Tupac Shakur

The Houston 100: From Scarface to Robert Earl Keen

Houston, Texas, America, Meet Huntzville...and Watch the Eff Out

Hard to believe it's been 20 years since gangsta rap went overground with N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton. Through Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg to Tupac and Eminem, it launched most of hip-hop's biggest stars for a good decade, but these days even artists like T.I. and Lil Wayne have sacrificed serious st ... More >>

Static

Hard to believe it's been 20 years since gangsta rap went overground with N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton. Through Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg to Tupac and Eminem, it launched most of hip-hop's biggest stars for a good decade, but these days even artists like T.I. and Lil Wayne have sacrificed serious st ... More >>

Dead Man Acting

Hollywood never realized that Tupac Shakur was always better than his movies

Rapumentary

Hollywood never realized that Tupac Shakur was always better than his movies

Riding the Rap

A new book chronicles the bloody rise and fall of Death Row Records

Rotation

A new book chronicles the bloody rise and fall of Death Row Records

Cool Brains! Inprint Reading Series: Jacqueline Woodson

The Newbery Award-winning writer looks at life after Tupac Shakur

Biggie, Small

Notorious B.I.G., made B.L.A.N.D.

Huntzville's School-Shooting Song Raises an Even More Disturbing Issue

Notorious B.I.G., made B.L.A.N.D.

Music to Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil

Notorious B.I.G., made B.L.A.N.D.

Top 10 Most Hated Rappers

Who made the shit list

Buckshot & 9th Wonder

Chemistry

Scenes from a Picnic

Willie, Dylan, Kinky and the Ghost of Bob Willis descends on Fort Worth. Wack is there too.

Letters

Willie, Dylan, Kinky and the Ghost of Bob Willis descends on Fort Worth. Wack is there too.

The Gospel According to Pac

An argument for a new holy day: Pacmas

'Pac, Man

The officially sanctioned Tupac Shakur biopic emerges, and it's quite money

Mag Hags

What's wrong with the state of music journalism -- and how to fix it

Boogie Nights

The Groove Collective

Rotation

The Groove Collective

Ask a Rapper: Savvi of H.I.S.D.

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 things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to introducingliston@gmail.com.www. ... More >>

El Franco Lee II: "Visual Harassment"

Houston's resident urban mannerist takes a hard look at life in black America

Maybe Miley Would Be Better Off Dead Like Selena, Kurt and These Others...

In case you missed it - and if you value your immortal soul, we're sure you did - Hannah Montana star/future tell-all memoir author Miley Cyrus unveiled a newer, more "mature" look last weekend at the only venue appropriate for such things: the Teen Choice Awards. Nothing says "successful transitio ... More >>

Five Spot: Congratulations to Trae and His Family on the Birth of His New Son

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com.​In June 2007, we became papa to twin boys. It was wild. And they were so, s ... More >>

The Top Rock-Star Death Conspiracies: Elvis, Michael, Kurt, Tupac and More

It seems that the stranger and weirder our world gets by the day, humanity struggles to find reasons behind all this calamity and tragedy. We try our best to find conclusions to why bad things happen, and when we can't fully fathom that the awful truth is just that, instead try to blame the influen ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 7: Fat Pat's Ghetto Dreams

Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. We're counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Fat Pat Ghetto Dreams (Wreckshop Records, 1998) ​During the course of resear ... More >>

The Kids Are All Right: Hip-Hop Finally Comes of Age, Part 1

​While year-end, catch-all wrap-ups are common to every musical genre, in no other style of music do they turn into the hand-wringing, "state of the game" examinations that hip-hop seems to provoke. We worry because we care, of course. But at some point, like a thirty-something parent, those of us ... More >>

Felony: It Would Be a Crime Not to Listen

Every Friday, Rocks Off will beam hip-hop artists into our demented, imaginary, incredibly witty, fantasy world of pretend scenarios. We predict it'll soon be known as a feared interrogation of hip-hop artists, revealing their innermost thoughts and desires. In reality, it's just a fucking cool Q&am ... More >>

Y'all Musta Forgot: Big Mello's Bone Hard Zaggin'

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. Big Mello Bone Hard Zaggin' (Rap-A-Lot/Priority, 1992) Big Mello, "Love Don't Love Nobody"​Big Mell ... More >>

Smoot On Shamed Texans LB Brian Cushing

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 it to introducingliston@ ... More >>

"Rap Song Or Murder Ballad" Revealed

​ Rocks Off is really enjoying these little quizzes we've concocted, because it gives us a chance to revisit some of our favorite rap tunes and bask in the comforting knowledge that, whatever their time, place and circumstance of origin, songs about killing are pretty much all the same. We only wi ... More >>

The Murderabilia Controversy: Does Tupac Count?

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 it to introducingliston@ ... More >>

Come as You Are

Pop muses help break the bond to Plush Lounge's previous ­occupant.

Is Tupac Really One Of The Top Five MCs 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: Trae, Mr. Lee, V-Zilla, Fat Tony, Candi Redd, Yung ... More >>

The Top 10 Female-Friendly Rap Songs

streethop.comLadies Love Cool James: LL Cool J on The View​Chris Rock once said that women don't pay attention to rap lyrics. Truth be told, most casual hip-hop fans - male and female - rarely pay attention to lyrics. As long as the beat is catchy, they'll drop down and get their eagle on all ... More >>

Top 10 Musical Wikileaks We'd Like To See

Bigger than Bowie and Bing, we tell you.​Ever since WikiLeaks began the publication of what is claimed to be over a quarter-million United States embassy cables last week, we've been pondering what secrets, phenomenon and other ephemera could be lingering out there in the music world, awaiting ... More >>

1991: Best Music Year Ever?

Rocks Off Sr.'s choice for 1991's best album.​1991 was one of the biggest years in modern music. It was when metal went pop, radio country ruled, grunge went mainstream, and rap began its climb to chart dominance, even if it was spearheaded by a white candy rapper from Dallas. There were man ... More >>

Friday Night: Snoop Dogg At House Of Blues

Larami Culbertson​Snoop Dogg House of Blues March 18, 2011 11:08 p.m.: Just walked in. Snoop just stepped onstage a second ago. This place is packed. The ticket lady said that there were already over 1,400 people inside, likely with a couple hundred more to follow soon. Should be fun. 11:10 ... More >>

Tupac Shakur: Who Should Play Him In Upcoming Movie?

​Think you've got what it takes to portray the embodiment of rap music? Let's be honest: You probably don't, but you can still throw your bandana in the ring and audition online for the starring role in an upcoming Tupac biopic. There's no guarantee that the role will take your rap career any ... More >>

Tupac's "Dear Mama": Best Rap Song About Moms 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. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Delo, Mac, hasHBrown, Roosh ... More >>

10 Great Instances Of Rappers Honoring Other Rappers

​People often forget that hip-hoppers are humans, too. They breathe, sleep, eat, and salivate at the sight of buttermilk donuts just like us. And, every now and then, they'll geek over other rappers, just like us. It would have been so much easier to compile a list of rappers dissing other ra ... More >>

Five Posthumous Rap Albums Up For Debate

​Recently, and with a certain amount of controversy, Rap-A-Lot made available a bundle of previously unreleased songs disguised as a new Pimp C album. Posthumous records are unsafe footing. It's entirely capable that they can be built into capable, glorious, heartbreaking goodbyes; in 2009, ... More >>

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 >>

10 Rappers In The Guinness Book Of World Records*

*At one point or another Marco TorresComing in at No. 10...​The Guinness Book of World Records has always been a fascinating and somewhat random thing to be a part of. Some people strive to be in the book to get noticed, while others get in the book completely by accident for good and bad th ... More >>

What's The Best Rap Song About A Girlfriend, Wife Or Side Chick?

Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​For shame. Generally, the way Rap Round Table works is Rocks Off sends out a question of varying importance each week to rappers for them to discuss. About two years of doing this column has taught us that the best way to get responses is to do it on T ... More >>

Ask A Rapper: Discussing the Six Worse Rap Collaborations Ever

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 >>

Six Examples of Really Bad Mixtape Cover Art

​When Das Racist came to Fitzgerald's this past October, we got to chat with the subject of this Frida Kahlo knockoff painting: Lakutis. While standing on the upstairs balcony before they went on stage, the group's hypeman's hypeman told us that MishkaNYC was putting out his very first mixtape ... More >>

Rap Round Table: If You Could Only Listen To One Musician For All Of Time, Who Would It Be?

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: Killa Kyleon, Zavey, kyle Hubbard, Brad Gilmore, Mac, Doughbeezy, A.D.D., Medicine Girl, more. Not Invited: The guy at our sons' ... More >>

One Year After Woman Gets Masters In The Beatles, We Hunt Down Most Bizarre College Music Courses

photo via torontolife.com​ A year ago today, Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy of Ontario became the first person in the world to earn a master's degree in The Beatles. I'm not quite sure what she's doing now, but I do know she could probably kick anyone's ass in Beatles trivia. This little anniversa ... More >>

Before We Cared: 10 Bit Players Who Became Superstars

"Whole Lotta Love" it wasn't.​On this day in 1965, British songstress Petula Clark reached number one on the charts with "Downtown," a pop classic with an unforgettable hook that has become a mainstay of oldies radio, film soundtracks and TV advertisements in the years since. The song even se ... More >>