Parfit

Kur Is The Next Great MC From Philadelphia. Uptop! Uptop! Makes The Case That He’s Ready (Video)

Pronounced "core," Kur has released a string of mixtapes which showcase his talent for punchlines and engaging storytelling about his native Uptown Philly. Colloquially known as UpTop, his stomping grounds serve as the inspiration for Kur's latest video, which takes an everyday portrayal of his neighborhood and combines it with... Read more

October 14, 2016 Ready Or Not

Jay Electronica Emerges With Seeds Of Wisdom About Love On “Garden” (Audio)

Much to the dismay of fans, Jay Electronica has never been a prolific MC. What the elusive artist has lacked in numbers, however, he's made up for in impact. To date, he had only released 3 songs in 2016, but each resonated in different ways. His first came in February,... Read more

October 13, 2016 Audio

Pusha T Takes Shots At All The Fakery In Hip-Hop. Drake & Others Catch It (Video)

When Pusha T was named President of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music just under a year ago, he assured that his new post would not affect his musical output. In hasn't. In fact, the 11 month-period since he began his tenure has been one of the most productive times of King... Read more

October 12, 2016 Video

Macklemore’s New Song Calls Out Drug Dealers, Including Big Pharma & Doctors (Audio)

For the last 5 years, Macklemore has been one of the most courageous artists in Hip-Hop. Starting with his 2011 release "Wings," which addressed the detrimental effects of rampant materialism in our society, the Seattle MC, and his musical partner Ryan Lewis, has tackled some of the biggest issues facing... Read more

October 11, 2016 Audio

Yelawolf’s First Release From His New Album Sees Daylight & It’s A Barn Burner (Video)

Over the Summer, Yelawolf announced his third album was complete and predicted it would be released sometime in the Fall. In an interview with German outlet Hip-Hop DE, Yela revealed the album would be titled Trial By Fire, and said of the project, "It's done. It's turned in and it's... Read more

October 9, 2016 Video

Redman & Keith Murray Bring The 90s To Atlanta & It’s So So Def (Video)

The annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival has been taking place in Atlanta since Wednesday (October 5) of this week. The yearly event has been the host to a number of panels and showcases and has been a veritable who's who in terms of talent and executives that drive the culture. One... Read more

October 8, 2016 Video

D.I.T.C. Release The First Video From Their Upcoming New Album & They Rock It

The Diggin' In The Crates Crew has been impacting Hip-Hop for more than 25 years. The collective of Diamond D, Fat Joe, Showbiz, A.G., Lord Finesse, O.C., Buckwild and Big L launched with the release of Finesse's 1990 Funky Technician album, and has not stopped since. Fat Joe, O.C., &... Read more

October 8, 2016 Video

Nick Grant Shows Why The Future Of Hip-Hop Is Far From Mumble Rap (Video)

Last year, Nick Grant made an appearance on the Sway In The Morning show and kicked one of the best freestyles of the year, excluding nobody. He earned his spot after participating in a cypher with CyHi The Prynce, one of the most respected lyricists in the game, and shining... Read more

October 8, 2016 Video

Bruno Mars Channels Zapp To Release The Funk Jam Of The Year (Video)

Though it might not seem like it, it's been 4 years since Bruno Mars released an album. Despite the fact that Unorthodox Jukebox came out in 2012, Mars' presence was felt through a slew of hits from that album that endured well beyond a year after it hit stores. And,... Read more

October 7, 2016 Video

The Game’s Friends & Enemies May Change, But Wu-Tang Is Forever (Audio)

The last couple of months have brought some seismic shifts in affiliation for The Game. August saw the Compton MC put to rest a beef with 50 Cent that had extended for more than a decade. Weeks later, after that hatchet was buried, Game raised a new one and aimed... Read more

October 6, 2016 Audio

How James Brown Made The Blueprint For Hip-Hop AND Today’s Music Business

The name Alan Leeds might not be widely-recognized outside of music industry circles, but the 40+ year veteran of the business has worked, in numerous capacities, with some of the all-time great. James Brown, Kiss, Prince and D'Angelo all considered him a key member of their behind the scenes teams,... Read more

October 6, 2016 Fresh

Native Tongues Were Buddies But Were They Really Family? De La Soul Speaks (Video)

Out of all the collectives in Hip-Hop, few are more revered or complicated than Native Tongues. The group of artists was loosely composed of Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Black Sheep, Chi-Ali and others, with several offspring stemming from that core. Over... Read more

October 6, 2016 Video

Did Chris Rivers Have The Best Verse Of The 2016 BET Cyphers? (Video)

For many Heads, the handful of cyphers that take place during the BET Hip-Hop Awards telecast are some of the most exciting aspects of the event. This year, fans had plenty to look forward to, with State Property, Dead Prez, Biv & Devoe, and others using 2016 to showcase scorching... Read more

October 5, 2016 Video

Biv & DeVoe Host A BET Cypher With Some New Editions Of Their Empire (Video)

The members of New Edition have been entertaining audiences for nearly 35 years, and they show no signs of slowing down. The group consisting of Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and, at times Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill has experienced a resurgence in 2016, in anticipation of... Read more

October 5, 2016 Video

Big K.R.I.T. Takes The Hip Hop Awards Stage In A Police Uniform & Uses Deadly Force (Video)

Last month, Big K.R.I.T. unleashed one of the most powerful verses of his career on a song that was not even his own. Joining artist Kenneth Whalum on a remix to his moving "Might Not Be OK," K.R.I.T. raps about the killings by police of unarmed Black civilians that have... Read more

October 4, 2016 Video

Dead Prez Lead The Most Meaningful BET Cypher Ever. It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop (Video)

Tonight, BET aired its annual Hip Hop Awards. The show honored Snoop Dogg as the recipient of the "I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award," which was presented to him by Kendrick Lamar, and included performances by Gucci Mane, Travis $cott, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Young M.A., Quavo and more. Big... Read more

October 4, 2016 Video

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

October 4, 2016 Video

Andre 3000, Nas, Method Man & More Made Sure Hip-Hop Did Not Fall In September (Audio)

September is always a month of change. More than just the Fall season, it brings back to school, the return of the NFL, a blitz of new TV shows and several other things that signal a changing of the winds. For Hip-Hop, September of 2016 held one of the biggest... Read more

October 4, 2016 Audio

Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap & More Takeover The Roots Picnic New York (Video)

This past weekend, The Roots held the first ever New York version of their annual picnic. Pulling out all the stops, they expanded the traditionally one day festival into two days, and built a star-studded lineup. Participating acts included Wu-Tang Clan, D'Angelo, David Byrne, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Swizz Beatz, EPMD,... Read more

October 3, 2016 Video

Token Torches The BET Hip-Hop Cypher While DJ Premier Cuts The Record (Video)

The 2016 Hip Hop Awards are airing on BET on Tuesday, October 4, and with them come the annual Cyphers. While this year's Cypher participants have not yet been announced, several details have surfaced about the show which was taped in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, September 17. Snoop Dogg Is... Read more

October 3, 2016 Video

Kanye West Ends Show After Learning Kim Kardashian Was Held At Gunpoint (Video)

This weekend, two major festivals were being held in the New York City area. The Roots hosted their first ever New York version of their annual picnic, featuring D'Angelo, Wu-Tang Clan, Swizz Beatz, EPMD, The Jungle Brothers, Big Daddy Kane, and many others. Across the river, in Queens, the Meadows... Read more

October 3, 2016 News

EPMD Take Care Of Business At The Roots Picnic In New York (Video)

This afternoon (October 2), EPMD took the stage at The Roots Picnic in New York and absolutely crushed it. Erick Sermon jokingly remarked that he was only 27 years, while simultaneously noting that he and Parrish Smith had been rocking mics for nearly 30 years. Both their experience and their... Read more

October 2, 2016 Video

The Symphony 2016 ft Kane, G Rap, Royce, Monch, Black Thought, Freeway & More (Video)

This weekend, The Roots hosted their first ever Roots Picnic in New York City. Held in Bryant Park, near Times Square, the two-day affair billed D'Angelo, Wu-Tang Clan, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Swizz Beatz, EPMD, John Mayer, David Byrne, The Jungle Brothers and many more. There were also a number of... Read more

October 2, 2016 Video

Method Man’s First Song Of The Year Is Bulletproof (Audio)

It's been an exceptionally quiet year for Method Man, on the music front. After releasing his album The Meth Lab in 2015, he has not dropped a single record this year. In fact, save for a guest appearance on Havoc's “Buck 50’s & Bullet Wounds,” Meth has not even been... Read more

September 30, 2016 Audio

Andre 3000’s New “Decemba” Verse Is Cold. How Cold? ICE COLD (Audio)

Since the 2006 release of OutKast's Idlewild soundtrack, Andre 3000 has put out just over 20 verses. While nearly every one has been an event in and of itself, often standing among the best in its respective year, an average of two an annum is far too few for fans... Read more

September 30, 2016 Audio

Ab-Soul Returns With His First Official Release In Nearly 2 Years (Video)

It's been more than two years since Top Dawg Entertainment's Ab-Soul has released an album. The lyrical sharpshooter has been very low profile in that time period, as everyone else on the label's roster, from Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock to ScHoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad and SZA has released material.... Read more

September 29, 2016 Audio

50 Cent Makes A Power Move Over Young M.A.’s “Ooouuu” (Audio)

Every year in Hip-Hop there is a track that penetrates the Zeitgeist and inspires countless MCs to want to leave their imprint on the record. In 2013, it was Big Sean's "Control," fueled in large part by response records to Kendrick Lamar's lyrical assault on the entire industry. In 2014,... Read more

September 29, 2016 Audio

“Got To Try A New Position.” How Public Enemy Made Prince Change His Sound

For the latest episode of Questlove Supreme, The Legendary Roots Crew drummer's new weekly Internet radio show, Quest traveled to Minnesota, for a special Prince edition of the broadcast. For nearly three hours, Quest spoke with collective members of The Revolution, Prince's band from 1979 to 1986, including Wendy &... Read more

September 29, 2016 Fresh

The Game Lists His Top 3 Los Angeles Lyricists Of All-Time (Video)

The Game joined The Breakfast Club on Friday (9/23) for an extended conversation. There ostensibly to promote his forthcoming album, 1992, he spent the vast majority of his time discussing his current beef with Meek Mill, including vast details about its genesis, the making of his scathing "Pest Control" diss,... Read more

September 24, 2016 Video

Actor Bill Nunn Who Created The Iconic “Radio Raheem” Role Has Passed Away

Actor William Nunn III, better known as Bill Nunn, has passed away, according to an Instagram post by his friend and longtime collaborator, Spike Lee. Nunn died in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA at the age of 62. Nunn acted in several notable films throughout his career, including New Jack... Read more

September 24, 2016 News

Killer Mike Tells Blacks Don’t Talk About Revolution Because “You Ain’t Ready To Revolt” (Video)

Over the last few years Killer Mike has emerged as one of the most potent voices of the people, particularly African-Americans and the disenfranchised. He gained a national platform after the killing of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO, as he simultaneously conveyed the outrage of many... Read more

September 23, 2016 Video

Redman Keeps It All The Way Real On “Wus Really Hood” (Video)

For the entirety of his 25+ year career, Redman has been nothing, if not all the way real. The Newark, NJ native has never put on airs or changed who he is for anyone, whether it be radio, record companies or MTV. Last year, Redman spoke in depth with Combat... Read more

September 23, 2016 Video

The Game Freestyle Battles With His Alleged Ghostwriter & Smashes It (Video)

It's been a busy week for The Game. In addition to preparing for the release of his forthcoming eighth album, 1992, he has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Meek Mill. So far, their beef has generated three hard-hitting diss records, a barrage of social media attacks, and involvement... Read more

September 21, 2016 Video

Translee Refuses To Be Lost In The Sauce. Is He Ready Or Not For His Big Shot? (Video)

Translee is a Huntsville, AL-raised, Atlanta-based MC, who proudly raps under his government name. Signed to independent label DNC (Digital Nativ3 Culture), he calls his style "conversational rap," based on real music, real people, real problems, real times and real facts. As a Southern Hip-Hop artist Translee aims to change... Read more

September 20, 2016 Ready Or Not

Michel’le’s Biopic Shows Her Being Abused By Dr. Dre & Her Relationship With Suge Knight (Video)

Despite its commercial success and critical acclaim, N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton also drew criticism for some of the misogyny seen in the film, as well as that which was withheld. In particular, there was a renewed focus on Dr. Dre's past abuse of women. As a result, in August... Read more

September 18, 2016 TV, Video

Fabolous Reveals Jay Z Gave Him One Of His Biggest Hits (Video)

As two of Brooklyn's finest MCs, there are a lot of parallels between Fabolous and Jay Z. Besides the borough that birthed them, their similar flows, fashion and laid-back styles were a potential recipe for a rivalry. Instead the men have enjoyed a kinship over the years, even collaborating on... Read more

September 18, 2016 Video

While Fallon Played With Trump’s Hair, The Roots Went For The Jugular (Video)

For the last 36 hours, the Internet and social media have been aflame with outrage at the way Jimmy Fallon handled a recent appearance by Donald Trump on The Tonight Show (9/15). Fallon, unlike David Letterman, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, is typically friendly and jovial with all of his... Read more

September 17, 2016 Throwback

Spike Lee Is Making His Groundbreaking Film “She’s Gotta Have It” Into A TV Series

Just weeks after the 30th anniversary of his landmark film, She's Gotta Have It (August 8), Spike Lee has announced that he is adapting the movie into a TV series. It is fitting that his first theatrically-released feature film will also serve as the first full TV series Lee has... Read more

September 15, 2016 Lifestyle

Hip-Hop Took The Gold In August. Hear The Best Of The Month (Audio)

August was filled with the Olympics and some of the worst heat of the year, but it also brought some great Hip-Hop. De La Soul released their first album in 12 years, and it debuted at #1 on the Rap chart. Andre 3000 had some choice words for ghostwriters. Nas... Read more

September 10, 2016 Audio

Shaquille O’Neal Enters the Hall of Fame With Brutal Humor & Amazing Class (Video)

In addition to being one of the most dominant big men to play the game, and undeniably its most accomplished rapper, Shaquille O'Neal is also one of the most entertaining people to ever play in the NBA. From his incomparable nicknames--Shaqtus and the Big Aristotle, to name a few--to his... Read more

September 10, 2016 Video

Allen Iverson’s Hall Of Fame Speech Is Raw, Real & All the Way Hip-Hop (Video)

From cornrows to tattoos, style to swagger, Allen Iverson ushered a new era into the NBA that was undeniably Hip-Hop. Last night (September 9), Iverson carried that same attitude right into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame. Allen Iverson Has The Answers. He Shares His Top 5 Rappers &... Read more

September 10, 2016 Video

A New Documentary Shows The Amazing 29-Year Journey Of De La Soul (Video)

De La Soul have always been about looking forward. That attitude has kept them relevant in Hip-Hop for nearly 3 decades, and made them trendsetters for much of that period. In 2016, they've been the subject of conversation as much as at any time in their career, as their record-setting... Read more

September 8, 2016 Throwback

Common Releases Another All-Star Love Song (Audio)

Back in May, Common made an appearance on Sway In The Morning, where he announced a new album was on the way and previewed two powerful verses from the forthcoming LP. While those bars were politically-charged and addressed race relations in America, his latest release taps into another area in... Read more

September 8, 2016 Audio

Kevin Hart Rekindles His Battle With Meek Mill & Shows No Mercy (Video)

As two natives of the City Of Brotherly Love, Kevin Hart and Meek Mill have history. Although they are from different age brackets, the two men have bonded over the years, both on and off stage. Their chemistry and kinship was never on greater display than when they "battled" backstage... Read more

September 7, 2016 Video

Redman Lists The Many Reasons Why Eminem Is One Of His Top MCs (Video)

For years, Eminem has said that Redman is one of his all-time favorite MCs. In fact, on his song "Till I Collapse," Em even went so far as to call Red his GOAT. During a sit down with DJ Vlad, Reggie Noble said that the admiration went both ways and... Read more

September 6, 2016 Video

President Obama Says Colin Kaepernick Is “Exercising His Constitutional Right” (Video)

In the 8 days since the world took note that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was not standing during the singing of the national anthem before his football games, the issue has become one of the most divisive in sports and the latest in a series of hotly-debated topics... Read more

September 5, 2016 Lifestyle

Jerry Heller, Co-Founder Of Ruthless Records & N.W.A. Manager, Dead At 75

Longtime music industry veteran, Jerry Heller has died at the age of 75. Earlier today (9/3), Heller's cousin, Gary Ballen, confirmed to Billboard that Heller passed away on Friday (9/2). While Heller was most known as the co-founder of Ruthless Records with Eazy-E, and the manager of N.W.A., he worked... Read more

September 3, 2016 News

Isaiah Rashad Shows The True Meaning Of “Money Ain’t A Thang” (Video)

After releasing a promising EP two and a half years ago, today (9/2) Isaiah Rashad has follow up with his long-awaited debut LP. Despite it's name, The Sun's Tirade, the album is chock full of laid-back soulful groove music, built more for head-nodding than turning up. Lead single "Free Lunch"... Read more

September 2, 2016 Video

The Revolution Reunite At First Avenue For The Ultimate Prince Tribute (Video)

In the four months since Prince died unexpectedly on April 21, there have been a number of tributes to the fallen icon. Everyone from his longtime friend and collaborator, Sheila E. to Madonna to even The Game has celebrated the legacy of the musical wunderkind from Minneapolis. Last night (9/1),... Read more

September 2, 2016 Video

What’s The Greatest Opening Line In Hip-Hop History? Here Are 50 (Video)

Hip-Hop is built on debates. Who is the greatest MC of all-time? What's the best album? What's the best song? The arguments are endless and often simultaneously the source of great entertainment and great agita. There have been several lists that aim to settle these matters, and The Peak has released... Read more

September 2, 2016 Video