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The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2023

As 2023 comes to its close, it is time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. For 2023, we present a tight list of 10—celebrating the best of the best in the Rap genre.... Read more

Ambrosia For Heads Is Partnering With Vevo To Come To TV Screens

Ambrosia For Heads is proud to announce a new partnership with Vevo—the world's leading music video network. For more than 13 years, AFH has been dedicated to providing the best in Hip-Hop music, news, videos, and culture through the site and corresponding socials. We have partnered with Vevo to deliver... Read more

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

Experience Black Music Month Through These Documentaries

Black Music inspires, informs, and permeates each genre and every corner of the globe with an undeniable force. From complex rhythms and sweet melodies to lyrics versed in a unique experience, Black Music has given all music a blueprint—including Jazz, Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul, and Hip-Hop. In celebration of... Read more

Celebrate Black Stories Through These Films For Black History Month

"Yeah, I'll check out a movie / But it'll take a Black one to move me," Chuck D famously rapped on Public Enemy's "Burn Hollywood Burn." While Black filmmakers, actors, and stories have been making authentic reflections for decades, Chuck D's call to action continues to be answered with each... Read more

Kid Capri, Styles P, Clark Kent & Spinderella Discuss The Power Of ’90s Hip-Hop

This Sunday, July 18, Power Book III: Raising Kanan will premiere on STARZ and the STARZ App. Following six seasons of Power, this latest extension travels back to 1991 to focus on the origin story surrounding Kanan Stark. Following a performance by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in the original series,... Read more

Questlove Is Bringing The Greatest Soul Festival Never Seen To Screens

In the summer of 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, Jimi Hendrix rocked Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival lit up Sunday afternoons in New York City with a six-week-long explosion of Afrocentric sights, sounds and soul. Unfamiliar with the latter? Well, more than 300,000 attendees grooved in a... Read more

The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2021 So Far

As 2021 quickly approaches its midpoint, it is tradition to evaluate the year's best Hip-Hop albums—so far. So on the latest episode of Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, we did just that. As we did in deciding the best albums of 2020, the AFH team uses the platform to publicly discuss the best... Read more

Dame Grease Has 50 DMX Songs He Wants To Release

Late last month, Hip-Hop Heads received the album that DMX was working on during the final several years of his life. Overseen by Swizz Beatz, Exodus involves JAY-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The LOX, Griselda, and others. The album also marked a reunion between X and Def Jam Records, where his career skyrocketed during... Read more

Lloyd Banks & Benny The Butcher Release A G(riselda) Unit Collabo

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

Swizz Beatz Explains Why He Will Not Release His Vault Of DMX Music

Last Friday (May 28), DMX's final album, Exodus, was released. DMX's reunion with Def Jam Records album was made over years and overseen by Swizz Beatz. Beyond their mutual ties to the Ruff Ryders, X and Swizz shared a brotherhood. From the onset of DMX's late 1990s skyrocket to fame,... Read more

Jack Harlow Almost Murdered Eminem On His Own Killer Remix

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

Legendary Hip-Hop Photographer Chi Modu Has Passed Away

One of Hip-Hop's most legendary photographers has died. In a developing story, members of the Hip-Hop community are mourning the passing of Chi Modu, who shot iconic images of Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Eazy-E, Mobb Deep, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and LL Cool J, to name a few. Smif-n-Wessun's General... Read more

Comedian Paul Mooney Has Passed Away At 79

Veteran standup comedian, actor, and writer Paul Mooney has died at the age of 79. Journalist Roland Martin was among those who confirmed the news that the entertainer born Paul Gladney suffered a heart attack in his Oakland, California home. The Daily Mail is among the publications that have reported the story.... Read more

J. Cole’s Off-Season Has Several Cryptic References To Illmatic

Last Friday (May 14), J. Cole released his sixth album, The Off-Season. Three years removed from his acclaimed KOD, Cole returned with more social commentary, versatile deliveries, and plenty of themes to unpack. Whereas his 2018 outing was an indictment on drug use amid the youth, especially within the Rap community, Cole's... Read more

LL Cool J & JAY-Z Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class has been decided, and Hip-Hop has reason to rejoice. After six previous attempts, LL Cool J will enter the hallowed halls today (May 12). Meanwhile, in his first time on the ballot, JAY-Z will be joining his former Def Jam Records... Read more

DMX’s New Album Features Nas, JAY-Z, Griselda & More. Here’s The Tracklist

UPDATE: Swizz Beatz has released the full tracklist for DMX's Exodus album, which will be released on May 28, and it is even more star-studded than previously reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swizz Beatz (@therealswizzz) Here is the full tracklist: 1. “That’s My Dog” feat.... Read more

J. Cole’s New Album Is Coming Next Week. Here’s The 1st Song

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

DJ Quik Makes It Hot In Herre By Burning His Death Row Royalty Check

It has been 30 years since DJ Quik burst onto the music scene. The Compton, California triple-threat has supplied fans with a plethora of LPs, including three gold albums as well as his platinum 1991 debut, Quik Is The Name. However, after decades in the game and heralded work alongside... Read more

New York Has Made December 18 Earl “DMX” Simmons Day

This April continues to deliver significant losses to music fans, especially in the Hip-Hop community. The month has included the passings of DMX, Black Rob, and now, Shock G. On this week's episode of What's The Headline (embedded below as video and audio), the Ambrosia For Heads team remembers the... Read more

Hear New Music From Busta, De La, Pharoahe & More Courtesy Of Khrysis

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

Redman & Method Man Are Making Blackout 3

Last night (April 20), Method Man and Redman proved to be the big dogs of Verzuz, with one of the most anticipated displays since the platform's creation. The performance was part concert, part competition. Two of Hip-Hop's closest figures made all who tuned in feel their chemistry as they ran... Read more

Former Bad Boy Star Black Rob Has Passed Away

UPDATE: The New York Times has provided additional information surrounding Black Rob's death. In an obituary by Jesus Jiménez and Joe Coscarelli, the newspaper confirmed that the man born Robert Ross was 52 years old. They also reported that he passed at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Mark Curry, a friend of... Read more

DMX’s New Album Is Coming This Summer & It’s Filled With Superstars

Last Friday (April 9), family, friends, and millions of Hip-Hop fans mourned the loss of DMX. The 50-year-old rapper born Earl Simmons passed away at age 50. For the previous week, X had been on life support in White Plains, New York hospital, following a cardiac arrest. Decades into a... Read more

Here Are Some Reasons Why 2000 May Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Year

At Ambrosia For Heads, we celebrate Hip-Hop throughout the ages. Earlier this year, our What's The Headline podcast launched a series examining the calendar years that made the music and culture reach its full potential. After taking a loving look back at 1984, the next episode drops in on Y2K.... Read more

DMX Has Overdosed And Is In Critical Condition

On Friday (April 2), legendary rapper DMX reportedly overdosed at his home in White Plains, New York. TMZ reported that the man born Earl Simmons is currently hospitalized and in "grave condition." The publication reports that some sources have alleged that the Ruff Ryders artist suffered a heart attack. Some sources have told the... Read more

T Dot Eric Recalls Documenting The 1995 Source Awards Clash From The Front Row

Photographer T Dot Eric has taken some of the pictures that have defined how Hip-Hop thinks of its heroes. His work includes legendary flicks of Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Gang Starr, De La Soul, and Black Star—only to name a few. T.... Read more

No MC Has Been Better Than Benny The Butcher The Last 2 Years

Benny The Butcher has just released his first 2021 album, The Plugs I Met 2. The Black Soprano Family founder teamed with Brooklyn, New York veteran producer Harry Fraud for the nine-track LP, which features 2 Chainz, Fat Joe, Jim Jones, French Montana, the late Chinx, and Benny's protege, Rick Hyde.... Read more

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Are Giving Ownership In Verzuz To All Past Participants

It was an exciting week for Hip-Hop. Sunday culminated with a first-time Grammy win for Nas, a poignant second win for Anderson .Paak (as well as a show-stopping performance), and more. As many looked back at a year defined by the pandemic, the week also saw the acquisition of one... Read more

Nas Has Won His First Ever Grammy Award

Today (March 14), Nas wins his first Grammy Award. The Queens, New York veteran received the "Best Rap Album" trophy for 2020's King's Disease, which released through the MC's own Mass Appeal imprint and is produced in full by Hit-Boy. Including studio albums, collaborative projects, and two volumes of Lost Tapes, Nas... Read more

JAY-Z’s Sale Of TIDAL Will Transform How Artists Are Paid For Music

Just weeks after selling half of his stake in Ace of Spades, JAY-Z made another power move. Hip-Hop's first billionaire mogul sold his stake in Tidal to investor Jack Dorsey's Square company in a reportedly $297 million deal this month. Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, also leads the mobile payment company, which now welcomes... 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

Will DMX’s Reunion With Def Jam Return Both To Glory?

This month DMX appeared on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN's Drink Champs for a second time. Since the Hip-Hop show's inception, X has been a top draw for Drink Champs, sitting at the table and giving a real and raw interview to his past collaborator Noreaga back in episode 3. Great conversations with Puff... Read more

Pharoahe Monch Explains The Hidden Meanings In His New Album

Three weeks ago (January 22), Pharoahe Monch released his first album in nearly seven years. The Queens, New York veteran MC/producer partnered with esteemed guitarist Marcus Machado and Grammy-winning drummer Daru Jones as Th1rt3en. The band, involving two overlapping musicians from Pete Rock's The Soul Brothers collective, has been releasing... Read more

DMX’s New Album Will Feature Griselda

For nearly 5 years, rumors have been swirling about the next DMX album. In May of 2016, Swizz Beatz set social media ablaze, when he posted that Dark Man X was clean, focused and working with himself, Kanye West and Dr. Dre. Nearly a year later to the day, in... Read more

1984 Was The Year That Changed Everything For Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop Heads regularly debate the culture and music's greatest years. There are usual and deserving suspects, of course. However, Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast is launching a series where we make a case for those years—and some others too. As we currently live in what some consider Orwellian times, 1984... Read more

Double K Of Hip-Hop Group People Under The Stairs Has Died

Hip-Hop Heads woke up to tragic news on Sunday morning (January 31). Double K, born Michael Turner, of the Los Angeles, California Hip-Hop duo People Under The Stairs, has died. While no cause of death has been made public, it is believed that Turner was 43 years old. P.U.T.S has... Read more

Pharoahe Monch Delivers The Long-Awaited Album Alongside His Band Th1rt3en

In the last week, 2021's Hip-Hop release calendar got an exciting jump-start. Pharoahe Monch treated fans with his first album in more than six-and-a-half years. Since that time, the Queens, New York lyricist and producer had described a dark, Hard Rock-influenced album. In 2021, that presumed material surfaced alongside Monch's... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Eminem Have Been Feuding For Months. Here’s Why

Two of Dr. Dre's greatest proteges are Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. He developed one esteemed lyricist at the top of the 1990s during the establishment of Death Row Records and the other at the tail-end of that decade, solidifying his Aftermath Entertainment imprint. Ever since, Snoop and Em partnered... Read more

How MF DOOM Became Hip-Hop’s Biggest Hero

On December 31, the family of MF DOOM (aka Daniel Dumile) publicly announced that the legendary MC/producer/visual artist had died two months earlier. While information surrounding DOOM's passing may still be forthcoming, the hurt felt around the Hip-Hop community was immediate and profound. At just 49 years old at the... Read more

Dr. Dre Is Hospitalized After Suffering A Brain Aneurysm

Hip-Hop lost another legend in 2020. In the closing hours of the year, MF DOOM's wife and onetime record label, Rhymesayers Entertainment, confirmed that the man born Daniel Dumile passed away on October 31. No cause of death has been made public at this time. However, news of DOOM's death... Read more

Master P & Baron Davis Want To Buy Reebok To Make It For Us By Us

Master P had a big 2020. The founder of No Limit Records partnered with BET to produce a docuseries on his famed label. The New Orleans, Louisiana native born Percy Miller also remains a partner in Rap Snacks and other ventures. However, the artist whose career expanded to film, sports,... Read more

A New Phife Dawg Album Is Coming In 2021

This week, Ambrosia For Heads recorded what is likely the final What's The Headline episode of the year. In the season 2 finale, we react to some of the LPs that our readers told us we missed after our "Best Albums List" for 2020. Additionally, we discuss next month's 63rd... Read more

Here Are Our 20 Best Rap Albums Of 2020

We can all agree that 2020 has been something else. But we can also agree music has been a godsend—especially Hip-Hop music. It has been a pivotal year for Ambrosia For Heads, after a decade of dedication to the culture. However—as we like to do about this time, AFH offers our annual list of... Read more

Statik Selektah Explains What We Have To Do To Protect Hip-Hop

Less than two weeks ago, Statik Selektah released his ninth compilation-style album, The Balancing Act. The esteemed producer/DJ/Showoff Records founder involves a cast that includes Nas, Black Thought, Killer Mike, Sean Price, Jack Harlow, Method Man, Benny The Butcher, Evidence, Joey Bada$$, and Jadakiss, to name a few. However, the album,... Read more

Kanye West’s Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Turns 10. Is It His Best Album?

One decade ago (November 22, 2010), Kanye West released a blockbuster album in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Whereas 2008's 808's & Heartbreak confronting loss and lust with sounds that veered beyond 'Ye's first three albums, 2010's M.B.D.T.F. marked a return to form, even if it was nothing like the Roc-A-Fella Records mid-2000s run. Just... Read more

Busta Rhymes Opens Up About His Near Death Experience

Less than three weeks since releasing the highly-acclaimed Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, Busta Rhymes continues to give fans greater context about a comeback album like no other. In speaking with Van Jones' The Messy Truth, the veteran MC/producer discussed how Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad mentored Leaders... Read more

Busta Rhymes Has Made A Classic Album 30 Years Into His Career

Busta Rhymes is one of Hip-Hop's most enduring stars. Named by Chuck D, a fixture within Native Tongues, a requested artist on Tupac's One Nation project, a member of the Aftermath/Shady/G-Unit reign as well as Cash Money/Young Money, and one of J Dilla's closest collaborators, Trevor Smith, Jr. has done... Read more

MC Eiht Details Lessons He Learned From EPMD, Rakim, Menace II Society & More

MC Eiht is the latest guest on Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast. In a 90-minute discussion, Eiht revisits highlights from his entire 30-plus-year-career. The Hub City O.G. details the formative years of Compton's Most Wanted and how he assumed the writing responsibilities for both MCs in the collective.... Read more

Is Ice Cube Still True To The Game?

Less than three weeks before the upcoming election, Ice Cube made his way into the news through politics. On October 13, one of Donald Trump's advisors, Katrina Pierson, revealed online that Cube was working with the current administration's "platinum plan." She praised the MC-turned-mogul's actions and cooperation: Shoutout to @icecube... Read more