top dawg entertainment Archives

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

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Punch Makes A Potent Song About Living Past 25, With Kendrick Lamar On The Hook (Audio)

President Punch of Top Dawg Entertainment has begun transitioning from independent label executive to a thoughtful MC in 2014. No stranger to TDE's pre-Interscope releases of the early 2010s, Punch was part of the ensemble that made albums by Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and ScHoolboy Q so potent. His... Read more

December 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Terrace Martin Flips SZA & Chance The Rapper’s Child’s Play On Its Head (Audio)

Terrace Martin remixes are more than just half-baked re-purposed hits. Instead, the Locke High alum breaks out his arsenal of instruments, and bends a song's form, feel, and genre. An affiliate of the Top Dawg Entertainment family, the onetime Snoop Dogg protege undresses SZA's "Child's Play" single, which features Chance... Read more

December 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Mac Miller vs. ScHoolboy Q…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

November 20, 2014 Fresh

ScHoolboy Q Recreates One Hell Of A Trippy, Faded Night (Video)

ScHoolboy Q may have found the perfect way to express OXYMORON's "Hell Of A Night." In an album about addiction and going clean, staying young and growing up, and smartening up but still staying wild, is this not the ideal vessel to show a night in the (perhaps former?) life... Read more

November 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Taylor Swift Rocks Out To Kendrick Lamar, K-Dot Freestyles Over Taylor Swift (Audio)

While plenty of Rap superstars shun interviews and duck possibly awkward media spots, Kendrick Lamar—although reclusive, welcomes the attention. Hours after Taylor Swift celebrated her milestone first-week sales by vibing out to some good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar, the Compton, California superstar was probed for a reaction while... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Continues To Spread The Love With i (Video)

Kendrick Lamar continues his mission to save lives musically with the official video to his lead single, "i." Kendrick clearly understands the grasp his music has within the Hip-Hop realm and even more importantly, he understands that the people who listen to his music believe in it and look to... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Are Out To Make Opponents Pay For It (Audio)

In a year where so many are looking for heroes, Jay Rock is standing tall. Quietly, the Watts MC represents the perspective of an intelligent, strategic man, informed by some of the most cutthroat streets in the world, and a city not known to be merciful. "Pay For It" comes... Read more

October 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Childish Gambino vs. Kendrick Lamar…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 28, 2014 Fresh

Jay Rock Explains Where It All Began, And What A Journey… (Video)

TDE's rise began with Jay Rock, who ushered the independent label to major distribution through a Warner Bros. Records deal nearly a decade ago. The Watts MC who was the youngin' around the old heads brought that acquired knowledge, respect, and that wisdom to his music, uncut Gangsta Rap at... Read more

October 27, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul Reveals His Music Industry Family, Getting Radio Fines To Nardwuar (Video)

One week after Ambrosia For Heads' "search for the GOAT" pitted Ab-Soul against Joe Budden, leave it to Nardwuar to present Soulo with a copy of Joe Budden, the album—something the Carson, California MC is apparently a massive fan of. This interview, Nardwuar's latest within the Black Hippy/Top Dawg Entertainment... Read more

October 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul Confirms That Longterm Mentality 3 Will Be His First Album In Stores (Video)

Ab-Soul has no fear in talking about his fetishes, the most romantic thing he's ever done for a ladyfriend, and how he's "eatin'" "to every extent of the word." However, along the way in the as-expectedly colorful Montreality interview, Ab confirms that Longterm Mentality 3 will commemorate his debut album,... Read more

October 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Get To Know TDE’s SZA On A Deeper Level In This Intimate Mini-Doc (Video)

It might seem that on the surface that SZA might not fit in with the members of Black Hippy, or Isaiah Rashad on Top Dawg Entertainment. However, in this "Where I'm From" nine-minute mini-documentary on Life+Times, it's abundant that the Saint Louis, Missouri songstress is shy and reserved, much like... Read more

October 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

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

Prince & Kendrick Lamar Share The Stage, Collaborate On Obscure Album Cut (Video)

It's only 30 seconds, but it's pretty electric. Yahoo! Video secured footage of Prince & Kendrick Lamar on stage together in the former's native Minneapolis, Minnesota. Live from Paisley Park, K-Dot and The Artist unveiled what they have in the cannon, possibly... Rolling Stone reports that the collaboration is of... Read more

October 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rashida Jones Directs This Mayer Hawthorne & Kendrick Lamar Look (Video)

Rashida Jones (Quincy's daughter) gets her music video directorial debut on. The television star "Parks & Recreation," "Boston Public," and "The Office" gave Mayer Hawthorne a narrative feel on his Kendrick Lamar-assisted "Crime." The song about the fast life gets a slow-moving visual that adds some new insights to the... Read more

September 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Got Ronald “Mr. Big” Isley’s Blessing When He Made “i” (Video)

Biz Markie might have made it a habit to have All Samples Cleared thanks to Gilbert O'Sullivan, but not all artists from yesterday are pleased with having their music touched. While O.G.'s like Bob James and Donald Byrd not only embraced sampling—they collaborated with Hip-Hop artists, other artists like Syl... Read more

September 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Tech N9ne Reveals Jay Rock Is Strictly TDE, Says His 1993 Material Deserved Guinness Records (Video)

Jay Rock famously signed with Tech N9ne and Strange Music to release his debut, Follow Me Home. The LP's single, "Hood Gone Love It" was an early mainstream introduction Kendrick Lamar. After reports that that Jay Rock, like Ab-Soul, would be going completely TDE, Tech N9ne confirms them. Saying that... Read more

September 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar May Deliver His Finest Freestyle, But Does Big Boy Shine Harder? (Video)

One day after his "i" release, Kendrick Lamar isn't out to give the spotlight up. But if anybody's testing him for it, it's not who you'd expect. On Big Boy's Neighborhood, K-Dot goes truly off the dome through 25 years of instrumentals, ranging from Nas/James Brown, to State Property, to... Read more

September 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar’s New Single is One Of The Realest Records For The Streets (Audio)

After hinting at it last week, Kendrick Lamar has released what is perceived as the first single of his sophomore major label album. Although it was forecast by some to feature Black Hippy band-mate Jay Rock, "i" is a solo set, produced by Rahki ("Black Boy Fly"). Based around a... Read more

September 23, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

TDE Meets G.O.O.D, As Benny Cassette Links With Isaiah Rashad (Audio)

Fans know that Isaiah Rashad seems to release less music than anybody on Top Dawg Entertainment—well, almost anybody. However, when he does, the Volunteer State MC makes it count. This is true on the topical "Virgo Season," alongside G.O.O.D Music producer/writer Benny Cassette. With his own project, Apocalypse, on the... Read more

September 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

ScHoolboy Q Joins Disclosure & Sam Smith To Remix Latch (Audio)

Last year's platinum single "Latch" by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith set the table for further UK Synthpop in 2014. As Sam Smith is currently winning over (and working with) Hip-Hop Heads, Disclosure invited ScHoolboy Q to their party. Groovy Q comes in late on the track to talk to the... Read more

September 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Take A Trip Home With Ab-Soul, Where He Writes, Lives & Loves (Video)

LOUD's series, "A Day In The Hustle" focuses in on Ab-Soul, one of the breakouts of 2014. Here, a full day in Carson, California is spent as Soulo gears up to kick off his These Days... Tour. With family, with friends, and in preparation, Heads can see that Ab really... Read more

September 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Employs a Poet’s Care On Chris Brown’s Autumn Leaves (Audio)

With snippets only surfacing in the past, Chris Brown's X album (September 16) collaboration with Kendrick Lamar surfaces in full. "Autumn Leaves" is just in time for the seasonal shift, as well as welcomed new music from two of the finest at their craft, living under the Los Angeles skyline.... Read more

September 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Nas Hops On ScHoolboy Q’s Studio & Gives Fans The Latest News (Audio)

The members of Black Hippy look up to Nas something fierce. All four members of the California collective have said as much over the last five years. With this in mind, Nasir pops onto the official "G Mix," or official Top Dawg Enterainment remix of ScHoolboy Q's "Studio," which also... Read more

September 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Joins Jeezy’s Holy Ghost For A Power-Packed Remix (Audio)

Yesterday (September 2) Jeezy released his Seen It All: The Autobiography album. One of the standouts from the Def Jam/CTE Records release is "Holy Ghost." With a cold Trap beat from Don Cannon, Jeezy immortalizes his Rolls Royce, while speaking to some of his cohorts who caught cases. Keeping the... Read more

September 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar & Flying Lotus Cannot Be Caught Creatively (Audio)

It's been widely reported that Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus are hard at work. For each Southern California artist's respective projects, the two prodigies are collaborating and finding a pocket that's allegedly led to more than just casual "one-off's." While the two are believed to have dabbled before, this is... Read more

September 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Watch 3 Young Masters At Work In Kembe X, Ab-Soul & Alex Wiley (Video)

Although Alex Wiley ultimately skipped on the video, Kembe X and Ab-Soul's "As I Unfold" is incredibly potent. These three highly-skilled MCs, are not short on dues paid, but represent part of Rap's latest regime. You can watch Ab and Kembe chop down their bars in this beautifully-shot visual for... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Punch Reacts To Michael Brown’s Murder With Historical Illustrations (Audio)

Deeply affected by this week's tragic news of the killing of teenager Michael Brown by Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson, Top Dawg Entertainment President Punch joined label collaborator J. Cole in reacting through music. Born in the post-riots Watts, Punch made a Steinski-like audio-essay remembering the 1965 Watts Riots. Set... Read more

August 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pete Rock On Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city Follow-Up? Yep

Pete Rock is an esteemed source of inspiration within Black Hippy. After all, Ab-Soul (who worked on 80 Blocks From Tiffany's) has a tattoo of the Mount Vernon, New York artist known for making some seminal 1990s songs alongside then-partner CL Smooth. However, Kendrick Lamar is also up on things.... Read more

August 12, 2014 Fresh

Ab-Soul & Retch Kick Some Cool Verses as Pro Era Looks On (Video)

Statik Selektah drops a smooth beat just in time for Retch and Ab-Soul to lay down some slick rhymes on Shade 45's Showoff Radio. In between verses, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Nyck Caution walk into the room prompting Ab-Soul to kick some spirited bars of his own. Ab says... Read more

August 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul Shares A Dedication To Max B, Raps About Pestering Questions (Audio)

Ab-Soul is building a growing rapport with Statik Selektah. Days after Soulo's role on "Alarm Clock," the Carson, California MC's appearance on S.S.'s ShowOff Radio show led to the 1982 co-founder liberating a song Ab forgot was recorded (produced by Statik, no less). Not long ago, Soul made a song... Read more

August 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Statik Selektah Assembles Logic, Ab-Soul & Jon Connor For A Soulful Wakeup (Audio)

With What Goes Around three weeks away (August 19), Statik Selektah's roll-out rolls on. In the last seven years, the New England native has rivaled the likes of DJ Khaled and DJ Drama in his ability to make massive collaborations work, all while being thematic. Looking to the new class... Read more

July 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Plays With His Vocals Guesting On Jasmine V’s New Single (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar continues to help R&B singers reach new crowds. This time, he joins Jasmine V (a/k/a Jasmine Villegas) on "That's Me Right There," a song that walks the line between reminding Heads to consider the other person's feelings, and just a track about showing out for originality. K-Dot comes... Read more

July 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Punch & Jay Rock Reveal The State Of A Project Mentality (Audio)

It has already been an extremely huge year for T.D.E. and one that has included the release of brand new projects from everybody in the camp. Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, Ab-Soul, and SZA have already released their work while many are waiting in the wings for upcoming albums from Jay... Read more

July 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Find Out What Tracks Inspire Black Hippy’s Ab-Soul (Audio)

Ab-Soul, who recently released his third studio album These Days, sits down with Red Bull Music Academy for almost an hour for their Headphone Highlights series to discuss the tracks that inspired him to embark on a career in music. Taking the listener on an audible journey through cuts from... Read more

July 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar’s Complex Cover Story Breaks Down What A Guest Verse Will Cost Ya

To coincide with their new relaunch, Complex.com shared its August/September cover story, with Kendrick Lamar. The event follows a Monday morning that perhaps featured some GQ competition with a Kanye West cover story. Both efforts, with arguably two of the current Kings in Hip-Hop (in very different ways, with differing... Read more

July 21, 2014 Fresh

Join The Party As Ab-Soul & Schoolboy Q Throw A Hunnid Stax (Video)

Less than a month after the release of his third studio album, These Days, Top Dawg Entertainment's Black Lip Pastor, Ab-Soul releases slick visuals to his bumping single, "Hunnid Stax." Ab gets luxurious as he whips through sunny California in the back seat of a limousine before hopping out and... Read more

July 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

SZA’s Living In Color With Her Standout Uptempo Pop Single Julia (Video)

One of the standout records from SZA's debut, Z, is "Julia." Influenced by '80s/'90s, and present-day Synth-Pop, the melodic song's video presents some abstract glimpses into SZA's life. The song is moody, soaring, and transient. Related: What Do You Get When You Mix SZA & Jill Scott? Divinity (Audio)... Read more

July 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Smoke DZA & Ab-Soul Take You 6 Feet Under (Video)

Smoke DZA and Ab-Soul are tough on the mic, looking to take out any and everyone in their path on the cut, "Hearses." Ab and Smoke, who have created magic before with their addicting single, "Diamond," bring their lyrical assault to life with dark, cinematic clips evoking similarly sinister production.... Read more

July 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Step Into Sounds That Rest Between Cloud 9 & The Pearly Gates With SZA’s Moodring (Audio)

SZA, the Top Dawg Entertainement songstress, delivers her imaginative soundscape, "Moodring," to the masses with producer Felix Snow's floating, ethereal Electronic samples and SZA's hazy, emotive vocals. Look out for this single and more on Kitty Cash's upcoming Love The Free Vol. II mixtape, dropping July 22nd. Related: SZA Makes... Read more

July 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

After Many TDE Album Appearances, Label President Punch Makes A Solo Song (Audio)

When ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, and Isaiah Rashad are making big moves, Heads don't have to look too far to find Punch. Top Dawg Entertainment's President, and right-hand to Top Dawg himself, Punch has over a decade of experience in the game, understanding the business, the politics, and in large... Read more

June 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

ScHoolboy Q Is A Backpacker Indeed. He Sells OXYMORON CDs Hand To Hand In Times Square (Videos)

Frequently, the four members of Black Hippy are compared to the underground Hip-Hop stars of 15-plus years ago—well, maybe not Jay Rock so much. While the Watts lyricist is more aggressive in style and approach than is commonly associated with the Soundbombing era of Rap music, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and... Read more

June 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

These Days… Ab-Soul Is Aiming For Album Of 2014 Status (Album Stream)

Ab-Soul heats years up. Two years and a month after #ControlSystem, the Carson, California MC returns with another independent release given away for free stream, in These Days... The "Black lipped pastor" of Black Hippy bypasses traditional promotional strategies, and lets the lyrics come first. These Days... is an expanded... Read more

June 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Delivers One of His Most Aggressive Verses Since Control (Audio)

Since Summer of 2012, Hip-Hop has been knocked off of its axis from two potent MCs. Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul have been at the forefront of injecting thoughtful, researched, culturally-relevant lyrics back into the mainstream conversation, and each has the bravado and self-confidence akin to Rap's brightest moments in history.... Read more

June 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Mac Miller Lets Go Of A Pete Rock-Produced Track Featuring ScHoolboy Q (Audio)

One year ago this week (June 18 to be exact), Mac Miller released his critical sophomore album, Watching Movies With The Sound Off. Famously released the same day as Kanye West's Yeezus, and J. Cole's Born Sinner, many Heads professed that the then-Rostrum Records MC made the best album within... Read more

June 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar’s Versatility Continues To Expand, Appearing Alongside Lil Wayne & Future On A Mike WiLL Made It Beat (Audio)

Heads may forget, but one of Kendrick Lamar's breakthrough performances was all the way back in 2009, alongside Black Hippy cohort/mentor Jay Rock, and Lil Wayne on "Colors." Five years later, and the self-proclaimed "The Best Rapper Alive" on that cut may be feeling some pressure from his Compton cohort... Read more

June 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Isaiah Rashad Is Still Modest, Even When He’s In The Running For Rap Album Of 2014 (Video)

Isaiah Rashad has a XXL magazine cover (care of 2014's Freshmen class), and he's got a popular runner for the year's Album Of The Year, in his Cilvia Demo EP. The Chattanooga, Tennessee native's status has soared in the last 12 months. From the executive chair, Isaiah tells it how... Read more

June 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

O’My, Ab-Soul Is Hot These Days (Audio)

Ten days before the June 24 release, Ab-Soul reveals the title track to his album, These Days. "Swear to God, this the only time I use this flow," he proclaims. Soul epitomizes the cut in more ways than one as the song opens with the vocal prowess of Chicago's "band... Read more

June 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Schoolboy Q Explains The Make Up Of A Classic Album

"I’m not the ‘rappity-rapper’ type dude." In an interview with Acclaim Magazine, Schoolboy Q talked about music and only music. In it, he discusses why he decided against dropping projects in between albums, performing on stage, and recording tracks. The Top Dawg Entertainment artist also dove deep into talks about... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh