Audio Archives

Chris Rivers Is A Chip Off The Legendary Block In 2 New Looks (Video)

One of the most interesting things about the late, great Big Pun is his creative duality. In his early days with Cuban Link and Full-A-Clips, Punisher favored a horror-core style, as heard on early 1990s Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and Geto Boys records. By the late '90s however,... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio, Video

When It Comes to Rhymes, Curren$y is Putting Up Major Weight (Audio)

It's been almost two weeks since Pilot Talk 3 (April 5) was released, and since then, Spitta Andretti has not eased up for a victory lap, but rather, floored the creative gas pedal. With another upcoming mixtape, Even More Saturday Night Car Tunes scheduled to drop April 20 (4/20 for the... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio

Jadakiss Jacks Jay Z for Another Beat. What’s His Name? JADA…(Audio)

Kiss the week goodbye, as Jadakiss hits Friday April 17 with not one, but two lyrical scribblings over Jay Z instrumentals. This time, Jada' takes the Swizz Beatz-helmed "Jigga My Nigga (What's My Name)" from the first (platinum-plus) Ruff Ryders compilation, which Jadakiss and The L.O.X. were a key part... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio

Jadakiss Takes Jay Z’s Beat and Gets Far From Jiggy With It (Audio)

In the 2010s, Heads may not realize it, but Jadakiss has released some of the coldest music that still carries the Roc-A-Fella Records logo on the back. That said, 'Kiss takes an In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 standout moment from Jay Z and makes it his own. "Where I'm From,"... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio

Just Blaze Re-Examines The Musical Magic In Michael Jackson’s Human Nature (Audio)

2015 has seen Just Blaze shake things up with some instrumentals. The New Jersey producer/DJ really became a go-to sound source for flipping, altering, and reinvigorating certain samples, especially in his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records. Keeping things in the Def Jam building, Just recently laced Ludacris with a Ludaversal closer... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio, The Bridge

Chill Moody Takes A Guns N’ Roses Ballad & Makes It Hip-Hop (Audio)

Chill Moody is an up and coming rapper from West Philadelphia with a raw sound, and riveting lyrics. The "Nice Things movement" MC prides himself is being one of the top emerging lyricists in the City Of Brotherly Love, and he goes for the gusto with "November Funk." The beat... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

SPOTLIGHT: DAP The Contract Plays With Genre & Defies Expectations (Audio / Video)

Often times, for as colorful and diverse as Hip-Hop music may appear, there is a constant cry for more originality. There are storytellers, social activists, party-starters, and technically-savvy lyricists, but the genre arguably misses the eclecticism and diversity among the new class, at least at a certain skill level. A... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio, Food for Thought, Fresh, Video

Styles P Fires Up A Dr. Dre Chronic-Era Instrumental For A Freestyle (Audio)

Styles P's rapping rampage continues. A day earlier than usual, Holiday Styles attacks Dr. Dre's "Puffin' On Blunts & Drankin' Tanqueray" instrumental from The Chronic-era B-side, and puts in work like he was stranded on Death Row. This 1992 excursion known as "Ghost Blunts" is the farthest back Ghost has... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

Sean Price Shows True Grit In His Latest Freestyle (Audio)

Sean Price releases a track where he collaborates (again) with the veteran DJ PF Cuttin (Blahzay Blahzay) in his latest freestyle, "Garbanzo Beans." Another name for "chickpeas" Sean P pummels his bars, making hummus out of this one. The Brooklyn MC definitely demonstrates his strength and prowess lyrically on the... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

Your Old Droog’s Stream Of Consciousness Flows So Smoothly (Audio)

Your Old Droog has the gift of gab, whereby the Brooklyn, New York MC thrives without track structure. Linking up with close affiliate DJ Skizz, Droog takes a simple-but-highly-effective loop on "Hidden Persuaders," and gets busy talking about his rhyme skills, T-Ray (Lord Finesse, Cypress Hill, MC Serch) and Alchemist... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

The Full Version of Kanye West’s All Day Remix Featuring Kendrick Lamar Is Here (Audio)

Snippets have leaked of Kendrick Lamar's verse from a remix of Kanye West's "All Day" single, and now the full version of the song has been released. The remix starts off like the original song, with Kanye West spitting the first verse, but then K-Dot replaces Theophilus London on the... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Oddisee Is Out To Break The Mold In Every Way Possible (Audio)

At a time when bragging is really in vogue for a lot of artists, Oddisee refrains. Leading up to The Good Fight (May 5), the Diamond District co-founder uses "Belong To The World" to look within, and reflect on how being different is not only refreshing, but largely responsible for... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Spit Gemz & Kool G Rap Host A Wordplay Clinic In Latest Collab (Audio)

Spit Gemz is one of Hip Hop's rising rugged Rap voices. In his track “Legacy," he teams up with veteran supreme lyricist Kool G Rap to deliver some of that classic New York under-belly flavor. The two MCs both represent Queens, but it's not the only thing they have in... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Large Professor Is So Consistent For Pensive Lyrics & Thick Tracks (Audio)

While Large Professor is forever associated with dope beats, the Flushing, Queens producer first gained mainstream recognition as a phenomenal MC. Although Large Pro's cadence and rhyme style is forever stuck to the streets, his themes and verses are colorful musings about his life and the world around him. In... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

stic.man & Last Poets’ Umar Bin Hassan Bring Rap Back To Its Roots (Audio)

Last Poets legend (and MC pioneer) Umar Bin Hassan shares a canvas with Rap renegade stic.man of dead prez. The two oft-outspoken wordsmiths paint a vivid picture of the moral atrocities happening in America's shadows. In their song “Are We Trapped," the two touch on a number of our society’s... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Astro Shortens His Name But Keeps Pushing Forward Lyrically (Audio)

As he's gone from a boy to a man, The Astronomical Kid has shortened his name to Astro and now Stro. No matter the moniker, since his seventh place finish on the first season of the U.S. version of X Factor, he has remained one of Hip-Hop's most promising voices.... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Illa J Releases An Anthem For The Late Night Listeners (Audio)

Slum Village/Yancey Boys alum Illa J released a single, "Strippers." The Detroit, Michigan native (and California transplant) crafts a song about what the title implies...and it is a catchy tune that is sure to generate some buzz in and out of the cabaret club. The production is handled by Potatohead... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Do Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Have Another Hit? Leave It To The Pros (Audio)

Snoop Dogg is the comeback master. Whether his albums are experimental or returns to early form, Tha Doggfather is able to always please enough masses in certain moments to reclaim the high-ranking post he's had in Hip-Hop and music for more than 23 years. BUSH (May 12) follows what may... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late CD Bonus Sounds As If It Belongs (Audio)

Bonus songs are a tricky concept anymore. Firstly, should they be considered or not? In the case of Kurupt's "Callin' Out Names," the angsty outbreak on Rap peers was a defining point to 1999's Streetz Iz A Mutha. 2Pac's "Pain," which was only available on early Above The Rim soundtrack... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Alchemist & Oh No Bring Grand Theft Audio To Los Santos (Album Stream)

Alchemist and Oh No infected many ears with their Gangrene work. Not a Gangrene project, Alan The Chemist and Oh No The Disrupt come together for Welcome To Los Santos. Releasing tomorrow (April 14), the Mass Appeal Records effort welcomes an array of genre (E-40, Ab-Soul, MC Eiht, Curren$y, Little... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Yelawolf & Eminem Look to the Heavens for a Place to Send Their Enemies (Audio)

Yelawolf has released the full version of an epic collaboration with Eminem. Each MC is capable of delivering rapid-fire blistering lyrical assaults, but they divide and conquer on "Best Friend." Rather than rapping, Yela sings on the haunting first verse and then throws the alley-oop to Em who slips into... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Astro, Sir Michael Rocks & More Refelect On Obstacles Overcome (Audio)

Sir Michael Rocks, Astro, El Prez, SkyBlew, and Clay James have put their heads together on “Untouchable," a reflective posse cut produced by Money Montage and Coopatroop. Each MC touches on obstacles met and overcome in his past, on the meditative song. Check it out. Related: Astro Handles the 5... Read more

April 11, 2015 Audio

Fabolous Needs to Do an Album With Havoc. Listen to Him WRECK This Mobb Deep Track (Audio)

Over the last several weeks, there have been a slew of artists dropping freestyles over classic 90s Hip-Hop beats, but Fabolous has been the author of some of the very best. Two weeks ago, he set the internet on fire with is explosion over Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Pt. II."... Read more

April 11, 2015 Audio

Vic Mensa Releases the Official Version of His Kanye West Collaboration. U Mad? (Audio)

Vic Mensa has been steadily putting in grind time for more than 6 years. The Chicago MC burst onto the scene in 2009 as part of the Hip-Hop band, Kids These Days. While a member of the group, Mensa and the Kids released a dark and stirring version of Kanye... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Flying Lotus Interviews Kendrick Lamar and Premieres Unreleased Verse (Audio)

Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar have collaborated on a number of projects. Last year, Kendrick lent his staccato jazz vocals to "Never Catch Me" from the producer's You're Dead LP, and K. Dot tapped FlyLo to produce "Wesley's Theory," the first song on Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly album. The... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Lloyd Banks Sounds Like He Was Built to Flow on This Raekwon Classic (Audio)

Lloyd Banks is on a mission with these takeovers of classic 90s Hip-Hop beats. After rocking out over Black Moon's "How Many MCs" earlier in the week, Banks serves up some icy cold lyrics over the "Criminology" beat RZA concocted for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx second single. Banks,... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Fresh Off His Album Release, Curren$y Is Right Back to Giving Fans New Music (Audio)

Just five days after the release of his third installment of the high flying Pilot Talk 3, Curren$y has released a single last night titled "Life 2 Die For", which was not included on his album. Spitta Andretti links up with producer Purpdogg, and the result is another smooth cut... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio, Fresh

A$AP Rocky is Going For M’$ On His Next Album (Audio)

A$AP Rocky is preparing to release his sophomore album, At.Long.Last.A$AP (A.L.L.A.), later in 2015. He has released a new single off of the upcoming album called "M'$", a song about making money by the millions. It features Rocky spitting fiery raps over a hard-hitting beat. As Heads may know, Rocky... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio

Kxng Crooked Goes Hard Over a Beat That Recalls Vintage Dr. Dre (Audio)

Kxng Crooked, formerly known as Crooked I, returns with a new banger than shows why he deserves his new title. Producer, Jonathan Elkaer, is a Denmark-native whose style on "I Don't Give a F**k" can be compared to a Chronic 2001-era Dr. Dre, which only adds to Crooked's delivery. While... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio

No 90s Beat is Safe. Tony Yayo Sparks Up Channel Live (Audio)

While it's fairly common in Hip-Hop for MCs to jack each other for beats, the practice is usually directed at the hot track of the moment. Last year, songs like Drake's "0 to 100," Troy Ave's "All About the Money" and Bobby Schmurda's "Hot N*gga" were all regular targets. However,... Read more

April 8, 2015 Audio

Young Buck, Freeway & Lil Fame Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with Kay Slay (Audio)

On the eve of the release of DJ Kay Slay's mixtape, The Industry Purge, he teams up with Young Buck, Freeway and Lil Fame (of M.O.P) to bring us “Memories”. In this Stay Gettin'- produced track, the MCs take turns spitting candidly about the things they've witnessed on their rise... Read more

April 8, 2015 Audio

Rapsody Revamps Beauty And The Beast With 3 New Songs. Check Out This One (Audio)

Through the #1 album in the country for two weeks straight, Rapsody is reaching audiences the Raleigh, North Carolina MC previously has not. Hearing "Complexion" on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, listeners inevitably want to know more. So last year, when Rapsody released Beauty And The Beast, an EP... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Raekwon & Snoop Dogg Sound Illustrious In This F.I.L.A.-Fresh Moment (Audio)

Raekwon laces his F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxury Art) with a smashing look from the April 28 release. Reuniting with Snoop Dogg, Chef marinates a Scoop Deville chop of Isaac Hayes, with a medley of dope drums for "1,2 1,2." While both Rae' and Snoop have found success throughout their career... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

How Many MC’s Could Freestyle Over This Black Moon Classic As Well As Lloyd Banks? (Audio)

G-Unit has been quite active throughout the last month. With their second EP, The Beast Is G-Unit and a number of freestyles from Kidd Kidd during his promotion for XXL's 10th spot in the 2015 Freshmen class, the Unit has been hard at work. While Tony Yayo recorded his own freestyle... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Inspectah Deck, Esoteric & Meyhem Lauren Flash The CZARFACE Signal (Audio)

It was more than two years ago that CZARFACE was born. Part group, part album, the Brick Records effort linked Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck with Boston, Massachusetts underground Hip-Hop veterans 7L & Esoteric for what would be a career-defining work. Featuring involvement from Ghostface Killah, DJ Premier, and Action... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Take Off With A Full Listen To Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 (Album Stream)

Curren$y's Pilot Talk 3 is a self-released break from Spitta's DD172-backed, Def Jam-distributed first two flights. The third is packaged fan-friendly style, with USB drives, and an assortment of goodies. However, to access the collector's item-style release, it takes $125 and up on the Jet Life Apparel site. Before CDs... Read more

April 6, 2015 Audio

Prince Paul Effortlessly Cuts Up A Tribe Called Quest, Canibus, Freddie Foxxx & Rah Digga (Mix)

Fresh off of his two-part The Cipher Show comprehensive interview appearance, "The Devastating" DJ Prince Paul returns to his "It's Not The Size Of Your Mix, It's How You Use It" obscure record mix series. Part 3 in as many months includes a lot of hardcore Hip-Hop. Paul, a mastermind... Read more

April 5, 2015 Audio

Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 First Class Section Includes Jadakiss, Cool & Dre Production (Audio)

Curren$y's Pilot Talk 3 hit the skies this weekend, releasing yesterday (April 4). Spitta is selling the LP for $100 USB drives (with additional, more expensive packages available) for the moment—taking a page from Nipsey Hussle's Crenshaw idea. CDs and other formats are said to follow, but for now, it's... Read more

April 5, 2015 Audio

Fabolous Flows Over a Wu-Tang Classic. It’s Not a Game (Audio)

When presented with a concept, Fabolous never falters. The Brooklyn, New York star follows up his freestyle rendition of Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones, Part 2," and stays in the mid-1990s zone. Here, he moves from Havoc's anthem to one of RZA's finest concoctions, in 1993's "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

The Ghost Sightings Continue. Styles P Snatches ScHoolboy’s Beat & Comes Correct (Audio)

Springtime brings showers. Styles P has drenched Heads with lots of new content, between fully-produced songs with his D-Block affiliates, more cannon fodder with his protege Chris Rivers, and four straight weekends of freestyles on industry beats. The quickfire attacks continue, as this week, S.P. holds ScHoolboy Q's "It's True"... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Many Think DJ QBert Is The Best Turntablist Alive. Listen As He Obliterates a ’60s Soul (Mix)

Chances are that if you own a pair of turntables, you know who DJ QBert is. The San Francisco, California DJ helped coin the term turntablism. The front man of the Invizbl Skratch Piklz crew (which also includes Beastie Boys' DJ Mixmaster Mike, and Fool's Gold Records founder DJ A-Trak,... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Freestyle Fellowship Are Often Revered As MC Innovators. They Still Push The Envelope (Audio)

Los Angeles, California's Freestyle Fellowship is a legendary outfit. Although it really never showed up in sales, and only sporadically in critical acclaim the collective including Aceyalone, Myka 9, Self Jupiter, and P.E.A.C.E. are among Rap's greatest MC innovators. Their leading role in The Good Life Cafe in South Central... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Rick Gonzales Taps A Tony Toni Tone! Classic For Inspiration In Honoring The ’90s (Audio)

Actor Rick Gonzalez is best known for starring in “coming of age” movies like Coach Carter, or the roller-skating themed Role Bounce. After the news that Mobb Deep member Prodigy signed him to his Infamous Records in January 2013, Gonzalez, (a/k/a Realm Reality) has seemingly put more of a focus... Read more

April 3, 2015 Audio

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of March 2015 All in One Playlist (Audio)

Along with the start of Spring, the month of March brought much to celebrate in Hip-Hop. Action Bronson released Mr. Wonderful, his major label debut album. DJ EFN hit Heads off with a slew of amazing collaborations on his Another Time LP. Earl Sweatshirt fired the latest salvo from Odd... Read more

April 3, 2015 Audio

DJ EFN Unleashes Another Heavy Collabo with Ras Kass, Black Milk, Black Collar and Cory Gunz (Audio)

For the last several months, DJ EFN has released some of the most interesting collaborations in Hip-Hop. Similar to peers like Statik Selektah and DJ Khaled, EFN has put out his own star-studded project, Another Time, featuring the likes of Killer Mike, Inspectah Deck, MC Eiht, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez,... Read more

April 2, 2015 Audio

Styles P Gets Funkdafied & Fired Up Thanks To Cookin’ Soul On The Boards (Audio)

Whether it's with The Roots, with Rick Ross, or Raekwon, is there a beat—or type of beat that Styles P cannot destroy? The LOX O.G. brings his D-Block protege Blazin on board for "True & Living." Here, thanks to Spanish production duo Cookin' Soul (OJaYzis, Freddie Gibbs), S.P. The Ghost... Read more

March 31, 2015 Audio

Pete Rock Signals More Petestrumentals & Unleashes A 20 Year Old Groove (Audio)

It's hard to believe it's been nearly 14 years since Pete Rock released Petestrumentals. Following Jay Dee's (p/k/a J Dilla) Welcome To Detroit, Soul Brother Pete laced BBE (Barely Breaking Even) Records' Beat Generation series (Marley Marl and will.i.am were among those who would follow). Pete struck the Hip-Hop/R&B charts... Read more

March 30, 2015 Audio, News

Murs Drops a Song About Seizing Control of Your Own Destiny (Audio)

Murs just released a new single off his upcoming solo debut on Strange Music, Have A Nice Life, set to be released on May 19. The song, "No More Control", features MNDR on the chorus and finds Murs giving his two cents on seizing control of your own destiny over... Read more

March 30, 2015 Audio

Remember Mixtape Wiz Khalifa? He’s Back…With Curren$y (Audio)

Before the Pop charts and the Gold plaques, Wiz Khalifa was one of the most revered MCs on the mixtape circuits. Projects like Burn After Rolling and Kush & Orange Juice help to launch one of Hip-Hop's most distinctive voices into orbit. Wiz's laid-back flow and penchant for soulful tracks... Read more

March 30, 2015 Audio

Remy Ma Takes Beats But No Prisoners on Her Truffle Butter Freestyle (Audio)

Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj are cool in real life, but on wax? Remy takes no prisoners. She does take beats, though, and for her latest she jack's Ms. Minaj's red hot Nineteen-85-produced "Truffle Butter" track. Remy the Ruler wastes no time serving notice to ALL of her peers, saying... Read more

March 28, 2015 Audio