AZ – My N*ggas
This AZ joint slipped through the cracks but it's a must listen if you haven't heard it yet. Check out My N*ggas, produced by Buckwild. Previously: Nas performs Life's a Bitch ft AZ at SXSW 2012 (Video)... Read more
Fresh
Kendrick Lamar Speaks With Carson Daly + A Day in the Life of Schoolboy Q (Video)
Here are a couple of dope videos featuring 2 of the Black Hippy crew. First is an engaging conversation between Kendrick Lamar and Carson Daly and the other piece is a short film chronicling a day in the life of Schoolboy Q when he recently performed in NYC. Check out... Read more
Slum Village – The Dirty Slums (Mixtape)
Here's a new mixtape from the newly configured Slum Village, hosted by Mick Boogie. A dope song featuring De La Soul dropped last week. That song and others with the likes of Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh (unfortunately not on the same song) and Black Milk are included on the mixtape.... Read more
Yelawolf – Thank You
Yelawolf was recently hospitalized with a ruptured spleen from going in a bit too hard at a concert. As a thank you to the fans for their support, he recorded some verses showing just how ill he is on the mic. Check out Thank You.... Read more
Here are two tributes to Eazy-E to celebrate his music and life on the 17th anniversary of his passing.
Today marks the 17th anniversary of the untimely passing of Eazy-E. As has become customary for anniversaries of the passing of hip-hop legends, Mister Cee did a tribute mix that was radio-friendly. Given how "colorful" Eazy's lyrics tended to be, we decided to do a playlist of his raps that... Read more
We sat down with Big K.R.I.T. and talked about what it takes to succeed not only in music but in life. Ultimately, it’s about GRIT. See what K.R.I.T. had to say, in his words (Video).
Think Big K.R.I.T. has been rapping for just a few years? Think again. He's been putting in work since 1999...and it ain't been easy. Previously: Big K.R.I.T. talks about his earliest musical influences (Video) Props: Cinematic Music Group... Read more
Behind The Music: Game (Video)
Vh1 premiered its Behind The Music: Game earlier in the week. The show covers Game's childhood, his entry into rap, the beef with 50 Cent, his split and reconciliation with Dr. Dre and more. Here's the full video. Previously: Game - The City ft Kendrick Lamar (Video)... Read more
Reflections on Trayvon Martin (Playlist) and a petition to prosecute his killer.
I've been searching for a song to capture my feelings around the senseless killing of Trayvon Martin and lack of prosecution of his killer but I haven't found one. It's probably because I have a multitude of emotions ranging from rage to sorrow to reflection. Here are some songs that... Read more
Here’s a playlist featuring some of the best new songs from March. You’ll hear new music from Nas, J. Cole, Curren$y, Stalley, Action Bronson, Pharoahe Monch, Wiz Khalifa, DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles, Big K.R.I.T., REKS, Ab-Soul, Murs, Sheek Louch & Ghostface Killah and more. You can listen to the whole thing below.
There's even some soul music from Melanie Fiona and Sleepy Brown. Previously: AFH Best of February 2012 Playlist... Read more
Sha Stimuli – Salli Mae
On a weekend filled with college basketball, here's a bugged out song about college. Various MCs have rapped about not going to college or dropping out. Sha Stimuli is the first I can recall to do a song about the sometimes back-breaking debt that follows after graduating college. Check out... Read more
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – Turn Up the Mic (Remix) ft Nas
Nas jumps on the remix to DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles' Turn Up the Mic. Check it out below. Previously: DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles - Weare At War (Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5PiomdandQ... Read more
Nardwaur vs. Kendrick Lamar (Video)
Here's another Nardwaur interview from SXSW and this one features Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick speaks on how he met Dr. Dre, Compton's Most Wanted, King Tee, WC and the Maad Circle and several other West Coast legends. Check it out below. Previously: Nardwaur vs. Action Bronson + Nardwaur vs. A$AP Rocky... Read more
Mac Miller – Macadelic (Mixtape)
Mac Miller dropped his latest mixtape tape. It's called Macadelic and features verses from Sir Michael Rocks, Cam'ron, Lil Wayne, Joey Bada$$ and more. Here's his song Fight the Feeling with Kendrick Lamar and you can download and listen to the whole mixtape below. Previously: Mac Miller - Of the... Read more
J. Cole – Drank in My Cup
Here's a tight new joint from J. Cole and it comes with a little controversy...Check out Drank in my Cup below and the static behind it here. Previously: J. Cole - Nobody's Perfect ft Missy Elliott (Video)... Read more
Slaughterhouse interview with RawHustle TV (Video)
It's been a strong week of interviews, with clips dropping from 9th Wonder, Pharoahe Monch, Big K.R.I.T., Nas and more. Now it's Slaughterhouse's turn. Check out this video where they discuss how the group formed, working with Eminem, their recording process, the making of Hammer Dance (straight jokes) and more... Read more
Stalley – Hammers & Vogues ft Curren$y
Here's another hot new track from Stalley's upcoming Savage Journey to the American Dream album, which drops on 3/30. It's called Hammers & Vogues and features Curren$y. Check it out below (stream-only). Props: Rolling Stone via RapRadar Previously: Stalley - Everything New... Read more
REKS – Chasin’
REKS dropped a super slept-on album last year, featuring tracks from the likes of DJ Premier, Alchemist and Statik Selektah. He and Statik Selektah teamed up again on his latest song. Check out Chasin'. Previously: 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology) - Play Your Role ft REKS (Video)... Read more
9th Wonder discusses reuniting with Phonte (Video)
Here's a dope interview of 9th Wonder by 2DBZ where he discusses his reunion with Phonte and how their split allowed them to grow as artists and men. Check it out below. Previously: Phonte - The Good Fight (Video) (Prod. 9th Wonder) http://vimeo.com/38956473... Read more
Uncle Daddy & THURZ – Wake Up
Here's a bugged out combination. THURZ puts in work with the rockabilly group Uncle Daddy. Never expected to hear him flow over a banjo but it works. Check out Wake Up. Previously: THURZ - Riot ft Black Thought... Read more
Sheek Louch & Ghostface Killah – Flash Back
Here's the latest gem from Sheek Louch and Ghostface Killah. They go in on a classic sample that will be instantly recognized by heads up on hip-hop from the late 80's and early 90's. Check out Flash Back. Previously: Sheek Louch & Ghostface Killah - Barry... Read more
Game – The City ft Kendrick Lamar (Video)
The sneak preview dropped a couple of weeks ago for Game's video for The City featuring Kendrick Lamar. Here's the whole video and it's as intense as the lyrics that both Game and Kendrick drop. Check it out below. Previously: The Making of Game's The City video... Read more
Nas discusses Heavy D’s role in producing The Don (Video)
The late, great Heavy D is listed as a producer on Nas' blazing hot new single The Don. Nas spoke to MTV about Heavy's contribution to the track. Check out the interview clip below. Previously: Heavy D Tribute Video Playlist... Read more
Here’s an incredibly dope interview of the legendary Pharoahe Monch where he discusses his history, his first big paycheck, the type of student he was in school, what’s was in his pockets at the time, what he’s been listening too and much, much more. Hot! Check it out. (Video)
MASSIVE PROPS: Montreality. Previously: Pharoahe Monch - Still Standing ft Jill Scott (Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9AJ_a6qNto... Read more
Nardwaur Vs. A$AP Rocky and Action Bronson (Video)
Nardwaur caught up with several MCs at SXSW, including one that we got to witness in person (but more on that later). Here are his interviews with A$AP Rocky and Action Bronson. If you know Nardwaur, you know what to expect. If not, get ready for some of the most... Read more
Sleepy Brown – We Run The Night
Sleepy Brown from OutKast and Dungeon Family fame has a soulful new song. Check out We Run the Night. Props: OkayPlayer... Read more
Curren$y – No Squares x Stainless x Sunroof
Here are not one, not two but three new joints from Curren$y's upcoming The Stoned Immaculate album that he premiered yesterday on Shade 45. No Squares is a new BIG sound that's a different look for Curren$y but it works well. Stainless is laid-back and soulful like many of the... Read more
Here’s a Big K.R.I.T. double feature. Check out our interview of him talking about his earliest hip-hop influences and his brand new single I Got This (Video)
We had the good fortune to sit down with Big K.R.I.T. and talk to him about his earliest music experiences and influences. Not surprisingly, his inspirations were incredibly diverse, ranging from Twista to Scarface to Tupac and more. He also shared his earliest experiences rapping, which started when he was... Read more
Murs – Gods Gone Crazy (from Yumiko: Curse of the Merch Girl)
Here's a dope new song from Murs. It's the first release in connection with his Yumiko: Curse of the Merch Girl project that will feature a brand new album accompanied by a graphic novel created by Josh Blaylock and Jose Garcia (click here to learn more about the project). Murs... Read more
K’naan – Nothing to Lose (Remix) ft Nas (Video)
This remix to K'naan's Nothing to Lose featuring Nas goes! Check out the video. Previously: Nas performs NY State of Mind & Life's A B*tch at SXSW (Video)... Read more
Actual Proof – All The Way ft Raheem DeVaughn
Both Actual Proof and producer E. Jones hail from 9th Wonder's camp and you can hear the influence in a GREAT way. Check out Actual Proof's new song All The Way featuring Raheem DeVaughn on the hook and E. Jones behind the boards.... Read more
T.I. – I Need Dollas
A tagged up version of T.I.'s soulful I Need Dollas (with Aloe Blacc on the hook) dropped about a month ago. Here's tag free version. Check it out below. Spotted: 2DBZ via Splash. Previously: T. I. F*ck Da City Up (Mixtape)... Read more
Kendrick Lamar performs Hol’ Up at SXSW (Video)
Here's a really well shot video of Kendrick Lamar performing Hol' Up at SXSW. It gives a great view of the monster energy K. Dot brings to the stage when he performs live. Check it out below. Props to Cam Be for the production. Previously: Kendrick Lamar - Cartoons &... Read more
Slum Village & De La Soul – Turning Me Off
Here's a new collabo between Slum Village and De La Soul. Check out Turning Me Off. Previously: Posdnous and Black Star perform Stakes is High (Video)... Read more
The latest installment of our Producer Series features classic cuts produced by Large Professor. Click below to listen to the playlist.
Seeing vintage footage of Large Professor at Nas' SXSW show reminded us that we had not done an installment in our Producer Series in a while and, more importantly, we had not done one featuring the music of Large Professor, one of the all-time greats. Below is a playlist of... Read more
Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) – Forever Alive & Sexy Sax Man (Video)
Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) performed a bunch of new songs in Paris a few weeks ago. A couple of videos dropped previously and now here are 2 additional songs. Check out his performances of Forever Alive & Sexy Sax Man below. Previously: Yasiin Bey - Niggas in Poorest (Video)... Read more
Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy and Sir Michael Rocks (The Jets) perfrom at SXSW 2012 (Video)
The hip-hop OGs weren't the only ones doing it at SXSW. The young guns got it in too. Here are 2 videos of The Jets crew performing. The first is Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy & Sir Michael Rocks doing First Place and the second is Trademark Da Skydiver &... Read more
Nas performs The Don live at SXSW (Video)
Here's some more footage from Nas' Illmatic concert at SXSW. After doing the entire album, he performed his new single The Don live for the first time. Check out the video below. Previously: Nas performs NY State of Mind and Life's A Bitch with AZ. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS1DlKjdgRg... Read more
Kendrick Lamar speaks about his new album, working with Dr. Dre and more (Video)
Here's a cool interview of Kendrick Lamar by Fuse. They talked with him at SXSW about his new album, working with Dr. Dre and The Game, touring with Drake and signing with Interscope. Check it out below. Previously: Kendrick Lamar talks about his earliest musical influences and his connection with... Read more
Nas performs New York State of Mind and Life’s A Bitch ft AZ at SXSW 2012 (Video)
Nas had an EPIC performance at SXSW last night. He performed Illmatic in its entirety and had not one but 2 DJs on the 1s and 2s. Those two DJs happened to be none other than Pete Rock and DJ Premier, who battled beat for beat mid-way through the show.... Read more
GZA pays tribute to ODB at SXSW by performing Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Video)
GZA tore down his showcase at SXSW. He performed with a full band that included drums, keys, guitar and a full horn section, and ripped through a set that included Liquid Swords, Shadowboxin' (he did his and Method Man's verse) and several other solo and Wu-Tang Clan classics. As part... Read more
Slaughterhouse, 50 Cent and Eminem perform at the Shady 2.0 Showcase at SXSW (Video)
Shady 2.0 took SXSW by storm last night. Slaughterhouse, 50 Cent and even Eminem put in work. The only person missing was Yelawolf. Below are videos of the full shows for both Slaughterhouse and 50 Cent (where he performed all of Get Rich Or Die Tryin,' accompanied by a full... Read more
Raekwon – Dedication ft JD Era (Video)
Here's another new video from Raekwon. Check out Dedication featuring JD Era. Previously: Raekwon - The Brewery ft Caezar-N-Reason (Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPZOziLDSHE... Read more
Erick Sermon tells the stories behind many of his classic tracks to Complex
Here's another dope profile by Complex where they have a legendary producer break down the story behind his tracks. They've done DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Organized Noize and others. This time, it's Erick Sermon's term. Check out what the Green Eyed Bandit has to say about his classic records. Below... Read more
Raekwon – The Brewery ft Caezar-N-Reason
Here's a new video for one of the hardest joints on Raekwon's Unexpected Victory mixtape. Check out The Brewery featuring Ceazar-N-Reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f68WKh3YmOc... Read more
Nate Dogg Tributes: Warren G – This Is Dedicated To You ft Latoia Williams (Video) + Mister Cee’s Nate Dogg Tribute Mix
As promised, the love for Nate Dogg continues. Below are a new video from Warren G called This Is Dedicated to You featuring Latoia Williams, as well as Mister Cee's Nate Dogg Tribute Mix. Check out both below. Previously: AFH Nate Dogg Tribute Playlist and DJ Skee Nate Dogg Tribute... Read more
Melanie Fiona – Running ft Nas
It's been a good few days for Nas fans. First there was the video of him telling the story behind One Love, then he dropped the ridiculously hot new song The Don. Now, here's another treat, his feature on Melanie Fiona's song Running. Check it out below. Previously: Melanie Fiona... Read more
In respect of the first anniversary of his passing, here are a tribute playlist and mix celebrating the LIFE of the one and only Nate Dogg.
It's hard to believe it's been a year since we lost Nate Dogg. I remember waking up at SXSW last year and being stunned by the news. At 41, the man born Nathaniel Hale was taken from us far too soon. SXSW will always be bittersweet because of the anniversary.... Read more
Slaughterhouse tour behind the scenes (Video)
Here's some quality behind the scenes footage of Slaughterhouse on tour. Last night they performed at SXSW, and we will be in the building on Friday when they hit the stage again at the Shady 2.0 showcase. More to come. Check out the video. Previously: Slaughterhouse - Hammer Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BADRmmniiXM&feature=player_embedded... Read more
J. Cole – Nobody’s Perfect ft Missy Elliott (Video)
Been waiting for this one. Here's the new video for J. Cole's Nobody's Perfect featuring Missy Elliott. Check it out. Previously: J. Cole - Vizions of Home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWwzPPdffoY&feature=player_embedded... Read more