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Blogs
May 7, 2012
Friday Night: Chamillionaire, Paul Wall & Z-Ro At Warehouse Live
Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Z-Ro Warehouse Live May 5, 2012 If you've been staying up nights worrying that Houston's rap legacy will be lost on the city's current crop of teens and young adults, go ahead and sleep soundly tonight. The crowd for Friday night's concert featuring local all-stars Chamil ... More >>
Blogs
May 1, 2012
Rap Round Table: Who's Going to Win the NBA Finals?
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: Bun B, Slim Thug, hasHBrown, Chane, Yung Truth, Preemo, Chuckway, Mac, Nosaprise, D-Risha Not Invited: Amar'e Stoudemire's brai ... More >>
Blogs
March 29, 2012
Last Night: Lil Keke & Friends All-Star Birthday Bash At House Of Blues
Lil Keke & Friends All-Star Birthday Bash House of Blues March 28, 2012 Screwed Up Click veteran Lil Keke has been helping shape the sound and style of Houston rap for better than 15 years. That's long enough to make a lot of friends in the game, and a whole bunch of them showed up onstage at House ... More >>
Blogs
March 19, 2012
Bun B's Birthday: "Murder" Still Kills
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: Slim Thug, Lil O, E.S.G., Delo, hasHBrown, Medicine Girl, Mac, Chane, more. Not Invited: Marcus This Week's Prompt: King ... More >>
Blogs
March 1, 2012
Trae Tha Truth Signs With T.I.'s Grand Hustle Label
Wednesday, Trae Tha Truth, protagonist in one of rap's perpetually involved narratives, announced that he'd joined with multiple Grammy winner T.I., signing to T.I.'s imprint Grand Hustle. Trae alluded to making a "big announcement" on Twitter the day before, though many expected it'd relate to ei ... More >>
Blogs
February 21, 2012
Marcus Manchild Tells VIBE -- And The Nation -- How To Be Trill
It's always nice to see local artists making national headlines, especially when they haven't a) killed someone; or b) died. It's even nicer when that artist is someone with whom Rocks Off has worked in the past. That's why when combing our social-media feeds, Rocks Off was pleasantly surprised to ... More >>
Blogs
February 1, 2012
Hip-Hop, Interrupted: 7 Rappers That Should Be More Active
Hip-hop is a genre full of guys who put out a new album or mixtape seemingly every single month. They just can't stop, even when they're incarcerated in some cases (see: Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and TI). It's as if rapping really is as much of a competition as they make it out to be and they're in a r ... More >>
Blogs
January 19, 2012
The Space City Beat Battle & The Best H-Town Producers Ever
Despite a venue conflict, the championship edition of the Space City Beat Battle will go on Saturday evening at the Mercury Room. If you've never been to one it's almost like watching a ritualistic rite of passage where cocksure arrogance and chest pounding reign supreme. Sample based producers who ... More >>
Blogs
January 9, 2012
Rap Round Table: What Are We To Think Of Rick Ross's New Mixtape, Rich Forever?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Bun B, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Killa Kyleon, A.D.D., Roderickvonn, Onehunnidt, Kyle Hubbar ... More >>
Blogs
January 6, 2012
Five Spot: The World's Ending? Nah, Bro. Here's What's Going To Happen In 2012, Guaranteed.
Well, the first week of 2012 is done, which, duh, means it's time for everyone to begin putting together their Best Of 2012 lists. We're working on ours already. Some doozies are included this time (75 Best Songs With Titles That Have The Letter "F" In Them; 31 Best Albums That Have Album Covers Tha ... More >>
Blogs
December 28, 2011
Tips For A Successful NYE from David Anderson, Houston's Party King
Remember that one awesome party, the invite-only one with the open bar that was sponsored by a liquor company, where everyone was beautiful and hip, and you got to mingle with Big Boi or Pharrell Williams or Bun B? Either you do remember, because you wish that every party you attended was half as am ... More >>
Blogs
December 23, 2011
Aftermath: ABN, Performing Together For The First Time Ever, at Warehouse Live
Photos by Barry Sigman11:04 p.m.: This is going to be a good show. Somehow, this is the first time of the universe that Trae and Z-Ro have performed as ABN, the group a lot of people were saying could've maybe been as nationally famous as the Geto Boys (the GB are, for certain, ABN's historic ... More >>
Music
December 22, 2011
Lil' Flip
Photos by Barry Sigman11:04 p.m.: This is going to be a good show. Somehow, this is the first time of the universe that Trae and Z-Ro have performed as ABN, the group a lot of people were saying could've maybe been as nationally famous as the Geto Boys (the GB are, for certain, ABN's historic ... More >>
Blogs
December 21, 2011
The Top 25 Songs From Houston Rap's Glorious 2011: The Mixtape
So here. These are the 25 best songs from Houston rap's glorious 2011. They've been pressed onto actual cassettes (not pictured above). We only made ten of them, because, fuck, it takes a long time. They are for sale ($600). And, as a way to honor the city's grey tape past while being entir ... More >>
Blogs
December 13, 2011
Ask A Rapper: These are the Best Non-Houston Samplings of Houston Rap
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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com.̴ ... More >>
Blogs
December 12, 2011
Rap Round Table: Who is the Best Shit-Talker in Rap Currently?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Bun B, Slim Thug, medicine Girl, O.N.E., Preemo, Chane, Delo, Chingo Bling, Doughb ... More >>
Blogs
December 8, 2011
"And A S.W.A.T Team in a Pear Tree": Hip Hop Christmas songs
Have you grown tired of hearing the same played out Christmas songs on 99.1 yet? Of course you have. Even if you avoid the radio, you hear the music at the grocery store, company holiday parties, even at bars you escape to in order to avoid holiday overcheer. It's almost depressing. Christmas ... More >>
Blogs
December 1, 2011
Slim Thug, Bun B, and Paul Wall Agree the Cougars are Kind of Awesome
Photo by Marc BrubakerWell, this is weird. There's an undefeated team in town. And with the 12-0 Cougars hosting Southern Miss this Saturday, H-town loyalty is understandably high. We now have the perfect anthem for this weekend's conference showdown, thanks to a triumvirate of Houston hip-ho ... More >>
Blogs
November 29, 2011
7 Houston Rap Tributes by Non-Houston Rappers
Are you happy with your current city? Yeah? Then feel free to ignore this list of rappers from other cities drooling over all things Houston. It's likely to breed envy. Some of these come from gushing fans and some are random, but the vast majority illustrate just how much rappers love Houston. Dig ... More >>
Blogs
November 28, 2011
Rap Round Table: What is the Best Pimp C Song of All Time
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: A Whole Bunch of Twitter Folks Not Invited: Facebook This Week's Prompt: The anniversary of the death of Pimp C is next week ... More >>
Blogs
November 21, 2011
Three Days of Thanks: Rap Round Table
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Not Invited: This Week's Prompt: There are a bunch of things we're responsible ... More >>
Blogs
November 17, 2011
Eat It: Houston Rappers Love to Write Songs About Eating
Photo by Chase Steely One thing Houston rappers are proficient in-besides rapping great-is eating well. Many of the more influential artists were/are big and fat: Fat Pat, Big Pokey, Big Moe, Big HAWK, Big Mello, and Big Steve. Even DJ Screw was a husky man. That's not to say that their wei ... More >>
Music
November 10, 2011
Rap Boom Reload
In 2005, rappers put Houston on the map. Then the spotlight moved on. Some musicians are working hard to turn it back this way.
Blogs
October 24, 2011
What Is The Best Bone Thugz-N-Harmony 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 here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Medicine Girl, Mug, Delo, hasHBrown, Floss, Young Sensation, Mic Skills ... More >>
Blogs
October 11, 2011
Ask A Rapper: Renzo
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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail. ... More >>
Blogs
October 10, 2011
Rap Round Table: Which Houston Rapper Needs His Own Television Show?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Pyrexx, Preemo, Chane, Z-Ro, Slim Thug's grunt, D-Risha, Medicine Girl, Renzo, Kyle Hubbard, D ... More >>
Blogs
September 30, 2011
UGK's Top 10 Most Insightful Songs, Part 1
blastro.comThere'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 >>
Music
September 29, 2011
A Band to Save Me
The first Best of Houston® BestFest makes itself at home in Midtown.
Blogs
September 24, 2011
BestFest: Slim Thug's Sweet Tooth, Against Me! Destroys, Bun B Trills
Photos by Marc BrubakerSlim ThugSlim Thug is in front of me eating a popsicle right now. That sums up the second half of my day pretty well. There was skanking at Los Skarnales - both kinds - and a surprise Baby Bash mini-set before Slim Thug came onstage. I forgot how much "Suga Suga" remind ... More >>
Blogs
September 24, 2011
BestFest: Bun B, Rap God; Toadies Close Out With A Shred
Photos by Marc BrubakerYou know who this is.It's hard to write about Bun B objectively anymore. Really, it is. He has ascended to where ever it is that people who are hard to write about objectively ascend to. It feels like, if he just did it with conviction, he could walk out on stage, take ... More >>
Music
September 22, 2011
Midtown Throwdown
Your guide to our very first Houston Press Best of Houston® BestFest.
Blogs
September 19, 2011
What Is Jay-Z's Best Album?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Bun B, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Chingo Bling, Chane, Pyr ... More >>
Blogs
September 15, 2011
Remember Killa Kyleon's Candy Paint and Texas Plates 2?
Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Killa Kyleon, who spent the formative part of his career caught in the empty air between Houst ... More >>
Blogs
September 8, 2011
15 Songs That Changed My Life: The Intern's Tale
The less antisocial among you know that talking about music is one of the best icebreakers there is. To get to know our staff a little better, Rocks Off will periodically be asking them to share a few songs that helped to shape their musical tastes - and character. We start with our youngest member, ... More >>
Blogs
August 19, 2011
The Great Grinding Debate: Which Song Is Freakiest?
Bun B: "I wouldn't know. At all."
Blogs
August 15, 2011
Rappers Onstage: Who's Dramatic Enough For Broadway?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Have something you've always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Photo illustration by John Seabor ... More >>
Blogs
July 28, 2011
The Most Ridiculous Houston Rap Rumors Ever
Earlier this week, Houston rapper Propain signed a deal with No Limit Records. Cool, except that he really didn't. See, and you likely didn't notice this because it's such a subversive part of the culture, but the environs of rap, themselves tedious and occasionally barbaric, are prime grou ... More >>
Blogs
July 5, 2011
Houston Rap, In The Most Graphic Possible Terms
Graphics by Shea SerranoHere at Rocks Off, we have some very talented writers who think so far outside the box it's more like a Palma Square lidded wicker basket from Crate & Barrel. One of these is Shea Serrano, whose unorthodox interviewing style has caused many an Artist of the Week design ... More >>
Blogs
June 30, 2011
Five Plot Points From 5200, Z-Ro's Latest Tape
About two weeks or so ago, Roel Osteen released 5200, a grab-bag mixtape of various clips of music that have appeared elsewhere online. It's a mostly fun tape. Notes ahead. One bulleted point for each of the fingers on his right hand. #PayingHomage The best song on the tape is "Southside Gr ... More >>
Blogs
June 23, 2011
Remember Lil Flip's #KissThePinkyRang?
Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Lil Flip #KissThePinkyRang (Self-released, 2011) Lil' Flip is, by even the most ardent applica ... More >>
Blogs
June 16, 2011
Bun B Discusses Pimp C's New Song, Rally Races And "The Sheik"
Marco TorresBun B at Free Press Summer Fest, June 4, 2011Yesterday, we linked to "Grippin' On the Wood," a churchy squish that unfurls into a snapshot of one of Southern rap's most engrossing talking points: Wooden steering wheels. Beyond simply being an enjoyable song, it's extra interesting ... More >>
Blogs
May 16, 2011
Rappers Agree, Almost, That There Is A God
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 GrayThis Week's Panel: Slim Thug, Bun B, KAB, Trae, ESG, Lil Flip, Kyle ... More >>
Blogs
May 6, 2011
Mr. Boomtown Coats Bun B, E-40 With "Candy Paint"
Marco TorresE-40 on the set of "Candy Paint"(phone rings) "What's up, this is Boom... Sure, I can do Boston... It's gonna cost ya." (click) The acclaimed music-video director and filmmaker Nahala Johnson, better known as Mr. Boomtown, sits inside of a Midtown bar one night last week, drink ... More >>
Blogs
May 6, 2011
More Local Music News Than Fighting Navy SEALs
It's not every week that Arcade Fire returns to the suburbs whose ennui inspired a Grammy-winning album, but it is every week that we bring a brimming local music roundup for all of our Rocks Off readers. Without further ado, we present the latest installment of Magnolia City Mixtape. Hot of ... More >>
Blogs
May 2, 2011
Last Night: Master P's Birthday Party At House Of Blues
Photos by Marco TorresSilkk the Shocker (left) and Master PMaster P's Birthday/No Limit Records 20th anniversary party House of Blues May 1, 2011 Apparently, there is a limit after all... and that limit is 20 minutes. That is exactly how long Percy Miller, aka Master P, graced us with his p ... More >>
Blogs
April 26, 2011
The Southern Way: UGK 's Top 12 Disciples
On April 26, 1988, 23 years ago today, UGK kicked off a long and influential career with the release of their cassette-only debut, The Southern Way. It's impossible to overstate the duo's Texas-sized influence on Southern rap. The slow-rolling, tough-talking grooves showcased on seminal albu ... More >>
Blogs
April 18, 2011
Which Houston Rapper Would Make The Best Mayor?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Slim Thug: "Me, of course." Photo illiustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Trae, Bun B, Slim T ... More >>
Blogs
March 29, 2011
What Are The Best Houston Rap Songs So Far This Year?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn GrayThis Week's Panel: Bun B, Propain, Devi Dev (97.9 The Box), Brad Gil ... More >>
Blogs
March 15, 2011
Comic-Book Alter Egos For Top Houston Rappers
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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email introducingliston@gmail.com ... More >>
Blogs
March 14, 2011
Summer Fest Adds Big Boi, Beirut, Girls, Killing Joke
Jermaine RogersFree Press Summer Fest has added four headliners to the two-day festival scheduled for June 4 and 5 in Eleanor Tinsley Park, organizers Free Press Houston and pegstar.net announced this morning. Atlanta rapper Big Boi (still one-half of OutKast, we think), Balkan-tinged indie- ... More >>
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