Bandini

J. Cole Presents A Complex Speech Honoring Nas At The VIBE Image Awards (Video)

The same night Nas performed "Nas Is Like" and "If I Ruled The World" alongside his Firm collaborator Dr. Dre and Ruffhouse Records label-mates Cypress Hill, he was honored by VIBE. The same magazine that brought Nasir and J. Cole together for a powerful cover-story in 2013, had the Roc... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mobb Deep Will Release Unheard Infamous Verses By Nas, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & N.O.R.E.

So often with classic albums, what was released was almost everything that was recorded. In 2014, it's often hard to imagine that there's much that hasn't leaked over time, with all the deluxe reissues and bootlegs. Mobb Deep is proving this wrong. During the 1994 recording of Prodigy and Havoc's... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Dr. Dre, Nas, Eminem, Diddy & Ma$e & Pharcyde Etc. Come Together To Perform At Beats’ Grammy Party

Earlier this month, Beats Music launched. From the creators of the Beats By Dre headphone and electronics lines, this streaming subscription service is the latest competitor in a space that includes Spotify, Pandora and others. With plenty to celebrate, Beats hosted a Grammy Awards weekend party at Los Angeles, California's... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Details His Reaction To The Grammy Awards Nomination (Video)

Where was one of 2013's hardest-working artists when he caught wind of his Grammy Award nomination for "Album Of The Year"? Take one good guess... Hint: Not the recording studio... Kendrick Lamar discusses to The Hollywood Reporter what he expects from his first Grammy nods and first time attending, as... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Drama King Is About Keeping New York Hip-Hop Unified On The Rise Of A City (Mixtape)

A decade ago, DJ Kay Slay was a wager of war. The Mixtape Awards winner took on the Drama King persona in the '90s, and was not above strong arm tactics on tapes, on radio, and in the streets to reign supreme in the highly-competitive culture of exclusives and style-jackers.... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

BJ The Chicago Kid & Add-2 Apply 15 Minutes Of Fame To Relationships Over A 9th Wonder Beat (Audio)

While Andy Warhol's notion of the "15 Minutes of Fame" tends to apply to well, fame, it can mean anybody's limited moment in the sun. Jamla Records artist Add-2 and fellow Chicago, Illinois native BJ hook up for "15 Minutes Of Fame," looking at fickle romantic relationships cut short. The... Read more

January 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Jay Rock & Ty Dolla $ign Take Notice Of How Things Change With Fame (Video)

Two of Southern California's harder working, breakthrough artists have noticed how things have changed—from the women and dollars, to the expectations and the hate. They come together on "Never Be The Same" to look at things as they were, and are, and say never no more, from a burn site,... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murs Shows You A Day In His New Life As A Family Man In Owner$hip (Video)

Murs videos have long been narrative. The Los Angeles MC has many sides to his life and music, and these come out in his videos. From the just-released, conceptual $hut Your Trap mixtape, Murray welcomes his fans to Tucson, Arizona, where you meet his wife and children, and get a... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Dag Savage Unveils Their LP’s First Single With Exile’s Right Hand Man Blu (Audio)

Exile is into his latest concoction: Dag Savage, with Johaz. Part of the appeal of the group comes from Ex's track record for budding talent. In 2007, it was Blu. In 2009, it was Fashawn. Those worlds collide on "Don't Stop," the official first single from the upcoming Dag Savage... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

2014 Dilla Day Detroit To Include Native Tongues, Slum Village & DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock

From his work with Slum Village to "Fuck The Police," J Dilla helped give Detroit a rhythm throughout the '90s and 2000s. Jay Dee, as Heads first knew him, helped take the sound coming out of the Electronica influence, combined with Soul City sampling, and made artists ranging from De... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Whoa. The Incomparable Shakespeare Sets A 2014 Standard With This Freestyle (Video)

Ambrosia For Heads has been down with Brooklyn's The Incomparable Shakespeare for a minute. After this stop on Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio show, Heads can expect more. Over classics by The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Scarface, Shake' slams some bars that show his confidence in himself, while still paying... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Pete Rock, Rapsody & Lecrae Find The Good In Things, On A Khrysis Beat (Audio)

Jamla most definitely Is The Squad, especially this week. 9th Wonder's imprint has set the week ablaze with leaks from the upcoming project, mixed by Statik Selektah. If you thought Rapsody's She Got Game was impressive with its vocal and production chemistry with other artists, you'll enjoy "Be Inspired." In... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

D12 Reportedly In The Studio With Eminem, Working On First Album In 10 Years

While few things can trump these reports of an Outkast reunion, Eminem and D12 fans got some welcomed news this week. Mark Bass, one half of The Bass Brothers production team that worked with Em and his crew since before the major label days ("Cum On Everybody," "Kim"), told The... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh

Wale Writes A Letter Explaining Why He’s Not Using Twitter Much, Addresses Listener Criticism

Ms. Lauryn Hill and Lil Wayne are not the only artists writing open letters. From his EveryBlueMoon site, Wale has broken a silence on why the once deeply-active, sometimes-controversial Twitter user has shied away from the social media platform. The Maybach Music Group MC's Twitter account shows that he largely... Read more

January 22, 2014 Fresh

Moe Green Brings Props To His Delivery For His New OutCrowd 110 Group (Video)

Bay Area sensation Moe Green has been steadily building a buzz over the last five years. As a live performer, Moe can command attention with his animation and charisma. Viewers of his new "110" video from his collaborative group with Touchscreen Tell will feel this too. Moe pushes his words... Read more

January 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

GQ & Khrysis Pick Up Where Slick Rick’s Mona Lisa Left Off (Audio)

It was cold how Mona Lisa sang (courtesy of a cut-in Dionne Warwick) to "walk on by." Well, 25 years later Jamla's basketball star-turned-professional MC GQ picks up in that same frame of mind, rappin' on a Khrysis flip of the beat that Heads have known for years. This comes... Read more

January 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Mister Cee Opens Up To GQ, Says That Biggie Smalls Would Have Stood By Him

This is a week for the Heads that love to read. Following this week's Kanye West and Steve McQueen conversation in Interview magazine, GQ pulls out the big guns with Mister Cee in a story that's been in the works for almost four months. After the on-air discussion with HOT... Read more

January 22, 2014 Fresh

Tito Lopez Earns The Pound Cake Beat With A Straight Talk Freestyle (Audio)

With so many artists, once in a while they make those real, talking to you tracks every so often, and Heads rejoice. Since 2010, Gulfport, Mississippi's Tito Lopez never seems to step out of that late. From Dr. Dre co-signs and Capitol Records deals, people are recognizing. Overtop the Boi-1da... Read more

January 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Astro Buries The Sound Boys In Brooklyn (Audio)

"I'm reppin' my Brooklyn legends" - Astro Astro is getting sharper by the minute. The Brooklyn, New York MC unveiled "Sound Boy Burial." Not a Smif N Wessun cover at all (the flow is more Reasonable Doubt-era Jay Z, if anything), the record essentially honors all of the above. Over... Read more

January 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Trae Tha Truth Raps As DJ Fresh Reworks Some Familiar Sounds Into Dope Beats (EP Stream)

Trae Tha Truth pumps out music at a rate that rivals only Statik Selektah. The Screwed Up Click alum and ABN (Asshole By Nature) general makes mixtapes, albums and a steady stream of collaborations that have taken him from cult-followed obscurity to a nationally-televised face, courtesy of his Hustle Gang... Read more

January 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Jam Master Jay Would Be 49 Years Old This Week. See His Son & DJ Scratch Pay Tribute (Video)

Yesterday (January 21) was Jam Master Jay's birthday. The late DJ/founding member of Run-DMC would have been 49 years old—which is a reminder of just what kind of turntable prodigy he was. In memory of JMJ, his son TJ Mizell (who is a rising sensation behind the wheels of steel... Read more

January 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

Penalty Records Is Back. Guess Who Their First Signing Is…

Penalty Records put out some great Hip-Hop in the 1990s. Whether they know it or not, consumers of Capone-N-Noreaga's The War Report, Lord Finesse's The Awakening, and Crooked Lettaz' Grey Skies supported the New York City label. Neil Levine, a founder of Penalty, has re-launched the brand, now as Penalty... Read more

January 21, 2014 Fresh

It Was A Good Day Indeed, Ice Cube Finally Got His Name On A Good Year Blimp (Photos)

While you might never see "the Lakers beat the Supersonics" again, there's still a lot at play in Ice Cube's "It Was A Good Day" 21 years later. From the trip to Fat Burger, to pick-up basketball, to that triste with the girl he forever lusted for, the DJ Pooh-produced... Read more

January 21, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg Pens A Letter To J Dilla In Song (Audio)

A Tribe Called Quest played a critical role in the career of J Dilla. Back in his days as Jay Dee, it was Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed that gave some early credits and opportunities to the thump-maker from Detroit, Michigan. By virtue of Dilla Dog's work on Beats,... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Big K.R.I.T. Reworks A Gary Clark, Jr. Single & It Sounds Amazing (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. and Gary Clark, Jr. have both stepped into the mainstream around the same time. Both major label artists bring cult audiences with them since their Internet-obscure days, and a sound that few could replicate. While people tend to associate K.R.I.T.'s sounds less with guitars as much as pounding... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Curious If Organized Konfusion’s Prince Poetry Still Has It? He & Oh No Get Toxic (Audio)

Although Pharoahe Monch has had a higher profile career than Prince Poetry since Organized Konfusion parted ways, Heads can't say that either MC outshined each other consistently over the group's three albums. While Monch went to Rawkus Records and reinvented himself courtesy of a smash single later hurt by legalities... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kool G Rap Hits That Roots Of Evil Flow On A New Track With Maffew Ragazino (Audio)

Kool G Rap has many styles. From his social consciousness on "Erase Racism," to his dazzling MC bravado on "Men At Work," to those grimy street tales heard on "Thug Love Story." Along the way, Giancana's flow has evolved, as he's staked a claim as one of Hip-Hop's best, dating... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Talib Kweli, Phonte & Elzhi Come Together For Some Fly Wordplay On A Khrysis Beat (Audio)

In 2000s, some of the most elite MCs have come from three crews that run in the same circles. Reflection Eternal's Talib Kweli, Little Brother's Phonte, and Slum Village's Elzhi have all successfully built identities outside of the groups they came up in. Years later, after a bunch of overlapping... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Black Rob Makes A Stream Of Consciousness Track, Talking To ‘Em (Audio)

Eighteen years after he signed to Bad Boy Records, Black Rob's still very much got it. The charismatic Harlem O.G. has a gift for talking about street ills in a way that people just out for a catchy song can process. Such is the case with "Have A Nice Day."... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Organized Konfusion To Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of Stress: The Extinction Agenda With O.C. & Large Professor

In August of 1994, Pharoahe Monch and Prince Poetry released their second of three albums as Organized Konfusion. The Queens, New Yorkers followed their self-titled 1991 LP with a sophomore joint featuring involvement from Q-Tip, O.C., Buckwild, and a young producer entering the scene named Rockwilder. Within five years the... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Mikkey Halsted & No ID Serve Up Some Raw Salmon Croquettes (Audio)

Chicago, Illinois' Mikey Halsted has been consistently putting out great music for 15 years. A former Cash Money Records artist in waiting, a Virgin Records artist in waiting, and a former rhyme-partner of Rhymefest, Mikkey has a track record paved in almost's. However, if you do some digging, you'll find... Read more

January 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Lil Fame’s Fizzy Womack Persona Continues To Flex Production Skills, This Time For Lucky Tatt (Video)

A lot of the big M.O.P. anthems that come to mind are produced by Brownsville O.G. D/R Period as well as DJ Premier. However, closer inspection will quickly inform that the homies from the Hillside of things were one of Hip-Hop's more self-sufficient artists. Lil Fame, Billy Danze, and manager/producer... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jay Z & Beyonce Late Addition To Rock The 2014 Grammy Awards Stages

The Grammy Awards this coming Sunday (January 26) already have an impressive lineup. Kendrick Lamar, Daft Punk, Lorde were already on the books to rock out—with LL Cool J hosting. It appears that husband and wife superstars Jay Z and Beyonce are a late announcement addition to CBS' primetime music... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh

Alchemist & Evidence Open Up The Doors To Their Step Brothers’ Lord Steppington (Album Stream)

One of the more exciting albums under way in 2014 is Alchemist & Evidence's Step Brothers collaborative debut, Lord Steppington. The Rhymesayers Entertainment release features the pair's extended family such as Oh No, Action Bronson, Fashawn, Blu, Styles P, Roc Marciano, Domo Genesis, and Rakka Iriscience. Dropping tomorrow on all... Read more

January 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Danny Brown Serves Lyrical Dope From An Old School Cadillac (Video)

Danny Brown's Old was one of 2013's many polarizing releases in the Rap genre. Detroit, Michigan's Danny has a unique style and delivery that calls some Heads back to early '90s, and makes others cringe. In "Dope Song," Danny gives a visual explanation to vast influences, ranging from The Pharcyde... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

What Are Some Of The Records That Mean The Most To E-40?

Last week, Pitchfork ran their 5-10-15-20... series with Vallejo, California star E-40. The innovative concept feature looks at the records that shaped an artist through their own upbringing. Earl went in-depth about some of his choices, which included the Reverend Al Green, Miguel, and Stevie Wonder. In addition to three... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Killer Mike & El-P Recruit Blue Sky Black Death For An Official Run The Jewels Remix (Audio)

Killer Mike & El-P's Run The Jewels bullied 2013 year-end lists far and wide. This came after 2012's dominance from both Hip-Hop artists on solo projects, R.A.P. and Cancer4Cure, respectively. Although their official debut group LP, Run The Jewels was released to free stream online long before it was available... Read more

January 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Marco Polo & DJ Revolution Go Crate Digging & Talk Beats, Rhymes & Life (Video)

Marco Polo and DJ Revolution both have strong ties to New York City label, Soulspazm (as well as Duck Down). In 2013, Canadian born Marco released two albums on the Soulspazm: his Newport Authority album, and PA 2: The Director's Cut, both featuring a jaw-dropping lineup of lyricists from the... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Spice-1, Kokane, Young Bleed, C-Bo, JT Money & Gangsta Pat Reminisce on Hip-Hop (Audio)

From the South and the West, the '90s and 2000s delivered some excellent artists who thrived without relying on the support of mainstream radio or video. These artists, who may have had hits, cultivated loyal audiences and made albums for their core. Prezident Bejda, a longtime Murder Dog magazine contributor,... Read more

January 18, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Jay Z Originally Had More Songs Planned For Reasonable Doubt & A Different Sequence?

Jay Z's 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt, has made an immortal impression on Hip-Hop. The Roc-A-Fella Records breakthrough release featured involvement from The Notorious B.I.G., DJ Premier, Ski Beatz, and Mary J. Blige. Now platinum, the album is still considered Jay's best (including by the artist himself), and spawned many... Read more

January 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Murs Makes A Soulful Song With Apollo Brown About Getting Over Pain (Audio)

Almost a decade after making "The Pain" on Murs 3:16 with 9th Wonder, Murray now says "The Pain Is Gone." The Tucson, Arizona-based MC teams with Tucson, Arizona-based label Mello Music Group to release a single with the imprint's producer, Apollo Brown. As Murs has carved a niche for, Murray... Read more

January 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

MF DOOM Has $100 Mask Rings For Sale

From the front-man to Elektra Records group KMD to a Top 200 charting MC, MF DOOM has lived the underground Hip-Hop story. The veiled MC, born in England, but forever entrenched in the '90s New York City (even though he's moved all over) has transcended genre, and through work with... Read more

January 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Canibus Drops The Kind Of Verse That Made Him Famous In New Song (Audio)

So many artists can never seem to find the pocket that made them notable in the first place. Changing time, circumstances, and influences can pull any talent away from their origins. With Canibus, the onetime Fugees/Def Squad/Lost Boyz affiliate certainly has explored conceptually and with his beats. However, the Jamaican-born,... Read more

January 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Yasiin Bey To Honor Muhammad Ali’s Birthday With 3 Exclusives From Africa & New Series (Video)

Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) is a man of surprises. The Brooklyn, New York MC is reclusive at times, and extremely artistically active at others. With less than 24 hours notice, Yasiin has announced on January 17th (5:30 PM EST), he will celebrate champion boxer/social activist Muhammad Ali's... Read more

January 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Three 6 Mafia May Not Be Alone, As Pharrell Is Nominated For An Oscar Award

The 86th Academy Awards nominations were announced this morning. While The Wolf Of Wall Street, Her, and American Hustle colored the Best Picture category, Hip-Hop Heads saw a familiar name further in the nominations. Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" from Despicable Me 2, has been nominated for Best Original Song. The... Read more

January 16, 2014 Fresh

Saigon’s Next Album To Feature 3-4 DJ Premier Tracks & Big Daddy Kane?

Saigon's The Greatest Story Never Told album featured one of the most exciting production lineups for any debut artists. Although it was released over five years after originally planned, on a different label than commissioned it, the album featured production by Just Blaze, with involvement from Kanye West, Swizz Beatz,... Read more

January 16, 2014 Fresh

Homeboy Sandman Puts A Hip-Hop Spin On A Choir Classic (Audio)

Homeboy Sandman never seems to slow down. After one or more projects every year dating back to 2009, BoySand moves from 2013 acclaim of Kool Herc: Fertile Crescent and right into WHITE SANDS, with frequent producer/collaborator, Paul White. To kick things off proper, H.B.S. and Paul drop "Wade Into The... Read more

January 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kanye West’s Yeezus Reaches Platinum Status, He’s Now 7-For-7

For the seventh time in his career, Kanye West has a platinum album. Yeezus, released in June of last year, has reached the benchmark milestone, according to the RIAA. With the announcement, Kanye West has a perfect track record for meeting the million mark. The Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records release included... Read more

January 16, 2014 Fresh

Alchemist & Evidence’s Step Brothers Have A Crooked Cousin In Action Bronson (Audio)

Less than a week before Alchemist & Evidence long-awaited Step Brothers debut, Lord Steppington releases, Rhymesayers Entertainment liberates "Mums In The Garage." The track, led by hard drums and reckless rhyming, welcomes Rare Chandeliers partner Action Bronson to the cypher. The results are as expected on this one: Related: Action... Read more

January 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Flatbush Zombies Haunt The 106 & Park Backroom With Verses (Video)

From Gang Starr and Jeru The Damaja to Eminem and D12 to The Hot Boys, the booth freestyles were important benchmarks for Rap crews. In 2014, Brooklyn's Flatbush Zombies reach the "106 & Park" Backroom. Zombie Juice and Meechie Dark transmit into the mic with extreme confidence, and a delivery... Read more

January 16, 2014 Fresh, Video