Audio Archives

Bilal & Big K.R.I.T. Get Loose Over Some Retro Electro Funk (Audio)

Bilal has had an amazing renaissance over the last year. The Neo Soul singer burst onto the scene in 2001 with close ties to The Soulquarians, Dr. Dre and J. Dilla, delivering his critically-acclaimed 1st Born Second debut album. However, it would take nine years for him to release his... Read more

June 15, 2015 Audio

Method Man Releases His Next Single and It’s Oh So Serious (Audio)

Method Man is wasting no time. Less than 2 weeks after announcing he'll be releasing an album titled The Meth Lab on August 21, via Tommy Boy Entertainment, he's released his third song. After dropping the title track, followed up by "88 Coupes," the next bullet from his sonic chamber... Read more

June 13, 2015 Audio

Styles P Shows His Love for the West Coast on His Latest Freestyle (Audio)

In a game where MC's regularly stick their necks out to prove their talents to the rest of the competition, Hip-Hop can be an unforgiving, constant grind. Styles P is one of those MCs who has stood the test of time and continues to drop quality lyricism as a potent,... Read more

June 12, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Cormega & Roc Marciano Flex Rugged Flows With No Filter (Audio)

From Queensbridge to Hempstead, Cormega and Roc Marciano represent that old New York City. Both MCs have been able to stay fresh and innovative, while always tapping into the sounds and the maneuvers of the 1980s and 1990s. Their music has bravado, street-wise sensibility, and a slickness that's hard to... Read more

June 12, 2015 Audio

TiRon & Ayomari’s “The Great New Wonderful” Resonates As 30-Minute Film (Video / Album Stream)

One of the most quietly consistent emerging Hip-Hop artists of the last five years is TiRon & Ayomari. Whether together or apart, this Los Angeles, California pair makes far-reaching, dynamic music that speak to issues most people live through. Today (June 12) marks the release of T&A's fifth album, The... Read more

June 12, 2015 Audio, Video

Beanie Sigel & Jadakiss Are Way Past Beef. Now, They Bully Mics Together (Audio)

One of Rap's beefs that feels so distant it's hard to imagine it ever even existed is Roc-A-Fella and Ruff Ryders. Truly a byproduct of a rift between Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss, the two enforcers for Jay Z and DMX continued to throw spicy criticism of each other in subliminal... Read more

June 12, 2015 Audio

Method Man Gets 100% Real About His Album, The Media & Why He No Longer Curses on Songs (Interview)

We had the opportunity to speak at length with Method Man to discuss his forthcoming new album, The Meth Lab, and more. The veteran MC had a lot on his mind and did not hesitate to touch on several issues with candor and depth. In addition to talking about his... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Havoc Makes A Rumbling Beat Evoking Papoose & Troy Ave’s War Cries (Audio)

Every few years, Havoc switches it up on us. The Mobb Deep producer/MC's sound on the boards changed greatly from The Infamous to Infamy, and both ways, the M-O-B-B still had grime that wiped across the charts. Gearing up for Papoose's You Can't Stop Destiny (July 17), Hav' hits the... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

From Big Pun & Fat Joe’s Takeover To Miami Bass, The Latino Hip-Hop Legacy Is Examined (Audio)

The great Hip-Hop photographer and documentarian Joe Conzo, Jr. recently told Latino USA, "I'd go toe-to-toe with anybody that says Latinos weren't there in the beginning." Joe was dubbed as the photographer of "Hip-Hop's baby pictures" by The New York Times, which means he was there when it all started... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Slum Village’s YES! Completes The Circle With 9 J Dilla Productions (Album Stream)

One week early, Slum Village is sharing their eighth studio full-length, YES!. Founding S.V. member T3, along with trusted production confidant Young RJ (who came to the collective in the early 2000s with Black Milk as BR Gunna) made an album that follows the Villa's journey. Late co-founding member of... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Sheek Louch Takes a Mobb Deep Beat and Sets It On Fire (Audio)

As a collective, The LOX have had a lock on freestyles over the last couple of months. Styles P and Jadakiss kicked things off with their regular Friday drops but, as of late, Sheek Louch has been adding some real heat to the collection. In addition to taking on 90s... Read more

June 10, 2015 Audio

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Are In Vintage Form Over a Dusty Adrian Younge Track (Audio)

Ghostface Killah is hard at work on his third album in 12 months, fourth if his contributions on Wu-Tang Clan's A Better Tomorrow are counted. His latest project is the second installment of his acclaimed Twelve Reasons to Die series with artist and producer, Adrian Younge. Younge's reputation has grown... Read more

June 10, 2015 Audio

Are We Overdue For That Lil Fame Solo Album? Hear This Freestyle (Audio)

For nearly five years, there has been talk of M.O.P. pausing to do solo albums by Billy Danze and Lil Fame. The problem? The Brownsvillians simply love mashing out, together. After a series of albums, EPs, and even a joint effort between Fame and Termanology, the MC/producer also known as... Read more

June 8, 2015 Audio

Action Bronson & Joey Bada$$ Celebrate Success While Staying True (Audio)

It was just 30 months ago that Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$ appeared on A$AP Rocky's "1 Train," a unified front of a new, nostalgic New York City Rap crop. In 2015, a lot's changed, but a lot hasn't. All three MCs have 2015 albums, all garnering a lot of... Read more

June 8, 2015 Audio

From Acid Jazz to House, Hiatus Kaiyote & DJ Spinna Are Breathing Underwater (Audio)

Much like Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai before them, Australia's Hiatus Kaiyote bring a special brand of Acid Jazz and Soul to the table. Under the guidance of label chief Salaam Remi (The Fugees, Nas, Amy Winehouse, Miguel, Usher), the group is quickly becoming an intercontinental sensation. In March, they... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers Earns Every Instrumental, From Big Pun To LOX (Audio)

When you're constantly compared against your father, you have to make it count. Chris Rivers has massive shoes to fill as Big Pun's son. So when the Bronx, New York heir to the family microphone takes his dad's instrumental, it's a sign of confidence. In a quick strike, that's just... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

De La Soul & Slum Village Make Magic Together On A J Dilla Beat (Audio)

While Slum Village was never in the Native Tongues crew, they most certainly were an extension of it. More than 600 miles from New York City, Detroit, Michigan's breakthrough Hip-Hop crew made soulful, sample-savvy music combined with lyrics about buggin' out, keepin' the faith, and strobe light honeys. In the... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Villains Unite As MF DOOM & CZARFACE Wreak Havoc On A Beat (Audio)

Two of Hip-Hop's comic-inspired bad boys are MF DOOM and CZARFACE. To be clear, CZARFACE is in fact a trio of Esoteric, Inspectah Deck, and DJ 7L, who together form a force that would love to shoot a fair one with Voltron. From the Bronx-to-Boston crew's sophomore album, Every Hero... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Styles P’s Fierce Flow & J Dilla’s Soultastic Beat Make A Musical Marriage (Audio)

In life, Styles P and J Dilla never got to work together. Presumably, the men respected each others' work. Both artists enjoyed big trucks, all-natural mind elevation, and making that knock amidst music that makes you feel weightless. In his weekly series, S.P. The Ghost has been going for some... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Troy Ave May Be Without A Deal, But His LP Feels Major (Album Stream)

For several calendars, Brooklyn, New York's Troy Ave has been steadily climbing the rungs, garnering a considerable amount of buzz. With more than a dozen mixtapes under his belt, the outspoken rapper has been putting in some serious work, work that has been noticed by some of Hip-Hop's biggest names. His... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Troy Ave, Jadakiss & Fabolous Talk Like Bosses Over A Catchy Loop (Audio)

Troy Ave's presentation is an extension of the New York City Rap he personally misses. The late '90s-early 2000s reign returns to Troy's ambitious records, mirrored greatly in the image, technique, and subject matter of MCs like 50 Cent, Fabolous, and Jadakiss. Having worked with all aforementioned rappers, Fab' and... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

DJ QBert Massacres A Stack Of ’60s & ’70s Rare Groove Breaks (Mix)

DJ QBert is still on one. The longtime title-winning DJ follows up his April Hard Boiled Scrambled mix with a part two (joined by "DJ Rockit Rooster"). The Invizibl Skratch Piklz co-founder stays in the Rare Groove format, but seems to step a bit more into the '70s/formative Hip-Hop sound.... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Method Man Releases His Second Song in a Week. Summertime is Heating Up (Audio)

Earlier this week, Method Man announced a release date for The Meth Lab, his first solo album in 9 years. Using an animated trailer that spoofed the series Breaking Bad to reveal the news, Meth quickly followed up the video with the release of the LP's title track. Now, he's... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio

One Week Later, Ea$y Money Is Still The Motive (Audio)

Bars come easy for Ea$y Money as the Show Off recording artist unloads a brand new single just one week removed from the release of his album, The Motive Of Nearly Everybody, Yo. The aptly-titled "One Week Later" conjures a looming Boom-Bap production from Billy Loman, allowing the Haverhill MC... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Rapper Big Pooh Shows 1 of the Scariest Things in Life for Black Men…Being Pulled Over By the Police (Video)

For decades, Hip-Hop has played a pivotal role as a voice for the people and especially so during tough, critical moments in United States history. Most recently, that role has come to the forefront due to consistent acts of police brutality and violence against, most specifically, young black men. That... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Organized Noize Define “Soul,” Recall Moving From Sampling To Instrumentation (Audio)

In the same week that host Frannie Kelley interviewed her co-host Ali Shaheed Muhammad, NPR Microphone Check sat down with Atlanta, Georgia production trio Organized Noize. Interviewed before a live New York City audience, the moment included appearances from Big Rube, Big Boi, and other members of the Dungeon Family.... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio

This 2015 Cover Of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit Will Give You Chills (Audio)

Billie Holiday's 1939 song "Strange Fruit" is the epitome of captivating. A poem penned two years prior by educator Abel Meeropol (as "Lewis Allan"), the song symbolizes and mourns the lynchings of Black people. In 1999, Time magazine would proclaim Holiday's version "the song of the century." Artistically, it is... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio

Dizzy Wright Goes Above The Clouds With Demrick & DJ Hoppa (Audio)

Currently on the road for his Growing Process Tour, Dizzy Wright is steadily accumulating a national following, thanks complex artistry such as his new album. The tour is simultaneously promoting Wright's latest album and the work of Demrick and DJ Hoppa, an MC/producer duo with ties to Wright's past work.... Read more

June 3, 2015 Audio

Odd Future’s The Internet Bring a New Form of Soul for a Special Affair (Audio)

The Odd Future collective is as diverse as any in music. On one side of the spectrum, there are MCs like Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt who've brought a new brand of rebellion and nihilism to Hip-Hop. On the other side, there are the soothing and soulful sounds of... Read more

June 3, 2015 Audio

Eminem Returns With a Phenomenal Song About Never Giving Up (Audio)

As he's done on a plethora of films—including his own, Eminem has been tasked with the soundtrack centerpiece to Antoine Fuqua's Southpaw. The newly-appointed GOAT MC (within nine months of Ambrosia For Heads' readership, anyway) goes 12 rounds, lyrically on "Phenomenal." Produced by DJ Khalil (Self Scientific), the song showcases Em's... Read more

June 2, 2015 Audio

Ali Shaheed Muhammad Details Native Tongues’ Split and Much More (Audio)

Ali Shaheed Muhammad is among the most high-profile artists-turned-music media host. The founding member of A Tribe Called Quest is part of NPR's Microphone Check. Along with Frannie Kelley, Ali asks the questions, drives the discussion, and presents the culture through national radio's far-reaching lens. In a strange turn of... Read more

June 2, 2015 Audio

Jay Rock Releases a Sequel to Money Trees. The TDE OG Is Back (Audio)

Before ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul or Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock paved the way for the Hip-Hop juggernaut that is now TDE. In fact, many first heard Kendrick on Rock's anthemic "Hood Gone Love It." Sadly, it's been four long years since Jay Rock's album Follow Me Home was released, and he... Read more

June 2, 2015 Audio

Beanie Sigel’s Latest Verse Since Surviving A Shooting Shows the Broad Street Bully is Back (Audio)

Just six months after a near-fatal shooting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Beanie Sigel is showing signs of a full recovery. Not only is Dwight Grant the man taking stages, reuniting with his mentor and group, and looking healthy, the "Broad Street Bully" persona is back to boot. Teaming with... Read more

June 2, 2015 Audio

And Just Like That…Method Man Releases His New Single (Audio)

Earlier today, Method Man released an animated trailer for what will be his first solo album in 9 years. Titled The Meth Lab, the LP is slated to hit stores on August 21. Reports accompanying the trailer announced Meth would release his first single, the title track, tomorrow (6/2), but... Read more

June 1, 2015 Audio

3,2,1…Lupe Fiasco & Consequence Start The Countdown (Audio)

With over 25 years combined in Hip-Hop, artists like Lupe Fiasco and Consequence are still out to make music that counts in 2015. This year alone has already graced Heads with Lupe's Windy City inspired album, Tetsuo & Youth, while the Queens-bred Consequence is still prepping the drop of his... Read more

June 1, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Even a Kid in the Hall Knows Naledge is Power (Album Stream)

In 2006, Kidz in the Hall took the underground Hip-Hop circuit by storm with their album School Was My Hustle. As one of the last albums released on Rawkus Records, the LP had all the characteristics associated with the iconic label--thoughtful lyrics, complex beats and a vibe that harkened back... Read more

June 1, 2015 Audio

DJ Premier & Jakk Frost Re-Team for Some Throwback Gangsta Rap (Audio)

Jakk Frost is one of many MCs that are currently crafting something big with DJ Premier. The West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania veteran showed something fresh in "Dope Boy Talk." Rooted in the tradition of Schoolly D (who is referenced lyrically and sonically in the song), this is Gangsta Rap that's anything... Read more

June 1, 2015 Audio

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of May 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

The month of May in Hip-Hop brought the return of some MCs who had been gone for a while and a return to form for some who sought renewed inspiration. There were a slew of 90s freestyles, as well as some previously unreleased tracks that leaked from the vaults. Whatever... Read more

May 31, 2015 Audio

Royce Da 5’9″, O.C., REKS & Droog Make Some Revolutionary Boom Bap (Audio)

New Jersey veteran K-Def has remixed much of DJ EFN's Another Time album. This go-round, the onetime Marley Marl protege invites listeners to revisit "Revolutionary Ride Music," which features verses from Your Old Droog, Royce Da 5'9", REKS, and O.C. In his remix, The Garden State producer takes a more somber... Read more

May 31, 2015 Audio

After 20 Years Strong, M.O.P. Are Still Putting It Down (Audio)

M.O.P. are more than 20 years deep in a triumphant career. Always presented as underdogs, Lil Fame and Billy Danze have respected the jux since beginning. The Brownsville, Brooklyn duo snatched the spotlight with songs about snatching chains. Teaming with the United Kingdom's Dr. G, Mash Out Posse and GP100... Read more

May 30, 2015 Audio

Dom Kennedy Releases a True Hip-Hop Love Song (Audio)

When's the last time you heard a Hip-Hop love song? Not a song about a conquest, but one with courtship and true complimentary words about the object of the artist's affection? Some come to mind, like The Roots' "Silent Treatment," dead.prez's "Mind Sex" and Common's "The Light." And, of course,... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

Chance the Rapper & Donnie Trumpet Release a Star-Studded Free Album (Stream & Download)

Chance The Rapper along with frequent collaborator/close friend Donnie Trumpet, have been selectively putting out music through their band, The Social Experiment for some time. In that span, listeners of the experimental Hip-Hop group have been waiting for a full body of work. Today, (May 29) Donnie Trumpet & The... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

Emilio Rojas Releases a Freestyle Packed With Knowledge and Unfiltered Social Commentary (Audio)

There have been a ton of 90s freestyles of late (perhaps too much), but none like this. Emilio Rojas has released a powerhouse social commentary over The Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks On Me." Just as Scarface did on the original, Rojas digs deep to speak candidly about issues most... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

Styles P’s Friday Freestyles Borrow Beats From Redman and Kendrick Lamar (Audio)

Styles P continues his Friday double feature freestyles. This week's installments find him taking on beats from a recent Kendrick Lamar release and a vintage Redman throwback. On "Ghost Night," he carries on the recent tradition of covering 90s classics, borrowing Redman's "Tonight's Da Night," from 1992's Whut? Thee Album.... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

Sheek Louch Celebrates His Favorite MCs and Schools Rappers Who Don’t Know Their History (Audio)

Even though he's a 20-year Hip-Hop veteran, Sheek Louch is not above paying homage to those who came before him. He's also tired of rappers, who don't know their history, jumping on 90s beats... On his latest release, Sheek takes a trip down "Memory Lane" celebrating the pioneers who influenced... Read more

May 29, 2015 Audio

DJ Premier Returned From Russia With A Joint That’s Universally Dope (Audio)

Last month, DJ Premier made a cool video of him navigating the streets of Moscow, Russia. While there, he crossed paths with St. Petersburg, Russia's BMB Spacekid. Holed up in the studio, Preemo, BMB, and Los Angeles, California funkateer Anderson Paak made "Til' It's Done." Pure collaboration, it's not even... Read more

May 28, 2015 Audio

Alchemist Reveals How Jadakiss, Ras Kass, Nas & Jay Z Tie Into One Hit (Audio)

With a new surprise instrumental album in stores (Israeli Salad), veteran bi-coastal producer Alchemist stays busy. The Gangrene/Step Brothers members is the debut guest on podcast, "A Waste Of Time," created by It's The Real's Eric and Jeff Rosenthal. The Beverly Hills, California native producer/DJ/MC discusses his love for food,... Read more

May 28, 2015 Audio

As Fabolous Snatches Throwbacks, Capone-N-Noreaga Resuscitate “Breathe” (Audio)

Fabolous and Jadakiss (as well as Papoose, Tony Yayo, and others) have been freestyling within the confines of 1990s New York Hip-Hop hit instrumentals (often recreating the original songs). All of those mentioned names were around in the decade, either making noise on a grand level, or getting their names... Read more

May 27, 2015 Audio

A$AP Rocky’s New Album is Full of Surprises…Including Mos Def (Audio)

A$AP Rocky's new album, AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, has been surprising on a number of levels. For starters, Rocky surprised fans with an early release of the LP, moving it from June 2 to May 26, after it was leaked. Beyond that, however, the project finds the A$AP Mob leader exploring several unexpected... Read more

May 27, 2015 Audio

Pete Rock Fires Up One Of His Finest Verses Of Late Alongside Canibus (Audio)

Pete Rock is ageless. For almost 25 years, the Mount Vernon, New Yorker has been a master at DJ'ing, production, and MC'ing. While many greats of that span can rest on their laurels and celebrate their past glory, the mighty P.R. has always innovated and pushed forward. In 2015, Pete... Read more

May 27, 2015 Audio