Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link.
Range and versatility. Those are the attributes that local songwriting/production duo Beanz N Kornbread consider to be keys to their success. Whether playing gospel music at several area churches or laying down beats for H-Town rappers Z-Ro, Paul Wall and Slim Thug, this team creates some of the best sounds in the city.
Who? "We are both musicians by trade playing keyboards, organ, drums, bass, and guitar," the duo says. "We grew up playing in church, which is also how we met. We are infamous for our tag line 'Bbbbbeanz n Kkkkkkornnbread!'"
Home Base: Beanz N Kornbread are based in Houston but mostly work out of their studio a little ways up 59 in Humble.
Why Do You Stay In Houston? Beanz was born and raised in Houston; Kornbread moved here by way of Los Angeles and St. Louis. They stay here because they like being around their families.
"Producers nowadays can just travel to the other cities to work if needed, then come back home," says Beanz.
Music Scene Pet Peeve: Producers never receive enough credit for their work, the duo asserts.
Good War Story: "Having to finish records without being in the studio with certain artists because of the use of Gmail," says Beanz. "It has been a blessing and a curse being able to send files without being in the same studio. We always joke that we are going to start a record label called Gmail records."
Five Albums You Can't Live Without:
- Slum Village, Fantastic - Volume 2
- Zapp and Roger, Computer Love
- DJ Quik, Rhythmalism
- D'angelo, Voodoo
- Michael Jackson, Off the Wall
Best Show Ever? "We once performed as the live band for Z-Ro at the Arena Theater," they say. "Sold-out show, awesome experience. Best show we've attended was the D'Angelo concert when he opened for Mary J. Blige. Also, Juicy J at Warehouse Live was trippy, mayne."
Next Show or Project? "We are working on our Christmas album dropping this winter, as well as Good Weather Musik -- Part 2, so be on the lookout for that," the duo says. "All dropping on our new label... Gmail Records!"
THE ROCKS OFF 200
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See the Rocks Off 100's 2013 alumni on the next page.
THE ROCKS OFF 100 2013 ALUMNI
Crystal Toliver, Source of That Yello Echo You Hear
DJ Big Reeks, The Chief Waxaholic
Melane Gutierrez, The Coffin Queen
Folk Descendent Kevin Taylor Kendrick
Eloy Contreras, Deathrazor's Sharp Thrash Vocals
Robert McCarthy, Guitarist From Beyond
Justice Tirapelli-Jamail, The Manichean's "Quiet One"
Charlie Horshack, LP4's Guitar Warrior
Kathryn Hallberg, Little Girl Gone
Tessa Kole, PuraPharm's Voice and Vice
Richard Griesser, Vintage Camera Hound With Enviable Archive
Downfall 2012, Sci-Fi Metal Storytellers
Kevin Choate, Drum Like You're Screaming
DJ Rockwell, Booth Pimp and Party-Rocker
Ash Kay, the Freakouts' Punk Vocal Head-Butt
Pat Kelly, The Godfather of the Suffers
Michelle Miears of BLSHS, Siren In the Machine
DJ Remix, Genre-Hopping Mix Maniac
Kahna, Brutal Nation's Metal Booking Queen
DJ Ill Set, Enemy of Wack Tracks
Shane Tuttle, Updog Owner and Album-Cover Designer
Electric Attitude, Renegades of Funk
Sama'an Ashrawi, Trill Gladiator
Recon Naissance, A Rap While Matt's Guitar Gently Weeps
DJ Klinch Asks, "Can You Dig It?"
Jose "Chapy" Luna, Percussionist Con Corazón
Love Dominique, Wicked Heart R&B Chanteuse
Chris Gerhardt, Mastermind of Giant Battle Monster
The Jobe Wilson Band, the Boys From Chambers County
Kimberly M'Carver, Missouri City's Nightingale
DJ Panchitron, Stirring the Cumbia/Moombahton Melting Pot
D.R.I's Kurt Brecht, Thrash Zone Supervisor
Sloan Robley, The Last Houstonian Banshee
Jack Saunders, Dealer of Grit & Jangle
Richard Ramirez, Noise God and Black Leather Jesus
Mike Meegz, Scoremore's Houston Lieutenant
Jacqui Sutton, Houston's "Jazzgrass Lady"
Robin Kirby, Silk and Sandpaper Songwriter
Billy Dorsey, Grammy-Winning MARATHON Runner
David DeLaGarza, Don of Tejano Stars La Mafia
Jason Puffer, Your Psychedelic Sex Panther
Tobin Harvell, Fitzgerald's Unflappable Floor Manager
Walter Suhr, the Straw That Stirs Mango Punch!
Tony Garza, La Orquesta Salmerum Founder
OG Ron C, Chopstar King of the Purple Dome
Football, etc., Giving Emo Back Its Good Name
Angela Jae, Renaissance Artist
Shellee Coley, Voice of the Northern Woods
Blaggards, Houston's St. Paddy's Day House Band
DJ Meshak, Hongree Records' Sound Selecter
K-Rino, South Park Coalition's Southside Maven
DJ Candlestick, One Niceguy and a Very Busy DJ
Danielle Renee, Only Beast's Destroyer of Walls
Felipe Galvan of Los Skarnales
Kristine Mills, Houston's Brassiest Voice
Brian Davis, Punk Drummer, Horror Composer
Elroy Boogie, Top-Notch Turntablist
Alyssa Rubich, Angel of Instability
Alphonso "Fonz" Lovelace, Righteous Drummer
Frank Zweback, Funkmaster General
OG Bobby Trill, Bombon Beatmaker
Beau Beasley, Organist for the End of Time
Dwight Taylor Lee, the Wandering Bufalero
Coline Creuzot, Soulful Pop/R&B Singer
Cristina Acuna, Cactus Music's Twitter Fingers
Clint Broussard, Blues In Hi-Fi Man Now Back On FM
Nortnii Rose, Houston Ska's Greatest Hope
Ramblin' Chase Hamblin, the Man Who Will Be Paid
Chris Alonzo, Bringing Night Flight to Facebook
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