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DJ Premier Does For Yuna What He Did For D’Angelo. Made A Soul Classic (Audio)

Yuna has enjoyed an extensive career over the last decade, crossing over from Malaysian Pop into a flagship artist at the storied Verve Records imprint. She has worked with The Neptunes (both Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, individually), and Sa-Ra Creative Partners' Om'Mas Keith. On her new single "Places To... Read more

A$AP Mob Say They Are The New Black Panthers & “Lords Never Worry” (Audio)

Since Beyonce's Super Bowl halftime show, The Black Panthers have once again become a household name. The superstar singer made reference to the organization, with her dancers sporting their trademark afros and adorned in their signature black berets, in a year that brings the 50th anniversaries of both the Big... Read more

J Dilla’s Last Rap Album “The Diary” Is Coming. Here’s The First Single & Tracklist (Audio)

On the heels of J Dilla Weekend in Miami, the 10th anniversary of his passing, and the ongoing events in his honor taking place in Canada and elsewhere, J Dilla's name continues to reverberate on and off the MPC. The Detroit heavyweight producer and part-time MC has no doubt established... Read more

Macklemore Releases “Buckshot” With KRS-One & DJ Premier. Is That “Real Hip-Hop” Enough? (Audio)

Ever since the blockbuster success of their album The Heist, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have been scapegoated as the poster children for the appropriation of Hip-Hop. To some, their catchy hooks and pop-influenced productions are anathema to the culture. The hate for the group was compounded by their win for... Read more

Listen To The History Of Black Moon In 3 Minutes (Audio)

When the trio of Buckshot, 5ft and Evil Dee, otherwise known as Black Moon, hit the Hip-Hop scene, they brought a sound that fused dark Jazz chords and boom bap drums with gritty Brooklyn flows. The group is the latest subject of Ed Lover's "Behind The Hip-Hop" segment, which takes... Read more

Prodigy Returns With A New Sound And A Heady New Message on “Tyranny” (Audio)

For more than 2 decades, Prodigy and his Mobb Deep partner Havoc have been associated with grimy tales from the streets of New York. From Juvenile Hell to The Infamous Mobb Deep, Havoc has flipped dark samples while Prodigy laid verses about survival in the hood and fallen comrades. As... Read more

Snow Tha Product Joins Joell Ortiz and Token In Lyrically Killing The Competition (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is readying a new project called That's Hip-Hop. Rather than gathering a host of big name MCs as guests on the album, he has assembled a collection of young and hungry lyrical killers. Last week, he released "Kill At Will," featuring Salem, MA upstart, Token. Now, Ortiz rolls... Read more

Xzibit Swings Hard, In Support Of Bishop Lamont In This Combative Collabo (Audio)

Just days after a standout feature for Koache, Xzibit does it again. The platinum MC gets down with Bishop Lamont, who is a fellow Dr. Dre affiliate of the mid-2000s. "Back Up Off Me" is a single from Lamont's perceived 2016 debut, The Reformation. As the title suggests, the record—featuring... Read more

Scarface Returns To Seduction Storytelling On An All-New Single (Audio)

In his nearly 30 year career, Scarface and the Geto Boys have told a lot of stories. Moreover, the Houston, Texas MC has made quite a few songs about interpersonal relations and bedroom maneuvers. From a certain My Homies hit single to the expanded metaphor of "Mary Jane," 'Face is... Read more

Casual & Saafir Go From Legendary Battle Opponents To Key Collaborators (Audio Premiere)

Almost 22 years ago, Casual and Saafir went off the rails (and reels) in a 1994 Wake Up Show (Sway & King Tech) syndicated radio battle. At the time, Casual had just released his Jive Records debut,Ā Fear Itself, which featured "the Saucee Nomad" on one particular track. Saafir, who had... Read more

Jay Electronica Aims To Crash The Grammy Party With This Controversial Song (Audio)

Jay Electronica is not among the artists up for a Grammy nomination tonight (February 15). However, the Roc Nation MC seemingly aimed to crash the party with his latest song, "Curse Of Mayweather." In a track that references A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It?" and Jay Z's "Streets... Read more

A.G. Goes 16 & Out Over A Monster Lord Finesse Beat (Audio)

Lord Finesse has produced songs for The Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, and much of Big L's discography. However, the Bronx, New York triple threat (MC/DJ/producer) is known for quality over quantity. "The Underboss" has been laying low behind the boards in 2016, but just opened the door to some Funk... Read more

Xzibit Moves Forward With Bars That Will Take Yiu Back (Audio)

Xzibit and Nottz go back. On the acclaimed 2000 LP Restless, the Virginia producer/MC shared a track with Dr. Dre in "U Know." Z-to-the-Z and Nottz Raw would work again on the first Serial Killers project a couple years ago. This time, the V-A to C-A link surrounds Los Angles,... Read more

Vic Mensa Gets Everything Off Of His Chest On A Charged Track (Audio)

Vic Mensa does not ever go quietly. The Roc Nation MC premiered "Danger" during the Madison Square Garden Yeezy Season 3 showcase on Thursday (February 11). The song has a chip on its shoulder that explains why Mensa and Kanye West works so well together. On a jarring creation by... Read more

Ghostface Killah Rips Apart A Slick Rick Break Like It’s A Park Jam (Audio)

Most songs that are less than 100 seconds long just aren't worth the attention. However, when it's Ghostface Killah lyrically going for broke on a 1970s breakbeat it changes things. On "Disco Airlines," Tony Starks makes the style of music that Heads can imagine he was making in Stapleton Houses... Read more

Yelawolf Revs Up His Flow & Angst Over Travis Barker Drums (Audio)

Yelawolf and Travis Barker's working relationship has long been established, thanks to "Psycho White." Both artists blend their love of Hip-Hop with Rock & Roll, and Punk culture. Today (February 12), Sway In The Morning premiered the pair's latest collaboration, "Out Of Control." The song features Travis laying down a... Read more

Kanye West Releases a Song About The Kind of Love That Makes You Drive 30 Hours (Audio)

Love him or hate him, the reason why people care about Kanye West is because he makes G.O.O.D. Music. Over the last several weeks, West has manipulated the media, fans and haters to talk all things Kanye. The absolutely free PR blitz has been a mix of shenanigans on Twitter,... Read more

ScHoolboy Q’s Original “Hoover Street” Was Over A Melodic Alchemist Production (Audio)

When ScHoolboy Q and Alchemist get together, special music typically results. Since 2012's Habits & Contradictions, the TDE MC and the Gangrene co-founder have made sounds together that really stand apart from the respective other work from both artists. When Interscope Records entered the picture in 2013, and started working... Read more

BJ The Chicago Kid & Kendrick Lamar Make A Timeless Hip-Hop Soul Ballad (Audio)

On several occasions, Kendrick Lamar and BJ The Chicago Kid have made powerful music together. Long before both artists had major label paperwork on the table, these two found an overlapping ability to uphold the bygone skills in a way the youth could easily digest. From BJ's upcoming In My... Read more

Mick Jenkins’ Clever Lyricism Is Accentuated In A Marco Polo Remix (Audio Premiere)

Marco Polo is one of the Hip-Hop artists who is still bringing creativity and innovation to the remix medium. The veteran producer has provided his own spin on joints by PRhyme, Talib Kweli, and D.I.T.C. For his latest re-imagining, one-half of Double Barrel goes to the Windy City and comes... Read more

Prince Paul Recalls MF DOOM’s “Impostor” Idea & Wu-Tang’s Earliest Days (Audio)

The "devastating" Prince Paul is a living Hip-Hop legend. Although he is a self-professed "shy guy," the Long Island, New Yorker would eventually find himself winning Grammy Awards for cracking jokes around Chris Rock and elite comedians. Listening to Paul is a joy in and of itself; an experience filled... Read more

Joell Ortiz & Token Kill Microphones At Will…With No Witnesses (Audio)

What is Hip-Hop? Just ask Joell Ortiz. One year removed from his collaborative album with Illmind, Human, MC Joell Ortiz will be answering that question with his Brooklyn bred bars and beats from Latin producer Domingo as the East Coast artists dedicate an entire album to the preservation of the... Read more

Blu & Rapper Big Pooh Say It’s Do Or Die When The Stakes Are High (Audio)

In 2015, Rapper Big Pooh and Nottz came together to release Home Sweet Home. The Mello Music Group LP had been anticipated for years, and delivered with strength from the two Virginia native creatives. Just under three months removed from release day (November 13), now is as good a time... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Flips A Jay Z Vol 2. Concept With Some Hard Knock Bass (Audio)

Back in 1998, Jay Z and Swizz Beatz tapped into a musical pocket completely different from Jay's work with DJ Premier, Ski Beatz, Irv Gotti, or Timbaland. The Ruff Ryders' sound provider got busy on the keyboards and sliced into Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life with an electrified, DMX-assisted third... Read more

Snoop Dogg Surfs Right Into A Harry Fraud & Smoke DZA Wave (Audio)

Smoke DZA and Harry Fraud have years of chemistry. The Harlem-to-Brooklyn, New York connect built a strong base of slick talk over in-your-face beats. Almost four years after Rugby Thompson, the pair is still working. "Morals" looks at the G-code through the generations and circumstances. As DZA stands tall by... Read more

Dizzy Wright Pairs “Wisdom & Good Vibes” With A Live Band Sound (EP Stream)

Dizzy Wright has released his latest EP, Wisdom and Good Vibes. The Las Vegas, Nevada MC is headed on the road with Logic this season, and puts fresh product out there for his base. Dizz's first project since last Spring's Ambrosia For Heads-acclaimed The Growing Process finds him working with... Read more

Asher Roth, Nottz & Travis Barker Made Something Really Different, Together (EP Stream)

For years now, Heads have heard of Asher Roth and Nottz' collaborative work. In 2010, the Pennsylvania MC and Virginia producer/MC made The Rawth, a free download EP. More than five years later, the duo adds Travis Barker (Blink 182) to the fold and does it again. With a live... Read more

Nick Grant’s Newest Mixtape Proves Why His Buzz is Only the Beginning (Album Stream)

Fledgling Third Coast MC Nick Grant will not have much to prove to anyone soon enough. After positively lighting up Sway in the Morning with a phenomenal freestyle that only supported Sway's personal endorsement of Grant's lyrical prowess, he's been steadily climbing the proverbial rungs and has already left a... Read more

Kxng Crooked Nods To Eric B. & Rakim As He Destroys Another Statik Selektah Beat (Audio)

Real recognize real. Even though he says he hates the term "Real Hip-Hop" (as do we...) at the end of his new song, Kxng Crooked is most definitely a fan of choice beats and raw raps. As he and Statik Selektah near the release of their joint album, Statik Kxng,... Read more

Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier Make That BOOM BAP That Gets Heads Emotional (Audio)

Over the last 20 years, Bumpy Knuckles and DJ Premier have made numerous powerful collaborations. From the work on O.C.'s Jewelz that was one of the earliest transitions of Freddie Foxxx to Bumpy Knuckles, to Gang Starr hit "The Militia," to Underground Hip-Hop anthem "Part Of My Life," this pair... Read more

Your Old Droog & Termanology Bend A Soulful Statik Selektah Record Till It Curves (Audio)

Although Statik Seleketah said 2015's Lucky 7 would be his final solo album, he is still hard at work producing high quality tracks for other artists. The producer has a full album on the way with Kxng Crooked, and he seems to have a steady supply of sonic goodness at... Read more

Showbiz & A.G. Bring O.C. Into The Fold To Weigh What Defines A “Classic” (Audio)

The D.I.T.C. collective has some plaques, courtesy of Big L's The Big Picture, Fat Joe's Don Cartagena, and the platinum Jealous Ones Still Envy albums. However, "classic" is never weighted in framed medal albums. Showbiz & A.G. and O.C. are two factions of the Diggin' In The Crates conglomerate who... Read more

Raekwon Joins Bumpy Knuckles, Treach & Trick-Trick For Some O.G. Wisdom (Audio)

Earlier this month, it was announced that Naughty By Nature's Treach, Bumpy Knuckles, and Trick-Trick are at work on an album called O.G.ology. The LP is said to be fully produced by Nottz (Busta Rhymes, Game, Kanye West). The official first taste of O.G.ology captures its essence. "Let Me Tell... Read more

Drake Responds to Obama’s Claim That Kendrick Lamar Would Beat Him In A Battle (Audio)

Drake has been under siege from all sides over the last 12 months. Though the Toronto MC has grown accustomed to MCs, singers and fans throwing shots at him, the sneak attack from Meek Mill, his former collaborator, calling into question whether Drake wrote his own rhymes, was on a... Read more

Nas Is Balling Like It’s March Madness On This New Freestyle (Audio)

It's been nearly 4 years since Nas released an album, but he's stayed active through surgical strikes, here and there. In 2015, he laced tracks with Scarface, Jeezy, Dave East and more. He gets off to a quick start this year, as he takes over Future's "March Madness" with a... Read more

Kxng Crooked & Statik Selektah Are Ruthless With This Music. Let’s Go (Audio)

The MC formerly known as Crooked I has been on a tear in early 2016. The same week he unleashed a beast of a freestyle at Tony Touch's radio show, Kxng Crooked returns with a fully-produced bar massacre. "Let's Go" teams with album partner Statik Selektah on the boards, and... Read more

The LOX Send Some New York Love To California (Audio)

Colonel Loud's 80s Funk-influenced ode to California, and all of its offerings, has steadily taken over airwaves, headphones and speakers across the nation. The original got a boost from a remix featuring T.I. and another push from a version featuring Cali's home grown heroes, Snoop Dogg and Too Short. So,... Read more

Elzhi Announces New Album, Struggle with Depression & Drops a Bold New Single (Audio)

For fans of Detroit, Michigan MC Elzhi, it's been a long and brutally quiet few years since he released his Nas-inspired masterpiece Elmatic in 2011. Since dropping his debut solo LP The Preface in 2008, he's taken on a reputation of nearly mythical proportions (a la Jay Electronica) by maintaining... Read more

Jon Connor Calls Flint’s Poisoned Water “Population Control” (Audio)

Jon Connor is a native of Flint, Michigan, a town currently being ravaged by the fallout resulting from water poisoning. After city officials opted to save money by sourcing water from the local Flint River rather than the Great Lakes, high levels of lead began to appear in residents' tap... Read more

Black Thought & J.Period Are Performing A Live J Dilla Mixtape At Dilla Weekend (Audio)

As announced earlier this week, Black Thought and J.Period have been added to the 2016 J Dilla Weekend lineup. Taking place February 5-7, the Miami, Florida event will feature concert performances, panel discussions, a Discogs record swap meet, art exhibits, and much more. With the addition of The Roots' MC... Read more

ONYX’s Sonny Seeza Goes For His By Slamming A Classic Breakbeat (Audio Premiere)

ONYX's Sonny Seeza has been instrumental to the group's success since the early 1990s. Along with the high-profile personalities of MC/actors Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr, Sonny added a ruggedness, anger, and aggression that forever mean-mugged the face of Hip-Hop since. The Brooklyn, New Yorker is a platinum artist (thanks... Read more

Q-Tip Gives His Cuz Consequence One Of His Best Sample Beat Creations (Audio)

It has been more than six years since video surfaced (posted below) of Q-Tip, Kanye West, and Consequence kicking it together in the studio. In those days, It's-The-Cons' was a G.O.O.D. Music artist, carefully crafting his Don't Quit Your Day Job follow-up. Cons' cousin and musical mentor Q-Tip was in... Read more

A$AP Rocky Releases A Mesmerizing Video & A Red Hot New Song With Pharrell (Video)

Today (January 27) has been a big day for A$AP Rocky. The MC named after Rakim has released a red hot new song with Pharrell, as well as a mesmerizing video for his song "JD," which seamlessly blends live action and animation. "Hear Me" features the same sample 9th Wonder... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Takes Kanye West’s Madlib Beat & Makes It A Gangsta Party (Audio)

In 2014, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib released a collaborative album together, titled PiƱata. Many believe Madlib's soulful and complex productions brought out Gibbs' best work to date, and the album topped many year end "best of" lists. The two have worked together sparingly, since, but Gibbs knows a good beat... Read more

Masta Ace Rocks A Throwback Flow That’s Still Fresh All Around The World (Audio)

Last year, Masta Ace re-released his fifth solo album, A Long Hot Summer, and he added two bonus cuts. In November, Ambrosia For Heads premiered "GMO," the first of those extra tracks, and now, Ace releases the single version of the second, "Globetrotter." The song, which also features Great Britain's... Read more

DJ Jazzy Jeff & James Poyser Took A Snowstorm & Made Some Hot Beats (EP Stream)

This past weekend, a snow storm by the name of Jonas swept through the Mid-Atlantic states, and left its mark in the form of inches of accumulation. DJ Jazzy Jeff, living in his Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was among those affected. So was James Poyser, a fellow Grammy Award-producer known for his... Read more

Your Old Droog Walks Down 42nd Street With Some Fresh Nu Shooz (Audio)

Coney Island, Brooklyn's Your Old Droog represents a different kind of New York City experience. In his twenties, Y.O.D. is a bit young to remember the 42nd Street of the Mayor Koch-era NYC, filled with grind-house movie theaters, peep shows, greasy food, and an assortment of sidewalk hustles. However, the... Read more

Action Bronson & Roc Marciano Make The Perfect Way For AG Da Coroner (Audio)

In the 2010s, a collective of MCs has helped revive the grimy New York City sound. In many ways, Roc Marciano's 2010 solo debut Marcberg was the jump-off. The sparse, self-produced Fat Beats Records affair celebrated the ills of Hempstead, New York street life, and how the underbelly of NYC... Read more

Earl Sweatshirt Sails Around His Mind Over A Flipped Madlib & Flying Lotus Beat (Audio)

Earl Sweatshirt has been fairly quiet since releasing his sophomore major label album in 2015. The Tan Cressida/Columbia Records artist appears back in action now. Reportedly on a secret Soundcloud account he created, the Los Angeles, California MC/producer gets busy on a beat made by Madlib and Flying Lotus. As... Read more

Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike & Nick Grant Are Royalty In Rap And Life (Audio)

Atlanta MC Nick Grant turned heads last year with not one, but two of the strongest freestyles of the year. Grant put on dazzling lyrical displays for 5 minutes at a time, as he seemed to thrive on the newfound national attention. However, Grant also showed that he was about... Read more