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Hip-Hop’s Shining Moments of 2015: The Big, The Small, & The Revolutionary

Each and every year, there is no shortage of moments in time which crystallize the development of Hip-Hop's growth, and 2015 is no different. Over the course of the previous 12 months, the culture played larger-than-life roles in film, health, politics, television, and of course, music history. Here are just... Read more

December 21, 2015 Food for Thought

Quentin Tarantino Says Victims of Police Brutality Are Not Statistics & Murders Have to Stop (Video)

Quentin Tarantino has never been a film director shy of controversy. He has, however, been a steadfast proponent of his creative license and the freedom to use the silver screen to create not only some of the most iconic films of his generation, but also those which ruffle some feathers... Read more

December 18, 2015 Video

Chance the Rapper Says Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq Film Is An “Oversimplification Of A Bigger Problem” (Video)

Over the last couple of weeks, acclaimed film director Spike Lee has been on a serious press junket to promote his latest film, Chi-Raq. The film itself is a study of Chicago's notorious South Side, where gun violence has led to so many deaths, it has become a deadlier place... Read more

December 18, 2015 Video

Nelly Tells The Story of Making His Career-Launching Hit, “Country Grammar” (Video)

Nelly's "Country Grammar" was a game changer. As the lead single from his 2000 debut album of the same name, the song was everywhere that summer. Produced by Jason "Jay E" Epperson, the track was built atop drums inspired by David Bowie mixed with the familiar refrain from a popular... Read more

December 17, 2015 Video

This Man’s Quest for Healthy Food is Changing Los Angeles, One Garden at a Time (Video)

Los Angeles, though often thought of as a land of palm trees and greenery aplenty, is mostly a sprawling, urban expanse which is now dealing with a statewide drought of historic proportions. That isn't stopping a resident of L.A.'s South Central neighborhood from doing his part to help his beloved... Read more

December 17, 2015 Lifestyle

Talib Kweli is a Master MC, but a New Interview Praises his Business Smarts

As an MC, Talib Kweli is one of the most celebrated, his lyrical content being praised for its creativity and its frequent skew towards sociopolitical. As a performer, he is touted as one of the livest and most energetic. As an activist, he is hailed as one of the few... Read more

December 17, 2015 Fresh

N.W.A. are 100 Miles & Runnin’…Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Straight Outta Compton may not have earned any Golden Globe nominations, but N.W.A.'s legacy is being recognized by another prestigious organization, one who has overlooked the Compton Rap group in years past. Today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the inductees for 2016 who also include Cheap Trick,... Read more

December 17, 2015 News

They Don’t Make ‘Em Like Royce Da 5’9″ Anymore. His Newly Leaked Song is Proof (Audio)

And just like that, Royce Da 5'9" has given Heads a holiday gift in the form of "They Don't Make Them Like This Anymore (T.D.M.T.L.T.A.)." Leaked by the man himself, it's another example of the Slaughterhouse and PRhyme MC's lyrical domination over many of his contemporaries. Said Royce about the... Read more

December 16, 2015 Audio

Prison Reform Is Influencing New York to Diminish Use of Solitary Confinement.

2015 has been an important year in the ongoing fight for prison reform. Lately, discussions about reducing the amount of inmates in the United States has been a hotly contested area of political discourse, with many arguing that the country's disproportionate number of incarcerated citizens is a direct result of... Read more

December 16, 2015 Lifestyle

“Thriller” Has Sold 30 Million Copies, Making Michael Jackson the King of Everything

Forget Pop, Michael Jackson has just become the King of ALL Music, as the first artist to have an album be recognized for selling 30-million copies in the United States. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has just announced that the iconic LP Thriller has bested all other albums, becoming... Read more

December 16, 2015 News

Pusha T Brings Crutches, Crosses, & Caskets (& Some Sunshine) to “The Daily Show” (Videos)

Pusha T is closing out 2015 with an impending release that has been getting buzz for what seems like years. King Push: Darkest Before the Dawn arrives Friday (December 18), and in preparation for it, he's been dropping some serious heat. In November, the Timbaland-produced "Untouchable" arrived, followed up with... Read more

December 16, 2015 TV/Film, Video

G-Eazy Bared His Soul on His Latest Album, & He’s Got More to Say (Interview)

On December 4, Oakland, California MC G-Eazy released his sophomore album for RCA Records called When It's Dark Out, and with it he continued the chart-topping success he found with his 2014 major label debut, These Things Happen. The 26 year-old has already worked with giants like E-40, Big Sean,... Read more

December 15, 2015 Food for Thought

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year Speaks Volumes About 2015 (Audio)

Since 2003, the dictionary publishing company Merriam-Webster has released lists of words every December that best define what the preceding 11 months were all about, and this morning, it became 2015's turn. In years past, the Words of the Year were decided by the dictionary's page views and website searches,... Read more

December 15, 2015 Lifestyle

Killer Mike & Bernie Sanders Talk Shop in 6-Episode Mini-Series (Video)

After formally endorsing presidential candidate Bernie Sanders last month, Killer Mike (born Michael Render) has been promoting the Vermont senator's politics and campaign promises in an effort to galvanize American voters to rally support. In his introductory speech at a Sanders rally in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, Render called... Read more

December 15, 2015 Video

Ever Hear The Shelved ’90s Clipse LP? The Neptunes Were Down From Jump. (Album Stream)

With Pusha T slated to drop his forthcoming album on Friday (King Push: Darkest Before Dawn, December 18) and the Clipse's two hugely successful studio albums, the appeal of the Virginia Beach, Virginia duo has yet to fade away, despite brothers Pusha and No Malice (f/k/a Malice) not having worked... Read more

December 14, 2015 Audio, Throwback

Raury’s Latest Takes an Inside Look at Life in the Trap (Video)

Atlanta, Georgia artist Raury has continued to impress fans with his multiple talents, combining rapping, singing, and talents playing instruments to forge his unique perspective. Most of his music has a political tone or a deeply personal story line, and at only 19 years old, he is poised to take... Read more

December 14, 2015 Video

15 Years Ago, Xzibit’s Restlessness Helped Make Him a Household Name (Editorial)

On December 12, 2000, Los Angeles, California-based MC Xzibit dropped his third album, one that arrived at a curious juncture in his musical and professional careers. Already considered a West Coast favorite thanks to the grassroots and Underground support of his sophomore effort 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, the streets... Read more

December 12, 2015 Food for Thought

DJ Hollywood Tells Ice-T What He Says Is The True Story Of Hip-Hop’s Origins (Audio)

On the latest episode of his Final Level podcast, Ice T chats with DJ Hollywood, the legendary Harlem DJ whose work in the '70s and '80s helped elevate Hip-Hop culture from obscurity to relevance, a story far too unfamiliar in music lore. Along with co-host Mick Benzo, Ice took the... Read more

December 11, 2015 Audio

Black Thought Spits Fire About Lost Love on Unreleased Statik Selektah Track (Audio)

Just one day after Black Thought tore through a DJ Premier beat alongside Royce Da 5'9" on PRhyme's "Wishin' II," the Roots front man is back again, this time lamenting on missteps in romance. "Couldn't Tell" is a brooding cut that didn't make it onto Statik Selektah's July album Lucky... Read more

December 11, 2015 Audio

Nicki Minaj Sees Herself in Victims of Police Brutality & Says Sandra Bland “Could Have Been Me”

This year has been another history-making chapter of Nicki Minaj's career. Back in March, she became a Billboard chart darling, becoming the first female artist to land four simultaneously charting songs in the top ten positions of R&B/Hip-Hop. Several months later, she had a watershed night at the BET Awards,... Read more

December 11, 2015 Fresh

“Straight Outta Compton” Dominated 2015 in Many Ways. So Why the Golden Globes Snub?

Just a few days after the Recording Academy left many Heads scratching their, well...heads, over Grammy nominations, the Hollywood Foreign Press has got many people asking "what were they thinking?" The organization behind the Golden Globes announced its list of nominees for the best in film and television of 2015,... Read more

December 10, 2015 News

Affirmative Action in Education is Eliciting Heated Debate by the Supreme Court (Audio)

Earlier today, the Supreme Court presided over a discussion about affirmative action within the jurisdiction of higher education. For many years, the issue of race has played a large role in the process of college and university admissions, and as any Heads who have applied to such a school can... Read more

December 10, 2015 Lifestyle

The Boot Camp Clik Brought Hip-Hop to Daytime TV & Tore Down the “Jenny Jones Show” (Video)

The mid- to late '90s into the early aughts were the heyday for daytime talk shows hosted by folks like Ricki Lake, Montel Williams, Sally Jesse Raphael, and Jenny Jones. Most of them dealt with issues relating to family, health, sex, and scandal but only one was a frequent (albeit... Read more

December 10, 2015 Do Remember

DJ Premier, Royce Da 5’9″ & Joey Bada$$ Say We’re In a New Golden Era (Audio)

The term is used a lot when discussing Hip-Hop. Generally speaking, the Golden Era or Golden Age is used to describe a bygone era, one that rose to prominence in the mid- to early '90s, when lyricism was considered to be the supreme skill required to be considered a true... Read more

December 9, 2015 Audio

See Why Anderson .Paak Has Co-Signs from Dre, Premier, 9th Wonder, Madlib & More (Video)

As Anderson .Paak continues his unstoppable rise to much deserved and overdue acclaim, there's an aspect to his multi-dimensional range of talents that many folks have yet to see, and that's his live performance. Appearances on some of the year's biggest records - namely Dr. Dre's Compton and the Game's... Read more

December 9, 2015 Video

Bernie Sanders Calls Out Republicans for “Suicidal Course” on Climate Change (Video)

Last night, Vermont senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visited Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show, where the Broooklyn, New York native outlined the major points of his political platform for a very receptive audience. After calling Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's politics "demagoguery" and "crap," Sanders focused on what he... Read more

December 9, 2015 Lifestyle

Time Magazine Could Name Black Lives Matter Activists as Person of the Year, But Will They?

Time magazine is a classic piece of American journalism, a long-standing publication that covers all aspects of social and political life and the annual selection of "Person of the Year" was first launched by the magazine in 1927 (the first being aviator and American icon Charles Lindbergh). It's hard to... Read more

December 8, 2015 Lifestyle

Logic’s Star Shines Brightly with Help From the Roots on “The Tonight Show” (Video)

25-year-old Logic has had a whirlwind couple of years, shattering all preconceived notions about what a real MC looks like or where a real MC comes from. The Maryland native was born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, and since signing to Def Jam and releasing not, but two immensely successful... Read more

December 8, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Action Bronson & Roc Marciano Join Meyhem Lauren For A Bonus Round (Audio)

Queens, New York MC Meyhem Lauren has been earning the attention from Heads thanks to his collaborations with the likes of Buckwild, a member of the legendary Diggin' in the Crates (DITC) crew, and today he has dropped another hot collabo. Featuring Action Bronson (with whom he previously collaborated on... Read more

December 8, 2015 Audio

Travi$ Scott’s Family Ties To DJ Premier & Love Of Thrash-Metal Gets Revealed (Video)

Once again, oddball audiophile Nardwuar has linked up with another of today's most popular artists to chat about topics predictable and otherwise. This time, the Vancouver, British Columbia mainstay met with Houston rapper Travi$ Scott, whose debut album Rodeo has been oft-cited as one of the year's most exciting. Also... Read more

December 7, 2015 Video

Jadakiss & Nipsey Hussle Spend a Day on the Block, Where Some Things Never Change (Video)

On November 20, Jadakiss released Top 5 Dead or Alive, an album with an ambitious title but a fitting one for many Heads, considering its source. A day before, he dropped a heater of a track in "Rain," featuring stand-out verses from Nas and Styles P. The same day as... Read more

December 7, 2015 Video

The Hip-Hop Generation’s Online Influence Is Being Co-Opted by Nearly Everyone

2015 has seen the rise of things like meme culture, Vines, and the Snapchat effect - all trends directly correlated to the merging of youth and technology. With the advent of Instagram and similar apps, internet culture has become a virtual playground, where creatives both young and old are creating... Read more

December 7, 2015 Lifestyle

150 Years After Slavery Ended, Politicians Still Need a Reminder that Black Lives Matter

On December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified with the sate of Georgia's approval of the legislation, bringing a formal end to slavery. The ratification meant that, at least on paper, human beings were no longer allowed to be viewed as property and that,... Read more

December 6, 2015 Lifestyle

J. Cole’s Record-Breaking Forest Hills Drive Tour is Getting the HBO Treatment (Video)

Since releasing his platinum-selling and universally acclaimed album 2014 Forest Hills Drive last year, J. Cole has continued to claim his rightful place as one of this generation's brightest stars. Not only applauded for his lyrical abilities and his production work - he recently flipped an A Tribe Called Quest... Read more

December 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

10 Years Ago Lil Wayne Released Tha Carter II & It Made Him A Hip-Hop Superstar

A decade ago, it could certainly have been argued that Lil Wayne had nowhere near the body of work to be considered one of the game's best lyricists. However, 10 years after releasing Tha Carter II, he helped Billboard break the Internet after taking the 10th slot on the publication's... Read more

December 6, 2015 Food for Thought

The Cold, Hard Truth: 20 Individuals Have More Money Than Half of the US Population

Wealth inequality has become a buzzword in American politics lately, with documentaries like Inequality for Us documenting the drastic differences in financial realities for Americans. Across the board, the United States has one of the world's most appalling income gaps when it comes to socioeconomic classes. The very, very wealthy... Read more

December 4, 2015 Lifestyle

25 Years Ago, Brand Nubian Propelled Us Forward by Looking Back (Editorial)

One need not look far to witness the enduring influence Brand Nubian has had on Hip-Hop. It's in today's fashion trends, in all of today's nods to the '90s, and it's most certainly in the music of today's up and comers. The New Rochelle, New York group's featured MCs, Grand... Read more

December 4, 2015 Food for Thought

This Footage Captures the Energy of Erykah Badu’s Sold-Out Brooklyn Performance (Video)

Last night, Erykah Badu performed for an adoring, sold-out crowd in the newly refurbished Kings Theatre in the Flatbush section of New York City's Brooklyn. The venue - a classically designed theatre that looks out of place among the nearby fast-food joints and chain stores - was the perfect setting... Read more

December 3, 2015 Video

The U.S. Military Announces Women Can Now Take On Combat Roles. History Is Made (Video)

Ever since a 1994 Pentagon ruling banning women from entering the military fields of armor, artillery, infantry, and other forms of combat roles in the United States Armed Forces, there has been a push to rewrite history by allowing females to take on the same duties as their male counterparts.... Read more

December 3, 2015 Lifestyle

Kendrick Lamar Was Making Great Music Long Before “Section.80.” Remember “Vanity Slaves” (Audio)

By now, Kendrick Lamar is a household name. Considered by many to be one of today's most talented Hip-Hop stars, his appeal has extended beyond the realm of Rap into pop culture and politics, thanks in part to his work with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and his... Read more

December 3, 2015 Do Remember

Kendrick Lamar Brings the Revolution to Austin With An Unbelievable Performance (Video)

Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" is on many Heads' lists for song of the year, and its influence has been obvious in life outside of music charts. Having performed the song at this year's BET Awards with an uproarious response, thanks to the politically driven set design and matching lyrical content, Lamar... Read more

December 3, 2015 Video

Bobby Ross Avila’s “Humanity” Featuring RZA Is A Timely Message On A Day Of Sorrow (Album Stream)

Bobby Ross Avila is a distinguished and celebrated musician whose work has been heard by Heads before, albeit they may not realize it. Having worked in multiple capacities for artists like Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Usher, and many others, Avila is a performing artist and acclaimed producer... Read more

December 2, 2015 Audio

Bill Gates & Mark Zuckerberg Are Aiming Their Energies Toward Climate Change

On the heels of the news that Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife will be giving away 99% of their shares in the social media business (some $45 billion) way to charity, another weekend announcement has brought forth some exciting prospects for the future, particularly as it pertains to... Read more

December 2, 2015 Lifestyle

Spotlight: Dot Demo Wants His People to Remember Where They Came From & Rise Up (Audio)

Dot Demo is a Bronx, New York native whose affinity for the thought-provoking content on songs like "Blak Gesus" and his 2014 mixtape Delta Theory has set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Having grown up around unorthodox and left-of-mainstream teachings and experiences, he was exposed to metaphysical and... Read more

December 2, 2015 Audio

Batman Returns To Do What Politicians Won’t: Fight Police Brutality

As 2015 nears its end, the year's biggest political stories include issues of race, from the ongoing instances of police brutality waged disproportionately on people of color to the racist undercurrents found on campuses like the University of Missouri and others across the country. The deaths of Sandra Bland, Freddie... Read more

December 1, 2015 Lifestyle

Busta Rhymes Won’t Drink the Kool-Aid When it Comes to the Planned Parenthood Attack (Video)

Last night's episode of The Nightly Show was framed around a recent cooking segment that aired on Fox News in which a White host asked his guest - a Black chef - if she makes Kool-Aid for Thanksgiving. The immediate backlash spread across social media, with most feeling his question... Read more

December 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Syd tha Kyd Injects Her Soulful Talent Into Another Modern-Day Love Song (Audio)

As the frontwoman for the Internet, Syd tha Kyd has proven herself to be one of this generation's most talented artists, combining elements of classic R&B with more contemporary stylings of Neo-Soul and PBR&B. But, strip all those labels away and what's left is bona fide Soul music. Earlier this... Read more

November 30, 2015 Audio

Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman’s New EP is a Head Scratcher…In a Good Way (EP Stream)

Two of Hip-Hop's most celebrated indie artists quietly released a collaborative E.P. earlier this week, and it's another remarkable release Heads have come to expect from Stones Throw. Called Lice, the project is the result of a partnership between celebrated MCs Aesop Rock, whose impressive discography stretches back to 1996;... Read more

November 30, 2015 Audio

The Old School Toy View-Master is Back & Taking Kids on a Virtual Reality Ride (Video)

Tomorrow (December 1), shoppers will be able to merge the old and new in an exciting new way, thanks to a partnership between toy manufacturer Mattel and Google, NASA, and National Geographic. More than 75 years ago, Mattel debuted a toy called the View-Master, and its framework was pretty straightforward,... Read more

November 30, 2015 Lifestyle

KRS-One: Police Are a “Federally Authorized Gang” & Presidential Candidates “Are a Joke” (Video)

"Trayvon Martin was your cure for Cancer. Freddie Gray was about to come up with something for planes that when they crash, they never exploded and everybody lives." Those are the opening words from KRS-One who, in a video package for CNN, contributed his thoughts and ideas for the network's... Read more

November 27, 2015 Lifestyle