Salt-N-Pepa

Bow Down to Beyonce's Potty Mouth, Bitches

Ooh, Beyonce! I see your potty mouth, and I kinda like it. Sunday evening, Queen B released a new song last night on Tumblr, "Bow Down/I Been Down," and there's a mass hysteria a-flowin' from the general public over it, as one would expect. It's freakin' Beyonce. I mean, who doesn't love thems ... More >>

7 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Fiskadoro, BT, Hickoids, The 71's, Etc.

Patently unclassifiable locals Fiskadoro ("post-punk"... maybe?) welcomes synth-punk act mnttaB all the way from Melbourne, Australia to notsuoH Friday night. Check out mnttaB's Bandcamp page; it's definitely the closest you'll get to seeing Suicide in Houston (this weekend anyway... we hear Suicide ... More >>

Rapper's Delight

North Houston's shrine to old-school hip-hop may be the only bar of its kind anywhere.

For Labor Day: 10 Songs About Childbirth

kidzcareonline.com​Cyril Connolly said "There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall." The famed English literary critic knew, like several here at Rocks Off, that having kids puts a hell of a dent in a parent's free time, and the constant demands of children can make at ... More >>

1986: Best Musical Year Ever?

​For almost two weeks now, Rocks Off has been obsessed with the year exactly 25 flips of the calendar backward from this one. It started when Steve Earle did one of his "Time Machine" shows, where the singer-songwriter who plays House of Blues Wednesday spotlights a dozen or so of his favorite ... More >>

Sloppy Seconds

The divine secrets of the Eskimo sisterhood in Something Borrowed.

Who Was The Best Female Artist Of The '90s?

The album that started the whole thing.​Rocks Off Sr. was straightening up our office a few days ago, something that happens like clockwork every time Middle Eastern governments start toppling like dominos. In one of the piles and piles of al fresco CDs, we ran across two of our favorite album ... More >>

Ten Rock-Star Crushes We Still Haven't Outgrown

​Artists like Elvis Presley, Madonna, and Mick Jagger undoubtedly helped define the consumate rock star crush. But there have been a handful of worthy others along the way - armed with that certain je ne se quoi - who haven't left our radar. Years later, turns out we're still smitten with thi ... More >>

Krunkquistadors Also Keep It Trill After Hours

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 sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Last month, seven-piece ... More >>

Upcoming: Clay Aiken, The Cult, Old 97's, Smashing Pumpkins, Etc.

​36 Crazyfists, Straight Line Stitch, Taking Dawn: Wed., Sept. 29. Scout Bar Clear Lake. Attack Attack!, Emmure, Pierce The Veil, Of Mice & Men, In Fear & Faith: Thu., Dec. 2. House of Blues. Bob Schneider: Fri., Nov. 12. House of Blues. Bright Men Of Learning: Sat., Sept. 18, 3 p.m. Cactu ... More >>

Airing It Out

The patio is the place to be at Washington Avenue lounge Brixx.

Justin Bieber Chopped & Screwed

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. H.I.S.D. "Lando" Music Video (PeaceUvMine.com) from PeaceUvMine on Vimeo. Single of the Week: "Lando," HISD Wire to Wire Sc ... More >>

Artist of the Week: Independent Women and Boss Chicks the Gutta Mamis

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 sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​ Know this: There has never b ... More >>

Rap's Rapidly Vanishing Female MC

The Why Chromosome

Drenched In Blog: Car Stereo (Blogs)

Merry Christmas, Beeyotch!

Forget caroling. Here are a few hip-hop jammy-jams to warm your yule log.

Not on Your Nelly!

Nelly Furtado refused to forget her roots or dress like a tramp. She won a Grammy anyway.

Blowin' Smoke

Ted Demme and Denis Leary are a match made in effin' heaven

Rap Space

Will hip-hop ever find a home in Houston?

Weighty Rap Power

Big Talker

From the Geto Boys to his new nationally syndicated radio show, Willie D has kept his mouth moving. But where his rap was once down and dirty, not it's--gasp!--respectable. Has the gangsta of love sold out, or just grown up?

Welcome to the Third World

Bob Harper created a universe from trash, using only his hands, his heart, and a load of imagination