Paul Wall

Something Awful for Paul Wall

What a Champ

Off the Wall

Saturday Afternoon: Cobra Starship at Cactus Music

Artist of the Week: Small Sounds

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 introducingliston@gmail.com. It seems contradictory, ... More >>

Grammy Day at U of H Until 5

Paul Wall: Also available for oral-hygeine advice. Today at the UH Main Campus on Cullen, The Recording Academy and the Grammys are putting on a Career Day for students in the college's music department. The Grammys hold these workshops around the country for students looking to take the leap into ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Soulbrotha, Slim Thug, Will Smith, Lil Wayne/Michael Phelps, Jodeci, DMX, MC Hammer, Yungstar 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: "Viva La Revolucion," Soulbrotha Wire To Wire Slim Thug says March will be highlighted by the relea ... More >>

Sayonara , Matt Sonzala

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

Willie D's Birthday Party

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

Sean Kingston, Lil Scrappy, Slim Thug, Paul Wall

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

Houston Hip-Hop

Mike Watts and his stable of northside rappers take a southside legend's style to the masses

The Orange Show

Spain Colored Orange takes home four Press Music Awards

Hip-hop as She Is Rapped

Translating the German Wikipedia entries of Houston's top MCs

Million Dollar Smile

Paul Wall joins George Foreman in the famous Houston grill club

Hothouse Flowers

Groceries spoil in the heat, while the rest of Houston's music community blossoms

Local Album of the Week: Paul Wall's Fast Life

Paul Wall Fast Life www.grillsbypaulwall.comDid high gas prices kill off Paul Wall? Not really - that's just a coincidence. Rather, the H-Town artist known for his candy cars and diamond grills has suffered from being too closely identified with a regional sound that is no longer fashionable. Just a ... More >>

Paul Wall: Fast Life

Paul Wall Fast Life www.grillsbypaulwall.comDid high gas prices kill off Paul Wall? Not really - that's just a coincidence. Rather, the H-Town artist known for his candy cars and diamond grills has suffered from being too closely identified with a regional sound that is no longer fashionable. Just a ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Slim Thug Associates, Willie D, Jay-Z vs. Auto-Tune, 50 Cent, Paul Wall, Big Hawk, Jazzy Jeff, Trae & Z-Ro 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: "Associates" Wire To Wire Poor, poor Willie D. We were excited the other day when we read this thing a ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown: Setting the Table

Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. For the next six months, we'll be counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email it to sheaserrano@gmail.com.​For the last few weeks we have pored over ... More >>

Five Spot: Inside E.S.G.'s Everyday Street Gangsta

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. ​After you interview somebody in preparation for writing something about th ... More >>

Five Spot: We Beat Down a Burglar, and New Music From Paul, Jay'Ton, Devin, Bun, Pimp and Coota

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. ​I caught somebody trying to break into my house Wednesday. And I pu ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown: We Interrupt This Countdown to Bring You Some Basketball/Rap Metaphors

Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. We're counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email it to sheaserrano@gmail.com.​You know how at the end of each American Idol season they drag the fin ... More >>

Ultimate Victory

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

Ask A Rapper: Paul Wall Tells All On The Chamillionaire Reunion, His New Album And Budding Acting Career

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. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to introducingliston@ ... More >>

The Best Slap-Fights, Verbal Or Otherwise, In Houston Rap History

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and list five reasons why it's either brilliant or dumb-assed. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​Last week, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall kicked off their 20-city "In Love Wit My Money" reunion tour in d ... More >>

This Guy Really Wanted A Cheeseburger - Luckily, Paul Wall Caught It On Camera

Dudes brawling in Whataburger, at least one minus underwear: Just like you like it.​No doubt headlining your own SXSW showcase is hungry work, so after he and Chamillionaire closed out the "Best In Texas" night at a sold-out La Zona Rosa March 17, Paul Wall did what a lot of dyed-in-the-wool Texan ... More >>

This Guy Really Wanted A Cheeseburger - Luckily, Paul Wall Caught It On Camera

Dudes brawling in Whataburger, at least one minus underwear: Just like you like it.​No doubt headlining your own SXSW showcase is hungry work, so after he and Chamillionaire closed out the "Best In Texas" night at a sold-out La Zona Rosa March 17, Paul Wall did what a lot of dyed-in-the-wool Texan ... More >>

Paul Wall's Got Your iPhone Goin' Nuts

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. We'll incorporate the number five in there somewhere. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​April 23, 2010. That was to be the most glorious day ... More >>

Will Hip-Hop Ever Get Over Its Homophobia?

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. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​Homosexuality in hip-hop is a polarizing talking point. So much so, in f ... More >>

Hip Hop Honors Doesn't Totally Embarrass The South

VH1 honored the Dirty South for the 2010 edition of Hip-Hop Honors. We flew out there and sat in on the taping this past weekend. Or we Tivo'd it while we put our kids to bed and then watched it afterwards. One of those is true. Willie D​ 8:00 p.m.: Oh, good. Darrell from The Office is hosting to ... More >>

How Important Is It That Rappers Be "Real"?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday (that isn't a national holiday) Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Paul Wall, Fat Tony, Sam Sneed and Yung Redd Not Invited: Plies and Rick Ross Photo illustra ... More >>

Willie Movie Postponed; Woven Bones Cancel; Paul Wall Hosts Party

​Just a few late-breaking notes before Rocks Off gets the hell out of here... Austin lo-fi garage trio Woven Bones has canceled its show at Mango's tonight. No reason was given; all the more reason to go see Lightning Bolt and Indian Jewelry at Khon's. Aurora Picture Show's screening of W ... More >>

Paul Wall All Smiles At Album-Release Party

Photos by Shea Serrano​4:41 p.m.: Ack. Driving from the far south side of town to the far north side of town between 4:15 and 6:15 p.m. has to be what it felt like to drive from one side of Texas to the other by stagecoach. This is the worst. Hopefully we packed enough canned meats and fresh d ... More >>

The Curious Case of the People's Champ

Paul Wall is neither a cartoon nor an asshole.

Paul Wall Shows His Skillz On Heart of a Champion

OG PR​Paul Wall is the subject of this week's music feature. Read that right now. Two weeks ago, he released his fifth studio LP, Heart of a Champion. Buy that right now. Go on. We'll wait. ... ... Now, in that feature that you just read, it notes that the central theme driving the creative ... More >>

So What's Up With Kanye's "Power" Video?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday or pre-empted by HPMA showcase coverage, Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Paul Wal ... More >>

Can Non-Black Rappers Use The N-Word In Their Music?

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. This Week's Panel: Chuckway, Paul Wall, Fat Tony, Yung Redd, Coast Not Invited: The Rev. Jesse Jackson Photo il ... More >>

Why Do Rappers Always Go Onstage So Late?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday (that isn't a national holiday) Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Paul Wall, Fat Tony, K-Rino and Kyle Hubbard No ... More >>

Note To Fans: Don't Give Paul Wall The Finger

Updated at 4:43 p.m. to include Wall's apology. When last Paul Wall came to TMZ's attention, it was for some iPhone video he shot of a rather... disgruntled Whataburger customer after his SXSW showcase with Chamillionaire in March. Rocks Off just watched the video again, and it's still hilarious. ... More >>

Five Plot Points From 5200, Z-Ro's Latest Tape

​About two weeks or so ago, Roel Osteen released 5200, a grab-bag mixtape of various clips of music that have appeared elsewhere online. It's a mostly fun tape. Notes ahead. One bulleted point for each of the fingers on his right hand. #PayingHomage The best song on the tape is "Southside Gr ... More >>

What Is The Best Boxing-Match Entrance Music?

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. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Bun B, Paul Wall, One Hunnidt, Mac, O.N.E., Brad ... More >>

No Swag: Paul Wall's Rumored Young Money Deal, Falling Stages

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. images.blastro.comRemember this?​Paul Wall Signs to Young Money? People have been saying that The People's Champ has decided to sign wi ... More >>

Sittin Sidewayz: Paul Wall Busted For Pot In El Paso

lockerz.com/Paul Wall via Twitter​Paul Wall followed in the footsteps of his outlaw country heroes over the weekend... all the way to jail. Wall, fellow Houston rapper Baby Bash ("Suga Suga") and producer BiggRoy were arrested early Sunday on suspicion of possession of less than 2 ounces of m ... More >>

Full Swag For Das Racist, No Swag For Astros & Paul Wall

​Das Racist is Rocks Off's favorite joke-rap group, ever. It annoys most people we know -including our boss, who is like, "All right, no more Das Racist for everyone's sake, please." That's being nice - Ed. Earlier this year, we traveled to SXSW strictly to catch every show, and we're planning ... More >>

Three Days of Thanks: Rap Round Table

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Not Invited: This Week's Prompt: There are a bunch of things we're responsible ... More >>

Slim Thug, Bun B, and Paul Wall Agree the Cougars are Kind of Awesome

Photo by Marc Brubaker​Well, this is weird. There's an undefeated team in town. And with the 12-0 Cougars hosting Southern Miss this Saturday, H-town loyalty is understandably high. We now have the perfect anthem for this weekend's conference showdown, thanks to a triumvirate of Houston hip-ho ... More >>

Your iPod Is Interesting Again: 10 New Local Rap Releases Worth Noting

​It appears that last year, local underground rap's most impressive in a handful of terms, was not an anomaly. Six weeks into the last year of human existence (goddamn you, Mayans) and Houston's burgeoning stars are moving as fervently as ever. Ten relatively new bits of music for your brain: ... More >>