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Sean Price Would Have Turned 46 On Saturday. Celebrate P!’s Life With New Music (Video)

Three days ago, Sean Price dropped his long-awaited EP with friend and frequent collaborator Illa Ghee, in celebration of what would've been the late MC's 46th birthday (March 17). Solidifying his legacy as one of Hip-Hop’s most hardened wordsmiths, and once again proving that not even death can stop his... Read more

O.D.B. Was One Of The First To Co-Sign Kanye As An MC. The Receipt Proves It (Audio)

In 2002, during an era where mainstream Hip-Hop appeared heavily saturated with gangsterism and hustler narratives, a preppy, middle-class, pink Polo shirt-rockin’ producer from the Chicago suburbs shocked the Rap game by signing to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records at its pinnacle. While renowned for his distinctive, soulful production, Kanye West had... Read more

Eminem & Royce 5’9’s Original First Collabo Showed It’s All Good When Bad Meets Evil (Audio)

Though Royce 5’9 and Eminem would have listeners convinced they are the living embodiment of all that is bad and evil, on the mic, Slim Shady and Nickel Nine are a match made in heaven. Em' is generally revered as a “Rap God,” but the equally skillful Royce takes “Second... Read more

Stalley Has Cosigns From A Who’s Who Of Rap. He Still Rides His Own Wave (Video)

Massillon, Ohio rapper Stalley has a mixed bag of influences to pull inspiration from. He had admitted influence from home state heroes like The O’Jays, Bootsy Collins, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Kid Kudi, as well as out-of-towners like Nas, Outkast and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. According to the  Maybach... Read more

The Perceptionists Survived Near Death Experiences To Make A 2nd Album. Listen Early.

Boston, Massachusetts Hip-Hop group The Perceptionists haven’t released an album in over a decade. A lot has changed for MCs Mr. Lif and Akrobatik since they dropped their 2005 debut Black Dialogue (which featured fellow Massachusetts legend Guru, Phonte of Little brother and label mate Camu Tao) on El-P's defunct... Read more

Mahershala Ali Says His Role In Roxanne Shanté Biopic Is His Toughest Yet (Audio)

Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, best known for his iconic roles in Moonlight and Netflix’s Luke Cage series, started his career as a Hieroglyphics affiliate named Prince Ali and has definitely been outspoken about his love for Hip-Hop music. Starring in the highly-anticipated, critically-acclaimed 2017 Roxanne Shanté biopic alongside Chanté Adams... Read more

Grand Puba & Sadat X Rip Through Brand Nubian Classics With A Live Band (Video)

On Saturday, July 22, Grand Puba rocked the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City with a live band. For Heads who were unable to attend, there is some exclusive video footage of Puba and Brand Nubian group mate Sadat X, an unannounced guest, performing a couple of... Read more

Sha Stimuli Returns With An Exploration Of American Racism Throughout The Years (Video)

Brooklyn, New York raised, Atlanta, Georgia based MC Sha Stimuli returned off a four year hiatus from the rap race last year with two powerful songs titled “Sticks and Stones” and “New Jordans/A Poem For Mike.” The first was about the effect words can have, while the latter was a... Read more

Meek Mill Is Back And Hungry For Victory In His Funkmaster Flex Freestyle (Video)

It’s no secret that the last few years have been a roller coaster for Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. Between beefing with Drake and getting dumped by Nicki Minaj, as well as some run-ins with the law, the Maybach Music artist has certainly experienced his share of what many consider losses.... Read more

Chuck D, B-Real & Rage Against The Machine Stand Up For Those In Poverty (Video)

Rap/Rock supergroup Prophets of Rage, a revolutionary assembly of Public Enemy, Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine members, just released the second video single to their self-titled debut, dropping in September. "Living On The 110," a poignant piece about homelessness, follows the Michael Moore directed video for "Unf*ck The... Read more

Lloyd Banks’ Single Shows That His Punchlines Are Still Money (Audio)

G-Unit’s own Lloyd Banks has been “On Fire,” as of late. Last week, the self-proclaimed Punch Line King (aka P.L.K.) caught the game off guard, spitting a scorching freestyle aimed at some of today’s funny-style MCs for Funkmaster Flex on HOT 97. This week, the Queens, New York MC capitalized... Read more

Ice Cube Recalls N.W.A. Getting Booed At The Apollo. It Was Not A Good Day (Video)

N.W.A may have become one of the biggest, most influential and celebrated Rap groups ever, but they had to pay dues first. Ice Cube recently sat down with Pigeons & Planes to share a less flattering moment in the group’s history, the time the Ruthless Records act got booed off... Read more

2 Chainz Is Working With Q-Tip On An Album To Show The World He’s A Lyricist (Video)

While respected by his peers, 2 Chainz is generally not revered as a lyricist among most Hip-Hop Heads. Enlisting the help of A Tribe Called Quest’s visionary rapper/producer Q-Tip, the Playaz Circle artist hopes to change that perception. To follow up his fourth studio album as a solo artist, last... Read more

Twelvyy Steps To The Front Of A$AP Mob And Takes His Shot (Video)

UPDATE: A$AP Twelvyy has released the visual to "Strapped." The artful visual captures the New York MC in his element as he tells his story. Old A$AP Mob footage shows Ferg, the late Yams, and more as the crew's 2010 rise is documented. Twelvyy looks to stand apart, and his... Read more

Lloyd Banks Rips Today’s Funny Dressing MCs In 1 Of The Year’s Best Freestyles (Video)

There’s something about the rolling bass, accented piano stabs and knockin’ boom bap drums of the beat for Nas' classic “N.Y. State of Mind” that brings out the best in MCs. In rare form, fellow Queens, New York representative Lloyd Banks stopped by HOT 97 to kick it with Funkmaster... Read more

Sean Price Goes Ape On Alchemist Production In The 1st Video To His Upcoming Album

Duck Down Music dropped a video for the title track off Sean Price’s upcoming posthumous album, Imperius Rex, in which the late, great MC goes ape over a wild Alchemist beat. Keeping in line with the gorilla theme prevalent in much of his work, the rhymes and visuals are fittingly... Read more

Conway & Westside Gunn Slow It Down But Keep It Grimy On A Soulful Alchemist Beat (Audio)

Hall N’ Nash, aka Buffalo, New York brothers Conway and Westside Gunn, are back at it for the addicts over a soulful Alchemist beat. The recent Shady Records signees have been working with the legendary producer heavy, as of late, reportedly recording an entire project with him in only two days,... Read more

Masta Killa Is Releasing His First Album In 5 Years. His New Single Shares OG Wisdom (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan’s own Masta Killa is preparing to release his upcoming album, Loyalty Is Royalty, on Nature Sounds this fall. The LP will be his first solo effort since Selling My Soul in 2012, and his fourth overall. Although the veteran Brooklyn, New York MC may not put out music... Read more

Action Bronson Stands Up To Get His Album Released & Flex On A Freestyle (Video)

Action Bronson stopped by HOT 97 to serve up some fresh freestyle bars for Funkmaster Flex and promote his upcoming project, Blue Chips 7000, which has yet to receive an official release date. Reiterating the sentiment expressed in a frustrated tweet months back, Bronson sets it off the rap with... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Ranks Kendrick Lamar’s Albums, As A Fan & Peer (Video)

Joey Bada$$ recently sat down with Montreality to discuss some of his views concerning everything from Kendrick Lamar to mumble rap to suicide. Early in the interview, the 22 year-old MC also expresses his love for JAY-Z’s 4:44 album, as well as the belief that his own music has helped inspire... Read more

Rapsody Puts Pain To Words On A Knocking Nottz Beat (Audio)

North Carolina MC Rapsody has cemented a reputation for being equally as thoughtful as she is skillful on the mic. Her latest single “The Pain" is no exception. On it, Rap' spits reflective bars about some of the pains associated with being Black in America, from various perspectives (women, men,... Read more

Blackalicious’ Gift Of Gab Tackles Gentrification With Artisanal Rhymes (Video)

Gentrification is a nationwide epidemic, affecting and effecting cities and neighborhoods across the country. Hip-Hop has been addressing the issue more and more, as of late, touched on by both JAY-Z in “The Story of O.J.” and Run The Jewels in their video for “Don’t Get Captured” this week alone.... Read more

Producers Rejoice: Legal Sampling Is Now As Easy As Online Shopping (Video)

A potentially game-changing new service is about to hit the digital streets, one that could theoretically help usher in a new golden age for sample-based Hip-Hop. Swedish startup Tracklib has created a one-stop online “crate-digging” marketplace, on which producers can find, buy (at $1.99 a track) and eventually license existing... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Unleashes 3 New Statik Selektah-Produced Songs (Audio)

Longtime collaborators Joey Bada$$ and Statik Selektah just dropped the digital equivalent of a 12” single, putting three brand new songs out back to back. Statik, who is also Joey’s tour DJ, has provided the MC with bangers throughout his career, including the beat for “Super Predator” (featuring Styles P)... Read more

Chance The Rapper Gives A Big Performance From A Tiny Desk (Video)

Chance The Rapper is the latest MC to stop by the NPR office in Washington D.C. to put on an intimate performance for their "Tiny Desk" series. The multi-faceted artist rocks an unexpected set with his band, The Social Experiment, proving he’s more than just “The Rapper,” but also a... Read more

Brand Nubian’s First Concert Shows They Were All For One From The Start (Video)

On December 4, 1990, Brand Nubian dropped their debut album, One For All, on Elektra Records. Six days later, on December 10, they performed it for the first time at the Hard To The Left Rap Party, an artist showcase put together by the label. Shot by none other than... Read more

Kurupt’s Next Album Will Be A Funk Odyssey (Audio)

Tha Dogg Pound’s Kurupt is working on his seventh solo LP, which also happens to be his first in seven years. Since dropping Streetlights in 2010, the former Death Row EVP has yet to release a studio album. That is about to change, however, as he and longtime collaborator Fredwreck... Read more

DAP The Contract’s Video Explores The Details Of 21st Century Dating

Multi-talented Nigerian artist DAP The Contract has been making music since he was only four years old. A classically trained pianist who attended high school in the U.K. and the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, he comes from a musical family and has a diverse range of... Read more

Young RJ Is Done Waiting. Pete Rock & Boldy James Help Him Step Forward (Video)

Although not necessarily a household name, the multi-talented Young RJ has had quite a distinguished career. One-half of Slum Village’s reincarnation (with T3), as well as the group B.R. Gunna (alongside fellow double threat Black Milk), the J. Dilla protégé has an impressive resume. As a producer, he’s worked with... Read more

Eminem & Kendrick Lamar Pay Their Respects To Prodigy By Spitting His Bars (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar and Eminem paid tribute to the late Mobb Deep co-founder Prodigy by rapping some of his verses for a segment on Peter Rosenberg's Real Late HOT 97 show. Both outspoken fans of the recently deceased New York MC, Em' and "Kung Fu Kenny" opened the show with portions... Read more

Dr. Dre Apologizes To Dee Barnes For 1991 Assault In Upcoming Documentary (Video)

Director Allen Hughes, one half of the Hughes brothers (who are responsible for films like Menace II Society, Dead Presidents and The Book of Eli), sat down with Sway In The Morning to discuss his new documentary series about Dr. Dre and Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine titled The Defiant... Read more

A News Traffic Report Gives Up The Goods For Prodigy In An Amazing Tribute (Video)

Family, friends and fans of legendary Hip-Hop veteran Prodigy are all mourning his death in their own ways. One of the more unique tributes came from an unlikely source — a pair of Atlanta news anchors, who referenced P's music and quoted some of his lyrics throughout their traffic report... Read more

DMX, Swizz Beatz, Eve, The LOX & More Are Ruff Rydin’ Across The USA

Two months after their reunion at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, the Ruff Ryders have announced that they're taking their show nationwide in September. DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz, The LOX and Drag-On will hit cities in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, California and Nevada. They will also... Read more

Wu-Wear Is Coming Back. Bring Da Ruckus.

Although it was far from the first, some of the most iconic Hip-Hop merchandise and apparel is Wu-Wear. Spearheaded by Wu-Tang executive producer Oliver "Power" Grant, the mid-1990s Killa Beez swarm to the mainstream included fashion that kept fans laced. Wu-Tang Is Forever. Check The Mathematics Behind The Clan’s 20... Read more

MC Eiht Explains How He & DJ Quik Recorded Their Historic Collaborations (Audio)

In April, DJ Quik and Problem released the full-length edition of their Rosecrans album, building on their EP of the same title (dropped a year prior). Notably, the 12 track Compton-made LP featured an unexpected guest: MC Eiht. Decades ago, what began as a Rap beef between Quik and Eiht reportedly inspired... Read more

MC Bravado Raps Stories Passed Down From Father To Father (Video)

New York City area native MC Bravado may have come up as a battle rapper, but he's been getting a reputation for his imaginative concepts. For example, in 2014, the rapper put out an EP titled Walk the Line that detailed the life of Johnny Cash. This Father's Day, we... Read more

ONYX May Have Never Slammed If They Weren’t Stuck In Traffic With Jam Master Jay (Video)

Run-D.M.C.'s Jam Master Jay was instrumental in the development of fellow Queens, New York Hip-Hop group ONYX. Later on, Jay would ink Jayo Felony and 50 Cent, but no artist experienced more success on JMJ Records than Fredro Starr, Sticky Fingaz and company. Jay signed ONYX and secured the Def... Read more

How Laurence Fishburne & Spike Lee Are Tied To Grandmaster Flash’s “White Lines” Video

Writer and director Ernest Dickerson, perhaps best known for his 1992 directorial debut Juice, worked extensively with Spike Lee in the 1980s and ’90s as his cinematographer. Together, they created a myriad of important films like She’s Gotta Have It, Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X. Sitting down with... Read more

Illa J Welcomes Listeners Into His & J Dilla’s Childhood Home (Video)

Detroit, Michigan’s own Illa J, younger brother of J Dilla, is dropping his third solo studio album Home on Jakarta Records later this month. He has released a fittingly personal video for the project’s title track, shot on the steps of the Yancey boys’ childhood home. Illa J’s Latest is... Read more

Kemba Shows Exactly Why He’s Cosigned By Kendrick In “Caesar’s Rise” (Video)

Bronx, New York-bred rapper Kemba, a staple of the city’s Hip-Hop scene, changed his name from former moniker YC The Cynic to release his Negus album last year. More than just an aesthetic decision, his reintroduction symbolized a shift in his musical direction. When Kendrick Lamar pulled him up onstage... Read more

Kevin Hart Gets Real About His Past Substance Abuse & It’s No Joke (Video)

Kevin Hart is one of the most recognized comedians and actors on the planet. Much of that success has come from Hart's ability to be self-deprecating and poke fun at traits within himself, physical and otherwise. Appearing on The Breakfast Club, Kevin made the hosts laugh as he discussed his... Read more

Akinyemi Is The Latest Queens MC Trying To Be A Hip-Hop King (Video)

Queens, New York has given Hip-Hop some of its most captivating, creative and distinctive, yet still relatable acts, from A Tribe Called Quest to Nas to Pharoahe Monch. Like the aforementioned MCs, newcomer Akinyemi is a true individual with unique flows and imaginative concepts, but with an air that somehow... Read more

Sean Price’s Jesus Price Supastar Brought Believers To Rap Paradise 10 Years Ago (Audio)

Ten years ago this Monday (January 30, 2007), the second coming of Rap lord and savior Sean Price occurred. On Jesus Price Supastar, his sophomore solo album, P definitely took wack MCs to “Church,” raining hellfire on the game. The immaculate LP is a solid 45 minutes of surefire rapping... Read more

Can You Spot DOOM In This Graffiti-Inspired Company Flow Video?

El-P joined forces with Killer Mike to produce his album R.A.P. Music in 2012, officially forming their group Run The Jewels the following year. They have since released three studio albums, rocked a few late night talk shows, made some bold political statements, toured extensively, inspired some amazing graffiti, landed... Read more

Snoop Dogg’s Santa Brought His Gifts In A ’64 Impala Sleigh (Video)

What do you get when you mix Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg's soaring vocals, an iconic Isaac Hayes sample and a nod to the Godfather of Soul? Christmas Rap, G-Funk style. Titled after the James Brown classic, “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” is the first track and lead single... Read more

Redman Talks With Heather B About Being Consumed By The Darkside & How He Escaped (Video)

Redman recently sat down with his fellow New Jersey Hip-Hop native Heather B on "The Happy Hour" for Soul Food Thursdays to discuss healthy eating, his on-stage energy (inspired by Run-D.M.C., Busta Rhymes, and De La Soul) and what keeps him going as an artist. The Def Squad MC also... Read more

Redman Is Back Behind The Boards. This Gilla House Track Has Red’s Bars & Beat (Audio)

While Redman's rapping abilities are nearly impossible to miss, people tend to overlook Reggie Noble's production. The artist who began as a DJ for Lords Of The Underground's DoItAll evolved from turntables to beat machines. While closely tied to Erick Sermon and Rockwilder, Redman is credited with producing (at least... Read more

15 Years Ago, Mystikal Told Us To Bounce Back Up When Knocked Down (Video)

Fifteen years ago this Sunday (December 18), New Orleans, Louisiana native Mystikal dropped Tarantula, his fifth and final studio album to date. Its lead single, “Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against The Wall),” is like an early-2000s time capsule, from Mystikal’s erratic flow to the track’s bouncy Neptunes beat. It was... Read more

Taylor Bennett Turns A Health Scare Into A Beautiful New York City Night (Audio)

Chicago's Taylor Bennett, Chance The Rapper’s talented younger brother, links with Brooklyn’s Stro and singer Jordan Bratton on “New York Nights." The song is the product of a health scare the MC experienced while visiting the city after the release of his debut project, Broad Shoulders. Upon learning that he... Read more

Mac Miller & Ariana Show Off Their Real-Life Chemistry And It Gets Steamy (Video)

In a new video for Mac Miller’s “My Favorite Part” featuring Ariana Grande, off his conceptual project The Devine Feminine, the MC flexes his own vocal abilities — kickin’ game to the pop superstar, who performs as his neighbor, through their apartment walls via song. The sleek, dark-lit, retro visuals... Read more