Russell Simmons

10 Things We Learned At The Awready! Houston Hip Hop Conference

The much-anticipated Awready! Houston Hip-Hop Music Conference was held Wednesday at the University of Houston, drawing in academics, screwheads, and media alike. The conference is a joint venture between the University of Houston Libraries and Rice University's H.E.R.E. Project (Houston Enriches Ri ... More >>

Shanti: Music's Top 10 Yoga Enthusiasts

This weekend, the Texas Yoga Conference hits town at the University of Houston Recreation and Wellness Center. It's like a big party where everyone practices yoga and learns or improves yoga techniques. At the end of the weekend, there will be musical performances by the Desert Dwellers, Tyagaraja, ... More >>

Occupy All Streets: Jay-Z Tries to Iron Out T-Shirt Controvery

​Jay-Z hasn't been in the right Empire State of Mind lately. First, the native New York mogul released an "Occupy All Streets" t-shirt on his clothing label, Rocawear. Then, the shirt was immediately taken off the online catalog following a backlash from critics. Then, it came back, but back o ... More >>

Professor Bun B Visits The OccupyHouston Protesters: "There's Strength In Numbers"

Photos by RizohBun B (left) with protestors at the Occupy Houston demonstration in front of city hall Tuesday.​If Occupy Wall Street was a song, it's sounding like a global hit right now. The movement continues to proliferate, with factions popping up in over 70 cities, including Boston, Chica ... More >>

Twin Miami Sound Machines Drive HBO's Latino List

Rocks Off is on the phone with perhaps one of the great photographers of this era, critically acclaimed and award-winning photojournalist Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. His brainchild, The Black List - a collection of intimate, up-close photos of the great black leaders and personalities of our time - ... More >>

Russell Simmons' Debit Cards: Capitalism Or Exploitation?

​Do you know what the last great consumer market is? It isn't iPad users. It's the opposite of your first instinct, people with disposable income. The last great consumer market, ladies and gentlemen, is the poor. And hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons knows this. He's launching a new pre-paid de ... More >>

What Is Houston Rap's Best Diss Song Ever?

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: Bun B, Fat Tony, Renzo, Kyle Hubbard, Brad Gilmor ... More >>

Feeling Darragh, D.R.U.M., Karina, Skarnales On The Showcase's Western Edge

Photos by Marco TorresHenry Darragh Quintet, a smooth oasis on a hot day.​How was your Saturday? We spent ours hopping from bar to bar, soaking in rays (inadvertently), and downing copious amounts of liquid refreshment. Oh yeah, and we managed to see eight bands in four hours. Dive in for our ... More >>

Cry for Yelp

The popular Web site has buckled to pressure, but it isn't enough.

Down on the Farm

The Humane Society and big agriculture slug it out over animal rights.

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 >>

Turning The Screw: All the Way, Z-Ro, Devin, Lil' O, UGK, Nicki Minaj, Ras Kass, Lil Wayne, Beyonce, Dre, Aziz Ansari, Wu-Massacre 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: "Bring The Kush Back Freestyle," ATW Attn: Houston's Underground Rappers: You are on notice. These two ... More >>

Brilliant Lecture Series: Russell Simmons

Web exclusive

In Honor of Michelle Obama and "Shortsgate," the Best Ass Songs of All Time

In a year when the biggest news stories aren't about war or the environment but a mentally unbalanced woman having a litter of children and the death of a creepy pop singer who hadn't put out a decent album in 25 years, it should come as no surprise that so many people would be up in arms ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Alice Cooper, BT, Drive-By Truckers, Neko Case, Skinny Puppy, Wanda Jackson, etc.

​Alice Cooper: Sun., Oct. 11. Verizon Wireless Theater. Bamboo: Fri., Oct. 2. Arena Theatre. Billy Joe Shaver: Sat., Nov. 28. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. BT: Fri., Sept. 4. Rich's Houston. Colin Hay: Sat., Oct. 17. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Dave Seaman: Fri., Nov. 27. Rich's Houston. Drive-By Truck ... More >>

Turning The Screw: Jay'Ton, Bushwick, Nas, Akon, Dre, Diddy, DJ Hero, Grandmaster Flash, The Kanye, T.I., Three 6 Mafia, Bubba Sparxxx, 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: "We Here," Jay'Ton feat. Trae and Yung Quis Wire To Wire: Nas is not a fan of Canada. Akon, who ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Dead End Alliance, Bun B, DMX, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, The Kanye, Beyonce 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: "Heart of a Hustler," Dead End Alliance feat. Lil Keke and Mike D Wire To WireHow bad-ass is Bun B that ... More >>

Chamillionaire's Inaugural Diary, Part 2: Scoping the D.C. Scene

Photos by Massa MohawkWhen I landed, I thought I was gonna see snow because I was told that it was six degrees in Washington, D.C. There wasn't any snow but it was so cold that I could feel the air piercing my ears and making my eyes water. Me and my travel party went straight from the airpor ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Von Won, Lil O, Ludacris, Flo Rida, the Roots, Suge Knight, Too $hort, The Kanye, Ghostface Killah 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.       (Churchy) Single of the Week:  "I Love You," Von Won     Wire To Wire     ... More >>

Not Your Father's N-Word

Eight months after its "burial," the American language's most dangerous epithet is more popular than ever in hip-hop

Billion Dollar Babies

Rappers and their ten-figure dreams

The Popcorn King

Rush Hour 3 director Brett Ratner has been called a fauxteur, a womanizer and, worse, over budget. Why you should take him seriously anyway.

Geography with Pimp C

Rap Not So Macho

Baller's Ball

Where to party this All-Star Weekend

Sole Sister

The Alley Theatre's Bad Dates is a shoe-in

Freak Show

Unfair and Unbalanced

Ludacris rankles the white pride of the National Alliance and Bill O'Reilly

Turntable Roundtable

Hip-hop notables get together to rap about responsibility

G Unit

Beg for Mercy (Interscope)

Dem Blues

The left, turning right, was plain wrong to attack pop culture

Made With Love

Rosanne Cash is the friend who will say, or sing, what you can't

True Dat

A Run-act play starring the Simmons brothers, Russell and the Rev

Cyber Phantom

DJ Spooky is a friendly digital ghost, unless you happen to be Tricky

Kamikaze Rap

Public Enemy's Chuck D. speaks

That's the Breaks

Houston rap labels and their artists look for that big deal

Action Incorporated

Make way for Master P's low-end version of Hollywood

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