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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

Scarface Announces His First Album In 6 Years, And A Book To Go With It (Video)

Scarface has not released a studio album since 2008's Emeritus. However, the Geto Boy/Facemob member has not retired, as previously speculated. Au contraire, as 'Face tells MySpace that Deeply Rooted is what's next. "It talks about my life," Scarface says of the book and album in the video. "The good... Read more

April 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Yelawolf Turns The Keys To The Pickup Truck In Box Chevy V (Video)

Although Yelawolf has been in the mainstream Hip-Hop scene for less than five years, he's quickly become one of the biggest endorsers of Chevrolet. Up there with Trick Daddy and Death Row-era Dr. Dre, Yela has made anthem after anthem about Caprices, Impalas, Monte Carlos, and Malibus. Now, for "Chevy... Read more

April 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

KRS-One Kicks Some Hard Rhymes Overtop A Guitar Loop. It’s True School (Audio)

DJ Jean Maron has worked with an assortment of New York Hip-Hop legends. Maron's 2010 Run-MPC LP with M-Dot included M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Craig G. Almost four years later, Maron links with KRS-One. On "True School," Blastmasta has that Teacha's fervor as he expounds on why... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Add-2 Makes Perhaps The Realest Rap Commentary On The Violence In Chicago (Video)

Since long before he was a Jamla artist, Add-2 has been grinding, part of the independent renaissance coming from Chicago, Illinois since the mid-2000s and before. Now teaming with The Away Team/Soul Council's Khrysis, Add is reaching a higher plateau with an expanding audience. Hurt and disgusted by the violence... Read more

April 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

SZA Delivers A Tune In Sweet November That Sounds Like An Early ’70s Time Capsule (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment's SZA is something special. While some of her material sounds especially futuristic, other moments, like today's "Sweet November" sound like holdover sessions from the late '60s or early '70s. This Z EP inclusion is the latter style, sounding like a catchy love ballad that might sound fine... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

If You Want To Understand No Malice’s Newfound Principles, Listen To These Backroom Bars (Video)

In the last week, a March video interview at South By Southwest found No Malice adamantly dismissing rumors of another Clipse album. While Heads across the universe may have sighed, eye-rolled, or just flat-out been upset, the artist formerly known as Malice has his reasons. The Virginia lyricist still takes... Read more

April 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

24 Hours After Draft Day, Drake’s Got A Slowed Down, Melodic Days In The East (Audio)

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday Drake let some bars off with the talk of the proverbial town in "Draft Day." Drizzy drops two songs in as many days now with "Days In The East." The song explores cross-town love, and its affect on perspective. PartyNextDoor produced this sung track, with some thumping... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

RZA Claims He’s Already Had A $5 Million Offer For The Wu-Tang Clan One Of One Album

Last week, AFH was among the first to report on a Wu-Tang Clan album, recorded in and currently stored in the nation of Morocco. Produced largely by longtime WTC affiliate Cilvaringz, the 31-track LP known as Wu: Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is reported to be only released on... Read more

April 2, 2014 Fresh

Janelle Monae Covers The David Bowie Classic & She Does It Justice (Audio)

Just two weeks after Miguel (with Wale) tackled the Elton John classic "Bennie & The Jets," another British musical icon with decades of hits gets covered. Janelle Monae revisited David Bowie's transcending 1977 hit "Heroes" for the upcoming Rio 2 film soundtrack. While The Wallflowers and Oasis have both covered... Read more

April 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

2014 Record Store Day Will Include Limited Edition Gil Scott Heron Recordings, Including This 2008 Gem (Audio)

It's soon to be almost three years since the world lost an amazing singer, poet and author in Gil Scott Heron. The Harlem, New York-based Heron is known for creating the basis of songs that spoke candidly about the last days of the Civil Rights Era, drug use, gentrification, and... Read more

April 2, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Shots Fired!!! Drake Strikes Back At Jay Z AND Chance the Rapper (Audio)

Two Sundays ago, Jay Z shook things up in the Rap hemisphere with a Jay Electronica collaboration where Hov seemingly addressed Drake's Rolling Stone magazine comments, criticizing the art and fashion contents of his Magna Carta...Holy Grail raps. So Jay sarcastically apologized in the song, apparently addressing Drake as "Miss... Read more

April 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Big Boi Gets Beautifully Trippy With A Paul McCartney & Wings Blend (Video)

OutKast Heads may remember that the third member of Earthtone III, 'Kast's mixmaster, Mr. DJ, had a Wings sample on his MySpace back in the day. While Big Boi's latest mash-up does not tap into that "Wild Life" joint, Daddy Fat Sax morphed his 2012 single, "Mama Told Me" with... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Denitia And Sene Are Divided On A Slow & Sexy Beat (Audio)

One of the popular producers in this style of Hip-Hop, Christian Rich, laces Sene and Denitia with this slow-moving, smoky and sexual song about how being apart affects being together. Sene's definitely headed in a different direction than what Heads witnessed with Blu over the years. How do you feel... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kanye West Isn’t The Only Artist To End Up In The Trunk Of A Woman’s Car. 50 Cent Follows (Video)

It's now safe to assume that if 50 Cent releases a song from Animal Ambition, you'll get the video within 24 hours. This held true of the Dr. Dre & Dawaun Parker-produced "Smoke." Following yesterday's intentional leak, the video arrives. This visual kind of ends up where Kanye West's "Flashing... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Chuck Inglish & Action Bronson Bring Throwback Elements To New Music In Gametime (Audio)

The lead-up to Chuck Inglish's Convertibles is in at least fourth gear. The Cool Kids MC plans his LP for next Tuesday (April 8th), and he unleashed "Gametime" featuring a blog-era Rap contemporary, Action Bronson. Both MCs are known for throwback qualities, subject matters, and favored production styles. That's very... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

What If You Treated Your Haters Like Mortal Kombat? Freeway, Girl Talk & Waka Flocka Flame Show You How (Video)

One week from today, Freeway & Girl Talk are releasing Broken Ankles EP via DatPiff. The State Property vet from Philly and the mash-up/legal juggernaut from Pittsburgh may make an unlikely pair, however, there's clearly something special here. "Tolerated" shows that. The Keystone State kids walk around Hollywood, encountering hate... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Michael Jackson’s Archives Are Going To Be Produced By Which Hip-Hop Super-Producer? (Video)

It's soon to be five years since "The King Of Pop" Michael Jackson tragically passed away. In addition to a diamond-paved catalog of hit songs and blockbuster albums, M.J. is soon to have a second posthumous LP. Named Xscape (no relation to the '90s girl group), details are starting to... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Video

CyHi The Prynce’s 3:16 Celebrates One Of His Verses (Video)

Now over a month removed from CyHi The Prynce's Black Hystori project, the G.O.O.D. Music hopeful continues to bring renewed shine to his bars through some recent freestyle and interview appearances. "3:16," made with the same sample De La Soul and Jay Dee made a classic with back in '96,... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Video

Tech N9ne & Murs Come Together For The First Time as Label Mates on Hard (Audio)

Through Paid Dues, Murs and Tech N9ne go back. Two independent Hip-Hop titans who manage to succeed in a changing music industry after botched major label deals, Murray and Tech have plenty in common. Following Murs joining Strange Music for a Strange deal, the two lyricists with incredibly high opinions... Read more

March 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Diamond D & Pharoahe Monch’s Collaborations Continue In Rap Life (Video)

The D.I.T.C. x Organized Konfusion history goes beyond O.C. Pharoahe Monch and Diamond D have been working together since 1997's The Equinox, with additional work on Monch's solo albums. That action continues on "Rap Life." With Alchemist making a cameo, we see the two New York O.G.'s making the track,... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Spazzes Out With Alicia Keys On The Pharrell-Produced New Spiderman Anthem (Audio)

Many times, rapping (even incredibly dope, innovative, skillful rapping) comes after the chorus, tucked away in the song when it comes to mainstream R&B/Pop/Hip-Hop blends. This is not at all the case with the single from The Amazing Spiderman 2 film. Kendrick Lamar goes in to the nucleus to kick... Read more

March 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

No Malice Puts Clipse Fans’ Hopes To Bed. “Being Very Clear” (Video)

Like all great groups (Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan), The Clipse are currently sending some mixed messages in regards to their status. Both Pusha T and No Malice released studio albums in 2013, with very different sounds and messages. Push appeared on Mal's Hear Ye Him, which went... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Video

50 Cent & Dr. Dre Team Up Again. But How Will It Sound In Da Club? (Audio)

50 Cent may have left the Interscope Records building, but he still has access to one of his own mentors, and Interscope's longtime franchise superstar, Dr. Dre. Almost two years since Fif and The Doc collided for the Alicia Keys-assisted "New Day," they invite Trey Songz to the fold for... Read more

March 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Edo G Says He’s Going Back To Da Bulldogs-Era Sound & Using 5 Never Heard Vintage Pete Rock Beats (Video)

Boston Hip-Hop pioneer Edo G (formerly Ed O.G.) is at work on his 11th album. The "Be A Father To Your Child" songwriter, and maker of "Gotta Have It" has done a lot of music since parting ways with Da Bulldogs. He's worked closely with Masta Ace, Diamond D, DJ... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Premier Shows The Untouched Remnants Of D&D Studios, How A Fight With Guru Made A Gang Starr Classic (Video)

In Gang Starr's Hard To Earn 20th anniversary year, DJ Premier has done some special press concerning the group, the album, and the legendary status of his group with Guru. Today, DJ Premier, along with a host of others, work out of Midtown Manhattan's HeadCourterz Studios. Named after the late... Read more

March 31, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Veteran Kentucky-Georgia Hip-Hop Group Cunninglyguists Makes Their Latest Strange Journey Available For Free Listen (Audio)

Heads might not be all the way up on Cunninglyguists. However, this Atlanta, Georgia-meets-Lexington, Kentucky Hip-Hop outfit has been around for over 15 years, with strong ties to Freddie Gibbs, Big K.R.I.T., Masta Ace, and Cee-Lo Green. DJ Kno, Deacon The Villain and Natti—the three current members of the QN5... Read more

March 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Black Milk Gives Herb Alpert A Hit Of Tronic For Rhythm Roulette Challenge (Video)

Black Milk is on a roll. Fresh off of some major acclaim for 2013's No Poison No Paradise, the Detroit beat-master launched into 2014 with a fresh, low-key release in Glitches In The Break. The Random Axe member, who's made full albums in his career with Slum Village, Danny Brown,... Read more

March 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

J Dilla’s Omnipresence Continues This Week, With Slum Village’s Yes Yes (Video)

Just a day removed from De La Soul's J Dilla-produced Smell The Da.I.S.Y. mixtape, Slum Village also unveils their continuing posthumous working relationship with the group co-founder. Jay Dee, along with the late Baatin, and T3 brought the Villa from the underground Hip-Hop waters of Detroit in the early '90s.... Read more

March 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

N.W.A. Royalty Reigns, As MC Ren Premieres His Single From The New Album (Audio)

MC Ren has been relatively quiet over the last five years. The Compton, California legend and N.W.A. alumni released Renincarnated a few years back, and since—as Ren's likes to do—has laid relatively low. Now, "The Ruthless Villain" is back with "Rebel Music." The record is produced by longtime Spice-1/Ice Cube... Read more

March 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

RZA & Wu-Tang Clan Have A Recorded Album That Nobody Knows About, And They’re Only Selling 1 Copy?

Ready for the craziest news you've likely heard in 2013? Okay, here goes: Wu-Tang Clan has a new album. No, it's not the delayed A Better Tomorrow. Instead, this 31-track, 128-minute album was allegedly recorded in the country of Morocco, according to an exclusive report by Forbes staff writer and... Read more

March 26, 2014 Fresh

De La Soul Unleashes Their J Dilla-Produced Smell The D.A.I.S.Y. (Mixtape)

During a relatively quiet year for the mixtape medium, three Long Island veterans and a late Detroit mainstay have shattered the tranquil waters. As planned, De La Soul released Smell The D.A.I.S.Y. today (March 26th). The 30-minute mixtape pairs Posdnuos, Maseo, and Dave (fka Trugoy) with the music of their... Read more

March 26, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Mixes

Biggie Smalls, Suge Knight, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg In The Same Room In The Early ’90s? Check The Tapes (Video)

Much has been written, speculated, and sadly, testified in the rift between Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records in the mid-to-late 1990s. While Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were once friends and collaborators, Heads often fail to realize that prior to the 1995 Source Awards, things were not... Read more

March 26, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The Future Is Bright As SZA & Chance The Rapper Find Their Pocket In Childs Play (Audio)

TDE's SZA is off to a great start this year. She creates a smooth, spacey world in "Childs Play" with soft, sensuous vocals. Then, Chance The Rapper enters with one of the best verses post-#AcidRap from him. The two look at their (ever-changing) lives now, as set against their days... Read more

March 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

!llmind Brings Bob James’ Into The Modern Era With This Tribute Remix (Audio)

New Jersey professor/educator !llmind has been knocking around the music industry for over a decade. In addition to full-length work with Skyzoo, 'Mind has credits with G.O.O.D Music's Cruel Summer release, Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2, and joints with Boot Camp Clik, Redman, and Pharoahe Monch. After letting The Roots'... Read more

March 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Prodigy Kicks A Funkmaster Flex Freestyle Over An Odd Future Gem (Video)

Mobb Deep's Prodigy has made millions off of his verses, for over 20 years. The Queens MC/author stopped by Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 show 19 years after both Mobb members appeared on the gold-certified 60 Minutes Of Funk, Vol. 1. The self-proclaimed H.N.I.C. appears to come off the dome, with... Read more

March 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Asher Roth Tries To Help People Get The Message In Fast Life (Video)

This morning, Asher Roth and Vic Mensa released "The Fast Life." Quite a different message and tone than Kool G Rap and Nas' song of the same title from nearly 20 years ago, this record challenges fast-paced living for an ode encouraging the celebration of the simple things. For the... Read more

March 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mobb Deep & Big Noyd’s 1994 Version Update Of MC Shan’s Classic Is Liberated (Audio)

The Bridge Wars were very real. Most Heads know about the Juice Crew vs. Boogie Down Productions main event featuring MC Shan, Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante and more versus KRS-One, Scott La Rock, Just-Ice, DJ Kenny Parker and others. However, throughout the late '80s and early '90s, other artists were... Read more

March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk & Young Chris Get Mean On A New State Property Track (Audio)

State Property had a style all their own in the late '90s and early 2000s. Roc-A-Fella's Philly army never shied from fast tracks that required deft rapping. Such is the case with the Mike Jerz-produced "Reputation." This sounds like vintage S.P., with Young Chris, Peedi Crakk, Freezer, rapping off the... Read more

March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Sean C & LV – Loud Dreams Vol. 1 Features Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, Big K.R.I.T. & Plenty More (Mixtape)

On his own, Sean C produced "Can't Knock The Hustle" and "Roc Boys" for Jay Z. The New Yorker not only co-founder the legendary X-Ecutionerz DJ crew (R.I.P. Roc Raida), but he was a major hand in Loud Records' success, thanks to his A&R role. Once he teamed with LV,... Read more

March 25, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

50 Cent Is The Literal Captain Of His Craft In Pilot (Video)

It certainly appears that every song on 50 Cent's Animal Ambition will have a corresponding video. Beyonce and Rick Ross aren't the only artists taking on this multimedia approach, as Fif drops the video to "Pilot" approximately 12 hours after the third official look from his forthcoming studio album hit... Read more

March 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Catch The Snippets & Full Stream To Prodigy & Havoc’s Throwback Album The Infamous Mobb Deep (Audio)

On April 1st, Prodigy & Havoc are releasing The Infamous Mobb Deep. The album will be Mobb Dizzle's first full-length release since 2006's G-Unit one-off, Blood Money. Additionally, the carefully-titled LP also includes some unreleased material recorded from 1994 and 1995, for the duo's cult-championed masterpiece, The Infamous. The two... Read more

March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Give Chance The Rapper’s Homies Social Experiment A Home Studio, You’ll Get New Music (Audio)

Chance The Rapper rolls with band/production crew Social Experiment. Last week, the collective came with an alternate, O.G. mix of the James Blake collaboration "Life Around Here." In the days since, Social Experiment opened up their own home studio and invited C.T.R. over. Together they made the appropriately-titled "Home Studio."... Read more

March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

80s Slow Jam Lovers Will Groove Along To This Soul Train-Inspired Pharrell Happy Remix (Audio)

Atlanta, Georgia party-rockers ForteBowie are known throughout Fulton and Dekalb counties. However, following this flip of Pharrell's Oscar-nominated "Happy," word is expanding. This "1988 Soul Train Remix" features a flip of Keith Sweat's Make it Last Forever in a way that would make father Don Cornelius proud. If Pharrell is... Read more

March 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

50 Cent Pilots A Third Single From Animal Ambition, But Does It Land? (Audio)

50 Cent is in full beast mode promoting Animal Ambition. After two singles, and two subsequent videos to each of the records, a third look emerges. "Pilot" may be a step closer to Curtis and Before I Self Destruct. After some of the recent excitement surrounding Fif's return to pre-2005/mixtape... Read more

March 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Blu Drops Off 39 More Tracks In soul amazing part three (Audio)

Blu does it against. The forever unpredictable MC/producer who bootlegs himself was not done with the 77 songs he gave away in January and February, respectively. Johnson Barnes drops off 39 more, topping out at over 100. This batch of heard (but plenty rare) joints includes work with Kendrick Lamar,... Read more

March 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh