AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Scarface Delivers One Of The Best Tiny Desk Performances Ever

Scarface is at an interesting point in his career. It has been over five years since the Houston Hip-Hop legend released an album (2017's Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files compilation). In that outage, Face has been quick to demonstrate his supreme Rap skills on songs with DJ Muggs, E-40, and... Read more

Babyface Hosts A Tiny Desk Concert For The Ages

One of the greatest songwriters of all time, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, decided to flex his resumé for Black Music Month. The icon and co-founder of LaFace Records hosted an NPR Tiny Desk concert that stands among the best. In a special performance, the musician, singer, and creator laid out his... Read more

Elzhi, Chris Dave & The Drumhedz’ Tiny Desk Concert Could Never Be Tainted (Video)

After well over 20 years of work, Elzhi is one of the most skilled MCs in Hip-Hop. Alongside the always-impressive Chris "Daddy" Dave and his Drumhedz crew, the onetime Slum Village member has a story unlike many in the game, which makes this episode of NPR's Tiny Desk one not... Read more

Madlib & Freddie Gibbs’ Tiny Desk Concert Is An Education On 1 Of 2019’s Best Albums

In the eyes of many fans, one of 2019's best Hip-Hop albums is Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's Bandana. Five years after Pinata, the duo reunited with a product that built on the genuinely unique chemistry from two prolific artists. At a time when both men make so much music, fans... Read more

Dreamville’s Bas Sets Off A Big Week By Rocking The Tiny Desk With His Band (Video)

Bas, who reps the Dreamville camp, has been busy adding to his already quite respectable discography. He was a prominent voice on the chart-topping Return Of The Dreamers III compilation. He also recently hinted that he has a new album in the works titled Spilled Milk Vol. 1, consisting of collaborations... Read more

H.E.R. Got 5 Big Grammy Nominations. Her Tiny Desk Performance Shows Why

With the release of “Focus” and a fortuitous gift courtesy of Rihanna (who played the track in the background of an Instagram post to the tune of five-plus million hits), the mystery musician known simply as H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed), became one of the most intriguing R&B artists in recent... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan Brings Da Ruckus To The Tiny Desk With A Medley Of Their Hits

On their award tour celebrating 25 years of 36 Chambers, the members of the Wu-Tang Clan are keeping the family vibe strong. Lyrical swordsmen including RZA, GZA, Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, and Inspectah Deck are joined by Cappadonna and O.D.B.'s son, Young Dirty at the NPR Music Tiny Desk. There,... Read more

Big Boi’s Tiny Desk Performance Is So Fresh & So Clean (Video)

From the nearly flawless catalog he put together as half of OutKast to his celebrated solo catalog, Big Boi is a 25-year-legend in Hip-Hop. NPR released their latest Tiny Desk concert series episode, and it includes Big Boi and his Dungeon Family associate Sleepy Brown. The Organized Noize producer/singer performs... Read more

Black Thought Assists Roots Affiliate Mumu Fresh In A Moving Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

For the latest in their Tiny Desk series, NPR recruits DMV artist Mumu Fresh who, despite her name, is already a seasoned veteran when it comes to the local cubicle concert. In February, Mumu teamed up with August Greene, the super-group featuring Common, Karriem Riggins, and Robert Glasper, in a... Read more

Dave Chappelle Introduces A Funky “Tiny Desk” Concert With Style & Humor (Video)

Dave Chappelle may be known for his comedic prowess, but his taste in music is almost as legendary. Case in point, the Washington D.C.-based funny man recently joined NPR's "Tiny Desk" series as a sit-in host and introduced one of his favorite musicians. French harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet, who has played... Read more

GoldLink Is In “I Told You So” Mode. His Tiny Desk Concert Shows It. (Video)

GoldLink is seemingly playing it cool everywhere he goes. Since his breakout 2016 hit "Crew" was certified double-platinum (and notably, spawned a standout remix with Sly Glizzy and Gucci Mane that has more than 20-million YouTube plays), GoldLink has been enjoying a gleeful walk into stardom. Of course, a few meticulously placed... Read more

Roy Ayers’ Tiny Desk Performance Shows Why He’s 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Biggest Influences (Video)

Vibraphonist Roy Ayers is a legend of Jazz, Funk, and Soul music that collectively has had a tremendous impact on Hip-Hop. A product of Los Angeles, California, Ayers would work with flutist (and another prominently-sampled artist) Herbie Mann by the mid-1960s, before going off on his won. In the '70s,... Read more

GZA Slices Through The Tiny Desk To Perform Liquid Swords With A Brass Band (Video)

It's been a decade since Wu-Tang's GZA released his sixth studio album, Pro Tools. Among the projects he has dropped in the years previous, it is almost no contest which album has garnered the Genius more accolades than his 1995 platinum sophomore LP, Liquid Swords. Following recent, individual performances from... Read more

O.C.’s Tiny Desk Concert Shows Time Is Never Up For Classic Hip-Hop (Video)

There’s a special kind of flavor required for an MC to shine at one of NPR’s "Tiny Desk" concerts, and Brooklyn, New York spitter, O.C. really spreads it on for his five-song set. The low-key backdrop provided by Soul'D U Out, a Jazz band headed by Maurice “Mobetta” Brown (Talib... Read more

Masta Ace & A Band Rock The House In A Personal & Emotional Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

NPR’s Tiny Desk is not only an intimate performance space, but the video segment has also become an apparent stamp of approval from National Public Radio that identifies an artist as high caliber and culturally significant. Following his Juice Crew band-mate Big Daddy Kane's February performance, Masta Ace hits the... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Rips A Freestyle At His Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

This June will mark 30 years since the release of Big Daddy Kane's solo debut album, Long Live the Kane. It's an apt title for an MC whose entire solo career is based on a discography that paused with 1998's Veteranz Day but who has never faded from prominence. Despite his not... Read more

Wyclef Jean’s Tiny Desk Concert Shows His In-Your-Face Guitar Skills (Video)

Following The Roots' appearance on NPR's "Tiny Desk" last week, another genre-bending Hip-Hop veteran hits the Washington, D.C. platform. Wyclef Jean, joined by his band and latest protégé vocalist Jazzy Amra, perform. The three-song jam session concert comes on the heels of Carnival III: The Rise and Fall of A... Read more

The Roots’ Tiny Desk Concert Is BIG, Brassy And Beautiful (Video)

The Roots are the latest musicians to perform at NPR's Tiny Desk concert series. Questlove, Black Thought, and the rest of the legendary band brought Bilal along for a moving rendition of 2017 single, "It Ain't Fair." The performance of the song from the film Detroit is bold and brilliant.... Read more

Thundercat’s Guitar Gently Weeps On NPR’s Tiny Desk In This Soulful Set (Video)

Thundercat brought his guitar and his latest album Drunk into NPR's Washington, D.C. offices. At the Tiny Desk, the Brainfeeder artist, the Los Angeles, California native born Stephen Bruner joined his band for several selections, including 2015 crossover hit, "Them Changes." This song, including its innovative homage to The Isley... Read more

Chance The Rapper Gives A Big Performance From A Tiny Desk (Video)

Chance The Rapper is the latest MC to stop by the NPR office in Washington D.C. to put on an intimate performance for their "Tiny Desk" series. The multi-faceted artist rocks an unexpected set with his band, The Social Experiment, proving he’s more than just “The Rapper,” but also a... Read more

Nick Grant Shows Musicality & Lyricism Live Strong In Hip-Hop In His Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

Much of the well-deserved acclaim surrounding rapper Nick Grant's steady rise in Hip-Hop relates to the South Carolina MC's high-energy delivery and live performances. He recently tore down showcases at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, and his January appearance as the musical guest on The Late Show with... Read more

Common Performs 3 New Songs In An Amazing White House Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

It’s been a busy few days for Common. On Saturday, he crashed The Roots Picnic, and performed a few surprise songs during D’Angelo and John Mayer’s headlining set with The Legendary Roots Crew. Just two days after, he had the privilege of recording a very special version of NPR’s Tiny... Read more

Rapsody’s Tiny Desk Concert With A Full Band Is Must Watch Music (Video)

Rapsody kicks off NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts" series for 2016. Joined by mentor 9th Wonder (on the drum/sample pads) and a full band, Rapsody pulls three songs from different places in her discography. With Howard University students in attendance, Rap' performs "Godzilla," "The Man," and "Hard To Choose." There is... Read more

The Internet’s Live Show Sets Them Apart From All…Even From A Tiny Desk (Video)

As much as a crew mentality can help a family tree of talent get on (see: Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A., or Diggin' In The Crates), sometimes an entity supersedes an affiliation. In the case of The Internet, Syd tha Kyd, Matt Martians and company played a background in OFWGKTA's 2011 breakthrough.... Read more

Miguel performs on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series (Video)

Miguel CRUSHES a stripped down set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. Check out his acoustic performances of Do You, The Thrill and Adorn. Chills. Related: Miguel - All I Want is You ft J. Cole (Video)... Read more

Mac Miller Makes His Great New Album Larger With A Tiny Performance (Video)

NPR's Tiny Desk concerts have been remarkable in recent months. While the cramped performances have historically been something that Hip-Hop Heads keep an eye on, June, July, and August's shows have been especially impressive. Heads will surely want to check out the summer installments from Rakim, The Midnight Hour (Ali Shaheed... Read more

Erykah Badu Reminds That Live Music Is Supposed To Sound BETTER Than The Record (Video)

Erykah Badu is the latest guest at the Tiny Desk. With some gold-accented fronts in, the veteran singer brought her grace, style, and showmanship right along with her singing gifts to the Washington, D.C. bureau. The Dallas, Texas native also brought her incredible band. The ensemble includes a flutist (Dwayne... Read more

Oddisee Delivers One of Hip-Hop’s Standout Performances in 2015. This Is Special (Video)

Oddisee's The Good Fight is touted as one of 2015's most cohesive, relateable albums. Beyond simply Hip-Hop, the Diamond District member's latest solo outing dabbles in Jazz, R&B, and Spoken Word. Moreover, from the independent label of Mello Music Group, the mainstream is taking notice. The perfect example of that... Read more

Nick Grant Has Released One Of The Year’s Best Albums

Nick Grant has been making waves since the mid-2010s. His 2017 debut, Return Of The Cool, garnered praise from Ambrosia For Heads and others at a time when the South Carolina MC was getting cosigns from Andre 3000, Nas, Bun B, and others. Since that Epic Records debut, Nick worked... Read more

Clarence Avant “The Black Godfather Of Music” Has Passed Away

Clarence Avant, one of the most influential and respected figures in Black Music's history, has died at age 92. The famed executive "passed away gently at home" yesterday (August 13), according to a family statement given to The Los Angeles Times. "Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as 'The... Read more

Black Thought’s New Album Is Filled With Glorious Game

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

Ab-Soul Says There Would Be No Kendrick, Drake, Or Cole Without Him

Ab-Soul closed out 2022 with one of the year's best albums. HERBERT, named among Ambrosia For Heads Top 15 albums of the year, featured Joey Bada$$, Big Sean, Russ, and Punch, among others. The Top Dawg Entertainment LP ends with "GOTTA RAP," a DJ Premier-produced track that reclaims Soulo's love... Read more

Black Thought Is Continuing His Run With A New Joint Album

In 2022, Black Thought of The Roots teamed with fellow Grammy Award-winner Danger Mouse to release Cheat Codes. The album, named one of the year's best by Ambrosia For Heads, featured Raekwon, MF DOOM, Run The Jewels, A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$, and many more. The LP marked the fourth album... Read more

Raekwon Will Take On Ghostface Killah In An Upcoming Verzuz

On Saturday (February 28), D'Angelo participated in a new type of Verzuz set. The veteran singer, musician, and producer performed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in a concert that included a surprise Method Man & Redman appearance as well as turntable work from DJ Scratch. True to form, one of Verzuz'... Read more

Madlib Speaks. He Reveals That He & Pusha-T Are Planning More Music Together (Video)

Last month, Ambrosia For Heads decided that Madlib & Freddie Gibbs' Bandana was the Best Album Of 2019. Announced the same night as the Grammy's, the sophomore collaboration between the two veterans bested another producer/MC battery, Gang Starr, in the championship round. The decision came after the annual Sweet 16-themed... Read more

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib’s Bandana Is YOUR Best Rap Album Of 2019

Over the last couple of years, Ambrosia For Heads has asked our readers to help us determine the Best Rap Album for 2017 and 2018, respectively. In looking at the top music of 2019, we believe that instead of letting the Grammy Awards—a committee who does not know anything about... Read more

Madlib & Oh No’s Album Shows That Making Great Hip-Hop Is Their Family Business

The Brothers Jackson have blessed listeners with one-off tracks for years now. Ever since 2008 on Madlib's WLIB AM: King Of The Wigflip, the two Oxnard, California natives have teamed up as a killer producer-rapper combo. Late last year, Otis Jackson, Jr. shared word that he and his younger brother... Read more

Yasiin Bey & Talib Kweli Detail How Black Star’s Upcoming Album Came To Be

For nearly two years, Hip-Hop fans have heard bits and pieces surrounding a second album by Black Star. In February of 2018, Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) told concert-goers in Colorado that he and Talib Kweli were recording. “New Black Star with Madlib, Talib Kweli, Yasiin, coming soon!,” said the... Read more

EARTHGANG Performs A Colorful Song From 1 Of This Year’s Most Original Albums (Video)

EARTHGANG, comprised of rappers Olu (aka Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot), is having a breakthrough 2019. Backed by J. Cole's Dreamville Records, EARTHGANG is now responsible for one of the year's best LPs with their full-length debut, MirrorLand. Earlier this summer, the duo appeared on the chart-topping Revenge... Read more

Tobe Nwigwe Makes Some Of The Best Music Videos In Hip-Hop & He Does It Weekly

In the modern music age, many artists are dropping at a grueling pace. From Hip-Hop legends like DJ Muggs and Ghostface Killah to dominant emerging voices such as Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine, staying prolific is seemingly part of the daily operation. Tobe Nwigwe has released three albums since... Read more

Tobe Nwigwe & Paul Wall’s Collabo Is Fit For 2 Champions Of The H-Town People (Video)

Tobe Nwigwe is having a stellar 2019 campaign. Earlier this March, the Houston, Texas native released his fourth studio project, Three Originals. It features standout singles and visual accompaniments for "Peep Game," "Caged Birds," and "Bountiful." Then, just last month, Nwigwe unveiled a completely live album, Tobe From The Swat:... Read more

Big Boi, Sleepy Brown & CeeLo Green Have A Dungeon Family Reunion With Bad Intentions

Shortly following his halftime performance at 2019's Super Bowl LIII, Big Boi did a led tour with members of the Dungeon Family in Goodie Mob, Sleepy Brown, Organized Noize, and KP The Great. While on the road, Sleepy Brown and Big Boi's rejuvenating reunion invigorated the two longtime friends to... Read more

Tobe Nwigwe Is 1 Of The Best MCs To Emerge In A Long, Long Time. Here’s Proof (Video)

Tobe Nwigwe's Nigerian roots and Houston, Texas upbringing have been central in his years-long ascent in Hip-Hop. Harnessing the power of social media, striking visuals and his gift as a lyricist, he's carved a niche for himself which sits at the crossroads of African and African-American culture. Those who've followed... Read more

Rapsody, GZA & D’Angelo Revisit Liquid Swords On A 9th Wonder Produced Song

UPDATE: The same day as Rapsody releases "IBTIHAJ," she and GZA drop the video. Mary J. Blige and Roxanne Shanté (who is shouted out in the lyrics) appear, with clear visual connections to this song's title and inspiration, described below: ORIGINAL STORY: Following 2017's Grammy-nomination run with Laila's Wisdom, Rapsody... Read more

Lil Dicky Kicks A Freestyle With Comedy Without Sacrificing The Bars (Video)

This year, Lil Dicky took an Earth Day-themed song about saving the planet to the top of the charts. Even though the corresponding music video to "Earth" features Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ariana Grande, and a host of others, the Greater Philadelphia native is still very in touch with his... Read more

Rakim Reveals The Verse That Most Defines Him (Video)

This November marks 10 years since Rakim released an album. The Seventh Seal involved Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, and Styles P, alongside production from Nottz, Jake One, and Ty Fyffe. At the time, that SMC Recordings LP followed a 10-year-break since The Master. Unlike his first dozen or so years on wax,... Read more

O.C. Releases 3+ Hours Of ’90s Rarities, Demos & Freestyles. Dig In. (Audio)

For more than 25 years, O.C. has been a vicious MC. From JAY-Z to Big L, Pharoahe Monch to Murs, rappers across the Hip-Hop landscape have been eager to work with the Diggin' In The Crates member. O' has fed the masses, from the acclaimed Word...Life and Jewelz one-two punch,... Read more

Wale Uses Roy Ayers For Inspiration To Ramp Up The Summer (Lyric Video)

Last year Wale kept his fan-base satiated with three EPs worth of music. From Spring to Fall, the veteran MC delivered It's Complicated, Self Promotion, and Free Lunch. In 2019, the Warner Records artist has been working on some things behind the scenes. However, in a new Thelonius Martin-produced single,... Read more

Masta Ace & Pharoahe Monch Battle In A Fight For Life (Video)

Masta Ace, the low-key overachiever, a stoic influence on the likes of Eminem, has been able to endure different eras without sacrificing style or flouting a fan-base determined to mature alongside his work, project by project, decade by decade. Earlier in the year, Ace followed up an emotionally charged "Tiny... Read more

Tech N9ne Discusses His N9na Album & Being A B-Boy For Life

Tech N9ne is one of the most prolific Rap artists in his class. For 20 years, the Kansas City, Missouri MC has fed his devoted technicians with 20 albums, handfuls of collaborative projects, EPs, and group work. Notably, every release from Aaron Yates is a mapped out universe and part... Read more