News ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Classic Albums That Still Influence Today’s Artists

Some albums don’t just make noise; they shape generations. From Nas’ Illmatic to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to Madvillain’s LP, the most timeless Hip-Hop records continue to echo through today’s music. Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, Vince Staples, and The Roots' Black Thought are just a few of the many artists... Read more

June 2, 2025 Fresh

Redman Details The 10+ Year Journey Of Making Muddy Waters Too

In the last week of 2024, Redman released Muddy Waters Too. The 32-track collection arrives after nearly 15 years of development. That behind-the-scenes process is something Redman spoke candidly about with Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast in his first interview since releasing the album. Reggie Noble shared some... Read more

January 11, 2025 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Ambrosia For Heads’ 15 Best Rap Albums Of 2024

2024 witnessed some great music. There were some excellent albums throughout the year, but these are the 15 Rap albums that AFH considers the best. This crop includes collaborations between revered MCs and producers, surprise mixtapes, and lofty concept albums. In some cases, veteran artists became more personal and vulnerable.... Read more

December 14, 2024 Best Rap Albums Of 2024, Trending Stories

Kendrick Lamar Claims Drake Has More Secret Children

Less than a full day after Kendrick Lamar released "6:16 in LA," Drake has responded to it, and “euphoria,” which arrived Tuesday (April 30). Drake's third jab at Kendrick comes after April's "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made"—which was removed from digital streaming platforms and online accounts after threat of legal... Read more

May 4, 2024 News, Trending Stories, Video

Kendrick Lamar’s Drake Diss Title Has 5 Different Meanings

This morning (May 3), Kendrick Lamar dissed Drake with the second song in less than a week. Following Tuesday's "euphoria," Friday morning's "6:16 in LA" arrived around the time-stamp. The title borrowed from Drake's longstanding series, which he has used in the past during his battles and beefs with Joe... Read more

May 3, 2024 Audio, Food for Thought, Trending Stories

Kendrick Lamar Goes Back To Back With Another Drake Diss

In early April, it was Drake who released back-to-back diss songs at Kendrick Lamar. These were responses to a boastful feature verse on Future & Metro Boomin's "LIKE THAT," where Kendrick asserted himself as the king, refuting "The Big 3" notion of himself, J. Cole, and Drake. The first of... Read more

May 3, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Kendrick Lamar Disses Drake For 6 Straight Minutes

UPDATE: Hours after Kendrick released "euphoria," some additional context about the song has been developed and speculated. The song has released to digital streaming platforms as an Interscope Records single (and added to the top of the Ambrosia For Heads playlist, embedded below). No producer has yet been credited. Its... Read more

April 30, 2024 Audio, News, Trending Stories

J-Live Details Making A Pete Rock-Produced Gem From The Best Part

In 2001, J-Live released his debut album, The Best Part. The LP, originally intended for release at Payday/London Records, was among a group of projects halted after the label experienced a merger and distribution. "We ended up having to redo a lot of stuff. They used to call it 'The... Read more

April 28, 2024 Exclusive, Throwback, Trending Stories

Nas’ New Song With DJ Premier Shows Time Is Illmatic

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Nas' Illmatic. In April of 1994, Nas debuted with a panel of legendary producers to deliver a debut album that Ambrosia For Heads readers determined to be the "Greatest Hip-Hop Album Of All-Time" through a poll in April of 2016. Thirty years later, Nas... Read more

April 19, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Rick Ross Is The First To Fire Back At Drake

UPDATE: On Sunday (April 14), Drake responded with a screenshot of a text exchange with his mother, Sandi Graham. The exchange was added to Drake's Instagram stories: “I can’t believe you would get [a nose-job] without me, cuz you know I always wanted one,” Drake’s mom texted him. In response,... Read more

April 14, 2024 Audio, News, Trending Stories

Drake Disses Kendrick Lamar & Makes It Personal

Over a day after the Hip-Hop world anticipated Drake's response to Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, and others, the OVO superstar has seemingly delivered. Although Drake has yet to claim ownership of a verbal attack that leaked online Saturday (April 13), sources close to the entertainer claims its authenticity as... Read more

April 13, 2024 Audio, News, Trending Stories

Rico Wade Of Organized Noize Has Passed Away

Rico Wade, a co-creator of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, has passed away. Killer Mike, a member of D.F. and somebody who worked with Rico as recently as last year's Grammy-winning MICHAEL album, confirmed the news online. "I don't have the words to express my deep and profound sense... Read more

April 13, 2024 News

Legendary DJ Mister Cee Has Passed Away

Legendary DJ, radio personality, and Hip-Hop producer Mister Cee has reportedly died. The Brooklyn, New Yorker born Calvin LeBrun was instrumental to the careers of The Notorious B.I.G. and Big Daddy Kane during a career that lasted over 35 years. He was believed to be 57 years old at the... Read more

April 10, 2024 News, Trending Stories

J. Cole Has Released A Record Dissing Kendrick Lamar

Two weeks ago, Kendrick Lamar used a feature verse on Future & Metro Boomin's album to leave no questions about a Rap rivalry with peers J. Cole and Drake. While K-Dot has collaborated with both Drake and Cole (and competed with both in not-so-subtle lyrics more than a decade ago),... Read more

April 5, 2024 Audio, News, Trending Stories

Spice 1 Has Released 1 Of His Best Songs In Years

Spice 1 has sustained a prominent Rap career for over 35 years. The Hayward, California MC who debuted with The Dangerous Crew during the late 1980s has made three gold albums, along with key collaborations with Tupac Shakur, MC Eiht, Method Man, and others. However, in 2024, Spice shows his... Read more

April 3, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

DJ Premier Recruits Snoop Dogg For His Latest Song

Snoop Dogg and DJ Premier have been working together for over a quarter-century. Both artists are cemented leaders in distinct sounds within Rap, but they collaborate well. The two first came together on Jermaine Dupri's debut album for "Protectors Of The 1472" (alongside Warren G and R.O.C.). In 2002, Preemo... Read more

March 30, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Ras Kass, Method Man, Lil Fame & RJ Payne Roll On MCs

Ras Kass knows a thing about super-groups. The Southern California veteran MC co-founded HRSMN with Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Canibus 25 years ago. He also linked with Xzibit and Saafir for several memorable songs, amid onetime reports of an album in the works. In 2024, Razzy Kazzy has teamed Philly-by-way-of-Brooklyn... Read more

March 29, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Kendrick Lamar Re-Gains Control By Dissing Drake & J. Cole

This morning, Kendrick Lamar broke his musical silence for 2024, and he did so in a major way. The Compton, California superstar appears on Future & Metro Boomin's WE DON'T TRUST YOU album. The tracklist, which does not include guests, finds K-Dot confronting his biggest peers on the song "Like... Read more

March 22, 2024 Audio, Fresh, News, Trending Stories

Redman’s New Verse Reminds He’s A Top Storyteller

Despite going over eight years without a new album, Redman stays incredibly active. During 2023, the Def Squad MC showered fans with a series of great video freestyles to top-notch beats. He also paid a Def Jam Records homage to a Slick Rick catalog classic and put in work with... Read more

March 7, 2024 Audio

Jam Master Jay’s Killers Have Been Convicted

In a breaking story, this afternoon (February 27), a Brooklyn, New York jury has convicted two men for the murder of Hip-Hop legend Jam Master Jay (aka Jason Mizell). Karl Jordan, Jr. and Ronald Washington are the two men the court deemed responsible for the murder of the Run-D.M.C. co-founder... Read more

February 27, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Slum Village Discuss Their First Album In Nearly A Decade

During the 2010s, Hip-Hop fans speculated what the future held for Slum Village. At the top of the decade, the Detroit, Michigan crew released a special album in Villa Manifesto—a collection of songs that featured kaleidoscopic contributions from the six artists who had claimed the group since its early 1990s... Read more

February 24, 2024 Exclusive, News, Trending Stories

J. Cole’s New Song Is A Teaser For The Fall Off

J. Cole is a master of the sneak attack. As Hip-Hop releases in 2024 are quietly ramping up in March, Cole raised the stakes with a 10-minute video promoting The Fall Off. Cole's long-anticipated album that he first unveiled with the 2018 release of KOD is approaching fast. "Might Delete... Read more

February 21, 2024 Trending Stories, Video

Mick Jenkins, IDK & Saba Host A Leaders Of The Now School Cypher

Three artists who all made their start during the 2010s are manifesting their greatness. Last year, Mick Jenkins' latest album, The Patience and IDK's most recent, F65, were each named among Ambrosia For Heads' best LPs of 2023. Chicago, Illinois' Saba is no stranger to that list, especially after 2018's... Read more

February 21, 2024 Trending Stories, Video

Griselda Has Made A G-Funk Mixtape Inspired By The Chronic

In the late 1980s, Dr. Dre and N.W.A. led a movement that put Compton, California on the map for Rap fans. Dre and his crew described a place with vivid detail—from its hard-nosed reputation to the perils of life in the street. That movement ultimately propped the door for artists... Read more

February 20, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Kevin Durant Is Ice Cold On The Mic Like He Is On The Court

Kevin Durant is an NBA MVP who does more than just ball. The two-time champion and current Phoenix Suns forward has publicly shared his music before. In 2012, KD appeared on "Some Winners" alongside Taylor Gang artist Chevy Woods and Philly MC Privaledge. A dozen years later, he teams with... Read more

February 17, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Slum Village Shares New Details About Making Get Dis Money

A quarter-century ago, Slum Village was in the process of following up their Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) debut. That underground album became a calling card for a new sound coming out of Detroit, Michigan — and three artists bringing the change. T3, J Dilla, and Baatin were in the process of following up and... Read more

February 15, 2024 Exclusive, Throwback, Trending Stories

Erick Sermon Is Releasing A Dynamic Duos Album

This weekend, Erick Sermon released the first single of a long-anticipated album, Dynamic Duos. On Friday (February 9), E-Double released "Back 2 The Party." The song features a legendary duo, Salt-n-Pepa. Sermon orchestrates a song that is co-produced by his longtime Def Squad affiliate Rockwilder (with Erick). What's more, the... Read more

February 10, 2024 Fresh, News, Trending Stories

Killer Mike Was Taken Away In Handcuffs At The Grammys

UPDATE #2: Killer Mike has spoken about last night's situation for the first time. The Grammy-winning artist called into The Big Tigger Show. Although he did not elaborate, Mike said, “We hit a speed bump, and then we head back to the party." Based on that, it appears that the... Read more

February 5, 2024 News, Trending Stories, Video

Killer Mike Has Swept The Major Rap Grammy Awards

Today (February 4), the 66th Grammy Awards are currently taking place in Los Angeles, California. Winners in the four Rap/Hip-Hop music category winners were announced ahead of the 8pm EST show, which will be hosted by Trevor Noah. At the premiere event, Killer Mike won "Best Rap Album" for his... Read more

February 4, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Benzino Accuses Eminem Of Doing Shady Business On A Diss Record

Eminem and Ray Benzino have been beefing for well over 20 years. In the first month of 2024, tensions have been back on the boiler after Em used an a la carte verse on a Lyrical Lemonade compilation to jab at the co-founder of Almighty RSO, Made Men, and former... Read more

January 31, 2024 Audio, News, Trending Stories

Yasiin Bey Clarifies His Drake Comments With A Strong Message

Earlier this month, a rare Yasiin Bey interview led to high-profile controversy. The MC/producer formerly known as Mos Def was asked his opinions on Drake during an interview with podcast host OMONDI for her The Cutting Room Floor. While the full episode lives behind a Patreon paywall, Yasiin's response to... Read more

January 29, 2024 News, Trending Stories, Video

Masta Ace & Coast Contra Unite On A Certified Banger

This weekend (January 26), Masta Ace & Marco Polo have released Richmond Hill. The longtime MC/producer battery's second album is a thematic sequel to 2018's A Breukelen Story. That concept LP, named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of that year, looked at Brooklyn, New York's history—including as a home... Read more

January 27, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Eminem Goes At Benzino’s Neck On A New Diss Record

During 2023, Eminem's primary target was a short-lived but high-profile exchange of diss records between legends — when he went at Grandmaster Melle Mel, and garnered a response. In 2024, it appears that for Em, it is back to business as usual: dissing Benzino in a feud that has lasted... Read more

January 26, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Locksmith Has Already Delivered The Freestyle Of The Year

Richmond, California's Locksmith is a decorated veteran MC who makes music with substance. He has made songs with Xzibit, KXNG Crooked, Ras Kass, Apathy, and others along the way. However, the East Bay lyricist is also known for being the source of incredible freestyles. Over the last decade and a... Read more

January 19, 2024 Trending Stories, Video

Drake Responds To Yasiin Bey Saying He Is Not Hip-Hop

In the first month of the new year, one of the biggest stories came from clips from a Yasiin Bey interview. The artist formerly known as Mos Def made a rare media appearance on The Cutting Room Floor podcast. While there, in footage published last week, the Brooklyn, New York native and Black... Read more

January 16, 2024 Fresh, Trending Stories

N.W.A. Will Receive The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

N.W.A. changed culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collective, launched by Eazy-E, included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, and helped bring the city of Compton, California to the mainstream entertainment lexicon. While superstar careers emerged out of the Gangsta Rap outfit,... Read more

January 5, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Kid Capri Was Fighting For His Life Last Year

As Hip-Hop celebrated its symbolic 50th birthday, one of its pioneers revealed he battled a life-threatening illness. Kid Capri, one of Hip-Hop's mixtape pioneers, legendary party-rockers, and celebrated personalities of the last 30 years, shared that he is now cancer-free. It was a fight that included multiple chemotherapy treatments that... Read more

January 3, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Rah Digga Celebrates Hip-Hop’s 50 Years On A Powerful Song

It is now 2024, which closes the book on a year-long campaign celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop. The August 11, 1973 birthday resonated throughout 2023, in the form of Grammy performances, incredible tribute songs (which also earned Grammy recognition), and a litany of concerts—including one at Yankee Stadium—just minutes from... Read more

January 1, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Black Thought Names 5 MCs Who Deserve More Props

In the last month, Black Thought published his memoir, The Upcycled Self. Appearing on the New York Times' "Best Sellers" list, the autobiography reveals aspects of Tariq Trotter's personal life, including suffering the losses of his father and mother, respectively. The Grammy Award-winning (and currently nominated) Roots MC examines his... Read more

December 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2023

As 2023 comes to its close, it is time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. For 2023, we present a tight list of 10—celebrating the best of the best in the Rap genre.... Read more

December 19, 2023 Best Rap Albums Of 2023, Trending Stories

Scarface Delivers One Of The Best Tiny Desk Performances Ever

Scarface is at an interesting point in his career. It has been over five years since the Houston Hip-Hop legend released an album (2017's Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files compilation). In that outage, Face has been quick to demonstrate his supreme Rap skills on songs with DJ Muggs, E-40, and... Read more

December 18, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Amp Fiddler, Detroit Legend & J Dilla Mentor, Has Passed Away

This morning (December 18), the music world has learned that Detroit, Michigan music pioneer Amp Fiddler has died at the age of 65. The artist, musician, and producer born Joseph Anthony Fiddler is known for his years as a member of both Parliament and Funkadelic, a collaborator of Prince, as... Read more

December 18, 2023 News, Trending Stories

KRS-One & Smif-n-Wessun Are Back With Some New Boom Bap

Thirty years ago, Da Beatminerz helped lead a charge with Black Moon's Enta Da Stage. The Nervous Records LP was produced by Evil Dee (also a Black Moon co-founder) and his brother Mr. Walt. The album help launch several movements—for the Boot Camp Clik, for underground/independent Hip-Hop, and for a... Read more

December 16, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

André 3000 Shares The Tough Love He Got From Prince

Last month, André 3000 released his first full-length project in over 17 years. The Blue Sun finds the legendary MC/producer focusing his passions on Jazz, with an album rooted in his flute playing—and no rapping and singing. Days after the Epic Records release, André sat down with fellow veteran producer... Read more

December 13, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Will Smith Tells Rakim He Copied Him On Summertime

One of Hip-Hop's longstanding curiosities surrounds DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's 1991 hit "Summertime." The Homebase single landed the West Philadelphia duo their second Grammy Award, but it also marked a shift in tempo, style, and flow for the Hip-Hop vets. For years, some have speculated that Rakim... Read more

December 12, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Black Thought, Benny & DZA Link For A Song That’s 3x Dope

In 2019, Benny The Butcher and Black Thought teamed for "Crowns For Kings," one of the hardest-hitting collaborations of the last five years. The Plugs I Met look was produced by Benny's mentor, DJ Shay, who has since passed away—and remains one of The Butcher's biggest songs. During the summer... Read more

December 9, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Masta Ace Releases A Song Filled With Positivity

In 2018, Masta Ace and Marco Polo released their first album as a unit. A Breukelen Story was a concept album—something the Brooklyn, New York MC has done for much his 35-year career. That LP was named by Ambrosia For Heads among the best of '18, and it featured Smif-n-Wessun,... Read more

December 2, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories, Video

AZ Reintroduces Himself With Amazing New Music

Today (December 1), Brooklyn, New York veteran MC AZ released a new album. However, unlike AZ's respected back-catalog, Truth Be Told marks his first album-long partnership with a producer. Diggin' In The Crates legend Buckwild has been working with S.O.S.A. since "Ho Happy Jacky" on Doe Or Die. The Bronx... Read more

December 1, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Diddy Steps Down As Revolt Chairman

This month, one of Hip-Hop's most influential and successful moguls is the center of multiple accusations from two women, including one of his artists and ex-girlfriends. In the wake of these allegations, including a recent eight-figure settlement, Sean "Diddy" Combs has stepped down as Chairman of Revolt. The decision comes... Read more

November 28, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Lupe Fiasco Raps Over André 3000’s Flute Music

Earlier this month, André 3000 released his first album in 17 years. New Blue Sun is not only noteworthy as a deviation from OutKast, but the LP also featured no rapping whatsoever. Instead, the Hip-Hop legend opted to play flute. In the days before releasing the Epic Records album, Dre... Read more

November 26, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories