Fresh Archives

Redman and Method Man Rock Paris (Full Concert Video)

You may have caught this concert before. If so, it's still great holiday viewing and, if not, get ready to be entertained by 2 Hip-Hop heavyweights leaving it all on the stage. The dynamic duo of Redman and Method Man made their way to Paris last year and rocked out... Read more

November 28, 2013 Throwback

Childish Gambino Sings on Most of Telegraph Ave. Strip Away the Drake Comparisons and You’re Still Left with a Dope Song (Audio)

We heard most of Childish Gambino's upcoming Because the Internet album a couple of weeks ago. It's a concept album that's details a day in the life of Childish Gambino/Donald Glover. It's dark and brooding, much like material from The Weeknd, Drake and even Mac Miller's latest. If you're a... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio

NahRight Looks At Snoop Dogg’s Best Doggystyle-Era Performances (Video)

The homies over at NahRight.com have a cool retrospective of the best early performances by Snoop Doggy Dogg. The videos are from 1994-1996, surrounding Snoop's groundbreaking quadruple platinum debut, Doggystyle. This was the day when an artist could work an album for nearly three years after its release, especially on... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Sean Price Has The Thanksgiving Spirit (Video)

Sean Price can make anything comical—from "expensive waters" to his wife and kids. Duck Down Music followed Sean P into a grocery store to show one half of Heltah Skeltah's holiday preparations. Unintentionally funny, Mic Tyson is forever a riot when it comes to Everyman things, told with that Brownsville... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Video

J. Dilla Brings Out the Best in Joey Bada$$ (and So Many Others). Here’s Joey’s Song Two Lips Which Features a Previously Unreleased Dilla Track (Audio)

After rocking on 2 Dilla cuts on his breakthrough mixtape 1999, Joey Bada$$ gets the privilege of flowing over a previously unreleased Dilla beat on his latest, and he steps up to the challenge. Check out Two Lips. Related: Joey Bada$$ Releases Hilary Swank, the Newest Video from Summer Knights... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio

Eminem is Clearly a Child of the 80’s with His Inclusion of Max Headroom, Rakim, N.W.A., Bill Clinton, JJ Fad, Heavy D and Many More References in the Video for Rap God. Seeing is Believing (Video)

Eminem's career fits in the qualifications of Pop Art. The Detroit, Michigan battle-rapper entered the mainstream through poking fun at multi-platinum peers in and out of Hip-Hop, and ascended into a true global icon. Years from now, people will understand what was on people's minds in 1999, 2000, or 2013... Read more

November 27, 2013 Video

Akrobatik Is Built To Last (Audio)

Akrobatik is a veteran Boston MC. With Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One in The Perceptionists, Akro is a onetime Ed O.G. protege who helped the burgeoning Boston movement in the late '90s/early 2000s. After over five years removed from Absolute Value (which featured production from J Dilla, Da Beatminerz,... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Suge Knight Weighs In On Dr. Dre’s Chronic Influencing Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die

Yesterday, we linked you to Rolling Stone's conversation with Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight. While the published interview focused on Tha Row's second release, Snoop Doggy Dogg's 1993 debut Doggystyle, which just turned 20 years old. The writer of the rare Knight interview, Paul "Gooch" Cantor, self-published the... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

In Time For Thanksgiving, Skeme Has Plenty To Be Thankful About (Audio)

One of 2013's breakout stars, Skeme, is gearing up for Ingleworld. Taking a page from Dom Kennedy, the Inglewood MC has a digital retail LP coming on December 17. The project has a bonus cut, "Thankful." At a time when so many artists speak about not enough, it's great to... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Did Charlamagne Tha God Trigger Kanye West’s Explosion on The Sway in the Morning Show? Here’s the Interview That May Have Set if Off (Video)

After Kanye West's eruption on The Sway in the Morning show, he said to Sway "Charlamagne wanted this so bad. He wanted me to turn up so bad. I wouldn't even look at him." Kanye was referring to an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy earlier,... Read more

November 27, 2013 Video

You May Have Heard the Audio of Kanye West Going Nuclear on Sway Earlier…Here’s the Full Video (Video)

Kanye West and Sway are friends. That's why it was all the more surprising that Kanye flipped so hard on Sway today during their interview. So how does an interview starting with Sway introducing Kanye as "the most important artist of this generation" get so heated? Check out the video... Read more

November 26, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

Suge Knight Speaks at Length on Doggystye and Death Row, Claiming Dr. Dre Did None of the Production. He Also Speaks About Snoop’s Murder Trial, the Impact of Death Row and More.

Suge Knight spoke at length with Rolling Stone about Doggystyle, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Tupac and Death Row Records in light of the 20th anniversary of Doggystyle. The Death Row captain is not short on words and definitely not afraid of stirring controversy. Below are a few excerpts from the article... Read more

November 26, 2013 Throwback

Grand Daddy I.U. Still Talks Slick In This P.I.M.P. Freestyle (Audio)

Cold Chillin' Records was the label home to the Juice Crew, and all the individual stars like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, early Masta Ace, Biz Markie, and Roxanne Shante. "Fly" Ty Williams' label was also home to GZA (as the Genius) and Grand Daddy I.U.... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Trae Tha Truth Holds Court with Several Hip-Hop All Stars on His I Am King Mixtape (Mixtape)

Since the days of Screwed Up Click, Trae Tha Truth has been a major player in the Houston scene. With ties to Rap-A-Lot Records, DJ Screw, Lupe Fiasco, Chamillionaire, T.I., and more, the Grand Hustle/Hustle Gang artist welcomes T.I., Diddy, Wiz Khalifa, Lu', B.o.B., Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Meek Mill and... Read more

November 26, 2013 Mixes

Kanye West Goes Ballistic on the Sway in the Morning Show & Sway Loses His Cool. This Felt Personal (Audio)

UPDATE: Here's the Full Video of the Interview I've resisted getting on the bandwagon of calling Kanye West's recent public statements about his frustrations with his inability to break into the fashion world as "rants" because I think the term is dismissive and makes it easier to ignore some of... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio

Like Parker Lewis, Elzhi Can’t Lose (Audio)

A teen TV reference for the Heads who remember those old days of FOX ("In Living Color" / "True Colors" back-to-back). Anyway, it was five years ago that then-Slum Village member Elzhi teamed with Black Milk to make a 2008 contender for A.O.T.Y. in The Preface. Now solo-dolo, Elz is fund-raising... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Asher Roth, Blended Babies & Chuck Inglish Make A Key Visual Companion For See The World (Video)

"See The World" was a trippy collaboration released two weeks ago by Blended Babies, Asher Roth, and The Cool Kids' Chuck Inglish. The record features that liquid wordplay that made Asher a breakout star (with The Cool Kids) in '07 and '08. However, B.B. hit with the '70s Psyche/Rock samples... Read more

November 26, 2013 Fresh, Video

Raekwon Makes A Nuevo Sounding Single With Melanie Fiona On Soundboy Kill It (Audio)

Raekwon, with his Wu-Tang Clan, was instrumental in making Loud Records an imprint destination for dope Hip-Hop throughout the 1990s. When Steve Rifkind sold the company to Sony Records, he launched SRC Records, under Universal. In addition to Akon, one of Rifkind's 2000s successes was songstress Melanie Fiona. Mel and... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip Bring Kanye West & Lil Wayne To Thank You Visual (Video)

One of the more exciting collaborations of the last month puts those pesky Young Money vs. G.O.O.D Music rumors to bed. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne join Q-Tip and Kanye West in this Disco-inspired cut that has all four artists doing what they do best. It's great how the beat... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Nas Talks Being in the Game for 20 Years, Turning 40, Why Hip-Hop is Still Dead, His NY State of Mind, the “N” Word and More (Video)

To quote AZ Tha Visualiza, this is rather unique. Nas, on his 40th birthday, has "Talk Stoop" with NBC host Cat Greenleaf. The two discuss the state of the art through Nas' 20 years in the game. Perhaps most interesting, Cat asks the father for advice on helping her own... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Snoop Dogg Refutes TDE & Death Row Records Comparisons (Video)

After GQ magazine's "Man Of The Year" Kendrick Lamar cover story, Top Dawg, founder of TDE, along with K.L. dismissed the reporting. In the article, the author compared Dawg to Marion "Suge" Knight. While TDE has connections to Tha Row care of Dr. Dre, and the late Flipside (of O.F.T.B.),... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Vic Mensa Talks Life, Death, Music, Save Money and More in His Most Candid Interview Yet. Get to Know On of Hip-Hop’s Most Talented MCs on the Rise (Video)

Vic Mensa is one of the most talented MCs to burst onto the music scene in a long time. Though not technically new to Hip-Hop, having been a member of the band Kids These Days for four-plus years, Vic's solo move earlier in 2013 has allowed him to showcase all... Read more

November 25, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

A Tribe Called Quest Reflects on Their Legacy After Their Last Show. Is This the Last Time We’ll See Them on Stage Together? (Video)

3 fourths of A Tribe Called Quest sat down with Revolt after their final run of performances to discuss the feeling they had at the show, as well as what their legacy has meant to Hip-Hop. Check out the video. Related: Phife Dawg Faces The Questions from OkayPlayer (Video)... Read more

November 25, 2013 Video

T-Boz & Chilli Invite Lil’ Mama To Perform With TLC As Left Eye For AMAs (Video)

From J. Cole video singles to a record-breaking VH1 biopic, it's been a big year for TLC. The former LaFace Records superstars are waving their flag. To close down last night's 2013 American Music Awards, T-Boz and Chilli celebrated a performance 20 years ago at the AMAs, and invited the... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bun B Discourages Young Artists From Accepting Remix Offers From Mainstream Rappers (Video)

Triple O.G. Bun B sat in for an interview with G-Unit Radio's DJ Whoo Kid on Shade 45. Bun, who's been a big brother MC to rappers ranging from A$AP Rocky and Big K.R.I.T. to Termanology and Vic Mensa tells the G-Unit DJ why artists should be cautious when a... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

N.O.R.E. Details Why Kanye West is Currently His Favorite Artist, His Relationship with Big Pun and Much More. This is a Must See for N.O.R.E. Fans (Video)

You have to love N.O.R.E.'s attention to detail. In his raps and in his interviews, LeFrak City's finest (since Akinyele) loves to tell you the brands, the colors, the sights, the sounds, and the smells. One of Hip-Hop's most personable and versatile figures, N.O. sits down with Montreality to talk... Read more

November 25, 2013 Video

Seth Rogen & James Franco Are Bound 2 Upset Kanye West In This Shot For Shot Parody (Video)

Since the days of "Freaks & Geeks," James Franco and Seth Rogen have been teaming up to make us laugh, while usually shining a little truth on the living condition. Only one of those things is true in this just-released video (which was already re-appropriated this morning after being pulled).... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Blu & MED Might Use Peroxide, But This Dam-Funk & Madlib Assisted Track Is Funky (Audio)

MED has churned out a lot of records in 2013. Between work with J. Rocc, Oh No, and others, the former Stones Throw Records artist has stayed busy and quite versatile. Blu knows that sort of schedule and strategy well. The two California natives link with a third, in Madlib,... Read more

November 25, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Childish Gambino & Problem’s New Single Lines Up With Sweatpants Season (Audio)

Childish Gambino's second studio album because the internet will be here with the new calendar page. Two weeks early, Donald Glover teams up with Compton's Problem for the tricked-out "Sweatpants." Coming from Camp, how do you look at Gambino's music now that he's seemingly way open to collaborations? Related: Childish... Read more

November 25, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Performs Swimming Pools / Poetic Justice Medley At 2013 AMAs (Video)

Kendrick Lamar had one of the most-talked up about performances last night (November 24) at the 2013 American Music Awards. TDE's "Man Of The Year" blessed televised audiences with two of his biggest hit singles of the last 12 months, "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and "Poetic Justice," sans Drake. Those who... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Phife Dawg Promises MUTTYmopPHosis LP, Names 3 Of His Favorite Diabetics (Video)

While A Tribe Called Quest was in New York City for Kanye West's Yeezus Tour, The Five-Foot Assassin Phife Dawg caught up with OkayPlayer to answers "The Questions." In turn, Phife discusses his regained love for making music on his sophomore solo LP, his favorite J Dilla productions, and his... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West Explains New Slaves & Possible Sequels In New Interview (Video)

In addition to a lot of talk about fashion and brand products, Kanye West, who calls himself a "Christian Revolutionary Visionary" fields questions from Philly's Power 99 on air staff about Cruel Winter, Watch The Throne 2, and more. Like KRS-One, a Kanye interview seems to be compelling, regardless of... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

The Nas and DJ Premier Collabo Album is Coming…DJ Premier Speaks on the Project (Video)

EME caught up with DJ Premier to discuss his much anticipated joint album with Nas. Primo spoke on that, as well as working on new material with Joey Bada$$, Macklemore, The Lady of Rage and more. Check out the video. Related: Talib Kweli, Marco Polo & DJ Premier Honor Guru... Read more

November 24, 2013 Video

This Week in Hip-Hop Video Featured Snoop, Jay Z, N.O.R.E., Young Buck & Game, Alchemist & Evidence, Large Professor, Kanye West, Pharrell and Lots More Dope Footage (Video Playlist)

This week was active in Hip-Hop video. So much so that you might have missed an incredible mini-documentary on Jay-Z's Black Album, N.O.R.E. talking about his first ever rap battle, new music from Large Professor, new videos from Snoop and Fat Joe and more. Click below to catch up on... Read more

November 23, 2013 Playlists, Video

Would You Believe Snoop Has Never Listened to Doggystyle Front to Back and Gz and Hustlas Was a Freestyle? Snoop Reveals that and More (Video)

Snoop's classic Doggystyle is (deservedly) getting a lot of love on its 20th anniversary. The big Boss Dogg, himself, sat down with MTV to discuss the album. During the interview, he had some surprising revelations about Gz and Hustlas, Murder Was the Case and the album, generally. Check out the... Read more

November 23, 2013 Video

TDE’s Isaiah Rashad Provides a Window Into His World with the Video for Ronnie Drake (Video)

Props to Isaiah Rashad. Unlike most new artists who join established crews and rely on the big homies to bring them up, so far he has been standing on his own 10 toes (with the exception of the incredible remix to Shot You Down featuring Jay Rock & Schoolboy Q).... Read more

November 23, 2013 Video

Fat Joe Explains His Pain (Video)

Before heading to the bing on tax evasion charges, Fat Joe released The Darkside III, and a few loose videos. The mixtape featured an ongoing collaborative catalog with DJ Premier, new work with Action Bronson, and this honest, autobiographical track, "Pain." Joe, like onetime nemeses Jay Z and 50 Cent,... Read more

November 23, 2013 Fresh, Video

Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Doggystyle & The Death Row Records Reign (Food For Thought)

Twenty years ago today, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row Records released Doggystyle. The four-times platinum debut LP by Dr. Dre's then-protege helped put Long Beach, California on the Hip-Hop map, it cemented the dominance and versatility of G-Funk, and despite a 1993 year with acclaimed albums by Wu-Tang Clan,... Read more

November 23, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Snoop Dogg Throws Down A Megamix Of All The Doggystyle Samples (Video)

Snoop Dogg has a few different monikers for his crafts. In 2008, as QDT, he quietly teamed with DJ Quik and Teddy Riley to produce a big chunk of Ego Trippin'. As a DJ, Snoop goes by DJ Snoopadelic. Always having fun, Doggy Dogg kicked off a celebration weekend of... Read more

November 22, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Smif N Wessun Return To Their Reggae Roots With Jahdan On Shots In The Dark (Audio)

From the days of Nervous and Weeded Records, Smif N Wessun helped usher in a mid-'90s fusion of Hip-Hop and Reggae/Dancehall that also included KRS-One, Prince Ital Joe, Mad Lion, Afu-Ra, Capleton, and The Fugees. Tek and General Steele keep it Brooklyn, but team with Jahdan for "Shots In The... Read more

November 22, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Daz Dillinger Goes Bacc 2 Tha Old School With Shalamar & Zapp (Mixtape)

Gearing up on a Doggystyle-inspired weekend, Daz Dillinger, who worked extensively on Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut, fired up some old school Funk on Bacc 2 Tha Old School. The co-founder of Tha Dogg Pound takes a page from Joell Ortiz' mixtape book from a few years ago, and gets his... Read more

November 22, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

Eminem Still Breathes Different Life Into Stan 13 Years Later (Video)

Eminem's had four #1 singles. 2000's "Stan" is not one of them. However, in a career that's paved in humorous pop culture mockery as well as inspirational records, "Stan" always showed another, even deeper side of Em. The concept record co-produced by Flavor Unit co-founder 45 King introduced American audiences... Read more

November 22, 2013 Fresh, Video

Snoop Doggy Dogg Releases a Mix of the Soulful Samples of Doggystyle (Audio)

Snoop Doggy Dogg's classic Doggystyle album turns 20 years old. As part of what is sure to be an extended celebration, Snoop has released a mix of the samples the fueled the album. Given that this was one of the most soulful and funky Hip-Hop albums of all time, you... Read more

November 22, 2013 Audio, Throwback

Eminem Talks Staying Close to His Roots and How He Sees Life After Rap with Zane Lowe (Video)

In the final installment of Eminem's interview with Zane Lowe, he discusses his love for Detroit, re-learning how to perform after getting sober and what he will do when he retires. Check out the video. Related: Marshall Mathers LP 2 Goes Platinum, Eminem Talks Love Game To Zane Lowe (Video)... Read more

November 21, 2013 Video

N.O.R.E. and REKS Speak Their Minds About the Hip-Hop Industry and the People Who Run it In Jesus Takes the Wheel. Check out Who Got Named (Video)

N.O.R.E. and REKS speak their minds on everything from lack of radio play to Kanye rants to the hype around Kendrick Lamar's Control verse and much more on Jesus Take the Wheel. It's more commentary and critique than shots (though there are a couple of shots as well--and they name... Read more

November 21, 2013 Video

Young Buck & Game Hit The Studio For The First Time In Almost 10 Years

Wow. In a year that's seen Snoop Dogg and Suge Knight photographed together, Jay Z and Dame Dash caught in a flick together, it now goes to the G-Unit camp, or former camp, together in the studio. In the falling out of Game from G-Unit in 2005, Buck was one... Read more

November 21, 2013 Throwback

Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes Announce Collaborative Mixtape

After over 20 years of collaborations on a litany of albums, features, remixes, and concerts, A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and Leaders Of The New School's Busta Rhymes are linking for a mixtape, The Abstract And The Dragon. The December 12 freebie joins Dres and Jarobi's Evitan album last year... Read more

November 21, 2013 Fresh

Marco Polo Teams With Gangrene & DJ Romes To Craft A Strange Brew (Audio)

Marco Polo's PA 2: The Director's Cut is available for purchase now on Soulspazm Records. The Canadian-born producer who has released LPs with Duck Down and Rawkus Records linked with King T, MC Eiht, Last Emperor, Lil Fame, and tons more for his follow-up to '07's Port Authority. One of... Read more

November 21, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Pharrell Has That Grocery Store Joy In Happy (Video)

Pharrell is having one of the best years ever. For one of his Despicable Me 2 soundtrack jams, Skateboard P has some Fairway fun, or some Acme amazement in this simple, but joyous visual. You can really catch the vibe in this pure display of Soul satisfaction. Even if you're... Read more

November 21, 2013 Fresh, Video

Q-Unique & Ill Bill Throw It Back With Listen To The Words (Video)

Brooklyn's Q-Unique and Ill Bill have a lot of career overlap. Both are MCs who also produce. Both hail from crews that were courted by major labels in the mid-1990s before finding homes in the indie circuit with The Arsonists and Non Phixion, respectively. Both men have had career booms... Read more

November 21, 2013 Fresh, Video