Bandini

Statik Selektah Gets 2 Chainz To Breathe That Hot Fire (Video)

This month, Statik Selektah opened up the roll-out to his album, appropriately titled 8. "Smoke Break" features 2 Chainz, and represented a directional shift for the Def Jam Records star, as well as a bit of an an extension for the producer/DJ/radio host who has worked with much of the... Read more

June 16, 2016 Video

The Sky Is The Limit For A-F-R-O As He Freestyles His Way To Fallon (Video)

A-F-R-O (All Flows Reach Out) may appear to be a purebred Underground Hip-Hop MC. The California native has surrounded himself with veterans like R.A. The Rugged Man and GZA—artists who always favored appeasing cult followings over pandering for mainstream attention. However, even before his acclaimed Tales From The Basement mixtape or... Read more

June 16, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Lil Dicky’s Music Is Fearless & So Are His Interviews (Video)

Less than one year ago, Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC Lil Dicky cemented his status on the national scene with Professional Rapper. The fast-flowing lyricist who first began with aspirations in stand-up comedy made an album unlike any other—and fans responded. Dicky's self-released LP hit the Top 10, while urging people... Read more

June 16, 2016 Video

All Eyez Can Watch A Trailer To Tupac Shakur’s Biopic (Video)

After years of development, the Tupac Shakur biopic is completed. Today (June 16) would have been the music and film star's 45th birthday. In conjunction, All Eyez On Me unveils its first official film trailer. The Morgan Creek Production is said to reach theater screens on November 11, 2016—more than... Read more

June 16, 2016 TV/Film, Video

The Game’s Rap Dreams Are Still Stranded On Death Row (Audio)

Dr. Dre released his solo debut The Chronic more than a decade before he would help introduce the world to 50 Cent. However, one Dre co-executive produced (with Eminem) 2003's Get Rich Or Die Tryin', it was a chain reaction of G-Unit artists that would quickly collect heat from D-R-E's... Read more

June 14, 2016 Audio

ScHoolboy Q Takes A Popular Meme & Makes Major Album Artwork

June 16 UPDATE: ScHoolboy Q has revealed that the previously reported Michael Jordan-inspired cover to Blank Face LP, as well as a since-revealed Donald Trump "Deluxe Edition" cover were purely promotional. Instead, the Los Angeles, California veteran took to Instagram to reveal his forth album's actual release artwork: OFFICIAL -... Read more

June 14, 2016 Fresh

Havoc Details How He & Prodigy Overcame 2012 Mobb Deep Breakup (Video)

Just over four years ago, a group that had been together for 20-plus-years, Mobb Deep, called it quits. To make matters more complicated, Prodigy and Havoc engaged in a feud that started on social media, and led to diss records aimed at each other. By 2014, however, the M-O-B-B was... Read more

June 14, 2016 Video

Kanye West Announces The Saint Pablo North American Tour Dates

Kanye West will tour the material he included on February's The Life Of Pablo. This week, the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records superstar announced the North American dates for his corresponding The Saint Pablo Tour. The concert dates come after West has begun promoting his upcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation, Cruel Winter. Earlier... Read more

June 14, 2016 Fresh

Curren$y Takes A Dr. Dre Line & Lets It Ride (Audio)

Curren$y contends to be the most prolific MC of 2016. The New Orleans, Louisiana veteran has released a free EP or a mixtape every month up 'til June. In doing so, he's linked with a host of producers (Cool & Dre and Alchemist). However, even those projects have not tapped... Read more

June 14, 2016 Audio

Bryson Tiller Has A Shorty Swing His Way In The Video For “Exchange”

Bryson Tiller has become of the fastest-rising faces of R&B music in recent years. However, he does not call his music that. He makes "Trap Soul," also the title of his Top 10 2015 RCA Records album. The Louisville, Kentucky native is able to apply the hustle in his music,... Read more

June 8, 2016 Video

Prophets Of Rage Are Fighting The Power Across The Nation

In less than a month, the Prophets Of Rage have gone from a grassroots digital whisper campaign to the revitalization of at least three legendary music entities. Three-fourths of Rage Against The Machine has merged with Public Enemy's Chuck D and DJ Lord along with Cypress Hill's B-Real to form... Read more

June 6, 2016 Fresh

Fabolous Pays Homage To 2 Lauryn Hill Classics At Once (Video)

Fabolous has been wildly consistent at making songs about relationships, seemingly never alienating the other sides of his audience. Like LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, or T.I., Fab' has been enjoying this duality for 10, going on 15 years. Perhaps the Brooklyn, New Yorker's latest single "Real One" shows how... Read more

June 6, 2016 The Bridge, Video

Curren$y & Juvenile Come Together As 2 New Orleans Masters Of Rhyme (Audio)

Curren$y and Juvenile are two proven journeymen of the New Orleans, Louisiana movement. Each MC has worked on at least two illustrious labels, been part of storied groups, and built dynamic catalogs that move minds and clubs alike. Teaming with Brooklyn, New York producer Harry Fraud, Spitta and Juvy come... Read more

June 5, 2016 Audio

Missy Elliott Confirms She Has Unreleased Music By Prince

Approaching two months since the death of Prince, fans are learning more surrounding the unreleased music of the pop culture icon. While Prince's friend and collaborator Jimmy Jam alluded to the Paisley Park vaults coming to the public ears, Jay Z used recent song lyrics to assure that his catalog... Read more

June 5, 2016 News

Vic Mensa Combines Freestyling & Freedom Fighting (Video)

Last week, Vic Mensa released his first project since inking with Jay Z's Roc Nation imprint. The Chicago, Illinois MC's seven-song EP, There's Alot Going On is making its rounds in the first 72 hours. Thereby, the onetime front man of Kids These Days hit HOT 97's Ebro In The... Read more

June 5, 2016 Video

DMX & Styles P Ride Rough On A New Song That Takes No Prisoners (Audio)

Yesterday (June 4), DMX was one of the headlining acts at the 9th annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sharing the bill with fellow Ruff Ryders member Swizz Beatz (who appeared on stage during X's set), the Yonkers, New Yorker performed hits from the last 18 years of his illustrious... Read more

June 5, 2016 Audio

Pusha T & Jay Z’s Explosive Single Was Inspired By One “Appalled” TV Host

Twenty-three year-old Tomi Lahren has made a name for herself as a conservative TV broadcaster. Host of Tomi on The Blaze network caught fire earlier this year, criticizing Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime performance of "Formation." On her show, the Rapid City, South Dakota native criticized the pop superstar and her... Read more

June 3, 2016 Fresh

Big Sean & 2 Chainz Show Out On A Mega Kanye West Posse Cut (Audio)

It has been four years since Cruel Summer showed the facelift of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. After a lot of mentions, Cruel Winter appears to be upon fans—in the midst of a heatwave. The same morning that some new 2 Chainz and Statik Selektah premiered, the first verified glimpse of... Read more

June 3, 2016 Audio

2 Chainz Leaves The Trap For Statik Selektah’s Soulful Boom Bap (Audio)

2 Chainz' versatility is his marketability. The same Atlanta, Georgia MC who made a smash hit nearly a decade ago with Dolla Boy and Lil Wayne ("Duffle Bag Boy") has since appeared on party tracks ("I'm Different"), Slab tracks ("Money On The Floor"), and even one of the finer 2010s... Read more

June 3, 2016 Audio

Pusha T Has Written Vicious Verses…And An Iconic Fast Food Jingle (Video)

Pusha T's catalog of hits includes "Grindin'," "Mercy," and "Runaway." The Virginia Beach, Virginia MC has a discography that spans more than 15 years. However, the same week he released the highly-anticipated single "Drug Dealers Anonymous" from his sophomore studio album, King Push, a new revelation was made surrounding his... Read more

June 2, 2016 Fresh, Video

Chris Rivers Recaps The Week’s News In A Blistering Freestyle (Video)

Bronx, New York MC Chris Rivers has supplied Hip-Hop Heads for years with a steady stream of freestyles, collaborations, and an acclaimed onslaught of mixtapes. The son of Big Pun now is the latest lyricist to accept Ambrosia For Heads' challenge to weave headlines in music, news, and lifestyle from the... Read more

June 2, 2016 Video

4 New York City Hip-Hop Shows Canceled After T.I. Concert Shooting

An investigation is ongoing surrounding a May 25 shooting at New York City's Irving Plaza that left one man dead. At last week's concert billed to feature T.I., Anderson .Paak, Maino, and others, a green room altercation injured at least three, and killed one. On May 26, following widely circulated... Read more

June 2, 2016 News

Bishop Nehru Touches A Jazzy Jeff Track & It’s Magnificent (Audio)

Bishop Nehru is an artist who clearly respects his Hip-Hop forefathers. Early in the Lex Records artist's career, he linked with DOOM (f/k/a MF DOOM) for a full-length project. Also down with the Mass Appeal label, it was reported in late 2014 that Nas would executive produce the MC's upcoming... Read more

June 1, 2016 Audio

DJ Spinna Returns With Latest Signed, Sealed, Delivered Stevie Wonder Mix

Brooklyn, New York's DJ Spinna has garnered acclaim for his work with Jigmastas, Eminem, and others. A mixmaster who works in Hip-Hop, House, Funk, and Rock & Roll, among other genres, Spinna and Bobbito famously launched a Stevie Wonder mix series in their 2001 Wonder Wrote It (posted below). With... Read more

June 1, 2016 Mixes

New Allegations Surface Casting A Different Light On The Troy Ave Shooting

Last week (May 25), a fatal shooting transpired at New York City's Irving Plaza. During a show billed to feature performances by T.I., Anderson .Paak, Maino and Uncle Murda, a green room altercation took place that left at least three wounded and one—Ronald "Banga" McPhatter--dead. In the hours following the... Read more

June 1, 2016 News

Common Premieres 2 Powerful New Verses From His Upcoming Album (Video)

Today (May 31) Common was a guest on Sway In The Morning. In the last year and a half, Common has added Oscar awards, Golden Globe awards, and another Grammy to his stash of trophy accolades. Meanwhile, he put a beef to bed and made a blockbuster film and a... Read more

May 31, 2016 Video

Chuck D & B-Real Talk Merging With Rage Against The Machine & Significance

This month, it was revealed that members of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill had come together to form Prophets Of Rage. The band, featuring R.A.T.M.'s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk merges with the vocals of Chuck D and B-Real for an upcoming project. P.E.'s... Read more

May 31, 2016 News

This 3-Minute Mix Pleasantly Intersects Top 40 Rap, Old School & Turntablism (Video)

Back in March, San Jose, California's DJ Goodfoot stole the show in the midst of Ambrosia For Heads' "Finding The GOAT Album" ballots. In a competition to integrate the remaining albums in the bracket, Goodfoot's 21-minute mix made the finals all the more exciting. Ever the competitor, Goodfoot is now... Read more

May 29, 2016 Mixes, Video

Problem Shows Why He’s Special In An Aggressive Freestyle On Dr. Dre’s Pharmacy (Audio)

After a decade of putting in work, 2016 may be pivotal for Compton's Problem. The Diamond Lane Music Group alum and longtime affiliate to the likes of Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, and 9th Wonder released a lauded EP with Q-U-I-K in April's Rosecrans. The generation-bridging salute to the C-P-T added... Read more

May 29, 2016 Audio

Donnie Trumpet & Chance The Rapper Share Some “Surf” That Never Sailed (Audio)

It was a year ago this weekend (May 28) that Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment released Surf. Like this month's Coloring Book by Chance The Rapper, there was no price on the collection of Jazz-meets-Hip-Hop songs. However, thanks to a change in the data reporting by Nielsen, Coloring Book... Read more

May 29, 2016 Audio

Prince Paul Pushed More Boundaries With His Prince Among Thieves Film (Video)

In 1999, Prince Paul raised the stakes in an already illustrious career. After pivotal work with Stetsasonic and Gravediggaz, the Long Island, New Yorker had proven himself to be a visionary. More recognizably, the vet was largely responsible for the sounds of the first three De La Soul LPs, as... Read more

May 28, 2016 Throwback, TV/Film

Minnesota’s Proposed “Prince Act” Bill Is Pulled Back

Following the April 21 death of Prince, early May legislation was drafted in Minnesota concerning the creative works of deceased artists. Introduced as The Prince Act (an acronym for The Personal Rights in Name Can Endure Act) was placed before the state's House Of Representatives and Senate to "limit outside... Read more

May 27, 2016 News

Chance, Wayne & 2 Chainz Make A Video That Even Skeptics Will Have No Problem Liking

Chance The Rapper has changed his career's scenery quite a bit in the years between Acid Rap and this month's Coloring Book. The Chicago, Illinois MC's first single "Angels" stresses that he is still rolling with the same people he always was, but for fans of the fully-independent MC it... Read more

May 27, 2016 Video

Joey Bada$$ Revamps His Sound For Some Motivational Music (Audio)

For more than five years, Brooklyn, New York's Joey Bada$$ has been credited with taking elements of his city's (and greater New York City) 1990s sound and tweaking it for a resonating update. The formula has worked, as Joey and Pro Era have challenged the charts and become a popular... Read more

May 27, 2016 Audio

T.W.D.Y. Unified The Bay Area To Make For A True Holiday Celebration (Video)

In early 1999, commercial Rap music was evolving. The Bounce music sound of No Limit and now Cash Money Records had greatly influenced what was being played on the coasts. Dr. Dre had yet to release 2001; Suge Knight was incarcerated. Meanwhile DMX, Jay Z, Rakim and Puff Daddy were... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video

Maxwell Pours His All Into Lake By The Ocean (Video)

Maxwell's return-from-hiatus single "Lake By The Ocean" is worth the seven-year wait. Ever the charmer, the veteran vocalist uses a simple theme for the single's visual. Going to a faraway place where water is at a premium, Max' plays his song—just as he has on recent TV performances—and nourishes one... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video

ScHoolboy Q & Curren$y Join Mistah F.A.B. For Cold Bars On A Chilly Loop (Audio)

Just hours after he unleashed his Sway In The Morning "5 Fingers Of Death" Golden State Warriors edition freestyle, Mistah F.A.B. promotes his next album in a more old fashioned way. Tomorrow (May 27), the Oakland, California veteran MC will release Son Of A Pimp 2. The star-studded, autobiographical album... Read more

May 26, 2016 Audio

Anderson .Paak & T.I. Elevate “Come Down” Through A Dazzling Performance (Video)

Anderson .Paak's Malibu has many charms. "Come Down," produced by Reflection Eternal's Hi-Tek is just one. As the California singer, MC, and drummer continues to take his independent Empire release and garner acclaim, attention, and legions of new fans, the rest of the Hip-Hop space wants in. Now signed to... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Announce Summer 2016 Tour Dates

Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah and Raekwon have released a number of albums together. In 2010, the pair joined Method Man for a 2010 Wu Massacre Def Jam Records trio project. Each also "co-hosted" one another's debut works, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... and Ironman. Twenty years since the later, the... Read more

May 25, 2016 Fresh

Killer Mike Explains Why The Trap Does Not Make Dollars Or Sense (Video)

One of the pivotal records of Killer Mike's career was his appearance on Outkast's "Snappin' & Trappin'." Right as the mainstream erupted around 2000's Stankonia release, Mike came in with a song that celebrated the street-life of Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding hoods. Sixteen years later, Killer Mike's personality has... Read more

May 25, 2016 Video

Invisibl Skratch Piklz Are Releasing Their First Studio Album Ever (Video)

For more than 25 years, Northern California has been an epicenter for turntablism long before the term even existed. Labels like Bomb Hip-Hop put out compilations that celebrated scratching, mixing, and juggling in ways that took the DJ from a featured player in 1980s and 1990s commercial Rap music, and... Read more

May 25, 2016 Video

Run-DMC & Aerosmith Reveal Why They Didn’t Want To “Walk This Way”

Thirty years ago this month, Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith teamed for "Walk This Way." Eleven years after the Boston, Massachusetts band recorded the initial version of their single, its creators—Steven Tyler and Joe Perry would learn that the drums (courtesy of Joey Kramer) had been re-appropriated by the Hip-Hop community. As... Read more

May 24, 2016 Throwback

Kanye West’s 1997 Beat Tape Travels To The Past In A “Spaceship” (Audio)

In 1998, Kanye West the producer broke through in a major way. The hungry artist from Chicago, Illinois landed on two big albums, care of joints on Foxy Brown's platinum #1, Chyna Doll (see: "My Life") and Jermaine Dupri's star-studded solo debut, Life In 1472 (see: the Nas-assisted "Intro [Turn It... Read more

May 23, 2016 Throwback

Mister Cee Celebrates Biggie’s B’day With A Mix Of Rarities & Deep Cuts

This past weekend, the world celebrated the life of Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. Puff Daddy reunited much of the Bad Boy Records family (and friends) with jaw-dropping Friday night show (May 20) at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center. Meanwhile, that same borough honored Biggie Smalls with... Read more

May 23, 2016 Mixes, Throwback

Chance The Rapper Makes History “Coloring” His Way Onto The Charts

Two Thursdays ago (May 12), Chance The Rapper released his third official mixtape, Coloring Book. Featuring Kanye West, Jay Electronica, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Justin Bieber, and a host of others, the project was not available for sale. Instead, it was licensed to Apple Music for streaming, with promises for... Read more

May 22, 2016 News

Yasiin Bey’s Mysterious New Music Shows His Many Sides (Audio)

For the second time this month, Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) emerges with a new song. Like the last (posted below), this is part of his Dec. 99th moniker. Today's (May 21) installment, "Dec. 99th - Tall Sleeves," finds the Brooklyn, New Yorker rhyming, singing, and speaking on a futuristic... Read more

May 21, 2016 Audio

EPMD Has Upcoming Album Business. PMD Clarifies Production Roles (Audio)

This summer, EPMD is going on Ice-T's the Art Of Rhyme Tour. The Long Island, New York duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith will join Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Naughty By Nature, and others for eight dates across the United States. However, when the gold-certified union gets off the... Read more

May 20, 2016 Audio, News

Z-Ro Puts Aside His 50 Cent Beef But Still Has Some Axes To Grind (Audio)

Upon 50 Cent's meteoric rise in Rap music during the early 2000s, he made a few enemies, quickly. Part of the G-Unit general's persona was how he spoke so freely, and unafraid about artists. At the time, the biggest foes to 50 Cent was Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, and their... Read more

May 19, 2016 Audio

Rakim Narrates & The Firm Appears In Documentary On AZ (Video)

In 2004, Nas famously made single "The Unauthorized Biography Of Rakim" for his Street's Disciple album. The Queensbridge MC paid homage to the lyrical half of Eric B. & Rakim through a compelling narrative. In 2016, Rakim emerges to help tell the story of one of Nas' band-mates in The... Read more

May 19, 2016 TV/Film, Video

RZA & Ghostface Take Their Rhymes To A New Sonic Chamber (Audio)

Over the last 10 years, Wu-Tang Clan's sound has been challenged. Individually, members of the Shaolin collective have worked with Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello (GZA), James Blake (RZA), The Black Keys (Raekwon), and MSTRKRT (Ghostface Killah). This all happened, additional to the whole clique on System Of A... Read more

May 19, 2016 Audio