AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Get To Know Jarren Benton Through His 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

Although he's hardly a new MC, Heads are just getting to know Jarren Benton. The Atlanta, Georgia-based MC is down with Funk Volume (Hopsin, Dizzy Wright), as well as R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, and other bully-mouth MCs from the Northeast. He's already got a Top 200 debut album... Read more

Jon Connor Hits His 2014 XXL Freestyle At 100 Miles Per Hour & Runnin’ (Video)

Among 2014 XXL Freshmen, Jon Connor appears to have the most exciting situation. The Flint, Michigan MC is inked to Aftermath Entertainment. While the world has yet to hear #ConnorSeason on a truly-produced Dr. Dre track, Jon has put his skills and output in high gear. So it's only natural... Read more

“Button Up” For Kevin Gates 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

Kevin Gates, creator of the recently released, well-rounded mixtape, By Any Means, steps up to the microphone for his official XXL Freshman Freestyle of 2014. When asked how it feels to be on the cover of XXL's 2014 Freshman Class, the Atlantic/Warner Bros. Records artist responded, “I always been a... Read more

Troy Ave Unveils His Own Brand of Gangsta Rap With His 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

27 year-old Troy Ave has been waiting for a few years to make it to the cover of XXL magazine, and in 2014, he finally gets his opportunity. Once the photo shoot cleared and the 2014 XXL "Freshman" cover hit the shelves, his wait was over. "I envisioned it. I wanted it... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Speaks About Life’s Struggles in His XXL Freestyle (Video)

Isaiah Rashad's songs have had a common mixture of pleasure and pain. He consistently demonstrates the ability to honestly address life's ups and downs. His XXL Freshman embodies those characteristics as he touches on the daily struggles and his desire to overcome them for himself and his son. Check out... Read more

Chance The Rapper Shows That He’s A Senior Freshman In This XXL Freestyle (Video)

Although Miley Cyrus claimed it, it was actually Chance The Rapper who came into 2013 like a wrecking ball. Chicago's melodic native son countered the city's epidemic violence with proof that youth there are insightful, disenfranchised, and longing for the same acceptance and promise that American youth have always sought,... Read more

CyHi Da Prynce dropped one of the 3 strongest XXL freestyles so far…

The other 2 belonged to Kendrick Lamar and Yelawolf. The XXL one still doesn't hold a candle to this one, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg... Read more

Vic Mensa Turns Down A “Deal” And Then Breaks Out For XXL’s Freshman Freestyle (Video)

Vic Mensa's been displaying an incredible amount of versatility lately with the releases from the Trance-like, House-inspired "Down On My Luck," to his feature on Donnie Trumpet's jazz heavy, "Pasadena." His talents have definitely not gone unnoticed, as the soon to be 22 year-old Save Money artist has recently earned... Read more

Dizzy Wright – XXL Freshmen Freestyle (Video)

Dizzy Wright turns in one of the strongest of the 2013 XXL Freshmen Freestyles. Check out the video. Related: Dizzy Wright – The First Agreement ft Nikkiya and Manny Scott (Video)... Read more

Joey Bada$$ XXL Freshman Freestyle

XXL continues to roll out the freestyle videos from their XXL Freshman cover. Check out the Pro Era representer hold it down for his team. Related: Joey Bada$$ – Day in the Life... Read more

Ab Soul XXL Freshman Freestyle

XXL continues to roll out their Freshman Freestyles. Check out the latest one courtesy of TDE's Ab Soul. Related: Awolnation – Sail (Remix) ft Kendrick Lamar & Ab-Soul... Read more

Here’s another solid XXL Freshman Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Big K.R.I.T.

K.R.I.T. continues to spit about the everyday struggle. Click here more of the best of these XXL Freshman Freestyles.... Read more

Marlon Craft Puts His Competition On Notice With A Blistering Freestyle (Video)

Manhattan native Marlon Craft has been making the best of his opportunities by delivering top-notch freestyles that show off his skills. For those not in the know, Craft came across Rap honestly and as the son of a Jazz musician. From there, he showcased an adept style that instantly endeared... Read more

What’s The Real Definition Of A Freestyle? The Great Debate Continues (Video)

Last month, Ambrosia For Heads revisited a 1997 conversation between LL Cool J, Redman, DMX, Method Man and MTV News' Abbie Kearse. The interview unpacked the varying definitions of a freestyle, pulling opinions of the MCs from some different eras and backgrounds. As can be seen and heard by the definitions... Read more

Vic Mensa Says Biggie Knew Who Shot Pac & Suge Knew Who Shot Big In A Fiery Freestyle

As has been the case throughout the last five years, Vic Mensa had a busy 2018. The Chicagoan showed no signs of slowing down or taking a pause this year, both in terms of making music and staying in some headlines. Mensa released Hooligans on Roc Nation. The eight-song release... Read more

Arsonal Says He Has The Best Funk Flex Freestyle…And That Includes Black Thought

Newark, New Jersey Battle Rap star, Arsonal Da Rebel, is the latest MC to flame the mic on Funkmaster Flex’s freestyle segment. However, while most MCs come to prove their worth on the mic, this lyricist—seen in the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards cyphers, is out for symbolic blood. He... Read more

Reason Demands His Place In Rap With A New Video Freestyle

TDE's Reason formally introduced himself earlier this year with the re-release of his 2017 mixtape, There You Have It. Since its arrival through Top Dawg Entertainment, he's been on the road in support of label mate Jay Rock's Big Redemption Tour, earning himself the respect of some of Hip-Hop's most selective... Read more

Dr. Dre’s Artist Anderson .Paak Is A Bad Boy On This Biggie Freestyle (Video)

Anderson .Paak's ascension into the Hip-Hop limelight is well documented, as icons including Dr. Dre, not only co-sign his work, but have literally taken the Southern California singer, MC, drummer, and producer under his wing to executive produce his forthcoming album, Oxnard, set to release November 16. In preparation of... Read more

Mickey Factz Serves Up A Next Level Freestyle Over 1 Of DJ Premier’s Best Beats (Video)

Mickey Factz is renowned for his freestyle skills. The Bronx, New Yorker seems to just get better with these kind of bars with age—in addition to releasing some quality projects that show a different gift from the veteran MC. He battles beats like so many opponents left duffed out in... Read more

J. Cole Says He Has The Best Flow Since Biggie On A Devastating New Freestyle (Video)

J. Cole is about to embark on his KOD Tour, hitting 36 cities across North America, and has been strategically building anticipation as the days get closer to the kickoff in Miami (August 9, 2018). Having previously tweeted out "Feed me beats. Everything gettin murdered.," Cole has now dropped a... Read more

Russ Buries A Generation Of Lil SoundCloud Rappers With A Fiery Freestyle (Video)

Like many artists who will be sure to come into the fold of the music industry in a similar wake, Russ' career ultimately began on the Internet. Between 2011 and 2014, Russ released 11 albums for free on Soundcloud. In 2016, Russ' single, "What They Want," hit the Billboard Hot... Read more

J.I.D. Makes J. Cole Proud By Demolishing This XXL Cypher (Video)

It has been a busy 2018 for Dreamville Records. J. Cole's K.O.D. set new streaming records upon release, in addition to garnering critical acclaim (including appearing on Ambrosia For Heads' midyear best-of list). Cozz released a strong sophomore in Effected, which features Kendrick Lamar, Curren$y, and Cole. Meanwhile, EarthGang released... Read more

Vic Mensa Wilds Out On Method Man & Nick Cannon With A Savage Freestyle (Video)

Vic Mensa is the latest guest on Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out show. Promoting his Manuscript EP, the Roc Nation MC participated in one of the show's longstanding Rap battles. With Method Man on stage, Mensa was out to annihilate the competition on behalf of his team. Vic Mensa Says... Read more

The 20 Best Freestyles Of 2016. Thought You KNEW (Video)

In Hip-Hop, there are few things more exciting than when an MC delivers a vicious verse that's never been heard before, on the spot. It is the equivalent 0f a monster dunk in an NBA game, a one-punch knockout in a fight or an end zone to end zone run in... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Leads A Freestyle Cypher With Musicians In The UK & Rocks It (Video)

With all the chatter around the political themes embedded in Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, and the album's immense critical acclaim, it's sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that, at his core, Kendrick is an MC who loves the sport of rhyming. But, before he showcased the... Read more

Kxng Crooked Is A MONSTER. This Acapella Freestyle Is Downright Scary (Video)

Kxng Crooked has been lyrical royalty, long before he dubbed himself a King. The MC, formerly known as Crooked I, has been abusing microphones for more than 20 years, both as a solo artist and as a member of the fearsome foursome known as Slaughterhouse. In fact, it was his... Read more

How Many MC’s Could Freestyle Over This Black Moon Classic As Well As Lloyd Banks? (Audio)

G-Unit has been quite active throughout the last month. With their second EP, The Beast Is G-Unit and a number of freestyles from Kidd Kidd during his promotion for XXL's 10th spot in the 2015 Freshmen class, the Unit has been hard at work. While Tony Yayo recorded his own freestyle... Read more

Jarren Benton Sets 2015 Off With One Of The Better Freestyles You’re Gonna Hear (Video)

Funk Volume's pedigree for bigger than life lyricism is strong—especially on a label co-founded by Hopsin. One to watch though, is Georgia's Jarren Benton. A true Rap outcast/cool-guy hybrid, Jarren, in many ways, is a callback to early D12, R.A. The Rugged Man (who he's worked with), and Sticky Fingaz.... Read more

Sadat X & Chris Rivers Rock A Freestyle Together (Video)

While many had their eyes on Joey Bada$$ and Lupe Fiasco last week, Sadat X also released a new album called Never Left on the same January 20th date. As part of his promotion of the album, Sadat stopped by DJ Eclipse's RapIsOuttaControl show on SiriusXM and spit a dope... Read more

Troy Ave & Young Lito Take on the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle While Counting Money (Video)

BSB's Troy Ave and Young Lito were the latest to take on Sway's 5 Fingers of Death MC challenge where they rhymed over 5 random beats. With no shortage of swagger, the two traded off beat for beat while Troy counted stacks of money. When asked why, he told Sway... Read more

Jon Connor, Troy Ave, Jarren Benton & Lil Bibby Close Down The 2014 XXL Cyphers (Video)

Jon Connor has so much energy. The Flint, Michigan MC sets it off with DJ Drama on the turns, as the tireless Aftermath Entertainment sensation ramps up the final of three 2014 XXL freestyles. Then Jarren Benton is true to form, with his odd-ball humor, and vivid references. Lil Bibby... Read more

Chance The Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Vic Mensa, Kevin Gates & August Alsina Rock A XXL Cypher (Video)

Five of 2014's highest profile XXL Freshmen kick off this week's recurring series of cyphers featuring the magazine's upcoming cover stars. Two Chicago luminaries, Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa unite, joined by Southern guttural spitter Kevin Gates, TDE's Tennessee delegate Isaiah Rashad, and Interscope's breakthrough singer/rapper double-threat, August Alsina.... Read more

Got BARS? These MC’s Do. Here Are The Best Freestyles of 2013 (Video)

There are few things more satisfying in Hip-Hop than a killer verse. It's why Kendrick Lamar shook up the Internet for 3 weeks (an eternity these days) with his Control verse...and then again with his BET Cypher. We've assembled a collection of the best freestyles (mostly "writtens") of 2013. Check... Read more

Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson & Travis Scott – XXL Freshmen Cypher Pt. 1 (Video)

Here's a cypher featuring some of the best of this year's XXL Freshmen. Check out the video featuring Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson and Travis Scott blistering the mic. Related: Ab-Soul XXL Freshman Freestyle (Video)... Read more

Twista – Show N’ Off Freestyle (Video)

Twista can still come with that rapid-fire flow. Here's a verse he dropped over a Statik Selektah beat, as part of XXL's Show N' Off Freestyle series. Check out the video. Related: Supernatural freestyles on Hot 97 with Peter Rosenberg (Video)... Read more

There have been a lot of Kendrick Lamar freestyles floating around lately. This one is a little different.

First and foremost, he is truly going off the top of the head instead of kicking a pre-written verse. Secondly, he's rhyming with a live violin player. Check it out. Also, click here if you need more Kendrick Lamar freestyles in your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVT9YiWUR1k&feature=player_embedded... Read more

Here’s another quality Toca Tuesday Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Yelawolf.

It still doesn't top when Cyhi Da Prynce straight blacked during his Toca Tuesday Freestyle, but Yelawolf more than holds his own.  Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-katDdakY&feature=player_embedded... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Is Still Modest, Even When He’s In The Running For Rap Album Of 2014 (Video)

Isaiah Rashad has a XXL magazine cover (care of 2014's Freshmen class), and he's got a popular runner for the year's Album Of The Year, in his Cilvia Demo EP. The Chattanooga, Tennessee native's status has soared in the last 12 months. From the executive chair, Isaiah tells it how... Read more

Chance The Rapper Covers A Children’s TV Show Theme Song (Video)

Chance The Rapper has this keen ability to harness some deep seeded, fantastical energy into his music that penetrates your heart and soul, and gives you goosebumps in the best way possible. Now, there is one more reason to love the approachable Chicago artist. At a recent performance at Sasquatch... Read more

Who Needs Hooks When You’ve Got BARS? Cyhi The Prynce is Back (Video)

Out of all the G.O.O.D. Music affiliates, Cyhi The Prynce has always been one of the nicest with wordplay. After creating a lot of buzz in 2010 and 2011 with his BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher and XXL Freshmen selection, Cyhi has had a relatively quiet couple of years. However,... Read more

Logic Has Made It Hard To Like Him & It’s Not Just Joe Budden

Among chart-topping Hip-Hop artists of the last decade, Logic is arguably the most polarizing. The Gaithersburg, Maryland native MC/producer who began as a DIY artist in the early 2010s Hip-Hop underground, has since gone on to achieve a wall full of platinum and gold plaques, was nominated for "Song Of... Read more

Symba Calls Funkmaster Flex Out While Freestyling For Him

This week marks the 26th anniversary of the death of Tupac Shakur. On September 13, 1996, the MC, actor, poet, and pop culture superstar died in a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital following a drive-by shooting one week earlier. While many Tupac affiliates, insiders, and law enforcement officials have opined who... Read more

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop community reacted to the latest high-profile lists ranking the greatest Rap albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine and a team of journalists and writers ranked 200 Hip-Hop LPs, prompting plenty of reaction. It was not the first list of this kind, and it certainly will not... Read more

Symba Makes The Best Case Ever For Who’s The GOAT

Bay Area Rap veteran Symba is still making an introduction after over a decade in the game. Having worked with Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz, the Antioch, California native landed at Atlantic Records (after time spent at Sony) with a fervor for the mic. His latest single "GOAT" is... Read more

Joey Bada$$’s Next Album Is A Sequel To His Classic Mixtape

In June of 2012, Joey Bada$$ launched what has become a highly-respected catalog with 1999. The mixtape from the Brooklyn, New York MC helped usher in the Pro Era movement, with appearances by Capital STEEZ, CJ Fly, Chuck Strangers, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, Dessy Hinds, and more. As a 17-year-old... Read more

Mickey Factz Details The Strategy He Used In His Battle With Royce 5’9 (Video)

This week (August 20), Mickey Factz partners with Blu for The Narrative, a six-song project produced entirely by Nottz. Ahead of Friday's album, Mickey and Blu released two singles: June's "Stay Down" and July's "Reign." The latter, a video, features Asher Roth and reunites three MCs from the 2009 XXL... Read more

Drake Declares War On Pusha-T, Diddy & More In A Song Full Of Sneak Disses

In the closing days of the year, Drake wants the last word in 2019. He drops a new song and music video with an eyebrow-raising title "War." The OVO compilation inclusion (embedded below) declares armistice with one artist Drizzy was rumored to be in a rift with. It also takes... Read more

DaBaby Makes A Song That Shows He’s A Grown-Up MC With A Real Message

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, also known by his Rap moniker DaBaby, has been having a stellar campaign in 2019. After being featured in XXL's "Freshman" class this season, the 27-year-old MC released his debut album, Baby On Baby, which reached the top 25 of the Billboard 200 charts. It was accompanied... Read more

Some Of Hip-Hop’s Top MCs Mourn Philadelphia Battle Rapper Tech 9

The Hip-Hop community is mourning the death of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Battle Rap veteran Tech 9 (aka Akeen Mickens). He is survived by a daughter. Details are still forthcoming in this developing story. “Sadly it’s true. We lost a Philadelphia and Battle Rap legend and pioneer,” fellow competitive MC Buttah Madison... Read more

Joe Budden Tells The Game To Watch His Mouth When Talking About Him & Women

A little under two weeks ago, Joe Budden, Rory, and Mal sat down on The Joe Budden Podcast to discuss Royce 5’9’s “Cocaine” music video, Soulja Boy’s recent appearance on The Everyday Struggle, and the announcement of Coming To America 2 being in production. However, the podcast's main focus surrounded... Read more