AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Token & Tech N9ne Bully Rappers In A Back & Forth Display Of Lyricism

Nearly six years ago, in 2013, Salem, Massachusetts MC Token released one of his first YouTube videos for a contest curated by GroundZeroOnline's MK Loves Music. At 14 years old, Token relished the opportunity to display his lyrical skills on the mic. However, it was Token's entry for producer Kato... Read more

Token Blacks Out On One Of His Most Lyrical Songs Yet (Video)

Since his emergence in 2016, the profile of Token continues to rise with his immense vocal talent as one of the fastest spitters in Rap. The Salem, Massachusetts-born MC seamlessly delivers a technical, multi-layered fusillade of bars with a great storytelling ability has organically grown his fan base, not solely based on... Read more

Token’s New Video Looks At The Toll Social Media Has Taken On Our Self Esteem

Token is using the platform he's building to take on one of his generation's biggest internal battles: body image and social media's exploitation of it. Now, via his latest video, the Boston-based rapper uses his own experiences to relay the struggle kids face in school and on the Internet. Directed by... Read more

Token Is Learning Success In The Industry Doesn’t Come Without New Problems (Video)

At 18 years young, Salem, MA MC Token has done more at his age than most musicians get the opportunity to do in a lifetime, but that's not to say his accolades have merely fallen into his lap. Token has found himself on Sway In The Morning and on an international... Read more

Token’s Rhymes Are So Sick He’s Even Killing Himself (Video)

Last year, Salem, Massachusetts MC Token released his debut mixtape, Eraser Shavings. Including production by Nottz and Clinton Sparks, the LP was a dazzling display of lyrics, fierce flows, and clever concepts from the realities of a teenage MC documenting the world around him. Since that release, Token's skills have... Read more

Token Releases An Explosive And Powerful Music Video About The Effects Of Bullying

Token has made his struggles with a learning disability well known, sharing with his fans that there was a time when anxiety, depression, obesity, and a learning disability once controlled his life. Though he continues to struggle with some of those elements today, he's managed to not only launch a... Read more

Token Torches The BET Hip-Hop Cypher While DJ Premier Cuts The Record (Video)

The 2016 Hip Hop Awards are airing on BET on Tuesday, October 4, and with them come the annual Cyphers. While this year's Cypher participants have not yet been announced, several details have surfaced about the show which was taped in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, September 17. Snoop Dogg Is... Read more

Token Explains His Journey As An MC & How Music Saved His Life (Video)

Less than one week ago, Salem, Massachusetts MC Token released his debut project, Eraser Shavings. The 17-track effort featuring production by Nottz, Clinton Sparks, and Jon Glass (among others) arrives just as the lyricist turns 18 years old. Although he is a teenager, this MC is hardly new to the craft.... Read more

Token Looks To Leave A Permanent Mark On The Rap Pages With His Eraser Shavings (Audio)

For more than half of his life, Token has been building his skills as an MC. The Massachusetts product crosses a critical benchmark in his career with the release of Eraser Shavings. Token's first full-length project of his career boasts 17 tracks, including production by veterans including Nottz, Clinton Sparks,... Read more

Token May Be A Student But He’s Schooling MCs With His Skills (Audio)

In less than one year, Token has transformed from an emerging freestyle performance sensation to a fully decorated MC on a mission. Transitioning from viral videos to recorded music based around his life and times, the Massachusetts microphone mercenary gears up for Eraser Shavings. Today, it was revealed that Token's... Read more

Token’s Storytelling Proves That Happiness Can Be A Hard Place To Reach (Video)

From DJ Quik's "50 Ways" to Eminem's "Rock Bottom," DMX's "Slippin'" to Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks On Me," lack of happiness and depression has been a theme to many Hip-Hop records. Artists like Blu, Slug, Ghostface Killah, Scarface, and Eminem have defined their legacies by writing and rapping openly... Read more

No Sucker MCs Can Escape The Wrath Of Joell Ortiz, Token & Big Daddy Kane (Video)

In March, Joell Ortiz and producer Domingo released a high-powered project titled That's Hip-Hop. The collaborative album was a return to hard drums and pure lyricism, what both men saw as the foundation of Rap. In speaking with Ambrosia For Heads, Ortiz said of the LP "Me and Domingo are... Read more

How Token Overcame A Language Disability To Become A Gifted Lyricist (Video)

At 17-years-old, Token has already embarked on a successful journey as an MC, working with Joell Ortiz and Snow that Product in addition to one of the most memorable appearances by any emergent rapper ever on "Sway in the Morning." A chance encounter with T-Pain by way of a Twitter... Read more

Token Recaps The Week In Hip-Hop News In A Hard-Hitting Freestyle (Video)

Salem, Massachusetts MC Token has made quite a name for himself over the last year. From an incredible collaboration with Joell Ortiz and Snow Tha Product to a show-stopping Sway In The Morning freestyle, the 17 year-old is one of the most exciting MCs to burst on the scene as... Read more

Token Gets His Big Shot & Freestyles Like His Life Depends On It (Video)

On Friday (April 1), Salem, Massachusetts' Token was a guest on the Sway In The Morning Show. There was no fooling when the 17 year-old MC introduced himself with a few words about his 12 years of rhyming. At the 7:00 mark, the MC stands up and quite literally, delivers:... Read more

Token Says He IS The Underground And He Has The Bars To Prove It (Video)

In less than one year, Token has become of the most exciting unsigned artists in Hip-Hop. In March, he was prominently featured alongside Joell Ortiz in the That's Hip-Hop album with Domingo. There, Toke' represented a delegate of the new school MCs who is taking the craft of rapping, and... Read more

Snow Tha Product Joins Joell Ortiz and Token In Lyrically Killing The Competition (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is readying a new project called That's Hip-Hop. Rather than gathering a host of big name MCs as guests on the album, he has assembled a collection of young and hungry lyrical killers. Last week, he released "Kill At Will," featuring Salem, MA upstart, Token. Now, Ortiz rolls... Read more

Joell Ortiz & Token Kill Microphones At Will…With No Witnesses (Audio)

What is Hip-Hop? Just ask Joell Ortiz. One year removed from his collaborative album with Illmind, Human, MC Joell Ortiz will be answering that question with his Brooklyn bred bars and beats from Latin producer Domingo as the East Coast artists dedicate an entire album to the preservation of the... Read more

It Was No Fluke…Token Is a Lyrical Assassin Who Will Obliterate Any & All Sucka MCs (Video)

Last year, 17-year old rapper Token burst onto the scene with "No Sucka MCs," a lyrical display that stood among the best of 2015. Now, less than 2 weeks into 2016, he releases a sequel and tops it, setting a very high bar for where lyricism should be in the... Read more

Don’t Let The Fresh Face Fool You. 17 Year Old Rapper Token Is No Sucka MC (Video)

For those of who have witnessed the rhymes of 17 year-old wordsmith A-F-R-O, an emerging MC who some, like R.A. The Rugged Man, have dubbed "the future of Hip-Hop," here's another rising young MC to add to the list of potential diamonds in the rough. Born and bred in the... Read more

Jack Harlow Says He’s The Best White Rapper Since Eminem

Last week, Jack Harlow released his latest album, Jackman. The Generation Now/Atlantic Records collection includes the song "They Don't Love It" (embedded below). On that track, the Louisville, Kentucky MC asserts himself among the best white Rap artists in a bold way. “Ya boy’s strivin’ to be the most dominant ever... Read more

Nas Is In His Prime In His 40s

Last Friday (November 11), Nas and Hit-Boy released their fourth project since 2020. The King's Disease campaign, responsible for three of those albums, has taken Nas (and Hit-Boy) to new dimensions with their careers. In that time, Nas won his first Grammy, reunited with The Firm as well as Ms.... Read more

Snoop Is Making Death Row The 1st Label In The Metaverse

From its first release in 1992, Death Row Records built its reputation on reflecting the streets. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Tupac, and others maintained that rep through making Rap music without compromise over the next five years. Founded by two Compton, California natives, Dre and Suge Knight,... Read more

Joell Ortiz Names His Top 5 Brooklyn MCs

This month, Joell Ortiz delivered a new album, The Autograph. The release, embedded below, marks Ortiz's fourth with indie stalwart Mello Music Group. After a career cultivated by rapping his circumstances directly to the listener, Joell somehow goes even deeper on his new album. As he tells Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast (embedded... Read more

New York Has Made December 18 Earl “DMX” Simmons Day

This April continues to deliver significant losses to music fans, especially in the Hip-Hop community. The month has included the passings of DMX, Black Rob, and now, Shock G. On this week's episode of What's The Headline (embedded below as video and audio), the Ambrosia For Heads team remembers the... Read more

JAY-Z’s Sale Of TIDAL Will Transform How Artists Are Paid For Music

Just weeks after selling half of his stake in Ace of Spades, JAY-Z made another power move. Hip-Hop's first billionaire mogul sold his stake in Tidal to investor Jack Dorsey's Square company in a reportedly $297 million deal this month. Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, also leads the mobile payment company, which now welcomes... Read more

Spice 1, Kurupt & Devin The Dude Are Proud To Be Hip-Hop OGs (Audio)

For more than 30 years, Spice 1 has been giving fans his brand of raw, uncut Hip-Hop. The Hayward, California representative released three gold-certified albums at the top of the 1990s, venting on the anxieties of staying strapped in the 'hood. Throughout that time, the onetime protege and label-mate of... Read more

Kool Keith, B-Real & Joell Ortiz Show MCs How To Level Up (Audio Premiere)

Next month (July 12), veteran MC innovator Kool Keith will see the release of his latest album, simply titled KEITH. Produced entirely by The Beatnuts' Psycho Les, KEITH will feature appearances by Houston's Paul Wall, Cypress Hill front-man B-Real, and Crooklyn Dodger lyrical slugger, Jeru The Damaja. Following last month's... Read more

Joyner Lucas & Logic Make Peace To Go To War With Wack MCs (Video)

Two years ago, Logic and Joyner Lucas were engaged in a publicized Rap beef. While both MCs made appearances on Tech N9ne's 2016 song "Sriracha," problems were seemingly lingering at the time. Joyner, during a breakout rise, had been critical of the MC/producer already with two gold albums under his... Read more

Ghostface & RZA Release The 1st Song From The New Wu-Tang EP

Less than 24 hours after it was revealed that Wu-Tang Clan is releasing an EP later this week (May 17), in conjunction with Showtime documentary, Wu-Tang: Of Mics & Men. Heads now get some new music and information from the project released through Mass Appeal (who is also behind the film)... Read more

Tech N9ne Discusses His N9na Album & Being A B-Boy For Life

Tech N9ne is one of the most prolific Rap artists in his class. For 20 years, the Kansas City, Missouri MC has fed his devoted technicians with 20 albums, handfuls of collaborative projects, EPs, and group work. Notably, every release from Aaron Yates is a mapped out universe and part... Read more

IDK Is Locked & Loaded With An Aggressive Verse That Takes Aim At Logic (Video)

In 2019, so many Rap beefs seem to live in the subliminal. Fans are left to interpret verses, explore timelines, and analyze who MCs are speaking to. In his latest song, "Trigger Happy," IDK leaves nothing to interpretation. The English-born, Prince George's County, Maryland-raised MC claims that his presence threatens... Read more

2 Chainz Celebrates Black Wealth & Buys The Block In His New Video

Last Friday (March 1), 2 Chainz released Rap Or Go To The League. It's the Atlanta, Georgia MC's first album in two years and documents the artist's growing stature as a rapper's rapper. For some fans over the last decade, Chainz has been more closely associated with Trap music than... Read more

Mike Tyson Recalls The Time He Bribed A Cop With His Car (Video)

In late 2017, Ed Lover shared a captivating Mike Tyson story wherein the champ gave him a Bentley Azure after a wild night of New York City partying. The only catch was, the former Yo! MTV Raps host and C'mon Son Podcast creator says that he was unaware that the gesture... Read more

Smif-n-Wessun & Rapsody Bring The Heat On A Song That Feels Like Summer (Premiere)

The gap between Smif-n-Wessun’s last album and their upcoming LP, The All has been their most extended hiatus since they dropped The Rude Awakening in 1998 (as Cocoa Brovaz) and did not follow-up with Smif-n-Wessun: Reloaded until 2005. And while Heads never like to wait for new material from one... Read more

AZ Takes A Classic Kool G Rap Beat & Demonstrates Why He’s Great (Audio Premiere)

AZ enjoyed a relatively quiet 2018. The highly-respected Brooklyn, New York lyricist was the subject of a documentary involving commentary by Rakim, Nas, Pete Rock, and Foxy Brown. He made a few careful appearances, one with early mentor Daddy-O of Stetsasonic and another with Fresno, California's Planet Asia. However, when... Read more

Eminem Names His Top 12 Rap Diss Songs Of All-Time (Audio)

Despite being a perennial Grammy darling, with 44 nominations and 15 wins, Eminem's 2018 Kamikaze album has no nominations. The LP also was missing from a number of prominent "best album of the year" lists. But, make no mistake, Kamikaze, which became Em's 10th album in a row to reach... Read more

Styles P Explains Why Black Thought Is The Most Dangerous MC Alive

Earlier this year, Black Thought and Styles P's remarkable collaboration finally found a project to belong to. At the top of June, The Roots' front-man joined 9th Wonder & The Soul Council for Streams Of Thought, Vol. 1. Heads did not know it two years earlier when "Making Of A... Read more

In 1988, A Dozen Songs By Top Shelf MCs Went Missing. They’ve Been Found (Audio)

Back in 1988, there was a small studio and gathering place in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Top Shelf Studios was reportedly different than the usual places where Rap records were made. At a time when the culture was blossoming, MCs from across New York City liked the energy of the... Read more

Method Man And Redman Are Still Kings Of The Rap Jungle (Audio)

On December 11, Method Man will release Meth Lab II: The Lithium, a follow-up to its 2015 predecessor. The self-released album will feature Snoop Dogg, N.O.R.E., Heltah Skeltah’s Rock, Cappadonna, Masta Killa, Sheek Louch and more, including everyone's favorite co-hort, Redman. Together, Red and Meth are kings of the Rap jungle... Read more

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Make An All-New Soul On Ice. It’s As Cold As Ever (Audio)

Ras Kass is overtly re-channeling his landmark debut Soul On Ice on his latest song. "SOI3 (Soul On Ice 3)" is produced by Ras' celebrated Blasphemy collaborator, Apollo Brown. The track deliberately reworks Ras' 1996 remix that presented one of the coldest lyricists in the game. Producer Apollo's dark and ghoulish instrumental... Read more

Joell Ortiz Reflects On Slaughterhouse & More On His Collabo With Apollo Brown (Audio)

It seems like Detroit, Michigan’s Apollo Brown has taken it upon himself to pair some of the most lyrical MCs in the game with the tailor-made production they deserve. Since 2012 he has dropped heralded projects with Guilty Simpson, O.C., Ras Kass, Skyzoo, Planet Asia, and earlier this year, Locksmith.... Read more

Snoop Dogg Has 2 Words For Donald & Kanye. He Goes All The Way In (Video)

While visiting DJ Suss One's Sirius XM Hip Hop Nation show recently, Snoop Dogg made some pointed statements about two polarizing figures in pop culture and politics: Donald Trump and Kanye West. In recent months, the two have drawn ire and comparisons to one another, much to the dismay of... Read more

Ace Clark Shows Signs Of Greatness On A Jazzy Collabo With Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz (Audio)

Gang Starr's Guru once professed on "Moment of Truth", “Cultivate, multiply, motivate or else we’ll die.” Twenty years later in a progressively demanding and often times burdensome social climate, these lyrics ring truer than ever. To remain positive, inspired, and purposeful in an atmosphere that can easily wear you down... Read more

A Ghostface Killah Lost Tapes Album Filled With All-Stars Is Coming. Here Is The 1st Song & Tracklist

In 2002, Nas famously released The Lost Tapes. The album reportedly pulled from records not used during the sessions for I Am..., Nastradamus, and Stillmatic. Boasting production from Alchemist, Kanye West, and Illmatic alum L.E.S., the Ill Will/Columbia Records release with the catchy artwork snuck into the Top 10, despite... Read more

Atmosphere’s Song About Depression & Heartache Addresses More Than Relationships (Audio)

The past few years have been rough for so many people across the globe, and that may be putting it far too gently. Many are facing depression, addictions of all kinds, and just an overall sense of helplessness. Watching the news or scrolling social media often intensifies these feelings of... Read more

Tragedy Khadafi Says Marley Marl Did Him Dirty. His New Song Tells All (Audio Premiere)

Tragedy Khadafi (fka The Intelligent Hoodlum) has been releasing music steadily over the three decades but it's been nearly four years since he released his last solo album. That's all changing now though. The Queensbridge legend has been in the booth heavy since 2014's Pre Magnum Opus and is slated... Read more

Does Rhyme Still Pay? Slug & Evidence Weigh In On A Dope Vanderslice Beat (Audio Premiere)

Producer Vanderslice has been a source of dusty sounds for years. From the town of Phoenixville, outside of Philadelphia, the beat-miner has worked with Prodigy, Freddie Gibbs, Apathy, Roc Marciano, and others. He has released a string of instrumental and producer-compilation style albums. 'Slice's next LP is called The Best... Read more

Eligh, R.A. The Rugged Man & Eamon Chase The High Of Self-Love (Audio Premiere)

Eligh is one of the busiest members of the ultra-prolific Living Legends crew. This MC/producer has released more than 20 solo and collaborative albums since 1996. After a hiatus from 2006-2009, the Los Angelino came back reinvigorated and with a new perspective—thanks in large part, to sobriety. While he didn’t... Read more

Apollo Brown & Locksmith Are Releasing An EP. The 1st Song Leaves No Question It Will Be Dope (Audio)

Locksmith has been in the game long enough to go from prodigious street poet to battle MC, to prolific recording artist. Although Lock' is straight out of Richmond, California, his music is not what many might expect from the region. His lyrics do not glorify drugs, sideshows, or violence. Instead,... Read more