News Archives

Need to Explain Sampling To Somebody In 3 Ear-Bending Minutes? Watch This (Video)

Heads love samples, from Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" in Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock" to Twin Sister's "Meet The Frownies" in Kendrick Lamar's "The Recipe." The folks at Eclectic Method made a three-minute reel that traces the chronology of sampling through the years, stopping in some pretty... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Macklemore & Kendrick Lamar: How Hip-Hop (Not The Grammy’s) Turned Sunday Into a Fail (Food For Thought)

The day after the Grammy Awards, the conversation about Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ win for Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city (G.K.M.C) grew from a buzz to a roar. Social media platforms and the web, generally, were on fire. The frenzy was fueled in part by... Read more

January 29, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Pharoahe Monch Gets His Sam Jackson On, In Bad MFer (Audio)

Release dates are coming in heavy this week. The same seven days that celebrate the 20th anniversary of Organized Konfusion's Stress: The Extinction Agenda sees Monch map out P.T.S.D. for April 15th (tax day, as it's also known). The LP on W.A.R. Media will include contributions from Black Thought, Marco... Read more

January 29, 2014 Audio, Food for Thought, Fresh

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Team With Earl Sweatshirt & Domo Genesis On New Song, Get Album Release Date (Audio)

After years in the waiting, EPs whetting the appetites of distinct fanbases, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib have a release date for Pinata. No longer called Cocaine Pinata, the collaborative full-length arrives March 18th from The Loop Digger's own imprint, Madlib Invazion. A press release confirmed that guests include Scarface, Mac... Read more

January 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J. Cole’s Label Partners With Interscope & He Releases 11 Track Revenge Of The Dreamers (Album Stream)

J. Cole is making big moves this week. Like collaborators Meek Mill and Mac Miller, Cole is building a label simultaneous to his own expanding career. Dreamville, as his imprint is known, has inked a distribution deal with Interscope Records, home to Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Eminem. This squad... Read more

January 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Diamonds Are Forever: Jay Z Gives J. Cole His Original Roc-A-Fella Records Chain On Stage (Video)

While J. Cole did not join his Roc Nation leader at Sunday's Grammy Awards, despite being nominated for Best Rap Album, the two reconvened this week. Last night, while Cole took the stage at Madison Square Garden, his fans were treated to surprise appearances by Kendrick Lamar, and Jay. While... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Lox Are Back With Some Boom Bap and a KRS-One Hook (Audio)

After dropping a surprise EP in December, The Lox reunion continues. Here's their latest, Boom Bap. Related: The Lox Give Sway In The Morning A Mini Concert & An In-Depth Interview (Video)... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio

ScHoolboy Q Rocks Early 2014 With Tour & Some Fresh OXYMORON Music (Audio)

With two Top 200 independent albums already under his belt, all eyes are on ScHoolboy Q's first Interscope Records-backed LP, OXYMORON. The longtime Top Dawg Entertainment artist has garnered mainstream appeal, all from his perch as a straight-talking, easy-going G from the streets of South Central Los Angeles. TDE confirmed... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Def Jam Records Started With A Smash. 30 Years Ago Today T La Rock Declared It’s Yours

The same week that LL Cool J hosted the Grammy Awards, there is another important memory milestone for Def Jam Records. Thirty years ago today (January 28), the label started by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin (in a New York University dorm room), released blockbuster single "It's Yours" by Manhattan/Bronx... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

25 Tracks From Stars & Emerging Voices Affirm That Jamla Most Definitely Is The Squad (Album Stream)

Just in the last five years, 9th Wonder's Jamla Records has released critically-acclaimed and commercially-dominant albums from the likes of Skyzoo, Rapsody, and Murs, among a host of others. The North Carolina-based label is ramping up for its latest wave, with a blossoming expanded roster, which includes TP, Add-2, and... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Bronze Nazareth Checks In With His Wu-Tang Roots In The Beat He Gives Willie The Kid (Video)

Willie The Kid and Bronze Nazareth might both come from Michigan, but each have strong ties to the sons of Shaolin: the Wu-Tang Clan. W.T.K. is younger brother of La The Darkman, who was one of the early successful artists under the Wu umbrella. Bronze Nazareth came up with Cilvarings,... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Foreign Exchange Camp’s Visuals Are Really Uplifting Lately. Check Better (Video)

Phonte and Nicolay have been making captivating music (from Internet to in person) for a decade now. However, the group and affiliates with so much musical and social personality is really shining in video form lately. After Zo!'s "We Are On The Move" video (which featured 'Tay and Eric Roberson)... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Jazzy Jeff Shows The Link Between DJ’ing & Technology, Visits Sway In The Morning (Video)

In the newest episode of DJ Jazzy Jeff's Vinyl Destination, the A Touch Of Jazz crew hits the Bay area, one of the basins for technology. There, in the backyard of DJ Q-Bert, Mixmaster Mike, and Shortkut, the clique discusses how the innovations on the turntable over the last 30... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

J-Live Makes A Topical Video About Trying To Get Over With Money Matters (Video)

For over 15 years, J-Live has been an outstanding MC at making clever Hip-Hop songs that his audiences can relate to. The Triple Threat MC/DJ/producer makes a compelling video timed perfectly with the postage increases and State Of The Union address. "Money Matters" explores how working folks, off the grid... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Nipsey Hussle Barks Some Reality Raps On The THC-Produced Between Us (Audio)

With the sounds of Hip-Hop changing, Nipsey Hussle breathes his brand of realness into all of his works. "Between Us" implements the kind of altered choruses you hear in Future, Kevin Gates, and the like—this one courtesy of K.Camp. However, in between the bridges, Nip' talks his life in simple,... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

With Temperatures Dropping, Kool G Rap, Cormega, Roc Marciano & J-Love Want You To Look Outside (Audio)

Roc Marciano and Cormega have a great working relationship. Although Queensbridge's 'Mega has about a 10-year jump in the game from Hempstead's Marci, the two are very much about the intricacies of street life. Both of these qualities hail from the Kool G Rap archetype, dating back to the '80s.... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

UMG is Re-Releasing Several Classic Hip-Hop Albums on Vinyl. Which is Your Favorite?

During last night's 53rd Grammy Awards, show host LL Cool J took a moment to acknowledge Def Jam Records, a label he helped build through his 1985 debut, Radio (and over a dozen Def Jam albums to follow). That LP, which includes "I Need Love" (a song LL also referenced... Read more

January 27, 2014 Fresh

Yelawolf Celebrates His Wheels on His Latest Single, Box Chevy V (Audio)

Pimp C, E-40, King T, and now Yelawolf. Gearheads and Rides subscribers must love the kind of Hip-Hop that gives as much attention to automobilia as these guys. For his third major label go'round, Yelawolf is back to pay great homage to his "Box Chevy" those same late '70s-early '90s... Read more

January 27, 2014 Audio

On the Eve of His EP Release Here Are a New Song and Video From Isaiah Rashad (Audio & Video)

One of the voices poised to break out in 2014 is Top Dawg Entertainment's Isaiah Rashad. The Chattanooga, Tennessee MC is not big on churning out product like some of his contemporaries, instead, the introspective rapper aims to make every dart stick. Today, on the eve of his Clivia Demo... Read more

January 27, 2014 Audio, Video

Macklemore Believes Race & Other Factors Contributed To His 4 Grammy Award Wins

From Macklemore's texts of solidarity to friend/peer Kendrick Lamar before last night's (January 26) 56th Grammy Awards to his words following winning in four categories competing against the Compton, California MC, it's hard not to love the way the Seattle, Washington veteran (who happened to win Best New Artist) handled... Read more

January 27, 2014 Fresh

Macklemore Tells Kendrick Lamar He Got Robbed By Not Winning Best Rap Album. See the Texts (Photos)

Did the 56th Grammy Awards leave the Head in you feeling some kind of way? Especially if you're a Kendrick Lamar fan, watching Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' four awards sweep early in the night, talk of the town performance, and Daft Punk's Random Access Memories taking the Album Of The... Read more

January 27, 2014 Fresh

Big Boi, Phantogram & Sade Have A Kaleidoscope Of Color For CPU 2.0 (Video)

With his name heavy in the mainstream music cycle, courtesy of Outkast tour dates and rumored new recordings, Big Boi has opted to keep on pushin' his most recent album, Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, which turned one year old last month. As part of a revamped two-month roll-out, Daddy... Read more

January 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

Buckshot & 9th Wonder Come Back Together For Some 3am Square Biz (Audio)

From 2005 to 2012, Black Moon's Buckshot and Little Brother's 9th Wonder made an Interstate 95 link to record three albums together. These works charted new waters for both artists, who when they set out to collaborate, were largely known for the personas created in their respective groups. By 2012,... Read more

January 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Keep 45 King In Your Thoughts This Week, He Suffered A Heart Attack

One of Hip-Hop's most important producers in 45 King. The New Jersey native known for founding the original Flavor Unit, and in part, discovering Queen Latifah, also produced major hits for Eminem ("Stan") Jay Z ("Hard Knock Life"), and legendary remixes for Eric B. & Rakim, Diamond D, and Lisa... Read more

January 27, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Kendrick Lamar Steals The Show At The Grammys. Who Needs An Award? (Video)

So with controversy already in the air after some categorical losses early in the night, what would Kendrick Lamar do with his performance slot? The Compton, California good kid (with a reputation for competition) performed a Heads-approved album cut from his major label debut, "m.A.A.d city." With Imagine Dragons backing... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Timed Perfectly, Wale J. Cole, Rockie Fresh & Meek Mill Release Black Grammys (Video)

A lover of the viral content, Wale timed "Black Grammys" perfectly. Although the Maybach Music Group artist could not have anticipated the Twitter conversations regarding Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' four straight wins (or did he?), the song as is as topically-released as any. J. Cole does not make the video,... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Win The 2014 Grammy Award For Rap Song & Album

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have cause for some early celebration at Los Angeles, California's Staples Center. The Seattle, Washington pair's 2012 album The Heist won Rap Album Of The Year and their breakthrough hit "Thrift Shop" won Rap Song Of The Year. The wins were controversial when coupled with two... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh

Curren$y & Action Bronson Get Corleone Stoned On Godfather 4 (Audio)

Heads watching TV this Grammy Awards weekend know that AMC has been going hard on the Godfather marathons. Fans of Mario Puzo's novel-turned-Francis Ford Coppola-directed saga may appreciate that Curren$y and Action Bronson opted to make "Godfather 4," as a song. The two sensations within the Atlantic Records/Warner Music Group... Read more

January 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Grap Luva’s 2011 Neva Done Comes To Cassette & Gets Liberated (Album Stream & Download)

Founding INI member Grap Luva has been in AFH headlines a lot lately. Co-hosting next month's Detroit Dilla Day with Ro Spit, Pete Rock's brother is now the beneficiary of a cassette tape re-release. Luva's 2011 LP, Neva Done, was put out by Redefinition Records and garnered underground acclaim. Now,... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Pharoahe Monch & Prince Po Chronicle The Cab Racism & Label Tensions That Created Stress

This week, Organized Konfusion's sophomore album, Stress: The Extinction Agenda turns 20 years old. Queens, New Yorkers Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po (fka Prince Poetry) are coming together for a rare headlining concert with longtime affiliates O.C. and Large Professor, among others, for a concert in Brooklyn, New York. NahRight... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The Juice Crew Masters The Ceremony & Orchestrates The Symphony On Stage (Video)

The same night Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Geto Boys, The Pharcyde, Blackstreet, and Ma$e and Diddy reunited in Los Angeles, another seminal Hip-Hop crew came together in New York City. While they never released an album, Heads know the Juice Crew's impact as the sum of its parts, including Big Daddy Kane,... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

J. Cole Presents A Complex Speech Honoring Nas At The VIBE Image Awards (Video)

The same night Nas performed "Nas Is Like" and "If I Ruled The World" alongside his Firm collaborator Dr. Dre and Ruffhouse Records label-mates Cypress Hill, he was honored by VIBE. The same magazine that brought Nasir and J. Cole together for a powerful cover-story in 2013, had the Roc... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mobb Deep Will Release Unheard Infamous Verses By Nas, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & N.O.R.E.

So often with classic albums, what was released was almost everything that was recorded. In 2014, it's often hard to imagine that there's much that hasn't leaked over time, with all the deluxe reissues and bootlegs. Mobb Deep is proving this wrong. During the 1994 recording of Prodigy and Havoc's... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Dr. Dre, Nas, Eminem, Diddy & Ma$e & Pharcyde Etc. Come Together To Perform At Beats’ Grammy Party

Earlier this month, Beats Music launched. From the creators of the Beats By Dre headphone and electronics lines, this streaming subscription service is the latest competitor in a space that includes Spotify, Pandora and others. With plenty to celebrate, Beats hosted a Grammy Awards weekend party at Los Angeles, California's... Read more

January 25, 2014 Fresh

Chuck D Talks About the Early Days of Public Enemy & the Need to Preserve Hip-Hop With Arsenio (Video)

Chuck D sat down with Arsenio and spoke about the first time he ever met Flavor Flav, what it meant to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the need to preserve Hip-Hop culture and more. Check out the videos below. Related: Chuck D and DMC over... Read more

January 25, 2014 Throwback

Mary J Blige Brings Her Soul to Disclosure’s Retro Futuristic Dance Jam. Try Not to Move (Video)

Breakthrough artists Disclosure have linked with Mary J Blige on an infectious dance track that is simultaneously retro and futuristic. The funky house-influenced jam makes it hard not to move. Check out the video for F For You. Related: Bishop Nehru Follows in the Footsteps of DJ Premier & Creates... Read more

January 25, 2014 Video

Kendrick Lamar Details His Reaction To The Grammy Awards Nomination (Video)

Where was one of 2013's hardest-working artists when he caught wind of his Grammy Award nomination for "Album Of The Year"? Take one good guess... Hint: Not the recording studio... Kendrick Lamar discusses to The Hollywood Reporter what he expects from his first Grammy nods and first time attending, as... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Drama King Is About Keeping New York Hip-Hop Unified On The Rise Of A City (Mixtape)

A decade ago, DJ Kay Slay was a wager of war. The Mixtape Awards winner took on the Drama King persona in the '90s, and was not above strong arm tactics on tapes, on radio, and in the streets to reign supreme in the highly-competitive culture of exclusives and style-jackers.... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

BJ The Chicago Kid & Add-2 Apply 15 Minutes Of Fame To Relationships Over A 9th Wonder Beat (Audio)

While Andy Warhol's notion of the "15 Minutes of Fame" tends to apply to well, fame, it can mean anybody's limited moment in the sun. Jamla Records artist Add-2 and fellow Chicago, Illinois native BJ hook up for "15 Minutes Of Fame," looking at fickle romantic relationships cut short. The... Read more

January 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Jay Rock & Ty Dolla $ign Take Notice Of How Things Change With Fame (Video)

Two of Southern California's harder working, breakthrough artists have noticed how things have changed—from the women and dollars, to the expectations and the hate. They come together on "Never Be The Same" to look at things as they were, and are, and say never no more, from a burn site,... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murs Shows You A Day In His New Life As A Family Man In Owner$hip (Video)

Murs videos have long been narrative. The Los Angeles MC has many sides to his life and music, and these come out in his videos. From the just-released, conceptual $hut Your Trap mixtape, Murray welcomes his fans to Tucson, Arizona, where you meet his wife and children, and get a... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Biz Markie Performs Just a Friend With a Live Band on Arsenio (Video)

Biz Markie performed his timeless song Just a Friend with a live band on the Arsenio show. Sounds so good...in a Biz Mark kinda way. Check out the video. Related: A 1990 Freestyle Surfaces From The Juice Crew’s Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Tragedy Khadafi & Craig G... Read more

January 24, 2014 Throwback

2 of Amerikkka’s Most Wanted: Ice Cube Speaks on the Richard Sherman “Controversy” (Video)

Who better to speak on the actions of Richard Sherman, a perceived angry Black man from LA, than Ice Cube who, back in the day, was seen as Amerikkka's angriest Black man from LA? There has been a lot of controversy about the Seattle Seahawks' Cornerback's interview after the NFC... Read more

January 24, 2014 Video

Game & Young Buck Release a Song Together. Is a G-Unit Reunion Out of the Question in 2014? (Audio)

In 2013, the world saw the pictures of former G-Unit members Young Buck and Game together in the studio. There were all smiles and daps, but did any music ever come of it? With Outkast back at it, and 50 Cent and Fat Joe sharing mics, the conversation quickly changed.... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio

Murs Making Trap Music?? Release All Expectations Before Playing This Mixtape (Mixtape)

Murs has not remained relevant for nearly 20 years by playing it safe. The self-proclamied "backpack rapper" has released a daring project that may leave some scratching their Heads. He's collaborated with producer Curti$$ King who specializes in Trap music. Together, the 2 have fused Murs' rhyme style with the... Read more

January 23, 2014 Mixes

Dag Savage Unveils Their LP’s First Single With Exile’s Right Hand Man Blu (Audio)

Exile is into his latest concoction: Dag Savage, with Johaz. Part of the appeal of the group comes from Ex's track record for budding talent. In 2007, it was Blu. In 2009, it was Fashawn. Those worlds collide on "Don't Stop," the official first single from the upcoming Dag Savage... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

2014 Dilla Day Detroit To Include Native Tongues, Slum Village & DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock

From his work with Slum Village to "Fuck The Police," J Dilla helped give Detroit a rhythm throughout the '90s and 2000s. Jay Dee, as Heads first knew him, helped take the sound coming out of the Electronica influence, combined with Soul City sampling, and made artists ranging from De... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Whoa. The Incomparable Shakespeare Sets A 2014 Standard With This Freestyle (Video)

Ambrosia For Heads has been down with Brooklyn's The Incomparable Shakespeare for a minute. After this stop on Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio show, Heads can expect more. Over classics by The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Scarface, Shake' slams some bars that show his confidence in himself, while still paying... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rick Ross & Wale Remix Lorde’s Royals. Did Anyone Tell Them What the Song Was About? (Audio)

Lorde's single Royals was one of the biggest records of 2013. The song takes aim at the the rampant materialism prevalent in pop culture, particularly Hip-Hop (though the artist is a fan of the music), and says people are over it. Ironically, Rick Ross and Wale have remixed the song... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio

Pete Rock, Rapsody & Lecrae Find The Good In Things, On A Khrysis Beat (Audio)

Jamla most definitely Is The Squad, especially this week. 9th Wonder's imprint has set the week ablaze with leaks from the upcoming project, mixed by Statik Selektah. If you thought Rapsody's She Got Game was impressive with its vocal and production chemistry with other artists, you'll enjoy "Be Inspired." In... Read more

January 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh