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Ab-Soul Releases The Track List For His “Do What Thou Wilt” Album & A Dark New Video

On Friday, December 9, Ab-Soul will release Do What Thou Wilt, his first solo album since 2014's These Days...The Top Dawg Entertainment rapper has already released "Huey Knew," "Braille," and "Threatening Nature" since announcing the LP in September, and his rate of output is not slowing down any time soon.... Read more

Ab-Soul Spells It Out So MCs Understand They Can’t See Him Lyrically (Audio)

Ab-Soul is ramping up in a major way. After a lengthy hiatus, the Carson, California MC appears to be putting the pedal down towards his fourth solo album. In July of this year, Soulo blessed Bas's "Housewives (Remix)" an a la carte breakaway from the Too High To The Riot... Read more

Kendrick Lamar And Rick Rubin Meet & Have A Conversation For The Ages (Video)

Kendrick Lamar is a complex individual. The 29 year-old Compton, California MC makes music that is richly inventive, blending personal thoughts and intricate storytelling. He approaches the listener's ear with a variety of vocal tones, tempos, and styles of presenting his rich, often literary songwriting. On albums like good kid,... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Can’t Be Stopped, Even When In Park (Video)

Isaiah Rashad is steadily becoming an artist whose body of visual work is becoming as consistently compelling as his lyrical content. Just two weeks ago, the Top Dawg Entertainment MC dropped his long-awaited LP, The Sun's Tirade. He introduced the project with "Free Lunch," a lead single whose music video... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Verse on Isaiah Rashad’s Latest Shows Wat’s Wrong With Other MCs (Audio)

In Isaiah Rashad's latest single, singer and MC Zacari laments the feeling of running in circles when getting ahead of ourselves. "Wat's Wrong" is both a query and its response, with Kendrick Lamar and his T.D.E. cohort reflecting on everything from taxes to self-preservation, with the former attacking his verse... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Lets His Ego Talk As He Allows His Soul To Sing (Audio)

In what felt like an overnight progression, Isaiah Rashad transformed from a talented (but largely unknown) artist in Chattanooga, Tennessee into a Top 40 MC on the charts. The difference was Top Dawg Entertainment, and linking up with the team responsible for introducing a handful of talented artists in multiple... Read more

It’s Official. Isaiah Rashad’s New Album Is Coming In September & The 1st Video Is Money

Days ago Top Dawg Entertainment's owner, Top Dawg, and its Co-President, Dave Free, set off a storm of speculation when each posted "09.02.16" on their social media accounts. The posts fueled discussion about a possible new TDE album being released, since Top promised 6, from the label that's home to... Read more

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton vs. Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

See The Side Of Compton That Makes Kendrick Lamar’s “Keisha’s Song” A Reality (Video)

Following the captivating first part of Noisey mini-documentary Bompton, viewers got an inside look at the city of Compton. Kendrick Lamar and 20-year best friend Lil L are among the hosts in a voyeuristic ride through the gang-controlled streets that have affected Rap music for the last 30 years. While... Read more

Take A Look At Kendrick Lamar & High-Stakes Compton From The Inside (Video)

Last night (February 15), Kendrick Lamar closed his Grammy performance with an image of the Africa continent with the words "Compton" upon it. The parallels between the Motherland and Hub City may be strong to the 28 year-old. Both are complicated places built around Black (and Brown) Pride, cultural diversity,... Read more

Jay Rock Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Accident

The same night Kendrick Lamar won big at the 2016 Grammy Awards (February 15), his mentor, and label-mate has suffered a serious injury. According to Top Dawg Entertainment's founder, Top Dawg, Jay Rock was hurt badly in a motorcycle accident. Pray 4 @jayrock he had a bad accident on his... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly vs. Common’s Like Water For Chocolate. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vs. Clipse’s Lord Willin’. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

TDE’s President Punch Rhymes Better Than A Lot Of MCs (Audio)

Over the last 5 years, Top Dawg Entertainment, more commonly known as TDE, has grown into one of the most powerful record labels in Hip-Hop. The company's roster includes Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad and SZA. As impressive as that group of artists may be, it... Read more

Blu & Exile’s Below The Heavens vs. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

TDE’s Resident Engineer Ali Has Compiled 2 Epic Mixes of Their Throwback Music (Audio)

"Let it run, Ali" is a familiar-sounding phrase for Top Dawg Entertainment Heads. The crew featuring Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul (as well as their collective group, Black Hippy), SZA, and Isaiah Rashad was founded back in 2004 before any of their roster members were making it big,... Read more

Hip-Hop Man Of The Year 2015: How Kendrick Lamar Proved That He Truly Is “Chosen” (Editorial)

In large part, 2015 was a difficult year to make sense of. Around the world, there were major acts of violence, hatred, and reminders that injustice and systematic prejudice lurk in every corner. Approaching an election year, the discourse in the United States often felt polarized, with across-the-aisle messages vitriolic.... Read more

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive vs. Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

The Power Circle Opens: Wale & Jay Rock Have Words Over Kendrick Lamar

It was all good three years ago... 2012 was a breakthrough year for the alliance forged between TDE and Maybach Music Group. While several records would follow, Kendrick Lamar notably appeared on MMG video single "Power Circle" from the Self Made, Vol. 2 compilation release. In the months after, K-Dot... Read more

Jay Rock & Kendrick Put Easy Bake Back In The Oven & Turn Up The Heat (Audio)

In August, Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar heat up the oven with a 90059 entry called "Easy Bake." Fresh out the oven at the time, the song was the perfect promotional appetizer for the TDE album to follow. More than three months later, Top Dawg Entertainment unveils the sequel, in... Read more

TDE’s Punch Has Insightful Commentary Over A Familiar Soul Sample (Audio)

Heads cannot sleep on Punch. The longtime Top Dawg Entertainment executive does not touch the microphone as often as many of the label's album-making stars, but he drops smart-bombs when he does—on others' songs or his own. The Watts, California industry vet takes audit of his life, survival, and a... Read more

Funkadelic & Kendrick Lamar Release the Funk Jam of the Year. Just Try Not to Move (Audio)

Besides his appearance on "Wesley's Theory," it is clear that George Clinton (and Parliament, Funkadelic) are major inspirations in To Pimp A Butterfly. The New Jersey native's ability to balance heavy subject matter with the need to groove is something that the Compton, California MC is out to do. Previously,... Read more

Jay Rock Refuses To Compromise. Even His Freestyles Are Hard-Body (Audio)

Throughout the weekend, many Hip-Hop Heads are making visits to the 90059 zip code, listening to Jay Rock's sophomore solo album. The breakthrough Top Dawg Entertainment artist for nearly a decade swings through L.A. Leakers. Not often recognized as much as onetime pupil Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul in the freestyle... Read more

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Heat Up Another Collaboration In Easy Bake (Audio)

Jay Rock's sophomore studio album, 90059, is allegedly planned to release in the next 10 days. Top Dawg Entertainment's restless 2015 continues. Unlike so many crews and movements, often times, TDE releases' most exciting collaborations are in-house. While J.R. and Kendrick Lamar have worked together a number of times, the... Read more

Jay Rock Examines Watts’ Treachery In A Style He’s Never Before Used (Audio)

Since his mid-2000s introduction, Jay Rock's raps have strongly characterized his streets of Watts, California. A product of South Central, Los Angeles, the Top Dawg Entertainment MC chooses a new methodology in describing his 'hood in "90059." Named after his native zip code, the Lance Skiiiwalker-assisted record finds a possessed protagonist,... Read more

King Los, Isaiah Rashad & Kent Jamz Bring Power To The Lyric Video Format

Lyric Videos, in theory are promotional devices. These videos tend to follow audio releases, and blaze a trail for eventual produced videos. They can effectively create an experience that brings attention to artistic intent, and quite clearly own the space and monetize a song for label and artist. But in... Read more

We’re All In The Same Gang…When Wearing Kendrick Lamar Sneakers

Compton, California star Kendrick Lamar has spoken frequently in lyrics about gang tensions. Whether the MC Eiht-assisted "m.A.A.d city" or the recent single, "i," the TDE/Aftermath MC aims to unify Crips, Bloods, and multiple neighborhoods in the interest of life, love, and survival. Lamar's Reebok collaboration, the Ventilators, are an... Read more

Jay Rock Targets July For His Sophomore LP, ScHoolboy Q Hints At 2015 Album

In the conversations about TDE, Black Hippy, and the finer Hip-Hop of the last five years, sometimes Jay Rock can get lost in the discussion. The Watts, California MC (who signed to Warner Bros. Records in the late 2000s) was in fact the first Top Dawg Entertainment artist to have... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Strikes Heartfelt Chords Performing A Symbolic “Alright” (Video)

Hope can be hard to find in 2015. There are mass-shootings, continuous fatalities attached to incidents of police brutality, and a quest for justice that can seem elusive. Kendrick Lamar used the BET Awards stage wisely this weekend. The Top Dawg Entertainment star did not make his 2015 standout televised... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & Ty Dolla $ign Show Some Dramatic California Love (Audio)

UPDATE: While the May 26, 2015 demo version of Ty Dolla $ign's "L.A." was pulled from the Internet, it now reappears in November. Presently tagged by Big Boy's Neighborhood (and posted below), the upcoming audio is expected to follow. If you were to take the musings behind Tupac and Val... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & Lady Gaga’s Shelved good kid, m.A.A.d. city Moment Surfaces (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga are more than simply label-mates. Yes, each artist are among the flagship, platinum, and award-winning acts within the Interscope Records family. But moreover, the Pop chameleon and King Kunta are collaborators. In fact, before Imagine Dragons, Alicia Keys, Dido, or even 50 Cent was clamoring... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Tupac vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Kendrick Lamar vs. Big K.R.I.T.…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Shares Some Bars That Were Left Off To Pimp a Butterfly (Video)

Kendrick Lamar is seemingly giving radio and major media outlets the most access he has since the Section.80 days this week. The Compton, California MC—whose To Pimp A Butterfly held the #1 spot on charts for a second consecutive week—appeared on Los Angeles' Power 106' The Cruz Show. Talking at... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, 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... Read more

From DJ Quik’s Late Protege Mausberg To Sufjan Stevens, Kendrick Lamar’s Butterfly Samples Plenty (Mix)

Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly continues resonating with Heads, many of whom are still giving the just-released album a first listen. Overall, the reaction appears extremely favorable to the body of work from the Compton, California MC who in 24 hours, broke Spotify's all-time per diem stream record. With... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Butterfly Soars, Breaking Spotify’s Record

The same day that The Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill is announced as a diamond certification, selling 10 million confirmed copies, Kendrick Lamar reaches a numerically similar benchmark. The Compton, California native's sophomore major label LP, To Pimp A Butterfly has been confirmed to have streamed 9.6 million times in... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly Tracklist Features Rapsody, Snoop Dogg & Bilal

Less than 10 days away from release, it appears that the tracklist to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly has been made public. iTunes posted the tracks to the March 23 sophomore major label album from the Compton, California star. While only five featured guests were included on 2012's good... Read more

Do Remember: When Charles Hamilton Passed The Mic To An Unknown Kendrick Lamar (Video)

Miss Lauryn Hill once eloquently rhymed, "Seasons change, mad things re-arrange." In life, love, and Hip-Hop, is this not a rugged truism? As the world shifts, there are some interesting cycles. This week in the culture, Kendrick Lamar took center-stage, giving Heads a name for his sophomore major label album,... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Reveals New Details About His Upcoming Album to Rolling Stone (News)

Details are emerging slowly but surely about Kendrick Lamar's new album. Even when speaking to his close homie and longtime supporter Big Boy earlier this week, Kendrick would not say much about his sophomore major label release. Swearing that Top Dawg would "kill him" if he spilled the beans on... Read more

Is Kendrick Lamar’s “Butterfly” Artwork The Next Classic Hip-Hop Image?

After midnight EST this morning (March 11), Kendrick Lamar appears to have revealed the artwork to his sophomore major label album. While the March 23 LP title remains unconfirmed, the Compton, California MC took to Facebook to share a stickered image, suggesting that it's the packaging associated with his good... Read more

Sky’s The Limit When Kendrick Lamar Crushes A Freestyle Over Notorious B.I.G. Beats (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar verses can perform miracles. It's easy to imagine The Notorious B.I.G. smiling big, 18 years to the day after he physically left the world, as Kendrick Lamar touches some of the same kicks and snares he helped make famous. Appearing on opening day of Big Boy's Neighborhood on... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Big K.R.I.T. vs. ScHoolboy Q…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

Bad Lucc, Ab-Soul, Problem & Punch Flip A Rare Dr. Dre Remix (Audio)

Bad Lucc has been paying 10 years of dues. However, as he and his Diamond Lane Music Group label-mate Problem have witnessed, good things happen to those who wait. A onetime member of Snoop Dogg's Dubb Union (with fellow dues-payers Damani N'kosi and Soopafly), Lucc is among the new guard... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Kendrick Lamar vs. Royce Da 5’9″…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

Kendrick Lamar Emerges With A Potent Commentary On Being Black In 2015 (Audio)

With "i" winning two Grammy Awards last night (February 8), Kendrick Lamar advances the conversation with the second song from his sophomore major label album. "The Blacker The Berry," is a dense, inward look at being Black in 2015. The song pulls no punches about hatred in the world, both... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Joe Budden vs. Jay Rock…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

Snoop Dogg & Kendrick Lamar Snoop Dogg & Kendrick Lamar May Be Working on Their First Record Together

From MC Eiht, to E-40, and of course his Aftermath Entertainment backer, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar has worked with his share of West Coast Hip-Hop O.G.'s. However, besides the 2012 BET Cypher (also including DJ Quik), Snoop Dogg and Kendrick have not had the studio collaboration. After all, in August... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Explains Who He is Through Verse and Visuals (Video)

Unless you grew up in or regularly visited Southern California, most Heads have not been to the city of Compton. Kendrick Lamar's rise in Hip-Hop brought renewed attention to Hub-City, making it quite different in some ways, and quite the same in others, as portrayed by N.W.A., DJ Quik, MC... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Nipsey Hussle vs. Jay Rock…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