"I am Houston, Rep it Hard"

I'll be the first to admit, I didn't really know Beyonce was from Houston, Texas. Matter of fact, other than Kirko Bangz, there really hasn't been an R&B artist that has repped H-town and participated in the screwed and chopped movement. That all changed today when Houston as a collective came together to support Beyonce's new one off her upcoming Mrs. Carter album. Check the fan made video below for the original version of the track that will be on the album...

I Been On is proof that no matter who you are, you can embody the tough "Houston" sound with a little screwed/chopped treatment. I never thought I'd say the words, "man that new Bey track is tough!", but today that happened thanks to help from Houston All-Stars Bun B, Z-Ro, Willie D of Geto Boys, Slim Thugga, and Lil Keke. Oh and in case you missed it, Beyonce is about to begin touring the globe, so there's a good chance she'll be coming somewhere near you...#IBeenOn

Beyonce Ft. Bun B, Z-Ro, Scarface, Willie D, Slim Thug, Lil Keke – “I Been On (Remix) (prod by Hit Boy)

Game & Texas Go Rollin Rollin Rollin

Although it doesn't initially come off as a typical Texas Hip Hop anthem, @thegame did a solid job recruiting Houston's finest on his latest #SundayService installation. For those of you counting at home, this is the sixth throwaway track he's let loose in preparation for his new studio album Jesus Piece that is scheduled to drop on December 11th. In listening to the track, I've surmised that @KanyeWest was behind the beat (sounds like his style, plus he didn't drop a verse and was part of the features => deductive reasoning). The hook is about as simple as it gets, which gives it sort of an unfinished, freestyle sound.

Don't get it twisted though, this fits in quite well with the Texas copyrighted slab sound. In other words, it's only a matter of time before it gets a proper screwed and chopped treatment. Rollin' didn't make the final track list of Jesus Piece, but there are probably a good amount of folks that wish it would have made the bonus track cut. With a little over a week left til Game's album drops, I'm getting a little anxious looking at the stacked list of cameos he has. My only question is, can Game drop a great album without big name production. We shall see soon enough...#NoDrDre

Game feat. Kanye West, Trae The Truth, Z-Ro, Paul Wall & Slim Thug - Rollin

Texas Stand UP!..."Yea Jack I'm a Gang-sta, Gang-sta, Gang-sta, G-A-N-G-S-T-A"

When I think about Texas Hip Hop, this is exactly the type of sound that I expect to hear and look forward to hearing. The big bass, slow rhythm, exaggerated Southern drawl, laid back hook. It all sounds so good when played loudly or doing my favorite parking lot activity, the classy, pop-trunk wave. Oh you don't have a slow-mo open/close function on your trunk to share your secondhand Rap with the whole block???? #gitwititoryagetgone

In all seriousness though, the pop-trunk wave needs to make it out of Texas and become part of mainstream Hip Hop culture. Think about it, if you pulled up to a stoplight and the driver in front of you started slowly waving his trunk at you, you'd be pretty entertained right? It would definitely break up the monotony that is daily traffic.

Anyways, this is supposed to be off Slim Thug's upcoming album, The Thug Show, due out September 7th. While Texas Hip Hop rarely makes it to the mainstream due to it's increasingly loud, boisterous, hardcore sound, I'd recommend the likes of unheralded rappers like Trae and Z-Ro. They do a good job of furthering the sound the DJ Screw started back in the 1990s. All contribute to the SLAB (Slow Loud and Bangin) culture that involves decking out cars with extravagant lighting, speakers, rims, basically dressing it up to look really gaudy. Do a search for SLAB on YouTube, it's pretty crazy what cool stuff people are doing/have done to their cars these days.

Be sure and drive real slow and turn this one up for the desired effect...repeat to audible tolerance...

Slim Thug feat Z-Ro - Gangsta
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