Artist(s): The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West) Date: December 5th, 2011 Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX I’ve always wondered why anyone would pay $200 for a concert ticket. I concede that I’m taking this stance from a position of privilege, since I never have to pay for tickets. I don’t know why, that’s just the [...]
Archive | Writing
RSS feed for this section
100 Ways to Save Hip-Hop
Every year, critics get together and hold a premature funeral for hip-hop. Then, people like me are forced to write articles on why hip-hop is grossly misunderstood by mainstream America. Well, guess what? I’m tired of defending hip-hop. So, rather than defend it endlessly or declare it dead, I compiled a list of things you [...]
R.I.P. Clip D
I’ve never seen a cross-eyed possum. And I’ve never seen Trae tha Truth without Dominic Levar Brown, fondly known as Money Clip D. Brown, 34, was Trae’s indispensable right-hand man, best friend, and brother from another. Trae calls him Mr. ABN. Brown was fatally shot outside Houston, Texas, after-hours club Breakers on Friday, November 25, [...]
Sex, Money & Urban Radio
A cursory glance at the year-to-date urban radio chart reaffirms an age-old music industry adage: Sex sells. You can see the Top 10 at the bottom of this post, but first let’s talk about a few of the chart’s recurring themes. Sex Sells: Miguel’s “Sure Thing” occupies the top spot with 86,785 spins, followed closely [...]
Approaching Oblivion
How many times has this happened to you: You’re driving home from work. A song comes on. Drums. Guitar strums. A wimpy voice: “Say, oh, got this feeling that you can’t fight…” You’ve heard this same song three times in 30 minutes, and it bores you to tears. Unlike the imaginary audience the station’s program [...]
The Power of Jeggings
Last week, the music world laughed up a hiccup as Lil Wayne pranced around the VMA stage in nut-suffocating, Le Tigre-inspired jeggings. While that performance affirmed that Wayne is no fashion guru, his chart performance a week later reminded us that he’s very good at something else-selling records, tons of ‘em. His latest, Tha Carter IV, [...]
Facebook Music Cometh
No one’s willing to confirm anything, but all indications point to the same scoop: Facebook is planning to launch a new music service this fall. Here’s what we know so far. CNBC’s John Fortt broke the news Kanye West-style – in ALL CAPS: “YES INDEED NEXT MONTH IS GOING TO BE A BIG ONE FOR MUSIC [...]
Eminem’s Huge Payday
Every day, Rocks Off is reminded that we should have taken rapping a bit more seriously in our younger days. Today’s friendly reminder comes in the way of a report saying that Eminem cashed a $3 million check for two nights of work at the UK’s V Fest. Em’s scenario isn’t typical, though. Concert fees run the [...]
Google x Motorola
Google stunned the tech world last week when it tied the knot with Motorola for $12.5 billion. But it’s the music business that should be raising its brows at the union. Like any typical suitor, Google weighed Motorola’s considerably large assets in its decision to get in bed with the mobile giant. On one side of this [...]
Watch the Leaks
The kingdom is safe. The throne has been watched. In an age where albums spring leaks like baby diapers, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne arrived on the appointed date without even as much as a drip. For the first time in over a decade, we witnessed a major label release with no leaks. [...]
The History Of Hashtag Rap
Every rapper brands himself as an original, but few merit that distinction. The ones that do rarely profit from their innovation. When it comes to emceeing, those who favor intricate rhyme schemes will scoff at a technique known as “hashtag rap.” G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean is credited with pioneering the style. But I’m not [...]
The N-Word Conundrum
“You’re talking to the wrong white man, my friend. My people were the white man’s nigger when yours were still painting their faces and chasing zebras.” [...]
