UGK (Band)

Nas' Biggest Fan Lives In Houston, With the Tattoos to Prove It

Think about your favorite musician for a minute. Do you remember the first time you heard his or her voice? Can you relate each album or song to a different stage or major occurrence in your life? How many times have you seen him or her (or them) in concert, let alone met and engaged them in conver ... More >>

The Texas 30: Texas' 10 Best Rap Albums

Texas rap has played no small part in hip-hop's history. More specifically, Houston (and of course P.A.) rap has played no small part in hip-hop's history. (There are other cities in Texas, I hear, though with the exception of Dallas's brief swag-based blip, they've, to this point, remained largely ... More >>

The 30 Best Texas Albums

Ranking the 30 best Texas albums of the past 30 years seemed like an impossible task. We did it anyway.

Saturday Night: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at House of Blues

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis House of Blues Bronze Peacock Room November 3, 2012 When he was in grade school, Seattle-born rapper Ben "Macklemore" Haggerty thought he was gay. He was artistic, kept his room tidy, and his uncle was openly homosexual, so he did what any ten-year-old boy would do: He freak ... More >>

6 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Dinosaur Jr., Some Stones, Big K.R.I.T., Optimo Radio, etc.

Dinosaur Jr. Friday, Fitzgerald's Dinosaur Jr. may be one of the most underrated indie-rock acts of the past 25 years. They weren't as sexy as Pearl Jam or as populist as Nirvana, but the music dripping from the instruments of the criminally-unsung J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph has ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T.

Saturday Night: Action Bronson at Numbers

Action Bronson Numbers September 22, 2012 After working hundreds of concerts over the last three years, most of them being rap and hip-hop shows, I feel like if I've seen one rap show, I've seen them all. The rapper arrives late, takes the stage past midnight, gives respect to Pimp C and DJ Screw, ... More >>

The 5 Best Fat Tony Lyrics Involving Food and Drink

Rappers and food go together like peanut butter and bacon (trust me here): Bun B is a well-known supporter of Houston's food scene -- and especially its food trucks. This past Thursday night, the Houston rapper (and one half of rap duo UGK) was spotted at Grand Prize Bar chowing down on some of The ... More >>

Bun B: The Trill OG Crosses The Gumball 3000 Finish Line

After leaving the Gumball 3000 afterparty in Las Vegas, I made it back to my hotel at about 4:30 a.m. The plan was to sleep for a few hours, then head to Los Angeles, where the rally was set to arrive at the finish line on Hollywood Blvd. Originally, I was going to hitch a ride with one of the Gumb ... More >>

A GAY ISLAND??: The Best & Worst Facebook Responses To Bun B Supporting Gay Marriage

When President Barack Obama said in an interview last week that he supported same-sex marriage, it lit up the Internet with discussion. The dialogue split between those championing the president's words, and his detractors damning him (again) for going against what they saw as biblical and social no ... More >>

Rap Round Table: The Best Skit On A Rap Album Is...

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: Kyle Hubbard, Preemo, Rob Gullatte, Chuckway, Propain, Delo, Renzo, Yung Truth, Show, Brad Gilmore, more. Not Invited: W. Balls ... More >>

Mudbug Music: The Perfect Soundtrack for Your Next Crawfish Boil

Fat Pat's "Tops Drop" on the way to buy the crawfish in Kemah and UGK's "Wood Wheel" for the drive back. These are just two of the songs that Rocks Off's Nathan Smith recommends to start your day-long crawfish boiling festivities. If you think that zydeco music and only zydeco music is the right ac ... More >>

Last Night: Big K.R.I.T. At Fitzgerald's

Photos by Marco Torres​Big K.R.I.T. Fitzgerald's February 22, 2012 Big K.R.I.T. ended his set at Fitzgerald's on Wednesday, hand on chest, with a debut performance of his new single, "I Got This," his gift to Houston for supporting his brand of Southern-fried rap. The crowd had cheered him li ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

UGK's Top 10 Most Insightful Songs, Part 2

As Rocks Off continues our countdown of UGK's Most Insightful Tracks, it's important to point out that this isn't a "best of" list. Perhaps this is a safer route, but it doesn't make the list any less important. Especially as we break into the Top 5, the joking in Part 1 subsides and things get seri ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

Forrest Gump & Other "Generation-Defining" Soundtracks

​The Forrest Gump soundtrack debuted on June 28, 1994, a week ahead of the film itself, which would go on to smash box-office records, win numerous awards and become one of the most beloved movies of the past 20 years. It is still endlessly quotable, emotional, and entertaining, and the soundt ... More >>

New UGK/Big K.R.I.T. Song Holds Fast To That Wood

smokingsection.uproxx.com​It's not quite up to Tupac-level proportions yet, but UGK keeps pouring out that prime Southern rap unencumbered by Pimp C's untimely December 2007 demise. The latest track, leaked by the Smoking Section this morning, is the expertly sculpted ode to steering wheels " ... More >>

UGK's Top Five Most Underrated Songs

​UGK has churned out tons of hits over the last couple of decades, with more promised. Still, there's a bunch of notable songs that never gained the recognition they deserved. In the second installment of our Southern Way celebration, behold UGK's most underappreciated cuts. We decided to kee ... More >>

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 >>

Wu-Tang Clan's Best Pop-Culture References

​Rocks Off can't rightfully remember the last time the whole Wu-Tang Clan was ever in Houston, if they ever have been. For some reason, we keep wanting to think they came once with Rage Against The Machine around 1997. In 2007, they came to Dallas on the Rock The Bells summer tour with Nas, Ta ... More >>

Bun B's Seven Most Obscure Guest Features

Photos by Marco TorresBun B at House of Blues, August 2010​From coast to coast, Bun B is one of the hardest working man in hip-hop. In the course of his century-long career, he's managed to collaborate with nearly every artist in the universe, including some you've probably never heard of. Wal ... More >>

What Is The Best Pimp C Verse Of All Time?

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: Bun B, Trae,Yung Redd, Lil' Flip, Fat Pimp, H-Kan ... More >>

Hollywood F.L.O.S.S.'s Xperiment: Build Your Own Mixtape

kevinnottingham.com​Recently, Hollywood F.L.O.S.S., or as we've unofficially taken to calling him, The 135-Pound Smile, set to work on promoting Xperiment 2, a hybrid mixtape/self-marketing ploy. Rather than simply sending out a completed mixtape to various media outlets, he sent out a sort ... More >>

The Year of Magical Thinking

How Bun B dealt with Pimp C's death.

Help Rocks Off Adjust This Year's HPMA Categories

Jay Lee2009 HPMA Best Blues, Best Guitarist and Local Musician of the Year Little Joe Washington​Rocks Off is about to take the first steps down the long and winding road to this year's Houston Press Music Awards in late July, but we'd like our readers' help with something first. We will be revisi ... More >>

Five Spot: Five Obscure UGK Features, With Downloadable Links

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​Yo, maybe you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's some concerts an ... More >>

The Hot Seat: Lee-Coc, Richmond Revolutionary

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 most-inner thoughts and desires. In reality, it's just a fucking cool Q&a ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 1: Mike Jones' Who Is Mike Jones?

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 it to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Mike Jones Who Is Mike Jones? (Asylum, 2005) ​Before you fire off some ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown, No. 2: UGK's Ridin' Dirty

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 it to sheaserrano@gmail.com. UGK Ridin' Dirty (Jive, 1996) ​When UGK first came into focus with th ... More >>

Aftermath: Goodie Mob at House of Blues, With a Completely Unexpected Bun B Cameo

Photos by Marco Torres / Click here for a slideshow​9:25 p.m.: Standing in line to pick up tickets with the photographer, Bun B happens to walk up right behind us. (The Bun B Law of Inevitability is infallible.) I turn around and tell him hello and that we've spoken on the time several times ... More >>

Five Spot: The Kanye Is Not Going To Act Like A Dick In 2010... Until He Does

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. ​We take in a ton of music each week... turns out that's actually a major p ... More >>

It Was What It Was

Amid a wash of national phooey, plucking Houston rap's pivotal 2009 moment is easy.

Five Spot: The First Annual Pimp C Hip-Hop Health and Wellness Fair

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​Today marks the two-year anniversary of Pimp C's death. Quick a ... More >>

Five Spot: A Crap N.O.R.E. Track Reminds Us of Bun B's Better Days

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.Marco Torres​ Yesterday, N.O.R.E. released "Set Trip," a wispy, "Look How Tough I Am," available-via-Internet tr ... More >>

Ask a Rapper: Scooby of G.R.I.T. Boys Gives Us the Three Greatest Houston Rap Groups Ever, Including His Own

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 >>

High-Fiving T-Pain, Wondering Why We Can't Quit Plies' "Plenty Money"

[Note: Thursday night T-Pain, Wale and DJ MOS performed a private concert at downtown nightclub Venue. Our man Shea Serrano was on the red carpet and inside.] Photos by Larami Culbertson"Is it true what they say about the size of a man's chain?"​ 9:17 p.m.: Yo, the PR camp from Heineken, that comp ... More >>

A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas: Houston and "Brazoria"

The final installment of our Five States of Texas project brings it all back home, to the new state of Brazoria, encompassing all of Southeast Texas from the Brazos Valley to Sabine Pass. ​Patron Saint: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. A master of rock and roll, country, Cajun/Creole, blues and jazz, n ... More >>

MP3 of the Day: H-Town Underground All-Stars

Mark C. AustinB L A C K I E holds court at Dean's on Showcase Sunday.​ We heard a rumor bubble up a while ago about how a couple of the Houston Press Best Underground Hip-Hop nominees were supposed to be working on a group track together. There was even supposed to be a co-sign from Bun B worked i ... More >>

The H-Town Countdown: Setting the Table

Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. For the next six months, we'll be counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email it to sheaserrano@gmail.com.​For the last few weeks we have pored over ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Chamillionaire & Z-Ro, UGK, Slim Thug, Trae Day, Chris Brown, Meth & Red, Diddy, MCA, O.G. Style 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: Chamillionaire feat. Z-Ro, "Denzel Washington" Wire To Wire Slim Thugga cut off his braids. Not sure ho ... More >>

Five Spot: The Illustrious Dustin Prestige

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.We suspect the goal of every music writer is to be able to answer "Who are you ... More >>

Five Spot: Flying the Mddl Fngz

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.Mddl Fngz is a hard hitting (and totally texter-friendly) rap group that forme ... More >>

Don’t Fight It! featuring Dave Wrangler, Piss Heavy and Young $quaddy

Don’t Fight It! featuring Dave Wrangler, Piss Heavy and Young $quaddy

Midtowners meet the Montrose on the dance floor

R.I.P. Pimp C

Remembering a Down South Legend

Underground Kingz

CD review

Houston Hip-Hop

Mike Watts and his stable of northside rappers take a southside legend's style to the masses