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50 Cent & Snoop Are Making A Murder Was The Case Series

This year, 50 Cent found another television hit, thanks to BMF. Last month, Starz ordered a companion documentary series with 50 serving yet again as producer, as well as the second season of BMF. In that scripted series for Starz, there is a dramatic re-telling of one of the most powerful... Read more

Drake Dissed Kanye West Throughout Their Concert

“Drake don’t do a diss song where it’s an outright head-shot; he’s gonna set it up like war." - Kanye West Just weeks ago, Kanye West sat on Drink Champs and went into deep detail about his issues with Drake. The two-part interview was arguably the most significant conversation in... Read more

Dr. Dre Is Releasing New Music Next Week

"It's all about making that GTA," Eazy-E rapped on Gangsta Rap classic "Boyz-N-The Hood." Nearly 35 years later, that song's producer, Dr. Dre, proves the statement true. Dr. Dre has made and produced some of the most beloved albums in music. Now, he's dedicating himself to releasing songs through video... Read more

Travis Scott Speaks About The Astroworld Tragedy

Last month (November 5), Travis Scott's third annual Astroworld Festival ended in tragedy in Houston, Texas. Ten people died, and hundreds were injured on a day that was supposed to be about music. There have been legal actions against Scott, Live Nation, and other parties tied to the event in... Read more

Bizzy Bone Explains Why He Went After Three 6 Mafia

Last Thursday (December 2), Bone Thugs-n-Harmony squared off against Three 6 Mafia on Verzuz. Both crews in the battle used the widely publicized moment to remind viewers that this particular matchup was 26 years in the making. Moments in the performance certainly proved that point. After four rounds on Thursday,... Read more

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony & Three 6 Mafia Clash With Fight During Verzuz

Moments ago, tonight's (December 2) Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Verzuz Three 6 Mafia battle was abruptly halted for a period after an altercation took place between the two Midwest groups. After approximately three rounds of music, Bizzy Bone addressed his opponents. The on-again, off-again member told Juicy J, DJ Paul, Gangsta Boo,... Read more

Nas’ Directorial Debut Celebrates Video Music Box

Tomorrow (December 3), Nas will make his directorial debut with You're Watching Video Music Box. The Showtime documentary, produced by Mass Appeal, celebrates the show created by "Uncle" Ralph McDaniels that initially aired on New York City's WNYC-TV channel. A Queens native, McDaniels launched the show in 1983 and featured music... Read more

Kevin Hart Tastes Wine That Smells Like Shhh…

Kevin Hart has enjoyed a dynamic career, and his new seven-episode series True Story is among the comedian/actor's proudest works. As a guest on the new interview show Through The Grapevine, Hart explains why he feels strongly about the dramatic Netflix series which costars Wesley Snipes and Lauren London, and is set... Read more

Rap Snubs & Predictions For The 2022 Grammy Awards

Last week, the nominees for the 2022 Grammy Awards were announced, and plenty of people are talking about it. With the awards taking place on January 31, 2022, the eligibility period for the 64th award show ran from September 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. As Hip-Hop Heads know, there... Read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scarface Would Battle Ice Cube In A New Verzuz Format

An upcoming Verzuz has recently been announced between The Diplomats and The LOX. That matchup is scheduled for August 3, before a live audience at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Room. However, this week saw a discussion of another proposed battle between Scarface and Ice Cube. However, this one would go... Read more

Kurupt Details The Classic Death Row Songs That Began As Freestyles

For more than 20 years, core fans kept hope that the HRSMN might release an album. As one of Rap's earliest super-groups, the quartet composed of Kurupt, Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus hurdled label challenges, leaks, bootlegging, legal woes, and all that comes with four separate lives and careers.... Read more

JAY-Z’s Lawsuit Against Jonathan Mannion Could Change Photography Forever

Several weeks ago, JAY-Z celebrated 25 years since releasing his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Amid the fanfare is a lawsuit against the photographer for the artwork of the Roc-A-Fella Records LP. Jonathan Mannion was behind the lens for the black-and-white photograph of Shawn Carter in the tailored suit, scarf, and cigar.... Read more

Evidence Discusses Starting Over After Dilated Peoples (Video)

Last Friday (June 25), Evidence released his latest solo album, Unlearning, Vol. 1. The Rhymesayers Entertainment release featuring Conway The Machine, Alchemist, Boldy James, and others has already been met with applause, including Ambrosia For Heads' 10 Best Albums of 2021 (so far) list. Notably, Unlearning breaks from Ev's Weatherman series, dating back to his first solo album,... Read more

Griselda, Busta Rhymes & Method Man Perform A Tribute For DMX (Video)

Nearly three months after the unexpected passing of DMX, the music community continues to mourn Earl Simmons. That was clear with the tribute at the 2021 BET Awards. Broadcasting Sunday night (June 27), a handful of X's Rap peers honored the legend with a performance medley curated by Swizz Beatz.... Read more