slaughterhouse Archives

PRhyme (DJ Premier and Royce Da 5’9″) Release the Artwork and Tracklist for Their New EP

DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" shook up the Hip-Hop world last month when they announced they were forming a group called PRhyme, Premier's first since Gang Starr. After releasing a teaser and a single, they now reveal the artwork and tracklist. The project will feature production from Preemo, samples... Read more

October 14, 2014 Fresh

In Halloween Season, Eminem’s Shady XV Artwork Hits The Spot

Six weeks away, Eminem unveiled the simple-but-seasonally-relevant artwork to his Shady XV compilation today (October 13) via Instagram video. The LP is slated to feature the likes of Yelawolf, Slaughterhouse, Alchemist, and other Shady Records artists and affiliates. Loading Back to basics! Here's the cover for #SHADYXV out 11/24. View... Read more

October 13, 2014 Fresh

Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier Are PRhyme With Courtesy (Audio)

Royce Da 5'9" rocks some stream of consciousness as DJ Premier lays down a gliding organ arrangement, complete with a scratch-chorus. Along the way, Nickel Nine opens up about his family's addictions, his latest sportscar purchase, and the respect he's out for. "This one's for my lyricists, courtesy of my... Read more

October 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Crooked I vs. Jadakiss…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

October 9, 2014 Fresh

Joe Budden & Crooked I Represent for the Crew on Devil in My House (Audio)

Joe Budden and Crooked I may make up one half of Slaughterhouse, but the fractions stop there. Each is a formidable MC unto himself and both stand on their own. Together? They create an East Coast/West Coast tandem that can go toe to toe with any other Rap twosome. On... Read more

October 8, 2014 Audio

Boaz Travels The West Coast With Murs, Crooked I & Fashawn To Remix Like This (Audio)

Boaz's !llmind-produced "Like This" is the Pittsburgh MC's door opener to afar. The Rostrum Records artist hits the West Coast for the first remix to find a diverse trio of highly-talented, street-respected MCs in Mid City, Los Angeles' Murs, Fresno's Fashawn, and Long Beach's Crooked I. The three MCs team... Read more

October 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Joe Budden vs. Ab-Soul…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

October 2, 2014 Fresh

Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier Announce Group, Joint Album: PRhyme

Today (September 24), DJ Premier has announced his first group since Gang Starr, the legendary duo that spans more than 25 years back to debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy. This unit will be an extension of a decade-plus of working with Royce Da 5'9". Before Slaughterhouse and around... Read more

September 24, 2014 Fresh

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

September 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

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

September 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

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

September 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

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

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

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

August 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joe Budden & Ransom Squash Differences, Reunite In The Vietnam Trenches (Audio)

Two Garden State greats, Joe Budden and Ransom, came from the same circles in the mid-2000s. Ransom was poised to be one of "Jumpoff Joe's" early proteges, in between his Def Jam Records fallout and what would become his Slaughterhouse lead-in's. Around 2008, the two lyricists ran afoul and entered... Read more

July 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joell Ortiz & B.o.B. Take A Moment To Celebrate Music Of All Kinds On A Heatmakerz Beat (Audio)

Joell Ortiz's third solo album, House Slippers, is a transformation for the Slaughterhouse MC. Now signed to Penalty Records, the Brooklyn artist claims he's made the freest album yet, with a celebration of life's blessings, as well as his recent focus on health and happiness. With that, the artist who... Read more

July 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Royce Da 5’9 Slows It Down & Cuts The Lights Out Alongside Rock Band Pink Grenade (Audio)

Throughout his extensive 15-plus-year career, Royce Da 5'9 has worked outside the box. The Detroit, Michigan mainstay and Bad Meets Evil co-founder toured and worked with late '90s Pop tart Willa Ford on her hit "I Wanna Be Bad," before eventually working with a pre-stardom Amerie on "Life," as well... Read more

July 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Final Battles Are In On The Road To Total Slaughter’s Main Event (Video)

Two days away from the official Total Slaughter event, where Joe Budden will battle Hollow Da Don and Loaded Lux will battle Muda Mook, house guests prep themselves to battle each other in order to secure their spot on stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom July 12. In this episode, T-Rex... Read more

July 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Crooked I Goes Back To His Days Of Struggle For A Skillful & Personal Song (Video)

Crooked I Heads know that the Long Beach MC has a speckled past. Before a string of mostly-fruitless label deals, Crook' grew up with bouts of hunger and homelessness. The product of Sway & King Tech's Wake Up Show would later earn the success that allows him to travel the... Read more

July 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Royce Da 5’9″ Releases New Song, Talks with Joe Budden & Jalen Rose About Total Slaughter (Video)

The Slaughterhouse crew stays on the grind, together and solo. Even as they are gearing up for the release of their new album, Joe Budden is preparing to battle Hollow Da Don on Saturday and Joell Ortiz is readying a new solo album. Now, Royce Da 5'9" has announced he'll... Read more

July 10, 2014 Audio, Video

Joe Budden Talks His Battle Rap Past & Preparation For Total Slaughter (Video)

Joe Budden chops it up as part of Life + Times' The Truth series, in his stomping grounds of New Jersey. The artist who began his career as the battle rapper who went on to join Eminem's Shady Records and the Hip-Hop foursome Slaughterhouse discusses his past with battle rap... Read more

July 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Black Thought, Action Bronson & Royce Da 5’9 Link On A Statik Selektah Joint (Audio)

Hailing from three different decades of Hip-Hop, Black Thought, Royce Da 5'9, and Action Bronson sound great together. The Roots, Slaughterhouse, and The Outdoorsmen all share a reputation for hard-hitting, rewind-worthy lyrics, which is exactly what producer/host Statik Selektah hoped for when he assembled "The Imperial." Boastful bars shine, as... Read more

July 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joell Ortiz Raps About What He’s Been Up To In An Ill Sway In The Morning Freestyle (Video)

Heads never really got to hear Joell Ortiz on a Dr. Dre beat from that mid-2000s Aftermath Entertainment deal that never produced album fruit. Now working with Eminem and Shady Records—and in turn, Dre—Joell is gearing up for another solo LP. Stopping by Sway In The Morning, Ortiz was asked... Read more

June 30, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joell Ortiz Passes Out House Slippers & Talks Dr. Dre On Shade 45 (Video)

On Eminem's Shade 45, Slaughterhouse's Joell Ortiz sits down with Sway Calloway to discuss his new battle rapping series, Total Slaughter (0:30), his upcoming solo album, House Slippers (5:40), his recent weight loss (6:40), and the first time he wrote a rhyme (12:15). Joell also dove into a story about... Read more

June 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Battle Rap Meets Bellator on the Road to Total Slaughter (Video)

Eminem and Shady Films are off on their quest to bring battle rapping back to the forefront and to crown the best of the best with the debut episode of "Road To Total Slaughter." 8 MCs have been picked to live together under one roof to prep their lyrical artillery... Read more

June 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joell Ortiz Joins In On Nicki Minaj’s Pills N’ Potions With Heartfelt Realness (Audio)

The same morning Joell Ortiz drops off the visual to a status-checking single in "House Slippers" with Penalty Records, the Bushwick, Brooklyn MC's other label, Shady Records, lets go of an unofficial remix to Nicki Minaj's "Pills N' Potions." On Barbz' single that's re-centering her abilities and direction, the former... Read more

June 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Best Hip-Hop in May Included Slaughterhouse, KRS-One, Ghostface, Ab-Soul, Common, Cormega, The Roots & Much More (Audio Playlist)

Before we get too deep into June, here's a look back at some of the best Hip-Hop to drop in May and there was an abundance...You'll hear new music from Slaughterhouse, Cormega, KRS-One, Ab-Soul, Rapsody, Ghostface, Common, Mac Miller, De La Soul, Nitty Scott, MC, The Roots, Blu, Freddie Gibbs,... Read more

June 5, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

In The Mood For Some Pharoahe Monch, Blu, Royce Da 5’9 & More? Stream Coalmine Records’ Unearthed LP (Audio)

Brooklyn-based Coalmine Records has been consistently working with Hip-Hop luminaries from coast-to-coast, and abroad. The label has facilitated projects ranging from The Artifacts' El Da Sensei to Blu & Nottz' EP, to Rah Digga releases, and of course the Guilty Simpson x Small Professor collision. Celebrating a decade in indie... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Slaughterhouse Release a Surprise New Mixtape (Mixtape)

Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden take mics by force. On a somewhat sleepy week, the Shady Records lyrical quartet swarmed to claim the conversation with House Rules. The 10-track mixtape features no names (no gimmicks, either) featuring original production from Just Blaze, Nottz, Emanny, and... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Ready for Some New Slaughterhouse? SayDatThen (Audio)

2 weeks after announcing a new album is coming, Slaughterhouse are back with an incredible new song produced by Nottz. The slow and plodding dark chords and hard drums give Joell, Royce, Crooked and Joe the space to do what they do best. Drop BARS. Ready for the weekend? SayDatThen...... Read more

May 9, 2014 Audio

Passport Gift Knows How To Turn Listeners On, Alongside Crooked I, Tito Lopez & Skyzoo (Video)

Passport Gift is absolutely one to watch. The New York MC has not made a big deal of letting the world know who he is off the mic. Instead, the lyricist goes with the old fashioned tactic: show and prove. With a fast, ferocious flow (something that Brooklyn is suddenly... Read more

May 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joe Budden Names His Favorite Battle Rappers, Speaks on Upcoming Battle with Hollow Da Don (Audio)

There was a big reaction when Eminem announced he would launch his new battle rap league with Joe Budden facing off against Hollow Da Don. Though he has not battled on stage before, Budden has a longstanding relationship with the art of battle rap, both as a fan and through... Read more

May 2, 2014 Audio

Slaughterhouse Signals That The Third Album Is Closer Than We Think

The four members of Slaughterhouse tried something new today, digitally-speaking. Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce Da 5'9 all simultaneously reset their Twitter avatars to what is presumed to be the third Slaughterhouse LP. This will be their second album with Shady Records, following their 2009 indie debut... Read more

April 30, 2014 Fresh

Joell Ortiz, Sheek Louch & Sauce Money Rep New York Overtop James Brown For DJ Kay Slay (Audio)

DJ Kay Slay aligns a strong trio to rep their hometown. The Drama King gathers Sheek Louch, Joell Ortiz and Sauce Money, making a rare appearance, on NYC Shine. Why do you think Kay Slay is so passionate about these ongoing NYC Hip-Hop songs? Related: Joell Ortiz Has Got BARS…But... Read more

April 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Eminem Announces Shady Records Battle Rap League, As Joe Budden Will Take On Hollow Da Don (Video)

Eminem helped take the competition of Battle Rap and make it mainstream almost 15 years ago with his semi-autographical film 8 Mile. As Battle Rap's popularity has grown, it often appears to live in the underground (rather proudly) as names like Loaded Lux, Hollow Da Don, and even Jae Millz... Read more

April 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here’s a Look at Slaughterhouse’s Bars with No Beats Freestyle (Video)

Last week, Slaughterhouse visited the Sway in the Morning show at SXSW for an extended interview and 8+ minute a capella freestyle. Here's a look at the video of their bars with no beats freestyle. Related: Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)... Read more

March 18, 2014 Video

Slaughterhouse Perform an 8-Minute Cypher on Sway in the Morning (Audio)

Slaughterhouse stopped by Sway in the Morning at SXSW and got into a spirited conversation about the importance of knowing and celebrating Hip-Hop history. At the end of the interview, they took it back to the essence, participating in an 8-minute cypher of a capella bars. Check it out. Part... Read more

March 15, 2014 Audio

Joell Ortiz Has Got BARS…But You Knew That (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is back with a new solo release. He lyrically flexes over the Nautilus beat that has borne countless Hip-Hop classics. Check out Bars. Related: Joell Ortiz Breaks His Silence, Bodying Pusha T & Kendrick Lamar’s Nosetalgia Instrumental (Audio)... Read more

February 23, 2014 Audio

Crooked I May Be Rapping Around Top Dollar Toys, But It’s Beatboxing & Bars (Video)

Crooked I is one of those artists who clearly enjoys life's finer things, but those close listeners to his bars over the years know that he grew up dirt poor, and relived struggled throughout the high's and low's of his extensive career. From last year's Apex Predator, Crook tells all... Read more

February 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joell Ortiz Breaks His Silence, Bodying Pusha T & Kendrick Lamar’s Nosetalgia Instrumental (Audio)

In the crop of MCs who can snatch an instrumental and breathe new life into it, Joell Ortiz rings plenty bells. Even before his Slaughterhouse days, the Brooklyn MC had a habit of bodying beats bought by others. On a rendition of Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar's "Nosetalgia," Ortiz shows... Read more

January 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Got BARS? These MC’s Do. Here Are The Best Freestyles of 2013 (Video)

There are few things more satisfying in Hip-Hop than a killer verse. It's why Kendrick Lamar shook up the Internet for 3 weeks (an eternity these days) with his Control verse...and then again with his BET Cypher. We've assembled a collection of the best freestyles (mostly "writtens") of 2013. Check... Read more

December 24, 2013 Fresh, Video

Slaughterhouse is Back to Attack the Wack in Hip-Hop. Here’s Their New Single, Party (Audio)

Slaughterhouse is back with an aggressive new track going at everything and everyone fake. The song was produced by Just Blaze and Cardiak and Joey, Royce, Joell and Crooked hold no punches. Check out Party...but don't let the title fool you. Related: Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A... Read more

December 18, 2013 Audio

Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)

Although "Rap City" has been largely defunct in the Slaughterhouse-era, the Shady Records super-group is a call-back to the latter years of BET's flagship Hip-Hop program. Individually, Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden, Crooked I were part of the Basement-era. Eminem was among Rap's biggest stars in the Big Tigger era... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

AFH: The Week in Video (10/20/13) (Video Playlist)

This week in video brought Cyphers from TDE, Slaughterhouse, Action Bronson, Jon Connor, Rapsody, Rittz and more as well as new videos from Method Man, Jill Scott, Chance the Rapper, Yelawolf & Paul Wall, Joey Bada$$ and more. Check it all out below. The BET Hip Hop Awards Cyphers The... Read more

October 20, 2013 Playlists, Video

Crooked I Channels Makaveli & Goes For Broke On Against All Odds (Audio)

When you upset Crooked I, you've got problems. Following this week's airing of Slaughterhouse's 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher, Crooked I does his rendition of 2Pac's (as Makaveli) "Against All Odds." While this is not a cover by any means, this is a thematic homage to the Don Killuminati closer,... Read more

October 17, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Did Slaughterhouse Have the Best Overall Cypher? (Video)

Kendrick Lamar’s Cypher verse has gotten the most attention (so far) but which group had the best overall Cypher? We polled Heads and the vote was resoundingly in favor of the SH crew. If you go back and really study their verses, dudes had BARS…for days…ALL of them. Check out... Read more

October 16, 2013 Video

AFH: The Week in Video (9/29/13) (Video Playlist)

This week brought new music videos from Pusha T, A$AP Rocky, Drake and Talib Kweli, as well as performances from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and J. Cole and a freestyle from Slaughterhouse. And, of course, a one of a kind interview from Kanye West. You can watch it all in the video... Read more

September 29, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher Artists Announced

Taped tonight in Atlanta, BET's 2013 Hip-Hop Awards is coming on October 15 at 8pm EST. With the cyphers already making big noise on Twitter (especially from the Aftermath Entertainment camp), here are all 34 participants, as reported by BET.com. This year's lineup features the usual breakthrough artists (Action Bronson,... Read more

September 29, 2013 Throwback

Kendrick Lamar Controls The 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher

Hot off the presses from Atlanta, Kendrick Lamar "killed" this year's BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher, and we were there to witness it. Symbolic of what Kendrick's Control verse did to the industry in August, the entire TDE family (Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and new member Isaiah Rashad) spit... Read more

September 28, 2013 Fresh

Slaughterhouse – Fire in the Booth Freestyle (Video)

The Slaughterhouse crew go to work on that Numbers on the Board beat. Check out the video of their Fire in the Booth freestyle. Related: Slaughterhouse – Slaughter Sessions (Audio)... Read more

September 22, 2013 Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of July 2013 (Audio Playlist)

Jay-Z dominated the headlines in July, but there was a LOT of good music from other artists last month, as well. Here's a playlist of the best hip-hop to drop in July. You'll hear music from MC Lyte, Q-Tip, J. Cole, Rapsody, Pete Rock & Camp Lo, Daz Dillinger, Nipsey... Read more

August 4, 2013 Featured-homepage, Playlists