AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Archives

Big Daddy Kane Releases His Best Verse In A Decade. He Still Kills At Will (Video)

In February of this year, Joell Ortiz and producer Domingo released the song, "Kill At Will." The standout track, with its Big Daddy Kane "Set It Off" cut-in at the chorus, is included on the That's Hip Hop album. The single showcased a hungry, fresh-faced MC Token, who had previously... Read more

Hip-Hop Took The Gold In August. Hear The Best Of The Month (Audio)

August was filled with the Olympics and some of the worst heat of the year, but it also brought some great Hip-Hop. De La Soul released their first album in 12 years, and it debuted at #1 on the Rap chart. Andre 3000 had some choice words for ghostwriters. Nas... Read more

Apollo Brown, Skyzoo & Joell Ortiz Spare More Than a Couple Dollars’ Worth of Inspiration (Audio)

On September 30, Skyzoo and Apollo Brown will be releasing a collaborative album, The Easy Truth. The Brooklyn, New York MC and Detroit, Michigan-based producer dropped its debut single earlier this month in the form of "One In the Same," which features Patty Crash, whose name will be familiar to... Read more

Joell Ortiz, Salaam Remi, Nitty Scott & Bodega BAMZ Celebrate Nuyorican Pride On A Joint LP (Audio)

Joell Ortiz knows a thing or two about forming high-profile groups. In the late 2000s, Slaughterhouse was born out of mid-2000s friction between Joe Budden and Royce 5'9." They would go on to make amends, and invite two other under-valued MCs (Joell and Crooked I) to the fold. Since then, that... Read more

Joell Ortiz & !llmind Talk Big But Back It Up…Again (Audio)

It's been just over a year since Joell Ortiz and !llmind released their Human project, a musical partnership that proved to be a highly acclaimed collaboration. After working on Ortiz' 2014 solo LP House Slippers, !llmind continues to provide some exceptionally complementary work for the Slaughterhouse rapper, and a new... Read more

Kay Slay Recruits Redman, Raekwon & Royce 5’9″ To Attack The Wack (Mixtape)

They do not call DJ Kay Slay "the drama king" for nothing. Since the late 1970s, the Harlem, New York graffiti writer-turned-DJ-turned-record executive seemingly lives for the spirit of competition. Now a Shade 45 radio mainstay, Kay Slay is one of the few talents who was making mixtapes 15 years... Read more

No Sucker MCs Can Escape The Wrath Of Joell Ortiz, Token & Big Daddy Kane (Video)

In March, Joell Ortiz and producer Domingo released a high-powered project titled That's Hip-Hop. The collaborative album was a return to hard drums and pure lyricism, what both men saw as the foundation of Rap. In speaking with Ambrosia For Heads, Ortiz said of the LP "Me and Domingo are... Read more

From Slaughterhouses To Junk Yards, Joell Ortiz’s Lyrics Wreck Shop (Video)

Joell Ortiz is a product of his environment. The pride of Brooklyn, New York's Cooper Houses has rhymed about bodegas, fistfights, and a litany of tight situations. With his Timberlands laced up, the Slaughterhouse MC loves maintaining that 1980s and 1990s reputation when the Big Apple wasn't so sweet, and... Read more

Joell Ortiz & Chris Rivers Studied The ’90s To Blaze Mics In 2016 (Audio)

Last week, Joell Ortiz and producer Domingo released That's Hip-Hop. As the Slaughterhous vet told Ambrosia For Heads, the project is about keeping purebred Rap in the front of the consumer consciousness. In the post-release single "Say What I Want," Ortiz is joined by Bronx, New York MC Chris Rivers... 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

Joell Ortiz Speaks About Never Dumbing Down His Sound & Standing Up For Hip-Hop (Interview)

In the last 15 years, Joell Ortiz has climbed from a Brooklyn, New York MC releasing 12" Rawkus Records singles to the top of the Pop charts. The pride of the Cooper Houses projects still dazzles with his flow and exudes the highest love for Hip-Hop culture in his art... Read more

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop of February (& January) 2016 In One Playlist (Audio)

The month of February brought many surprises in Hip-Hop. DJ Premier partnered with ambient songstress Yuna, for some boom bap vibe music. Blu rocked on a 45 King track reminiscent of "Hard Knock Life." Kendrick Lamar and Ice Cube got funky with Funkadelic. The Game waxed poetic with nothing but... Read more

Joell Ortiz Refuses To Give The Mic Up Till He’s The Last Man Standing (Audio)

A decade ago, Joell Ortiz was signed to Aftermath Entertainment. In 2016, the Brooklyn, New Yorker appears to be in a better position—given the fact that he's released a number of acclaimed mixtapes, albums, and work with Slaughterhouse. On March 15, Ortiz is fronting a project called That's Hip Hop.... Read more

Joell Ortiz Takes Drake’s “Summer Sixteen” Like A Bully & Beats It Up (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is on a crusade for Hip-Hop. The Brooklyn MC and producer Domingo are releasing an entire album dedicated to preserving the culture, fittingly tiled That's Hip-Hop. On the singles thus far from the project, Ortiz has chosen hungry and deeply skilled young lyricists like Token and Snow Tha... Read more

Snow Tha Product Joins Joell Ortiz and Token In Lyrically Killing The Competition (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is readying a new project called That's Hip-Hop. Rather than gathering a host of big name MCs as guests on the album, he has assembled a collection of young and hungry lyrical killers. Last week, he released "Kill At Will," featuring Salem, MA upstart, Token. Now, Ortiz rolls... Read more

Joell Ortiz & Token Kill Microphones At Will…With No Witnesses (Audio)

What is Hip-Hop? Just ask Joell Ortiz. One year removed from his collaborative album with Illmind, Human, MC Joell Ortiz will be answering that question with his Brooklyn bred bars and beats from Latin producer Domingo as the East Coast artists dedicate an entire album to the preservation of the... Read more

Joell Ortiz Warns That Surviving Life in the Hood Isn’t Child’s Play (Audio)

Toronto, Ontario's MoSS is one of those longtime producers whose works are immediately known but not easily attributed to a name. With notches under his beatmaker belt that include Obie Trice's album Special Reserve, Ghostface Killah's "Kilos" from 2006's Fishscale, and Raekwon's "Have Mercy" off of Only Built 4 Cuban... Read more

Joell Ortiz Joins Awkword, Wordsworth & More on the NYC Remix to “Go!” (Audio)

Veteran New York City MC Awkword has released a remix to his lyrics-driven single "Go!." A single from Awk's 2014 charity-album, World View, the original featured Atmosphere's Slug, Joell Ortiz, Maya Azucena, and a beat by Domingo. On this stylized go-round, an Audible Doctor (Brown Bag AllStars) remix emphasizes the... Read more

Joell Ortiz & !llmind Take Lil Piggies to the Slaughterhouse (Video)

Having just released their collaborative album Human, Joell Ortiz and !llmind have been getting Heads familiar with their sound, one that is different than fans may be used to. The first single, "Lil' Piggies," is a dark track reminiscent of something one might hear in a horror film about a... Read more

Slaughterhouse Gives New Meaning To Bar-Brawl on Southpaw’s R.N.S. (Video)

Slaughterhouse's "R.N.S." is a lyrical upper-cut within the Southpaw soundtrack. The Just Blaze and araabMUZIK-produced song featuring Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Joe Budden is more of the same pedigree from the hardcore Rap quartet. For the video, it's bars and concrete—beyond the rapping, as the Shady... Read more

Erick Sermon, Joell Ortiz & Sheek Louch Offer Hard Lessons From Concrete Places (Video)

In late April, Erick Sermon premiered "Make Room," a crosstown New York City verbal essay featuring Joell Ortiz and Sheek Louch. The song offers some hard advice to a host of people simply doin' it wrong. For the just-released visual, E-Double, Donnie G., and Yoawa certify themselves in the company... Read more

Joell Ortiz, Chris Rivers, Bodega Bamz & Emilio Rojas Rep Their Cultural Pride on Latino Pt. 2 (Video)

Joell Ortiz revisits "Latino," the cultural pride anthem from his 2007 debut album, The Brick: Bodega Chronicles. On the updated 2015 version, he brings in fellow MCs Chris Rivers, Bodega Bamz and Emilio Rojas on an !LLmind production. The video for "Latinos Pt. 2" uses the New York City Puerto... Read more

Joell Ortiz Takes Us to Church on Latest Track with !llmind (Audio)

Brooklyn MC Joell Ortiz has released "Hallelujah," an !llmind-produced banger and single from their forthcoming collaborative album, Human. All set for a July 17 release (this Friday), the album will be followed by a tour kicking off on June 22. In a premiere on Hot New Hip Hop, the track... Read more

Joell Ortiz & !llmind Unveil The New Sound They’ve Been Creating In The Lab (Audio)

New Jersey native !llmind was a critical part of Joell Ortiz' 2014 album, House Slippers. Moving into 2015, the producer for Kanye West, Scarface, and Sean Price takes on Ortiz' whole project, for an equal billing. "Lil' Piggies" is the first glimpse from the July 17 project, Human. !llmind lays... Read more

Sheek Louch, Billy Danze, Trae Tha Truth & Joell Ortiz Represent Their Hoods & You Can Too (Audio)

Sheek Louch has announced his September 18 album, Silverback Gorilla 2. A sequel to his LP released in 2008, Sheek rolls with Tommy Boy Entertainment for this outing. "Hood Nigga" is the album's lead single, featuring M.O.P.'s Billy Danze (a fellow 20-year veteran), along with Trae Tha Truth, and Joell... Read more

Joell Ortiz, CyHi The Prynce & Jarren Benton Serve a Cypher for the Backpackers (Video)

Three animated lyricists come together for Team Backpack's latest cypher. Joell Ortiz, CyHi The Prynce, and Jarren Benton all have recent projects to promote. However, on stage together before a hungry, live audience, it's all about simply promoting skills. Jarren kicks things off with a mischievous mosaic of bars, combining... Read more

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of May 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

The month of May in Hip-Hop brought the return of some MCs who had been gone for a while and a return to form for some who sought renewed inspiration. There were a slew of 90s freestyles, as well as some previously unreleased tracks that leaked from the vaults. Whatever... Read more

Keith Murray, Joell Ortiz, Chris Rivers & SKAM2? Vow No Sleep Til’ Success (Audio)

It can be incredibly easy to set a goal for yourself, and rest once you've achieved it. However, the music industry does not sleep—nor can many of those we live in it. Joell Ortiz has a group personally handled by one of the biggest personalities in all of music. Keith... Read more

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of April 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

The month of April 2015 in Hip-Hop brought some welcomed surprises. A slew of artists released high quality freestyles over classic 90s beats, including Fabolous, Jadakiss, Styles P and Lloyd Banks, to name a few. Raekwon laid the groundwork for his F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art) album, with releases featuring... Read more

Erick Sermon Makes Room For Joell Ortiz & Sheek Louch on One Star-Studded Track (Audio)

Erick Sermon has been teasing the arrival of a new album for several months, but the moment is almost here. On a recent interview with Sway, E-Double said fans could expect ESP to arrive in June, and listed off a host of guest MCs featured on the album, including Method... Read more

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of February 2015 All in One Playlist (Audio)

The month of February had less days, but it was not short on good music. The tight four weeks brought new songs from Kendrick Lamar, Ghostface Killah, Scarface, Method Man, Redman, Talib Kweli, Logic, Big K.R.I.T., Slum Village, Rah Digga, Action Bronson, Kanye West, Cannibal Ox, Drake, GZA, Fashawn, Nas,... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Action Bronson vs. Joell Ortiz…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

Joell Ortiz Drops Fiery Verses in Between Compliments From Kanye West (Audio)

During an appearance on NYC's Hot 97 in 2011, Kanye West spoke on what artists he liked at the time and one name was front and center: JOELL ORTIZ. Ye, spoke extensively about Ortiz's talent, elaborating on the Slaughterhouse member's rhyme technique and even referencing specific lines. Years later, Joell... Read more

Emilio Rojas & Joell Ortiz Make a Deeply Personal Record About Overcoming Struggles (Audio)

Emilio Rojas has released a very personal record, with some assistance from Joell Ortiz. "Nada" finds Rojas talking about the obstacles he faced when he had nothing and the determination it took to overcome those circumstances. Specifically, he addresses the sacrifices made by his mother, working double shifts with three... Read more

Ever Go Through Your Mate’s Phone? Joell Ortiz Shows Why It’s a Bad Idea… (Video)

Joell Ortiz' masterful storytelling are one of the lyrical attributes that transcended him from a late '90s, early 2000s street MC into a major label star. Like two of his onetime mentors and label-heads, Eminem and Dr. Dre in 2000's "Guilty Conscience," Joell uses his House Slippers moment "Phone" to... Read more

Joell Ortiz Releases a Brand New Free EP of Remixes (Mixtape)

Joell Ortiz closes out 2014 with a free release of a new EP of remixes. Yaowa Nation features Ortiz putting his stamp on tracks like Sam Smith's "Stay With Me," French Montana's "Don't Panic" and more. Check out the stream and download below. Related: Joell Ortiz Literally Depicts the Crack... Read more

Joell Ortiz Literally Depicts the Crack Spot with His Latest Visuals (Video)

To date, Joell Ortiz' House Slippers glimpses have charted his growth, improved life outlook, and range as an artist. With "Crack Spot," Joell brings Heads back around the corner from the Bodega, where the villains lurk. Following the age-old dope-to-rap metaphor, Jo's visual shows the literal operation, as he kicks... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Pusha T vs. Joell Ortiz…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

Eminem, Yelawolf & Slaughterhouse Are All Killer, No Filler (Audio)

The treats keep falling off the Shady tree gearing up for Shady XV. "Psychopath Killer" is an Eminem song, featuring his 2011-present star signings, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf. Just Blaze, Boi-1da, and The Maven Boys team up to make a track that's quite Horrorcore-themed, something you might expect to hear on... Read more

Shady’s cXVypher Features Eminem, Slaughterhouse & Yelawolf. Get Your Rewind Finger Ready (Video)

Crooked I: Covering topics from Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson killing Michael Brown to his own poverty, Crooked I fires off verbal rounds like a Thompson machine gun as he delivers his thesis from a Long Beach chop-shop. Joe Budden: Joe looks within his family to discuss the stresses weighing... Read more

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Open Up Shop Then Tear It Down (Video)

Less than 24 hours after Slaughterhouse's "Ya'll Ready Know" released in audio, the DJ Premier collaboration comes in living color. The impact of Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden's full-fledged run-in with DJ Premier is clear in the video, as Preem is prominently featured, arguably the... Read more

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Come Together Fully? Results Are As Expected! (Audio)

Half of Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5'9" and Joell Ortiz) have extensively worked with DJ Premier, while Crooked I and Joe Budden have not. Back in 2009, before Eminem and Shady Records took backing of the four-man lyrical militia, on a tight eOne Entertainment budget, it was DJ Premier who hosted... Read more

Joell Ortiz Has the Questions…and the Answers About Why He’s Real Rap (Video)

On his song "Q&A," Joell Ortiz has a very intense conversation...with himself. He addresses his motivations for rapping, his belief that he is underrated, how and why he lost weight and more. The visuals find him in multiple settings, donning several personas as he underscores the themes highlighted in the... Read more

Try On Joell Ortiz’ House Slippers (Album Stream)

A lot of anticipation surrounds Joell Ortiz' third solo album, House Slippers. On the revamped Penalty Records, the Brooklyn MC teamed with !llmind (Skyzoo, Boot Camp Clik, G.O.O.D Music) and Heatmakerz (Jim Jones, The Diplomats, AZ) for this LP. With the three-year hiatus between albums, the Slaughterhouse MC changed his... Read more

Joell Ortiz Shows His Childhood Alongside B.o.B In Music Saved My Life (Video)

Joell Ortiz' House Slippers look are in full fashion. For "Music Saved My Life," Ortiz and B.o.B rap from the present day, with massive joy on their faces. Inner-twined in the video, Heads can see dramatic flashbacks to a chubby juvenile Joell, and the pain and hardship that prompts his... Read more

Joell Ortiz Interviews Himself On A New House Slippers Look (Audio)

Back on one of Slaughterhouse's breakthrough songs, "Move On," Joell Ortiz set things off, knowing just what he thought media reporters cared most about concerning his career. After a hiatus from solo works, the Bushwick, Brooklyn MC tries his hand at that tactic again. "Q&A" addresses the things Heads may... Read more

It’s A Slaughterhouse Affair On Joell Ortiz’ My Brother’s Keeper (Audio)

Two weeks from today (September 16), Joell Ortiz will release his third solo album, House Slippers via his new home, Penalty Records. The Brooklyn, New York native reached out to onetime Diplomats/Cam'ron producers The Heatmakerz as well as !llmind for production/executive production. The new sound on the album is coupled... Read more

Joell Ortiz Puts Down 16 Bars With Fervor (Video)

In AOL Boombox's 16 Bars series, Joell Ortiz steps in. The Brooklyn, New York veteran has built a reputation and his career foundation on confident, thoughtful bars that may or may not always belong to a song. So 16 is no problem for the Slaughterhouse MC. Here, he does as... Read more

This Week in Hip-Hop Brought a Righteous Verse from Lecrae, Videos from Common, Cormega, ONYX, YG & More (Video Playlist)

This week in Hip-Hop video brought some heavy hitters, including Lecrae conquering Sway's 5 Swingers of Death MC challenge with a righteous verse, 19-year old Kanye freestyling, new music videos from Cormega, Common, ONYX, YG, 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper and more, Snoop interviewing Jimmy Kimmel, short clips on Apollo... Read more

If Joell Ortiz’ Original House Slippers Was Too Wavy, Watch Him Tear Down A Coldcut-Style Remix (Video)

Joell Ortiz's "House Slippers" single from the album of the same name shows a new sound from the Brooklyn, New York MC. While the LP features executive production from !llmind (Skyzoo) and Heatmakerz (The Diplomats), the single suggested a subdued sound from the artist known for his work from DJ... Read more