKIE searches for total freedom in music.

B L A C K I E Completes Successful French, Canadian Invasions

For the last month, B L A C K I E, Houston's favorite act of musical warfare, roamed around Europe and Canada on tour, performing shows (both scheduled and impromptu) and yanking bolts from the Eiffel Tower. His shows, manic audio attacks blasted through homemade speaker cabinets sometimes as many ... More >>

The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012

The last few days, Village Voice Media's indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we've been culling another list: the worst shit. The acts that ranged from huge bore-fests to downright lame. Below, you'll find our cr ... More >>

SXSW: Lil Wayne's YMCMB Showcase At Austin Music Hall

​"I believe in three things: I believe in God; I believe that I ain't shit without you, and I believe that I ain't shit without you!" - Lil Wayne to his fans After being shut out of the T.I./B.O.B show at La Zona Rosa by order of the fire marshal, I headed over to see Lil Wayne at the Austin Mu ... More >>

Rap Boom Reload: Thanks and So Forth

​Every time somebody writes a cover story, there's an accompanying blog post that goes with it, giving some sort of back story or little anecdote or whatever. That's what this is. This week, there will be, including the sidebar, a 4,000-word story in the paper tying what happened with Housto ... More >>

Rappers Onstage: Who's Dramatic Enough For Broadway?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Have something you've always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Photo illustration by John Seabor ... More >>

We Can't Be Stopped: Best Houston Album Ever Turns 20 Years Old

​Today is the 20th anniversary of the release of the Geto Boys' We Can't Be Stopped. It is the most important Houston album of all time. Everyone understands this reflexively, even if they don't understand why they understand that. It has likely been written about more than any other piece o ... More >>

SXSW Tour Diary: The Nice Guys

The Nice GuysThe Nice Guys at Cream Vintage.​Rocks Off is asking a handful of Houston artists to write about their experiences performing at SXSW. Day 1 of SXSW went pretty well, we got on the road to ATX at about 9 a.m. The moment we arrived in Austin we were busy, went straight to the conve ... More >>

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble

97.9 The Box Declines Comment On Trae Situation

​After a couple of days of phone and email tag, Rocks Off was finally able to get in touch with Terri Thomas, program director of 97.9 The Box, regarding the highly rated urban station's reputed ban on everything associated with local rapper Trae tha Truth - songs, mixtapes, in-studio appearances, ... More >>

Matt Sonzala's Open Letter To 97.9 The Box: "You Are In The Wrong Here"

​ Former Houston Press music listings editor and local hip-hop promoter Matt Sonzala sent Rocks Off and other media outlets an open letter to Houston radio station 97.9 The Box Thursday night. In it, he criticizes the station for its alleged ban of Trae the Truth. The ban, Sonzala says, extends no ... More >>

Catfish Reef: The Rise of Swishahouse

[Note: this is the second in a series on the origins of Houston rap, to go along with this week's feature on wayward star Mike Jones.]Mike Giglio​As a local hip-hop writer and radio host, Matt Sonzala (also a former Houston Press Music Listings Editor) did what he could to promote Houston rap to a ... More >>

Five Spot: Lil Keke's Don't Mess With Texas

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. Last week we wrote about ESG's Ocean of Funk, which spiraled into an email co ... More >>

The Willie D Scam: Read Along As It Goes Down

Willie D is still cooling his heels in a Federal lock-up as we write this, but there's updates o'plenty. Hair Balls's old buddy Matt Sonzala posted a Willie D round-up on his blog yesterday. To us, the most fascinating link Sonzala unearthed was this one, in which you can document in real time the r ... More >>

Turning the Screw: T-Pain & Friends, Pimp C, Asher Roth, Kanye vs. Colbert, Q-Tip, Suge Knight, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Young Jeezy, Paul Wall 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: "Chopped and Screwed" Lil' O, T-Pain and Ludacris Wire To Wire Matt Sonzala et al. paid tribute ... More >>

Tonight: Pimp C Tribute on KPFT's "Damage Control"

Has it really been a year already? Indeed it has: On December 4, 2007, Port Arthur-born MC and producer Pimp C was found dead in his Hollywood hotel room; the Los Angeles County Coroner listed the cause as a combination of sleep apnea and accidental overdose of codeine-containing cough syrup. To s ... More >>

Surpise Surprise: Redman Show Postponed

Ozone Awards, Tastemaker DJ Contest Headed to Houston

Building the Perfect Beat

Accidents Will Happen? Did Apnea and Drank Really Kill Pimp C?

Damage Control: Pimp C Tribute

Sayonara , Matt Sonzala

Talking SXSW and rap's current malaise with a soon-to-be ex-Houstonian

Punky Reggae Party

Rockbox and HoustonSoReal team up for a night of reggae bands and dancehall DJs

This Just In: Rock the Bells Canceled

365 Days Later

South By Southwest 2007

Stax, Scratch and a host of locals highlight my festival

KTRK, License Plate Frames, City Council, Bun B and Google

KTRK has a "Meet the Rapist!" contest

Another Bush Slips in the Polls

For Your Listening Pleasure

Need Something to do This Weekend?

Free the Sabbath in the Park 20!

Letters to the Editor

Best o' tha Blogs

Party Boy

Matt Sonzala puts on Houston rap parties all over the world

Mr. Renfrow Risin'

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

Bizzy Bone, Phone Home

A Grammy-winning multiplatinum rapper melts down live on KPFT

White By Whitebread No More

This year's South By Southwest makes room for plenty of local rap. Why can't our rockers get with the program?

En Fuego

The Arcade Fire burns Mary Jane's Fat Cat down to the ground; also: Scarface/Geto Boys news and the fate of Mary Jane's

Anarchy in da USA

Looking for the true spirit of the Ramones? Try going to an underground hip-hop show.

¡Viva H-town!

Latinos come to the fore in this year's music awards

Medley Fool

DJ Jester mixes and mashes up Willie Nelson, Ice-T, the Carpenters and LL Cool J

Turntable Roundtable

Hip-hop notables get together to rap about responsibility

Reprogram Your Life

An omnivorous three-headed DJ monster wants to rewrite your old musical code with hip-hop vibes

Can I Get a Witnes?

DJ Witnes hosts a new hip-hop show on KPFT

We're Gonna Get You, Soccer!

If they want a team, Houstonians have got to represent

Kung Fu Fighting

Catfish shares his arsenal

Grudge Match

The United States faces off with Mexico in Houston

Rap Avengers

Damage Control brings hip-hop back to Pacifica