Fresh Archives

Game Walks Through California Hip-Hop History, Bemoans Labeling Artists East & West Coast In Present Day (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Game are two massive fans of Hip-Hop. On records, Game has name-checked everybody from Kool G Rap to King T to MC Eiht to Common. Snoop has covered numerous legends across genres, plus collaborated with everybody from Madlib to Katy Perry to Rage Against The Machine. These... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

GQ Gets A Star-Studded Record With Nipsey Hussle & A Rapper Big Pooh, 9th Wonder Reunion (Audio)

On June 24, Jamla Army enlistee GQ is preparing Rated Oakland. The West Coast delegation on 9th Wonder's heralded label follows up with his second project in as many years. On "Count'em Up," both worlds come together. South Central L.A.'s Nipsey Hussle fits in, with that street scholar message, while... Read more

June 12, 2014 Audio, Fresh

DJ Jazzy Jeff, Questlove & James Poyser Form Like Voltron To Support One New Artist, But Who? (Video)

In the early 2000s, between Grammy awards going to The Roots and Neo-Soul climbing the charts, Philadelphia was a hot-bed of talent. At venues like The Black Lily and The Five Spot, artists from various pockets of sound were hanging out, collaborating, and making a case why Philly is The... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

Busta Rhymes May Be A Leader To The New School, But He’s Still Got That ’80s Bravado Alongside Raekwon (Audio)

Busta Rhymes and Raekwon's history runs deep. After all, it was through Busta (then an Aftermath Entertainment artist) that Chef was blessed with Dr. Dre production on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II (although it released later, on a different label than first planned). Both of these MCs are students... Read more

June 12, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Check Rare Footage Of The Notorious B.I.G. Cosigning Lil’ Kim’s Solo Career & Raekwon Stories Wu-Tang Clan’s Logo (Video)

Gearing up for the next segment in BET's "The Message," clips are meshed together in the preview featuring everybody from the late Notorious B.I.G., to Birdman, to 2 Chainz, to Kendrick Lamar, to Jermaine Dupri. Included are Biggie recalling (to Joe Clair) a candid convo with Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Lil' Kim... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Russell Simmons & Bill Adler Talk About Signing Public Enemy, The Logo & The Ramifications (Video)

Following LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys, Def Jam Records next breakthrough artist signing was Public Enemy. The Long Island, New York Hip-Hop collective including Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, The Bomb Squad, Johnny Juice and more would shake the earth with boisterous messages, social information,... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Schoolboy Q Explains The Make Up Of A Classic Album

"I’m not the ‘rappity-rapper’ type dude." In an interview with Acclaim Magazine, Schoolboy Q talked about music and only music. In it, he discusses why he decided against dropping projects in between albums, performing on stage, and recording tracks. The Top Dawg Entertainment artist also dove deep into talks about... Read more

June 12, 2014 Fresh

Yelawolf is Back with a Hard Driving Guitar-Tinged New Release (Audio)

Yelawolf has been relatively quiet this year, but he's back with a hard driving, guitar-tinged new single dedicated to one of the love's of his life. Check out Honey Brown. Related: Yelawolf Turns The Keys To The Pickup Truck In Box Chevy V (Video)... Read more

June 12, 2014 Audio

Dave Chappelle Says He Didn’t Quit, He’s Just 7 Years Late To Work (Video)

With new shows in New York City on the horizon, including several joined by The Roots, DJ Premier, and Erykah Badu, comedian/actor Dave Chappelle appears to climbing back to the spotlight after nearly a decade of public hiatus. The Ohio native appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman" last night... Read more

June 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Roots Take The 28 Days Later Approach To Never (Video)

In many of The Roots' videos throughout the last eight years, they have favored sitting it out. Arguably, The Roots television and performing schedule (especially with so many studio commitments on top) holds the group back. More likely though, it is a conscious choice to support the narrative of Black... Read more

June 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ice Cube, Nas, Snoop & More Speak on the History of N.W.A. (Video)

Who better to speak on the historical impact of N.W.A. than Ice Cube? As part of their ongoing Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, BET sat down with the West Coast legend for an extended conversation about the origins of his group. Others like Nas & Snoop also weighed in with their... Read more

June 11, 2014 Throwback

The ’80s & ’90s Versions Connect, As Doug E. Fresh & Snoop Dogg Perform La-Di-Da-Di (Video)

In the 1980s, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick made history with a Reality Records rhyme-routine 12" known as "La-Di-Da-Di." MC Ricky D's introduction to the masses alongside "The Human Beatbox King" was a moment in time, making Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" forever rooted in the Hip-Hop consciousness. By... Read more

June 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Episode 1 of The Message Documentary Speaks on Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., LL Coo J & Much More (Full Video)

Episode 1 of BET's Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, covers roughly the first decade of Hip-Hop. It addresses pioneers like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Cold Crush Brothers and more. It also features several luminaries including Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier,... Read more

June 11, 2014 Throwback

Think Drake Takes Himself Too Seriously? Think Again. Here’s Some Sound Advice for Him (Video)

Though Drake's music career has taken a front seat to his acting, he's proven on SNL and other vehicles that he still has his thespian chops. In particular, he's flexed his comedic abilities, never being afraid to take shots at himself, or at least the perceptions about him. In Sound... Read more

June 11, 2014 Video

Mary J. Blige’s Love Songs Continue, With A Sweet Engagement Jam In Time For Wedding Season (Audio)

M.J.B.'s love-odes continue, from the Think Like A Man sequel. Here, Yonkers' finest switches from her record about a missed connection at the forefront of a potential relationship, to the all-encompassing embrace of infinity, with "Propose." The wedding-themed record is right on time for Summer's wedding season, with a slow... Read more

June 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Headbang-Out To Madlib’s Latest Rock Konducta Jam, Black Dreams (Audio)

Madlib's abyssal crates spawned the latest in his Beat Konducta series. As "Rock Konducta," Otis Jackson, Jr. explores his Rockier side, after dabblings in Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Dancehall, and of course, Hip-Hop. "Black Dreams (Sludge Fight)" takes on that Punk aesthetic, as 'Lib freaks 90 seconds of slamming guitars... Read more

June 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

AK of The Underachievers Proves Why He’s A “Winner” (Audio)

AK, one half of the New York duo The Underachievers, releases the cut "Winner" as a gift to his fans and to celebrate the artist's upcoming birthday (June 13). Cloud like, ambient production from The unKKKnown cushion AK's lyrical dissection, boasting bars of a mic manipulation and features elegant vocals... Read more

June 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Reks, Fredro Starr & Ruste Juxx Form an Unholy Alliance (Audio)

Reks teams up with Fredro Starr and Ruste Juxx as they "welcome you to Hell" on his latest single, "Unholy." The Lawrence, Massachusetts artist features the eerie, horn heavy production on his upcoming collaborative project with Hazardis Soundz, Eyes Watching God. The conceptual album is divided into two parts, "God's... Read more

June 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Delorean Punches His “Meal Ticket” With Latest Freestyle (Video)

Delorean steps up to rip apart the mic with verbal venom potent enough to snatch up any prey that lay in his way. The Houston MC's "Meal Ticket Freestyle" is enough to feed the beast, but in case you're still starved for more, download his most recent mixtape, Grace. Related:... Read more

June 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

30 Minutes Of Kanye West’s Off-The-Mic Inspiration, War-Cries & Chest-Thumping (Video)

Sometimes, the same thing that's great about an artist's music is what makes their personality and stardom so strong. Tupac Shakur had a courage in his music as he did in his life, and it's a big part of the reason why his face is printed on thousands of posters... Read more

June 11, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Confirms New Album; Talks Investment Strategies (Video)

Kendrick Lamar spoke with Revolt about a number of topics, including his new album (Dre is working on it), comments about him from Troy Ave and Lupe Fiasco, the good Dr. Dre's Apple/Beats transaction and more. In one of the most interesting exchanges, he discusses his investment strategies as he... Read more

June 10, 2014 Video

Lupe Fiasco’s Freestyle Fearlessness Continues Alongside Tony Touch (Video)

Last week, Lupe Fiasco lit up Sway Up The Morning with a 100% free, freestyle. In that moment, Lu' was in the zone and combined humor, deep thought, and an unwavering flow. This week, Fiasco appeared on Tony Touch's Toca Radio on Shade 45, and also went off the dome.... Read more

June 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Dusted Hip-Hop Renaissance In New York City Continues With Timeless Truth’s Dominican Diner (EP)

From The Dopplegangaz, to Rast RFC, to Your Old Droog, New York City has its share of groups and MCs who sound, well, out of time. These artists are celebrating the mid-1990s NYC movement, an era which did not necessarily reflect well on the charts and RIAA standards, but an... Read more

June 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Snoop Dogg & Seth Rogen’s Interests Overlap, Talking Origins Of “The Chronic” (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen. One of the coolest figures of pop culture from the '90s and one of the coolest pop culture icons of the 2000s cross paths on D-O-Double G's GGN segment. The two men share a love of medicinals, as the joints burn slow. As Snoop calls... Read more

June 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Reek Da Villain, Kendrick Lamar & Ace Hood “Go Off” Over Swizz Beats Production (Video)

Reek Da Villain , apprentice to fellow New York artist Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar and Ace Hood "Go Off" with bars filled with more than enough Hip-Hop braggadocio to take over the world "from the South, to the West, to the East, to the North" over classic Boom-Bap production from... Read more

June 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul & Schoolboy Q Sound Like Money. A Hunnid Stax to Be Exact (Audio)

Ab-Soul just dropped the 2nd release from his upcoming Stigmata album and it's a BANGER. Check out Hunnid Stax, featuring his TDE brother, Schoolboy Q. Related: Ab-Soul Uses Jay Z Lyrics To Break Down Stigmata (Video)... Read more

June 10, 2014 Audio

Canibus Details The End Of The Modern World With “Fait Accompli” (Album Stream)

It's been three years since Canibus dropped his last album, Lyrical Law, and fans of The Hrsmn member can get their fill yet again with his fifteenth studio album, Fait Accompli. Listed as one of the Top 50 Lyricists by The Source Magazine in 2012, the New York City wordsmith... Read more

June 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Newly Reunited G-Unit is Wasting No Time. Here’s Another New Track (Audio)

Since publicly reuniting a little over a week ago at Hot 97's Summer Jam, G-Unit has wasted no time releasing new music. After releasing 3 songs last week, here's another track. This time, they take a spin on Trey Songz's Ordinary Ni**a. Check it out. Related: G-Unit’s Engine Just Started... Read more

June 10, 2014 Audio

Nicki Minaj Has Released a Simple But Visually Stunning Video for Pills N Potions (Video)

Sometimes less is more. That is certainly the case for Nicki Minaj in the arresting video for Pills N Potions. Gone are the contact lenses, multicolored wigs and other attention-grabbing features that have accompanied Ms. Minaj the last few years. What remains is a more subtle but deceptively powerful version... Read more

June 10, 2014 Video

ONYX Kicks That 100 Mad Rah-Rah In Buc Bac (Video)

Less than three months removed from WakeDaFucUp, ONYX is far from done promoting the Snowgoons-produced LP. Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr have no love for weakness on "Buc Bac." The apocalyptic, black-and-white visual finds the Queens-Brooklyn tandem down in their bunker, ready for war on the happy-go-lucky, soft-hearted Hip-Hop out... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Locksmith Might Have 2014’s Strongest Freestyle, But Does He Also Have Best Cypher?

Locksmith is out for titles. Richmond, California's own has a great (but slept-on) album out in A Thousand Cuts. He has one of the year's most jaw-droppingly great freestyles, care of DJ Kay Slay's Streetsweeper Radio spot, and now, care of Team Backpack, Lock' is bidding for top cypher. With... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

A Timeless Sly & The Family Stone Joint Gets Reworked By !llmind (Audio)

Sly & The Family Stone is summertime music, and we're not just talkin' about "Hot Fun In The Summertime." Sly Stone's trippy ode, "If You Want Me To Stay" may have been released 39 years ago, but Sly's final journey to the Top 40 remains timeless for lovers telling their... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

After A Plethora Of Recent Standout Appearances, Chris “Baby Pun” Rivers Offers Up Wonderland Of Misery 2 (Mixtape)

Although Chris Rivers has yet to release a studio album, the Bronx, New Yorker is already part of arguably the best father/son battery in Hip-Hop history. While any offspring of the legendary Big Pun could seemingly be poised for such an honorable recognition, Chris has earned his stars and bars... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Ice Cube & MC Ren Reunite On This Rebel Remix With Attitude! (Audio)

One of MC Ren's faster flows since the mid-'90s brought attention to "Rebel Music" a few months ago. Out of thin air, Lorenzo brings out a remix with his N.W.A. partner Ice Cube. These O.G.'s worked together a handful of times in the last 15 years, and this is the... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

HS87 Hits You With Freestyles Over Unreleased Hit-Boy Beats On Sway In The Morning (Video)

It's a family affair when Hit-Boy and HS87 hit the Shade 45 studio. Hit-Boy discusses his love for music, introduces his father, and takes some phone calls with fans on Sway In The Morning. Hit-Boy was the first producer to ever bring his own beats to play for Sway, and... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mack Wilds Recruits Pusha T For A My Crib Remix Themed After A Famous Roc-A-Fella Moment In Time (Audio)

"Jigga flow, who better to jack it?" raps Pusha T on the "My Crib remix," which features a Salaam Remi-blend over Mack Wilds' original. Pusha T bookends the appearance with two short verses, channeling back (with the beat) to the glory days of Jay Z, Beanie Sigel, and Memphis Bleek... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Blood Orange Goes Back To The Future with You’re Not Good Enough (Video)

Grammy Award-winning artist Blood Orange has this seemingly effortless ability to transcend time with his latest visual effort, "You're Not Good Enough." Visuals that live and breathe in the air of the 80's cut between shots of the British singer in an all white suit performing with members of the... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mary J. Blige Links With Some Smooth Pharrell Production For A Jam About Missed Connections (Audio)

Everybody's had those missed connections. Since before the days of Craigslist, there have been those fatalistic encounters with others that pass all too quickly, without contact information exchanged. For the Think Like A Man Too Soundtrack, Mary J. Blige and Pharrell Williams recount experiences in a song called "See That... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Emilio Rojas Shows A Strong Confidence On A ShowOff Freestyle (Video)

Although he deems it "light work," Rochester, New York's Emilio Rojas' stunts on a ShowOff Radio freestyle alongside collaborator, Statik Selektah. Combining his challenging upbringing with some bravado surrounding women and skills, one of Hip-Hop's most championed unsigned artists continues his recent run of strong material. Related: Emilio Rojas –... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Buckshot & P-Money Have “Just Begun” With Raz Fresco (Audio)

Buckshot and P-Money, who recently released a video with Pro Era's CJ Fly and Joey Bada$$ for their upcoming project, BackPack Travels, continues the trend of working with up and coming Hip-Hop youth with 19 year old Toronto producer and MC Raz Fresco on the cut, "Just Begun." Smooth vocal... Read more

June 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Marsha Ambrosius Spreads Hope In The Poweful Visual To Run (Video)

Floetry alum Marsha Ambrosious remains super versatile. The singer who's been close to the productions from both Dr. Dre and DJ Hi-Tek over the years is an R&B purist at heart. With tinges of Pop, Marsha makes an inspirational song about escaping the confines in life for true spiritual freedom.... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Childish Gambino Reveals That He’s Making An EP With Chance The Rapper

Following 2013's "Worst Guys" video single, Childish Gambino took to Twitter in the last six hours (June 8) to reveal that he and Chance The Rapper's collaborative discography is far from over. The two stars of recent-Rap are reportedly at work on an EP together. Details are sparse, but is... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh

Tyler the Creator is Not a Rapper. He’s an Artist…Here’s Why (Video)

Tyler the Creator recently appeared on Larry King Now and gave one of his most compelling interviews to date. He spoke about the importance of authenticity to him, defusing the power of derogatory words, his desire to be known as an artist of many talents (rather than just a rapper),... Read more

June 8, 2014 Video

Sir Mix-A-Lot Brings Booty Bass To Classical, As He Performs Baby Got Back With An Orchestra (Video)

Applaud Seattle Hip-Hop pioneer Sir Mix-A-Lot. For 30 years, the MC/DJ/radio personality and producer has been making a unique brand of Rap music, helping co-pioneer Booty Bass (with the L.A. faction of 2 Live Crew) just about as far from Miami as an American can get. Although S.M.A.'s hits go... Read more

June 8, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

This Week Brought a Mind-Blowing Freestyle from Lupe Fiasco, Deep Knowledge From Ab-Soul & More (Video)

This week, Lupe Fiasco delivered a freestyle that put him in Sway's top 10 of ALL-TIME. Ab-Soul decoded his Stigmata verse using strictly Jay Z lyrics. Pharoahe Monch flexed his surprisingly strong singing skills. M.O.P. blew out Summer Jam with The Roots. A$AP Mob rocked an off the dome cypher.... Read more

June 7, 2014 Featured-homepage, Playlists, Video

Imagine Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Bill Bellamy & Marlon Wayans on 1 Stage. Or Just Read About It…

Dave Chappelle is returning to Radio City Music Hall later this month for an 8-night run with several guests, including Erykah Badu, The Roots, DJ Premier, Janelle Monae and more. As part of his prep, he assembled a dream team of comedy for 1 night only in February that included... Read more

June 7, 2014 Fresh

People Under The Stairs Release A Mix Of Rarities For Their 12 Step Album (Mixtape)

DJ Day's limited edition 12 Step Program mixtape was released to 100 physical copies at People Under The Stairs' recent shows. Now, P.U.T.S. liberates the mix to the web. Featuring some rarities and new material, this mix promotes the just-released 12 Step Program album (of the same name). The veteran... Read more

June 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Murs & Mayday Release Yet Another Subversive Video. Here it is…(Video)

Murs & Mayday have been putting out some of the most challenging music and videos of the year. Thus far, each video has addressed a prison theme...of sorts. In "Tabletops," they staged a prison break and "Serge's Song" took a stand against the U.S. prison system. "Here," their latest, deals... Read more

June 6, 2014 Video

Here is an Incredibly Candid Previously Unreleased Conversation Between 2Pac & Sanyika Shakur (Audio)

This is a an amazing find. Here's a previously unreleased 20 minute conversation between Tupac and Sanyika Shakur (pka Monster Kody). They speak about the perils of prison life, the Hughes brothers, Yummy Sandifer, signing to Death Row, his rape case, Pac's desire to help the community and more. This... Read more

June 6, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Throwback

Disclosure Puts a House Spin on Pharrell & Jay Z’s Frontin and It’s a Stone Cold Groove (Audio)

Though 2014 witnessed the death of Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House, the year has produced quite the resurgence in the Chicago-born form of soulful dance music. There have been some stellar releases, including Vic Mensa's Down on My Luck, and now Disclosure return with a deep remix of Pharrell... Read more

June 6, 2014 Audio