Southern Rap

Chadrick Honore is The Youngest Player in the Legendary Rebirth Brass Band: Get Familiar

At 25 years old, Chadrick Honore has lived the life of a man at least twice his age. The New Orleans native and esteemed trumpet player for Rebirth Brass Band has traveled the world, won a Grammy, and contributed to the critically acclaimed HBO series Treme. But the devoted father & true music fan i ... More >>

Top Show Annoucements: Record Store Day, Limp Bizkit, Styx, Kid Rock, Matchbox Twenty and More

It's a little strange, but I don't know what's happening with all of the show announcements that have been pouring in this week: Limp Bizkit, Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls and Kid Rock? It feels like 1999 all over again. Well, in 2013 news, Good Records just announced a kick-ass local lineup for Reco ... More >>

This Week's Top Show Announcements: Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Keith Urban, P!NK and More

It's all pop stars and mainstreamers today. Lil Wayne, P!nk, John Mayer, Mumford & Sons ... this is a show announcement post that doesn't happen all too often. Soak it in. But let's not lie, the biggest announcement is Lil Wayne's tour, especially since we've all been wondering if he's OK since bein ... More >>

A Few Questions with Kiernan Maletsky, the Dallas Observer's New Music Editor

Yesterday we welcomed to Observer HQ Kiernan Maletsky, our new music editor. Kiernan is the former music editor at the Riverfront Times in St. Louis and has contributed to Denver's Westword and other publications. He plays the drums and is slightly too tall for my tastes. I asked him a few question ... More >>

The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2012

10. The Idea of Beautiful, Rapsody The black mamba of super producer 9th Wonder's Jamla Records team reached a new pinnacle in her career, and in her evolution as an artist this year. Sprinkled with collaborations from Big Remo, BJ the Chicago Kid and Childish Gambino, Rapsody takes us on a journey ... More >>

Why Folks Are Complaining About Lil Wayne Breaking Elvis' Record - And Why They're Wrong

By Chaz Kangas Last week, rapper Lil Wayne added to his already-quite-substantial legacy by breaking Elvis Presley's record for most songs on the Hot 100 charts by a solo artist. Immediately, however, many began squawking that this record deserved an asterisk, a la Roger Maris' 61 home runs. See ... More >>

What If Drake Wrote "9 A.M. In Dallas" And Actually Mentioned Dallas?

In 2010, Drake recorded a freestyle track titled "9 A.M. in Dallas." The track was written, as the title spells out, one morning in Dallas, and was shortlisted for his debut album Thank Me Later. One thing, though: It doesn't really mention Dallas. Well, Dallas is a little hurt that he didn't call ... More >>

A Volunteer's View of 35 Denton

Yelawolf

Saturday, February 18, at Trees

Thurston Moore, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and More Riffs For Your Weekend

One of the most anticipated shows of the last few months has definitely been Thurston Moore at the Texas Theatre tonight. The Sonic Youth guitarist has been carving out a nice little solo career with last year's Demolished Thoughts and 2007's Trees Outside the Academy (I always sort of thought of hi ... More >>

Legsweeper Helps 35 Denton Rep Its New Block

In another feat of synergy, 35 Denton's latest fest tie-in comes spilling out of the back of an 18-wheeler. Think of duo Legsweeper's cover of Bun B's "My Block" as a preview for the two festival acts, but also a literal celebration of 35 Denton's new headquarters on the corner of Locust and McKinne ... More >>

It's all "Fa Shiggadow" to Hip-Hop Duo The Mohicans

Built to Spill Added to 35 Denton Lineup

​ Are you ready to fly your flannel flag? Built to Spill, Boise, Idaho's second finest export, were just added to the 35 Denton roster. It's shaping up to be a pretty eclectic one, too -- they join Houston baller Bun B, dub duo Peaking Lights, UK post punks the Raincoats, the Mountain Goats, T ... More >>

35 Denton Announces First Round of Acts for 2012 Fest; Bun B and Mountain Goats Top List

​Well, we knew that this year was going to bring on some changes to the festival now known as 35 Denton. And, after the name change was announced back in July, we're now starting to see some. Today, 35 Denton announced its first round of performers -- a total that comes to 17 and features such nam ... More >>

Atmosphere

Friday, September 23, at the House of Blues

Over The Weekend: Trae tha Truth, JMack and Big Hud at Trees

Trae Tha Truth, JMack, Big HudTreesAugust 13, 2011Better than: trying to act like Dallas has a hip-hop pedigree to compete with Houston.Trae Tha Truth​ There wasn't much of a build-up to Trae The Truth's entrance at Trees on Saturday night. After a particularly high-energy set from JMack and a fun ... More >>

Chingo Bling

Sunday, July 31,at the House of Blues' Cambridge Room

Early Look: Play-N-Skillz-Coached Episode of MTV's Made Set To Air Tomorrow Afternoon

Steve VisneauPlay-N-Skillz​Juan and Oscar Salinas, the Grammy-winning production duo and brothers behind the Play-N-Skillz moniker, have a lot going on these days: a lawsuit against Lil Wayne; a recently released mixtape and single (with Bun B) to promote; a new mixtape on the way; a celebratory M ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz Lawsuit Be Damned, Dorrough's Still Making Fire, Collaborating with Lil Wayne

"It's Dorrough Music!"​It's no surprise that basketball is reigning king around town these days -- a fact clearly not lost on Dallas rapper Dorrough, who, in the wake of the Mavericks clinching a trip to the NBA Finals in late May, released a Mavericks-centric version of his new single, "Bounce Da ... More >>

Last Night At 35 Conferette: !!! Pave The Road To Big Boi With Bass Intentions

​!!!6:30 p.m., Main Stage OneIt took all of one song for !!! singer Nic Offer to whip the Main Stage crowd into wild abandon; by the end of opener "AM/FM," from last year's Strange Weather, Isn't It?, Miami Horror was a distant memory. If the band's hypnotic grooves and electronic textures are ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz To Produce Again For Lil Wayne: Duo Confirms That Tha Carter IV Will Feature Wayne, T-Pain Collaboration Over Their Beat.

Steve VisneauPlay-N-Skillz​Dallas-based hip-hop super-producers Play-N-Skillz have wasted no time making good use of their G4 Muzik label's freshly created blog. Over the past few weeks, they've shared some new music, revealed that they're shooting a music video with Bun B in town today, and, well ... More >>

35 Conferette Announces Performance Schedule

​Well, it finally came to pass: Just before noon today, the folks at Denton's upcoming four-day music festival the 35 Conferette (formerly the NX35 Conferette) posted the full schedule of events for their deal -- or, well, at least the night-time goings-on for its third year of existence.No word a ... More >>

Listomania: The Five Best and Five Worst Alter Egos in Music

​Tonight, groundbreaking experimental rapper Kool Keith will be gracing The Loft with his presence. And we're hella stoked. Not only is the rapper one of our favorites, but his skill set is undeniable and his advancements in the "horrorcore" and "porncore" genres are fairly irrefutable. Plus. he's ... More >>

Listomania: The 10 Best Albums That Were Supposed To Come Out, But Never Did, in 2010

​Albums get delayed all the time. (Cue Chinese Democracy joke). Sometimes it's because of the close relation of creativity and procrastination. Other times, business overtakes art. More often than not, though, it's just a sheer mystery. So, in looking back at the year, we decided to think about al ... More >>

Bonus MP3s: Denton Duo Roy G. and The Biv Returns As Production/Remix Outfit Basho

It's been a while since we heard anything from the half-Denton- and half-Boston-based electro-dance duo Roy G. and The Biv. Turns out, that's because Max Townsley and Drew Erickson decided to put the band to rest. They've still been keeping busy, though -- most recently, Townsley filled in as the to ... More >>

Today In Music News: Kanye Admits He's Juvenile, Weezy Pens Prison Letter And Gucci Mane Gets Busted

Your daily dose of national music news for Wednesday, November 3, 2010...Finally Kanye admits that he's basically a child.  But, a child that has an awesome sense of fashion.Weezy released a letter preceding his release from prison stating he was never "scared, worried, nor bothered" by his p ... More >>

Today In Music News: T.I. May Have To Return To Prison, Duff Leaves Jane's Addiction and Morrissey Doesn't Like The Chinese

Your daily dose of national music news for Tuesday, September 7, 2010...T.I. may have to return to prison if he's found to have violated his parole.Duff McKagan has left the latest incarnation of Jane's Addiction.Morrissey thinks the Chinese are a sub-species. Wow.

Picture Show: K104 Summer Jam at Verizon Theatre

Roger CaldwellCiara at the Verizon Theatre​Ludacris, Ciara, Bay Bay, Dorrough, 8Ball MJG, Fat Pimp, and Tum Tum performed at the Verizon Theatre for K104's Summer Jam, presented by AEG, in Grand Prairie Saturday night, July 31st. See the full lineup--plus some choice audience shots--of the Summer ... More >>

Erykah Badu Lends Rick Ross His Latest Hook--And She'll Be Directing The Song's Video, Too.

Ms. Badu, if you're nasty.​Rick Ross introduced his so-called "epic trilogy" to hip-hop fans back in 2008 when he first released "Maybach Music" with Jay-Z on his sophomore album, Trilla. He released the second installment last year on his Deeper Than Rap album with some help from T-Pain, Lil Wayn ... More >>

Today In Music News: Gay Punk Icon Lovers, Metal Moby And Gucci Mane Gets Released Early

Your daily dose of national music news for Friday, May 7, 2010...There is a new underground comic that portrays Henry Rollins and Glenn Danzig as lovers.  Is nothing sacred anymore?Should we take a metal-Moby seriously?Thank, God... Gucci Mane gets an early release from jail.

Bonus MP3: Inertia feat. Lil Wayne and Tum Tum -- "Beddy Crocka"

Steven VisneauInertia​Tonight, at the House of Blues, Dallas-based super-producers Play-N-Skillz will perform a set as part of a bill its sharing with Bone Thurs-N-Harmony and Play-N-Skillz's own G4 Muzik-signed artist, Inertia.Seems the similarly Dallas-based Inertia has been the major focus of t ... More >>

Today In Music News: Wayne Wants Justin, D'Angelo Wants A Blow, And T.I. Wants You Back.

Your daily dose of national music news for Wednesday, March 10, 2010...Wayne Coyne is set to direct a new movie... with Justin Timberlake?D'Angelo took a little bit of a break from recording an album... to get arrested for soliciting oral sex.T.I. announces his return to the game. 

Ballers and Shotcallers: Play-N-Skillz and Def Jam's All-Star Weekend Finale at PM Lounge

Steven VisneauPlay-N-Skillz​Play-N-Skillz and Def Jam's All-Star Weekend Finale PartyPM LoungeFebruary 14, 2009For Grammy-winning hip-hop producers Play-N-Skillz, Sunday night--the last night of a jam-packed, celebrity- and part-filled weekend--saw the brothers Salinas hosting not one, but two par ... More >>

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