Rodney King

Five Ways the Cell Phone Camera Has Changed the Way We Live

When I was a kid, I used to follow my dad around with a Kodak Instamatic he got me from a drugstore. He was the pro in the family, shooting photos for magazines and for himself. Like most shutterbugs, he had an ample collection of lenses and camera bodies. When I turned 12, he bought me my first rea ... More >>

Start the Revolution! 10 Songs About Historical Events

If you ever look at music throughout time, along with a history book -- they kind of complement each other. Some of the greatest songs in rock, R&B and rap have chronicled history both social, major news events, sports, entertainment and political. In my opinion, many times, the song is about what ... More >>

Readers Poll: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Vs. "Welcome To The Jungle"

Sometimes the hardest questions to ask are also the most fun, at least when it comes to pop music, because you end up managing to illicit the most angry and passionate responses. Which is exactly what happened when we pit two bands and their most damaged fist-pumping anthems against one another. N ... More >>

5 Songs For International Day Against Police Brutality

Police brutality is definitely a real thing. Cases range from synchronized actions by oppressive regimes to curtail the populace to isolated incidents of extremely poor decisions making by rage-based authorities. Distinguishing between and guarding against police brutality is as difficult as it is ... More >>

Hands-On Experience

Dozens of teenage Explorers have been sexually abused by police officers. Critics say the Boy Scouts, who oversee the program, should share the blame.

UGK's Top 10 Most Insightful Songs, Part 1

blastro.com​There's a big difference between being a fanatic and fan of someone's music. We all know this, but let's spell it out for the slow kids in class. For instance, Rocks Off is a fanatic of Death Cab for Cutie. We love their deep cuts as much as the widely known "Soul Meets Body." We ... More >>

April 29, 1992: Ten Songs About The L.A Riots

​It was 19 years ago today that the Los Angeles riots began after four white police officers, caught on videotape beating the African-American Rodney King after a drug-fueled high-speed chase, were acquitted by a Simi Valley, Calif. jury. The rest of the world watched in shock and sadness as ... More >>

Notes from an Obscure Car Chase

Tased and confused on West 11th.​So last night I am cycling home, listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast about the Red Army's sacking of Berlin. As I pedal up North Shepherd near the 11th Street Kroger, Carlin regaling me with tale after tale of unspeakable Red Army atrocities, a m ... More >>

The Odd Afterlife Of House Of Pain's "Jump Around"

A couple of weeks ago, Rocks Off told our younger brother, eight years our junior, that we were interviewing legendary '90s hip-hop group House of Pain. He gave us a confused look. So we started singing: "Jump around. Jump around. Jump up and up and get down." "Oh yeah, the song from Mrs. Doub ... More >>

The Odd Afterlife Of House Of Pain's "Jump Around"

​A couple of weeks ago, Rocks Off told our younger brother, eight years our junior, that we were interviewing legendary '90s hip-hop group House of Pain. He gave us a confused look. So we started singing: "Jump around. Jump around. Jump up and up and get down." "Oh yeah, the song from Mrs. ... More >>

That Long-Awaited HPD Beating Video Is Out

The video is out​KTRK has managed to get its hands on the long-awaited security footage that shows Houston police officers hitting and kicking a teenaged burglary suspect as he's in custody. From the initial reports by people who'd seen it when the incident happened last year, you might have ... More >>

Cop-Beating Video Will Stay Under Seal: Judge Agrees It's Gonna Go Viral Big-Time

Rodney King might be wondering if Houston can get along​A federal judge has ruled that the video of Houston cops beating a 16-year-old handcuffed suspect will be kept under wraps until trial, and his reasoning gives even more credence to the theory that when it finally comes out, it's going to be ... More >>

The 5 Scariest Things About Denny's

boost ventilatorBasically an entire goddamn Grand Slam Breakfast between two slices of bread.​In the recent kerfluffle regarding Denny's new sandwich, the Fried Cheese Melt, we seem to have forgotten that it's far from the only reason to be afraid of the 24-hour restaurant chain. Allow us to r ... More >>

HPD Chief McClelland Understands "Frustration" Over Misdemeanor Beating Charges

Photo by groovehousePull over when you see the red lights, people​At a news briefing earlier today, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland appeared sympathetic to those in the community who are upset that the officers involved in the alleged beating of a handcuffed teenaged burglary suspect, whic ... More >>

HPD Beating Video: Just Waiting To Bust Viral On The Net

The Rodney King video -- about to get a reprise in Houston?​Reports are everywhere about eight Houston police officers allegedly caught on tape beating a suspect. But the worst is no doubt yet to come, when the video eventually gets released.Mayor Annise Parker tried to describe what's seen on the ... More >>

Pop Rocks: God Bless You, Kiefer Sutherland

​Like it or not, this is the Celebrity Gossip Era, and unless our journalistic tastes swing away from meagerly credentialed blowhards opining about pop culture in favor of scholarly treatises about global trade policy, this state of affairs isn't going to change anytime soon. But if you ask m ... More >>

Houston's Choice for Mayor

Black Guy, Rich White Guy, Lesbian or Hispanic Republican

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: The Garden

South Central’s largest community garden grows vegetables — and controversies

Sober House: Vegas Odds

Okay, so I don't actually understand betting odds. (Like, if it's five to one are those bad odds or good odds? Or what?) Regardless, I can tell you I've been making my own little guesstimates on who is going to survive VH1's "Sober House" (which is the more measured, more intimate "Celebrity Reh ... More >>

Bell Biv DeVoe

Capsule Stage Reviews: ...and L.A. Is Burning, Beatrice and Benedict, The Strangerer

Capsule Stage Reviews: The Altruists, ...and L.A. Is Burning, Cav/Pag, The Strangerer

Capsule Stage Reviews: The Altruists, ...and L.A. Is Burning, Cav/Pag, The Strangerer

...and L.A. Is Burning

Revisit the L.A. riots in a brand-new comedy (yes, a comedy) in Y. York's ...and L.A. Is Burning at Main Street Theater

Neil LaBute's Lakeview Terrace

Racial tension, above and below the surface

The Roots Will Not Apologize

?uestlove and company: Those who don't like our angriest album can step right off

Cedric's tha Bomb

Shining Star

Toll-Free Hassle

When good EZ TAGs go bad

How Long, Oh, Lord, How Long

Another outpost of crap plops onto the Houston dial, as this open letter reveals

Strings Attached

Will Linden move on to become a music mecca or fall beneath the weight of a racist past?

Animal Magnetism

Lawndale fashions an exhibition of work by artists about their pets

The Pitch

In 1988, Ron Shelton made Bull Durham. In 2002, it couldn't be done.

Knight Falls

Everything old is mold again when a brotha from another hood lands in medieval times

Prepare for Landing

The appropriately named Jet Li may prove Americans are finally primed for Far East mayhem

Night & Day

June 11 - 17, 1998

Situational Ethics

As Jew Don Boney has moved upward in public life, have his values changed to meet his needs rather than those of his constituents?

Lee Brown's Crown Heights Problem

Press Picks

Press Picks

Have Your Money Ready

It costs to get in the International Festival, but the smokes are free

B.S. 101

John Singleton's Higher Learning fails to make the grade

Crazy Child

Martin Lawrence has a mean mouth, but a mild mind