Audio Archives

Thundercat & Kendrick Lamar Stay In The Groove On “Walk On By” (Audio)

Although he is not a Hip-Hop artist, Thundercat has been at the epicenter of the massive 2010s Rap movement in Southern California. The Los Angeles musician and vocalist has a particular bond with Kendrick Lamar. The pair have won Grammy Awards together, care of To Pimp A Butterfly songs like... Read more

February 22, 2017 Audio

Consequence & Royce Release An Anthem Filled With Self Pride & Soul (Audio)

2017 has already been a major year for Consequence, and it appears even bigger things are on the horizon for the Queens, New York rapper. Featured on A Tribe Called Quest's We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, Cons' took to the Grammys stage earlier this month... Read more

February 22, 2017 Audio

Everlast, Sick Jacken & Divine Styler Declare War Alongside B-Real, Vinnie Paz & More (Mixtape)

Long before Everlast made the whole world hear and feel "What It's Like," he was a slick-talking MC. The multi-talented Los Angeles, California resident (by way of New York) found major success with House Of Pain, but his days on wax stem back to the late 1980s, running with Ice-T's... Read more

February 21, 2017 Audio

Drake Opens Up For The First Time About Ghostwriting & Forcefully Defends His Pen (Audio)

In 2016, Drake does not often do interviews. The Canadian MC/singer was guarded upon his 2008-2009 entrance into the music industry. With the best-selling Hip-Hop album of 2016 in VIEWS, that wall has apparently only heightened. Drake typically addresses his life through lyrics, occasionally social media, and a few limited... Read more

February 20, 2017 Audio

Cheers. There’s Still Great Hip-Hop Being Made. Here’s A Bunch (Audio Playlist)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us fight through it for you and only supply you with the good stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been before. Not only are we able to go... Read more

February 17, 2017 Audio

DJ Jazzy Jeff Wants His New Project To Give You Goosebumps. Listen & Chill. (Audio)

DJ Jazzy Jeff has kept a tight catalog. Outside of his award-winning, multi-platinum work with The Fresh Prince, the Philadelphia DJ/producer launched his Magnificent series, introduced protege MC Dayne Jordan, and played a key role with The Roots, Jill Scott, and others. In a sneak attack of sorts, Jeff releases... Read more

February 17, 2017 Audio, Video

Mary J. Blige Channels Her Pain Into Another Timeless Love Song (Audio)

Mary J. Blige is reportedly releasing a new album this year, and has just dropped a searing record about her divorce. Undoubtedly one of the greatest R&B and Soul singers of all time, Mary J. Blige has been championed for giving voice to women's pain. Much of the reason for... Read more

February 17, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Reps For J Dilla On A Freestyle That Breathes New Life Into Hip-Hop (Audio)

Half of Slaughterhouse has been heating up 2017 with a barrage of freestyle displays. As Royce 5'9 has smashed Mondays by tackling several popular Rap tracks du jour, Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) has been putting in work on more esoteric tracks. In a month that honors J Dilla's life... Read more

February 16, 2017 Audio

CyHi The Prynce Imagines What Would Happen If America’s Black Talent Moved To Africa (Video)

CyHi The Prynce has waited a long time to release his debut album. Like many lyricists, the Atlanta, Georgia native's mixtape catalog is as strong as many of his peers' for-sale works. After releasing the first single "Legend" earlier this month, the G.O.O.D. Music MC follows with "Nu Africa." This... Read more

February 16, 2017 Audio

Raekwon & G-Eazy Take a Trip Down the Purple Brick Road (Audio)

On March 24, Raekwon will release The Wild, his first solo album since 2015's Fly International Luxurious Art. Already, the Wu-Tang Clan member has released its lead single, "This Is What It Comes To," which is being followed up today (February 16) with "Purple Brick Road." Drawing reference from his... Read more

February 16, 2017 Audio

Oddisee’s New Single Is An Homage To Perseverance In Black America (Audio)

Next Friday (February 24), producer and rapper Oddisee will be dropping The Iceberg, an album delving into serious subject matter like oppression, racism, and politics. Calling the LP "a plea for humanity to dig deeper in search of understanding and common ground," it will be the first LP from the... Read more

February 15, 2017 Audio

Ice Cube Names Chuck D His Favorite Rapper & Bomb Squad His Favorite Producers (Audio)

February 21 UPDATE: The video interview of Ice Cube from The Combat Jack Show has been added below, along with the existing audio stream. Original Post: Starting in 1990's "Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)," Ice Cube made some of his most notable collaborations with Chuck D and the producers... Read more

February 14, 2017 Audio, Video

From Kane To Whodini, This Mix Celebrates Hip-Hop & Love (Audio)

To those who celebrate it, Valentine's Day is about showing love to the ones you care about. That's why almost all people offer each other gifts such as those on Shop nguoi lon Ha Noi. While stores, radio stations, and restaurants pull out the love songs, nothing says that it... Read more

February 14, 2017 Audio, Mixes, Throwback

After Seeing Rob Base’s Hit Covered, Your Old Droog Wants To Rock Right Now (Audio)

UPDATE: The music video of "Help" by Your Old Droog & Wiki, featuring Edan: The original February 13 post: During the Grammy airing, a new advertisement campaign brought Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock's 1988 hit "It Takes Two" back into the light, sort of. Lil Yachty and Carly Rae... Read more

February 13, 2017 Audio, Video

Keith Murray Drops His Best Song in 10 Years With Help From Erick Sermon (Audio)

2/3 of the Def Squad have teamed up on a phenomenal new song, "No Exceptions." Produced by Erick Sermon, it's Keith Murray's first single in six years, and it shows the Long Island, New York MC is back in a major way. Following memorable appearances at A3C and the BET... Read more

February 13, 2017 Audio

Jay Z & Beyonce Celebrate Their Lives, Catalogs & Shining Trophy Cases (Audio)

Just hours after Beyoncé's artful Grammy performance Sunday night (February 12), she releases new music alongside husband Jay Z, and Roc Nation's DJ Khaled. All three attended the 59th Grammy Awards, with the Carters (accompanied by Blue Ivy, Beyonce's mother, and Jay's longtime right-hand Ty Ty) were in the front... Read more

February 13, 2017 Audio

Act 2 Of DJ Premier & Miguel’s Collabo Is For The Love (Video)

March 13 UPDATE: The video has been released to "2 Lovin U" by Miguel & DJ Premier: Original February 21 post: Just over one week ago, Miguel was nominated for two Grammy Awards for his 2015 Wildheart album, and its corresponding single "Coffee." That ByStorm/RCA Records LP featured Tha Dogg... Read more

February 13, 2017 Audio, Video

Joe Young’s ‘Invincible Armour’ May Be The Closest We Get To Another Wu-Tang Album

With Method Man, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, and Cappadonna in tow, Germany-raised MC Joe Young has released Invincible Armour, an album produced entirely by Dame Grease. Born in Manhattan, Joe Young (born Tyrone Clay) forged a relationship with some of the Wu-Tang Clan members after signing a deal with... Read more

February 10, 2017 Audio

ScHoolboy Q Thinks The Grammys Shade Gangsta Rap. He Details Next Album (Audio)

This weekend, the 59th Grammy Awards will take place. The Sunday affair promises an on-stage collaboration between Q-Tip and Anderson .Paak and a host of high-profile Hip-Hop stars in attendance at Los Angeles, California's Staples Center. Even though the arena is just a few miles away from where ScHoolboy Q... Read more

February 10, 2017 Audio

CyHi The Prynce Is Releasing His Debut Album But He’s Already A Legend (Audio)

Taking to social media yesterday (February 7), CyHi The Prynce announced the impending arrival of his long-awaited debut album. Arriving in the Spring or Summer, No Dope On Sunday signals his official arrival in many ways. The Grammy-nominated rapper has been releasing mixtapes since 2010, and has been an essential... Read more

February 8, 2017 Audio

Scarface Reminds Life Isn’t A Fairytale But We Can Write Our Own Endings (Audio)

On a long-awaited collaboration with Nashville, Tennessee rapper Starlito, Scarface contributes some bleak "Reality Rap" on a record all about the dark days in his rearview mirror. Luckily for the two artists, those days are now replaced with happier, fruitful times but as Hip-Hop is always emphasizing, remembering where you... Read more

February 7, 2017 Audio

Diamond D Passes The Torch To Kev Brown For A Thumping Remix (Audio)

In addition to producing his first full album for Sadat X, Diamond D is hard at work on his upcoming sequel to 2015's The Diam Piece. That album earned the D.I.T.C. co-founder some of the greatest accolades he's received in the 2000s and 2010s. Still a double-threat extraordinaire, the self-proclaimed... Read more

February 7, 2017 Audio

New Edition’s Story Of Growth & Evolution Is Told Through This Mister Cee Mix

Last month, New Edition was the talk of television, thanks to a three-night film chronicling their beginnings, meteoric rise, and current state of the group. In conjunction with The New Edition Story, an offshoot of the group, Bell Biv DeVoe also released their first album in more than 15 years.... Read more

February 5, 2017 Audio, Mixes

J.U.I.C.E. Defeated Eminem In One Of Rap’s Greatest Battles. He Offers A Rematch (Audio)

In 1997, at Cincinnati, Ohio's annual Scribble Jam Festival, Eminem and MC J.U.I.C.E. faced off in what is often considered one of Hip-Hop's greatest battles. At the time, the two Midwestern lyricists were both independent artists looking for a title, and some shine to boot. J.U.I.C.E., the Chicago, Illinois native... Read more

February 3, 2017 Audio

Leaders Of The New School Are Recording New Music With Comeback Plans (Audio)

It has been nearly 25 years since Leaders Of The New School released an album, care of 1993's T.I.M.E. Mentored by The Bomb Squad, especially Chuck D, Long Island, New York's L.O.N.S. would create a launchpad for Busta Rhymes, along with Dinco D, Charlie Brown and DJ, Cut Monitor Milo.... Read more

February 3, 2017 Audio, News

Detroit vs. Everybody: Eminem & Big Sean Refuse To Be Outdone On “No Favors” (Audio)

Two of Detroit's most successful rappers have teamed up on a phenomenal duet, in the form of "No Favors." The most exciting song from forthcoming album I Decided features none other than Eminem, Motor City's King of Rap. Premiering January 18 on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 Radio show, the song's... Read more

February 3, 2017 Audio

Raekwon’s New Single Is Here & The Chef Is Cooking With Extra Fire (Audio)

In announcing his forthcoming solo album The Wild earlier this month, Raekwon told fans it's inspired by "all the s**t that's goin' on today," suggesting the LP will be a no-holds-barred reflection of the social and political climate of late. That proclamation has been proven true today (February 1) with... Read more

February 1, 2017 Audio

Faith Evans & Biggie Celebrate Both Coasts On Collabos With Jadakiss & Snoop (Audio)

Faith Evans had a momentous year in 2016. She and Lil Kim made peace, she joined Puff Daddy on a nationwide Bad Boy & Family tour, celebrating 20 years of the venerable label, and she announced she would be releasing a new collaboration album featuring her vocals alongside rare verses... Read more

February 1, 2017 Audio

Royce 5’9 Jacks Big Sean For His Moves. No MC Is Safe (Audio)

We are less than one month into 2017, and Royce 5'9 has already released a bevy of freestyles, each incorporating beats from artists with younger careers than his and in styles very different from his own. Thus far, he has recreated DJ Khaled's "I Got The Keys," Migos' "Bad and... Read more

January 30, 2017 Audio

Boldy James’ Comeback EP Featuring Kool G Rap Is A Welcomed Return (Audio)

When Nas invested in Mass Appeal Records, Boldy James was one the artists he began touting shortly after. The Detroit, Michigan street MC worked with Prodigy, Action Bronson, Odd Future, and extensive work with Alchemist. While he was extremely prolific in the early 2010s, Boldy slowed his roll over the... Read more

January 28, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Says Kellyanne Conway Should Rap Since She Lies Like Most MCs (Audio)

It's been a particularly unusual first week of a new president's tenure. Since being sworn in on January 20, Donald Trump and his staff have said and done things that have angered millions of Americans. Entertaining as some of it may be, under all of it lie serious implications, with... Read more

January 27, 2017 Audio

Pusha T & Rick Ross Join Forces For a Street Anthem About Hard Choices (Audio)

Now that he's an official Maybach Music Group artist, rapper Tracy T has enlisted two major heavyweights to deliver his biggest look yet. "Choices" features Pusha T and Rick Ross and is featured on Tracy's forthcoming LP, Millionaire Nightmares. As the title suggests, the record centers around life's many options... Read more

January 27, 2017 Audio

Lupe Fiasco & Big K.R.I.T. Reconnect For A High Powered Message (Audio)

Lupe Fiasco is less than a month away from his sixth album, Drogas Light (February 10). That 1st & 15th/Atlantic Records LP has an interesting collaboration in the form of "Tranquillo." The song features Big K.R.I.T. as well as Rick Ross. In 2016, Lu' and Krizzle teamed up for Dee-1's... Read more

January 27, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Is Coming After The #1 Spot. There Are No Friends In Rhyming (Audio)

In 2016, Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) released a stellar EP with Statik Selektah in the form of Statik Kxng. But that was last year. In his own words, the Long Beach, California MC is holding himself to a much higher standard in 2-0-1-7. Hopping on Kanye West's "Real Friends"... Read more

January 26, 2017 Audio

Marley Marl & Large Professor Supply M-Dot With Golden Sounds From 2 Legends (Audio)

This Friday, Boston, Massachusetts MC M-Dot is releasing his EgO anD The eneMy album. The follow-up to 2010's Run MPC features the E.M.S. crew member working with a who's who of Hip-Hop production giants. D.I.T.C.'s Buckwild, Reflection Eternal's Hi-Tek, 7L, and Marco Polo make up some of the sound providers... Read more

January 25, 2017 Audio

This Is It! Thundercat Regulates With Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald (Audio)

Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins are two musicians with rich histories. From the early '70s Loggins & Messina days to Mike's work with Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, these men injected Funk, Soul, and some dusts of Disco into once straightforward Rock & Roll bands. To simply call their music... Read more

January 25, 2017 Audio

Yo! MTV Raps Host Doctor Dré Calls Straight Outta Compton “Straight Outta Fiction” (Audio)

Hip-Hop is big enough to have some artists with multiple names. Notably, Mobb Deep and South Central Cartel were each compromised of duos Prodigy and Havoc (or "Prodeje" in S.C.C.'s case). There have been two Guru's, a couple Jay Dee's, and several Mike D's. Perhaps no tandem is more famous... Read more

January 24, 2017 Audio

The Internet’s Syd Shows It All In Solo Single “Body” (Audio)

Syd The Kid is no kid. One of the standouts of Odd Future (aka OFWGKTA) and one half of The Internet continues to make some of the most sophisticated R&B/Pop music in the space. Gearing up towards her solo debut Fin, the Los Angeles, California native releases latest single, "Body."... Read more

January 24, 2017 Audio

Oddisee Releases A Blistering Song Questioning A System That Is Stacked Against Us (Audio)

Closing out 2016 with the announcement of a new album and supporting tour, Oddisee is back today (January 24) with "Like Really," a new single tackling America's political system. Blistering in its criticism, the song is possibly the most political record of his career, and it might just be the... Read more

January 24, 2017 Audio

Royce 5’9″ Destroys Today’s Hot MCs With Another Lethal Freestyle (Audio)

A week ago today (January 23), Royce 5'9" dropped a DJ Khaled-inspired freestyle. "I Got the Keys" takes the smash single featuring Jay Z and Future and creates something else entirely, by way of Royce's unmatched lyrical dexterity. Now, he's back with another unforgiving freestyle, this one atop two wildly... Read more

January 23, 2017 Audio

O.C. Is A Great MC. He Makes A Song About What Makes A Good Man (Audio)

In early 2016, Diggin' In The Crates started promoting their Sessions album with a series of Monday song releases. Some of those tracks made the self-released album and some were just pieces for D.I.T.C. Heads to enjoy. That formula appears to be upheld for O.C.'s Same Moon Same Sun. Releasing... Read more

January 23, 2017 Audio

Bell Biv DeVoe Show They’re Still Way Betta Than The Rest (Audio)

It is just one week away from Bell Biv DeVoe's first album in 15 years. Three Stripes (January 27) is a testament to B.B.D.'s staying power. Even if Ricky Bell, Michael Bivens, and Ronnie DeVoe have been slow on the album releases (there was an eight year hiatus between Hootie... Read more

January 20, 2017 Audio

Rhymefest, Xzibit & Jesse Williams Say We Rise Together Or We Fall Apart (Audio)

Back in August, EPIX debuted a trailer for its docu-series America Divided, a politically driven program executive produced by Common, Norman Lear, and Shonda Rhimes. The powerful show has now inspired a corresponding body of music in the form of the J. Period-led mixtape RISE UP! Jesse Williams, Rhymefest, Aloe... Read more

January 20, 2017 Audio

Method Man Cleans House On This “Eviction” Collabo With Dave East & Max B (Audio)

Some things in Hip-Hop just don't age. For example, consider 808 drum sounds, Pharrell Williams, or Method Man's flow. "Iron Lung" laces his first track of 2017 in full form. "Eviction" features the Wu-Tang Clan MC alongside Dave East, Max B, as well as Meth's own apparent proteges of late,... Read more

January 20, 2017 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Releases The Most Powerful Song Of His Career With “Land Of The Free” (Audio)

For many, this has been a hard week. The celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the start has been juxtaposed with the sense of foreboding doom at where the country is headed after tomorrow's inauguration. There have been countless articles, infinite social media posts and endless debates among... Read more

January 20, 2017 Audio

Fat Joe Signs To Jay Z’s Roc Nation. Their Beef Is All The Way Over (Audio)

In 2016, Fat Joe and Jay Z made a statement in both of their careers when they recorded the "All The Way Up (Remix)" together (alongside Remy Ma). Reportedly dating back to the late 1990s, the eventual Terror Squad leader and the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder were caught in a beef... Read more

January 18, 2017 Audio, News

O.C. Has A New Album Coming. The First Song Is SERIOUS (Audio)

Diggin' In The Crates veteran O.C. has a new album arriving later this month. Same Moon Same Sun (January 30) follows a rich pedigree that includes at least two cult-championed independent albums. The MC who grew up in both Queens and Brooklyn, New York uses his lead single "Serious" to... Read more

January 17, 2017 Audio

Royce Takes The Keys From Khaled & Jay Z And Unlocks A New Level (Audio)

Royce 5'9" says he's starting to have fun young again. That is deeply apparent on his "I Got The Keys" freestyle. In what may be shaping up to be a weekly song series from Nickel Nine, the Detroit, Michigan veteran takes one of the biggest records of 2016 (by DJ... Read more

January 16, 2017 Audio

J. Cole’s New Song Show’s Our American Nightmare Is Far From MLK’s Dream (Audio)

In 2014, J. Cole was one of the most politically-active artists in Hip-Hop. He was one of the first (and only) to go to Ferguson, MO, in the wake of the slaying of Michael Brown. Months later, he marched with the people in the streets of New York after the... Read more

January 16, 2017 Audio

Fabolous & Jadakiss Show Just How Scary A Quiet Storm Can Be On “Rapture” (Audio)

Fabolous and Jadakiss have been teasing fans with the prospect of their Freddy vs. Jason collaborative project for what seems like ages. Late last year, when it was clear the project would not be released in 2016, Fab dropped a major clue that fans could expect something in January, and... Read more

January 14, 2017 Audio