Chaz Kangas
Complex
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Chaz:
Why 1996 Was the Most Important Year in Wrestling History
The start of nWo, The Rock's major debut, and the birth of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin are just three reasons why 1996 was wrestling's biggest year. → Read More
All Your Favorite '90s Acts Are in Town This Weekend — Here's What They've Been Up To
Break out your finest Zubaz and don your finest neon slap bracelets, because we’re about to time travel backwards two decades to a simpler time, before the Internet, social media or snarky music blogs. That’s right! This Saturday, March 5 at the Microsoft Theater, the I Love the 90s festival... → Read More
5 Classic West Coast Hip-Hop Albums Turning 20 in 2016
We’re about two months into 2016, and just about the only thing more unsettling than 2006 being a decade ago is 1996 being a full 20 years ago. That’s right, folks, time is a merciless conveyor belt. For all the 20th anniversary posts that 1994 and 1995 received, things have... → Read More
Why Is Snoop Dogg's Video With This Iranian Pop Star So Controversial?
Over two decades into a post-Doggy Dogg World, we really shouldn’t be surprised much by what endeavors Snoop Dogg gets into. From claiming he’s the reincarnation of Bob Marley to selling Swedish socks, Snoop’s life is rivaling the quirkiness of a late-season Simpsons episode in the best of ways. Recently,... → Read More
Snoop Dogg's Second-Best Album Is ...
Snoop Dogg has, for over two decades, consistently been an icon of hip-hop. One of the most visible and outspoken emcees, his prolific discography has added to his legacy as a mass media figure — especially over the past three years, when he's branched out into funk and reggae. For... → Read More
Tim Heidecker's 10 Funniest Musical Moments
This Wednesday, Sept. 9, innovative funnyman and multifaceted musician Tim Heidecker brings his melodic Heidecker-ness to the Troubadour. Even if you're only familiar with Heidecker through one of his Adult Swim programs with comedy partner Eric Wareheim, or his podcast work, or maybe even his cameos in films like Bridesmaids... → Read More
Why It's Time for Everyone to Quit Hating on Macklemore and That "Downtown" VMAs Performance
Ever since Mackelmore’s rise to national prominence in 2012, he and partner Ryan Lewis have had their detractors. Criticisms ranging from allegations of appropriation to accusations of plagiarism to questioning certain bizarre clothing choices (and we’re not talking about “Thrift Shop”) have made them controversial figures in hip-hop. But the latest... → Read More
R.I.P. Dr. Dre's Detox: A Brief History of Hip-Hop's Greatest Unreleased Album
Tomorrow, Dr. Dre releases Compton, his first album since 1999’s 2001. If you had told anyone over the past 16 years that Dre’s long awaited third solo album was finally going to drop on Aug. 7, 2015, you would have been met with a dropped jaw, followed by a “Wow,... → Read More
The Time Roddy Piper and I Discussed His Music Career (and the Real Lyrics to "For Everybody")
Wrestling fans the world over are in mourning as veteran wrestler/actor/comedian “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (real name Roderick Toombs) died in his sleep due to cardiac arrest Thursday night at the age of 61. Piper, who competed in the main event at the first Wrestlemania and remained one of the industry’s... → Read More
Female Rapper Nova Rockafeller Talks About Making Her Gathering of the Juggalos Debut: "I Was Kind of Terrified"
This past weekend’s Gathering of the Juggalos in Thornville, Ohio was the 16th consecutive year of Dark Carnival debauchery, as Insane Clown Posse’s annual festival brought in loyal ICP devotees from all over the world to see a lineup boasting artists from the Clowns' Psychopathic Records roster past and present... → Read More
Before Hulk Hogan Was Exposed As a Racist, He Released a Rap Album
Hogan once released a kid-friendly rap album, without any racial epithets. → Read More
Police Just Shut Down a Concert by Chief Keef's Hologram — Now Hologram Designer Alki David Speaks Out
Saturday night was a first for hip-hop: Police shut down a rapper’s hologram performance. Chicago MC Chief Keef was set to perform via a hologram projected from Los Angeles at a concert at Hammond, Indiana’s Wolf Lake Pavilion. Keef's appearance at the concert, called Craze Fest, was intended to raise... → Read More
Tech N9ne's Music Helps a Car Crash Victim Learn to Speak Again
The Strange Music MC's rapid raps helped one fan recover from a devastating injury. → Read More
The Real Story Behind “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s Rap Album
Macho Man's brother explains the origin of 'Be a Man.' → Read More
5 Interviews That Prove Jay Z Was One of David Letterman's Best Guests
A look back at the rapport between the rapper and the TV host. → Read More
Why David Letterman Sidekick Larry "Bud" Melman Was a Hip-Hop Icon
As we prepare to bid farewell to Late Show with David Letterman, let's take a moment to appreciate one of the show's most underrated contributions to popular culture, and unlikeliest of hip-hop icons, the much-missed Letterman sidekick Calvert DeForest, better known to fans as Larry "Bud" Melman. Wait... hip-hop icon? Yes. Allow... → Read More
Warrant Returns to the Whisky a Go Go for the First Time Since the '80s
If you’ve noticed the smell of cherry pie in the air, that’s likely because Warrant is coming to town, returning to play the Whisky a Go Go for the first time since their '80s heyday, this Friday, May 15. Longtime members Jerry Dixon (bass) and Erik Turner (guitar) spoke with... → Read More
American Idol's 10 Greatest Contributions to Pop Culture
Yesterday came the surprising news that, after 15 seasons, Fox's mega-hit American Idol would be coming to an end. Premiering in 2002, Idol not only re-popularized the televised talent contest format, but introduced us to such cultural touchstones as curmudgeonly judge Simon Cowell, unforgettable names like Sanjaya and Bo Bice, and... → Read More
The World's Most Ridiculed Filmmaker Just Keeps Going
If you or your friends have recently spent the length of a movie yelling at the screen while throwing plastic spoons, chances are you went to see The Room. The only “midnight movie” whose interactive cult classic status rivals '70s standard The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tommy Wiseau’s entirely self-produced/directed/written... → Read More
Interview: R.A. the Rugged Man Explains Why the Mayweather-Pacquiao Match Is Not the Fight of the Century
Six years since he fought Mayweather on Shade 45, the rapper and boxing fanatic talks about the match he never thought would happen. → Read More