Will.I.Am

An Election Day Playlist If You're On the Way to Vote

I love Election Day. Sure, early voting is great if you absolutely can't make it to the voting booth the day of, but given the choice I will always vote on Election Day. There may be lines, it may be out of the way, and it may even involve casting a ballot for someone I don't necessarily like, but v ... More >>

Musical "Holograms" We Don't Want To See Anytime Soon (OK, Yes We Do)

A lot has been made about the Tupac "hologram" at Coachella. First off, it's not really a hologram as much as it is CGI "magic" and it's nothing new, seeing that they have been doing it Japan for a few years now. But they do lots of things in Japan. It's even to get swept up in the madness because ... More >>

20 Years of Hip-Hop Soul Hits: Happy Birthday, Mary J. Blige

Photo by Marco Torres​Every time we hear a new Mary J. Blige single on the radio, we ask ourselves, "REALLY, MJB? Again? OK, girl." We literally said that in the car last week when we heard her new single "Mr. Wrong." Of course, the proclaimed "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" has never given us reaso ... More >>

Bye Bye, Black Eyed Peas. And Take _____________ With You

I suppose "taking a break" before that Super Bowl performance was too much to ask: The Black Eyed Peas have denied rumors that they are breaking up but say they are taking a break from making music together for a while. "We are not breaking up," band member Taboo told Reuters on Monday at a lau ... More >>

R&B Ingenue Coline Creuzot Won't Give Up The Chase

​Houston has been known as the home of some of R&B's top vocalists, and Coline Creuzot is determined to be the next one. With three mixtapes featuring some of Houston hip-hop's heavy hitters, she has already acquired the attention of the streets. Paul Wall, with whom she shares a manager, hos ... More >>

Top Five Most Overpaid Musicians In The World

​Last month Forbes released their list of the 25 highest-earning musicians of 2010, and the list contains several talents Rocks Off is happy to see keeping the lights on. No. 1 on the list, U2, is still a favorite of ours after all these years, and it's always good to see Tom Petty, Jay-Z, and ... More >>

Idol Beat: Durbin Warfare

It's James' world; we just live in it.​That wonderful sound you heard last night - that distinct lack of atonal screeching that used to climb up your spine like a mongoose wearing stiletto heels - was the sound of a Jacob-free American Idol. What a beautiful thing. I'm not sure which was more ... More >>

Idol Beat: Not So Fast, Five

Winter is coming... Wait, wrong show.​Dear American Idol: I don't like you - I think that's been pretty well established at this point - and I know you don't like me, otherwise you wouldn't still be dragging along for 90 minutes on Wednesday even though there are only five contestants left, a ... More >>

Who Will Write The First "Osama Is Dead" Hit Song?

​Now that more details are starting to emerge about Sunday's Navy SEAL helicopter raid that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden and several members of the al-Qaeda jefe's entourage - especially how the months-long planning and 40-minute firefight was planned in total secrecy, and executed ... More >>

Idol Beat: Fail To The King, Baby

Coming to a county fair near you...​I'm going to hate tonight. For unlike these other liars on Idol who - to a one - claimed to have grown up in a Motown household, I really did grow up on Carole King. I have great fondness for Tapestry, which was in regular rotation when I was a kid, and have ... More >>

Idol Beat: Movies Is Magic

​It's time for American Idol, the show that dares ask the question, "What the f*ck is will.i.am still doing here?" Seriously, when do they make him a judge? In case you hadn't heard, Jennifer Lopez was selected World's Most Beautiful Woman by...Cat Fancy or something. This provided a brief re ... More >>

Idol Beat: I Do Not Like That will.i.am

​Only nine hopefuls remain in this, the 10th season of American Idol (AKA the Greatest Talent Competition Since the Battle of the Bands at San Dimas High School). It's time to separare the wheat from the chaff, the post-adolescents from the mere adolescents, those who are "in it to win it" fro ... More >>

Idol Beat: He-Man Woman Hater's Club

​55 million. That's how many votes were cast to determine which two unfortunates would be given the boot last night on American Idol. To those who like to get up in arms about the "outrage" that the show draws such massive numbers from an otherwise apathetic population, I'd remind you the show ... More >>

Idol Beat: Mona Lisas And Mad Haleys

​Hans Gruber: You are most troublesome, for a security guard. John McClane: Eeeh! Sorry Hans, wrong guess. Would you like to go for Double Jeopardy where the scores can really change? It's double jeopardy of a sort for the remaining 11 Idol hopefuls, because thanks to the judges' save of Cas ... More >>

Dr. Seuss' Top Five Hip-Hop Disciples

​In honor of Dr. Seuss' 106th birthday last week (March 2), Rocks Off's present to you is the most Seussical rappers of all time, MCs who excel at the art of poetic rhyming and whimsical wordplay. Their rhymes constantly remind us that Dr. Seuss could have been a platinum rapper in this lifeti ... More >>

Beyonce In Blackface: Innocent Or Insult?

hearthesiren.wordpress.com​Good intentions are one thing. Perception vs. reality is another. So goes the story with the recent outpouring of outrage and defensive stances over Beyonce's French fashion magazine photo shoot for L'Officiel Paris. The Houston icon used dark brown facepaint to pay ... 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 >>

Black Eyed Pleeease!: Fergie & The Gang At The Super Bowl Halftime Show

Earlier this week we chronicled for you our favorite Super Bowl halftime shows, from Petty and the Who, to the Boss and the Stones. Tonight we will be live-blogging all the musical attractions from Super Bowl XLV from Dallas, er, Arlington. ​ Lined up in the next few minutes we will see Christina ... More >>

Five Top Rappers' Ideal Corporate Jobs

technology-digital.com​The U.S. economy has been limping for a while now, causing more and more people to seek innovative ways of generating revenue. Rappers, it turns out, aren't immune from the economic turmoil. Just ask will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, who recently secured a second job wi ... More >>

Bun B Hosting Ugandan Breakdance Doc Screening

"I'm not a politician, so I'm not going to use politics. I'm not a soldier, so I'm not going to hold a gun. I'm a B-boy." - Abraham "Abramz" Tekya, Founder, Breakdance Project Uganda ​Thursday at 7 p.m. on the Rice University Campus, a screening of the inspiring documentary Bouncing Cats will ... More >>

Should Kanye Be Dissing Celebrity Clothing Lines?

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 sheaserrano@gmai ... More >>

Black Eyed Peas DJ Motiv8 Moonlights At Reign Lounge

Photos by Danny Lopez​Rocks Off had a feeling that last night was going to be a good night when we checked out Fresh Entertainment's "The Power of the DJ" show at Reign Lounge on Washington. With DJ Motiv8 of the Black Eyed Peas headlining the event, beats were bumpin' from start to finish. P ... More >>

I Would Tweet 4 U: What If Prince Were On Twitter?

Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray/ Click image to enlarge (trust us)​Sadly, Prince will not be releasing his next album online, despite being one of the first artists to release music exclusively on the Internet. He recently pronounced the Internet as "over," remarking, "All these comput ... More >>

We Have Met The Enemy, And He Is Perez Hilton Us

​Gossip blogger Perez Hilton is, once again, drawing fire for his shenanigans. This time around, however, the complaints are a bit more serious than mere bad taste: Perez Hilton, aka Mario Lavandeira, might not yet be facing legal action after tweeting a provocative picture of teen star Mile ... More >>

FAIL: Nashville Weather, Liam Gallagher, Meat Loaf, Warrant's Jani Lane

If you're reading this, you're either on the Internet, or else you've mastered multi-dimensional thought-projection processes that would make Michio Kaku cry like a little girl. We'll assume the former, and just in case you don't already know, the Internet has decided that the word "failure" is too ... More >>

Idol Beat: They Did It Their Way

Sorry, ol' blue eyes.​This was Frank Sinatra week on American Idol, with Harry Connick, Jr. himself on hand to coach the contestants and write the arrangements. Basically, it was a chance for Big Mike to kill it while the other contestants tried to keep up, which is pretty much what happened. ... More >>

American Idol: They Did It Their Way

Sorry, ol' blue eyes.​This was Frank Sinatra week on American Idol, with Harry Connick, Jr. himself on hand to coach the contestants and write the arrangements. Basically, it was a chance for Big Mike to kill it while the other contestants tried to keep up, which is pretty much what happened. ... 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 >>

Aftermath: The Black Eyed Peas Smell Like Entertainment At RodeoHouston

Photos by Dave Rosales​ 7:56 p.m.: After puttering back and forth for 30 minutes, we're finally on a service elevator to get up to the press box. The elevator attendant says she just saw Fergie. She says she was "short and skinny." That's slightly different than how we would've described her. We p ... More >>

LMFAO

David Guetta

Artist of the Week: Bubbly Electro-Rap Princess Shina Rae

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 introducingliston@gmail.com.Carlie Thompson​ With reg ... More >>

Turning the Screw: Archie Lee & Coota Bang, R.I.P. Michael, Lil Jon, Jae Millz, Drake, 50, Tupac, Chris Brown 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: "Down For My Block," Archie Lee and Coota Bang Wire To Wire Michael passed. Three thoughts: 1. Michael ... More >>

Miss Pop Rocks Watches the Super Bowl

Oh God, my stomach is so distended. WHY do I do this to myself every Super Bowl Sunday? I watch one football game each year and it's this one, and the only reason I watch it is to have an excuse to eat snacks and watch commercials. A few thoughts on this year's game: First of all, choirs are ver ... More >>

Turning the Screw: B L A C K I E, Dizzee Rascal, X-Clan & Bun B, Eminem, Pitbull, T.I., Common, Snoop Dogg 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: B L A C K I E, "I Write On Money" Wire To Wire Dizzee Rascal was released from custody following ... More >>

Single File

The Kids are Alright: Seventh Graders Review Usher and Coldplay

Usher : Here I Stand

Remaking Michael Jackson

Why waste money on (or steal) those bogus Thriller remixes when you can get better ones legally for free?

The improbable redemption of Ashlee Simpson

"La La" Love You

Chris Brown

The fleet-footed teen idol's latest

will.i.am, Songs About Girls

CD Review

The Game

Doctor's Advocate

Standing Behind the Man

Playing in Chuck Berry's pickup band can be a trial by rock and roll fire

Into the Frey

If you thought A Million Little Pieces was a pack of lies, wait till you check out the Mötley Crüe biography

Mary J. Blige

The Breakthrough

Sweet...and a Little Sour

Getting politicked out of the Black Eyed Peas was a bitter pill for Kim Hill

No Pimps Allowed

Common and Black Eyed Peas dare to raise the artistic standards of hip-hop

Rotation