For the unofficial but very official, “DJ Screw Memorial Day” on June 27, some Houston rap legends and young leaning lions celebrated for a very special episode of Boiler Room. In honor of the occasion, Passion of the Weiss is premiering the recorded footage — featuring commentary from two preeminent Screwston rap scholars: MobbDeen and […]

To appear interesting at parties and to curry favor with Drakesap Rocky, Passion of the Weiss has long maintained a correspondent in Houston. His name is Shea Serrano and he is the best music writer in a red state. By “red state,” I mean frequently drunk. And by frequently drunk, I mean raising twins while […]

This space is usually dedicating to self-aggrandizing links to my own work, a shell game in which I re-direct traffic towards third party, corporate-owned entities, who insist upon paying me in pennies and gift certificates to Buca Di Beppo. This payment plan has resulted in allergies to fried vegetables and heavy pink sauces. Under strict […]

The Next Spot is a recurring series dedicated to the albums that could’ve, would’ve, should’ve made the Decade Top 50.  Capture the essence of the most important album from one of the most important emcees to come out of Houston in the last 20 years in less than 200 words, including this intro? That doesn’t […]

If given the chance, Shea Serrano would punch Ed Hardy in the nose.  In 2004, a somewhat mildly attractive girl that I’d met only once prior, gave me an over-the-pants hand-job in the laundry room of an apartment complex; I suspect it was due in large part to Joe Budden(1). It’s a common tale, really. […]

Houston-based, Shea Serrano, is a columnist for the Houston Press and Houston Magazine. He’s also written for the Village Voice, Filter Magazine, URB Magazine, Mental Floss Magazine, Texas Observer, Dallas Observer, and others.  Unlike much of the blogosophere, he does not believe that Plies “Da Realist” derives its chief inspiration from Di Sica. Plies, Florida’s […]