Audio Archives

This Throwback Playlist Celebrates The Hip-Hop That Is Never Played-Out. (Audio)

What is classic never goes out of style. In its 44th year, Hip-Hop music has plenty of that. There are records in five different decades that Rap music fans keep in rotation, no matter the medium (vinyl, CD, cassette, or digital). For those who are about the flows, beats, and... Read more

January 13, 2017 Audio, Throwback

A Producer Reimagines The Music Of A.T.C.Q.’s Midnight Marauders (Audio)

A Tribe Called Quest's third album, Midnight Marauders is one of their most beloved. The late 1993 Jive/RCA Records release picked up where '91's Low End Theory left off, featuring easy-to-relate-to rhymes and incredible sample-based musical compositions. Large Professor and Skeff Anslem each contributed a single track, while guests included... Read more

January 12, 2017 Audio

DMX & Swizz Beatz Return With A New Banger That Confirms The Dog Is BACK (Audio)

Last year, Swizz Beatz teased Rap fans. In an Instagram post from 2016, he said "I am truly ultra proud of the steps my brother has been taking to greatness ???????? Some people think it's easy to shake unfortunate situations but it's not! I would love for all the fans... Read more

January 12, 2017 Audio

Alicia Keys Makes One Sweet F’ing Collaboration With KAYTRANADA (Audio)

At the start of his career, Canadian producer KAYTRANADA has been responsible for making appealing beats for Mobb Deep, Freddie Gibbs, and especially Vic Mensa. In time, official remixes and broader productions for Rihanna, AlunaGeorge, and The Internet pushed him into circles well beyond Hip-Hop. 2016's exceptional 99.9% album cemented... Read more

January 10, 2017 Audio

Big K.R.I.T. Makes His Most Experimental Song To Date. Will His Music Stay This Way? (Audio)

In what will likely be one of the most exciting chapters of Big K.R.I.T.'s music career, his recent departure from Def Jam may be encouraging him to explore and push musical boundaries in his own work. His recent feature on "Might Not Be O.K." (the work of Kenneth Whalum, a... Read more

January 9, 2017 Audio

Ras Kass Forms A New Group With J57 & El Gant. Here’s The First Single (Audio)

Over the years, Ras Kass is a big proponent of collaboration. He has appeared on blockbuster albums like Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio, he rapped alongside GZA on the cult-lauded Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture compilation, and he spit bars on the celebrated Caltroit project. Beyond simple song chemistry, Razzy has... Read more

January 9, 2017 Audio

Listen To Some Of The Best Hip-Hop Songs Of 2016 & More In 1 Playlist (Audio)

2016 is officially a wrap. For many it will go down as one of the more challenging years in recent memory, but, no matter what may have transpired, it was a period in which a lot of great music was released. Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s... Read more

January 7, 2017 Audio

Tony Touch Shows Where The New Boom Bap Lives In His Latest Mix (Audio)

Twenty years ago, Brooklyn, New York's Tony Touch was one of the most prominent mixtape DJs. One of the original promoters of the MC freestyle, Tony Touch played records he liked, featured great signed and underground talent, and kept the culture organic. In 2016, Tony is one of the only... Read more

January 6, 2017 Audio, Mixes

This Is It. Hear Camp Lo’s Original “Luchini” Demo. They Have New Grooves Too. (Audio)

After a very busy 2016, Camp Lo recently released some pre-Uptown Saturday Night demo recordings, On The Way Uptown. It features this demo version of "This Is It (Luchini)." Presumably recorded in 1995-1996, this is the Ski Beatz-produced material that would catch Profile Records' attention, and make Sonny Cheeba and... Read more

January 6, 2017 Audio, Throwback, Video

Freddie Gibbs Makes the Sun Shine All Day on Harry Fraud’s Mixtape (Audio)

There has been a lot to celebrate for Freddie Gibbs in recent months, beginning with his September acquittal of sexual-assault charges. In the months since, he has undoubtedly taken time to embrace his freedom and although he's been relatively quiet on the music front, a handful of appearances suggest he... Read more

January 1, 2017 Audio

Dres Raps With Soul & You Can Feel The Power (Audio)

The holidays are upon us, but one MC who is not slowing down is Dres. The Black Sheep MC is closing down 2016 with some innovative styles, 25 marvelous years after A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing. For "Soul," the New Yorker with close ties to North Carolina teams up with... Read more

December 30, 2016 Audio

Tony Touch Makes A Moving Tribute Mix Dedicated To The Artists We Lost In 2016 (Audio)

2016 has been something else. While there has definitely been good in the year that's finishing out this weekend, there has been a lot of shock and awe in between. In the art world, music lovers lost more than a few icons. None of these deaths seemed to come as... Read more

December 29, 2016 Audio, Mixes

Run The Jewels Surprise Release Their New RTJ3 Album As A Free Christmas Gift (Audio)

Since their inception, Run The Jewels have always put their fans first. They released both their first and second eponymous albums for free, in addition to selling them for digital download, and promised to do the same for their third installment. Earlier this month, the duo of Killer Mike and... Read more

December 25, 2016 Audio

Big Sean Has A New Album Coming, But His New Single Features Mixtape Rhyming (Audio)

Tonight (December 22), Big Sean announced he has a new album coming in early 2017. I Decided, Sean's fourth studio LP, will be released on February 3, via G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam. The offering will be Sean's first album in two years to the month, following 2015's Dark Sky... Read more

December 23, 2016 Audio

Chance The Rapper & Jeremih Modernize A Jackson 5 Classic For Their Christmas Mixtape (Audio)

Chance The Rapper is honored with the distinction of 2016's most anticipated and most acclaimed Hip-Hop mixtape. Coloring Book takes the notion of "not for sale music" to the Grammy stages in 2017, thanks to its captivating messages from the Chicago, Illinois MC/singer. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay Electronica, and... Read more

December 22, 2016 Audio

Dres, Ras Kass, ONYX & More Bring Great ’90s Rap Back (Audio)

The Snowgoons are gifted in helping veteran Hip-Hop artists find new dimension in their catalogs. That is precisely why M.O.P., Parrish "PMD" Smith, ONYX, Reef The Lost Cauze and others have trusted the German quarter with major albums in their respective discographies. On their own, Det Gunner, Sicknature, DJ Illegal,... Read more

December 21, 2016 Audio

Papoose Steps In For Remy Ma & Crushes A Track With Fat Joe (Audio)

Earlier this month, Papoose and his wife Remy Ma waxed a freestyle on Hot 97, couples style. Pap' has been relatively quiet on the solo-music front, supporting the Grammy-nominated Remy as she and Fat Joe continue to ride the wave of success of their hit joint collab, "All the Way... Read more

December 21, 2016 Audio

It’s Never Lights Out For Redman. He Drops His 4th Verse In A Week (Audio)

Redman has released four songs in less than a week. However, nobody is complaining one bit. The Def Squad and Gilla House MC is in strong form lately, gearing up for a 2017 that hopes to see Muddy Waters 2 and Blackout! 3 (with Method Man). The fourth such song... Read more

December 19, 2016 Audio

Method Man Reminisces On How Hard Livin’ Led To His Hard Spittin’ (Audio)

This week, Method Man has been incredibly busy. The Staten Island, New York star MC appeared on Juelz Santana's comeback single "Ol' Thing Back." With Redman on that cut, the two How High MCs also gave light to Wu-Tang Clan's Masta Killa single "Therapy." In addition to those two spots,... Read more

December 18, 2016 Audio

Kool G Rap, Canibus & Chris Rivers Send An Omen That Real Lyricism Is Back (Audio)

One of 2016's most steadfast MCs, Chris Rivers is a clear disciple of that hard-nosed late '80s and 1990s lyricism. While the Bronx, New Yorker's greatest influence would appear to be his father (Big Pun), there are other clear connections. Pun, after all, was a student of Kool G Rap,... Read more

December 17, 2016 Audio

For Wale, Either You’re With Him Or You Get The Heisman (Audio)

From Phife Dawg's Bo Jackson and Joe Namath name-checking verse on "Scenario" to Kanye West's "Barry Bonds," Hip-Hop loves sports (and vice versa). While artists like Master P chased sports dreams, Jay Z has become a sports agent, and former standout athletes like Nelly, GQ, and Ice Cube have found... Read more

December 16, 2016 Audio

Redman Is Back Behind The Boards. This Gilla House Track Has Red’s Bars & Beat (Audio)

While Redman's rapping abilities are nearly impossible to miss, people tend to overlook Reggie Noble's production. The artist who began as a DJ for Lords Of The Underground's DoItAll evolved from turntables to beat machines. While closely tied to Erick Sermon and Rockwilder, Redman is credited with producing (at least... Read more

December 16, 2016 Audio, Video

This Alternate Version Of “How Long Will They Mourn Me” Has An Unreleased Tupac Verse (Audio)

Long before they were label-mates at Death Row, Tupac Shakur and Nate Dogg made a jam together. Thug Life's 1994 single "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" is eerie, given that Shakur, Nate, and now Big Syke have all died since the record released. Furthermore, Jam Master Jay (who is... Read more

December 15, 2016 Audio

Oddisee Has Announced a New Album & Tour. Here’s the First Single Off “The Iceberg” (Audio)

Oddisee has been making major moves in 2016. The celebrated producer and MC dropped his Alwasta EP and the instrumental The Odd Tape this year, projects which continue to make him one of Hip-Hop's best kept secrets. But today's (December 15) announcement marks something truly major on his horizon: on... Read more

December 15, 2016 Audio

Madvillain Returns With A Full Version Of A Song That’s A Blizzard Of Bars (Audio)

It has been more than a dozen years since Madvillain released its debut album. DOOM and Madlib made as interesting (and complementary) a duo as any in Hip-Hop since. The Stones Records tandem dropped Madvillainy, which served as a subpoena to all those sleeping on DOOM for the 15 years... Read more

December 15, 2016 Audio

Taylor Bennett Turns A Health Scare Into A Beautiful New York City Night (Audio)

Chicago's Taylor Bennett, Chance The Rapper’s talented younger brother, links with Brooklyn’s Stro and singer Jordan Bratton on “New York Nights." The song is the product of a health scare the MC experienced while visiting the city after the release of his debut project, Broad Shoulders. Upon learning that he... Read more

December 15, 2016 Audio

U-God Spits Venom Toward Some Wu-Tang Brothers But Warns No One Else Can (Audio)

Last month, Wu-Tang Clan's U-God went public with a multi-million dollar suit against RZA and the group's manager (RZA's brother, Divine). For six years, the Brooklyn, New York veteran says he has gone unpaid on Wu group work, despite several albums—including ones with major label backing-- being released. On new... Read more

December 15, 2016 Audio

Scarface & Lil Troy Have Ended Their 15 Year Beef. Troy Breaks It Down. (Audio)

Scarface is a 30-year living legend MC. Over the years, there have been certain lyrics where Heads have wondered who the Houston, Texas rapper/producer/DJ may be speaking to. In other cases, especially over the last 15 years, many of those diatribes were not so subliminally aimed at rapper/executive Lil Troy.... Read more

December 14, 2016 Audio

Masta Killa Is Releasing A New Album. Method Man & Redman Join Him On His 1st Single (Audio)

Wu-Tang Wednesday, indeed. Already today (December 14), Heads have heard from Method Man, who joined Juelz Santana, Jadakiss, and Redman on "Ol Thing Back." Now, fans have even more new material from the legendary MC, this time in conjunction with fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa and, once again, longtime... Read more

December 14, 2016 Audio

Method Man, Redman, Jadakiss & Juelz Santana Bring That Ol Thing Called Hip-Hop Back (Audio)

At the height of the mid-2000s Dipset reign, Juelz Santana brought an edge to Diplomats/Def Jam Records. There, the Harlem, New Yorker with the punchlines, unforgettably ad-libs, and youthful charms went to Top 10 and garnered a gold album in 2005's What The Game's Been Missing. In the 11 years... Read more

December 14, 2016 Audio

Busta Rhymes Unleashes The Dragon On A Fiery Swizz Beatz Track (Audio)

Last month, Busta Rhymes made key contributions to A Tribe Called Quest's We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your service album. In an usually slow five year period for Bussa' Bus, the veteran MC currently thrives through features and compilation work. His skills have never wavered, even if it's... Read more

December 13, 2016 Audio

Casual Is Tired Of Facing Lesser MCs, So He Battles Himself (Audio)

Casual stays busy. The Oakland, California veteran MC and co-founder of the Hieroglyphics crew recently released a project with Detroit, Michigan's Phat Kat as Ron Jon Bovi (Neaux Mursi). In late '16, he's back on his solo tear. Attacking Capone-N-Noreaga's famed 1997 "T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)" instrumental, "GodKilla" is... Read more

December 12, 2016 Audio

Sha Stimuli Releases 1 Of The Most Intelligent Songs Of The Year. Hip-Hop At Its Finest (Audio)

When Sha Stimuli released his 2009 debut album My Soul To Keep, Just Blaze was one of the star contributors. "Move Back" / "The Reason" featured Roc-A-Fella Records alums Freeway and Young Chris on a two-part track, co-produced by Just. While Sha was never a Roc artist (he formerly interned... Read more

December 12, 2016 Audio

Parrish Smith Has Hit Squad Heat On A New Solo Single (Audio)

Parrish Smith (aka PMD) has been building a solo career for more than 22 years. Whenever legendary group EPMD was on hiatus, both Parrish and partner Erick Sermon struck with side projects. Three albums, starting with 1994's Shadé Business showed just was PMD was able to do on his own,... Read more

December 10, 2016 Audio

Oh No & Tristate Join Evidence For A Song That Shows Wack MCs The Front Door (Audio)

Gangrene co-founder, producer/MC Oh No has teamed up with Tristate of Planet Asia’s bi-coastal super-group Gold Chain Military for a collaborative LP on the Hieroglyphics' imprint. Oh No will reportedly handle the entirety of its production. If the first single is any indication, for those who suffer from a lack... Read more

December 10, 2016 Audio

J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only Album Is Great For The Ears Too. (Audio)

This morning (December 9), J. Cole released his fourth album, 4 Your Eyez Only. The 10-track, 44 minute effort features no guest verses. This feat is also true of Cole's double-platinum #1 2014 Forest Hills Drive, released two years ago today. Approaching his 32nd birthday next month, 4 Your Eyez...... Read more

December 9, 2016 Audio

Ab-Soul Hasn’t Forgotten Who Dissed Kendrick. This Black Hippy Goes To War. (Audio)

In February of this year, just hours before Kendrick Lamar's Grammy Awards grabs, Jay Electronica declared war. The Roc Nation veteran, who had stood beside K-Dot during 2013's "Control" moment, turned his pen on his former partner. "Curse Of Mayweather" pulled no punches. The song was out to throw hay-makers,... Read more

December 8, 2016 Audio

This MF DOOM-Curated Playlist Features Classic Cuts & Brand New Remixes (Audio)

The masked man whose varying personas help make him one of Hip-Hop's greatest innovators, MF DOOM, has released a 19-track mix as King Geedorah, a name he first recorded under in 2003, when Take Me to Your Leader dropped. In the years since, no new King Geedorah LPs have emerged,... Read more

December 8, 2016 Audio, Mixes

An Official Mix Traces The Evolution Of Freddie Foxxx Into Bumpy Knuckles & It Punches.

On Gang Starr's 1998 single "The Militia," Freddie Foxxx rapped, "When you speak of who's the dopest MCs, I don't come up / But when you speak about who's the livest MC, I stay one up." In the midst of a career transformation, the Long Island, New York veteran knew... Read more

December 7, 2016 Audio, Mixes, Throwback, Throwback

Rapsody & GQ Team Up & Show That Jamla Is The Squad That’s Saying Something (Audio)

North Carolina's Rapsody and Oakland, California's GQ have been two steadfast members of 9th Wonder's Jamla Records. In the last month, Rap' released her Crown EP. GQ has been quiet for much of 2016, since eloquently speaking his thoughts on an Oaktown' sidewalk in January. The former college basketball star... Read more

December 7, 2016 Audio

A Tribe Called Quest & Many More Gave Hip-Hop Much To Be Thankful For In November (Audio)

November 2016 was one of the most tumultuous months in a generation. Regardless of one's political affiliation the world seemingly changed over one long night on November 8 for hundreds of millions of Americans. When not fixated on the news, many turned to music for relief from the onslaught or,... Read more

December 7, 2016 Audio, Throwback

Method Man, Raekwon, Cappadonna & Masta Killa Join Joe Young On A Stellar Remix (Audio)

Last month, rapper Joe Young released a grimy, Dame Grease-produced banger, titled "Crack Babies." Young was one of the select few, not named Luke Cage, to coax Method Man out to blaze a verse. After releasing his album The Meth Lab last year, the Staten Island MC had been very... Read more

December 6, 2016 Audio

Wale Channels Nas & Shows Other MCs What He’s Really Like (Audio & Video)

UPDATE: Less than two days after releasing "Folarin Like" in audio, Wale drops the black-and-white video. Simplistic in its presentation, this may mark a return to early strides for the DMV star: Just a few days after releasing a response to J. Cole's "False Prophets," Wale has emerged with a... Read more

December 6, 2016 Audio, Video

Shia LaBeouf Says Compare Him To Eminem. Is He Really Da Bomb? (Audio)

In the last month, Shia LaBeouf's rhyme skills have come into strong focus. Ever since the MC appeared on Sway On The Morning, the Disney actor-turned-X-Men star elicited a lot of opinions across the Rap listening world. The Hollywood fixture (who once wanted to make a film about Eastern Conference/Def... Read more

December 6, 2016 Audio

Ab-Soul’s New Album Is Dropping THIS WEEK. Here’s The New Single (Audio)

In October, Carson, California's Ras Kass celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Soul On Ice, a storm of an LP home to "Nature of the Threat." Considered today as one of Ras's most memorable tracks to date, it seems to have served as a point of inspiration for Ab-Soul,... Read more

December 5, 2016 Audio

Members Of Souls Of Mischief & Freestyle Fellowship Tag Team With Battle Rhymes (Audio)

In the early 1990s, Los Angeles, California's Good Life Café played host to some legendary lyricists with its open mic Hip-Hop shows. From Jurassic 5 (Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee) to Freestyle Fellowship, Skee-Lo to Volume 10, many great MCs made pre-album impact on a community of music, poetry,... Read more

December 5, 2016 Audio

Wale Fires Back At J. Cole And He Names Names (Audio)

In the last 48 hours, J. Cole not only announced an album, he released a documentary leading up to 4 Your Eyez Only. Then, music heard in the doc' released on its own, in the form of two critical video singles, "False Prophets (Be Like This)" and "Everybody Gotta Die." Both... Read more

December 3, 2016 Audio

Lloyd Banks’ “The Last Of A Dope Era Dying” Is Symbolic Of So Many Changes (Audio)

Perhaps second to only the "Hip-Hop as a woman" metaphor, MCs have long employed the parallels of rapping with hustling. The very first song on Outkast's debut album ("Myintrotoletuknow") said it plainly. DJ Premier scratched that Andre 3000 line on Jay Z's more expanded "Rap Game / Crack Game" three... Read more

December 3, 2016 Audio

Shia LaBeouf Goes At Rosenberg’s Neck & Saves Some For Lil Yachty (Audio)

Just weeks after earning the admiration of some - and the ire of others - thanks to his recent appearance on Sway in the Morning, actor (and apparently now, MC) Shia LaBeouf is back on the mic, this time taking direct shots at some of Hip-Hop's biggest names. Today (December... Read more

December 2, 2016 Audio

The LOX Drop 2 New Songs & Prove They’re Back in a Major Way (Audio)

Heads are still jubilant since learning of the news that The LOX have signed with Roc Nation, a major move for the Yonkers, New York street legends. But that wasn't the only surprise. On Friday, December 16, the D-Block Records crew will drop Filthy America...it's Beautiful, their first since 2000's... Read more

December 2, 2016 Audio