Prince Paul

The Wayback Machine: 15, 10, and five years ago in Houston music

Rotation

Into the Groovy

Raving about Simon Reynolds's techno-historical treatment, Generation Ecstasy

Beat Kings

Beat Kings: The History of Hip Hop

Best Served Cold

She Wants Revenge made the journey from hip-hop to new wave...Just don't compare them to Interpol

Prince Paul

Hip Hop Gold Dust

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming, and dig this year's buried black-music treasures

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming and dig this year's buried black-music treasures

Rotation

Handsome Boy Modeling School, Molotov and Rufus Wainwright

Feelings, Nothing But Feelings

The New York Times misses the point in its attack on "rockism"

The Class of '03

Grab your gift certificates and trade in your white elephants -- here's what you really wanted for Christmas

Best Hip-hop Concerts

The Engine Room

Glomming Onto the Om

San Francisco's top underground dance label brings a big chunk of its stable to town

Gold Chains, with Stars as Eyes and Notes

Saturday, June 21

Over Their Heads

Nobody understands the Politics of the Business like Prince Paul. In fact, almost nobody understands it at all.

Adventures in Lo-Fi

BBE (Rapster)

Black Gold

A gusher lay beneath the surface, but you had to drill deep

People Under the Stairs

Saturday, October 19

Ugly Kid Slug

Atmosphere MC Sean Daley saves the world by saving his circle of friends

Money Mark

Change Is Coming (Emperor Norton Records)

Pump Up the Volume

Change Is Coming (Emperor Norton Records)

Before We Go: Devin the Dude, ZZ Top, Camp Jam Houston, The Orb, Something Fierce and More

Free Press Houston has added Devin the Dude, whom Rocks Off is currently trying to track down for a prospective new feature (email us, mang!) and Prince Paul to its Summer Fest August 8 and 9 in Eleanor Tinsley Park. See FPH's or Pegstar's Web sites for ticket info (hint: it's $7 per day). Yesterday ... More >>

MP3 of the Day: Muhammidali

​ All this week, Rocks Off's daily MP3 will spotlight the best and brightest of the local bands gracing this weekend's two-day Free Press Summer Fest indie blowout at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Free Press Houston has assembled quite the lineup, with out-of-towners like Of Montreal, Broken Social Scene ... More >>

Free Press Summer Fest

​ All this week, Rocks Off's daily MP3 will spotlight the best and brightest of the local bands gracing this weekend's two-day Free Press Summer Fest indie blowout at Eleanor Tinsley Park. Free Press Houston has assembled quite the lineup, with out-of-towners like Of Montreal, Broken Social Scene ... More >>

MP3 of the Day: Yes, There Are Summer Fest Tickets Left

​Rocks Off just got off the phone with Free Press Houston editor/publisher Omar Afra, the Bill Graham of Saturday and Sunday's Summer Fest. After disguising himself as "that guy from that punk band you wrote those bad things about" - dude, you're going to have to be more specific than that - Afra ... More >>

Devin The Dude Vs. Texas Board Of Education; Summerfest Prices Go Up Tonight; Rare Lightnin' Hopkins Portraits For Sale; ZZ Top To Play Chile Benefit

The Awl writes about Devin the Dude, making fun of the dumbifying of Texas' public-school curriculum. Today is your last chance to get Summerfest passes for the low, low price of $22.50. They go up at midnight. Prince Paul, who only produced De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, has signed on to DJ ... More >>

Upcoming: Buzzfestivus, John Mellencamp, Merle Haggard, Etc.

​Amplified Heat: Fri., Nov. 26. Rudyard's. Authority Zero: Thu., Dec. 2. Scout Bar Clear Lake. Belanova: Wed., Dec. 1. House of Blues. Born Liars, The Energy, The Mahas, Talk Sick Brats: Wed., Nov. 24. Rudyard's. "Buzzfestivus" with Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Eat World. Sun., Dec. 5. Verizo ... More >>

Joseph Haydn: The Travels of His Purloined Noggin

Ludwig Guttenbrunn​The old joke goes something like this: "Why couldn't they find Beethoven's teacher?" "Because he was Haydn?" "No, because they stole his freakin' skull and passed it around for phrenologist to fondle!" Ok, the old joke stops before the decapitation of one of the greates ... More >>

Upcoming: Black Angels, Dolly Parton, J. Cole, Mates Of State, Etc.

​Aaron Neville: Sun., Dec. 11. House of Blues. Carbon Leaf, Alpha Rev: Wed., Oct. 26. Fitzgerald's. Between The Buried And Me, Animals As Leaders: Thu., Nov. 17. House of Blues. Gunslinger, Black Queen Speaks, Sheila Swift, Tyburn Jig, Tyranny Of Bella: VIP ROOM., Sat., Sept. 10. Verizon W ... More >>