Bonita

Read Eminem’s Heartfelt Letter & Illustration Sent To Tupac’s Mother

In 1997, Tupac Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur established the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, a performing-arts based community program in Stone Mountain, Georgia that focuses on bringing children opportunities to explore dance, drama, creative writing, and more. As part of the organization's role in preserving Tupac's legacy, the... Read more

July 13, 2015 Fresh

Joell Ortiz Takes Us to Church on Latest Track with !llmind (Audio)

Brooklyn MC Joell Ortiz has released "Hallelujah," an !llmind-produced banger and single from their forthcoming collaborative album, Human. All set for a July 17 release (this Friday), the album will be followed by a tour kicking off on June 22. In a premiere on Hot New Hip Hop, the track... Read more

July 13, 2015 Audio

Rest in Peace to Sugar Hill Records Executive & Band Member Joseph Robinson, Jr.

One of Sugar Hill Records' executives and member of the iconic Sugar Hill Gang has passed away. Joseph Robinson, Jr. lost his battle with an undisclosed form of cancer over the weekend. He passed away at his Tenafly, New Jersey home at the age of 53. Son of Sugar Hill... Read more

July 13, 2015 News

GZA Explores the Depths of the Universe on Experimental New Track (Audio)

As of late, Converse has been exploring music in exciting ways, orchestrating events and producing projects featuring the likes of Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Big K.R.I.T., Joey Badass, and other young artists. Part of their foray into music is a series of extended plays, which they've dubbed the Cons... Read more

July 10, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers Drops a Freestyle Over Classic Bone Thugs & Do or Die. TGIF. (Audio)

Another Friday, another release from Chris Rivers. The MC formerly known as Baby Pun continues his weekly lyrical assaults, unloading aggressive, rapid-fire, and complex verses over an impressive array of production styles. This week it's the Midwest's turn, with Rivers first re-invigorating the classic sounds of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's "1st of... Read more

July 10, 2015 Audio

Check Out This 1995 Future Flavas Set From Pete Rock & Marley Marl (Audio)

In the '90s, Hot 97 in New York City was home to the Future Flavas radio show, a Hip-Hop devoted program that was steered by KRS-One who then bequeathed the disc-jockey throne to Pete Rock and Marley Marl in January of '95.The two had previously worked the 1s & 2s... Read more

July 9, 2015 Throwback

Hip-Hop’s Global Influence is Being Documented for an Online Museum (Video)

Hip-Hop's far-reaching influence on the worlds of art, dance, fashion, language, and of course music has long since been considered worthy of documentation. With talks of opening the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx and the handful of nationwide efforts to digitally archive Hip-Hop's past (including the Hiphop Archive &... Read more

July 9, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Method Man Reports on Life in the Hood on New Track. The Struggle Continues…(Audio)

With The Meth Lab slated for an August 21 release, excitement for Method Man's return will be boiling all summer, thanks in part to three songs he's already released; the title track, "88 Coupes," and "Serious" are all heaters indicative of Meth's consistent level of skill, both lyrically and when... Read more

July 9, 2015 Audio

From 1988-1993, Skits Revolutionized Hip-Hop Albums. Here’s A Look At Some Of The Best (Audio)

Aye...did what's his name done get at you yesterday? That question, asked in a comedic interlude on Dr. Dre's seminal 1992 album The Chronic, will live in eternal infamy alongside the classic lyrics in between which it's sandwiched. That marriage, of Hip-Hop and comedy, was around before that and while... Read more

July 8, 2015 Throwback

Lupe Fiasco & Consequence Show Us How to Make Every Word Count (Video)

It's hard to believe that Queens MC Consequence has only released one solo album (2007's Don't Quit Your Day Job). Heads may remember him from as far back as '96, when he appeared on A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes, Life. Nearly 20 years later, he remains respected, both lyrically... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

This Man Saved NYC From an Epic Gang War & Helped Plant the Seeds for Hip-Hop (Audio)

It's often said that nostalgia for a particular era comes around every 20 years or so, and today's obsession with all things '90s adds a ring of truth to that idiom. However, there are particular eras that for whatever reason remain palpable and attractive decades and decades later. In recent... Read more

July 8, 2015 Audio

Guilty Simpson Eviscerates New Track In Less Than Two Minutes (Audio)

Since his appearance on Slum VIllage's 2002 album Dirty District: Vol. 1, Guilty Simpson has aligned himself with the grimey boom-bap of Detroit, even after signing to the West Coast-based Stones Throw label. Two solo and five collaboration albums later, the Motor City native has released "Vanguard Organization," a song... Read more

July 7, 2015 Audio

J Rocc Pays Homage to Pete Rock with a PeteStrumentals 2 Megamix (Audio)

Almost 15 years after releasing PeteStrumentals, Pete Rock released a follow-up album on June 23, and with it came an infusion of the sampling and hard-hitting beats for which the Hip-Hop icon is revered. Released by Mello Music Group, PeteStrumentals 2 serves as not only a reminder of why the... Read more

July 7, 2015 Audio

Sole Survivors: A New Documentary Explores the Cultural Obsession With Sneakers (Video)

On the heels of the release of Fresh Dressed, a documentary film examining the marriage of Hip-Hop culture and fashion, a new film being released this summer will extend the examination, albeit with a narrower focus. An exploration of those obsessed with kicks, Sneakerheadz premiered at SXSW earlier this year... Read more

July 7, 2015 TV/Film, Video

South Carolina Senate Takes Major First Step Towards Removing Confederate Flag

In a historic and overwhelmingly favored step, the South Carolina Senate voted 37-3 for the removal of the Confederate flag from the State House earlier today (July 6). The Republican-controlled state senate took up the vote after the June 17 slaughter of nine African-Americans at a historical Black church placed... Read more

July 6, 2015 News

Follow the Leader: A$AP Rocky Got More Than a Name From Rakim (Video)

A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Meyers), shared his first album-buying experience, an experience younger generations of Heads may never have. For most, buying one's first C.D. or cassette tape was an almost religious experience; the ritual of getting to the store, hoping it hadn't sold out, unwrapping the plastic, removing the... Read more

July 6, 2015 Video

This 1976 Mini-Documentary Explores The Complexity of Graffiti Culture Before ‘Style Wars’ (Video)

It the late '70s, a distinctively rebellious trend began to populate the walls, monuments, and empty spaces of New York City, one that would go on to become a founding principle of Hip-Hop culture. Graffiti, despite having been around for millennia, experienced a surge in popularity in the late 20th... Read more

July 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Your Old Droog Is On the Rise But He’s Still Happy Being Under the Radar (Audio)

Now that we know he's not Nas, Your Old Droog has been proving to be good enough just being himself. The 25-year-old Ukrainian MC and Brooklyn native already has an eponymous full-length album, two EPs (Your Old Droog EP and Kinison EP), an interview in the prestigious New Yorker magazine,... Read more

July 3, 2015 Audio

A$AP Rocky Reveals Changing A Homeless Man’s Life In An Astonishing Way

In a just-published, sprawling feature for The Guardian, A$AP Rocky is portrayed as a master of his own universe, grabbing control of his artistic and personal expressions without much input beyond. The person from whom he gained the most guidance, A$AP Yams, tragically passed away in January, leaving the break-out star... Read more

July 3, 2015 News

Inspectah Deck Reflects on the Good, the Bad and the Mad of ODB (Video)

It's been more than 10 years since Hip-Hop lost one of its most eccentric and beloved personalities. With the passing of O.D.B. in 2004, one of history's most legacied and influential Rap groups lost an integral member, one who contributed not only so much personality, but also legitimately incredible lyrics,... Read more

July 3, 2015 Video

Has President Obama Done Right By The Hip-Hop Community? Killer Mike Shares His Views (Videos)

Killer Mike (born Michael Render) has been making moves in his music career for more than a decade, working alongside the likes of Outkast, Ice Cube, Funkadelic, and of course El-P, with whom he performs as Run the Jewels. The success of RTJ, for many, is what has launched Render... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

This Father/Daughter Beatbox Team Will Blow Your Mind. Watch Them Battle (Video)

Nicole Paris has uploaded a handful of videos on her YouTube channel in which she showcases her phenomenal beatboxing skills, but the latest installment is an inter-generational tête-à-tête featuring Paris and her father. The latest addition to her catalog is a follow-up to Round 1 of the Daddy-Daughter battle, which... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

A Graphic Novel Draws On Hip-Hop’s Earliest Days For Inspiration (Old School)

Earlier this month, a documentary called Rubble Kings was released, which chronicled some of the turbulent history of the Bronx in the '70s. Plagued with virulent gang activity, street warfare, and systemic poverty, much of the Bronx was considered to be a wasteland, one that tourists (and even other New... Read more

July 2, 2015 Throwback

Stephen Colbert Takes Over Local TV In Monroe, MI and Makes It the Eminem Show (Video)

Monroe, Michigan (pop.20,733). 25 miles south of Detroit, the small town's glory days during the war of 1812 make it an important American city for history buffs, and as the home of La-Z-Boy, it enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the '70s. Today, it has become a city buzzing with... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

10 Years After His Death, There Still Is Never Too Much Luther Vandross (Mix)

On July 1, 2005, one of music's most beloved voices was silenced when Luther Vandross passed away at the painfully young age of 54. Celebrated as a frontman, solo performer, and record producer, the eight-time Grammy winning singer and songwriter managed to remain relevant throughout his 25-year career, winning 4... Read more

July 1, 2015 Audio

Locksmith Freestyles So Hard He Scares the Beat Away…And He Has A Message (Videos)

Richmond, California's Locksmith, a rapper who established himself early on as a vicious lyricist while partaking in MTV's MC Freestyle Fellowship, has served up not one, but two helpings of nasty freestyling. In celebration of yesterday's release of his Lofty Goals album, he took to the airwaves to remind Heads... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

Don’t Stop the Music: Rihanna Makes History With 100 Million Gold & Platinum Singles

Somewhere, Jay Z is saying "I told you so." Rihanna has secured herself a permanent place in the annals of music history. The good girl gone bad has now gone into legendary status, becoming the first artist to cross 100-million song certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).... Read more

July 1, 2015 News

What Do Cole & Kendrick’s Hair Have to Do With Progress? Talib Kweli Explains In A New Essay

With a long history of being socially and politically critical, not only in his lyrics but also outside of the studio, Brooklyn, New York MC Talib Kweli has shared his strong beliefs on a vast array of topics including racism, police brutality, and the prison industrial complex. In addition, he... Read more

June 30, 2015 Lifestyle

Wild Styles: Jean-Michel Basquiat & Jacob Lawrence Make History in The New York Times

The worlds of fine art and Hip-Hop have collided ever since Fab 5 Freddy served as the cultural liaison between the two in the '80s. More recent forays like Wu-Tang Clan's decision to sell the only copy of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin (which, by the way, is adorned... Read more

June 30, 2015 Lifestyle

Lost Ones: Common & Eminem Recorded Tracks For DJ Jazzy Jeff’s LP. Why Didn’t Sony Release It? (Video)

In a new interview with Polish Hip-Hop outlet Popkiller, DJ Jazzy Jeff shares details about much of his career, including history into his solo debut (2002's The Magnificent), his early work with Eminem, his role as the face of Starter jackets and hats, his definition of a real DJ, the... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

Madlib Salutes African Grooves with New Project (Album Stream)

The Beat Konducta is back with another installment of his signature Mind Fusion mixtape series, this one penetrating deeply into the sounds of African beats and rhythms. African Earwax showcases the vast and seemingly endless lode of innovative music coming from all corners of the Great Continent, and at over... Read more

June 29, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar & Nicki Minaj Continue to Dominate the BET Awards

Last night's (June 28) BET Awards were equal parts nostalgic and forward-leaning. A Bad Boy Records reunion featuring Lil' Kim, Diddy, Ma$e, and The LOX as well as appearances from Janet Jackson and Smokey Robinson sparked reflection around the web, with viewers expressing delight at seeing some of their favorite... Read more

June 29, 2015 News

Fresh Dressed Continues To Make Rounds, A Film As Colorful As Its Fashion Focus

From Run-DMC rapping about their Adidas to A$AP Rocky's self-proclaimed status as a Fashion Killa, the merging of clothing and Hip-Hop has been a mainstay throughout the culture's history. From track suits, gold rope chains, over-sized shirts, Kangol hats, and entire lines like Sean John and Rocawear, Hip-Hop artists have... Read more

June 27, 2015 TV/Film

Audio Push Redefine What’s Regular In Normally (Video)

Hailing from the Inland Empire, a sprawling suburban section of Southern California that is far enough from Los Angeles to have its own cultural identity but close enough to still feel the influence of Hollywood's superstardom, Audio Push is a duo comprised of MCs Oktane (Julian Brown) and Price (Larry... Read more

June 27, 2015 Video

Now That Gay Marriage Is Legal in Every State, Will Hip-Hop End Its Homophobia?

In a ringing endorsement for civil equality, the Supreme Court yesterday (June 26) ruled that gay marriage is a national right and that individual states no longer have the ability to ban gay men and lesbian women from matrimony. With that decision came sweeping support from many, but there are... Read more

June 27, 2015 Lifestyle

Crazy Prophylactics: Q-Tip Referenced Them. 25 Years Later, They’re Here…

It was recently announced that a new line of condoms will change color when exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). What makes the story particularly interesting is the fact that the concept for the condoms was developed by a group of teenaged boys. Named the S.T.EYE, the condoms are designed... Read more

June 25, 2015 Lifestyle

Ice Cube: “There Would Be No Eminem Without N.W.A.”

For the first time in 25 years, all living members of N.W.A. will be performing live, together. As part of the BET Experience taking place this weekend, the seminal Rap group will take the stage to perform some of their classic material and whether or not Heads are in attendance,... Read more

June 25, 2015 News

Whether It’s Fans or Friends, Game & Drake Only Want The Real (Audio)

With his highly anticipated album The Documentary 2 slated for a June 30 release, the Game is poised to drop a summer blockbuster of a record. The ardor surrounding the release has been satiated, albeit only slightly, with the release of a mini-documentary with behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process,... Read more

June 25, 2015 Audio

Are Comedians the Only Ones Keeping It Real on TV? Larry Wilmore Takes Down the Confederate Flag (Video)

In the ongoing conversation about racial injustice in this country, public discourse is moving at a breakneck speed, with daily occurrences adding layers of complexity to what is already a contentious debate. The latest hot-button issue is the Confederate flag and its history, role, and purpose. Opinions on the issue... Read more

June 24, 2015 News

Bun B, Styles P & Sean Price Are Top Tier MCs, On A Statik Selektah Track (Audio)

Last year, DJ and producer Statik Selektah released What Goes Around, an album featuring verses from Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, B-Real, Dilated Peoples, Freddie Gibbs, Joey Badass, Logic, N.O.R.E., Posdnuos, and Sheek Louch (just to name a few!). The album was his sixth since the Massachusetts native launched his solo career... Read more

June 24, 2015 Audio

Rick Ross Facing Assault, Battery, & Kidnapping Charges After Arrest

Rapper Rick Ross (a/k/a William Roberts) was apprehended outside of what is reported to be his Atlanta, Georgia home by a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force earlier today (June 24), along with his bodyguard. According to Jim Joyner, a task force supervisor, more details on the arrest would come... Read more

June 24, 2015 News

Cereal Killa: Your Favorite Childhood Cereals Are Changing…

Whether you're KRS-One or just an average Joe, things are about to change when you "wake up every morning to your Lucky Charms cereal." Health consciousness has become a major concern for Americans as years of sedentary lifestyles and processed foods begin to manifest themselves into side effects like obesity,... Read more

June 23, 2015 Lifestyle

The Internet and Kaytranada Look to the Stars for the Perfect Girl (Video)

Tyler, the Creator's Odd Future menagerie has given Heads a lot of quality music to knock, including his own discography and those of Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Domo Genesis, and more. OFWGKTA producers Syd Tha Kyd (also the gang's DJ) and Matt Martians ventured into their own artistic detour, forming... Read more

June 23, 2015 Video

Out Of This World: Get Your Space Boogie On With Illa J’s New Single (Audio)

In a newly re-invigorated drive to continue his solo career, Illa J has embarked on new paths, both figuratively and musically. Now living in Montreal, the 28-year-old rapper spent the several years after the 2008 release of his solo debut, Yancey Boys, performing and touring with Slum Village, the Detroit-based... Read more

June 23, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Gets Deeply Personal in New Interview. Says He Is Trayvon Martin.

President Barack Obama appeared on Marc Maron's podcast "WTF with Marc Maron" and spoke on the enduring racism prevalent in this country and, in a breathtakingly powerful statement, said "It's not just a matter of it not being polite to say n***** in public." Throughout his tenure as president, race... Read more

June 22, 2015 News

D’Angelo and Bobby Seale Look Backwards to Move Forwards in Race Relations (Video)

The city of Oakland, California, has served as the geographical genesis for much of African-American political history. As the home of the Black Panther Party, its decades-long presence in the consciousness of many Black Americans is inextricably linked to its contemporary socio-political climate. The city once again leaped into headlines... Read more

June 22, 2015 Lifestyle

Kendrick Lamar Proves He’s The Guy To Remix Jidenna’s “Classic Man” (Audio)

With the release of To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar returned to much of the Funk- and Jazz-infused sonic landscape set forth in Section .80, his 2011 studio debut. The two releases are punctuated in between with 2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city, a louder, more widely heard album with the... Read more

June 22, 2015 Audio

What Would A Nas And AZ Album Sound Like? This Is The Closest You’ll Get (Mixtape)

Ever since the Firm disbanded in the late nineties, Heads have voiced a desire for an AZ/Nas collaboration album, though one has never materialized. However, a new mixtape has been released which may prove to be the next best thing. Thanks to DJ Rhude (who is also a contributing writer... Read more

June 20, 2015 Mixes

Former LAPD Detective Proposes A New Theory Surrounding Tupac’s Murder

In 2003, author Randall Sullivan published a book called LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implications of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal. Much of the book centered around Russell Poole, a former LAPD detective... Read more

June 20, 2015 News

In The Wake Of Tragedy, Killer Mike Speaks Out About Gun Control & Domestic Terrorism

Rapper and activist Killer Mike has been in the news a lot recently, most prominently in relation to social and political events. After an appearance last month on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher," he announced just last week that he was running for Georgia State Representative. Combined with his... Read more

June 20, 2015 News