Exclusive Archives

Spice 1 Recalls Discussing Heaven’s Ghettos With Tupac (Video)

Less than a week ago, Spice 1 released his latest album, Platinum O.G. For this collection of songs, the East Bay lyricist works with Kurupt, MC Eiht, Devin The Dude, and his mentor, Too Short. Notably, the Elder Entertainment release also features some fallen comrades, including UGK's Pimp C, Outlawz... Read more

August 1, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Drake References Kevin Durant’s Injury In A Line As Cold As His City

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

July 26, 2019 Audio, Exclusive, Interview, Video

Blimes Tells One Of The Best Method Man Stories Ever (Video)

San Francisco, California's Blimes (fka Blimes Brixton) and Seattle, Washington's Gifted Gab have only known each other for five years, but they have established the kind of bond that is much deeper than Rap. As B.A.G. (Blimes And Gab), the two recently performed at 2019 Soundset, one of their biggest... Read more

July 23, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Masta Ace Shows Brooklyn How It Was & It’s A Beautiful Story (Video)

Nearly 30 years removed from his solo debut, Take A Look Around, Masta Ace is still spitting observant bars, taking stock of his surroundings and detailing what he sees for his listeners. On late 2018's A Breukelen Story (named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of the year), a collaborative album from... Read more

July 18, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Che Noir & 38 Spesh Are Reviving A Dying Breed Of Hardcore Hip-Hop (Video Premiere)

Within a very short time, Buffalo, New York native Che Noir has established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the microphone. This young MC only came on the scene a couple of years ago, but with the help of 38 Spesh and his TCF Music Group label,... Read more

July 17, 2019 Exclusive, Video

DJ Eclipse Discusses The Legacy Of Fat Beats On Its 25th Anniversary

This coming Sunday (July 14) Fat Beats Records will celebrate its 25th-anniversary with a special New York City concert. In many ways, the Sony Hall event is a homecoming and a deserving pause for recognition to a keystone in Hip-Hop's independent movement. Non-Phixion, The Juggaknots, The X-Ecutioners' Rob Swift & Mista... Read more

July 10, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Ras Kass Rhymes With A Vengeance. He Vows To Make 2019 His Year (Video Premiere)

Twenty-three years ago, Ras Kass dropped his first studio album, Soul On Ice. The LP brilliantly balanced wordplay with rich information about history, religion, race, and life in the Southern California streets from the MC who reps both Watts and Carson. The Priority Records album featured production from Battlecat, Vooodu, Bird,... Read more

July 9, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Elzhi Rapping To Diamond D Production Is A Winning Combination (Video Premiere)

Diamond D’s status as an icon in Hip-Hop is forever etched in stone. Since his classic debut Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop released in 1992, his groundbreaking work with the D.I.T.C. (Digging In The Crates Crew) and his production on multi-platinum album, The Score by The Fugees, Diamond D has consistently... Read more

July 2, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Blu & Exile Provide Hope Through True And Livin’ Hip-Hop (Video Premiere)

Blu & Exile's breakthrough Below The Heavens remains a classic album in many Hip-Hop circles. The MC/producer LP formally introduced two artists who had been making waves for years in the most soulful, reflective, and relatable of ways. Since that 2007 LP, both Blu and Exile have taken journeys with... Read more

June 26, 2019 Exclusive, Video

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

June 10, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

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

June 4, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Black Thought, Yasiin Bey, Pharoahe Monch & Tobe Nwigwe Make A New Live At The BBQ

Yesterday (June 1), The Roots hosted their 12th-annual picnic in the legendary group's hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event moved this year to the Mann Center, in the same West Philly that Questlove represents. With active three stages, the day was filled with incredible performances, including a 20th-anniversary rendition of... Read more

June 2, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Common Premieres A J Dilla-Produced Song About The State Of Hip-Hop In 2019

Since the release of his 1994 song "I Used To Love H.E.R.," Common has had a complex and well-documented relationship with Hip-Hop. At first listen, the song played like Common Sense's ode to a woman with whom he'd had a life long affair, which was a love-hate relationship. At the... Read more

June 2, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Murs & 9th Wonder Share The First 2 Songs From Their Final Collabo Album (Premiere)

On July 19, Murs and 9th Wonder will release the seventh and final installment of their collaborative union, The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over. The project, which was announced back in January, is entirely produced by The Soul Council, the collective of 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Nottz, Eric G,... Read more

May 29, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Pete Rock Recreates “They Reminisce Over You” Behind The Turntables (Video)

Last Wednesday (May 22) at New York City's Chelsea Music Hall, Pete Rock celebrated the release of his latest instrumental album, The Return Of The SP1200, with a party. Of course, Rock had to show off his DJing skills and have some fun of his own. He jammed with a... Read more

May 25, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Craig G Wants To Know Who Stole The Soul From Hip-Hop (Video)

With over three decades of rhyming under his belt, Queens, New York's Craig G has been able to witness Hip-Hop develop from a street sensation to mainstream global culture. In all of that time, the Juice Crew member has never been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to... Read more

May 13, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Quelle Chris Self-Reflects On Life & Legacy In A Dreamy New Video (Premiere)

Just over one month ago, New York-raised but Detroit, Michigan-famed rapper Quelle Chris dropped his latest LP, Guns (embedded below). The record is his sixth solo album to date, although including collaborations and production credits, Chris has more than two dozen projects under his belt. This latest Mello Music Group... Read more

May 8, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Masta Ace & Pharoahe Monch Battle In A Fight For Life (Video)

Masta Ace, the low-key overachiever, a stoic influence on the likes of Eminem, has been able to endure different eras without sacrificing style or flouting a fan-base determined to mature alongside his work, project by project, decade by decade. Earlier in the year, Ace followed up an emotionally charged "Tiny... Read more

May 1, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Gifted Gab’s New Album Showcases Her Talents For Rapping AND Singing (Audio)

Gifted Gab broke through in a major way when she dropped her Blimes Brixton-assisted song and video for "Come Correct" early last year. It was the biggest moment to date in a career that stems back to 2015's Girl Rap, work with Nacho Picasso, Mic Capes, and Vitamin D, along with... Read more

April 20, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Westside Gunn, Conway & Benny Are Releasing A Joint Album Through Shady Records

Ever since it was announced on March 3, 2017, that Griselda Records had a signed a deal with Eminem’s Shady Records, Heads have been eagerly anticipating music to stem from this partnership. A couple of months later, Westside Gunn and brother Conway The Machine dropped a video, “Machine Gun Black.”... Read more

April 12, 2019 Exclusive, News

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

April 10, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Diamond D’s New Album Features Erick Sermon, Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli & More

It has been nearly five years since D.I.T.C. co-founder Diamond D released a solo album. The self-proclaimed "best producer on the mic" dropped one of his most exciting albums in the form of 2014's The Diam Piece. Producing all but one of the tracks (which was by DJ Scratch), the... Read more

March 16, 2019 Exclusive, Fresh

Boogie Is Compton’s Next Great MC & He Plans To Be The Biggest One Of All (Video)

"This world will take your dream from you quick if you don't stay locked in," Boogie says on a cold day in Lower Manhattan. He is referring to a lesson intended for his young son, but it comes from personal experience. For five years, the Compton representative has been persistently... Read more

March 12, 2019 Exclusive, Interview

Cormega Breaks Down His Evocative New EP & Why The Fans Matter The Most

In the closing week of 2018, Cormega self-released Mega. The five-song project (that also includes the instrumentals) marked the MC's first in more than four years. The New Yorker partnered with Streetrunner, the veteran Grammy Award-winning producer co-credited for Meek Mill, JAY-Z, and Rick Ross' "What's Free?" in addition to... Read more

March 10, 2019 Exclusive, Interview

Smif-N-Wessun Detail The Making Of The Album Where They Truly Gave Their All (Video)

In the mid-1990s, Smif-N-Wessun burst onto the scene brandishing two barrels locked-and-loaded with raw Rap talent. Following a breakthrough appearance on Black Moon's seminal Enta Da Stage, the skills of Tek and Steele shimmered on their 1995 debut, Dah Shinin'. Da Beatminerz-produced album balanced vigor, street-smarts, and just the right... Read more

March 5, 2019 Exclusive, Interview

MC Ren Is Making New Music & He Is Doing It On His Own Terms

Late last week, N.W.A member MC Ren dropped his latest single "King Villain." Produced by Hushdegod, the song marks the first solo track in nearly five years from the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted MC, an accolade that the artist born Lorenzo Patterson addresses in his lyrics. In speaking with Ambrosia... Read more

February 18, 2019 Audio, Exclusive, Interview

80s vs. 90s Hip-Hop: Which Is Better? A New Video Shows It’s All Love

Today is Valentine’s Day. For many Heads, love is in the air. So, what better way to celebrate than to premiere a brand new medley of iconic Hip-Hop love songs from top acapella group Naturally 7. For those unfamiliar with this New York City outfit, Ambrosia For Heads previously premiered... Read more

February 14, 2019 Exclusive, Video

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

February 11, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

A New Book Will Explain How J Dilla Re-Invented Rhythm & Changed Music

Today (February 7) marks J Dilla's birthday. The iconic producer, MC, and DJ would have turned 45 years old. Tragically, the incredible artist born James Yancey passed away on February 10, 2006, days after his birthday and the release of acclaimed instrumental Hip-Hop album, Donuts. However, his music, impact, and... Read more

February 7, 2019 Exclusive

One Of G-Funk’s Most Important Producers Has Passed Away

Music producer and keyboardist Emanuel Dean died on Monday (February 4). The man Dean called his best friend, Tha Dogg Pound's Daz Dillinger, confirmed the passing on social media. A native of Oklahoma, Dean significantly contributed to at least two hits on Snoop Dogg's 1993 debut, Doggystyle. Specifically, Dean and... Read more

February 6, 2019 Exclusive, News

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

January 18, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Killer Mike Has Made The Most Dangerous Show On Television (Video)

In just a few hours (January 18), Season 1 of Trigger Warning With Killer Mike will be available. One of the most consistent Hip-Hop artists of the last decade and a leading activist within the culture takes his charisma, his ability to ask hard questions, and his courage to television,... Read more

January 17, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, TV, TV/Film, Video

Ghostface Killah Releases His First Song Of The Year & He’s Shining

Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah has a long and rich history with R&B music. The Staten Island, New York legend pivoted nearly a decade ago when he released Ghostdini: Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City. That '09 album and its cast of guests blended Hip-Hop with R&B in its guest list,... Read more

January 17, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Ghostface Killah Shines Brightly On A Remix To The Light

Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah has a long and rich history with R&B music. The Staten Island, New York legend pivoted nearly a decade ago when he released Ghostdini: Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City. That '09 album and its cast of guests blended Hip-Hop with R&B in its guest list,... Read more

January 15, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Evidence Explains How Life Completely Changed While Making Weather Or Not (Video)

Almost a year ago to date, Rhymesayers MC Evidence released his third studio album, Weather Or Not, featuring DJ Premier, Alchemist, Styles P, Rapsody, and his Dilated Peoples cohorts. Shortly after the drop, Ambrosia For Heads' Editor-In-Chief, Jake Paine, joined Ev on a Manhattan hotel balcony to discuss the album... Read more

January 7, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Pharoahe Monch Just Released A New Song & It’s Pure Crack (Video)

Pharoahe Monch may have just released the most exciting new song in the first week of 2019. Last year, the esteemed lyricist partnered with M.O.P's Lil Fame for the menacing a la carte video single, "24 Hours." The Queens, New Yorker also made standout appearances on Masta Ace & Marco... Read more

January 4, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Smif-n-Wessun Show Bucktown Is Standing Strong In 2018 (Video)

Tek and General Steele make quintessential New York City Hip-Hop. The Smif-n-Wessun pair has been doing it for 25 years, since they made powerful impact on Black Moon's debut. Together, Tek and Steele are the genuine article, and they helped define an era that many MCs and groups wish to... Read more

December 11, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino & Dante Ross Detail The Making Of No Need For Alarm

The cornerstone of Del The Funky Homosapien’s career and artistic identity belongs to his second album, No Need For Alarm. Released 25 years ago last month, the Elektra Records LP may not be remembered as a commercial triumph. However, the record increased the profiles of Del’s Hieroglyphics cohorts, establishing a... Read more

December 2, 2018 Exclusive, Interview

Masta Ace Opens Up About His Battle With MS & How He Fights Back

This month, Masta Ace and longtime collaborating producer Marco Polo released A Breukelen Story. The Fat Beats LP, embedded below, examines the New York City borough that Ace (a Brownsville native) and Marco Polo (a Fort Greene resident) hold so dear. This week, Ambrosia For Heads’ founder Reggie Williams visited... Read more

November 29, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Black Thought & Salaam Remi Explain Why Thought’s New Album Sounds Different

This morning (November 26), Black Thought released his second album of 2018. That project, Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2: Traxploitation, is entirely produced by Salaam Remi. The Queens, New Yorker and past "Producer Of The Year" Grammy nominee is known for his acclaimed work with Amy Winehouse, Nas, The Fugees,... Read more

November 26, 2018 Exclusive, Popular, Video

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

November 15, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Alchemist & Daringer Are Producing Benny’s Full Album. Here’s The First Video (Premiere)

While Griselda Records' Conway The Machine and Westside Gunn are on most Heads’ radars by now, some of Hip-Hop is still getting to know Benny The Butcher. He is making lasting introductions with every bar. He spit a standout verse as part of 2017's Shady Records and Griselda cypher for... Read more

November 13, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Masta Ace Is A Hip-Hop King. He Raps Royally On A Marco Polo Track (Video Premiere)

With 30-plus years of being one of Rap's most consistent (and profoundly influential) lyricists in the game, Masta Ace teamed up with longtime collaborating producer Marco Polo to pay homage to the borough of Brooklyn. They did this by collectively constructing a full-length body of work that is conceptual, cohesive,... Read more

November 12, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Ras Kass Reworks “Soul On Ice” With Some New Lyrics That Burn (Video Premiere)

Ras Kass is recognized as one of the most talented lyricists to ever come out of southern California. Between the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. and Ab-Soul, Razzy kept Carson, California on the Rap map. And while commercial success has never been an adequate reflection of his talents (partially prompting a self-comparison to... Read more

November 8, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz Discuss Their Album, Slaughterhouse & More (Video)

Apollo Brown and Joell Ortiz released their Mona Lisa album on Friday, October 26 (embedded below). These two stalwarts of the culture have put together 11 tracks of soulful, insightful, and competitive-spirited Hip-Hop. Having had a chance to digest this nuanced body of work, Ambrosia For Heads' Editor-in-Chief Jake Paine... Read more

October 31, 2018 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Slug Unpacks Atmosphere’s New Album & Puts His Rumored Alchemist LP To Bed (Video)

Atmosphere dropped their seventh studio album Mi Vida Local earlier this month. It was the conclusion to a trilogy of thematic full-lengths that, according to Slug, "are based around the idea of mortality." The trio began with 2014's Southsiders and followed in the form of 2016's Fishing Blues, before this month's final... Read more

October 30, 2018 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli & Anderson .Paak Rock The Stage With Robert Glasper (Videos)

Robert Glasper's ongoing Blue Note residency in New York City is bringing out some of the illest talent Hip-Hop, R&B, and Jazz has to offer. The two-time Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, songwriter, and producer showed that on Saturday night (October 13). Glasper had Black Star and Anderson .Paak as guests on... Read more

October 15, 2018 Exclusive, Video

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

October 9, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

DJ Premier Re-Creates The “Ten Crack Commandments” Beat Using Turntables (Video)

The 14th Annual A3C Festival has been taking place since Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia. As usual, this premiere Hip-Hop gathering had an amazing line-up of the genre’s best and brightest performing. Names like Wu-Tang Clan, The Diplomats, Talib Kweli, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, and PRhyme have been headlining the event... Read more

October 7, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Reason Describes His Journey From Hungry MC To TDE’s Next Top Dawg (Video)

Six weeks ago, the dominant Hip-Hop label of the 2010s announced that it had added a new MC to its tight-knit family. Carson, California's Reason signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. The imprint with five #1 releases, including this year's Black Panther soundtrack held no press conferences nor staged a chain-awarding... Read more

September 25, 2018 Exclusive, Interview, Video