Bandini

Those Sleeping On Sha Stimuli Get An Abrupt Wake Up Call (Audio)

Brooklyn, New York native Sha Stimuli has been an independent force to be reckoned with for more than 15 years. He was a presence around the Roc-A-Fella Records movement, before signing as an artist to Virgin Records (under Jermaine Dupri). When that deal stalled, Stimuli released a major label quality... Read more

September 25, 2017 Audio

An Argument For Why Snoop Is The Greatest MC Of All-Time (Video)

Despite the fact that he is one of Rap music's most widely recognized faces, voices, and outright brands, somehow many overlook the lyrical merits of Snoop Dogg. For 25 years, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. has given Hip-Hop Heads different looks within one of the genre's most sprawling and versatile catalogs.... Read more

September 24, 2017 Exclusive, TBD, Video

RZA Reveals What Wu-Tang Clan’s Logo Was Before The Iconic W (Video)

Earlier today, Wu-Tang released a single featuring Inspectah Deck and Redman. Produced by Mathematics, "Lesson Learn'd" belongs to next month's Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues... album (October 13). With confirmed involvement from RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Rebel I.N.S., Masta Killa, and Cappadonna (as well as O.D.B. vocals), the effort marks... Read more

September 22, 2017 Video

JAY-Z Performs Family Feud With A Choir & Restores The Harmony (Video)

JAY-Z recently told BBC's Live Lounge, "I've always tried to push the envelope as an artist, and make new things, and try to make things that's an elevated version of what I've done...I have to be happy with it before I let it go." JAY-Z Reveals He And Prodigy Made... Read more

September 22, 2017 Video

Jordan Peele Is Executive Producing A Series About The Real Life Hunting Of Nazis

Earlier this month, it was reported that Jordan Peele and Spike Lee are teaming up for a film adaptation of a real-life Black infiltrator of the Ku Klux Klan. As Black Klansmen is headed to production, the Get Out director and Key and Peele co-creator has landed another project that also... Read more

September 21, 2017 TV, TV/Film

Mystikal Is Indicted For Rape & Kidnapping. Bond Set At $3 Million.

It has been more than 15 years since New Orleans, Louisiana rapper Mystikal released an album. With history on No Limit and Cash Money Records, one of the first mainstream-embraced Bounce artists has been making great music lately, alongside Mark Ronson, Mannie Fresh, and T.I. However, the 46-year-old born Michael... Read more

September 20, 2017 News

Common Has A Big EGO By Being One Of The Most Humble MCs (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

September 19, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video

Trick Daddy, Trina, Silkk The Shocker, and Xscape Pay Tribute To Jermaine Dupri & Master P (Video)

Last night (September 18), VH1's Hip Hop Honors saluted the "game-changers" of the 1990s. Celebrating a decade remembered for bringing the music of southern cities like Atlanta, New Orleans, and Memphis to the mainstream, it fit that Hip Hop Honors paid tribute to Jermaine Dupri and Master P. Not only... Read more

September 19, 2017 TV, TV/Film, Video

Fred The Godson Delivers One Of The Year’s Best Freestyles & Makes It Look Easy (Video)

Late last month, The Bronx, New York Rap veteran Fred The Godson released his Gordo album. Fat with features, the nickname-eponymous LP includes Joell Ortiz, Dave East, and Vado, among others. Part of what put Fred on the map is his voracious freestyle skills. Appearing alongside Funkmaster Flex (a longtime purveyor... Read more

September 18, 2017 Video

Donald Glover Becomes The First Black Director To Win An Emmy For Directing Comedy Series (Video)

At last night's Emmy Awards, Donald Glover made history and made a point. Known to the musical world as Childish Gambino, the actor, writer, director, and comedian won two trophies for his show Atlanta. Glover won for his directing in a comedy series (the first Black director to do so),... Read more

September 18, 2017 News, TV, TV/Film, Video

Wyclef Jean Explains Why Country Music Is The Original Gangsta Rap (Video)

Last week, Wyclef Jean released Carnival III: The Rise and Fall of a Fugee. The orator uses a storyteller's title on his eighth album. There have been ups and downs to the man who represents Haiti, Brooklyn, and north New Jersey. However, things are great for him right now. In addition... Read more

September 17, 2017 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Kid From Kid ‘N Play Apologizes For Mocking Colin Kaepernick In Costume

Earlier this month, MC and actor Christopher "Kid" Reid of veteran duo Kid 'N Play was featured on sports-talk show Speak For Yourself. However, many viewers did not realize it was the House Party co-star. Instead, appearing in an afro wig, a #7 San Francisco 49ers jersey, and a raised... Read more

September 17, 2017 Lifestyle, News

The NFL Boycott Is Working & Masta Ace Says It’s Bigger Than Colin Kaepernick (Video)

A week ago, the NFL began its first week of the 2017 regular season. Ratings show a serious decline in viewership, year over year. From week 1 kickoff on Thursday Night Football (a 14% decline) to Sunday numbers on FOX and CBS, many less people are watching. Meanwhile, big media seems... Read more

September 16, 2017 Exclusive, Lifestyle, TBD, Video

Lords Of The Underground’s DoItAll To Run For Newark Councilman Seat

In the early 1990s, Lords Of The Underground released several successful and acclaimed Hip-Hop albums. DoItAll (aka Dupre Kelly) supplied much of the lyrics of the Newark, New Jersey trio that also included Mr. Funke and DJ Lord Jazz. Teaming up with legendary producer Marley Marl and K-Def, the Pendulum... Read more

September 16, 2017 News

Lecrae’s Next Album Single Breaks Down How Being Broke Made Him Rich (Audio)

Next week, Lecrae will release All Things Work Together. After grabbing his first #1 with 2014's Anomaly, the Reach Records star hopes to do it again. While he's definitively at the top, the veteran MC says he would not be if he did not struggle first. Why MCs Avoid The... Read more

September 15, 2017 Audio

Mark Cuban Tells Snoop Dogg How He Went From Sleeping On Floors To Owning Teams (Video)

People know Mark Cuban as the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and one of the apex investors on Shark Tank. However, not many realize how a working-class Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native was able to purchase an NBA franchise at the age of 40. Floyd Mayweather Has A Humble Conversation With Snoop... Read more

September 15, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Chris Rivers Wants To Bring Hip-Hop Back To The Days Of Nas, Pac & Biggie (Video)

When Chris Rivers named his latest project Delorean, he had time traveling on his mind. New video single "Old Thing Back" is an extension of that idea. The Bronx, New Yorker spits about bringing back a brand of Hip-Hop as he remembers it from his love affair. He pays homage... Read more

September 15, 2017 Ready Or Not, Video

Redman Explains Why He Would Rather Endure Gruesome Pain Than Suffer Disloyalty (Video)

Later this month, Masta Killa will release Loyalty Is Royalty (September 29). Three of that album's guests include Redman, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck. In line with the title of the Wu-Tang Clan member's fourth album, those three affiliates spoke about what loyalty means to them. Masta Killa’s New Album... Read more

September 15, 2017 Video

From Gold Diggers To Deadbeats, Rapsody Says Ante Up. Enough Is Enough (Audio)

One week from today, Rapsody will release Laila's Wisdom. This will be the first full-length album from the Jamla flagship artist, since joining the Roc Nation family. A proven master at rhyme concepts and storytelling, "Pay Up" shows more of the polish that this next LP will contain. Rapsody’s Laila's... Read more

September 15, 2017 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Is Now A Part Owner Of His Record Company

Kendrick Lamar and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith have a different relationship than most label founders and artists. That was clear to any listeners of 2017's "DUCKWORTH.," a spellbinding revelation that these two had intertwining paths even ahead of Lamar's 1987 birth. For the last 14 years, these two men from... Read more

September 14, 2017 News

AZ, Papoose & Mysonne Are Grown Men Who Are Unafraid To Rap Like It (Video)

Rap music about street exploits is a lot of what is made every single day. AZ, Papoose, and Mysonne have all done this, quite effectively, at various points in their respective careers. However, these three New York City MCs also know when it's time to spit about the exit strategy—not... Read more

September 14, 2017 Video

Masta Killa’s New Album Will Be A Wu-Tang, Prodigy & Redman Affair

Later this month, Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa will release his fourth album, Loyalty Is Royalty. The Brooklyn, New York veteran remains a Nature Sounds artist, the label with whom he released his acclaimed solo debut, 2004's No Said Date. The 1st Rhyme Masta Killa Ever Wrote Was For Wu-Tang... Read more

September 13, 2017 Fresh

21 Years After Tupac’s Death, The Game Questions How He’d Fit In Today (Audio)

Twenty-one years ago today, the physical world said goodbye to Tupac Shakur. Even with a week spent fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital, the 1996 news was sudden and scary, surrounding a Rap star that seemed, at times, immortal—and other times, doomed. Kanye West Killed 50 Cent... Read more

September 13, 2017 Audio

Viktor Vaughn’s Return Spells DOOM For Low Budget MCs (Audio)

It's Tuesday, meaning that for the foreseeable future, DOOM is going to be dropping villainous verses. Today, he laces "Notebook #5" with the return of Viktor Vaughn. Heads may recall that this was one of many MF DOOM personas during one of Hip-Hop's greatest comeback strides, in the early 2000s.... Read more

September 12, 2017 Audio

Nipsey Hussle Has Been On The Grind Relentlessly & It’s Paying Off (Audio)

Artists like Chance The Rapper and Kanye West have challenged the old music industry model through making award-winning, critically-acclaimed albums without seeking a sales transaction. In his own lane, Nipsey Hussle has done something similar. The L.A. rapper has stayed relevant without ever dropping an official LP. He made paying... Read more

September 12, 2017 Audio

Talib Kweli & Blu Gang Up On A Beat. It’s Fight Night For 2 Great MCs (Audio)

In 2007, the same summer Blu & Exile released Below The Heavens, Talib Kweli dropped Eardrum. One MC made an indelible underground debut, while the other, from a similar trajectory, released a #2 overall LP on the charts, marking a new plateau. Ten years later, these two artists from opposing... Read more

September 11, 2017 Audio

Black Thought Performs A New Verse With Statik Selektah & Melts The Mic (Video)

Black Thought is one of Hip-Hop's consummate showmen. Flip on the TV five nights a week, attend a Roots Picnic, or search the web, and it's well documented. As if Tariq Trotter does not already work hard enough, the Philadelphia MC swung through Statik Selektah's Blue Note show in New... Read more

September 11, 2017 Video

Common Becomes The First Rapper Ever To Win An Oscar, An Emmy & A Grammy

JAY-Z famously rapped on "Moment Of Clarity": "Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense / But I did 5 mill' – I ain't been rhyming like Common since." That was 2003. In the nearly 15 years following those bars, Comm' has scored a #1 LP (Finding Forever), and filled his... Read more

September 11, 2017 News, TV/Film

A Tribe Called Quest Have Performed Their Last Show Ever (Video)

In a career that lasted more than 29 years, A Tribe Called Quest have completed their final concert. Over the weekend, Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White played Bestival in East Lulworth, United Kingdom before hanging up their mics and turntables as a collective. The 90-minute-show followed an international run... Read more

September 11, 2017 News, Video

Rock Apologizes To Sean Price In A Compelling Autobiographical Song (Audio)

After Black Moon and Smif n' Wessun, Heltah Skeltah was a critical expansion within the Boot Camp Clik and Duck Down Records family. Brooklyn's Rock (aka Rockness Monsta) and Ruck (aka Sean Price) combined clever writing with distinct deliveries over hardcore Hip-Hop production. Two albums debuted in Top 40, without... Read more

September 10, 2017 Audio

Kanye West Killed 50 Cent AND Gangsta Rap 10 Years Ago (Video)

Ten years ago this week, Hip-Hop experienced a real watershed moment. On September 11, 2007, 50 Cent and Kanye West squared off. It was not physical. It did not even include diss tracks or beef of any kind. Instead, Graduation faced off against Curtis. Two of Hip-Hop's biggest stars of... Read more

September 9, 2017 Exclusive, TBD, Video

2017’s Hip Hop Honors Will Salute Martin Lawrence

For more than a decade, VH1's Hip Hop Honors has been a stage that honors key contributors to the music and culture. Launched in 2004, honorees include founder DJ Kool Herc, Big Daddy Kane, Beastie Boys, Salt N Pepa, Wu-Tang Clan, Slick Rick, and A Tribe Called Quest, among many... Read more

September 8, 2017 Fresh, News, TV, TV/Film

Mr. Lif & Akrobatik Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em With Heavy Rhymes & Hard Drums (Video)

In late July, Boston MCs Mr. Lif and Akrobatik revived The Perceptionists. The former Def Jux group (which then featured DJ Fakts One) made a strong return on Resolution (which premiered at Ambrosia For Heads), releasing through the Mello Music Group—a label that may be reminiscent of El-P's 2000s imprint.... Read more

September 8, 2017 Video

The LOX Make Some Of That Beautiful Hip-Hop From Back In The Day (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let AFH 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 go back... Read more

September 8, 2017 Audio, Playlists

The 2017 Paid Dues Festival Is Postponed

Less than two months ago, it was reported that Murs' Paid Dues Festival was revived after a hiatus since 2013. With the news came word that Ghostface Killah & Raekwon, Lil Wayne, PRhyme, Rapsody, and others would headline the Los Angeles, California event on September 16 and 17. That event... Read more

September 7, 2017 News

DOOM & Westside Gunn Are Releasing An Album. Here’s A Taste (Audio)

In the midst of DOOM's weekly music series, it appears there is going to be even more product from the masked villain. While the veteran MC has his Missing Notebook roll-out underway, his latest collaboration project has been announced: with Griselda/Shady Records rapper Westside Gunn and producers Alchemist and Daringer.... Read more

September 7, 2017 Audio, News

The Game, Busta Rhymes & Tech N9ne Have Bars That Jealous Ones Envy (Audio)

Last month, DJ Kay Slay orchestrated quite the collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Kevin Gates for "Cold Summer." The Drama King is not backing down as he reloads with "Jealousy." This collabo links up The Game, Busta Rhymes, and Tech N9ne for an attack on people that hate... Read more

September 7, 2017 Audio

JAY-Z Reveals He And Prodigy Made Peace Before His Death (Video)

While the JAY-Z vs. Nas battle of the early 2000s may be the one that gets the most ink in the history books, Hov's beef with late Mobb Deep MC Prodigy is one of legend too. From Summer Jam photo reveals to disses on both sides, these two artists had... Read more

September 7, 2017 Video

Strong Arm Steady’s Krondon Moves To Acting For DC Comics’ “Black Lightning” Role

A decade ago, Krondon and his group Strong Arm Steady were signed to Talib Kweli's Blacksmith imprint at Warner Bros. In the 10 years since, the Los Angeles, California veteran and S.A.S. teamed with Madlib for In Search Of Stoney Jackson, and has followed with projects with Statik Selektah and... Read more

September 7, 2017 News, TV, TV/Film

Vic Mensa’s Explosive Freestyle May Be Banned From TV Like Kaepernick (Video)

Vic Mensa is a gifted rarity. The Save Money star makes compelling, highly personal albums. That's evident in July's The Autobiography, Mensa's Roc Nation full-length debut. However, so many MCs who are conceptual and vulnerable on wax can be a bit restrained in the freestyle. That's never been the case... Read more

September 6, 2017 Video

Ball So Hard: LaMelo Is The Youngest Athlete Ever With His Own Shoe (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

September 6, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video

Redman Wants Another Def Squad Album & He Explains The Muddy Waters 2 Delay (Audio)

2018 marks 20 years since Def Squad released its one and only album. El Niño debuted at #2 on the Top 200 and marked a long time coming for Erick Sermon and his star pupils, Redman and Keith Murray. A strong branch from the EPMD family tree, that LP featured... Read more

September 5, 2017 Audio, News

Wu-Tang Clan & Boot Camp Clik Rock On For Sean Price & ODB (Lyric Video)

Last month, Sean Price's posthumous LP Imperius Rex included the track "Clans & Cliks." Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man, Raekwon, and Inspectah Deck shared the mic with Sean, Rock, and Smif-n-Wessun of the Boot Camp Clik in a massive Hip-Hop union. As Rockness Monsta readies his tribute to his fallen Heltah... Read more

September 3, 2017 Video

Meet J. Cole’s Newest Artists & Hear Their New Music (Audio & Video)

At the top of this year, J. Cole and his Dreamville Records label signed Atlanta, Georgia MC J.I.D. Quickly after, The Never Story followed, an Interscope-distributed debut LP from the Spillage Village member, which has garnered strong praise, including from Ambrosia For Heads. That album also debuted in Top 200.... Read more

September 3, 2017 News, Video

Chuck D Speaks On The Flavor Flav Lawsuit. He Lovingly Checks His P.E. Partner

This past week, Flavor Flav sued Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D. That suit also accused P.E. management and longtime producer Gary "G-Wiz" in holding back royalties. In the suit, the Bronx, New York-born MC and reality TV star claims to have penned more than 50 Public Enemy songs and claimed... Read more

September 2, 2017 News

Women In Rap Are Back & They Don’t Dance. They Make Money Moves (Video)

2017 may prove to be a watershed year in Hip-Hop. Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. married concept and advanced technical lyricism with commercial dominance in a way that forced the mainstream to conform. As recently as last week, artists from Logic to Bun B to Trae Tha Truth are taking action on... Read more

September 2, 2017 Exclusive, TBD, Video

Tha Dogg Pound’s First Death Row Release Was Poetic And Hard AF (Audio)

On Halloween of 1995, Tha Dogg Pound opened up their can of Dogg Food. Kurupt and Daz Dillinger were the third artists with an album released by Death Row Records. Following their mentors, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, this Long Beach—rooted duo was much rougher than its teammates. Like the... Read more

August 31, 2017 Do Remember

Flavor Flav Brings The Noise To Chuck D In A Lawsuit Over Public Enemy Royalties

Groups from Wu-Tang Clan to the Cash Money Millionaires have experienced internal lawsuits. In a year otherwise dedicated to their 30th anniversary of releasing Yo! Bum The Rush The Show, Public Enemy now experiences legal woes. According to TMZ, Flavor Flav is suing P.E. co-founder Chuck D, longtime producer (and... Read more

August 30, 2017 News

Yasiin Bey Discusses The Drama That’s Caused Him To Fall Back From The Music Business (Video)

Even since his days as mighty Mos Def, Yasiin Bey does not do many interviews. However, the Black Star MC recently gave Ebro In The Morning more than one hour of his time—reportedly impromptu. The MC/actor/poet and activist jumped in a cab and appeared before Ebro and company to speak... Read more

August 30, 2017 Video

Wu-Tang Is Forever And In Control Of Its Destiny With Its Own Record Label (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

August 30, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video