top dawg entertainment Archives

Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar Battle Over A Woman & Rap Supremacy On The Carter V (Audio)

After more than five years of anticipation, Lil Wayne has dropped Tha Carter V. He did so as part of his 36th birthday celebration. Released entirely through Young Money Records, this LP defies several trends of 2018. For starters, Wayne goes back in his bag with a project that is... Read more

September 28, 2018 Audio

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

Reason Is Next Up In A Long Line Of Great West Coast MCs (Video)

Carson rapper Reason is TDE's latest signee, and he's already proving he has what it takes to join the roster. Early last month, Reason dropped video single "The Soul," a raw, hard-hitting verse delivered with a doozy of a flow above an equally triumphant instrumental. Within his first few bars,... Read more

September 15, 2018 Video

Jay Rock’s Freestyle Shows What A Migos Beat Sounds Like With Some G-Funk (Video)

Jay Rock's sound seems to be evolving. In 2018, the Watts, California MC linked with producers Boi-1da, Vinylz, and CT for "Win." Working with some technicians known for a hand in Drake's discography (along with many other chart-toppers), the move showed some new range for an MC with a raspy... Read more

September 4, 2018 Video

Reason Uses His TDE Shine To Spotlight The Mixtape That Got Him Signed (Video)

This month, Top Dawg Entertainment revealed that they had a new MC in the roster. From the same city of Carson, California as Ab-Soul, Reason followed his exceptional 2016 Free Album mixtape (embedded below) with a video single, "The Soul." The a la carte look followed an appearance on The... Read more

August 29, 2018 Video

Ab-Soul Exhales A Dope Verse In A Hot Box Collaboration With B-Real (Video)

B-Real has kept himself current over the years with his Smokebox web series and by keeping his finger on the pulse. He continues to work with young and up-and-coming artists year and year out. And as of 2017, he is in three super-groups, which include Cypress Hill, Serial Killers, and... Read more

August 17, 2018 Video

TDE Has Another Reason Why It’s The Most Dominant Hip-Hop Label Of The 2010s (Video)

Last week, Top Dawg Entertainment added another MC to its star-studded label. Reason comes from the same city of Carson, California that Ab-Soul reps. He quietly slid onto TDE's first #1 release of 2018, the Black Panther soundtrack ahead of his public welcome. However, if "Seasons" remained off your radar,... Read more

August 14, 2018 Video

TDE Adds A New MC To Its Championship Roster. Meet Reason. (Audio)

Much like the Golden State Warriors, Top Dawg Entertainment continues to add more pieces to its roster after coming off of The Championship Tour. The newest addition to one of Hip-Hop's most winningest teams comes in the form of Reason, the Carson, California MC whose signing to the label was... Read more

August 8, 2018 Audio, News

Jay Rock’s Video Shows Him As A Street Fighter Who Plays No Games

Jay Rock's third album Redemption has been one of Hip-Hop's most heralded albums of the last month, and his videos are living up to the quality of the tracks they represent. The TDE mainstay MC is keeping that visual train moving with the release of his video for Redemption's straightforward... Read more

July 9, 2018 Video

Kendrick Lamar Speaks For The 1st Time About Why He Stopped A Fan From Using The N-Word

Kendrick Lamar made headlines earlier this year when he checked a fan at Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama for using the N-word while rapping along to his 2012 non-single hit "M.A.A.D. City." The fan, a white woman who introduced herself as Delaney, was pulled up on-stage to help rap... Read more

June 28, 2018 Fresh

Punch Looks To Add His Name To TDE’s Champion MC Roster (Audio)

In 2004, Carson, California became the birthplace for one of the world's elite Hip-Hop ensembles, Top Dawg Entertainment. With the additions of Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, SiR, ScHoolboy Q, and multiple Grammy Award-winning MC Kendrick Lamar to a roster supported by CEO Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith and label... Read more

June 27, 2018 Audio

Jay Rock Opens The BET Awards & Takes A Victory Lap (Video)

Fresh on the heels of releasing his third album, Jay Rock was given center stage at the 2018 BET Awards. The Watts, California MC stood in no one's shadow as he performed "Win," the second single from Redemption. Awards host Jamie Foxx joined the Top Dawg Entertainment MC on stage... Read more

June 24, 2018 Video

Jay Rock & J. Cole Are A Deadly Combination Lyrically And In Their New Video

With June 15's Redemption, Jay Rock released his first album since suffering a nearly fatal dirt-bike accident in 2016. The album's title and much of its content deal with themes of triumph over adversity, including singles "King's Dead," "WIN" and "The Bloodiest." With his J. Cole collabo, "OSOM (Out Of Sight,... Read more

June 20, 2018 Video

Jay Rock’s Bloodiest Video Shows That Sometimes Nothing Is What It Seems

Jay Rock's just-released album, Redemption, has fans rejoicing. It's also a reminder why Top Dawg Entertainment built its foundation off his talents as an MC. The Watts, California native's latest LP has many real-life tales, but perhaps the grimiest and most vivid come from album opener, "The Bloodiest." Now, Heads... Read more

June 16, 2018 Video

Jay Rock Gets His Redemption Alongside J. Cole. Nothing Can Stop Him Now (Audio)

Jay Rock has just released his third album Redemption. In addition to his Black Hippy and TDE label-mates, the LP includes highly anticipated collaborative single, "OSOM (Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind)" featuring J. Cole. The song examines Johnny's rise to fame, which began a dozen years ago with a... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q & Ab-Soul Explain Jay Rock’s Importance To TDE (Video)

According to his latest video single, Jay Rock is winning. While the Watts, California MC is not one to take L's, his fans can agree that he is overdue. It was 11 years ago that the raspy-voiced MC with the pavement poetry was put on the front lines of a... Read more

June 5, 2018 Video

Jay Rock’s Third Album Is Coming In Less Than A Month

Watts, California MC Jay Rock has been quite busy in 2018. The breakout artists on Top Dawg Entertainment since the mid-2000s, Jay appeared on the chart-topping Black Panther soundtrack. Alongside Kendrick Lamar and Future, "Kings Dead" gave Rock his first Hot 100 single (#21) of his career. Moreover, the raspy-voiced... Read more

May 21, 2018 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Checks A Fan For Saying The N-Word While Rapping His Song (Video)

Biggie Smalls would have turned 46 years old today (May 21). Back in 1994, The Notorious B.I.G. released his first Ready To Die single, "Juicy." It eventually traveled to #27 on the charts. The gold-certified solo breakthrough record remains one of the most beloved, far-reaching Rap songs of the last... Read more

May 21, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

SZA & Donald Glover Heat Up The Screen In Their Secret Garden (Video)

Donald Glover is riding a massive wave. Fresh off his SNL appearance and momentous "This Is America" video release this month, the Atlanta co-creator is only mashing the gas pedal even more. Now, he's maneuvering to the more sensual side of things, joining SZA as a character for her new video,... Read more

May 18, 2018 Video

J. Cole Explains Why He Made His 1985 Diss Record Of Lil Rappers (Video)

When J. Cole speaks, it is not to be taken lightly. In recent years, the North Carolina superstar MC/producer and Dreamville label founder has shunned the public eye, or at least many of their questions. After decidedly not allowing interviews altogether for late 2016's 4 Your Eyez Only, Cole posted... Read more

May 16, 2018 Video

TDE’s SiR Delivers One Of His Most Powerful Songs To Its Jamaican Roots (Video)

While SiR had to grind for years as an engineer and songwriter, is firmly set in the spotlight now. After dropping a well-received EP titled HER TOO only a month after announcing his signing to TDE in 2017, fans were clamoring for his full-length debut on the label. It took... Read more

May 8, 2018 Video

TDE Has Made The Funniest Concert Promo Video Of All-Time

Top Dawg Entertainment is taking its whole show on the road the 2018 Championship Tour. In January, TDE announced cross-country US dates for May and June. At the time, Kendrick Lamar had not yet won a historic Pulitzer Prize for Musical Composition (the first ever going to an artist outside... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

TDE’s President Makes A Compelling Argument For Why Cardi B Is Like Tupac

Cardi B released her major label debut album, Invasion Of Privacy, last Friday (April 6). Within hours, the Bronx, New York rapper achieved gold certification for the Atlantic Records LP featuring YG, Chance The Rapper, Migos, and SZA, among others. In the days ahead the music industry will see if... Read more

April 9, 2018 Fresh

SZA Takes Ctrl To Camp…But It Proves To Be No Retreat (Video)

SZA's Ctrl album was one of the most critically-acclaimed releases of 2017, and the parade of quality coming from that effort seems to continue marching. Today (March 30), TDE's First Lady dropped her visual for fourth single "Broken Clocks," and she's taking everyone to camp. Directed by TDE's regular go-to... Read more

March 30, 2018 Video

Kanye Once Said He Had 40 Songs With Kendrick. 2 Collabos Now Surface. (Audio)

Kanye West is reportedly recording an album in the mountains of Wyoming. According to various sources, Nas, Pusha T, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and producer/musician/engineer Mike Dean are among the artists who have been in his company for the studio sessions dating back to 2017. Some, including Nas and Cudi,... Read more

March 23, 2018 Audio, News

Mozzy Fits In Nicely With Rap’s Top Dawgs. He & Jay Rock Extend Their Chemistry (Audio)

California spitter Mozzy has been making quite a name for himself as of late. The Oak Park, Sacramento native appeared on Black Panther: The Album's cut "Seasons" (alongside Sjava and Reason) and has already received praise from members of Top Dawg Entertainment, including Kendrick Lamar and his Grammy award reception... Read more

February 22, 2018 Audio

Why Jay Rock Is The Unsung Hero Of Top Dawg Entertainment (Video)

In Hip-Hop, the first is not always the biggest. Just as football has its linemen fighting for every inch, Rap music often has its figures that blaze a trail, light a path, or move the boulders for another artist to shoot the resulting gap. This week, TDE announced its Championship... Read more

January 23, 2018 Food for Thought

TDE’s Roster Is Full Of Champions. The Label Announces A 2018 Award Tour

Just 22 days into 2018 TDE appears sending a message about their top dog status in the music industry. With a Kendrick Lamar and SZA-heavy Grammy Awards airing in less than a week (January 28), and a Black Panther soundtrack to follow on February 9, Top Dawg Entertainment has now announced... Read more

January 22, 2018 Fresh

TDE’s SiR Leaves Inglewood For A Snowy & Seductive Getaway (Video)

In less than 24 hours, SiR will release his November album. Slated for January 19, this LP marks TDE's first album release of 2018. The Black Panther soundtrack will soon follow on February 9, before Jay Rock's third (presently untitled) album is expected to arrive. Throughout the decade, TDE has... Read more

January 18, 2018 Video

SiR & 1 Of Kendrick’s Favorite Singers Team With Drumhedz For A Job Well Done (Audio)

The drummer, Chris “Daddy” Dave has kept time on many major projects in his prolific career, but until now, had yet to release his own project. Chris Dave & The Drumhedz is set to drop on January 26 and will feature Anderson .Paak, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Phonte, Elzhi and more.... Read more

January 12, 2018 Audio

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Go Off Again In Their Latest Collaboration (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH 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 go back... Read more

January 12, 2018 Audio

Lupe Fiasco Says Kendrick Lamar Is Not A Top Tier Lyricist

In the eyes of many Hip-Hop fans, Chicago's Lupe Fiasco was an exciting addition to the music and culture during the mid-2000s. In his first two albums, a slew of mixtapes, and a la carte songs, the Chicago, Illinois native won over the masses and represented a new guard of... Read more

January 8, 2018 News

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2017 (Battle 8): Kendrick Lamar vs. Big Sean

We have our opinions on the best albums of 2017, but rather than simply list them, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2017. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of... Read more

December 25, 2017 Best Rap Album 2017

J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar Join Jeezy On An All-Star Collabo (Audio)

UPDATE: After video footage previewed a sizable clip of the song, Jeezy's full, official "American Dream" releases. The Pressure single is a pointed collaboration with both J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. This song may not be as Heads expected on paper. Kendrick Lamar provides some melodic singing near the track's... Read more

December 14, 2017 Audio, Video

9th Wonder Details Producing Kendrick Lamar’s DUCKWORTH & Reveals Its Original Title (Video)

Working on a Kendrick Lamar record requires a vow of secrecy as demanding as any spy code, 9th Wonder shares in the latest Rap Radar Podcast. With longtime colleague and Roc Nation producer/engineer, Young Guru by his side, 9th speaks on how he made “DUCKWORTH.” the closer for this year's Grammy-nominated... Read more

December 1, 2017 Video

ScHoolBoy Q Joins TDE’s Next Breakout Star On A New Song. Meet SiR (Audio)

ScHoolboy Q offers super-smooth support to his Top Dawg Entertainment stable-mate on “Something Foreign” the latest single from Inglewood, California singer SiR released today. Late last year, SiR said that he wanted to combine the worlds of Hip-Hop and R&B in a way that was uniquely his own. “Right now, the... Read more

November 29, 2017 Audio

Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city Turns 5. It’s Past Time To Call It A Classic (Video)

For those who were already familiar with Kendrick Lamar in 2012, good kid, m.A.A.d. city was not his debut album. That distinction belonged to Section.80, the 2011 masterpiece released independently through Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Kendrick's label home since the beginning. Even before that, Kendrick had shown he was a... Read more

October 21, 2017 Food for Thought, Video

Kendrick Lamar Details What Saved Him From The Streets Of Compton

Kendrick Lamar credits discovering Malcolm X as a teen and a 100% commitment to his music as the two things that saved him from the streets of Compton, in an interview with Touré for VICE's i-D, published today (October 16). “[Malcolm X’s] ideas rooted my approach to music,” says the... Read more

October 16, 2017 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Set The VMAs On Fire & Then He Humbly Won 6 Awards (Video)

Last night (August 27), the 34th annual MTV Video Music Awards took place at Inglewood, California's The Forum. The 2017 VMAs (and its reformatted list of categories) opened with the focus on Kendrick Lamar. The MC who has enjoyed #1's, platinum certifications, and other televised awards this calendar year kicked... Read more

August 28, 2017 News, Video

SZA Is More Than The First Lady Of TDE. She’s An R&B Superstar (Video)

SZA recently released the official music video for her single “Supermodel” from her album Ctrl. Co-written by Pharrell Williams, the track speaks on SZA’s struggles during a bad break-up and lack of self-confidence. She even questions the motives of her ex not accepting her flaws and how he could favor... Read more

August 24, 2017 Video

Jay Rock’s First Verse Of 2017 More Than Makes Up For The Wait (Audio)

As appears to be the TDE way, Jay Rock is about quality over quantity. The Watts, California MC has had a very quiet 2017. If he has been recording, Heads have yet to hear the music. However, that has just changed with a feature verse on Mozzy's "Momma We Made It."... Read more

August 3, 2017 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Shows He’s Got Generosity & Charity Inside His DNA (Video)

Last month, Dr. Dre announced he would be donating $10 million to break ground on a performing arts wing within his Compton High School alma mater. In The Defiant Ones documentary, Dre toured the present grounds and showed development plans. They include a recording studio, complete with a mixing board.... Read more

July 18, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Dave Chappelle & Kendrick Lamar Have A Deep Conversation Between 2 Masters At Work

Andy Warhol created Interview magazine in 1969 to allow interesting, creative people to have conversations, and let the public get rare access through reading. Two people dealing with industries that are foreign to most people can yield an interesting, intimate conversation different than the media-facing interview or the staged red... Read more

July 13, 2017 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Gives His Most Revealing Interview About The Meaning Of DAMN (Video)

At this point in his career, Kendrick Lamar is an icon. The critically acclaimed rapper from Compton, California has conquered the Rap world several times over, and his success has stretched far beyond. Easily one of today's most successful musical artists, his discography is one of the most celebrated of... Read more

June 29, 2017 Video

Kendrick Lamar Slaps Down His Foes & Makes It Look Sexy (Video)

Throughout his career, Kendrick Lamar has made some truly incredible music videos. Today's release of "ELEMENT." takes things to a whole other level. The third DAMN. video comes to life as the ultimate visual companion to the song's spirit. Moreover, attached to an album that has prompted many fans to... Read more

June 27, 2017 Video

ScHoolboy Q Explains What It Would Take For A Black Hippy Album To Happen (Video)

ScHoolboy Q conducted a recent interview with Montreality. Within the conversation, the Los Angeles, California MC discusses his affinity for '90s wrestling and details of his awkward "first time." However, at the 5:30 mark, Q makes some interesting points when asked about the potential of a Black Hippy album. "Everybody... Read more

June 5, 2017 Video

Kendrick Lamar’s 4th Album May Be Coming Soon…Very Soon

Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment love the element of surprise. While the Internet has arguably compromised some of the excitement that was long attached to releasing music (going to the store, reading the credits and examining the artwork in your hands, no leaks), K-Dot and TDE have made their... Read more

March 23, 2017 Fresh

ScHoolboy Q Thinks The Grammys Shade Gangsta Rap. He Details Next Album (Audio)

This weekend, the 59th Grammy Awards will take place. The Sunday affair promises an on-stage collaboration between Q-Tip and Anderson .Paak and a host of high-profile Hip-Hop stars in attendance at Los Angeles, California's Staples Center. Even though the arena is just a few miles away from where ScHoolboy Q... Read more

February 10, 2017 Audio

Ab-Soul Breaks Down Why He Dissed Jay Electronica & Releases A New Video

From the very onset of his career, Ab-Soul has been gifted on making his real-life situations tangible to listeners. Whether coping with the death of loved ones, living with medical setbacks, or being overlooked in the industry, the Carson, California MC is honest with his Hip-Hop. On the newly-released Do... Read more

January 5, 2017 Video

Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q & Jay Rock Bring Holiday Spirit To Watts (Videos)

In its third annual installment, the TDE Christmas concert and toy giveaway took place on Tuesday (December 20), this time at the Nickerson Gardens Projects in Watts, a neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. Label-mates Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, SZA, and Lance Skiiiwalker all put on for... Read more

December 21, 2016 Video