Queen Latifah

NBA All Star Weekend: 5 Observations And A Plea For More Barkley

In the spirit of full disclosure, I feel like I should tell you that I chose not to stick around Houston for the NBA All Star Game and it's peripheral festivities (up to and including the transformation of the Galleria into some kind of three-story clown car on Saturday) this past weekend. As a br ... More >>

Saturday Night: Rakim at Fitzgerald's

Rakim Fitzgerald's February 16, 2013 In the beginning, The God MC, legally known as William Michael Griffin, Jr., best known as Rakim, became one-half of one of hip-hop's very first groups, Eric B. and Rakim. The pair recorded a series of classic albums (Paid in Full, Follow the Leader) that have ... 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 >>

Rap Round Table: The Best Female Rapper Of All Time Is...

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Zavey, hasHBrown, Scooby, Medicine Girl, Nicki Minaj, Renzo, Rob Gullatte, more. Not Invited: Hologram Tupac This Week's Promp ... More >>

Forget Blue-Eyed Butcher: Casting Lifetime Movies About Felicia Moon, Victoria Osteen & 3 Others

Blue-Eyed Butcher was Lifetime's take on the Susan Wright case. It certainly wasn't the first TV movie to be based on a Houston case, and it won't be the last. In fact there are plenty of Houston stories just begging to be made into Lifetime movies. Like these five: 5. Trail Ridin' Dirty: The Feli ... More >>

10 Rom-Coms Even Guys Will Watch

Can you smell it? Either love is in the air or the Chick-fil-A has started using chicken-scented billboards. Yes, Valentine's Day is coming to give all men night sweats over what to do on the most romantic of the Hallmark holidays. As we were searching around for entertainment suggestions, we were t ... More >>

Last Night: Dolly Parton At Verizon Wireless Theater

Photos by Jason Wolter​Dolly Parton Verizon Wireless Theater October 11, 2011 Dolly Parton seems like the kind of person so determined to make sure her audience has a good time, she's not above putting them to the thumbscrews to make sure that happens. Luckily, it didn't come to that Tuesday ... More >>

The Five Best - And Two Worst - Rapper Actors

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 introducingliston@gmai ... 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 >>

Oprah Vs. Bob Dylan: A Side-By-Side Showdown

Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​In case you've been under a complete self-imposed total media blackout - how do those work, by the way? - you no doubt know this week is a pretty important milestone in the lives of two of America's most important cultural figureheads. Maybe the two most ... More >>

Das Racist: Deconstructing The Rappers' References

​Over the past two years, Das Racist has been a Pitchfork favorite and highly revered for their witty, perhaps smarmy delivery of mostly historical and pop-culture references. The duo - trio if you include their hypeman, Dap, and quartet if you include their hypeman's hypeman, Lakutis - is com ... More >>

Black Queen Speaks Checkmates Other Funk-Rockers

It's a well-known fact that most band names are essential gobbledygook, but here at Rocks Off we're working to find some meaning in the monikers. ​Black Queen Speaks' own description of itself is better than any other we could possibly come up: They sound like Jane's Addiction and Soundgar ... More >>

Chalie Boy Is Here... All Year Long

Last year, Chalie Boy enacted a promo campaign called "52 Weeks of Chalie Boy," wherein he released one flow a week for the entire year. It was an auspicious bit of market saturation. This year, he's upped the stakes a bit and adapted the premise into "12 Months of Chalie Boy Videos." We're certai ... More >>

Day Of The Dead: Music In Memoriam 2009-10

itscactus.com​Rocks Off doesn't mean to be morbid, but today is the Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday and festival honoring those who have gone before. So instead of waiting until the end of the year, the more traditional time for such things, we wanted to compile a list of the notable name ... More >>

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 >>

La Gran Senora

Jenni Rivera flirts with pop crossovers but remains true to regional Mexican music.

Flagrant Foul

Just Wright is just wrong.

American Idol: The Tumor is Removed...Eventually

​This is my first season of American Idol, and thus my first brush with the behemoth that is "Idol Gives Back." This is the third time the show has staged its charity event, and there were far fewer celebrities this year. The goal was ostensibly to educate viewers about the plight of the needy ... More >>

American Idol: The Tumor is Removed... Eventually

​This is my first season of American Idol, and thus my first brush with the behemoth that is "Idol Gives Back." This is the third time the show has staged its charity event, and there were far fewer celebrities this year. The goal was ostensibly to educate viewers about the plight of the needy ... More >>

Inside the Rappers Studio

Are you an aging hip-hop performer? Then the Rap Institute of Acting is for you!

Dancing With the Stars: Bidding Dazzle (and Debi) Adieu

We'll remember the good times, Tom! Or something like that...​News broke yesterday afternoon that the unthinkable had happened: Tom "Dazzle Me Dreamy" DeLay -- former House Majority Leader, money launderer, and friend to the working man -- would be quitting Dancing With the Stars because of th ... More >>

Dancing With the Stars: Bidding Dazzle (and Debi) Adieu

We'll remember the good times, Tom! Or something like that...​News broke yesterday afternoon that the unthinkable had happened: Tom "Dazzle Me Dreamy" DeLay -- former House Majority Leader, money launderer, and friend to the working man -- would be quitting Dancing With the Stars because of t ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Cactus Music Second Anniversary, Delbert McClinton, the Marley Brothers, Mindy Smith, Queen Latifah, the Slackers, Vallejo, etc.

​"Cactus Music 2nd Anniversary Party" With The Flamin' Hellcats, DJ Joey McKeel: Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Cactus Music and Video. Arthur Yoria, Colin Lake: Wed., Oct. 28. Warehouse Live. Delbert McClinton: Sat., Dec. 26. Verizon Wireless Theater. Dir En Grey: Mon., Nov. 2. Warehouse Live. "ArrowFest ... More >>

NASA's Biggest Job On This Shuttle Flight: Milking Publicity

​The latest space shuttle mission opens up a new, bold era in NASA history -- the desperate attempt to remain hip and relevant and therefore worthy of federal budget dollars.Commentators have pointed out how the agency seems to be embracing pop culture, but it seems to be getting to the point ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Chamillionaire & Z-Ro, UGK, Slim Thug, Trae Day, Chris Brown, Meth & Red, Diddy, MCA, O.G. Style 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: Chamillionaire feat. Z-Ro, "Denzel Washington" Wire To Wire Slim Thugga cut off his braids. Not sure ho ... More >>

Bayou Beat: Live Nation Goes All In, ZZ Top Tickets Up for Grabs, Meridian Rocks the Sabbath and More

Courtesy of Stephen "Rube" Sager Live Nation has outdone itself on its latest "No Service Fee" Wednesday. All day, $29.99 buys a lawn ticket - one lawn ticket, mind you - parking, all those pesky fees, a hot dog and a soda for any participating show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Once they ... More >>

Idol Beat: The One

Mea culpa: Yi. I typed this entire post - then accidentally closed the Mozilla Firefox window and lost everything. Let this be a lesson to every blogger out there: compose in Word. For real.Photos by Ray Mickshaw/ FoxAmerican Idol winner Kris Allen practices his "Who, me?" showbiz face. Let's not be ... More >>

For April 15: Five Movies About Taxes

April 15 each year brings with it the journalistic challenge of covering yet another "last-rush filers" story, or some clever way to say that it's the deadline for getting your return in. (We still wonder if anyone's ever been prosecuted because their return had an April 16 postmark.)The subject of ... More >>

Turning the Screw: UGK, DMX, Common, The Kanye, T.I., Ice Cube, Trick Daddy, Lil Keke 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: Hollywood F.L.O.S.S., "Attack of Hollywood" Wire To Wire The new UGK is really good. Buy it ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Dustin Prestige, Lupe Fiasco, Katy Perry/Travis McCoy, Dr. Dre, DJ AM, Lil' Kim, Damon Dash/Jay-Z, Talib Kweli 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: "Funny Valentine," Dustin Prestige Wire To Wire Lupe Fiasco, whom you'll remember recently announ ... More >>

The Secret Life of Bees Is All Honey, No Sting

Buzz Kill

Pat Metheny Trio: Day Trip

Rap's Rapidly Vanishing Female MC

The Why Chromosome

Chick Flick, Two Ways

In Keaton v. Heigl, girl power (Mad Money) trumps bridesmaid fashion (27 Dresses)

Hairspray

Movie musical of the musical of the movie is nowhere near divine

Just Released CDs

Anchor man?

Playing against type, Will Ferrell can't quite ground this artificially whimsical romantic comedy.

Something's Fishy

God Save the Queen

A talented rapper narrowly survives another lousy movie

The Impossible Bomb

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Cut and Paste

Beauty Shop is clipped straight from its predecessors

Summary of a Bad Black Movie

Tyler Perry's Diary will make audiences mad

Gettin' Windy in the City

The Chicago clip crew gleefully gabs on in Barbershop 2

Fallen Angels

Charlie’s high-flying heroines kick ass, but not the sequel syndrome

Phat Chance

Steve Martin almost gets Down with Queen Latifah, but they mostly strike out

Tango and Cash

Chicago dances its way through the origins of the celebrity crook

Weighty Rap Power

All Wet

In the latest Crichton-based thriller, there's nothing to fear but Sphere itself

Bill-bored

At least Tom Jones left the mesh shirt at home