Badgeholders and wristband-wearers, take note of this one. On Friday the 18th, VICE Magazine will celebrate the launch of their online music and video channel noisey.com, with an official showcase at the Kiss and Fly. The lineup will go some way toward making you feel better about dropping several hundred dollars on a badge or wristband. Rest assured - it's a bonanza of awesome. more ›

Tuesday’s show at Austin Music Hall has been listed as both “David Banner and Bun-B” and “David Banner, Bun-B and Z-Ro.” That’s how bonkers this show will be – Z-Ro, one of the most celebrated rappers in the state, gets low billing. After him, though, who goes next and who closes? It would be hard goings for any artist to follow Bun in Texas, where any show is a homecoming, at least as far as what you hear. As one half of UGK, his first handful of albums are classic in a way that might not be attainable any more; UGK brazenly rejected the status quo for what you could do in a rap song, and simultaneously crafted some of most vibrant and enthralling hip-hop ever. It seems every fan of Bun has at least one album they remember playing on cassette until the thing broke. Rappers today can get better, but it seems hard to fathom that they can ever be as foundational as Bun. Still, David Banner is rap’s best bid to get on one of those VH1 shows like “Craziest Concert Moments 12.” more ›

Language Room fans rejoice: their new handmade EP is available at shows (next gig is Sept. 13 @ Red Eyed Fly), and they're heading into the studio soon to start work on a full-length, to be produced by Blue October's Matt Novesky. more ›

AustinSurreal’s Matt Sonzala continues his '08 rolling rap show with two big gigs over the next seven days. Despite the bevy of contacts he brings with him from Houston, Sonzala balances between the gimme shows (Bun-B a day after II Trill dropped) and freewheeling, throwing his clout behind acts that wouldn’t normally come to or draw a crowd in Austin, like the Palestinian rappers who played here in May. The first show – Saturday night at the Whiskey bar – is more the latter. Ice Mike is far from a household name in rap, but the New Orleans bounce sound that he helped to cement some 15 years ago has resonated in the mainstream since, from that platinum late 90’s Cash Money sound to the Baton Rouge scene that is just now hitting nationally. Largely, though, N.O. bounce remains a strictly regional sound, as no big names ever resurrected it to the same degree as Baltimore club. more ›

I tried my best to avoid the leaks of II Trill, mostly because I knew I would buy it. If there's one rapper that deserves my 18 bucks at Cheap-O, it's Bun-B; and not just because he's been through hard times no man should have to know or because I feel like my cash in his pocket doesn't just = weed. No, I say that because I feel compelled to not steal his shit. I like and respect all sorts of rappers, but would I care if Jeezy came over to watch some Gossip Girl and a burned copy of The Inspiration was on my dresser? No. But if Bun came over for some C-Span and found "3_damn_im_cold_ft_lilweezy.mp3", I would be WAY embarrassed. more ›

Because we're all hoping they'll finally find their audience (aside from our moms) and land a record deal, The Black Crowes have announced their 2008 tour, which includes a stop at SXSW 2008. They will headline at Stubb's, no less. Keep your fingers crossed for them, folks. In other news, we've received word on a handful of local bands that have been accepted by SXSW, including (but not limited to) The Lemurs, Peel, Weird Weeds, Car Stereo (Wars) and almost local rapper Bun B of UGK (Houston). We'll be updating with local additions as often as we can, so stay tuned! more ›