Parfit

Michelle Obama Gets On The Mic For Education & Shows Why She’s Flow-Tus (Video)

First the last 18 months, First Lady Of The United States Michelle Obama has been diligently advancing her Reach Higher initiative. The objective of the extended campaign is "to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a... Read more

December 10, 2015 Video

Aloe Blacc Remembers Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Paris & More This Christmas (Video)

Aloe Blacc has released a stunning and powerful video for his song, "Merry Christmas Mr. Brown." The song is a wistful reflection about a number of the tragic losses that have become emblazoned in our minds over the last few years. Specifically, he pays tribute to Michael Brown, Eric Garner,... Read more

December 10, 2015 Video

50 Cent Reclaims His Power on The Kanan Tape (Mixtape)

50 Cent has been teasing the release of The Kanan Tape for months. Now, after a few fits and start, the project is finally here. The mixtape, which is named after 50's menacing character on the Power series he executive produces, features the same type of grit that defines the... Read more

December 9, 2015 Mixes

G-Eazy Releases One Of The Most Courageous Songs You Will Hear All Year (Audio)

Last week (12/4), G-Eazy released his sophomore major label album, When It's Dark Out. As its title and cover art suggest, the album tackles several things that take place under the cover of dark. G raps about the expected, such as sex, drugs and partying, but he also covers the... Read more

December 9, 2015 Audio

Remy Ma & Papoose Kick A Rugged Freestyle Over Red & Meth’s “How High” (Video)

Remy Ma and Papoose are the latest addition to the cast of Love & Hip-Hop: New York. They stopped by Hot 97 in promotion of the series, and it would not be a Remy and Pap show without those bars. Peter Rosenberg selected the "How High" beat that Erick Sermon... Read more

December 9, 2015 Video

The Game Returns The Favor & Joins Anderson .Paak on a Jazz-Infused New Banger (Audio)

After working with both DJ Premier and Dr. Dre this year, Anderson .Paak joined The Game on The Documentary 2.5, laying down soulful vocals on the album's opening 2 tracks, "Magnus Carlsen" and "Crenshaw / 80s and Cocaine." Since then, the singer, who has become one of the hottest new... Read more

December 8, 2015 Audio

The Weeknd Releases A Stunning & Disturbing Strip Club Video Like You’ve Never Seen

Throughout his meteoric career, The Weeknd has had a penchant for disturbing and boundary pushing videos. This year alone, his visuals have centered around wrecks, explosions, immolation, murder and other mayhem. His latest is a short film for "In The Night," and it is unsettling, even by The Weeknd's standards.... Read more

December 8, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Leads 2016 Grammy Nominees With 11 Nominations. Will They Get It Right Now?

The 2015 Grammy nominees have been announced, and Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with 11 nominations related to his critically acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly album. His nominations include Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year ("Alright"), Best Rap Album, Best Music Video ("Alright") and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance... Read more

December 7, 2015 News

The Next Great Brooklyn MC Has Arrived. Jay Lonzo Is the TRUTH! (Video)

Of all the geographical regions in Hip-Hop, few have a greater lineage than Brooklyn. As the home to Big Daddy Kane, Biggie, Jay Z and far too many esteemed MCs to name, the burrough continues to produce strong talent from Joey Bada$$ to Stro. Now, there is a new arrival... Read more

December 4, 2015 Video

Nas, Bun B and More Celebrate Pimp C in a Tribute Video

Today (12/4), Nas' Mass Appeal Records released Long Live The Pimp, an album featuring previously unreleased material by the fallen UGK member. The project features songs with Nas, Lil Wayne, Juicy J, 8Ball & MJG, Bun B and more. Coupled with the album, several artists have participated in a tribute... Read more

December 4, 2015 Video

Rick Ross Gets Livid About Billboard’s Disrespect of Tupac (Video)

Rick Ross joined The Breakfast Club for one of his rawest and most spirited interviews in years. Ross was so forthright that, by the end of the conversation, Charlemagne The God referred to him as "fearless." The MMG boss discussed a number of topics and did not mince words. Not... Read more

December 4, 2015 Video

Chris Rivers Takes It Back To The Essence Of Hip-Hop On Ain’t No Half Steppin’ (Video)

Over the Summer, Chris Rivers (pka Baby Pun) went on a tear, with weekly releases of both original material and freestyles over classic beats. One of the standout cuts was his rip of Big Daddy Kane's 1988 staple, "Ain't No Half Steppin'," with Termanology. Now, Rivers and Term link for... Read more

December 4, 2015 Video

Even While Battling Kidney Disease, Freeway Feels Blessed (Audio)

On days like today, when we're yet again reminded of some of the ugliness that exists in the world, music can be a salve for the soul. Freeway provides just that with his new song, "Heaven." The Merc Beatz-produced track supplies some of the same chirped-up Soul on which Freeway... Read more

December 2, 2015 Audio

Ghostface Killah Finally Chases Down Action Bronson…In A Video Game (Video)

Although it would be eclipsed by the subsequent high profile beef between Drake and Meek Mill, in mid-Summer, a verbal dust up occurred between Ghostface Killah and Action Bronson that seemed like it had been primed for years. While Bronson and Ghost worked together on 2011's "Meteor Hammer," the constant... Read more

December 2, 2015 Video

Pimp C, Bun B, 8Ball & MJG Have a Trill OG Reunion on Pimp C’s Latest (Audio)

Pimp C is gone but not forgotten. The fallen UGK soldier's posthumous album will hit stores on Friday (12/4), via Mass Appeal Records. The label has released a number of songs leading up to the project, featuring heavy hitters such as Juicy J, Lil Wayne and Nas. However, the latest... Read more

December 1, 2015 Audio

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of November 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)

As the year winds to a close, the good music shows no signs of slowing down. November brought great Hip-Hop from start to finish. Here's a playlist that features the best the month had to offer. You'll hear tracks featuring Nas, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, KRS-One, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Logic,... Read more

December 1, 2015 Mixes

J. Cole Takes Kendrick’s Beat For A Black Friday Freestyle And It’s More Than Alright (Audio)

While many are out spending on the day after Thanksgiving, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are still giving. The two have coordinated a "Black Friday" double barrel attack, with Kendrick taking over Cole's "A Tale of Two Citiez" track and Jermaine commandeering K. Dot's "Alright." On Cole's version of "Black... Read more

November 27, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Sends A Black Friday Message To All Who Doubt He’s Still A Lyrical Monster (Audio)

Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar released his critically-acclaimed follow up to good kid, m.A.A.d. city. That album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was a departure from the narratives and music of his major label debut, layering in dense funk powered by musicians like Thundercat, Terrace Martin and, the original funkateer, George... Read more

November 27, 2015 Audio

Kxng Crooked & Statik Selektah Serve Up That Good Food For The Soul (Audio)

Ever have someone say you wouldn't accomplish something? Kxng Crooked did, and boy were they wrong. The sometimes Slaughterhouse member (formerly known as Crooked I) links with Statik Selektah on "Dead Or In Jail" with a message to all those who said that's where he would be when he got... Read more

November 26, 2015 Audio

Adele Sings Hello While Fallon & The Roots Play Classroom Instruments. Still Amazing! (Video)

Many of Adele's biggest hits are rooted in heartbreak, loss or regret. The same holds true for her latest smash, "Hello." Leave it to Jimmy Fallon, however, to make even a song about someone's inability to get over a past love funny. As he has done with others, including Robin... Read more

November 25, 2015 Video

Nick Grant Kicks One of The Best Verses Of The Year…Excluding NOBODY (Video)

Ever heard of Nick Grant? He recently went on the Sway In The Morning show and delivered one of the best verses of the year, hands down, with no qualifications. The South Carolina MC earned a 35+ minute interview with the OG Hip-Hop personality, after he smashed a cypher, that... Read more

November 24, 2015 Video

Rick Ross Reveals It’s Far From All Good on Crocodile Python (Audio)

Rick Ross continues to discuss both his highs and his lows in his recent releases. On the latest, "Crocodile Python" from his forthcoming Black Market album (12/4), Ross taps producer Jahlil Beats for the soundtrack. Beats, who produced one of 2014's Summer anthems with Bobby Shmurda's "Hot Nigga," downshifts and... Read more

November 24, 2015 Audio

Erykah Badu Meets The Breakfast Club. Jay Electronica Comes To Make Sure They Act Right (Video)

Erykah Badu made her first appearance ever on The Breakfast Club this morning. Coincidentally, DJ Envy had run into Jay Electronica, who has a daughter with Erykah, the night before, and Electronica recorded an admonishment to Charlemagne The God to be on good behavior during the conversation with Erykah. Envy... Read more

November 24, 2015 Video

Large Professor Demonstrates His Beat-Making Process. Watch The Master At Work (Video)

Large Professor is the latest producer to try his hand at Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette challenge. In the ongoing series, beatmakers are blindfolded, asked to pick 3 random records and tasked to produce a track using their selections. Past installments have included everyone from Just Blaze to Mannie Fresh to... Read more

November 24, 2015 Video

Jadakiss Goes Head To Head With Nas and Styles P On “Rain” (Audio)

To be the best, you have to beat the best. Jadakiss' new album Top 5 Dead Or Alive hits stores and streaming services at midnight (11/20). For the last few months, Jadakiss has been releasing tracks that make it clear he takes the LP's title seriously. Kiss is used to... Read more

November 19, 2015 Audio

Pusha T’s “Untouchable” Video Makes It Crystal Clear How Cold His Wordplay Is (Video)

A week after assuming the reins of G.O.O.D. Music as its new President, Pusha T is showing he has no intentions of slowing down. A day after the announcement, Pusha released his deceptively lyrically dense song, "Untouchable." Now, he sets forth the visual for the Timbaland-produced verbal bonfire. The video... Read more

November 19, 2015 Video

LL Cool J’s Radio Turns 30. Watch His 1st Ever Interview & Other Early Moments (Video)

Thirty years ago today (November 18), LL Cool J released his debut album Radio and launched not only one of Hip-Hop's most enduring careers, but also one of its most iconic record labels in Def Jam Recordings. While the company that Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin built had released prior... Read more

November 18, 2015 Throwback

A-F-R-O Has Co-Signs From DJ Premier, GZA, Talib Kweli, R.A. & More. This Mixtape Shows Why

Last year, the then 17-year old MC known as A-F-R-O won a Rap competition judged by R.A. The Rugged, Talib Kweli, Murs, Jean Grae, Vinnie Paz, Locksmith, Rittz and more. Since then, he's converted everyone from DJ Premier to Talib Kweli, Queen Latifah to Questlove into fans and ardent supporters.... Read more

November 18, 2015 Mixes, Video

Common Speaks To The Next Generation of Chicago Youth On a New Track With Lil Bibby (Audio)

For more than 2 decades, Common has been Hip-Hop's Chicago ambassador. From Kanye to Lupe, Common has sought to support not only the MCs from the City of Wind, but Chicago's youth, generally. So, while some might not expect him to team with Lil Bibby, whose subject matter varies greatly... Read more

November 17, 2015 Audio

20 Years Later, Life Is Good For AZ Too (Video)

Though both have gone on to have long, successful and deeply respected solo careers, AZ and Nas will always be connected. After all, for many, AZ was introduced through his possibly scene-stealing guest verse on Nas' "Life's A Bitch," from Illmatic. The two reunited periodically throughout the years, including in a... Read more

November 16, 2015 Video

Yasiin Bey Addresses The Tragedy in Paris & Releases a Powerful Song (Audio)

Yasiin Bey has a residence in Paris and has deep connections to the city. As a practicing Muslim, he also has deep connections to Islam. Bey has always been one of Hip-Hop's most intelligent and outspoken activists, both in lyrics and deed, and he's given a 21-minute interview that is... Read more

November 14, 2015 Audio

The Golden Era of Hip-Hop Is RIGHT NOW. Logic Proves It With His “Innermission” (Audio)

The Golden Era of Hip-Hop is RIGHT NOW. That statement will always be true no matter when it is uttered because in addition to enjoying today's great music (and there is plenty), we also always can look back and revisit the phenomenal Hip-Hop that came from the 70s, 80s, 90s... Read more

November 14, 2015 Audio

All 4 Members Of A Tribe Called Quest Perform On TV For The 1st Time In 15 Years (Video)

Yesterday (11/13), A Tribe Called Quest released the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of their debut album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. To celebrate, all 4 members reunited on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to perform together on TV for the first time in over 15 years.... Read more

November 14, 2015 Video

A Tribe Called Quest Say They Have A Lot Of Unreleased Music In The Vault (Video)

Today (11/13), A Tribe Called Quest released the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Tribe members Phife Dawg, Jarobi and Ali Shaheed Muhammad joined the Ebro in the Morning show to discuss the album and ATCQ history, generally. Although Q-Tip... Read more

November 13, 2015 Video

If This Song Couldn’t Make Rick Ross’ Album, Black Market Must Be Crazy Good (Audio)

Rick Ross has released a new song that departs in some significant ways from much of what he's done of late. For starters, "Amazing Grace" opens with a warning against glamorizing a life of crime. For Ross' detractors, that likely comes as a real surprise, as one of the criticisms... Read more

November 13, 2015 Audio

Your Old Droog Combines Basketball, Seinfeld & Electro Funk (Audio)

Your Old Droog will not be pinned down. Over the last 18 months, he has tapped into 90s Hip-Hop, Jazz and Classic Rock as sonic canvases on which to paint his colorful lyrical pictures. Now, he pivots, heads to the 80s and whips up a track that not only conjures... Read more

November 13, 2015 Audio

Rapper Big Pooh Does It Again With a Stellar Album That Feels Like Home Sweet Home (Album Stream)

Throughout his career, Rapper Big Pooh has produced some of his best work when paired with producers with a penchant for soulful beats. From teaming with 9th Wonder as part of Little Brother to releasing this year's Words Paint Pictures album with Apollo Brown, something about deep funky bass lines... Read more

November 13, 2015 Audio

Anthony Hamilton Puts The Gospel In Hotline Bling And Gives It New Meaning (Video)

With all the covers, remixes and non-stop plays of the original, Drake's "Hotline Bling," which was already derivative, will not die. And, just when it seemed there could not be another original re-invention of the song, enter Anthony Hamilton and his group, The Hamiltones. Hamilton has always been a singer... Read more

November 12, 2015 Video

Sheek Louch & Ghostface Killah Team For Another Wu-Block Banger (Audio)

Three years ago, Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch formed a Wu-Tang Clan and D-Block connection that yielded one of the finest and most overlooked albums of 2012. Wu Block featured unexpected artists like Erykah Badu and familiar faces like Method Man. Yet, it maintained a cohesive sonic texture throughout--one that... Read more

November 12, 2015 Audio

Pusha T Shows He Is Still Lyrically Untouchable On His Latest Song (Audio)

In the same week it was announced that he's been appointed as the president of G.O.O.D. Music, Pusha T shows that he is still running things on the mic, as well. When discussing his new position, King Push assured that the job would not affect his plans to release his... Read more

November 12, 2015 Audio

Royce Da 5’9″, Pharoahe Monch & D12’s Denaun Demolish a Track With Bars That Cook (Video)

Fans are often told to stand up for Hip-Hop, but it's increasingly rare that songs are of a quality that leave the listener with no choice but to rise from the seat in a salutation to what is emanating from the speaker. Denaun Porter's aptly-titled "Cooking" is one such track.... Read more

November 12, 2015 Video

And Then There Was A Never Released DMX Track…Ain’t Nowhere To Hide (Audio)

Dame Grease has produced tracks on every single one of DMX's albums. Dark Man X's longtime collaborator produced the majority of tracks on It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, including perennial bangers like "Get At Me Dog" and "Stop Being Greedy," as well as songs on later albums, such as... Read more

November 11, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers Writes A Moving Letter To His Father, Big Pun, On His Birthday

Happy Birthday to Big Pun. The lyrical Bronx Bomber would have been 44 years old, yesterday (11/10). In the past year, Chris Rivers, Pun's son, has broken out and established himself as one of Hip-Hop's most promising MCs. While he has established his identity as his own man, shedding the... Read more

November 11, 2015 Fresh

Can He Kick It? J. Cole Does With A Soulful ATCQ Remix (Audio)

As the release date for the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of A Tribe Called Quest's People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm debut album fast approaches (11/13), they drop their third and final bonus track from the LP. Remixes of "Bonita Applebum" and "Footprints," by Pharrell and Cee Lo... Read more

November 10, 2015 Audio

Meet The Man Who Set The Internet On Fire As “The Black Stormtrooper” (Video)

Nearly a year ago, when the first official trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens was released, it was met with the exact type of explosive reaction one might expect to accompany the latest installment of one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history. However, a... Read more

November 10, 2015 TV/Film

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of October 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)

When the year is tallied, October 2015 likely will be remembered as the month where The Game released not one, but two heralded sequels to his The Documentary album. And, while the accolades will be well deserved, there were a number of other strong releases in the first full month... Read more

November 10, 2015 Audio, Playlists

Through Thick & Thin Puff Daddy & The LOX Still Make Great Music Together (Audio)

Last week, Puff Daddy released a surprise free album on his birthday (11/4) titled, MMM, an ode to "Money Making Mitch," from the film Paid In Full. While the entire project might not appeal to all, there are 2 tracks featuring some of his greatest proteges, that stand above the rest.... Read more

November 8, 2015 Audio

KRS-One Is Releasing His First Album Since 2012. Hear The Hard-Hitting 1st Single (Audio)

In a series of tweets, KRS-One has announced a new album and released the first single. The LP will hit stores on November 24 and will be titled Now Hear This! The first song from the project is a hard-hitting track attacking the war on drugs, stating that in reality... Read more

November 7, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers’ & Sheek Louch’s I Got It Made Video Salutes Many More Legends Than Just Special Ed

Over the Summer, Chris Rivers released a slew of sizzling freestyles featuring both original and throwback tracks. Out of many quality offerings, one stood out in particular. The son of Big Pun teamed with one of his father's contemporaries in The LOX's Sheek Louch. Together, Chris and Donnie put on... Read more

November 6, 2015 Video

Logic Will Not Fade Away. He’s Just Getting Started (Audio)

Logic's forthcoming new album The Incredible True Story hits stores next week on November 13. For the last several weeks, the talented Maryland spitter has been releasing quality songs and innovative videos in support of the project. His latest addition to the campaign is "Fade Away." More than any of... Read more

November 5, 2015 Audio