AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Archives

J-Live Details Making A Pete Rock-Produced Gem From The Best Part

In 2001, J-Live released his debut album, The Best Part. The LP, originally intended for release at Payday/London Records, was among a group of projects halted after the label experienced a merger and distribution. "We ended up having to redo a lot of stuff. They used to call it 'The... Read more

Slum Village Discuss Their First Album In Nearly A Decade

During the 2010s, Hip-Hop fans speculated what the future held for Slum Village. At the top of the decade, the Detroit, Michigan crew released a special album in Villa Manifesto—a collection of songs that featured kaleidoscopic contributions from the six artists who had claimed the group since its early 1990s... Read more

Slum Village Shares New Details About Making Get Dis Money

A quarter-century ago, Slum Village was in the process of following up their Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) debut. That underground album became a calling card for a new sound coming out of Detroit, Michigan — and three artists bringing the change. T3, J Dilla, and Baatin were in the process of following up and... Read more

Masta Ace Releases A Song Filled With Positivity

In 2018, Masta Ace and Marco Polo released their first album as a unit. A Breukelen Story was a concept album—something the Brooklyn, New York MC has done for much his 35-year career. That LP was named by Ambrosia For Heads among the best of '18, and it featured Smif-n-Wessun,... Read more

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E Member Monsta O Has Passed Away

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. member Monsta O aka Danny Devoux has reportedly passed away yesterday (October 12). The bassist and producer for the veteran collective was 56 years old. The cause of death is unknown, however, West Coast Hip-Hop insider Chad M. Kiser is among those who broke the news, with Rock... Read more

Cormega & Nas Have Reunited On A Song & It’s Glorious

Today (October 7), Cormega has delivered The Realness II. As Cormega recently detailed to Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, the album was carefully made to be a true sequel to the original—which arrived just over 21 years ago. Beloved song “American Beauty" gets a stylish update on "Her... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Talks His New Album, Little Brother’s Status & More

Last month, Rapper Big Pooh released one of the most spirited works of his extensive 20-year career. The North Carolina-based Virginia native MC delivered To Dream In Color. The 10-song album features some powerful commentary on the pursuit of dreams, the value of family support and the will to succeed. Blakk Soul,... Read more

Cormega Explains Why The Realness 2 Is A True Sequel To The Original

Upon its mid-2001 arrival, Cormega's The Realness lived up to its title. After years of waiting his turn, the MC asserted himself to step forth with a body of work that combined a passion for wisdom-drenched lyricism with a survivor's tale of life in New York City streets and the Rap industry. The independently... Read more

Daringer Explains How He & Westside Gunn Created The Griselda Sound

Late last month, Queens, New York veteran MC Meyhem Lauren partnered with producer Daringer for a collaboration album, Black Vladimir (embedded below). The 15-track album involves Action Bronson, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Flee Lord, Elcamino, and Meyhem's brother Hologram and finds brilliant chemistry between two artists that go back... Read more

Meyhem Lauren & Daringer Break Down Their New Album

Less than two weeks ago, Queens, New York MC Meyhem Lauren partnered with producer Daringer, architect of the Griselda Records sound, for Black Vladimir (embedded below). The 15-track album involves Action Bronson, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Flee Lord, Elcamino, and Hologram and finds brilliant chemistry between two artists that go... Read more

Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane Reunite On A New Song

After a 35-plus-year career, Kool G Rap is gearing up for a statement album. On October 14, 2022, the Queens, New York lyrical legend will release Last Of A Dying Breed. The upcoming album features contributions from Sean Price, AZ, 38 Spesh, NEMS, Royal Flush, and Vado. Domingo, a producer... Read more

KRS-One Joins Forces With AZ & O.C. To Save The Culture

Last week, Ambrosia For Heads premiered "Represent The Real," a powerhouse collaboration between AZ, KRS-One, and O.C. That song, produced and released by Dublin, Ireland's Stylistic Murder (and the A-side to a special 7" vinyl single, with a B-side featuring ONYX, has now released a music video, which conveniently begins... Read more

Diamond D Speaks About His New Album & Spending A Day With Dr. Dre

This year marks 30 years since Diamond D's debut album, and he is celebrating in style. The Bronx, New York native MC/producer/DJ is releasing THE REAR VIEW on Friday, August 19. Arriving on D's Dymond Mine Records imprint, the 13-song collection demonstrates Diamond D as a true multi-talented artist. The co-founder... Read more

KRS-One, AZ & O.C. Represent Real Hip-Hop With Style

UPDATE: Stylistic Murder has released the music video for "Represent The Real," featuring AZ, KRS-One, and O.C.: ORIGINAL AUGUST 11 STORY: Today (August 11) marks Hip-Hop's birthday. In celebration of the date, three elite MCs who have stood for the culture come together for a special collaboration premiering at Ambrosia For... Read more

Former Death Row Records Artist CPO Boss Hogg Has Passed Away

CPO Boss Hogg was at the epicenter of the 1990s West Coast Hip-Hop movement. The Compton, California native born Vince Edwards has died this week, as confirmed by friend, journalist, and past Ambrosia For Heads contributor Chad Kiser. Details were not made public. However, CPO had posted about his ongoing health... Read more

RZA Explains Why Ghostface Was Hip-Hop’s Best MC When He Made Supreme Clientele

Twenty years ago this month, Ghostface Killah released his sophomore album, Supreme Clientele. The Razor Sharp/Epic/Sony Records LP has proven to be one of the greatest solo works in the Wu-Tang Clan catalog. Three and a half years removed from Ironman, the album is a benchmark for G.F.K. and the... Read more

RZA Explains How Words From The Genius & Walks Around Shaolin Unlocked His Potential

This week RZA released a different kind of audio project. Guided Explorations finds Wu-Tang Clan's Abbott offering listeners some meditations. Read by RZA, these are journeys that mirror his path, both in entertainment, as well as in spirituality. It is a partnership with tea-maker TAZO. Beyond the six-song album (which... Read more

Eminem Tells Kxng Crooked About His Deep Love For The Craft Of Rapping (Video)

"What I would say to any up-and-coming rapper? I would say that it is hard to get it, and it's even harder to maintain it." Eminem shares those words in the closing minutes of a one-hour-plus interview with Kxng Crooked on Crook's Corner. The video interview takes place in Dr.... Read more

Royce 5’9’s Allegory Album Sets The Bar Extremely High For 2020. Listen Here

For years, there was an industry adage that Hip-Hop was a young person's game. While labels may forever seek teenage and early twenty-something talent, the 2010s more than put that notion to bed. More than ever, Hip-Hop Heads showed that balance was needed when it came to perspective. At a... Read more

Jaz-O Discusses The Record That He & JAY-Z Released In 1986 (Video)

Veteran Brooklyn, New York MC/producer Jaz-O released a new project, The Warmup. In a career that spans work with Rakim, M.O.P., DJ Premier, and others, Jaz-O is best known as the early mentor and rhyme partner of JAY-Z. The two artists with similar names appeared on several songs dating back... Read more

Black Thought Pops Up At Rapsody’s Show To Rip Another Incredible Freestyle (Video)

Last night (February 6), Rapsody performed at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, New York. After touring with Big K.R.I.T. in late 2019, the Jamla Records MC is headlining the A Black Woman Created This Tour (dates below), which also features Sa-Roc. Black Thought, who has worked with Rap' several times, appeared on... Read more

Royce 5’9’s New Song Is About How He’s Gotten Better With Time & He May Be The Best

Hip-Hop Heads are less than a month out from Royce 5'9's The Allegory album. The February 21 Heaven Studios/eOne album will feature Benny The Butcher, Kxng Crooked, Vince Staples, Conway The Machine, DJ Premier, and Oswin Benjamin, among others. Dating back to late 2019, Nickel Nine has released two video... Read more

Method Man & Redman Join Gang Starr For A Remix That Stands Up For Real Hip-Hop

On November 1, Gang Starr released its first album in more than 16 years. DJ Premier carefully crafted sounds around some previously unreleased vocals from Guru. In the autumn, Heads got two singles before One Of The Best Yet, the album which was later named to Ambrosia For Heads' Best... Read more

Shad & The Creators Of Hip-Hop Evolution Detail Making A Truly Standout Docuseries

Less than a week ago, Hip-Hop Evolution premiered its fourth season of episodes to Netflix. The series, which came to the platform in late 2016, has been one of the most comprehensive, far-reaching Hip-Hop documentaries ever produced. What's more, it lives in a place that's accessible to the mainstream, shining... Read more

The D.O.C. Recalls The Night Of His Car Accident With New Details (Video)

For many Hip-Hop Heads, The D.O.C. is widely regarded as one of the most skilled lyricists and songwriters. A native of Dallas, Texas, the artist born Tracy Curry linked with Dr. Dre in the late 1980s to make history. After assisting with the writing on N.W.A.'s Grammy Hall Of Fame-inducted Straight... Read more

Redman Has Been Volunteering At Music Festivals Undercover. Here’s Why (Video)

One of the most iconic moments of Redman's career is his episode of MTV Cribs. At the top of the millennium, Reggie Noble brought cameras to his Staten Island, New York residence (which he still owns). On a show known for grandeur and decadence, Funk Doc's crib featured a DJ... Read more

Madlib & Freddie Gibbs’ Tiny Desk Concert Is An Education On 1 Of 2019’s Best Albums

In the eyes of many fans, one of 2019's best Hip-Hop albums is Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's Bandana. Five years after Pinata, the duo reunited with a product that built on the genuinely unique chemistry from two prolific artists. At a time when both men make so much music, fans... Read more

LL Cool J Weighs In On Why Some GOAT Rapper Lists Snub Him (Video)

Hip-Hop loves a list, and that was especially true in 2019. In late summer, a series of fan-generated Top 50 MCs lists became a viral fad, with everybody from rappers to athletes and celebrities participating on social media, and evoking debate and discourse. At the same time, many interview guests... Read more

D.I.T.C. Show They Are Still Juggernauts On A New Compilation Album (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads 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 its ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

Rapsody Details Making Eve & Describes The Big Response To 1 Of 2019’s Best LPs

In late August, Rapsody released her Eve album. The North Carolina native's third full-length raised the stakes on a critically-acclaimed discography with a profound concept. Across 16 songs, Rapsody celebrated Black women with namesake titles, open to varying interpretations and connections. Whether they were clear-cut tributes or loose homages, the... Read more

Talib Kweli Is Recording An Album Produced By Diamond D. Take A Look. (Video)

Earlier this year, Diamond D released his latest album, The Diam Piece 2. On that LP, "The Zone" features Talib Kweli as well as Terror Van Pooh, and Niko Is. The Bronx, New York producer, MC, and DJ and the Brooklyn, New York MC, entrepreneur, and show host have some... Read more

LL Cool J Discusses The Importance Of Owning All Of His Music (Video)

LL Cool J is one of Hip-Hop's first artist-moguls. At the same time he established himself as one of the most dominant MCs of all time, James Todd Smith was adding film, fashion, and more to his resume. Appearing on Sway In The Morning this week, Uncle L also broke... Read more

Sean Price & Lil Fame’s “Price Of Fame” Collabo Album Is Arriving Very Soon

Ahead of Sean Price's passing in 2015, the Brooklyn, New York veteran was said to be at work on several albums, including solo material and collaborative projects. Sean's fourth solo album, Imperius Rex, eventually released in 2017. That Duck Down LP was named by Ambrosia For Heads among the best of... Read more

Evidence Drops A New Instrumental Album. Check Out 26 Beats From A Proven Master.

Nearly 25 years into his career, Evidence's music continues to get better and better. That says a lot for an artist who took audiences by storm with the Dilated Peoples across several albums since the late 1990s. However, in the solo department, releases like last year's Weather Or Not offer... Read more

Rome Streetz Reps Hard…And Raps Harder For That Throwback New York Sound (Video)

An affiliate of Smif-N-Wessun's Tek, Brooklyn, New York's Rome Streetz is one of the MCs buzzing in the current Big Apple underground. Over the years, he's put in work with the likes of Snowgoons, Agallah (fka 8-Off), and 38 Spesh. In 2019, he has released several projects, including Headcrack, with... Read more

Dr. Dre Explains Why Eminem Was The Missing Link In Making 2001 (Video)

Twenty years ago today (November 16, 1999), Dr. Dre released his sophomore solo album, 2001. It became a benchmark album that book-ended a decade that the producer and rapper had fueled. Personally and musically, plenty had happened since The Chronic, which marked Dre's first album since leaving N.W.A. and Eazy-E.... Read more

Royce 5’9 Drops 1 Of The Most Savage Verses Of 2019 (Audio)

Royce 5'9 has been working hard behind the scenes in 2019, after releasing two acclaimed albums last year. Following The Book Of Ryan (named one of Ambrosia For Heads' top albums of '18), Royce began the new year with the highly-potent "Field Negro" single. Since then, he's remained quiet. Former... Read more

Talib Kweli & El-P Recall Rawkus Records Taking A Chance On Underground Hip-Hop

Run The Jewels and Company Flow co-founder El-P is the latest guest on Talib Kweli's The People's Party Podcast, with co-host Jasmin Leigh. The two natives of Brooklyn, New York have plenty of history together, including Hip Hop For Respect. They were label-mates at Rawkus Records during an inflection point... Read more

Danny Brown Is Living His Best Life Rapping Over 1 Of Q-Tip’s Best Beats (Video)

Last month, Danny Brown delivered a strong addition to his respected discography. uknowhatimsayin¿ features Run The Jewels, Consequence, and JPEGMAFIA, among others. Q-Tip, who provides some vocals, executive produced the collection of songs. The Abstract, who began working on this LP with Danny years ago, also laced the Warp Records... Read more

Guru’s Son Transforms Into His Father For Gang Starr’s New Video

A week after releasing One Of The Best Yet, Gang Starr delivers the second visual from the album. In the first video, "Family And Loyalty," DJ Premier, guest J. Cole, and Gang Starr Foundation's Big Shug were joined by Guru's son, Keith Casim "K.C." Elam. Heads may have noticed a... Read more

Gang Starr’s Album Is Here & It’s One Of The Best Yet (Audio)

Less than six weeks ago, Hip-Hop Heads suddenly learned that a Gang Starr album was on its way. DJ Premier had spent more than a year producing songs around previously unreleased vocals from his longtime creative partner, Guru. The MC/producer had passed away in 2010, nearly seven years removed from... Read more

A New Report Details How DJ Premier Rescued Guru’s Lost Recordings

On Friday (November 1), Gang Starr will release its first album in more than 16 years. On One Of The Best Yet, the vocals of Guru are reunited with the producer/mixmaster DJ Premier for a final sendoff from one of Hip-Hop's most trusted sources of sound and style. Old friends and... Read more

Apollo Brown’s Album Features Royce, Elzhi, Slum Village & More. Listen Here (Audio)

Apollo Brown continues to be one of the most trusted and most consistent producers in Hip-Hop. The Michigan native, based in Detroit, has made heralded albums alongside Joell Ortiz, O.C., Ras Kass, Planet Asia, and others. Additionally, the Mello Music Group mainstay has been the backbone in groups such as... Read more

J. Cole’s Dreamville Is Flying High In Its Quest To Be Hip-Hop’s Best Crew (Video)

2019 has been an exciting year for the Hip-Hop crew. Buffalo, New York's Griselda Records continues to build an empire, brick-by-brick. Last week's first glimpse of a Shady Records-backed album from Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher shows even more promise to a calendar year that's seen... Read more

Gang Starr Has An Album Coming & Their New Song Is Classic Material (Audio)

Gang Starr's legacy is everlasting. What Guru and DJ Premier assembled more than 30 years ago has influenced and informed Hip-Hop culture. In early 2010, the group's creator, Keith "Guru" Elam passed away from cancer in a New York City hospital. At the time, it had been more than six... Read more

Chubb Rock Jumps Back On The Scene With A Party Starter (Audio)

It's been a decade since Chubb Rock released an album. However, the Brooklyn, New York veteran remains nimble with his bars. Along with a full-length collaboration with Wordsmith, the Chubbster' cut tracks alongside a few carefully-chosen Hip-Hop artists, including Beneficence, PR Dean, and a newly-liberated Prince Paul remix that also... Read more

YBN Cordae & Anderson .Paak Travel Back To The ’70s For A Video That’s Super Fly

Last year, YBN Cordae responded to J. Cole's "1985 - 'Intro To The Falloff'" with a song of his own. Cole's song, now more than a year and a half old, confronted some younger Rap peers who had been dissing him, and offering them some valuable game. It was a... Read more

Black On Both Sides Is Still Mos Def After 20 Years

Twenty years ago today (October 12, 1999), Mos Def released his solo debut, Black On Both Sides. After two decades of testing time, the Rawkus Records album remains a hallmark from the Underground Hip-Hop boom. On his own strict terms, Dante Smith crafted an LP driven by creativity, piercing commentary,... Read more

Gang Starr’s New Video With J. Cole Keeps Guru’s Legacy Alive (Video)

More than 15 years since the last Gang Starr video, DJ Premier releases "Family and Loyalty." It's a Fab 5 Freddy-directed visual featuring DJ Premier, J. Cole, Big Shug, and plenty of memories surrounding the impact Guru's life made on others. The video begins with Guru's family (including his son,... Read more

Tobe Nwigwe Makes Some Of The Best Music Videos In Hip-Hop & He Does It Weekly

In the modern music age, many artists are dropping at a grueling pace. From Hip-Hop legends like DJ Muggs and Ghostface Killah to dominant emerging voices such as Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine, staying prolific is seemingly part of the daily operation. Tobe Nwigwe has released three albums since... Read more