“Amor Prohibido” by Selena
Has there ever been any doubt about who the real queen of Houston is? Selena was a trailblazer in pop music and her legacy, much like the Astrodome, is far too big to ever be destroyed.
“Killing Time” by Destiny’s Child
Her self titled album clearly showed, Beyonce reps Houston hard, and as this old gem from Destiny’s Child shows, she’s always had a hard time with unfaithful men. Never forget your roots B, even if this town already has a queen.
“So Real” by Screwed Up Click
Speaking of artists that transformed Houston and passed away tragically young, Robert Earl Davis Jr, otherwise known as DJ Screw, literally created the chopped and screwed style. Davis may, single-handedly, be the most influential artist in the city’s history and his legacy lives on through every Screwston Rapper.
“North 2 Da South” by T-Town Music
As far as hip-hop goes, the mid 2000s might have been Houston’s biggest year in the national spotlight, with acts like Chamillionaire and Slim thug pushing out dirty Southern hits produced by famous H-Town producers like Paul Wall. Though the style’s popularity waned after the mid 2000s the time in the spotlight brought important attention.
“Make Some Room” by The Suffers
Currently one of the hottest commodities coming out of H-Town, The Suffers’ could turn a funeral into the Rodeo and are helping keep Houston on the musical map despite our criminally understated place on it.
“Houston Lawman” by Culturcide
Possibly the oddest musical act in Houston history, Culturcide nearly got themselves sued into oblivion in 1986 after their sophomore LP “Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America,” a collection of overdubbed backing tracks featuring sharp criticisms of everything from Houston law enforcement to the record industry.
“Turn it On Again” by Indian Jewelry
Slowing it down and psyching it out, Indian Jewelry’s music, like their home town, is a melting pot of ideas that may never be completely defined, though they do serve as a great example of Houston’s unique underground scene that’s been brewing since the early days of Punk.
“American Band” by Verbal Abuse
Like with hip hop, Houston has an important place in the Punk scene with the band Verbal Abuse, one of the most influential acts in hardcore. The group reunited in 2004 under founding vocalist Nicki Sicki and continue to represent the rage that boils in the hearts of all Houstonians sitting in traffic.
“Territory” by Waterparks
Until a few months ago Waterparks was that pop punk band fronted by the guy with the colorful hair that proved Dallas isn’t the only haven for scene kids in Texas. Now they’re playing on national television and collaborating with everyone from Good Charlotte to ex-members of My Chemical Romance.
“Too Much” by Drake
Drake loves Houston so much that he even likes the Astros, and most of us don’t even like them. Yes, the man is from Toronto, but that’s only a technicality in his war to outbid Beyonce for the title of “most Houston references crammed into a single album.” If anyone deserves to be called a Houstonian, it’s Drake.
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