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Dave Chappelle Says He Didn’t Quit, He’s Just 7 Years Late To Work (Video)

With new shows in New York City on the horizon, including several joined by The Roots, DJ Premier, and Erykah Badu, comedian/actor Dave Chappelle appears to climbing back to the spotlight after nearly a decade of public hiatus. The Ohio native appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman" last night... Read more

The Roots Take The 28 Days Later Approach To Never (Video)

In many of The Roots' videos throughout the last eight years, they have favored sitting it out. Arguably, The Roots television and performing schedule (especially with so many studio commitments on top) holds the group back. More likely though, it is a conscious choice to support the narrative of Black... Read more

The ’80s & ’90s Versions Connect, As Doug E. Fresh & Snoop Dogg Perform La-Di-Da-Di (Video)

In the 1980s, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick made history with a Reality Records rhyme-routine 12" known as "La-Di-Da-Di." MC Ricky D's introduction to the masses alongside "The Human Beatbox King" was a moment in time, making Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" forever rooted in the Hip-Hop consciousness. By... Read more

Mary J. Blige’s Love Songs Continue, With A Sweet Engagement Jam In Time For Wedding Season (Audio)

M.J.B.'s love-odes continue, from the Think Like A Man sequel. Here, Yonkers' finest switches from her record about a missed connection at the forefront of a potential relationship, to the all-encompassing embrace of infinity, with "Propose." The wedding-themed record is right on time for Summer's wedding season, with a slow... Read more

Headbang-Out To Madlib’s Latest Rock Konducta Jam, Black Dreams (Audio)

Madlib's abyssal crates spawned the latest in his Beat Konducta series. As "Rock Konducta," Otis Jackson, Jr. explores his Rockier side, after dabblings in Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Dancehall, and of course, Hip-Hop. "Black Dreams (Sludge Fight)" takes on that Punk aesthetic, as 'Lib freaks 90 seconds of slamming guitars... Read more

30 Minutes Of Kanye West’s Off-The-Mic Inspiration, War-Cries & Chest-Thumping (Video)

Sometimes, the same thing that's great about an artist's music is what makes their personality and stardom so strong. Tupac Shakur had a courage in his music as he did in his life, and it's a big part of the reason why his face is printed on thousands of posters... Read more

Lupe Fiasco’s Freestyle Fearlessness Continues Alongside Tony Touch (Video)

Last week, Lupe Fiasco lit up Sway Up The Morning with a 100% free, freestyle. In that moment, Lu' was in the zone and combined humor, deep thought, and an unwavering flow. This week, Fiasco appeared on Tony Touch's Toca Radio on Shade 45, and also went off the dome.... Read more

The Dusted Hip-Hop Renaissance In New York City Continues With Timeless Truth’s Dominican Diner (EP)

From The Dopplegangaz, to Rast RFC, to Your Old Droog, New York City has its share of groups and MCs who sound, well, out of time. These artists are celebrating the mid-1990s NYC movement, an era which did not necessarily reflect well on the charts and RIAA standards, but an... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Seth Rogen’s Interests Overlap, Talking Origins Of “The Chronic” (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen. One of the coolest figures of pop culture from the '90s and one of the coolest pop culture icons of the 2000s cross paths on D-O-Double G's GGN segment. The two men share a love of medicinals, as the joints burn slow. As Snoop calls... Read more

ONYX Kicks That 100 Mad Rah-Rah In Buc Bac (Video)

Less than three months removed from WakeDaFucUp, ONYX is far from done promoting the Snowgoons-produced LP. Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr have no love for weakness on "Buc Bac." The apocalyptic, black-and-white visual finds the Queens-Brooklyn tandem down in their bunker, ready for war on the happy-go-lucky, soft-hearted Hip-Hop out... Read more

Locksmith Might Have 2014’s Strongest Freestyle, But Does He Also Have Best Cypher?

Locksmith is out for titles. Richmond, California's own has a great (but slept-on) album out in A Thousand Cuts. He has one of the year's most jaw-droppingly great freestyles, care of DJ Kay Slay's Streetsweeper Radio spot, and now, care of Team Backpack, Lock' is bidding for top cypher. With... Read more

A Timeless Sly & The Family Stone Joint Gets Reworked By !llmind (Audio)

Sly & The Family Stone is summertime music, and we're not just talkin' about "Hot Fun In The Summertime." Sly Stone's trippy ode, "If You Want Me To Stay" may have been released 39 years ago, but Sly's final journey to the Top 40 remains timeless for lovers telling their... Read more

After A Plethora Of Recent Standout Appearances, Chris “Baby Pun” Rivers Offers Up Wonderland Of Misery 2 (Mixtape)

Although Chris Rivers has yet to release a studio album, the Bronx, New Yorker is already part of arguably the best father/son battery in Hip-Hop history. While any offspring of the legendary Big Pun could seemingly be poised for such an honorable recognition, Chris has earned his stars and bars... Read more

Ice Cube & MC Ren Reunite On This Rebel Remix With Attitude! (Audio)

One of MC Ren's faster flows since the mid-'90s brought attention to "Rebel Music" a few months ago. Out of thin air, Lorenzo brings out a remix with his N.W.A. partner Ice Cube. These O.G.'s worked together a handful of times in the last 15 years, and this is the... Read more

Mack Wilds Recruits Pusha T For A My Crib Remix Themed After A Famous Roc-A-Fella Moment In Time (Audio)

"Jigga flow, who better to jack it?" raps Pusha T on the "My Crib remix," which features a Salaam Remi-blend over Mack Wilds' original. Pusha T bookends the appearance with two short verses, channeling back (with the beat) to the glory days of Jay Z, Beanie Sigel, and Memphis Bleek... Read more

Mary J. Blige Links With Some Smooth Pharrell Production For A Jam About Missed Connections (Audio)

Everybody's had those missed connections. Since before the days of Craigslist, there have been those fatalistic encounters with others that pass all too quickly, without contact information exchanged. For the Think Like A Man Too Soundtrack, Mary J. Blige and Pharrell Williams recount experiences in a song called "See That... Read more

Emilio Rojas Shows A Strong Confidence On A ShowOff Freestyle (Video)

Although he deems it "light work," Rochester, New York's Emilio Rojas' stunts on a ShowOff Radio freestyle alongside collaborator, Statik Selektah. Combining his challenging upbringing with some bravado surrounding women and skills, one of Hip-Hop's most championed unsigned artists continues his recent run of strong material. Related: Emilio Rojas –... Read more

Marsha Ambrosius Spreads Hope In The Poweful Visual To Run (Video)

Floetry alum Marsha Ambrosious remains super versatile. The singer who's been close to the productions from both Dr. Dre and DJ Hi-Tek over the years is an R&B purist at heart. With tinges of Pop, Marsha makes an inspirational song about escaping the confines in life for true spiritual freedom.... Read more

Childish Gambino Reveals That He’s Making An EP With Chance The Rapper

Following 2013's "Worst Guys" video single, Childish Gambino took to Twitter in the last six hours (June 8) to reveal that he and Chance The Rapper's collaborative discography is far from over. The two stars of recent-Rap are reportedly at work on an EP together. Details are sparse, but is... Read more

Sir Mix-A-Lot Brings Booty Bass To Classical, As He Performs Baby Got Back With An Orchestra (Video)

Applaud Seattle Hip-Hop pioneer Sir Mix-A-Lot. For 30 years, the MC/DJ/radio personality and producer has been making a unique brand of Rap music, helping co-pioneer Booty Bass (with the L.A. faction of 2 Live Crew) just about as far from Miami as an American can get. Although S.M.A.'s hits go... Read more

People Under The Stairs Release A Mix Of Rarities For Their 12 Step Album (Mixtape)

DJ Day's limited edition 12 Step Program mixtape was released to 100 physical copies at People Under The Stairs' recent shows. Now, P.U.T.S. liberates the mix to the web. Featuring some rarities and new material, this mix promotes the just-released 12 Step Program album (of the same name). The veteran... Read more

A$AP Mob Drop a Bomb with Flex. This Cypher WILL Get You Gassed!! (Video)

After a busy 2013, A$AP Mob has been keeping it low-key in the 2-0-1-4 thus far. However, the Harlem conglomerate hit Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 show last night (June 5) for the time-tested tradition of crew-freestyles. A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Ant, A$AP Nast and A$AP Twelvyy kicked the seated... 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

In Terms Of Geographical Themes, This Might Be The Most Fully Executed. Hi-Tek Brings Bow Wow & Krayzie Bone Together, With Bootsy Collins Over An Ohio Players Sample (Audio)

From Ja Rule, Jadakiss and Fat Joe's "New York" to Dr. Dre's "Some L.A. Niggaz" to T.W.D.Y.'s "Player's Holiday," there have been some cool geographically-driven collaborations. Still, those seem within a pocket of talented friends, even if guys like Dre and Defari don't often run in the same circles. For... Read more

Ab-Soul Kicks A ShowOff Freestyle Along with Dame Dash’s Family, Da$h (Video)

ShowOff Radio freestyles continue to impress, in this Carson, California-to-New Jersey link. Damon Dash's latest family member foray into the music industry is Da$h, who came up appearing on some of Curren$y/Jet Life's get-down with BluRoc/DD172. Now solidifying his own lane, Da$h gets on the mic with Ab-Soul... both of... Read more

6 Highly-Skilled Veteran MCs Tear Down The Beat On Army Of The Pharoahs New Single (Video)

In the conversation surrounding super-groups, perhaps A.O.T.P. is the most overlooked. After over 15 years, this perennial Top 200-selling collective known as Army Of The Pharaohs spans the East Coast including Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks), Esoteric (CZARFACE), Apathy (Demigodz), Planetary (Outerspace), Blacastan, Celph-Titled, and more. Moreover, highly-respected producers by... Read more

The Celebration Of Illmatic Is Far From Over! Charlie Rose Gets Deep With Nas (Video)

While Nas is among Hip-Hop's most introspective MCs of all time, Heads know that Nas interviews are not always on the same level. While artists like 50 Cent, Tupac, and KRS-One have never struggled to open up for interviews at all outlets, the Queensbridge superstar (much like his formal Brooklyn,... Read more

Lupe Fiasco Rocks A True Off The Dome Freestyle That Sway Says Makes His Top 10, Ever (Video)

Following his Sway In The Morning appearance this a.m. (June 4), Lupe Fiasco honored The Wake Up Show-tested tradition of kickin' a freestyle. Oh, and after that, Lupe reveals when his next album is coming too. Asking for a smooth beat, Lu' insisted he's off the dome, as he falls... Read more

Pharrell’s Apollo Concert Is Available In Full Stream & Directed By Spike Lee (Video)

American Express's #AmexUNSTAGED is an incredibly dope concert series pairing innovative, chart-topping artists with exciting musical halls and cinematic visionaries for a very public, unedited, concert in full. After doing The Roots & John Legend's Amex-backed show some years back, iconic filmmaker Spike Lee hops on to show the light... Read more

The Marvin Gaye & Mos Def Mash-Up Gets A Bonus Round In Yasiin Gaye: The Return Side Two (Mixtape)

Less than three months after musical-mixologist Amerigo Gazaway unleashed Yasiin Gaye: The Departure: Side 1, the mythical, digital tape gets turned over for the B-side. Yasiin Gaye: The Return: Side Two really captures Marvin Gaye's studio and vocal innovations, while deeply considering the late '90s Mos Def material often overlooked in... Read more

Common Remembers Maya Angelou In This Touching Letter (Food For Thought)

In the wake of Maya Angelou's death last week, Common published a heartfelt reaction. Comm's words explain everything they need to, but Ambrosia For Heads felt this was something too heartfelt, important, and eloquent not to share: "Since I was 5 years old I have loved reading good writing. I... Read more

The Giant Is Greater, As A.G. Steps Into DJ Premier’s Bars In The Booth Series (Video)

After rocking out with The Black Sheep's Dres and Papoose, DJ Premier keeps things in that New York City gritty getting down with A.G. The Diggin' In The Crates crew/Showbiz & A.G. MC goes back over 25 years with Preem, when the two worked together in some of the Bronx... Read more

Stalley Makes A Case For Himself As Man Of The Year Over ScHoolboy Q’s Track (Video)

Even honest cowboys can get a lil' cocky sometimes. ScHoolboy Q's homie Stalley seizes an opportunity to slam some bars over the OXYMORON single's beat. The visual, featuring an old Fleetwood Cadillac, shows why Stalley has had one of the best June-to-June years one can imagine, given his acclaimed mixtape... Read more

DJ Jazzy Jeff Lists Some Of His Prized Celebrity Equipment, Covers Nirvana In A Jam With Travis Barker (Video)

DJ Jazzy Jeff is the farthest thing from a braggart. When he shares jewels from his personal and professional life, it's always matter of fact. So when the A Touch Of Jazz founder crosses paths with Travis Barker (Blink 182), the two are just talking shop. In the process, Jeff... Read more

Common Reunites With No ID At Def Jam Records, Nobody’s Smiling Release Date Announced!

With Nobody's Smiling announced in the first days of 2014, Heads weren't sure of any more details. The Chicago Hip-Hop pioneer had fulfilled his deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music years ago, before releasing 2011's The Dreamer/The Believer at Warner Bros. Records, an imprint which has since rolled into Atlantic.... Read more

DJ Scratch Goes Into The Crates With An All-45 James Brown Mix (Mixtape)

In one of the cooler reveals in Hip-Hop as of late, it turns out that J. Period was not alone in honoring James Brown this week. As the True Elements DJ went in on #The Legend Of James Of Brown, EPMD/Flipmode Squad alum DJ Scratch offered up a companion mix,... Read more

Ameriie Is A B-Girl At Heart. Just Listen To Her New Incredible Bongo Band-Sampling Single (Lyric Video)

So Ameriie (who, throughout the 2000s, was simply known as Amerie) has always been on the outskirts of Hip-Hop. The longtime Sony Records songstress has teamed with producers ranging from Roc-A-Fella Records hit-man Bink! to Cee-Lo to Teddy Riley. And who could forget the early 9th Wonder, albeit unofficial, remix... Read more

If You Like Gritty, 90s-Rooted New York Hip-Hop, Your Old Droog May Be Your Best New Artist (Mixtape/EP)

DJ Skizz, whose keen ear, made some AFH favorites of 2013, is out with a relatively unfamiliar artist. Brooklyn MC Your Old Droog (or just "Droog" for short/ease) is fresh on the scene. With straightforward honesty, raspy, streetwise deliveries, Droog is rooted in that Group Home, Akinyele, and Ghostface Killah... Read more

Take A Journey With The Serial Killers, Better Known As B-Real, Xzibit & Demrick (Video)

Slightly (and perhaps intentionally) under the radar, multi-platinum super-group The Serial Killers are still plotting. The trio of B-Real, Xzibit and Demrick are approaching music with the steel-sharpens-steel approach, as two '90s lyrical giants in B and X-to-the-Z find excitement in Young De to call back to those earlier lyrical... Read more

J. Period Honors The Godfather Of Soul, James Brown (Mixtape)

Brooklyn-based DJ J. Period (who is actually the Music Supervisor for the Brooklyn Nets) loves many shapes and colors of music. Coming up as a DJ affiliated closely with Oakland duo Zion I, J. Period and his True Elements platform have made celebrated tapes for living legends like The Isley... Read more

Homeboy Sandman Makes An Oceanic Cut Over Some ’70s-Tastic Blu Production (Audio)

Two of the most versatile voices in the contemporary Underground Hip-Hop world are Homeboy Sandman and Blu. Running in similar circles (Stones Throw Records, Sene, etc.), the pair comes together nicely on "Atlantis." H.B.S. states why underwater is the place to be, given some of the goings-on to be found... Read more

Those Summer Street Lights Come On In Jadakiss’ Addition To Apollo The Great’s Single Remix (Audio)

Late last year, Apollo The Great hit Heads off with his South American-inspired single, "Rio De Janeiro." However, the New Jersey MC dusts off his joint with a new addition right in time for Summer. Lyrical giant Jadakiss hops on the verse to make the illustration of treacherous moves happening... Read more

Bishop Nehru Is The Latest & One Of The More Unlikely MCs To Tackle Iggy Azalea’s Fancy (Audio)

There is Smif-N-Wessun with Mary J. Blige, Ol' Dirty Bastard with Mariah Carey, so how about Bishop Nehru and Iggy Azalea? Although the Australian T.I. affiliate is not a singer as much as she is a rapper, the Island Records star has a Pop pocket, and has at least two... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Shows The Crime & The Punishment On The Madlib-Produced Deeper (Video)

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's Pinata is still dropping jewels since being busted back in March. One of the album's earliest singles, "Deeper" is Freddie Gibbs' storytelling at his finest, with a signature Madlib concoction of Soul, Funk, and avant-garde Jazz. For the visual, the ESGN (Evil Seeds Grow Naturally) family... Read more

Joey Bada$$ & Freddie Gibbs Carry On With An AZ Scratch-Chorus For Statik Selektah’s New Single (Audio)

"Carrying on tradition" is an appropriate way of describing both Joey Bada$$ and Freddie Gibbs. Each MC is a bit out of step with their peers, far more interested in preserving the brands of Hip-Hop they grew up listening to. For the Pro Era MC, this includes the free-form linguistics... Read more

David Alan Grier Provides A Dramatic Reading Of Some Of Kanye West’s Classic Tweets (Video)

Since I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, David Alan Grier has been supplying Heads with laughs. In actuality, this classically-trained actor's resume spans over 30 years, long before he was an integral part of the "In Living Color" cast from beginning to end, and star of such films as Blankman and... Read more

In The Mood For Some Pharoahe Monch, Blu, Royce Da 5’9 & More? Stream Coalmine Records’ Unearthed LP (Audio)

Brooklyn-based Coalmine Records has been consistently working with Hip-Hop luminaries from coast-to-coast, and abroad. The label has facilitated projects ranging from The Artifacts' El Da Sensei to Blu & Nottz' EP, to Rah Digga releases, and of course the Guilty Simpson x Small Professor collision. Celebrating a decade in indie... Read more

50 Cent Uncages The Title Visual From Animal Ambition On Release Day (Video)

What better way to punctuate release day than with a title single video? If the three-month roll-out to 50 Cent's first independent album (since 2002's Top 50 charting Guess Who's Back street LP) did not convey what "Animal Ambition" truly means, the video ought to. Fif has a drive and predatory... Read more

Check Out The Ultimate Unofficial Erykah Badu Mixtape, Featuring Rarities & Unreleased Remixes (Mixtape)

For 17 years, spanning five LPs and one live effort, Erykah Badu has helped change Soul/R&B music forever. The Dallas, Texas native approached her genre with a keen appreciation for Hip-Hop all along, and found Everywoman (and Everyman) subject matters to breathe organic life into her field at a time... Read more

Pharoahe Monch’s Tremendous Vocal Range & Enhanced Songwriting Is On Smash In Broken (Video)

Pharoahe Monch is often revered as one of Hip-Hop's elite lyricists, since his days of kicking syncopated verse alongside Prince Po in Organized Konfusion. However, more than just wordplay, flow, and precision-driven rhymes, the Queens MC has bared his soul more than a few times in his songs. That's especially... Read more