AltWeeklies Wire
Fences Mended, Chamillionaire is Comfortable Being the Rapper Next Doornew

Chamillionaire is the rapper you can take home to mom and dad. His albums contain very little swearing, and he won't even curse when quoting other rappers. He recalls Snoop Dogg's famous "Bitches "Ain't Shit" line as: "B's ain't nothing but hos and tricks."
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
02-09-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Infestation of Classic Rock Threatens the Cultural Legacy of an Entire Generationnew
Young people who subsist on classic rock are traitors to their contemporaries. Our generation has no lack of quality artists, but the vast majority of us are too lazy to seek them out.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
05-19-2009 |
Music
Tags: classic rock, commentary
'Paper Trail' Shows T.I.'s Troubles with the Law Have Benefitted His Artnew
While other top MCs have had to create their own bogeymen to battle -- Kanye has his ego, Eminem had ex-wife Kim, Lil Wayne has those cough-syrup Martians -- T.I.'s got real problems.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
12-02-2008 |
Reviews
Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm on Living the Bluesnew
While his first CD with Malcolm, Juke Joint Duo, was self-produced, their latest, still-untitled album was recorded professionally in Nashville, and Burnside is extremely excited about it.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
08-12-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Wolf Parade Embraces Its Eccentricities on 'At Mount Zoomer'new
Though channeling '70s-style progressive rock, it never sounds experimental or masturbatory because every song is anchored by a memorable, driving hook.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
07-22-2008 |
Reviews
Kate Nash: A Lily Allen with More Potentialnew
Nash is a phenomenal talent who seems able to imagine riffs as easily as she snaps her fingers, and she possesses a gift for pointed human observations that don't slow her narratives.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
01-08-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Kate Nash, Made of Bricks
Jay-Z: America's Most Overrated Rappernew

Rap's Grateful Dead? Hova? Young? The No. 1 MC of all time? None of the above.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
11-06-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: American Gangster, Jay-Z
My Man-Crush on 50 Centnew
50 is fond of eye contact, french fries, action movies, suggestive hand gestures.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
09-19-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: 50 Cent
Is There an MF Doom Imposter?new
Though unverified accounts of "fake" Doom concerts have been swirling for a couple years, recent shows sparked a full-scale internet mutiny among the hip-hop artist's fans.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
09-11-2007 |
Music
Tags: MF Doom