AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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

A Harvard Student Made A Rap Album Thesis. Sway Puts Him To The Test (Video)

Last month, Obasi Shaw graduated from Harvard University. For his thesis, the English major submitted a 10-track Hip-Hop album, Liminal Minds. He wrote and recorded the album for more than a year. Shaw's resulting work tackled the issue of what it means for a young man to be Black in... Read more

Scarface Says Jay Z Is The Best Songwriter Of All-Time

Today (June 15) Jay Z is being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Announced in February, the moment marks the first time a Hip-Hop artist will receive the prestigious honor. In celebration of the achievement, Tidal has compiled some remarkable peer praise for the Roc Nation MC. Common (who... Read more

DMX Punching Chris Lighty Drew Blood Money From His Album (Audio)

This spring, the life and death of acclaimed record executive Chris Lighty has been the subject of an investigative podcast series. Combat Jack has created and hosted Mogul, a weekly look at the evolution of the man who managed A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent,... Read more

10 Years Ago, Rakim, Nas, Kanye West & KRS-One Made A Classic (Video)

This week, a new video with D.M.C. revealed how telling his verse on "My Adidas" truly was. The Hollis, Queens superstar MC pointed back to the lyrics claiming he took the beat of the street and put it on TV. In doing just as Darryl McDaniels said, the world followed,... Read more

Preventable Environmental Hazards Are Killing 1.7 Million Kids Each Year

In the first report of its kind, the World Health Organization has published some horrendous statistics: every year, more than one-million children under the age of five are dying as a direct result of hazards in our environment. That figure translates to roughly 25% of all deaths of children in... Read more

Marley Marl & Large Professor Supply M-Dot With Golden Sounds From 2 Legends (Audio)

This Friday, Boston, Massachusetts MC M-Dot is releasing his EgO anD The eneMy album. The follow-up to 2010's Run MPC features the E.M.S. crew member working with a who's who of Hip-Hop production giants. D.I.T.C.'s Buckwild, Reflection Eternal's Hi-Tek, 7L, and Marco Polo make up some of the sound providers... Read more

Naughty By Nature Explain How Signing With Sugar Hill Almost Made Them Go New Jack City

Naughty By Nature celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2016. The New Jersey trio released new music, including a reunion with Queen Latifah, and toured multiple times. In truth, the group has been together, and recording professionally much longer than 25 years. In 1989, as The New Style, Treach, Vin Rock,... Read more

The 20 Best Freestyles Of 2016. Thought You KNEW (Video)

In Hip-Hop, there are few things more exciting than when an MC delivers a vicious verse that's never been heard before, on the spot. It is the equivalent 0f a monster dunk in an NBA game, a one-punch knockout in a fight or an end zone to end zone run in... Read more

Cole World: In A Historic Week, His Eyez Have Views Even Drake Can’t See

It has been 12 days since J. Cole released his fourth album, 4 Your Eyez Only. In that time since the Dreamville/Roc Nation released, it has topped the charts for the fourth consecutive time for the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer. This feat also joined an exclusive, three-artist club in Hip-Hop.... Read more

10 Years Later, Nas Says He “Missed The Mark” When He Declared Hip-Hop Is Dead (Video)

A decade ago this week (December 19, 2006), Nas released his eighth solo album, Hip Hop Is Dead. The MC's first outing with Def Jam Records (with foe-turned-friend Jay Z at the helm) debuted at #1. Nasir released a title track, denouncing the culture he loved as a 15-year professional... Read more

Stillmatic Turns 15. Here’s A Look At Nas’ Return To His NY State Of Mind (Video)

Fifteen years ago today (December 18), Nas released his fifth album, Stillmatic. At a time before popular Rap stars were making albums into series and franchises, Nasir Jones flashed back to his 1994 debut. In the seven years since, the MC had two #1 albums, and gone platinum many times... Read more

The Grammys Finally Realize Straight Outta Compton Was a Great Album

Over the last two years—largely thanks to a 2015 blockbuster biopic, the mainstream media has apparently reconsidered the merits of N.W.A. The Ruthless Records collective of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella released two albums, a compilation, and an EP between 1987 and 1991. In that... Read more

Pusha T & Gucci Mane Join Common To Voice What Makes Black America Great…Again (Audio)

Throughout his career, Common has at times been—at least on paper—a left field featured guest. He appeared on albums like T.I.'s King when the Grand Hustle founder was the monarch of Trap. He made one of several Gil Scott Heron homages on The Game's "Angel" two years after, showing an... Read more

Run The Jewels Will Not Concede. Their New Song Says It All (Audio)

Less than 24 hours after the 2016 US Presidential Election was called, Run The Jewels appears to punctuate the air of a partly astonished nation. "2100" featuring close affiliate Boots has a message of frustration with the same System that Killer Mike and El-P have rebelled against (as a unit)... Read more

President Obama Gives His Current Top 5 MCs As He Prepares To Leave Office (Audio)

When President Barack Obama took office in 2008, Hip-Hop was in a widely different place. That was the year that Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III sold more than a million copies in its first week available. That year, T.I. made one of his loudest statements in Paper Trail, before going... Read more

DJ Premier & Prince Paul Discuss Hip-Hop’s Generation Gap & Why We All Need Perspective (Video)

DJ Premier and Prince Paul are two legendary producers in Hip-Hop (and beyond) with discographies that span back to the 1980s. Back then, Preemo joined Guru to launch the album-making years of Gang Starr. In the very same 1989 that No More Mr. Nice Guy released, Paul celebrated strong accolades... Read more

Common Speaks On Why He’s Not A Conscious Rapper. He’s a Human MC (Video)

In the skit following "The 6th Sense," Common made light of his public image. The Chicago, Illinois MC made a song that fought for Hip-Hop's preservation. Moments after, he made light of the way he appeared to some—as a deeply conscious, lighthearted poet. The same artist who had been involved... Read more

Rahzel Provides Jewels On The History & Evolution Of Beatboxing (Video)

Rahzel The Godfather of Noyze has become one of the household names for beatboxing. The New Yorker and onetime member of The Roots has worked with a range of artists including Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Common, Rakim, Everlast, and Sean Paul, among many others. With more than 20 years of... Read more

D4L’s Shawty Lo Killed In Atlanta Car Crash

UPDATE: Police in Fulton County have determined that Shawty Lo's fatal car accident was not a hit-and-run collision as first reported. Instead, authorities have stated their investigation led them to believe the man born Carlos Walker lost control of his vehicle at an exit ramp, leaving the road. The report... Read more

DMX Says He Won Every Battle With Jay Z. Who Won The War? (Video)

In 1999, Jay Z and DMX embarked (and majorly cashed in) on the Hard Knock Life Tour. Although Jay Z's album gave the tour its name, the lineup was a joint headliner of the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and DMX. Both artists had become the flagship acts at Def Jam Records... Read more

Killer Mike Argues Not Much Has Changed For Blacks Since The Death Of Emmett Till (Audio)

Killer Mike is working to bring real change to a system that may be against him. The co-founder of Run The Jewels is leading a successful, nationwide charge to urge dissatisfied humans of all races to pull their money out of financial institutions that don't value them back. In his... Read more

Kanye West Not Only Produced This Consequence Hit, He Once Rapped On It (Audio)

In 2016, Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music is vastly different than it was in the last decade. Around the time 'Ye was gearing up for Graduation, completing his initial collegiate album trilogy, Getting Out Our Dreams boasted the likes of Common, John Legend, and GLC. Queens, New York MC Consequence was... Read more

Killer Mike Explains Why The Trap Does Not Make Dollars Or Sense (Video)

One of the pivotal records of Killer Mike's career was his appearance on Outkast's "Snappin' & Trappin'." Right as the mainstream erupted around 2000's Stankonia release, Mike came in with a song that celebrated the street-life of Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding hoods. Sixteen years later, Killer Mike's personality has... Read more

Kanye West’s 1997 Beat Tape Travels To The Past In A “Spaceship” (Audio)

In 1998, Kanye West the producer broke through in a major way. The hungry artist from Chicago, Illinois landed on two big albums, care of joints on Foxy Brown's platinum #1, Chyna Doll (see: "My Life") and Jermaine Dupri's star-studded solo debut, Life In 1472 (see: the Nas-assisted "Intro [Turn It... Read more

Russell Simmons Reveals His Secret For Balancing Commercial Success With Maintaining Crediblity (Video)

Throughout Russell Simmons' founding tenure at Def Jam Records, the Hollis Queens, New York native developed a number of hugely successful artists and albums. The Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill, DMX's It's Dark And Hell Is Hot and Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood, Method Man's Tical 2000:... Read more

Tupac’s Mom, Afeni Shakur, Has Died At The Age Of 69

Afeni Shakur, mother of 1990s Hip-Hop superstar Tupac Amaru Shakur, has died early this morning (May 3). She was 69 years old. While a cause of death has yet to be released to the public, the onetime Black Panther and inspiration to 1995 Interscope Records single "Dear Mama" has been... Read more

Russell Simmons Crowns Def Jam’s Greatest Album & His Favorite Artist (Video)

Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin began releasing Def Jam Records singles in 1984. Started in a New York University dorm room (occupied by Rubin), the company would expand to become a reported $115 million property by the late 1990s. From original flagship artist LL Cool J, Def Jam would play... Read more

Nas & J Dilla On A Madlib Track Is A Powerful Bookmark In “The Diary” (Audio)

In two days (April 15), J Dilla's posthumous album, The Diary, will finally release. With its beginnings dating back to the opening of the 2000s, the then-MCA Records solo artist and current Slum Village member plugged away at the LP that would never see release before his February 2006 death.... Read more

Kareem “Biggs” Burke Reveals Roc-A-Fella Secrets Regarding Big L, Scarface & Ma$e

Roc-A-Fella Records' 1990s and early 2000s' reign is credited to three businessmen. While Jay Z has become one of, if not the biggest artists in Hip-Hop history, Dame Dash is one of the highest profile Rap executives. Third owner of the original Roc, Kareem "Biggs" Burke was (and remains) less in... Read more

Watch Nate Dogg Freestyle A Hook & See Why He Will Forever Regulate (Video)

Five years ago today (March 15, 2011), the world lost Nate Dogg. The four-time Grammy-nominated hit-maker and founding member of 213 injected a Gospel Soul sensibility into Hip-Hop through three solo albums, a group record, and hits for Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Tupac, Ludacris, Mos Def, Eminem, and... Read more

Joell Ortiz Wrecks A DJ Premier Beat Like A Supa Star (Video)

Joell Ortiz's new collaboration album with producer Domingo will be released tomorrow (March 15). The project, titled That's Hip-Hop, is an ode to music that puts a premium on top-notch lyricism, and Ortiz is happy to oblige. The Slaughterhouse spitter also invited several other respected wordsmiths to join him in... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Carries On Tradition For Brooklyn And Biggie (Audio)

Today (March 9) marks 19 years since the world lost The Notorious B.I.G., but his legacy remains as strong as ever. His music stands the test of time as some of the greatest Hip-Hop ever recorded, and he has influenced countless artists since. One MC who has steadfastly carried on... Read more

Elzhi Discusses His Battle With Depression and It’s A Testament To His Courage (Interview)

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. However, Lead Poison, his highly-anticipated follow up, is on its way (March 25), and with it comes Elzhi's most... Read more

Elzhi Drops First Visual Dose of “Lead Poison” & Describes Deeply Personal Inspiration

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. So eager, in fact, that many gladly contributed to the rapper's Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise the... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Takes Home 5 Grammys & Debuts New Music (Video)

In music's biggest night, Hip-Hop came out as one of the big winners at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony, thanks to the rousing success of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Only two years after what many considered a snub - when his good kid m.A.A.d. city lost the "Best... Read more

Why Tupac’s “All Eyez On Me” Remains The First & Last Flawed Classic Album

Twenty years ago today (February 13, 1996), Tupac Shakur released what many would come to consider his magnum opus in All Eyez On Me. A Death Row Records double-album, the lone project 'Pac released at the label before his death is a sprawling ensemble of a man on a vendetta.... Read more

9th Wonder Explains How J Dilla Changed The Sound of Hip-Hop and Fathered “Neo Soul” In The Process (Interview)

After the ascendance of greats like DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Q-Tip in the 90s. There was a new wave of producers that would come to prominence in the 2000s who would carry the torch for Hip-Hop and take it in new directions. This new generation of beatmakers included the... Read more

This Little Boy Blues Record Was A Seed Of Love For Some Brooklyn Rap Giants (Audio)

Little Boy Blues released a single album, 1968's In The Woodland Of Weir. The Psychedelic Garage Rock outfit fronted by "Little Boy Blue" Ray Levin, would eventually rise to open for the Rolling Stones, The Association, and Lovin' Spoonful. Formed four years before the Fontana Records LP, the band was... Read more

DMX Producer Dame Grease Wants Guinness World Record For Most Songs In A Year

Producer Dame Grease has been instrumental to a number of platinum, and critically-acclaimed albums. The Harlem, New York native was critical to DMX's It's Dark And Hell Is Hot and The LOX's Money, Power, Respect, in addition to mentoring Max B. Having worked with Papoose, RiFF RaFF, and DMX in recent... Read more

EPMD Are Working On New Music & Hope To Do A Mega 25-Year Anniversary Tour

Last week, EPMD celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of their album, Business As Usual. The vaunted duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith recently spoke with Billboard about the album, as well as some exciting things they are working on, presently. While albums like Strictly Business and Unfinished... Read more

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

Sheek Louch Discusses Silverback Gorilla 2 & Talks Working With Biggie and DMX (Interview)

Whereas speaking to Jadakiss or Styles P is often a lower key experience, their LOX band-mate Sheek Louch is high-energy. The Yonkers, New York veteran MC did not equate himself to one of the most ferocious members of the animal kingdom by being docile. In the Tommy Boy Entertainment conference... Read more

Tech N9ne Evaluates Role Of Cyphers & Talks Next Solo Album (Interview)

Tech N9ne crams as many words and ideas into his energetic bars as he possibly can. It is this feat that has made him one of the most revered MCs of the last 15 years. He has become an independent deity, simultaneously skyrocketing in status, wealth, and respect, while much... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Reveals KRS-One Is The Battle He Really Wanted & Why It Never Happened (Video)

Big Daddy Kane was a recent guest on Ed Lover's Sirius XM Backspin show. In addition to adding some context to his championing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' willingness to work with and support Hip-Hop pioneers, B.D.K. looked back at key career moments with the former "Yo! MTV Raps" co-host. Ed... Read more

Killer Mike Names His Favorite MCs and Talks Deep Hip-Hop History With Snoop (Video)

Killer Mike is the latest guest on Snoop Dogg's GGN. The Run The Jewels co-founder brings some flammable treats for Tha Doggfather, as the two wax poetic about a range of topics. Snoop, a confirmed R.T.J. fan, asks Mike about linking up with El-P. "You spend your whole life looking... Read more

Fabolous Updates Nas’ Black Girl Lost With His Best 90s Freestyle Yet (Audio)

It takes a brave heart to follow Nas on a track. For the latest in his top notch series of 90s throwback freestyles, that's exactly what Fabolous does and he responds with his best to date. On Nasir's "Black Girl Lost," from It Was Written, Esco weaves a mournful tale... Read more

Ever See This Rare Cypher With Tupac and Warren G Over a Classic Dr. Dre Beat? (Video)

Here's a look back at some amazing footage of Tupac, Warren G, Big Syke and Richie Rich holding a spur of the moment cypher in the studio, over the "Gz and Hustlas" track Dr. Dre produced for Snoop's Doggystle LP. Tupac and Warren G are the more commonly known of... Read more

Did You Know Erick Sermon Could Have Signed Biggie? The Green Eyed Bandit Speaks (Video)

2015 is shaping up to be a big year for Erick Sermon. The Green Eyed bandit has launched a new collection of Hip-Hop rugs called Def Rugs, and is releasing ESP, his first album since 2004's Chilltown, New York, in June. E Double sat down with Sway and covered a... Read more

Here’s an Amazing New Film About the Evolution of Hip-Hop Radio in the 80s (Video)

Red Bull Music has put together an amazing new documentary about the evolution of Hip-Hop radio in the 80s. Titled Revolutions On Air: The Golden Era of New York Radio 1980 - 1988, the short film serves as an in-depth look at some of the key personalities responsible for bringing... Read more