Usher (Entertainer)

Chart Check: R. Kelly

Playbill

Usher's Security Don't Take No Mess

Photos by Craig Hlavaty Click here for a slideshow Last night at one of the last stops on Usher's"Ladies Only" tour, I realized that I was one of maybe two dozen or so dudes in attendance. And I was working the damn thing, so even then. I don't think it was the tour's name that account ... More >>

Five Spot: Smoove Up In Ya

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. Michael Keith, formerly one-fourth of R&B man-band 112, has released a solo album. (He's not the guy tha ... More >>

Made in Houston

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. Michael Keith, formerly one-fourth of R&B man-band 112, has released a solo album. (He's not the guy tha ... More >>

Usher : Here I Stand

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. Michael Keith, formerly one-fourth of R&B man-band 112, has released a solo album. (He's not the guy tha ... More >>

R. Kelly, Double Up

Welcome to R. Kelly's sex planet

Chris Brown

The fleet-footed teen idol's latest

In with the New

Despite doom-and-gloom predictions, 2006 wasn't at all bad

Bunnyface Killahs

A veteran Liverpudlian rock band and a kung-fu-obsessed Staten Island MC have more in common than you think

Uncorking the Truth on Nuwine

How to go from Christian to crunkster in six short years

Souchin' into Bethlehem

Greg Wood's latest health scare costs him a few pounds of flesh and almost takes his arm

Trend-Spotting

In a scandal-ridden election year, the year's top ten music stories were all about winning the popular vote

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming, and dig this year's buried black-music treasures

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming and dig this year's buried black-music treasures

Trend-Spotting

In a scandal-ridden election year, the year's top ten music stories were all about winning the popular vote

Anarchy in da USA

Looking for the true spirit of the Ramones? Try going to an underground hip-hop show.

Feelings, Nothing But Feelings

The New York Times misses the point in its attack on "rockism"

Songs Of Freedom

Perhaps the candidates running in the 2004 election could use some help selecting their campaign music

On Da Lingo

Tracing Houston roots in three omnipresent hip-hop terms

Usher

Wednesday, July 3

[S]hit

Behind current blaxploitation pulp literature is - surprise! - the music biz

Michael Jackson Funeral Coverage Coming Tomorrow

Somehow the folks at West Coast Sound, Rocks Off's sister music blog over at L.A. Weekly, have scored the hottest ticket in show business in years: a ticket to Michael Jackson's funeral Tuesday at Los Angeles' Staples Center. So far Stevie Wonder, Jackson's old Motown boss Berry Gordy, Brooke Shiel ... More >>

Michael Jackson, You Will Be Honored...And Twittered

The Most Important Event Ever....Will Be Twittered!!!!Our colleagues at West Coast Sound, the music blog of our sister paper L.A. Weekly, will be in attendance when The Nation Stops at noon tomorrow (Houston time) to give a final send-off to Michael Jackson at Los Angeles' Staples Center. So far St ... More >>

Beyonce Scheduled to Perform at Michael Jackson Memorial

Daniel Kramer ABC News is reporting that Beyonce, who sang tributes to Michael Jackson at her Toyota Center concert and at New Orleans' Essence Music Festival over the weekend, will perform at Jackson's funeral in Los Angeles this afternoon. Also expected to attend are Justin Timberlake, P Diddy, Sm ... More >>

Houston Sounds Off on Michael's Memorial

L.A. Weekly's Twitter updates have slowed down, but there's plenty of Houstonians following along. Here's a selection from the past 30 minutes or so: cashless: "Blanket, FTW!" joeyguerra: ""we need to look up, where he is undoubtedly perched on a crescent moon, and we need to smile." - brooke shield ... More >>

He Said She Said: Songs for Getting It On, Part 2

[Ed. Note: Here's Web Editor Katharine Shilcutt's top 10 picks for baby-makin' music. Now it's the boys' turn.] 1. Ryan Adams, "Come Pick Me Up": This has to work, because it shows vulnerability and warmth. It tells her you are the kind of guy who will be the one to get out of bed to get the Wet On ... More >>

Graveside Songs for Edgar Allan Poe's Long-Overdue Funeral

​Kicking the bucket at the age of 40 is bad enough, especially when, to this day, nobody's really sure how you died (everything from syphillis to rabies to political "cooping" has been thrown out there as a possible cause). But getting buried in an unmarked grave after a three minute "service" is ... More >>

Idol Beat: Hold On, I'm Coming (That's What She Said)

"Look at your man. Now look at me. Now look at American Idol."​This is the 12th week of the season of American Idol. We're down to the top 10 contestants. We're more than halfway home. In other words, this is when I'm ready for it to be over. This week's mentor and guest star is Usher, who's ... More >>

American Idol: Hold On, I'm Coming (That's What She Said)

"Look at your man. Now look at me. Now look at American Idol."​This is the 12th week of the season of American Idol. We're down to the top 10 contestants. We're more than halfway home. In other words, this is when I'm ready for it to be over. This week's mentor and guest star is Usher, who's ... More >>

American Idol: Release The Kracken!

​Last night's American Idol results show was present in association with Warner Bros.' Clash of the Titans, and the intro featured -- I swear -- movie footage and text like "Heroes are not born, they are made," as if these kids aren't just trying to land a record contract but somehow save all ... More >>

Idol Beat: Release The Kraken!

​Last night's American Idol results show was present in association with Warner Bros.' Clash of the Titans, and the intro featured -- I swear -- movie footage and text like "Heroes are not born, they are made," as if these kids aren't just trying to land a record contract but somehow save all ... More >>

Dwele

​Last night's American Idol results show was present in association with Warner Bros.' Clash of the Titans, and the intro featured -- I swear -- movie footage and text like "Heroes are not born, they are made," as if these kids aren't just trying to land a record contract but somehow save all ... More >>

Musicians Who Will Fetch The Least In TwitChange Auction

​TwitChange, a charity organization dedicated to helping Haiti led by the only Desperate Housewife who doesn't look at least partially mummified, Eva Longoria, is having an auction that will change the very nature of self-obsession as we know it. Several celebrities have gotten together and ag ... More >>

HISD Marching Bands Coming To A Stadium Near You

Photo by Chasen MarshallLady Gaga couldn't maintain these formations.​Screeching trumpets, heart-thumping drum beats and crisp, colorful uniforms will be on display all day Saturday in northwest Houston.The HISD marching band scene will be descending on Delmar Stadium, participating in the third a ... More >>

Usher

Photo by Chasen MarshallLady Gaga couldn't maintain these formations.​Screeching trumpets, heart-thumping drum beats and crisp, colorful uniforms will be on display all day Saturday in northwest Houston.The HISD marching band scene will be descending on Delmar Stadium, participating in the third a ... More >>

Usher: The Dude Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Craig Hlavaty​It was probably when we got kicked out of Usher's show at House Of Blues in late 2008 that Rocks Off realized we were bigger fans of the R&B singer than we imagined. The show and tour was billed as "Ladies Only," and after we were done taking pictures of the first three songs we ... More >>

Last Night: Usher At Toyota Center

"He has to be wearing control underwear" Photos by Marco Torres​Usher Toyota Center November 23, 2010 Usher sweats performance. The man doesn't know how to put on a half-ass show, and he packs each one of those shows dangerously full like a munitions specialist loading C4 into a bomb. There' ... More >>

In Case You Missed It...

Marco TorresIt's a bird... it's a plane... it's... Usher!​Rocks Off knows you have had a busy week. So have we. But, we figured, what with Thanksgiving and Black Friday and traveling to and from your various other holiday ports of call, you may not have had as much time in front a computer as ... More >>

Rocca Fellers

Former pool hall is Houston's newest hip-hop spot.

Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows

idontlikeyouinthatway.com​This Sunday, Rocks Off will be live-blogging and tweeting this year's Super Bowl halftime show, which will feature noted scholars The Black Eyed Peas. We are diligently studying the entire BEP canon and that of all of their solo members, like the dedicated pop histori ... More >>

Four Reasons Black Eyed Peas' Halftime Show Sucked

usatoday.com​The best part about Sunday night's Super Bowl halftime show was that people actually were surprised that it was bad, as if the Black Eyed Peas would pull it off without a hitch and we would all rush to our computers and download their entire catalog in converted reverence. Right w ... More >>

Robin Thicke

usatoday.com​The best part about Sunday night's Super Bowl halftime show was that people actually were surprised that it was bad, as if the Black Eyed Peas would pull it off without a hitch and we would all rush to our computers and download their entire catalog in converted reverence. Right w ... More >>

2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Video Recap

Justin Bieber, your All-Star MVP​Travel day today back from Phoenix, so I'm submitting the ultimate Cliffs Notes version of dominant performances during the NBA All Star weekend. (I'll be back at full blog strength tomorrow.) Here goes: - Justin Bieber was named most valuable player of the c ... More >>

Idol Beat: Male Fraud

​Steve Tyler wore a shirt with lips all over it. I couldn't decide if he was being knowingly self-referential or it was the work of the same costume designer who put him in that leotard in the "Love in an Elevator" video.neither way, it fulfilled its purpose of distracting me from the show for ... More >>

Pop Rocks: By the Dumb's Early Light

Apu chose an alternate path to citizenship​There's a scene in The American President -- Aaron Sorkin's pre-West Wing exercise in wishful liberalism -- when President Shepherd (Michael Douglas) describes America as "advanced citizenship." It's a nice thought, especially in the fantastical conte ... More >>

Justin Bieber's Voice Changes Just In Time For Christmas Album

"Say shawty, Merry Christmas, or whatever year-end holiday greeting that makes you happy." ​Children and adults alike are getting their holiday wish granted early this year, and they don't have to wait until Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus or even Christmas morning to receive it. Justin Bieber's v ... More >>

World AIDS Day: Artists Who Have Contributed to the Cause

​Today is World AIDS Day. The theme this year is "Getting to Zero," focusing on zero AIDS related deaths. In hopes of achieving this goal, there has been many a celebrity to endorse AIDS awareness and various charities around the world. Quite a few musicians have used their celebrity status ... More >>

A Roundup of the 2011 Music Industry Based Strictly on Band Names

XL/Columbia​Theologians love saying things like "Man is created superior to animals" and "Animals can't be equal with humans." And then we go scouring philosophy books to see if animals have immortal spirits and if this means we'll someday meet our pets in heaven. That's a bunch of horse dung. ... More >>

5 Young Jeezy Quotes To Get You Laid On New Years

​If you've spent the better part of six years needing a hood, ignorant (and in the words of Jay Bilas' prophetic) New Years celebration, leave it to Young Jeezy to supply all your needs and demands. Who cares if you don't flip bricks or do things that the Snowman does -- just know he has you c ... More >>