UPDATE: Stylistic Murder has released the music video for “Represent The Real,” featuring AZ, KRS-One, and O.C.:

ORIGINAL AUGUST 11 STORY: Today (August 11) marks Hip-Hop’s birthday. In celebration of the date, three elite MCs who have stood for the culture come together for a special collaboration premiering at Ambrosia For Heads. “Represent The Real” features KRS-One, AZ, and O.C. The three New York native MCs link on a song commissioned from Stylistic Murder, an Irish collective that has promoted Hip-Hop shows for years before expanding to a full-fledged record label. The song will also be released on a special 7″ vinyl single, with a B-side featuring ONYX called “A Lil Funk.”

The collaboration begins with AZ repping for the culture he’s very much a part of. “Hip-Hop hooray, verbal AK spray / Serve you, for the fact that y’all got the nerve to play / I heard you harmonize like the Cold Crush 5 / I’m sittin’ fly with half-closed shut eyes / I can’t tell if this is heaven or hell / Puffin’ L’s on the stoop to pushin’ coupes that sell / These young boys either dyin’ or jailin’ / Lyin’ or tellin’,” he begins, before brandishing his ironclad reputation in the streets and the booth. O.C. raps next, glued to the beat. “Understand what’s goin’ on / It makes sense in the flow when I pause / So it complements the beats, the cuts, and the chords / Have our perfection in the flaws / Music comes out best when the testament is raw,” spits the D.I.T.C. great. Seconds later, Mush reminds all that he adores Hip-Hop to the bone. KRS-One spits next. He flexes multiple flows while kicking his opinion of the competition. “These rappers, they come and go in a blink / They not gigantic, they Titanic, the ice makin’ ’em sink / Think, you dissin’ your relatives, takin’ sedatives / Not realizing you’re losing your cultural heritage / True school, nothin’ new to me / Hip-Hop is not rap, Hip-Hop is you and me.“

Chuck D & KRS-One Have Launched A Hip-Hop Union

“Represent The Real” is produced by Stylistic Murder and Wax 100, has scratches by DJ Flip, and is mixed by famed engineer Eddie Sancho (Gang Starr, Evidence, Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist). An artist Eddie worked with, Jeru The Damaja, will be performing at the Represent The Real launch party at Dublin’s Workman’s Club on August 20.

Almost 30 years ago, KRS-One and O.C. appeared on Lord Finesse’s “Brainstorm / P.S.K. – No Gimmicks Remix” from The Awakening. In 2022, KRS released his 24th solo album, I M A M C R U 1 2. AZ dropped a deluxe edition of last year’s Doe Or Die II album, featuring additional songs produced by Statik Selektah and Westside Connection hit-maker Budd’ha.

AZ Takes A Classic Kool G Rap Beat & Demonstrates Why He’s Great (Audio Premiere)

New music by KRS and AZ appears on the official AFH playlist.

#BonusBeat: Ambrosia For Heads’ What’s The Headline podcast’s late 2021 interview with AZ for Doe Or Die II: