Audio Archives

Curren$y Fuels Up With 7-Song EP, Saturday Night Car Tunes (EP)

For nearly a decade, Curren$y has been among Hip-Hop's biggest stars who has never been shy about giving away whole projects for free. The N'awlins native learned from his onetime mentor Lil Wayne that if you want the audience to buy your product, you have to build their dependency. So... Read more

August 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

DJ Premier Breaks Down 14 of His Classic Tracks in a Deadly Mix (Audio)

Here's volume 1 of DJ Derezon & Tre The Boy Wonder's mix series titled 14 Deadly Secrets. The duo chooses 14 classic cuts from an iconic Hip-Hop producer and then has the producer narrate a blazing mix of those tracks with behind the scenes stories. The first installment of the... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Timeless Truth Chop Up Pete Rock’s Strange Fruit (Audio)

If you're going to get on a Pete Rock track that first featured Tragedy Khadafi, Cappadonna & Sticky Fingaz, you better bring it. That's exactly what Timeless Truth did. The Queens duo of Oprime39 and Solace went to work on the track like they should have been on it in... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio

A$AP Twelvyy Shows A$AP Mob’s Roster is Deep and Diverse (Audio)

A$AP Rocky and Ferg have had the highest profiles out of A$AP Mob to date, but the rest of the crew are on the rise, as well. A$AP Nast came strong alongside Method Man on the monstrous "Trillmatic" and now A$AP Twelvyy lights it up with "Glock Rivers." Like Nast,... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio

How About Some Hardcore? Diabolic Links With DJ Premier (Audio)

For a decade and a half, Diabolic has been aggressively laying down lyrics. A onetime Viper Records artist and Immortal Technique artist, the Long Islander is a critical voice in the hardcore Hip-Hop community that includes Tech, Army Of The Pharaohs, La Coka Nostra, and others. In one of those... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

STS & DJ Jazzy Jeff Know How Philly Use To Sound & Bring It Back (Audio)

Regardless of genre, some cities just have a certain style. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania most certainly is one such place. "The City Of Brotherly Love" has a great deal of harmony and fusion, dating back to the colonial period. In more recent times, the city—a patchwork of cultures, races, faiths, and customs... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

With His Buzz Now At A Boil, Problem Lifts Off With 354 (Mixtape)

For five years, Compton's Problem has been just that. With critical cosigns and early career work from DJ Quik and Snoop Dogg, the patient rapper has steadily fed his Heads with nine, largely-acclaimed mixtapes. A year removed from The Separation, the Diamond Lane Music Group standout dropped 354: The Liftoff... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

It’s A Jackson 5 & Beatles Affair In Raekwon’s Latest Throwback (Audio)

Raekwon is quietly getting more and more creative with his Throwbacks on Thursdays. This week, Chef makes dessert with "Got To Be There/The Girl Is Mine." Within this look, Rae' looks into two different decades of Michael Jackson impact. Verbalizin' on Michael Jackson's 1972 Top 5 charting solo hit "Got... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Problem & Childish Gambino Freestyle Over Quik’s CPT Classic (Audio)

Problem joins Kendrick Lamar, YG and YG Hootie in keeping Compton's Hip-Hop legacy strong in the 2010s. Early in his career, Prob' got some prime, multi-track real estate on DJ Quik & Kurupt's 2009 BlaQKout album. Now perceived protege hops on a David Blake classic released on Murder Was The... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Game Leads A Charge Against Police Brutality With More Than 10 All-Star Guests (Audio)

Enough is enough. Game is among the Hip-Hop stars reacting to the murder of Michael Brown. The multi-platinum Compton, California rapper amassed a group of his contemporaries to speak out against police murdering civilians of color. Called "Don't Shoot," the point and the pain is clear from the onset. In... Read more

August 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Stalley Drops An Ode to N.W.A with Always Into Something (Audio)

Stalley is feeling the West Coast flavor with his latest 2 tracks, specifically that of N.W.A. With yesterday's release of the "Jackin' Chevys" video, he rode around the streets of L.A. with a "Boyz N the Hood" flavored soundtrack. Today, he releases a new song with Ty Dolla $ign which... Read more

August 27, 2014 Audio

Think Lil Dicky’s a Joke? His Rhyme Skills Aren’t…(Audio)

Lil Dicky garnered a lot of attention last year with the release of the video for his song "Ex-Boyfriend" where he comically fretted about not measuring up to his girlfriend's ex. While he frequently indulges in such (often peurile) humor, don't sleep. Dude has true rap skills. On "Spontaneity," he... Read more

August 27, 2014 Audio

Who Raps Faster Rittz or Twista? You Be the Judge (Audio)

Though Twista may not have been the first to speed rap, he perfected it, once holding the title in the Guiness Book of World Records for fastest rapper. Rittz, with his rapid fire double-time flow, was clearly influenced by Twista and shows the Chicagoan some love by having him guest... Read more

August 27, 2014 Audio

Logic & Childish Gambino Are Just Driving Ms. Daisy (Audio)

Childish Gambino takes off his Spider-Man suit and steps back in front of the microphone alongside Visionary Music Group captain Logic for their latest single, "Driving Ms. Daisy." Logic, who is currently working on his upcoming album, takes his hand at producing the single which boasts some wavy, bouncing Electronic... Read more

August 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Redman Flips Usher’s Good Kisser Track to Celebrate His Love (Audio)

Throughout his career, Redman has never been short on comedic relief. From his skits on his album to MTV Cribs appearances to antics with Method Man, Reggie Noble has a prodigious since of humor. On his latest release, Redman pays tribute to one of his favorite pastimes on a cheeky... Read more

August 27, 2014 Audio

Yelawolf Freestyles Over A Primus Beat, Really Well (Audio)

Yelawolf likes Rock & Roll just as much as he enjoys Hip-Hop. Heads who heard Catfish Billy's breakthrough 2008 mixtape Stereo know that it's nothing for the Gadsden, Alabama MC to tear apart Rock breaks. Rapping over Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pink Floyd tracks, the fast-rapping MC went to work in... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Yancey Boys & Slum Village Heat It Up (Audio)

The J Dilla family tree is real. Slum Village-meets-Yancey Boys on "Global Warming." Illa J, who has spent time in both groups, joins Jay Dee's longtime homie Frank Nitti, as well as T3 in the song produced by Young RJ. With banging natural drums, some smooth autobiographical raps from each... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Get Some Trippy Lyrical Gunplay From Roc Marciano & Knowlege The Pirate (Audio)

Long Island's Roc Marciano and Virginia's Knowledge The Pirate have close ties. Heard in a strong role in 2012's Marci Beaucoup, K.T.P goes back with Roc. The pair appear together on Ricky Dubs-produced cut "Shot A Man." Messing with some heady Pink Floyd, the slow-moving joint allows the street-tough MCs... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Diamond District’s First Step In A March To Another Album (Audio)

Diamond District's March On Washington is coming on October 14. With the Mello Music Group release from Oddisee, yU, and X.O. available for pre-order, the acclaimed District of Columbia trio dropped off some highly anticipated new music. "First Step" is a fitting first glimpse from the March. With an electrofied... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Referencing House Of Pain, Busta Rhymes Calms Down With Everlast (Audio)

When Busta Rhymes & Eminem released "Calm Down" this summer, the Bob & Earl sample to set off the record reminded many Heads of House Of Pain. That famous riff from "Harlem Shuffle" helped set the pace for one of the ultimate party Rap records, "Jump Around." Bussa Bus knows... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Audio Push Serenade Their Medical Muse, Mary Jane (Audio)

Par music loves its metaphors. Hit-Boy's star pupils Audio Push take the age-old concept of doubling a drug as a lady. Sam Sneed, Scarface, and even Tyga know a thing or two about this, phenomenon, spanning a whole medicine cabinet of mind-altering substances. Oktane and Pricetag salute marijuana, with this... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Say There Is Only Now To Listen To The LP (Album Stream)

One of 2014's most-anticipated albums is Souls Of Mischief & Adrian Younge's There Is Only Now. The Oakland foursome's first LP in four years is their first with Adrian, who has garnered fame working with Ghostface Killah, The Dramatics, and others. With a strong response already to the group's star-studded... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Prince Gives Some Game To The Lovers, Courtesy Of Clouds (Audio)

In the last 24 hours, it was revealed that while Eminem has a double-album/compilation coming, Prince has two September releases of his own, on the same day. Included in the double-dip is "Clouds." Given the themes of the song, it sounds to be a likely Art Official Age inclusion—although 3rd... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Are Finally Back, Sounding As Great As Ever (Audio)

Tomorrow (August 26), the mighty Souls Of Mischief crew is teaming with producer/musician Adrian Younge to release There Is Only Now. The Oakland, California quartet's first LP in four years finds the crew in their mid-1990s pocket that made them an instrumental element in re-defining West Coast Hip-Hop diversity during... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Eminem Recalls Accusations of Biting AZ & Nas In New Record About Courage (Audio)

Rarely do Hip-Hop soundtrack singles say much anymore. The years of music-attached records like Ice-T's "Colors," Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem," 2Pac's "Pain" or Ice Cube's "How To Survive In South Central" seem like a vestige of the past. Eminem, who famously attached "Lose Yourself" to 8 Mile, is out... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Childish Gambino Flexes Clever Wordplay Over 2 Beats in 1 Song (Audio)

Childish Gambino is back with a new single. “Candler Road,” named after a street in 'Bino's hometown of Decatur, starts out with a trap beat but halfway through shifts into overdrive. Throughout, Gambino shreds the mic with his trademark clever wordplay (nearly every line merits a rewind). Check it out.... Read more

August 24, 2014 Audio

Bumpy Knuckles is Still Verbally Re-Arranging Grills on PhLoWtAyShUn (Audio)

"I'm a credit to my age, 'cause I still body any show." The artist formerly known as Freddie Foxxx talks tough on wax and backs it up. They don't call him Bumpy Knuckles for nothing. The grizzled veteran MC is back with some lessons on rhyming to studio gangstas, fake... Read more

August 23, 2014 Audio

Dizzy Wright Isn’t The Only One Looking For Answers To The Events In Ferguson (Audio)

From T.I., Talib Kweli, Killer Mike, B.o.B., J. Cole, and Lauryn Hill, Hip-Hop has been answering the call in light of the recent events in Ferguson and the tragic killing of Michael Brown. Dizzy Wright is the next artist to take his adeptness for musicality to find answers of his... Read more

August 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

T.I. Pens The New National Anthem (Audio)

Accentuated by Skylar Grey's quintessentially anthemic vocals on the hook, T.I. delivers his message to America in the form of the track, "New National Anthem." "Home of the brave and free (It’s America) Free just to murder me (land of the handgun) Land of the beautiful (home of the shotgun)... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

You’re In For A Blockbuster Night With Run The Jewels (Audio)

Just days after Killer Mike spoke out on the tragic events in Ferguson, the Atlanta artist sheds his humanitarian cape for a moment and morphs like Voltron into the Hip-Hop duo, Run The Jewels, with Brooklyn's own El-P for the cut, "Blockbuster Night Pt. 1." In anticipation of their upcoming... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Raekwon Whips Up Another Throwback With The Funky I’ll Be Good (Audio)

Raekwon is back on his Throwback Thursday tip with his latest single, "I'll Be Good." The Wu-Tang clan affiliate spits his verse, albeit a quick one, about a murder in the streets over the soulful, funky single of the same name from René & Angela's 1985 Platinum album, A Street... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Saigon Kicks Some Reality Rap Over a DJ Premier Track (Audio)

Saigon addresses rumors about himself, his role on Love & Hip-Hop and more over a boom bap DJ Premier track. Sai's message? It's "Nunya" business. Check it out. Related: Saigon, Papoose & Omar Epps Look To The Skies To Make A Sinner’s Prayer (Video)... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio

Lauryn Hill Releases a Chilling Dedication to Michael Brown (Audio)

The collective voices of outrage at the death of Michael Brown continue to grow in Hip-Hop. Lauryn Hill is the latest to stand in protest, at least in her music. Her song "Black Rage" is set to the tune of the Sound of Music's "My Favorite Things" but it is... Read more

August 21, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

Jeezy & Don Cannon’s Holy Ghost Is On Four Wheels (Audio)

At his best, Jeezy orchestrates these moments. Now a Rap superstar, the Atlanta native is able to re-live moments of his past so vividly, with so much suspense, that they simply burst onto the record. "Holy Ghost" is just that... even in the Dog Days Of Summer, this Don Cannon... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

This Madlib Soul Sounds Like The Perfect Mos Def Or Jay Z Beat (Audio)

Madlib is at work on his first soundtrack, The Beats. Included is the effortlessly titled "Cue 4." This sample-built creation is smoother and more cyclical than Madlib creations. Sounding like a mid-1970s Soul breakdown, a Head can easily grasp why it's the perfect inclusion for a film, such as say—Our... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Murs Joins Apollo Brown’s Ugly Heroes Asking Why Good Things Die (Audio)

Both Mello Music Group and Murs are based in the deserts of Tucson, Arizona. The former Warner Bros. Records artist and the thriving indie are working more together. Thereby, Murray joined Ugly Heroes, the trio of Michigan's Apollo Brown and Red Pill and Chicago vet Verbal Kent. "Good Things Die"... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Rittz Wants Recognition Outside Of The White Rapper Label (Audio)

Strange Music's own Rittz details the state of Hip-Hop today as it relates to race and, more specifically, being a "White Rapper." As an artist who is incredibly dedicated to the craft itself, Rittz delves into his own personal struggle to supersede the "white rapper" label and garner more respect... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Taste Some Southern Hospitality With A Mix Of UGK Vinyl Rarities (Audio)

DJ Superix strings together 12 vinyl based cuts from Bun B and the late Pimp C into a full length mix for a flushed out taste from two of Texas' staple Hip-Hop artists. With remixes, rare tracks, features, and individual cuts from Bun B and Pimp C, the 12 Twelve's... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Travi$ Scott Releases a Dark and Complex Free EP (Mixtape)

With one listen to Kanye West's Yeezus and Travi$ Scott's Owl Pharoah, the mind meld shared by the 2 sonic technicians is abundantly clear. Scott, the former G.O.O.D. Music signee, joined Kanye's camp in 2012 and his influence could be heard as early as on their Cruel Summer project. With... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio, Mixes

Jhene Aiko Serves Up Some More Music for the Soul with Spotless Mind (Audio)

As Jhene Aiko readies her new album Souled Out, she serves up some more music for the soul with "Spotless Mind." As with much of her music, the organs, guitar and her ethereal lilt make this song sound timeless. Check it out. Related: Jhene Aiko Recalls The Pressures Of A... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio

Little Brother’s Rapper Big Pooh Rocks a 9th Wonder-esque Beat (Audio)

Little Brother's Rapper Big Pooh teams up with BJ the Chicago Kid on a trunk-rattling track by Praise that features some 9th Wonder-esque funk. Pooh sounds right at home on this track and it's a reminder of just how nice this third of LB is. Check out "Last Dance." Related:... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio

Mick Jenkins & YC The Cynic Do Nothing But Keep It 100 (Audio)

Chicago's Mick Jenkins, less than a week removed from the release of his deeply conceptual mixtape, The Water[s], links up with Brooklyn based MC, YC The Cynic for the cut, "Keep It 100." Full of confidence and braggadocio, Mick and YC boast bars dedicated to spitting "the real" over smooth,... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Vic Mensa Makes Some Rock & Soul With Frequent Collaborator Michael Uzowuru (Audio)

In his young career, Vic Mensa has defied being categorized. Once a front-man of a truly organic Rap-Rock group, Kids These Days, Mensa's 2014 lead single has been inspired by Chicago House. He's also tackling some Jazz tracks this year to boot. So why should Heads be surprised when the... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Snoop Goes All the Way in on an Exquisite Statik Selektah Track (Audio)

Statik Selektah drops one more cut, "All The Way (Pimp Hop)," just before the release of his upcoming album, What Goes Around. Snoop Dogg, who is no stranger to pimping himself, leads off the cut with Ransom, Wais P (The Ranjahz), and CharlieRED to spit their pimp game over some... Read more

August 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Eve, Madonna & Pharrell on 1 Track? The Beat is So Crazy…(Audio)

Here's a previously unreleased track produced by The Neptunes featuring Eve and Madonna. Both ladies are singing over vintage mid to late '00's Neptunes drums and chords. Check out "The Beat is So Crazy." Related: Eve Recalls Time With The Ruff Ryders & Dr. Dre With Peter Rosenberg (Video)... Read more

August 17, 2014 Audio

Your Old Droog Continues to Taunt the Sleepers with This Mac Miller Track (Audio)

"Your Old Droog" continues to taunt the internet in a shroud of mystery. I have a very credible friend who, earlier this week, told me he met Droog and it's not Nas. I told him I'd believe him when I saw "Droog" himself in person on stage on 9/3 when... Read more

August 16, 2014 Audio

Diamond District’s yU Makes A Heartfelt Dedication To His Late Father (Audio)

Diamond District's yUthe78er has been one of Mello Music Group's best kept secrets. As a soloist, yU made one of the best Hip-Hop songs about Native American heritage in "Natives," and gave Heads hope in "Fine." In "Never Burning Out," one of the rare songs released by the Washington D.C.... Read more

August 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Tune In With Chuuwee & The Chuuwee Channel (Album Stream)

Chuuwee answers some questions about his career since signing a record deal with Amalgam Digital, his reasons for moving away from Sacramento, and more about his life throughout his latest album, The Chuuwee Channel. Instead of dedicating the album to the musicality of the decade a la his Wild Style... Read more

August 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Debonair P Makes A Musical Case Why 1990-1992 Was Hip-Hop’s Pinnacle (Mixtape)

Years like 1988 and 1994 often are touted as Hip-Hop's best years, but what about what's between this sandwich of dope records? 1990 through 1992 delivered Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Main Source's Breakin' Atoms, Digital Underground's Sex Packets, and Ice Cube's Death Certificate, among many others. Debonair P made Blends... Read more

August 15, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Punch Reacts To Michael Brown’s Murder With Historical Illustrations (Audio)

Deeply affected by this week's tragic news of the killing of teenager Michael Brown by Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson, Top Dawg Entertainment President Punch joined label collaborator J. Cole in reacting through music. Born in the post-riots Watts, Punch made a Steinski-like audio-essay remembering the 1965 Watts Riots. Set... Read more

August 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh