Paul Wall

Free Press Summer Fest Adds More Performers, Unique "White Noise" Beer

Free Press Summer Fest has added about a dozen artists, many of them local, to the lineup of this year's festival taking place June 1 and 2 in Eleanor Tinsley Park near downtown. For the first time, it will be offering a festival-specific beer to help wash them all down. According to a press releas ... More >>

Texans-Bills: The 10 Best Rapper(ish) Tweets From Sunday's Game

Houston has a professional football team, called the Houston Texans. A lot of people like them; some are rappers. The Internet has several forms of social media; one is called Twitter. A lot of people use it. Some of them are rappers. Like we've done in the past, we perused Twitter during Sunday's ... More >>

Top 10 Dirt Cheap Rock Star Halloween Costumes

Yep, it's that time again. Almost Halloween, and you with no costume. There's no time left to execute some grand vision that might impress people you'd like to sleep with. (Unless you want to try these, from our sister blog Art Attack.) That leaves you with only a couple of options: Sit around alon ... More >>

Last Night: Lil Keke & Friends All-Star Birthday Bash At House Of Blues

Lil Keke & Friends All-Star Birthday Bash House of Blues March 28, 2012 Screwed Up Click veteran Lil Keke has been helping shape the sound and style of Houston rap for better than 15 years. That's long enough to make a lot of friends in the game, and a whole bunch of them showed up onstage at House ... 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:

Zombies & Texans: This Week In Houston Rap Videos

​Ah, rappers and music videos. Some are vehicles for self-promotion, others are tools used to promote a message, a gaggle of asses or some good ol' wholesome debauchery. In the case of the Houston rap class, music videos are always eye opening glimpses into the future, either telling what a ta ... 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 >>

Happy Hour Scene: Rushing Lizzard's

​The Place: Lizzard's Pub 2715 Sackett 713-529-4610 The Deals: $2.75 wells and domestics The Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. The Scene: According to its sign, Lizzard's Pub has been around since 1976. In Houston bar years, that's enough to earn it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. In ... More >>

More Local Music News Than Memorial Day Furniture Sales

What would your Friday be without Magnolia City Mixtape? Pretty bleak, if you're trying to keep up on all the local music here in Houston. Thankfully, we're here to make that last day of the work week just a bit better. Propain launched his music video for the Departure track, "Say I Won't." Dire ... More >>

Celebrating Big H.A.W.K.'s Legacy With Bun B & More

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday (or thereabouts), 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, Lil O, Starch ... More >>

Which Houston Rapper Would Make The Best Mayor?

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. Slim Thug: "Me, of course." Photo illiustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Trae, Bun B, Slim T ... More >>

Poppy Flashes Plenty Of G.R.i.T. On Intent To Distribute

​The G.R.i.T. Boys, a stalwart Southern rap group among stalwart Southern rap groups, have long been an undervalued commodity. There are three boys who are gritty -Scooby, Niq, Poppy - and musically, they tend to float around between Brick Rap, Brag Rap, existentialism and whatever the opposit ... More >>

Comic-Book Alter Egos For Top Houston Rappers

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 10 Biggest TV/Music Crossover Fails

kimkardashian.celebuzz.com​Kim Kardashian's release of her new single, "Jam" makes Rocks Off sick to our stomachs. It's been our philosophy that while an ass can sell a TV show or low-budget porn, it can't sell an album. You can't mute a CD and still "watch" it. So in lieu of Kardashian's sic ... More >>

What Community Responsibilities Do Rappers Have?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday or thereabouts, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. "Don't nobody care about how much your watch cost" Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Z-Ro, Paul ... More >>

Houston Rap Year-End Odds And Ends

​We're seven days away from the beginning of the New Year. Let's make sure we go in there clean, shall we? Time to dump out the mailbag: First, stay tuned for our Top 10 Houston Rap Albums of the Year, coming Monday. Iceberg Slim of Screwheads Only traded emails with us while we put it togeth ... More >>

Reporting from the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium: Chingo Bling Talks "Taco Circuit"

​A lot of rappers establish street cred by talking about hittin' licks and sellin' rocks. Chingo Bling raps about slangin' tamales and hot sauce -- which is what brought him to the Southern Foodways Alliance annual symposium last weekend. Known as the Masa Messiah, or the Taquero Vaquero, or ... More >>

Saturday: Hip-Hop For HIV Concert At Reliant Center

Photos by RizohFrom left: Paul Wall, Johnny Dang, C-Stone​Hip-Hop for HIV concert Reliant Center July 31, 2010 2:55 p.m.: Here now. It's crazy packed. The line to get in reaches back, back, back. Good to see. Before we get inside though, we should clear up a few of the plot points for the day ... More >>

Hip-Hop for HIV Awareness Concert

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 >>

Is VH1's Hip Hop Honors Insulting Southern Rappers?

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: Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Chalie Boy, Hima Sn ... More >>

Five Spot: The Kanye Is Not Going To Act Like A Dick In 2010... Until He Does

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. ​We take in a ton of music each week... turns out that's actually a major p ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Hollywood F.L.O.S.S., Trae, Z-Ro, Sans Bayonet, Pimp C, Lil' Wayne, Big Moe, 50, Lupe, DMX, Yung Chase, 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: "At The Top," Hollywood F.L.O.S.S. Wire To Wire First, thank you to everyone that emailed us about The ... 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: New Videos from Bushwick, Chamillionaire, Trae; A Classic from Big Mello

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. Several key artists in Houston released new videos this week. However, before ... More >>

Five Spot: Jigga, Skiing, Gay Sex and Swishahouse

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. We've got this notebook that we carry around pretty much everywhere with us. A few bullets from there before we g ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Arrest In Trae Day Shootings, More Michael Jackson Exploitation, Who's Getting Slappy and Who's Getting Stabby

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: Paul Wall feat. Baby Bash, "Lemon Drop." Wire To Wire This weekend, 19-year-old Albert Walker "A-Walk" ... 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 >>

Turning the Screw: All-Houston Edition with GT Garza, Trae Day, Trouble Sum, Jay'Ton, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Letoya vs. Slim Thug, Coast, Z-Ro, Juan Gotti 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: GT Garza, "52 Pick Up" (We've listened to a bunch of GT's stuff, but this remains to be the rawest thin ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Archie Lee & Coota Bang, R.I.P. Michael, Lil Jon, Jae Millz, Drake, 50, Tupac, Chris Brown 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: "Down For My Block," Archie Lee and Coota Bang Wire To Wire Michael passed. Three thoughts: 1. Michael ... 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 >>

Turning the Screw: Paul Wall, Pink, The Kanye, Jay-Z, Eminem, Necro, Bow Wow, Black Eyed Peas, Big Moe 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: "Bizzy Body," Paul Wall feat. Webbie Wire To Wire Pink is upset at The Kanye because of his appreciatio ... More >>

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 >>

A New Class of Rappers Finally Bucked Houston's Syrupy Stereotype This Year

It Is What It Is

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 >>

Los Magnificos: Like a Live H-Town Mixtape

Los Magnificos 2008 bounces into Reliant Center Sunday. Bun B Whip, ride, slab, some bit of street slang Rocks Off won't even hear for another eight months - cars are as essential to hip-hop as crossfaders and lyrics that rhyme. But no city's rappers place their wheels on a higher pedestal tha ... More >>

Los Magnificos Car Show

Web exclusive!

Tonight: Lil Keke Listening Party/CD Release at Venue

Two years in the making, original Screwed Up Clik member Lil Keke's - whose 1997 hit "South Side" remains a milestone in Houston rap - new LP Loved by Few, Hated by Many is out today on Swishahouse/TF, with distribution by Universal Motown; guests include Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Birdman (who appe ... More >>

Five Spot: Jackson Five Reuniting; Certainly This Will Not End Badly

What Do Shepard Smith and Soulja Boy have in common?

Wack's here to tell you: more than you might expect

Top 10 Most Hated Rappers

Who made the shit list

Graphing H-Town Rap

Houston Press Music Awards Winners

Devin the Dude, Katie Stuckey and The Dimes clean up

Bob's Steak & Chop House

If steak is a sin, then Bob is the devil

Candidate of the Year

Practical solutions, involving liquor and guns

Farewell to the Twenty Nickel

Looking back on the '05 and dreaming in the '06

Low Ride, Take It Easy

A trip to the Los Magnificos Car Show sets us to pondering why there can’t be a local rock equivalent

Best Beats from the Bayou

H-town's top ten rap jams

Banging with Bang! Bang!

Chicago's rumpy-pumpiest punks dispense the Dan Savage-style advice

Local Rotation

Lil' Flip, U Gotta Feel Me (Sony Urban/Suckafree/Columbia)

Paul Wall, Chick Magnet (Paid in Full)