Email Author Ben Westhoff

Awards

• 2007 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards

  "Ace of Spaides"

• 2006 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards, published September 14, 2005

  "Rap vs. Rapture"

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2008 Stories by Ben Westhoff

• Akon

  published December 11, 2008

  Earlier this year, thesmokinggun.com took a look at popular R&B singer Akon's bio, then exposed him as a... More >>

• Kanye West

  published December 4, 2008

  Despite what's been written, Kanye West's new style on his fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak — which incorporates "tribal"-style drum... More >>

• T-Pain

  published November 20, 2008

  How has T-Pain done it? He's not attractive, his fashion sense leaves much to be desired (at least for those without Dr. Seuss/LSD fetishes, in... More >>

• Deerhunter

  published November 13, 2008

  Bradford Cox's oversized persona threatens to overwhelm almost anything his band Deerhunter does. In concert, the singer/songwriter — who... More >>

• T.I.

  published October 23, 2008

  While other top MCs have had to create their own bogeymen to battle — Kanye has his ego, Eminem had Kim, Lil Wayne has those cough-syrup... More >>

• Beyond the Hood

  published October 9, 2008

  "Turn your TVs on/Bet ya all you see is me!" DJ Khaled raps/sings on "Standing on the Mountain Top," his only tangible musical... More >>

• Nelly

  published September 25, 2008

  Few musicians were as popular as Nelly at the beginning of the decade. His debut, Country Grammar, came out of nowhere in 2000 to sell... More >>

• The Game

  published September 11, 2008

  Rappers and producers who appear on the Game's third album, L.A.X., include... everybody. There's Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Scott Storch, Cool... More >>

• Shwayze

  published September 4, 2008

  Most everything you need to know about horny, go-getting Los Angeles newcomer Shwayze can be gleaned from lines like this one from "Polaroid":... More >>

• Black Kids

  published August 14, 2008

  Last year, Florida quintet Black Kids released a free four-song EP of electro-tinged dance songs addressing themes of incest and gender... More >>

• High and Rising

  published July 31, 2008

  Last year marked the inaugural local installment of the traveling hip-hop extravaganza known as Rock the Bells. Breathing some much-needed... More >>

• Mates of State

  published July 10, 2008

  Husband-and-wife team Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner seemingly make gorgeous indie pop songs as easily and casually as the rest of us shower in... More >>

• Totally Sane in the Membrane

  published June 26, 2008

  Lil Wayne is not batshit insane. Let's be clear about that. Despite the fact that he regularly refers to himself as an... More >>

• N.E.R.D.

  published June 19, 2008

  Seeing Sounds is the third album from N.E.R.D., the "artist" project from the members of production team the Neptunes (Pharrell Williams... More >>

• Lil Wayne

  published June 19, 2008

  Destined to be a stoner classic, Tha Carter III should silence critics who think Lil Wayne can't make a cohesive album. His vision and... More >>

• Duck Down

  published June 5, 2008

  Few rappers give better interviews than Black Moon/Boot Camp Clik alum Buckshot. Naturally, the pioneering underground MC sometimes refers to... More >>

• Foxy Brown

  published June 5, 2008

  Naturally, Foxy Brown is the object of Ali G's affections. With her foul mouth and short skirt, she epitomizes the fake gangsterism he... More >>

• Death Cab for Cutie

  published May 29, 2008

  Narrow Stairs sounds just like Plans, right down to the obvious production, weepy lyrics, and inoffensive guitar, continuing... More >>

• Gnarls Barkley

  published April 24, 2008

  We expect a lot from our indie-ethos, crossover pop stars nowadays, even from a duo as inspired as Gnarls Barkley, AKA DJ Danger Mouse and... More >>

• The Grrrl Grows Up

  published April 17, 2008

  Remember when people were calling Avril Lavigne the great grrrrl hope? Remember when Women-Who-Rock-minded scribes got all excited by Lavigne's... More >>

• Black Spade

  published April 17, 2008

  All of my life my father encouraged me to be open to all good music," St. Louis rapper Black Spade sings on the intro to his debut... More >>

• Rick Ross

  published March 20, 2008

  (A) First of all, don't do your shout out track as an intro. No one cares that you like the city of Chicago. (B) If you're going to have DJ... More >>

• Not Your Father's N Word

  published February 28, 2008

  Last July, thousands of folks, including the mayor of Detroit and the governor of Michigan, gathered in Motown at the NAACP's annual convention... More >>

• Caviar Dreams

  published February 21, 2008

  Irrational exuberance is so widespread in hip-hop right now that Alan Green­span might freak out — if he understood rap lyrics. There... More >>

• Lenny Kravitz

  published February 14, 2008

  Lenny Kravitz hates it when critics call him retro, contending that love, revolution, and smooching should belong to every generation. But the... More >>