Fresh Archives

Does Marco Polo Have What it Takes to Make a Hot Beat from 3 Completely Random Records? (Video)

Marco Polo is on a pretty epic run this year, having released tracks with Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Lil Fame, Large Professor, Das EFX, The Artifacts, Organized Konfusion, King T, MC Eiht and more. His production skills were recently put to the test when he played Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette... Read more

November 7, 2013 Video

Madlib Drops A 55-Minute Live Free-Form Mix For Boiler Room (Audio)

Like his JayLib brother Dilla, one of Madlib's greatest attributes is his nonchalance. Like Afrika Bambaataa & DJ Jazzy Jay, 'Lib will play anything he feels like, from foreign breaks to Gospel to Children's music. He also has a deep penchant for album-cuts from Kurupt, Teflon, and Jadakiss. So when... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Vic Mensa & Eliza Doolittle Shape-Shift On YNSP (Video)

Without a deal, Vic Mensa damn sure gets it done. In the video to "YNSP," some ill post-production allows the MC to change shape and trail like some retro special EFX that looks super-tight in the visual to the INNANET TAPE joint. With the song talking about labels trying to... Read more

November 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Will C. Remixes The Beach Boys In This Trippy, Summertime-In-Autumn Adieu Or Die Mix (Audio)

Chances are, even if you live on Antarctica, you've heard The Beach Boys. The Wilson Brothers and crew are a landmark of early '60s Americana with themes are wood-sided '40 Ford wagons, surfing, going steady with your best girl, and fixing up old cars. However, like other '60s Pop acts... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Childish Gambino Gets Dreamy Up On Melrose (Audio)

Childish Gambino was never really in a box. However, whatever confines we placed his music in up until 2013 have been greatly challenged by moods and 'tudes met with warm audience response. "Melrose" is no exception, with dream, forlorn singing, that would get Heather Locklear or Courtney Thorne-Smith knockin' on... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Busta Rhymes Combines Cash Money With Native Tongues Alongside Q-Tip On Thank You (Audio)

Busta Rhymes' career is truly dynamic. Christened his name by Public Enemy's Chuck D; a Leader Of The New School tied to Native Tongues; an animated solo star; constant major label provider to J Dilla; onetime Dr. Dre affiliate; once signed Raekwon; forever tied to EPMD's DJ Scratch; mentor to... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)

Although "Rap City" has been largely defunct in the Slaughterhouse-era, the Shady Records super-group is a call-back to the latter years of BET's flagship Hip-Hop program. Individually, Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden, Crooked I were part of the Basement-era. Eminem was among Rap's biggest stars in the Big Tigger era... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

Take a Raw Behind the Scenes Look at Big K.R.I.T.’s Tour with Macklemore (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. recently commenced a nationwide tour with Macklemore. Here's an intimate behind the scenes look at some of K.R.I.T.'s experiences thus far on the journey. Related: Big K.R.I.T. Reflects on Life & Hip-Hop Through King Remembered in Time (Video)... Read more

November 6, 2013 Video

Fashawn Unveils The Ecology With The Evidence-Produced Single, The Beginning (Video)

Fresno's Fashawn has let four years slide between Boy Meets World and his studio sophomore album. After dabbling with many styles in between on mixtapes and joints with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Murs, and Alchemist, Fash comes home to start rolling out The Ecology. Taking its name from the... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West & Kendrick Lamar’s Yeezus Tour To Resume Later This Month

This just in from Def Jam Records and Kanye West's spokesperson: "Yesterday (October 30), on the road to Vancouver, a truck carrying The Yeezus Tour’s custom-made video truss and 60-foot circular LED screen was in an accident that damaged the gear beyond repair. This gear is central to the staging... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh

Marco Polo Orchestrates A Compton Thang With MC Eiht & King T With West Coast Love (Audio)

Canadian-born producer Marco Polo is known for working with New York City MC icons like Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, and Masta Ace. Throughout his career, the album partner with Torae and Ruste Juxx just has a sound that knocks with the feel of mid-'90s production that can make Heads... Read more

November 6, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Eminem Don’t Front When It Comes To Honoring Black Moon, Buckshot & Duck Down (Audio)

One of Rap's ultimate "what-if's" has always surrounded Eminem and Duck Down Records. The house that Buckshot and Dru Ha built made a play to sign the Detroit MC when he was kickin' around the NYC underground with Skam?, Thirstin Howl III, and Wordsworth. In the end, Eminem inked a... Read more

November 6, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Doughboyz Cashout, Pusha T, Jeezy and Big K.R.I.T. Go to Work on a Track That is Pure Heat (Audio)

Pusha T and Jeezy join Doughboyz Cashout on a killer track that also features Big K.R.I.T. on the hook. Check out Pure. Related: Pusha T Releases His Video Pain Featuring Future (Video)... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio

Snoop Dogg & Dam-Funk Got 7 Days Of Funk In The Jheri Curled Faden Away (Video)

Snoop Dogg makes Reggae. Snoop Dogg makes '80s-tinged R&B. Now, Snoop D-O-double-G makes Funk. Teaming with Stones Throw's Dam-Funk, the pair (as 7 Days Of Funk) channel the kind of music that pioneers like George Clinton and Bootsy (the inspiration for the Snoopzilla moniker) made and which eventually led to... Read more

November 5, 2013 Video

Def Jam’s Bill Adler Remembers Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures… 25 Years Later

You might know Bill Adler, and you might not. "Ill Badler," as his maroon Def Jam Records varsity jacket used to read, was the original (and the best) head of Publicity Def Jam ever had. Russell Simmons hired Bill, who would help acts like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, The... Read more

November 5, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

O.C. Time-Travels With Ray’s Cafe (Audio)

Diggin' In The Crates alum O.C. has a few styles and approaches. The MC who spent his youth in both Brooklyn and Queens may be best known for his "cap cocked" cockiness on Buckwild beats in a B-Boy stance. However, the longtime friend of Dame Dash and Jay-Z also has... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Raekwon Hops On A Marva Whitney Breakbeat To Say It’s My Thing (Audio)

From Erick and Parrish to Jiggaman, hopping on Marva Whitney's classic bassline to "It's My Thing" taps into a '70s sound that is as New York Hip-Hop as you can get. In just dabbling with some freestyles, Chef Raekwon is the latest. Throughout the last 20 years, there's something so... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Blu, MED & Mayer Hawthorne Link With Madlib For The Buzz (Audio)

Three Stones Throw Records artists (past and present) link with another staple of the Southern California independent scene (who was signed to a major label briefly). In more specific terms, MED and Mayer Hawthorne hop on a Madlib beat to be joined by Blu. "The Buzz" lives up its name,... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Mathematics Releases Double Video for “Shorty” & “Four Horsemen” With Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man & Cappadonna (Video)

Mathematics has released a double video for Shorty and Four Horsemen, two Wu bangers featuring Cappadonna & Masta Killa and Method Man & Inspectah Deck, respectively. Here's what Mathematics had to say about the videos: "This is a two-in-one video: "Shorty" featuring Cappadonna and Masta Kill (Wu-Tang Clan) set it... Read more

November 5, 2013 Video

Roc Marciano Recruits Some Heavy Hitters on The Pimpire Strikes Back (Mixtape)

Roc Marciano recruits some heavy hitters on his new mixtape The Pimpire Strikes Back. Marci is joined on the mic by Cormega, Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren and more. He also gets tracks from Madlib, Evidence, Lord Finesse, Alchemist and more. You can stream and download the mixtape below. Click here... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Mixes

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of October 2013 (Playlist)

Here's a look back at some of the Hip-Hop highlights from October. You'll hear new music from Eminem & Kendrick Lamar, Scarface, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, J. Cole, Dead Prez, Tha Dogg Pound, Common, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Large Professor, Childish Gambino, Rapsody, Crooked I, Jean Grae, Game and many, many more.... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

AFH: The Week in Video (11/03/13) (Video Playlist)

This week in video brought red hot freestyles from Vic Mensa, Young Buck, Lanatan and Lil Fame, as well as new music videos from Yancey Boys & Common (Prod. J Dilla), Stalley, Game and Crooked I, a celebration of G.U.R.U., and Kool G Rap discussing his Top 10 MCs. Click... Read more

November 5, 2013 Playlists, Video

Eminem Unloads Groundhog Day The Same Weekend He Performs Rap God (Video)

In less than 24 hours, one of the biggest Rap release dates of 2013 takes place care of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2 (aka #MMLP2). The follow-up to Em's 2000 classic includes a revived sound and style in the lyrics, with production inspired by the sample-heavy Rock/Rap synergy of the... Read more

November 4, 2013 Audio, Fresh, Video

Pharrell Revisits Working with Jay Z on The Black Album (Video)

10 years after working with Jay Z on The Black Album, Pharrell Williams discussed the process and what it meant to him with Life & Rhymes. Skateboard P discusses Jay with the utmost humility and labels him an artist's artist. He speak from the perspective of a true fan. Here's... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

TDE and A$AP Mob Squash All the Rumors in an Interview with The Breakfast Club (Video)

Making it crystal clear that there's no beef between their crews (nor with Drake), Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Jay Rock, A$AP Ferg and Schoolboy Q conducted a joint interview where they addressed all the speculation point blank. They also discussed upcoming projects from Q and Ab-Soul, Ferg's album and the... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

Audio Push Revisit J Dilla’s So Far to Go (Audio)

Audio Push pay homage to J Dilla and drop a verse on his So Far to Go track (originally featuring Common and D'Angelo). Their laid back vocal styles blend nicely with the meditative Dilla production. Check it out below. Related: Common Shines on Another Incredible J. Dilla Beat with Yancey... Read more

November 4, 2013 Audio

Serial Killers (B-Real, Demrick & Xzibit) Start a Riot with Wanted (Video)

Serial Killers (B-Real, Demrick and Xzibit) release the video for Wanted. The visuals depict a riot scene that closely matches the lyrical molotov cocktails being tossed by the MCs. Check it out below. Related: B-Real, Demrick & Xzibit - Serial Killers (Mixtape)... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

Kool G Rap Discusses Nas, Big Pun and His Top 10 MCs (Video)

When one of the most highly-regarded MCs of all-time discusses his top 10 MCs, the world listens. Kool G. Rap sat down on the Juan Epstein Show and discussed his first meetings with Nas and Big Pun, as well as his top 10 MCs of all time. Surprisingly, Biggie and... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video

Logic Takes on the Montreality Questions (Video)

Logic steadily has been establishing himself as one of the illest up and coming lyricists in Hip-Hop. He recently interviewed with Montreality and answered their typical thought-provoking questions--first job, first check, favorite cartoon character, etc. What followed is one of the most engaging Montreality interviews so far. Check it out... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video

Lil Fame Get’s Busy on a New Freestyle (Video)

What is it about Lil Fame's voice that makes you want to tear ish up every time he spits? The M.O.P. marksman has released a video for a short (but not sweet) freestyle on a hard-hitting DJ Ronin track. Check out Get Busy. Related: M.O.P.’s Billy Danze, Sean Price &... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video

Talib Kweli Says Follow Him Down the Wormhole in His Latest Single (Audio)

Talib Kweli takes rappers to task for kicking false knowledge in his latest single. Illuminati? Materialism? Corrupt government? All in Kweli's cross hairs. He says follow him down the Wormhole, if you want the real. Check it out. Related: Talib Kweli, Marco Polo & DJ Premier Honor Guru (Video)... Read more

November 2, 2013 Throwback

Action Bronson Explains Why He Body Slammed The Fan Who Crashed the Stage (Video)

Action Bronson gave an extended interview to Splash! Mag where he explained why he infamously body slammed a fan who crashed the stage (context is everything), discusses his favorite wrestlers, talks about how he got his name, whether he is signed to TDE and more. Check out the video. Related:... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video

Fredro Starr Contemplates How Different the World Could Be on What If II (Audio)

Fredro Starr has released part 2 of his song What If, where he speculates on how different the world would be if certain things had happened differently ("What if the NRA changed all the gun laws and no one could by guns out of the gun stores?"). Take a listen... Read more

November 2, 2013 Audio

Eminem Unveils The Marshall Mathers LP 2 On iTunes (Album Stream)

In a strange year for Hip-Hop, Eminem's 8th studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 has had a cycle less than 10 weeks from its MTV Video Music Awards announcement. #MMLP2 as it could seemingly also be known pairs Em with Rick Rubin, a Rap production pioneer who shaped the... Read more

November 1, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Isaiah Rashad & SZA Celebrate Their TDE Tenures With Ronnie Drake (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment's newest artists Isaiah Rashad and SZA link for "Ronnie Drake." Related: ScHoolboy Q & Jay Rock Hop On Isaiah Rashad’s Shot You Down For The TDE Remix (Audio)... Read more

November 1, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Game Celebrates the Woman in His Life with a Flip of D’Angelo’s Lady (Video)

Game releases another video from his 2012 album Jesus Piece. All That (Lady) is built on D'Angelo's neosoul classic ode to the Lady in his life. Game, Big Sean and Lil Wayne all drop verses celebrating the lady in their lives. Check it out below. Related: Game & Nipsey Hussle... Read more

November 1, 2013 Video

M.O.P.’s Billy Danze, Sean Price & Maffew Ragazino Are From Brooklyn: Land Of The Crooks (Audio)

Brownsville, Brooklyn. Birthplace of Mike Tyson, and home to some of the grimiest antics in the five boroughs and some of the best rapping. M.O.P. co-founder Billy Danze and Heltah Skeltah/Random Axe's Sean Price are 1990s alumni, with that perfect mix of lyricism and nosebleed-inducing tough-guy Rap. Maffew Ragazino, Sr.... Read more

November 1, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Talib Kweli, Marco Polo & DJ Premier Honor Guru (Video)

Guru has been gone for three and a half years. However, the man also known as Baldhead Slick will never be forgotten. Marco Polo enlists Guru's Gang Starr partner DJ Premier, as well as late in life collaborator Talib Kweli for "G.U.R.U." This is heartfelt, and the latest tribute, following... Read more

November 1, 2013 Fresh, Video

Mac Miller Has 10 Examples Of Delusional Thomas (Mixtape)

After a relatively quiet year in mixtapes (save for Rapsody, Chance, and K.R.I.T.), this week has been downright monstrous. Fans of free Hip-Hop music rejoice. Following yesterday's Halloween onslaught, Mac Miller hits fans with Delusional Thomas. Always having fan with titles, the Rostrum Records MC/producer drops 10 songs (under the... Read more

November 1, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

Action Bronson Completes a Day of Mixtape Madness with the Release of Blue Chips 2 (Mixtape)

Action Bronson completes what may be the best Halloween ever for mixtapes by releasing his Blue Chips 2 sequel just before the stroke of midnight. The mixtape has guest verses from Ab-Soul, Mac Miller, Meyhem Lauren and more. You can stream and download Blue Chips 2 below. Click here to... Read more

October 31, 2013 Mixes

Mary J. Blige and Nas’ Rise Up Shepherd & Follow is the First R&B and Hip-Hop Christmas Collabo of the Season (Audio)

It's way too early for Christmas music, right? Not when it comes courtesy of Mary J. Blige and Nas...Nasir and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul have come together for an inspirational and soulful Christmas song that is more anthem than carol. Check out Rise Up Shepherd and Follow from the... Read more

October 31, 2013 Throwback

Lil Kim Gets Her Reggae On With Dead Gal Walking (Audio)

Lil Kim follows in the footsteps of Snoop Lion and gets her reggae on with her latest song. Dead Gal Walking is the first release from Kim's forthcoming Hardcore 2K13 mixtape. Take a listen below and let us know your thoughts. Related: DJ Doo Wop - Halloween Candy (Mixtape)... Read more

October 31, 2013 Audio

Lloyd Banks is Back With a Hot New Mixtape F.N.O. (Failure’s No Option) (Mixtape)

Hot off the presses is a brand new mixtape from Lloyd Banks. F.N.O. (Failure's No Option) has guest verses from Style P, Vado and Raekwon, Banks' steely flow and a gang of hot tracks. Stream and download the mixtape below. Download Mixtape Related: Lloyd Banks – V6: The Gift (Mixtape)... Read more

October 31, 2013 Mixes

Kool G Rap & Necro Pull Back The Hammers On Trigga 4 Hire (Audio)

Kool G Rap is often pigeonholed to the innovative lyricism of his Cold Chillin' years with DJ Polo. While those albums, singles, and individual verses cannot be overstated for their importance to the craft of Rap, sometimes the Queens, New Yorker is overlooked for his straight-up gangsterism. As G pointed... Read more

October 31, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Stalley Lights Up Paris With Gettin’ By (Video)

Few artists in 2013 can rival Ohio's Stalley in terms where they started the year, and here they ended up. After years of tapes and feature work, Honest Cowboy seemed to really cement Stalley's status as a star in the making. From that project, the video to "Gettin' By" really... Read more

October 31, 2013 Fresh, Video

Xzibit, B Real & Demrick Are Halloween Serial Killers (Mixtape)

Delegates from the Likwit Crew, Cypress Hill, and Tangled Thoughts link up for Serial Killers. The trio drops a self-titled mixtape featuring Hospin, Jon Connor, and Tha Eastsidaz' Goldie Locc. Ill Bill, Nottz, DJ Khalil, and (get this!) Sir Jinx as well as DJ Lethal provides beats. Click here to... Read more

October 31, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

Kendrick Lamar Joins Fredo Santana on Jealous (Audio)

Here's the 2nd featured appearance for Kendrick Lamar in 2 days. Fredo Santana releases his song Jealous, which features a trap beat and him and Kendrick Lamar lamenting the crab in a barrel mentality that accompanies success. Kendrick puts perspective on "rap beefs" by contrasting them with real life problems... Read more

October 31, 2013 Audio

Onyx Reminds Listeners That They Still Get Live, With A Hand From Statik Selektah (Audio)

Arguably, Onyx has not made a new studio album since 2003's Triggernometry. The Cold Case Files series balanced new recordings with old recordings in the digital format. However, Sticky Fingaz, Sonsee and Fredro Starr have all stayed busy in various forms. Now working on Cuzo the mad-face is back at... Read more

October 31, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Theophilus Martins Pops That Mid-Tempo With Balloons (Video)

Theophilus Martins is one of the breaking MCs that has displayed many styles in his burgeoning career. What's particularly interesting about Martins is that he lets his music do all the talking, with very little interview press or revelation on his own site. The approach to "Balloons" is especially catchy,... Read more

October 31, 2013 Fresh, Video

DJ Doo Wop Doesn’t Trick Us But Instead Gives Us Treats With Halloween Candy (Mixtape)

DJ Doo Wop is among the most influential 1990s mixtape-makers in the world. This Uptown representative made mixtapes a Rap commodity, and became one of the early mixmasters to work directly with artists and labels to secure exclusive content. "Da Bouncemaster" remains strong in 2013, after years working with Flip... Read more

October 31, 2013 Fresh, Mixes