Fresh Archives

Kanye West Confesses His Biggest Flaws In A New Video

This week, Kanye West learned that his Donda album will compete for "Album Of The Year" and "Best Rap Album" at the 2022 Grammy Awards. On Thursday, Ye followed that news with a public prayer in song, that looks back at some of the not-so-bright moments of his life, and... Read more

November 26, 2021 Video

Joell Ortiz Names His Top 5 Brooklyn MCs

This month, Joell Ortiz delivered a new album, The Autograph. The release, embedded below, marks Ortiz's fourth with indie stalwart Mello Music Group. After a career cultivated by rapping his circumstances directly to the listener, Joell somehow goes even deeper on his new album. As he tells Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast (embedded... Read more

November 23, 2021 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Jadakiss & Freddie Gibbs Bring Grown Man Strength To Rap

Freddie Gibbs is on a tear. In 2019, he reunited with Madlib for Bandana, an album that many fans—including the readers of Ambrosia For Heads—believed was the year's best Hip-Hop album. Then, in 2020, Gangsta Gibbs partnered with Alchemist (again) for Alfredo, an independent album that earned both veterans a... Read more

November 21, 2021 Video

JAY-Z Is Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame By More Than 40 Stars

JAY-Z, LL Cool J, Foo Fighters, The Go-Go's and a host of other music legends were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 30. Footage and many of the details from the illustrious night leaked in real time and the days that followed. Hip-Hop owned... Read more

November 21, 2021 Video

Method Man & Redman Reunite To Show Hip-Hop Is Alright

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back and listen... Read more

November 20, 2021 Audio

Snoop Dogg Has Signed Benny The Butcher To Def Jam

Based on Kanye West's latest interview, the superstar artist has fulfilled his Def Jam Records contract, isolating Ye from Def Jam for the first time in nearly 20 years. However, in recent days, it's been revealed that the iconic label founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin has signed an... Read more

November 16, 2021 News, Video

Andre 3000’s Most Personal Verse Has Been Liberated

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back and listen... Read more

November 15, 2021 Audio

Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys’ Home Opens The Door To Black Excellence

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have constructed some of the most enduring songs of the last 20 years. The power couple also has an eye for art, fashion, and design. The husband-and-wife welcomed Architectural Digest into their Wallace E. Cunningham-designed open-layout La Jolla, California estate. The sprawling residence, which was the inspiration... Read more

November 6, 2021 Lifestyle, Video

8 Dead, Hundreds Injured At Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival

Last night (November 5), tragedy struck at the first night of Travis Scott's third annual Astroworld Festival. An ongoing investigation is looking at the events surrounding the sold-out event at Houston, Texas' NRG Park. Local affiliate ABC 13 reports that eight people have died at present, and hundreds were injured... Read more

November 6, 2021 News, Video

Kanye West Details The Secret Warfare Drake Has Waged On Him

Since releasing Donda this August, Kanye West has not done a sit-down interview. That changes with this morning's (November 5) episode of Drink Champs. Ye (as he is now formally known) sat down with N.O.R.E and DJ EFN for several hours. Throughout the chat, Kanye discusses various aspects of his... Read more

November 5, 2021 News, Video

Scarface Discusses His Kidney Transplant With The Son Who Saved Him

Roughly six weeks ago, one of Hip-Hop's legends received a life-saving transplant. In September, Scarface aka Brad Jordan received a new kidney. After thousands of fans had offered an organ to the Geto Boys MC/producer, Jordan selected the crucial offering from his son, Chris. The gift of life happened after... Read more

November 4, 2021 Lifestyle, Video

JAY-Z & LL Cool J Brought A President & $3 Billion To The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

On Saturday (October 30), LL Cool J and JAY-Z were formally inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. While Hip-Hop artists have been entering the Hall for over a decade now, 2021's celebration was truly a standout moment for the culture. As Dave Chappelle suggested while inducting... Read more

November 2, 2021 Video

Famed Hustler Alpo Martinez Is Fatally Shot & Killed In Harlem

According to numerous sources, notable and controversial street figure Alpo Martinez was fatally shot this morning (October 31) while in his Dodge Ram pickup truck. In a developing story, Martinez, 55 years old, was killed in a drive-by shooting in the same Harlem streets that he occupied throughout the rise... Read more

October 31, 2021 Lifestyle, News

AZ Names The 7 MCs Who Influenced Him The Most

From his very first released verse, AZ declared "Others such as myself are trying to carry on tradition." Those illustrious guest bars from Nas' Illmatic apply to AZ's views on Hip-Hop. Weeks ago, the East New York, Brooklyn MC released Doe Or Die 2. While speaking in-depth about the long-anticipated... Read more

October 31, 2021 Exclusive, Video

Lauryn Hill Blasts Her Haters On A Hard-Hitting New Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back and listen... Read more

October 31, 2021 Audio

Ghostface Killah Recalls Making His Ironman Album 25 Years Later

Yesterday (October 29), Ghostface Killah's debut album Ironman turned 25 years old. In honor of the milestone, the Wu-Tang Clan MC partnered with his former label, Sony Records, with a special video vignette that revisits the RZA-produced Hip-Hop classic from 1996. In the interview, the Staten Island MC says, "[Ironman]... Read more

October 30, 2021 Video

Damian Lillard Freestyles About His Real Life Hoop Dreams

Damian Lillard continues to be one of the all-time great double threats. With his tenth NBA season underway, the Portland Trailblazers' franchise superstar hopes to bring the team its first championship since 1977. As an artist, Dame D.O.L.L.A recently released his latest album, Different On Levels The Lord Allowed. The... Read more

October 29, 2021 Lifestyle, Video

JAY-Z, Jadakiss & Conway The Machine Are The New Roc Boys

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back and listen... Read more

October 29, 2021 Audio, Trending Stories

AZ Says He’s Down To Make Music For The Firm’s 25th Anniversary

Last month, AZ released one of the most anticipated albums of 2021. The East New York, Brooklyn veteran delivered Doe Or Die 2, a sequel to his lauded 1995 debut–and an album that AZ had been hyping since the early 2010s. Proudly independent, AZ self-released the LP on his Quiet... Read more

October 26, 2021 Exclusive, Video

DJ Scratch Explains The Tension At The Big Daddy Kane & KRS-One Verzuz

On Sunday night (October 17), Hip-Hop fans were treated to a Verzuz match up between 80s Hip-Hop legends, Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One. There were freestyles, surprise guests, and some noteworthy banter between the two participants and their DJs—Kid Capri and DJ Scratch, representing Kris and Kane, respectively. During AFH's recap... Read more

October 19, 2021 Video

RZA Explains Why Tupac Was More Dangerous Than The Notorious B.I.G.

Wu-Tang Clan's RZA was a contemporary of both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The Abbott produced "Long Kiss Goodnight" from Biggie's diamond-certified double-album Life After Death, a song that many Hip-Hop Heads interpreted to be one of the Brooklyn, New York MC's responses to Pac—even after Shakur was fatally... Read more

October 16, 2021 Video

Atmosphere Has Released What May Be MF DOOM’s Final Verse

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it's better than it's ever been. Not only can we go back and listen... Read more

October 10, 2021 Audio

Dr. Dre Has Broken Pop Culture Barriers Once Again

Last week, it was revealed that Dr. Dre will be headlining the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. In doing so, Dre becomes the first Hip-Hop artist to headline, after nearly 25 years of various MCs appearing in the feature role. Dre will share the stage with some of his superstar... Read more

October 6, 2021 Video

Rap City Is Back For One Night Only…For Now

BET's Rap City was a staple of Hip-Hop culture for nearly 20 years. The show evolved with Rap culture over a series of hosts, studios, and themes. Through it all, BET found a vehicle that was a rival to Yo! MTV Raps as a vessel of the music on television. From 1989 to late 2008,... Read more

October 5, 2021 News, TV, TV/Film

Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem & Snoop Dogg To Perform Super Bowl Halftime Show

This year's Super Bowl halftime show will celebrate the musical universe of Dr. Dre. Today (September 30), it was confirmed that Super Bowl LVI's entertainment will include a concert from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. According to TMZ, JAY-Z was instrumental in finalizing the talent. Pepsi... Read more

September 30, 2021 Fresh

Why J. Cole Is The Tim Duncan Of Hip-Hop

Last week, J. Cole released a video loosie at just the right moment. The "Heaven's EP" track was recorded to Drake's "Pipe Down" instrumental. It arrived after a month where Kendrick Lamar proclaimed himself, "Smokin’ on top fives / Mother-f*ck that album, f*ck that single / Burn that hard drive... Read more

September 28, 2021 Video

Griselda Have Made A Sequel To A Mobb Deep Classic

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

September 25, 2021 Audio

J. Cole Says He’s The Best Rapper Breathing & Tells Others To Pipe Down

J. Cole has already delivered one of the best albums of 2021, courtesy of The Off-Season. Named among the top LPs in Ambrosia For Heads' midyear report, the album found Jermaine Cole treating the craft of rapping like basketball—and training diligently between his heralded 2018 KOD album and the 2021 follow-up. After being snubbed by the Grammy's, Cole... Read more

September 22, 2021 Video

The Emmys Honored Biz Markie With An Amazing Tribute

2021 has been an incredibly difficult year for Hip-Hop. In the last nine months, we have lost DMX, Black Rob, Digital Underground's Shock G, Blackalicious' Gift Of Gab, Zion I's MC Zumbi, as well as actors who have been significant to the culture, like The Wire's Michael Kenneth Williams and... Read more

September 20, 2021 TV, TV/Film, Video

Comedian Anthony “AJ” Johnson Has Passed Away At Age 55

Comedian and actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has died at 55 years old. Known for his roles in Friday, House Party, I Got The Hook Up, and Menace II Society, Johnson has been reported dead by TMZ. According to the publication, the Compton, California native was found unresponsive earlier this month... Read more

September 20, 2021 News, TV, TV/Film

Diddy Challenges Jermaine Dupri To A Beat Battle & Shuts Him Down

Over the last 18 months, Verzuz has become one of the most important platforms in Hip-Hop and pop culture, generally. The battle/celebratory format pioneered by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland started as a healing salve to ease the stress of lockdown, and grew into a full blown phenomenon. Now that people... Read more

September 18, 2021 Video

Kanye West Has Challenged Drake To Battle On Verzuz

Last night (September 14), Ja Rule and Fat Joe competed in the latest Verzuz. Together, the two artists who made "What's Luv" and "New York" showed friendly competition before a live hometown audience at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Room. Following August's high-powered LOX Verzuz Dipset, this match-up's biggest controversy happened between Ja Rule's producer and... Read more

September 15, 2021 Video

Andre 3000’s Most Personal Verse Ever May Never Be Released

Andre 3000's rapping remains a big deal. Last month marked 15 years since OutKast's sixth and final album, Idlewild. Since then, Andre Benjamin has carefully picked his spots to share his talent. Even without albums in that time, for many Hip-Hop Heads, he has cemented place among Rap's greatest of... Read more

September 14, 2021 Video

Busta Rhymes’ VMA Performance Is A Drop The Mic Moment

In the last year, Busta Rhymes has released one of the finest Hip-Hop albums in Extinction Level Event 2. ELE2 stands tall in Busta's extensive 30-year career and catalog, with Ambrosia For Heads arguing that it is worthy of the "classic" adjective. The concept album (featuring Rakim, M.O.P., Q-Tip, Kendrick Lamar, Ol' Dirty... Read more

September 13, 2021 Video

AZ Is Still Keeping It Real On Doe Or Die 2

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

September 10, 2021 Audio

Common Resurrects His Place As A Top MC With This Freestyle

Next month makes 30 years since Common received the coveted "Unsigned Hype" column in The Source magazine. As he would do with Biggie Smalls and Mobb Deep, journalist Matty C. found Common Sense a worthy inclusion for the highly-respected Hip-Hop publication. Unlike today, 1991 was a time when MCs from... Read more

September 9, 2021 Video

Drake’s Formula Sells Records But Will Not Give Him A Classic Album (Video)

Last Friday (September 3), Drake released his sixth album, Certified Lover Boy. More than two years in the making, CLB features Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Future, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Project Pat, Kid Cudi, and others. Like 2018's Scorpion, this Drake LP arrived amid tensions with Kanye West, Pusha-T, and presumably... Read more

September 8, 2021 Video

Actor Michael K. Williams Has Passed Away At Age 54

Michael K. Williams has died. The actor best known for his portrayals of "Omar Little" in The Wire and "Chalky White" in Boardwalk Empire was found unresponsive this afternoon (September 6) in his Brooklyn, New York home. He was 54 years old. The NYPD confirmed the death to Variety. No cause of death has been revealed,... Read more

September 6, 2021 News, TV, TV/Film

Drake Blasts Kanye West On A New Certified Diss Record

Since their brief period of mutual admiration back in 2009, Kanye West and Drake have been embroiled in an on again, off again war of words. When the pair first connected at the end of the aughts, Kanye was publicly complimenting Drake's music, and Drake openly gushed about Kanye being... Read more

September 3, 2021 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Declares War On Hip-Hop’s Top 5 MCs

One week ago Kendrick Lamar made a rare and bold statement about his upcoming album while providing some significant news. “As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly,... Read more

August 28, 2021 Video

Where TDE Ranks Among Hip-Hop’s Greatest Record Labels

Kendrick Lamar made a rare and significant announcement in the last week: his upcoming album would be his last with Top Dawg Entertainment. For more than a decade, Kendrick has been TDE's flagship artist. He is even a part-owner in the record label responsible for taking SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay... Read more

August 24, 2021 Video

Mickey Factz Details The Strategy He Used In His Battle With Royce 5’9 (Video)

This week (August 20), Mickey Factz partners with Blu for The Narrative, a six-song project produced entirely by Nottz. Ahead of Friday's album, Mickey and Blu released two singles: June's "Stay Down" and July's "Reign." The latter, a video, features Asher Roth and reunites three MCs from the 2009 XXL... Read more

August 18, 2021 Exclusive, Interview, News, Video

The LOX Detail Their Preparation For The Dipset Verzuz

Less than two weeks after one of the best music performances of the last two years, The LOX are enjoying the fanfare. The Yonkers, New York trio of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P put on a dazzling display against The Diplomats' Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and Freekey Zeekey... Read more

August 15, 2021 Video

Clark Kent Says Hip-Hop Owes Kool Herc & It’s Time To Pay Up

Earlier this week, on August 11, Hip-Hop celebrated its 48th birthday. On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) threw a back-to-school party with his sister Cindy Campbell. The event took place at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in New York's Bronx borough. Behind the turntables, Herc prolonged the break... Read more

August 13, 2021 Exclusive, Fresh

Nas Is In The Second Prime Of His Career

For the second time in less than a year, Nas has released an album. King's Disease II follows 2020's campaign, which landed Nas his first Grammy award, taking home "Best Rap Album" honors in early '21. Entirely produced by Hit-Boy, KD1 included reuniting the founding members of The Firm (along with the group's album... Read more

August 10, 2021 Video

Lauryn Hill Gave Nas Her Best Verse In 20 Years

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

August 6, 2021 Audio

Jadakiss Had A Career Defining Moment With LOX Verzuz Dipset

For the last 20-plus years, Jadakiss has long been revered as one of Hip-Hop's top MCs. The co-founder of LOX and D-Block went as far as naming his 2015 fourth solo album, Top 5 Dead Or Alive. The proclamation, taken from Jadakiss' frequent mention in such lists among Rap fans,... Read more

August 5, 2021 Video

Nas & Eminem Are Rapping Together For The 1st Time Ever

As many music fans have shifted focus on Friday, August 6 for Kanye West's Donda release—two weeks after initially planned—another artist has occupied the attention for the day. Last week, Nas announced that Kings Disease 2 will be arriving on Friday. Today (August 3), the tracklisting for the Mass Appeal... Read more

August 3, 2021 Fresh, News

Mickey Factz Joins The Royce & Lupe Battle With The Best Diss Record Yet

Hip-Hop is witnessing its most exciting battle in more than a year, and it is playing out with more than just two opposing MCs. In 2020, two Midwest giants, Lupe Fiasco and Royce 5'9, partnered in a podcast. The two veterans joined forces to create 45 episodes of The Lupe... Read more

July 27, 2021 Audio, News, Video

Lupe Fiasco & Royce 5’9 Trade Savage Diss Records

For the last several weeks, Royce 5'9 and Lupe Fiasco have been engaged in a debate about what it takes to be the best rapper. While the exchange started as a spirited, but friendly exchange between two podcast co-hosts, somewhere along the way it has escalated. Now, the war of... Read more

July 23, 2021 Audio