Bandini

Watch FUSE’s Making Of Nas’ Illmatic 3-Part Special, With Interviews With Large Professor, Pete Rock & DJ Premier (Video)

Has any Hip-Hop album gotten as much attention at the 20-year mark as Nas' Illmatic has this month? The Columbia/Sony Records debut, the subject of Illmatic XX, a reissue with a plethora of dope bonus material (freestyles, demo recordings, remixes, photos, liner notes), is just in everybody's spotlight. One such... Read more

April 15, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Logic Explains Where He Spent His Advance On While You Wait (Audio)

For the second time in a week, Logic opens up the oven to show off some heat. Like the last, "Now," the Baltimore, Maryland MC linked with Swiff-D, who's on the charts as we speak, thanks to some work on ScHoolboy Q's OXYMORON. Logic uses "While You Wait" to speak... Read more

April 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Alchemist Remixes A D.I.T.C. Gem From A.G. & O.C. (Audio)

It's been 15 years since D.I.T.C.'s (Diggin' In The Crates) one and only album. Released on Tommy Boy Records, the self-titled LP (often called "World Class" by some Heads) featured all members of the crew including Big L, Showbiz, Lord Finesse, Fat Joe, O.C., A.G., Buckwild, and Diamond D. After... Read more

April 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Dres Goes In For DJ Premier’s Bars In The Booth. How Does The Black Sheep / evitaN O.G. Do? (Video)

Late last year, DJ Premier launched his Bars In The Booth series. Kicking things off with Papoose, the spot pairs MCs of all sorts with a Premo instrumental in the studio, seemingly on the spot. Next up, Premo goes to a peer in Dres. The former front-man of The Black... Read more

April 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Scarface Talks Weight Loss, Depression & Rick Ross Being Underrated With Combat Jack (Audio)

Just like in his raps, Scarface tends to give it to you raw in an interview. The only catch is, you have to catch him first. Not always big (read: trusting) on interviews, the Houston, Texas Hip-Hop legend, and core member of The Geto Boys has never minced his words... Read more

April 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

50 Cent Gets Film Noir As A Hustler (Video)

Like clockwork, 50 Cent dropped the video to yesterday's (April 14th) "Hustler." The Jake One-produced Animal Ambition cut gets a 1950s Film Noir inspired visual, complete with suits, cigars, hats, and of course, femme fatales. Related: Joe Supplies a Trademark Hook to 50 Cent on Big Rich Town (Video)... Read more

April 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Right As Pharoahe Monch Readies P.T.S.D., Prince Po Releases A Video With Organized Konfusion & O.C. (Video)

Tomorrow, Pharoahe Monch will release his fourth solo album, P.T.S.D. Earlier todays, fans were (and still are) treated to an early listen. However, quite cleverly, Prince Po released the video to "Smash" from his own 2014 LP, Animal Serum, produced and starring by Oh No. The two members of Organized... Read more

April 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jon Connor Sets His Sights On The Notorious B.I.G.’s Beats For #BestInTheWorld, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

Last month, Jon Connor launched his #BestInTheWorld campaign paying tribute to another Midwestern MC in a Kanye West-inspired tape. Flint, Michigan's newest Rap hopeful continues the theme, turning his aim on The Notorious B.I.G.'s catalog. Overtop beats made by DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, and of course Puffy's Hitmen, #ConnorSeason... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

50 Cent Is Still A Hustler. He Tells You How On A Jake One Beat (Audio)

50 Cent will uncage his Animal Ambition on June 1st now. Always calculated, always marketing, Fif will have likely shared a bulk of the LP by then. Today, care of DJ Enuff, Curtis dropped off "Hustler," produced by longtime collaborator Jake One. It's a straightforward 50 Cent track that will... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Think You’ve Got Bars? Try Tackling Apollo Brown’s Cigarette Burns Instrumentals (Free EP)

Last week, Detroit, Michigan-based producer Apollo Brown got one of his biggest looks in his lengthy career, care of a Chance The Rapper single, "The Writer." After working with O.C., Guilty Simpson, and his group, The Left, Apollo is known to release plenty of instrumental projects with his label, Mello... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Ever Heard Roc Marciano’s Early Gems With Pete Rock & Large Professor? Listen To The U.N.’s U.N. Or U Out (Album Stream)

Tomorrow (April 15th), Fat Beats Records is re-releasing The U.N.'s one and only album R U.N. R U Out? Roc Marciano's early group (with Mike Raw, Dino Brave and Laku) was backed by none other than Carson Daly (hard to imagine, right?), and put in the studio with O.G.'s like... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pharoahe Monch Is One Of Hip-Hop’s Most Consistent Album-Makers. How’s P.T.S.D. Stack Up? (Album Stream)

Tomorrow (April 15th), Pharoahe Monch will release his fourth studio solo album, P.T.S.D. Early intel says that it's the Organized Konfusion's most intimate, most vulnerable, and thus, most personal album to date (with some classic P.Monch cockiness too). Featuring involvement Black Thought, Quelle Chris, Talib Kweli, and others, the W.A.R.... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

SZA Makes You Feel The Warm Winds In This Hazy Visual (Video)

SZA's kind of an impressionistic singer. Rather than be about a crisp delivery and concrete images, the TDE songstress (with tons of talent) is all about vibe, mood, and feeling. Her songwriting is very poetic and abstract, while her delivery is evocative, while being open-ended. "Warm Winded" is no exception,... Read more

April 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jhene Aiko Clears Out The Closet For The Comfort Inn Ending Freestyle (Video)

Jhene Aiko's name is suddenly appearing everywhere. Kim Kardashian is now posting videos putting Aiko's jams on the tabloid shows, while her new material, solo and collaborative, is climbing the charts. Jhene shows that she's a great actress, and her music comes from the heart in the stream of conscious-inspired... Read more

April 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Childish Gambino Has Some Artful Fun In Sweatpants (Video)

Childish Gambino made a video for "Sweatpants," from his acclaimed because the Internet album. The video, which can seemingly be interpreted a number of ways, uses lots of tracking shots, a cool 24-hour diner location, clever editing, and some Groundhog Day-esque repetition to make the song with some of Donald... Read more

April 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Shabaam Sahdeeq, Wais P & Sha Stimuli Move That Dope Over An Amazing DJ Skizz Beat (Audio)

Last year, DJ Skizz's BQE album celebrated some New York Hip-Hop history, with members of The Juice Crew, D.I.T.C., M.O.P., and The Firm all on the same 2013 LP. This year, the NYC-based producer is already hitting the ground running. "That Dope" is made by Shabaam Sahdeeq. The MC was... Read more

April 12, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Outkast Reunites On The Coachella Stage After A Decade Concert Absence (Video)

So you didn't have the money, or maybe the time, or maybe even the energy for Coachella. In the digital age, you can still dive in without paying 10 bills for water, or getting your shoes scuffed up. Outkast took the stage Friday night (April 11). The reunion of Big... Read more

April 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

“I Think He Planned It”: Get The Inside Scoop On Canibus’ LL Cool J-Inspired Microphone Tattoo (Video)

Canibus has one of the most famous Hip-Hop tattoos. 'Bis, following an interesting exchange with his Queens idol LL Cool J, decided to copy the Def Jam superstar's bicep ink: a microphone. Moreover, Canibus got "Rip the Jacker" also inked, a clear diss to the "Jack The Ripper" '80s mainstay.... Read more

April 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Watch Big Boi Bust A 1993 Verse Back In High School (Video)

By 1993, OutKast had already made their debut appearance on the Organized Noize remix to TLC's "What About Your Friends." However, Big Boi was still slammin' lockers in high school, Tri-Cities High School to be exact. Daddy Fat Sax was still just a kiddie when this video was made of... Read more

April 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Killer Mike & Alchemist Give The Boondocks A New Charged Anthem (Audio)

Next week, "The Boondocks" is dropping their mixtape to season 4. Regular Adult Swim collaborator (R.A.P. was released on Williams Street's label, after all) Killer Mike teamed with Alchemist to give a show-inspired anthem in "The Boonies." The song may be based on something besides the streets of Adamsville, but... Read more

April 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Watch The Drummer Get Wicked! Madlib Makes A Beat On The Drums, Turntables & Pads (Video)

When Heads of a certain age were young, we watched Grandmixer DST cut it up in Herbie Hancock's legendary video to "Rockit." That single moment, putting scratching and cutting in the mainstream (Herbie would later score awards galore for the fresh LP), prompted many DJs to gravitate towards the record... Read more

April 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

David Banner Tells The Story Of Congolese Freedom Fighter Patrice Lumumba Alongside SA-ROC On The Who?

David Banner is a force to be reckoned with. The Mississippi veteran MC/producer infuses much of his music with information, passion, and a fiery delivery. Such is the case on "Who Am I?," a Bob James-sampling track that tells the story of Patrice Lumumba, Congo's first democratically-elected Prime Minister who,... Read more

April 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Asher Roth Reaches A New Plateau Of Social Commentary In His Career With The World Is Not Enough (Video)

Back in 2008 and 2009, when Asher Roth was hot on the scene, he was being reportedly courted by everybody from Ludacris to Jay Z to the eventual deal he inked with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records. The Bucks County, Pennsylvania MC was tearing down freestyles, and winning over naysayers who... Read more

April 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

EPMD’s Green-Eyed Bandit Erick Sermon Freaks Some Sheena Easton When He Plays Rhythm Roulette (Video)

Erick Sermon isn't an artist who is always running for the spotlight in the digital age. The EPMD co-founder and producer/MC double-threat stays busy at his craft, and does interviews, releases songs and videos as he feels necessary. However, Mass Appeal got the Brentwood, Long Island Def Squad delegate to... Read more

April 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Raekwon Flaunts His Verbal Jewels Over A Sweet Dionne Warwick Sample (Audio)

If you're a fan of those O.G. player tracks, where a prominent MC rocks confidently over gliding samples, then Raekwon's got just what you wanted today. "The Living Room," finds The Chef chopping down bossy bars about living the good life with some sweet '60s Soul underneath. Throughout this young... Read more

April 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

You Think You’ve Heard All The Versions Of Nas’ It Ain’t To Tell? Think Again (Audio)

Next week's release of Illmatic XX, a compilation re-releasing Nas' 1994 debut album with some additional freestyles, remixes, and songs recorded during the 1992-1994 sessions which missed the initial Columbia/Sony/RuffHouse release is gearing up. Some Heads, who had bootlegs, mixtapes, and a savvy Internet finger may claim they've heard everything.... Read more

April 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

One Of 2Pac’s Most Hip-Hop-Minded Songs Gets A Nice New Cookin’ Soul Remix (Audio)

Sometimes Tupac Shakur's Hip-Hop contributions are underplayed. Sure, 'Pac was a new kind of superstar rapper at the time of his death in late 1996, but Heads can forget that the native New Yorker was a B-boy too. Although One Nation never released the album as 'Pac intended, the group's... Read more

April 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Method Man & Redman Play Tongue Twisters Game With Cotton-Mouth (Video)

Montreality can seemingly get legendary rappers to do just about anything. Fresh off of getting Kool G Rap to recall delivering Chinese food, the Great North site got Redman & Method Man (Meth's not always the biggest fan of media either) to play Tongue Twisters. The Def Jam O.G.'s battle... Read more

April 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Roots Announce Their Next Album Is Less Than 6 Weeks Away

Earlier this week, The Roots dropped off "When The People Cheer," their first completely in-house, new music in over a year. ?uestlove, Black Thought, Tuba Gooding, Jr. and the rest of the crew have now announced, via Def Jam Records, that their next studio album is coming May 19. No... Read more

April 9, 2014 Fresh

Snoop Dogg & Daz Make A Touching Uncle June Bugg Tribute With Years Of Footage (Video)

Following last week's audio tribute from Tha Dogg Pound to Uncle June Bugg, Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger made the video. The cousins/DPG relatives shared years of footage from their late uncle, while performing for the camera. In addition to Bishop Don Magic Juan, Uncle June was one of the... Read more

April 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Cash Money & DJ Scratch Rock The Bells, With Some Biz Markie Hilarity (Video)

Although he made one classic Hip-Hop single, Philadelphia's DJ Cash Money is a turntable innovator to the highest degree. Along with DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinbad, and DJ Code Money, Cash ushered in a Philly dominance in the scratching and mixing in the mid-late 1980s that's still up there with... Read more

April 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Chance The Rapper Teams With Apollo Brown, And The Results Are Explosive (Audio)

Chance The Rapper's growing movement has been mostly with in-house producers (Nate Fox Blended Babies), give or a take a few looks from the likes of Jake One or BrandUn Deshay. However, in a rather surprising move, C.T.R. let loose a joint he made with Detroit, Michigan-based Apollo Brown. Apollo... Read more

April 9, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Check Out This Tender Hip-Hop Moment That Will Make You Smile (Video)

Family is an important part of Hip-Hop. So is having fun. Large Professor this video from Brooklyn Bowl of he and his daughter vibin' out to DJ Premier on the wheels of steel (playing some Run-DMC and some Big L). If this don't bring a smile, check your pulse... #FunFact:... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

If You Don’t Have Fancy Footwork, Freeway & Girl Talk Will Leave You With Broken Ankles (EP Mixtape)

After two singles, one being a video, Freeway & Girl Talk released Broken Ankles today. The free EP (or freEP) features Jadakiss, Waka Flocka Flame, and others. The Pittsburgh native DJ and the Philly-based MC came together with some '80s kick and snare-minded production to set their working relationship off... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Denitia & Sene’s Divided Gets A Visual To Complement It Perfectly (Video)

Recently, Denitia & Sene unleashed their slow, dreamy and melodic "Divided." With a black & white backdrop, and a natural landscape, the corresponding video matches the song perfectly. After years of collaboration, this pair seems to be trailblazing new ground musically, and in cultivating their audiences. Gotta love the beat... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Bad Lucc & Problem Show That The Sights & Sounds Of South Central Haven’t Changed (Video)

The synth break on The Ohio Players' "Funky Worm" has been as West Coast as swap meets, and pumps and dumps in trunks since N.W.A.'s "Dopeman." As they are respected for, Bad Lucc and Problem carry on tradition in "Outchea." Moreover, the label-mates show you that Los Angeles, at least... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Nas Strolls Down Memory Lane, Talking The Legendary Producers Who Backed Him Early, With Zane Lowe

Illmatic XX has Nas really looking in his rearview. The sometimes reclusive Queensbridge MC is completely open in looking at the formation of his most celebrated album. Zane Lowe, who is getting unrivaled access to guys like Eminem, Jay Z, and Kanye West, sits down with Nasir on his audio... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Yasiin Gaye’s (Mos Def & Marvin Gaye) Ms. Fat Booty Gets A Mashed Up Visual Component (Video)

Just when it felt like Yasiin Gaye could get no bigger, the creator of the fully-produced Marvin Gaye and Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) mash-up project, Amerigo Gazaway, went to the visual medium. For the Gaye-enhanced remix of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides single, "Ms. Fat Booty," Gazaway morphed... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rapsody Paints Her Numbers On The Boards With Some Attitude (Audio)

This month, Pusha T's "Numbers On The Boards" has its first birthday. That doesn't mean that the grimy instrumental created by DJ Don Cannon and Kanye West doesn't still attract MCs from elsewhere to mold it to them. Such is the case with Rapsody. She barely stops for air as... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Statik Selektah Lays Down A Great Scratch-Chorus For 1982’s Sucker Free (Audio)

Statik Selektah and Termanology appear to be ramping up another 1982 project. Statik laces a really grabbing scratch-chorus (showing his emulation of onetime mentor DJ Premier), on a faster-pace track called "Sucker Free." Term talks about handing out buck 50's (not meaning six quarters), while his own protege Ea$y Money... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Fat Joe Interpolates A Little Classic Queen Latifah Alongside Rick Ross & French Montana (Audio)

Back in 2010, Fat Joe took an unmistakable Soul II Soul vocal riff, and made it into a grimy summertime anthem alongside Young Jeezy for his first Darkside LP. While the faces have changed, the D.I.T.C. member-turned-global superstar has done it again. Interpolating Queen Latifah's catchy 1993 chorus from "Just... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Roots Premiere A New Song That Speaks To Everyman (Audio)

Although The Roots worked with Elvis Costello in 2013, it's been some months since the Heads were treated to a completely Roots Crew jam. That changed today with "When The People Cheer." While the record might sound entertainment-specific in the title, it's some great Everyman Rap that furthers the tradition... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

SZA Offers Up The Dreamy & Thoughtful Kendrick Lamar-Assisted Babylon (Audio)

In less than 12 hours, (the opening ticks of April 8th), TDE's songstress SZA will deliver her Z EP. With a nice sampling already in the marketplace, fans were treated to "Babylon" today. The track features star label-mate Kendrick Lamar with some incredibly dense, personal-feeling rhymes, while SZA's cloudy vocals... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Freeway & Girl Talk Invite Jadakiss On Board For Hardcore, I Can Hear Sweat (Audio)

Tomorrow, Freeway & Girl Talk will release Broken Ankles, the free-EP. The Philly-Pittsburgh connect showed off their raucous video for the Waka Flocka Flame-assisted "Show You How" last week, before turning to "I Can Hear Sweat" this week. This track features the same strong energy, and attitude as the first,... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Watch ONYX’s Sticky Fingaz & Fredro Starr Brutally Body A Freestyle (Video)

HipHopDX & Team BackPack's Rooftop Freestyle series in Hollywood has included some buzzing names in Hip-Hop's come-up scene. Additionally, a host of veterans have rolled through and kicked some verses in the sunshine. However, can anybody ever say they came as hard as Fredro Starr and cousin Sticky Fingaz? The... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ & Kirk Knight Go Back & Forth In The Booth For 10 Minutes, Over Classic Instruments (Video)

Stopping in London recently, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight hit the recording studio for the "Fire In The Booth" series. Kirk gets a coming out party, noting that he doesn't even have a project available, while the pair play games with the BBC's Charlie Sloth, implementing some homegrown... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass & Mista Lawnge’s White Crows Kick Something R.E.A.L. Over A New Wave Sample (Audio)

After their first song back in February, the HRSMN x Black Sheep connection strengthens. Ras Kass & Mista Lawnge's The Black Crows are back with "Something R.E.A.L." The lyric-driven track features a sampled chorus from Boy George's original group, which Heads might not expect. But it comes out nicely. After... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Da Beatminerz In The House! DJ Evil Dee’s Tribute Mix For Frankie Knuckles (Audio)

DJ Evil Dee stays on the mix (c'mon, and kick it!). One of the living legends of Bushwick, Brooklyn and Hip-Hop production has been making mixtapes for over 25 years. Although Evil Dee (and brother Mr. Walt) are best known for grimy, bass-driven Hip-Hop beats (especially with his group, Black... Read more

April 6, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Fashawn & Exile Make Some Fight Music, For The Bradley Vs. Pacquiao Fight (Audio)

On 2009's Boy Meets World, Fashawn rhymed quite a bit about gettin' picked on in his younger days, over DJ Exile production. As the Fresno, California MC got older and was taken under the wings of older Heads, he started fighting back, and a few harassers got punched in the... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Papoose Links With DJ Premier Again, This Time On Current Events (Audio)

Papoose has been in the Rap game for over 16 years. From how people get their music to "what's beef," the Brooklyn MC has watched a lot change. He talks about what sees as it pertains to the now, while DJ Premier pieces together one of the best scratch-choruses heard... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh