Bandini

Jean Grae’s 5 Song jeannie. EP Is Available For Listen (EP Stream)

Jean Grae keeps her promises. The Brooklyn-based MC dropped jeannie. as planned. The five-song EP, released to her Bandcamp, includes early preview "The Mask," as well as four other tunes sans guests. Check it out here: jeannie. by Jean Grae While Jean Grae's partnered with labels for some of her... Read more

January 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Killer Mike Makes Another R.A.P. Visual That Deserves Constant Replay (Video)

In 2012, Killer Mike's video for "Big Beast" seemed to steal the show. It was NSFW with nudity, violence, and a storyline that made it superior to the rigamarole found in contemporary Hip-Hop videos. After 2008's "Pressure" and 2011's "Burn," Mike Bigga's honed a space in video that's all of... Read more

January 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Do Tour Announcements Get Better Than This Home Shopping Network Spoof By Action Bronson & Donnell Rawlings? (Video)

To those who have seen him live, Action Bronson is a great performer. The Queens, New Yorker brings massive-sized energy to his shows, with an assortment of guests, and clouds of smoke that he enjoys sharing with the crowd, amidst his jokes and raps. To announce some Blue Chips 2... Read more

January 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Chi Ali Shows A Street Side Alongside Jadakiss On G Check (Video)

Introduced as a Beatnuts and Black Sheep protege, Chi Ali was the Native Tongues' young'in that had a mischievous side, but a youthful innocence throughout the early '90s. After a 2000 conviction of manslaughter for a high-profile murder in The Bronx, Chi went from "Funky Lemonade" to over a decade... Read more

January 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joell Ortiz Breaks His Silence, Bodying Pusha T & Kendrick Lamar’s Nosetalgia Instrumental (Audio)

In the crop of MCs who can snatch an instrumental and breathe new life into it, Joell Ortiz rings plenty bells. Even before his Slaughterhouse days, the Brooklyn MC had a habit of bodying beats bought by others. On a rendition of Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar's "Nosetalgia," Ortiz shows... Read more

January 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

RJD2 Builds A Music Machine Reminiscent Of Pee-Wee Herman’s Kitchen (Video)

In the mid-1980s, was there anybody cooler than Pee-Wee Herman? Adults laughed along as Paul Rubins created a children's character that was zany, off-the-wall, and filled with various cultural inspirations. Before his later legal woes, Pee-Wee famously had a Rube Goldberg operation in his kitchen to make eggs, toast, orange... Read more

January 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Sir Michael Rocks Is Ballin’ In The Everglades In Memo (Video)

Less than 24 hours after two new Cool Kids songs surfaced, Sir Michael Rocks hits what appears to be Florida's Everglades in "Memo." The video features some raccoon humor in a way that would make fans of The Great Outdoors happy, as Mikey swags out with his friends. Things appear... Read more

January 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Cappadonna Drops A Visual To His Winter Warz Verse 18 Years Later (Video)

In the canon of guest verses, one legendary look came back in 1996, from Staten Island, New Yorker Cappadonna. The Wu-Tang Clan's tightest affiliate, a onetime argued tenth member, Cappa was a co-star on the cover of Ghostface Killah's solo debut, Ironman. After putting Heads to bed with his seemingly... Read more

January 14, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Drake Shoots “Wu-Tang Forever Remix” Video In New York City, But Who Was There? (Photos)

Much has been said, opined, and speculated about Drake's Nothing Was The Same single's unheard companion, "Wu-Tang Forever Remix." While members of the Clan, whose 1997 cut "It's Yourz" (along with T. La Rock's original cut of the same name) inspired Drizzy's ballad have differing opinions of whether the song... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh

The Cool Kids Are Back Together, And Return In Style With Two New Songs (Audio)

Some groups seem to go a lot farther together than apart: arguments could be made for Black Sheep, Outkast, Young Gunz, and Tha Dogg Pound. One contemporary clique that may fit into that description is Chicago, Illinois' The Cool Kids. The mid-2000s MySpace success group, combining fashion with '80s-styled boom-bap... Read more

January 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J-Zone Samples Classic Artwork From Redman, Ice-T & MC Ren In New Visual (Video)

J-Zone loves his Hip-Hop. If his columns in the now-defunct Elemental magazine or egotripland.com aren't telling, his video for "Crib Issues" is. While the song is inspired by the displeasures of staying over at a significant other's house, the video plops Zone into the artwork of albums by Redman, Ice-T,... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Quelle Chris Has Glow In The Dark Fun In Ghost At The Finish Line (Video)

Michigan native and Cali transplant Quelle Chris had a banner year in 2013. He released two critically-albums on Mello Music Group, and toured with collaborator Black Milk. The latter of those two albums, Ghost At The Finish Line, is still actively making its rounds. Chris dropped a bugged video for... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Dag Savage Drops Their Warning Tape Featuring Aloe Blacc, Blu & Co$$ (Mixtape)

Exile and Johaz's Dag Savage outfit chirps up the year a bit. The Warning Tape, a promotional vehicle towards their chaser retail album, E&J, features the pocket of artists they regularly work with, including Aloe Blacc, Co$$, Sene, and of course, Blu. This comes courtesy of Exile's Dirty Science imprint.... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Outkast Is Playing 40 Concert Dates This Year, Andre 3000 & Big Boi Speak

Outkast fans are rejoicing. After over eight years of limited news surrounding the bond that is Andre 3000 and Big Boi, it's a true rainfall of excitement. Late 2013 revealed a pic of the pair in an undisclosed parking lot. Days later it was confirmed that the Two Dope Boyz... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh

Blu Suddenly Drops A 44-Track Album Featuring Miguel, Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz (Album Stream)

Blu is the opposite of conventional. The reclusive Los Angeles preacher's kid bootlegged his own major label album a few years back, he's reportedly stepped to Nas at a club about a battle, and he's deliberately recruited U-God above all other members of the Wu. What's not to love? Today,... Read more

January 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Big K.R.I.T. & Kenneth Whalum Make A Soulful, Wisdom-Drenched Collaboration (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. works with a lot of artists, new and established. The same week he hit the studio (again) with Ludacris, Big Krizzle was heard on a powerful song from emerging singer, Kenneth Whalum. "Away" is a dreamy, pensive song that works on many levels. K.R.I.T. splits the song with... Read more

January 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Terror Squad’s Armageddon Is Coming Back Strong, With A Biographical Album (Video)

One of the more under-told stories in Hip-Hop is The Terror Squad. A big part of that is the tragic death of Big Pun, 14 years ago, next month. In Pun's absence, lineup changes and power-struggles have greatly affected the group which was once revered as a top crew out... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

What’s Master P Sounding Like In 2014? He’s Linked With Game’s Producers (Audio)

Early this month, AFH looked at the understated impact Master P and No Limit Records had on Hip-Hop. Moreover, the published essay stresses that P's influence will ring strong in the road ahead, especially as the onetime mogul plots a comeback. Well, not even two weeks later, P's giving us... Read more

January 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

A Freestyle Surfaces Of Big Daddy Kane Rocking Over An Ultramagnetic MC’s Instrumental (Audio)

Early last year, Big Daddy Kane spoke briefly about the connection he had with The Bronx's Ultramagnetic MC's. While it's a long drive/train-ride from the BX to the BK, both outfits were unified forces in weeding out suckers in '88, as well as upholding the time-tested tradition of Hip-Hop. At... Read more

January 13, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Freddie Gibbs & Problem Are At It Again, This Time Thanks To Trae Tha Truth (Audio)

Two days ago, the Gary-to-Compton connection of Freddie Gibbs and Problem kicked their 2014 gangsta boogie on "One Eighty Seven." Now the tandem stays in tact on Hustle Gang/ABN/Screwed Up Click's Trae Tha Truth's "Wid It." Trae goes back into his bag and brings out the kind of track that... Read more

January 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Must Listen: Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Deconstructed (Audio)

If the Hip-Hop media trailblazers at ego trip sleep on something, the rest of us may be in R.E.M. too. This week, Ted Bawno's crew pointed out a 2013 podcast/mix from DJ Moneyshot that had been overlooked by many (including us). The mix celebrates 25 years of the massively-acclaimed Solid... Read more

January 10, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Royal Flush, Of Iced Out Medallions Fame, Offers Extensive Preview Of New Album (Video)

In the late '90s Queens, New York Hip-Hop renaissance, a lot of artists caught radio success on the strength of catchy singles. One such MC was Royal Flush. A native of Flushing, Queens (thus the name), R.F. came up under Mic Geronimo before prepping his '97 debut, Ghetto Millionaire. With... Read more

January 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Tupac Shakur-Inspired Musical Confirmed To Hit Broadway

Fans of Tupac Shakur in the New York City area have reason to celebrate. Today, Variety confirms that "Holler If Ya Hear Me" will be hitting Broadway's Palace Theater, beginning in June. The play takes its name from 'Pac's 1993 sophomore album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. The track opened the... Read more

January 8, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Guilty Simpson & Planet Asia Switch Seats With Apollo Brown & Gensu Dean (Audio)

Mello Music Group loves MC/producer tandem projects—especially combining complete strangers. They took veteran D.I.T.C. MC O.C. and introduced him to Detroit, Michigan producer Apollo Brown for 2012's Trophies. In the last 12 months, they took Fresno, Cali vet Planet Asia and linked him with New Yorker Gensu Dean for Abrasions.... Read more

January 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Two Of Statik Selektah’s Star Rhymers, Ransom & Termanology Set It Off Together (Audio)

For over five years, Statik Seletah and his 1982 partner Termanology have been incredibly busy on a seemingly ceaseless stream of EPs, mixtapes, albums, and compilations. After success in '13 with North New Jersey's Ransom (as The Proposal), Statik combines worlds for "Set It Off." The joint features some hard-edged... Read more

January 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Dag Savage, Blu, Co$$ & Gonja Sufi Are God Body (Audio)

Exile & Johaz's Dag Savage outfit made plenty of noise in 2012 and 2013. The duo invites close affiliates Blu and Co$$ along, as well as fellow Golden Stater Gonja Sufi for "God Body." The O.G. track pulls from the kind of righteous Hip-Hop that influenced the collective. Related: Blu... Read more

January 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Denitia & Sene Show What It Means To Be A Casanova (Video)

Sene is an underground MC who has been putting in work with the likes of Blu for years. It turns out he's a talented singer too. He and Denitia have formed a new group that is hard to categorize but the term "dope" definitely applies. The group just released a... Read more

January 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

3rd Bass’ MC Serch Gets An Afternoon TV Talk Show. Wanna Watch The First Episode? (Video)

Queen Latifah is in the talk show realm (in addition to makeup spokeswoman, Jazz vocalist, and blockbuster Hollywood actress). Now, another late '80s Hip-Hop artist is headed into that realm. Brooklyn, New York's MC Serch was one-third of Def Jam Records stars 3rd Bass in the late '80s and early... Read more

January 7, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Papoose Gives You The True 2014 Brooklyn Tour Over Roy Ayers Ubiquity (Audio)

Roy Ayers Ubiquity' "We Live In Brooklyn" is a record that makes you feel the 1970s NYC that wasn't regularly on TV. When Roy said, "we tryin' to make it, baby," you could feel the working class struggle of New York City's largest borough. It's little wonder that Mos Def... Read more

January 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Zo!, Phonte & Eric Roberson Make An Early Bid For Feel-Great Song/Video Of 2014

Back in 2008, Zo! and Phonte breathed new life into songs by Human League, Toto, and others, on their hilariously-packaged, limited-edition '80s cover album. Over five years later, the Foreign Exchange comrades bring that same charisma and pizazz (this time with associate Eric Roberson) into Zo!'s ManMade album. The trio... Read more

January 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

The New Class Of Brooklyn-Queens MCs Unite On Maffew Ragazino’s Brownsville’s Jesus (Mixtape)

Action Bronson's first album Dr. Lecter was not heavy on guests. However, fans got an early taste of Brownsville, Brooklyn's Maffew Ragazino ("Jerk Chicken"). With Caribbean influence, Ragazino Sr. colors the streets from his neighborhood, the same blocks that birthed close associates Heltah Skeltah, M.O.P., and also Smoothe Da Hustler.... Read more

January 7, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Watch Dipset’s Former Secret Weapon The Heatmakerz Make A Beat On The Spot (Video)

Ten years ago was the height of what's commonly called "Chipmunk Soul." Producers were adjusting the pitch on vocals to create a harmonious effect on samples that made songs sound bigger, bolder. While Jay Z's The Blueprint, released in late 2001, is often thought of as the archetype album for... Read more

January 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Hit-Boy Brings Audio Push & Logic Together For Juveniles (Audio)

With the new calendars, everybody is seemingly identifying the major prospects of 2014 Hip-Hop. As few could have predicted the stellar 2013 enjoyed by Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa and Bishop Nehru, this new year is anybody's for the taking. Two artists poised to assume such a position are Inland... Read more

January 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Common & No ID Declare War On The Violence Plaguing Chicago’s Streets (Audio)

We learned mere hours ago that Common is planning his fifth album with early producer No ID Nobody Smiling, taking its name from Rakim's powerful lyrics, the album is an indictment on the street violence epidemic in Chicago, Illinois. Lupe Fiasco, Chief Keef, and a host of other artists have... Read more

January 6, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pusha T’s Sessions With The Neptunes Is Actually A Reunion For The Clipse?

Late last week, AFH reported that Pusha T was back in the lab with his mentors Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. As The Neptunes, P and Chad had been working with Pusha Ton since the late '90s, during The Clipse's first (shelved) LP. Well, Karen Civil, a woman in the... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh

Ab-Soul Explains His Pete Rock Tattoo & Talks His Favorite LPs. Chicagoans Will Appreciate (Video)

Ab-Soul is soulful. Soulo, who calls himself Soul Brother #2 recently broke down to Bootleg Kev why he's got Pete Rock (Soul Brother #1) on his arm. In an age where rappers are big on tattooing deceased influences on their bodies, it's incredibly cool that Ab honors the living. Last... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

One Of The Source’s Co-Founders & DJ Mighty Mi Lay Down A 2 Hour Golden Era Mix (Audio)

Back in arguably the greatest year for all things Rap (1988), The Source magazine, the onetime "Bible Of Hip-Hop," started by Publisher Dave Mays and Jon Shecter at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With some friends (and allegedly Ray Benzino), the magazine would go on to become thee paper of... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Maino Wears A Crown & Raps About The State Of New York Hip-Hop Alongside Jadakiss (Video)

Since the mid-2000s, Maino has been fearlessly outspoken. The Brooklyn, New York rapper came into focus as a protege of Lil' Kim, and with some innovative Just Blaze production, rocked radio throughout 2009. Whenever Maino and his Hustle Hard movement disagrees with something though, he springs into action—on and off... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Fact Or Fiction: John Cusack A Graffiti-Writing B-Boy? (Photos)

In the 1980s, John Cusack was something of an Everyman. The Illinois native appeared in a host of teen comedies, usually playing likeable, nerdy guys with the best of intentions. He was a boombox-blaring romantic in Say Anything, a suicidal hamburger cook in the black comedy Better Off Dead, and... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh

Rapsody Catches A Moment In Time With Jay Z

When Rapsody crossed paths with DJ Premier in 2013, Ambrosia For Heads thought it was powerful, important. This past weekend, the Jamla Records artist who dazzled us with She Got Game in 2013, and The Idea Of Beautiful in 2012, stood alongside Jay Z backstage at the Magna Carta Holy... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh

Want To Hear Unreleased Dopeness From When Death Row & Rap-A-Lot Were Tight? (Audio & Video)

Despite the fact that Rap-A-Lot Records was born in Houston, Texas and Death Row Records was founded by two men from Compton, California, there's been a lot of cross-over. In the mid-1990s, Death Row artists like 2Pac, Danny Boy, and Tha Dogg Pound were cleared to appear on Rap-A-Lot releases,... Read more

January 5, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The Game Is To Be Told: A Celebration Of No Limit Records…By A Hater (Food for Thought)

Published By: Bandini Long before Hip-Hop was ever reported dead, I was once of the belief that Master P was trying to kill it. No Limit Records sprouted into mainstream success in the closing credits of the Death Row dynasty, and anyone who loved the chicken seemingly scoffed at the... Read more

January 5, 2014 Food for Thought, Fresh

Ab-Soul Says He Has Two Albums In The Cannon

2012 was an awesome year for music. While Kendrick Lamar may have rocked the mainstream off its axis, Ab-Soul's #ControlSystem set the table. The album featuring the rest of Black Hippy, Danny Brown, and Jhene Aiko was a shining star in the digital space—and a continuation of the standard Soulo... Read more

January 3, 2014 Fresh

Planet Asia & Gensu Dean Remind Us Why We Ought To Listen (Video)

While Gensu Dean's album with Planet Asia, Abrasions, dropped almost a year ago, Mello Music Group and the Queens-to-Fresno connect isn't done working the fan favorite. The pair drop a darker, poignant video for "Listen" from the LP. Bars and beats, to paraphrase Phonte, what more could you want? Related:... Read more

January 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Suge Knight, Warren G, Game Party Together In Celebration Of E-40

E-40 is one of the figures that's always been able to blend the West Coast. Even when California's Rap community was filled with beef between Death Row, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and others, and Game was at it with Yukmouth and JT Tha Bigga Figga 40 Water and his Sick... Read more

January 3, 2014 Fresh

Ice Cube Announces The Release Date To His Everythang’s Corrupt Album

Despite his increasingly busy film career, Ice Cube can't leave Rap alone—and my, how the game needs him. Don Mega (as he was briefly calling himself in the late '90s) has finally put a date on his tenth solo album, Everythang's Corrupt. The LP, a follow-up to 2010's I Am... Read more

January 3, 2014 Fresh

Thin Lizzy Performs Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed Live In 1976 (Video)

In the canon of Rock & Roll breaks, a favorite of many Heads in Thin Lizzy's "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed," from the 1976 concept album of the same name. A mixed-race band from Dublin, Ireland, Thin Lizzy made charged Rock music that crossed the seas with hits... Read more

January 3, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

C-Rayz Walz Is Back With Some Lyrical Swordsmanship In New Animated Joint (Video)

You may have heard or seen C-Rayz Walz, and maybe not. The early Def Jux artist got some shine on MTV as a coach in some of the first episodes of "Made" (Sadat X, Homeboy Sandman and others would follow later). He also was locked up with Juelz Santana as... Read more

January 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Del The Funky Homosapien Drops A Surprise Album, Iller Than Most (Album Stream)

Beyonce's doing it, so why not Del? Today (January 2), Del The Funky Homosapien set off the new year Hiero style with his eleventh solo album. Called Iller Than Most, the LP has 11 tracks and was released with a curious Soundcloud title, as Zartan Dreadnaught Cobra. Gotta love Del...... Read more

January 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Alchemist & Agallah Release Free Download Of Their Collaborations In All Eras (Mixtape)

Alchemist and Agallah have been sides in their career evolution. Agallah was one of the last EPMD disciples, who would later become a mainstay in D&D Studios, a member of Dipset affiliates Purple City, and now part of the New York-in-Cali conglomerate that includes Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, and the... Read more

January 2, 2014 Fresh, Mixes