Bandini

Kendrick Lamar & Flying Lotus Cannot Be Caught Creatively (Audio)

It's been widely reported that Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus are hard at work. For each Southern California artist's respective projects, the two prodigies are collaborating and finding a pocket that's allegedly led to more than just casual "one-off's." While the two are believed to have dabbled before, this is... Read more

September 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

It’s A Slaughterhouse Affair On Joell Ortiz’ My Brother’s Keeper (Audio)

Two weeks from today (September 16), Joell Ortiz will release his third solo album, House Slippers via his new home, Penalty Records. The Brooklyn, New York native reached out to onetime Diplomats/Cam'ron producers The Heatmakerz as well as !llmind for production/executive production. The new sound on the album is coupled... Read more

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pharcyde’s Slimkid3 & Jurassic 5’s Nu-Mark Lay Down A 45-Min Mix (Audio)

Delicious Vinyl Records gave Hip-Hop Heads classic singles (and in some cases, albums) from the likes of Tone-Loc, Young MC, Masta Ace Incorporated, Jay Dee, and The Pharcyde. Still strong, the label started by (the other, other) Rick Ross in Downtown Los Angeles set it sights on a new project... Read more

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Timeless Truth Capture Summertime In New York City (Video)

Timeless Truth are recently and frequently credited with being part of the movement that's bringing New York City Hip-Hop to its perch in the mid-1990s. Not singles driven, these borough artists are seemingly set on greater artistic shine than radio airplay—more O.C. than DMX. In order to get there though,... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jhene Aiko Drops A Soulful Narrative & Previews All Of Souled Out (Video)

Jhene Aiko's relationship-centric music continues to permeate the mainstream in 2014. Although Aiko's subjects are tangible to many, her vocal abilities and mixes usually come in with some distance, making some unique aesthetics. "The Pressure," which premiered earlier this summer, is a testament to this. The video, which was directed... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Trade Memories With Pharoahe Monch & Rakaa (Audio)

Apollo Brown beats beckon reflection from MCs. Whether O.C., Journalist 103, or Roc Marciano, rappers tend to get nostalgic when they get an opportunity to touch one of these soul-sampling gems from the Michigan native. On "Memories," Ras Kass steps in to recall his days in Watts (before moving to... Read more

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

CJ Fly & Joey Bada$$’s New Visual Features Some Elaborate Settings (Video)

Pro Era's visuals have always been part of their attractive package to the fans. For "Sup Preme," CJ Fly and Joey Bada$$ seemingly leave their streets of Brooklyn for a bricked private school, find an old Cadillac sedan to load into, and some playing to the camera. Joey takes a... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Run The Jewels’ RTJ2’s Tracklist Features An Ode To Akinyele & Zack de la Rocha

After dominating a wealth of 2013 Year-End Lists, Killer Mike & El-P's Run The Jewels battery is recharged with RTJD2, due on October 28. Today, the Fort Greene, Brooklyn-to-Adamsville, Atlanta connect unveiled their tracklisting. Late '90s Rock Heads may appreciate that guests include Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against The... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh

Camp Lo Uses Some Classic Hip-Hop Iconography To Host X Seminar (Video)

Camp Lo are veteran masters of back-to-the-future Hip-Hop. Whether it was 1970s street slang decorating the raps of Sonny and Geechie, or it was the artwork, the album themes, or Ski Beatz' illustrious samples, this duo has always had a portal to the past. However, along the way, it was... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Black Milk Plays An Hour-Long Set Of His Futuristic Funk (Video)

Boiler Room DJ sets are great opportunities to test versatile artists in new mediums. Whether Madlib, Pete Rock, or Erykah Badu, all are capable of traditional sets that include bands, microphones, and LCD screens. This medium allows producers in particular to sequence their own productions and projects into a concert,... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Your Old Droog & Prodigy Welcome September As Hoodie Weather (Audio)

Your Old Droog has been an Internet Rap sensation, almost entirely on his own two feet. As some Heads speculated that the long-faceless MC was possibly an MF DOOM/Bumpy Knuckles-styled side project for Nas (with New York City underground Hip-Hop community members previously waving off reports), video footage appeared ,... Read more

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Curren$y Fuels Up With 7-Song EP, Saturday Night Car Tunes (EP)

For nearly a decade, Curren$y has been among Hip-Hop's biggest stars who has never been shy about giving away whole projects for free. The N'awlins native learned from his onetime mentor Lil Wayne that if you want the audience to buy your product, you have to build their dependency. So... Read more

August 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

How About Some Hardcore? Diabolic Links With DJ Premier (Audio)

For a decade and a half, Diabolic has been aggressively laying down lyrics. A onetime Viper Records artist and Immortal Technique artist, the Long Islander is a critical voice in the hardcore Hip-Hop community that includes Tech, Army Of The Pharaohs, La Coka Nostra, and others. In one of those... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Killer Mike Wants More Police Athletic Leagues, Less Armored Tanks (Video)

Suddenly a de-facto spokesman for a subset of reactions to Ferguson, Missouri, Killer Mike continues to bring his unique, evocative, and thoughtful opinions to the media following the murder of Michael Brown earlier this month. Mike recently appeared on FOX Business, alongside Kennedy (of '90s MTV fame). Entering with some... Read more

August 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Lupe Fiasco, Common & Jennifer Hudson Honor Cancer Survivors (Video)

Hip-Hop is stepping up with its voice and power. Lupe Fiasco joins fellow Chicago Hip-Hop superstar Common and songstress Jennifer Hudson for "Remission." In conjunction with Stand Up 2 Cancer, the 3 have come together for a fundraising song. With The Notorious B.I.G and the late Poetic ("Grym Reaper" of... Read more

August 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Q-Tip Laced The Track For AdAD, Who Urges Us To Get It Together (Video)

MC AdAD is making moves. The budding talent gets a look from Q-Tip, who makes a cameo in the video. "Get It Together" may remind some Abstract fans of the Ill Communication-era track with the Beastie Boys. However, this appears to have a similar pastiche. AdAD tells the Heads to... Read more

August 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

STS & DJ Jazzy Jeff Know How Philly Use To Sound & Bring It Back (Audio)

Regardless of genre, some cities just have a certain style. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania most certainly is one such place. "The City Of Brotherly Love" has a great deal of harmony and fusion, dating back to the colonial period. In more recent times, the city—a patchwork of cultures, races, faiths, and customs... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Stalley Goes Off The Top, Over Jazze Pha’s Rooted Instrumental (Video)

With a lot of content this week, Stalley hits Sway In The Morning. Before switching seats with The Notorious B.I.G & 2Pac's mutual producer, Easy Mo Bee, the Massillon, Ohio falls right into the pocket over the Nappy Roots' "Aw Naw" instrumental. There, Stalley says he comes truly off-the-top in... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Capone-N-Noreaga Talk Chasing Fame With Big L, Say AZ Stole Sugar Hill (Video)

Capone-N-Noreaga always give incredible interviews, together and apart. 'Pone and N.O.R.E hit Power 105's The Breakfast Club this week, to talk some history. Forever animated, the Queens duo talks fighting each other (just one time, physically, for the record), how N.O. feels Capone's prison pick-up tops Suge Knight's, and how... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

With His Buzz Now At A Boil, Problem Lifts Off With 354 (Mixtape)

For five years, Compton's Problem has been just that. With critical cosigns and early career work from DJ Quik and Snoop Dogg, the patient rapper has steadily fed his Heads with nine, largely-acclaimed mixtapes. A year removed from The Separation, the Diamond Lane Music Group standout dropped 354: The Liftoff... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Beyonce’s Dad Says Jay Z & Solange’s Elevator Fight Was Staged For Sales (Video)

Springtime did not blossom as Jay Z and Beyonce may have planned. On Sunday night (August 24), the Carter couple seemingly laid to rest paparazzi speculation that they, young parents, were in currently facing a divorce. Beyonce closed the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with a jaw-dropping medley, and... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels As A Comic Super-Hero Is Coming To Book Shelves…

Nearly one year ago, it was reported the Darryl "DMC" McDaniels (of Run-DMC) is venturing into comic books. The Hollis, Queens Hip-Hop icon stayed the course, and announced that his graphic novel, DMC #1 has a release date. OkayPlayer reports that on October 29, via the self-published house, Darryl Makes... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh

Kurtis Blow Reacts To Nas’ Sampling, Asserts Profanity-Free Rap (Video)

Kurtis Blow is among Hip-Hop's true messengers. The Harlem World MC carried the precious medal that is Hip-Hop's first gold-certified single, care of "The Breaks." Additionally, Blow's career was highly pivotal for acts like Run-DMC (Run being one of Blow's DJs), LL Cool J (Krush Groove), and a producer in... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Big Gipp & Cee-Lo Spoof Doublemint & Pepsi Commercials With Charm (Video)

Heads may remember the Doublemint Gum commercials of the '80s and early '90s. Matching twins regularly had fun, in the silly ads for Wrigley's green-packed breath-freshener. That appears to be the source of inspiration for Big Gipp & Cee-Lo's "Shine Like Gold" video. Compare: With the country gas station and... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

It’s A Jackson 5 & Beatles Affair In Raekwon’s Latest Throwback (Audio)

Raekwon is quietly getting more and more creative with his Throwbacks on Thursdays. This week, Chef makes dessert with "Got To Be There/The Girl Is Mine." Within this look, Rae' looks into two different decades of Michael Jackson impact. Verbalizin' on Michael Jackson's 1972 Top 5 charting solo hit "Got... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Fredro Starr Takes Heads For A Walk In His New York (Video)

Over a year ago, ONYX's Fredro Starr and Brown Bag AllStar's Audible Doctor released "That New York." The track illustrates the NYC that Starr come up in, from stick-up kids, to bodegas, stuntin' on 7th Avenue, to ski-mask maneuvers. So for the video, Fredro gives it to you live: Related:... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jeep Music Returns, With Das EFX’s Krazy Drayz & Smif-N-Wessun (Video)

In 1995, two of New York City's strongest Hip-Hop outfits were Das EFX and Smif-N-Wessun. The culture and skill still runs deep with Hit Squad and Boot Camp Clik. The cliques come together for Krazy Drayz' "Rude Boy," which features Tek and General Steele. With hard, dead-pan rhymes, a scratch... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Problem & Childish Gambino Freestyle Over Quik’s CPT Classic (Audio)

Problem joins Kendrick Lamar, YG and YG Hootie in keeping Compton's Hip-Hop legacy strong in the 2010s. Early in his career, Prob' got some prime, multi-track real estate on DJ Quik & Kurupt's 2009 BlaQKout album. Now perceived protege hops on a David Blake classic released on Murder Was The... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Game Leads A Charge Against Police Brutality With More Than 10 All-Star Guests (Audio)

Enough is enough. Game is among the Hip-Hop stars reacting to the murder of Michael Brown. The multi-platinum Compton, California rapper amassed a group of his contemporaries to speak out against police murdering civilians of color. Called "Don't Shoot," the point and the pain is clear from the onset. In... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Katt Williams Defends Suge Knight In Shooting, Chris Brown To Cooperate

On Sunday morning (August 24), Marion "Suge" Knight was shot six times in West Hollywood, California, at a club. The former music mogul, and co-founder of Death Row Records was stated to be in critical condition upon his hospitalization, while rumors swirled surrounding the events at a party at 10AK... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh

Yelawolf Freestyles Over A Primus Beat, Really Well (Audio)

Yelawolf likes Rock & Roll just as much as he enjoys Hip-Hop. Heads who heard Catfish Billy's breakthrough 2008 mixtape Stereo know that it's nothing for the Gadsden, Alabama MC to tear apart Rock breaks. Rapping over Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pink Floyd tracks, the fast-rapping MC went to work in... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

50 Cent & Young Buck Talk The Crying Phone Call, 6 Years Later (Video)

Every break-up has its ugliest moment. For the dominant G-Unit group, that happened in 2008. Group-leader 50 Cent famously unveiled a taped phone-call from Young Buck, which was a smoking gun to the Nashville, Tennessee rapper's dire financial straits, along with his confused relationship with his then-mentor. With the release... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Stalley Shows That Car-Jacking Didn’t Go Out With The ’90s (Video)

Fans of N.W.A., The Notorious B.I.G, and Comptons Most Wanted know about jackin'. Whether in Compton or Canarsie, cars at lights were not safe, especially in the early '90s. Heads with cool and valuable rides could be tested for their wheel at any time when the economy is down, along... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Killer Mike Expounds On Ferguson, Police Brutality & Looting (Video)

Following Killer Mike's writing and televised appearances, the Atlanta, Georgia veteran continues to speak about the murder of Michael Brown. Given Mike's unique background (his father was a longtime officer of the law) and the Run The Jewels "Rap villain" persona, Mike Bigga expounded on his views for Power 105's... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Watch 3 Young Masters At Work In Kembe X, Ab-Soul & Alex Wiley (Video)

Although Alex Wiley ultimately skipped on the video, Kembe X and Ab-Soul's "As I Unfold" is incredibly potent. These three highly-skilled MCs, are not short on dues paid, but represent part of Rap's latest regime. You can watch Ab and Kembe chop down their bars in this beautifully-shot visual for... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Yancey Boys & Slum Village Heat It Up (Audio)

The J Dilla family tree is real. Slum Village-meets-Yancey Boys on "Global Warming." Illa J, who has spent time in both groups, joins Jay Dee's longtime homie Frank Nitti, as well as T3 in the song produced by Young RJ. With banging natural drums, some smooth autobiographical raps from each... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Drake On VMA: Says He Won A Hip-Hop Award For A Non-Hip-Hop Song (Video)

Twenty-four hours after Common accepted Drake's 2014 MTV Video Music Award for "Best Hip-Hop Video," the Toronto superstar was able to properly receive his medal. The Young Money Cash Money superstar spoke while on tour with Lil Wayne in Boston, Massachusetts. Delivering fans the speech he was unable to in... Read more

August 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Get Some Trippy Lyrical Gunplay From Roc Marciano & Knowlege The Pirate (Audio)

Long Island's Roc Marciano and Virginia's Knowledge The Pirate have close ties. Heard in a strong role in 2012's Marci Beaucoup, K.T.P goes back with Roc. The pair appear together on Ricky Dubs-produced cut "Shot A Man." Messing with some heady Pink Floyd, the slow-moving joint allows the street-tough MCs... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Diamond District’s First Step In A March To Another Album (Audio)

Diamond District's March On Washington is coming on October 14. With the Mello Music Group release from Oddisee, yU, and X.O. available for pre-order, the acclaimed District of Columbia trio dropped off some highly anticipated new music. "First Step" is a fitting first glimpse from the March. With an electrofied... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Referencing House Of Pain, Busta Rhymes Calms Down With Everlast (Audio)

When Busta Rhymes & Eminem released "Calm Down" this summer, the Bob & Earl sample to set off the record reminded many Heads of House Of Pain. That famous riff from "Harlem Shuffle" helped set the pace for one of the ultimate party Rap records, "Jump Around." Bussa Bus knows... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Mack Wilds Tells The Story About Fighting To Make A Love Real (Video)

Mack Wilds' New York: A Love Story continues to burn a year after it was released. The Sony Records sensation interpolated classic samples, both from Hip-Hop and the derivatives of some famous Rap records to present himself as a young man with an old Head's sensibility. "Don't Turn Me Down"... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Audio Push Serenade Their Medical Muse, Mary Jane (Audio)

Par music loves its metaphors. Hit-Boy's star pupils Audio Push take the age-old concept of doubling a drug as a lady. Sam Sneed, Scarface, and even Tyga know a thing or two about this, phenomenon, spanning a whole medicine cabinet of mind-altering substances. Oktane and Pricetag salute marijuana, with this... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Say There Is Only Now To Listen To The LP (Album Stream)

One of 2014's most-anticipated albums is Souls Of Mischief & Adrian Younge's There Is Only Now. The Oakland foursome's first LP in four years is their first with Adrian, who has garnered fame working with Ghostface Killah, The Dramatics, and others. With a strong response already to the group's star-studded... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Dizzy Wright’s State Of Mind Is The State Of The Union (Video)

One of Hip-Hop's busiest sensations of the last 36 months is easily Dizzy Wright. The Las Vegas MC released his State Of Mind EP back around Tax Day. However, for the visual, the Funk Volume MC takes recent events—especially those surrounding Michael Brown's murder in Ferguson, Missouri, and weaves them... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Prince Gives Some Game To The Lovers, Courtesy Of Clouds (Audio)

In the last 24 hours, it was revealed that while Eminem has a double-album/compilation coming, Prince has two September releases of his own, on the same day. Included in the double-dip is "Clouds." Given the themes of the song, it sounds to be a likely Art Official Age inclusion—although 3rd... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Are Finally Back, Sounding As Great As Ever (Audio)

Tomorrow (August 26), the mighty Souls Of Mischief crew is teaming with producer/musician Adrian Younge to release There Is Only Now. The Oakland, California quartet's first LP in four years finds the crew in their mid-1990s pocket that made them an instrumental element in re-defining West Coast Hip-Hop diversity during... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit Surprise Releases 6 New Songs In The Beauty Of Independence (EP Stream)

Ten years ago, 50 Cent and G-Unit were a fixture of events like the MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, Eminem's "Free Yayo" shirts and all. These days, nobody from the G-Unit (or Shady, or Aftermath) camp seemed to be at the Los Angeles Forum for the 2014... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh

What Do You Think About Common Accepting Drake’s VMA Award? (Video)

Hip-Hop beefs, after they've been squashed, always seem to have an interesting denouement. Following the jaw-dropping on-stage appearance between Jay Z and Nas in 2005 (and subsequent Sway Calloway MTV interview), the ultimate 2000s Rap rumble still has afterburners. Heads prodded at Nas, when as a Def Jam artists making... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Details Emerge Surrounding Prince’s 33rd & 34th Albums, Releasing Together

In five short weeks, Prince will release the Artist's 33rd studio album, Art Official Age. Similar to the wordplay De La Soul used within their own A.O.I. (Art Official Intelligence) series, this album's title alludes to a question of authenticity within art. But the September 30 release date isn't just... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh

Eminem Recalls Accusations of Biting AZ & Nas In New Record About Courage (Audio)

Rarely do Hip-Hop soundtrack singles say much anymore. The years of music-attached records like Ice-T's "Colors," Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem," 2Pac's "Pain" or Ice Cube's "How To Survive In South Central" seem like a vestige of the past. Eminem, who famously attached "Lose Yourself" to 8 Mile, is out... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh