AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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Leave It To Ras Kass, Apollo Brown & Sean Price To Punch ‘Em With A Bonus Cut (Audio)

Two stellar lyrical alumni of 1996, Ras Kass and Sean Price come together yet again. Over another string-heavy Apollo Brown track, Ras and Ruck link up for "Impossible Dream." Hardcore as you might expect, the breakaway from the Blasphemy sessions was unearthed, and finds cross-coastal MCs demolishing a beat from... Read more

Tragedy Khadafi Is Still Running Strong (Audio Exclusive)

In less than one month, Queens, New York MC veteran Tragedy Khadafi is releasing his latest album, Pre-Magnum OpusĀ (December 16). In his 25-plus-year career, Tragedy (p/k/a The Intelligent Hoodlum) has garnered strong acclaim, both as a major label artist in the early 1990s, as well as during his extensive independent... Read more

Time Travel Back To 1990 In This Live Recording Of Kid Capri Rockin’ A NYC Party (Audio)

As Ambrosia For Heads looks to our readers to determine the GOAT MC, it's indisputable that Kid Capri just might be a GOAT DJ. Since the 1980s, the Bronx, New Yorker became the high priest of mixtapes, with the gift of blending the staples of Hip-Hop with fresh releases, R&B,... Read more

Vic Mensa & Michael Uzowuru Release the First Song They Ever Recorded (Audio)

Vic Mensa and producer Michael Uzowuru have developed a special musical chemistry in the short amount of time they've known one another. Each has a love of music of all genres and defies labeling with respect to his craft. Thus, to no surprise, the music they've made together is often... Read more

Imagine Justin Timberlake Parties with Portishead and Brings Freddie Gibbs…Check this New JMSN (Audio)

JMSN landed on many Heads' radars for the first time nearly two years ago, after dropping a series of songs with Ab-Soul. It was reported at the time that the two would be releasing a joint project but it never came to fruition. JMSN's tone and delivery quite often bring... Read more

Ghostface Killah & AZ Are 3 For 3 with Killer Collabos. Here’s the Latest (Audio)

For the last couple of weeks, Ghostface Killah has been setting the Net on fire with releases from his forthcoming 36 Seasons album. Particularly, his collabos with AZ have been favorites of Heads and, with AZ making a whopping five appearances on the LP, there are aplenty. The latest track,... Read more

Does Naughty By Nature’s Treach Have More Heat Left in the Chamber? Yep…(Audio)

Naughty By Nature's Treach has made a welcomed return over the last few months. He dropped a strong verse in the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher and now releases a new song, with Hus Kingpin, that features his trademark melodic flow. Complete with scratches, punctuated horn samples and a rolling... Read more

Eminem, Yelawolf & Slaughterhouse Are All Killer, No Filler (Audio)

The treats keep falling off the Shady tree gearing up for Shady XV. "Psychopath Killer" is an Eminem song, featuring his 2011-present star signings, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf. Just Blaze, Boi-1da, and The Maven Boys team up to make a track that's quite Horrorcore-themed, something you might expect to hear on... Read more

Ghostface Killah & AZ Challenge The Law In This Vivid Account (Audio)

Ghostface Killah and AZ came up around the exact same time. Both students of the wild '80s, these two New Yorkers carry a love of name-brand image, decadent fashions, and old school attitudes in their touted music. That being said, 'Face and Sosa sound excellent together on "Double Cross." This... Read more

Crooked I’s Intimate Freestyle Chronicles The Formation Of Slaughterhouse (Audio)

Crooked I, or Kxng Crooked as he's now known, is gearing up for his SMH Records debut, Sex, Money & Drugs. To kick things off in style, Crook' takes the stand, under oath, and tells it like it is in this slow, intimate freestyle. Within, he recalls sitting in his... Read more

DOOM Has Never Rocked On A Beat Like This…Attacking The Mic In The Wild (Audio)

Flying Lotus goes from one extreme to another. Just over 24 hours after premiering his "GTA V" track with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Krayzie Bone, FlyLo unveils another first-person video game inclusion (care of Fader), this time with DOOM. The man formerly known as MF DOOM (known as Zevlove X before that,... Read more

Boldy James Takes A Long Look At The Pain That Made Him On A Harry Fraud Track (Audio)

With Nas in his corner, Boldy James is getting a lot of extra attention. On "50 Foot Razor Blade," the Detroit, Michigan MC asserts that it's been no overnight phenomenon. The onetime Alchemist protege links with Harry Fraud for this track, looking back at his life, from jumping bond, to... Read more

Nikki Jean Toasts As She Steps Out, Alongside Ab-Soul & Jake One (EP)

Nikki Jean has loaned her vocals to some of Lupe Fiasco’s most poignant tracks and collaborated with members of the Roots Crew in Nouveau Riche. Teaming with producer Double-0 (Kidz In The Hall), Nikki left the lab with some new creations, which she's giving away. The Champagne Water EP includes... Read more

Beat Junkies’ DJ Melo-D Makes An Ill Quick Mix Tribute To Big Daddy Kane (Audio)

Along with J. Rocc, Rhettmatic, and Babu, DJ Melo-D is one of the ferocious sets of wrists behind the Beat Junkies. The Los Angeles, California-based collective is one of the most skilled turntablist outfits of all-time, and boast ties to J Dilla, Ras Kass, and of course, Dilated Peoples to... Read more

Krayzie Bone Goes Above The Clouds With Flying Lotus (Audio)

Joining Freddie Gibbs & Mike Dean's "Sellin' Dope," the "GTA V" soundtrack features another just-released catchy collaboration. Krayzie Bone and Flying Lotus may seem of different worlds. The Cleveland, Ohio native chopper tends to favor aggressive, pulsating production. The L.A. producer that's hard to pin into genre is usually about... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Delivers Gripping Gangsta Rap With A Geto Boys Producer (Audio)

For the upcoming "GTA: V" video game soundtrack, Freddie Gibbs teamed with Mike Dean to make "Sellin' Dope." Following some work with N.O. Joe, this is the second time Gangsta Gibbs has chased down some of the sound-providers for the Geto Boys and 1995-2005 Rap-A-Lot Records production. Dean now works... Read more

GZA Is Quite Precise In This Feature Role On A Funky Rock Remix (Audio)

Los Angeles, California-based Hanni El Khatib has thrived as a singer-songwriter, licensing his funky, Blues-inspired Rock tracks to campaigns for Nike and Nissan, in addition to shows such as "Suits," "The United States Of Tara," and "Luther." Khatib knows what the people want, in making vibe-driven music. So in remixing... Read more

BJ The Chicago Kid Covers Aaliyah & Kanye West With Originality (Mixtape)

In his budding career, BJ The Chicago Kid has been one of the most successful R&B artists to use the mixtape format. Before Jhene Aiko, it was this other Black Hippy affiliate who dropped gems like 2009's The New Beginning and 2011's The Life Of Love's Cupid for free. By... Read more

Your Old Droog Joins Lil Fame, Sean Price & Milano On This Dusty Throwback (Audio)

Aside from a Mac Miller cut ("Sleepers..."), Your Old Droog got on without much vocal assistance. Droog's staple producer DJ Skizz gave him the ultimate cast of hardcore New York MCs on "Hot Breath." The budding sensation is joined by Heltah Skeltah's Sean Price, M.O.P.'s Lil Fame, and even D.I.T.C.... Read more

Rick Ross, Jay Z & Timbaland’s Movin Bass Began As A Tink Song. Hear It (Audio)

Released one week ago, Rick Ross and Jay Z's latest tandem, "Movin' Bass" premiered. This latest collision happened on a jolting Timbaland beat. However, this week suggests that the high-profile union actually began as a beat and song intended for a much lesser-known artist: Tink. Tink is Timbo's latest protege,... Read more

Still Built For Cuban Links…Wu-Tang Clan Dedicates A Cut To The Necklaces (Audio)

Although they sometimes don't get due credit for it, the Wu-Tang Clan are masters of jewelry Rap. It can be easy to forget that Ghostface Killah famously battled his watch (voiced as Raekwon) 15 years ago. The Chef also dedicated his two most revered solo LPs to those who appreciated... Read more

Carlitta Durand’s Time Has Come. This Little Brother Affiliate Shines (Audio)

For years and years, Carlitta Durand has thrived alongside the Justus League/Jamla Records family on acclaimed releases like Little Brother's LeftBack, Phonte's Charity Starts At Home, and most recently on Foreign Exchange's Love In Flying Colors. The North Carolina songbird is stepping into her own. "Find A Way" doesn't sound... Read more

TDE’s First Lady SZA Returns With Some Bluesy Sobriety (Audio)

Though she is the first lady of TDE, both literally and figuratively, SZA has blazed her own path. Far from a rapper, like her label mates, the talented young songstress' music defies convention. A true musical chameleon, she can effortlessly flip from channeling Bjork to Erykah Badu and everything in... Read more

Eminem’s Massive Hit Lose Yourself Began In The Form Of A Fragmented Demo (Audio)

Eminem has handfuls of huge hits. The 8 Mile anthem, "Lose Yourself" is one of Marshall Mathers' most enduring singles, due to its wide-reaching application to life, beyond its Battle Rap context. However, did you know that the 2002, Academy Award-winning, six-times-platinum #1 hit began as a quirky demo? On... Read more

The Essence Of Mary J. Blige Awakens In Her Next Single (Audio)

Mary J. Blige Heads seem a bit polarized by what they've heard from MJB's The London Sessions (December 2). Yonkers' own Queen of Hip-Hop R&B is dabbling with that Disclosure production and in turn, her latest sound. However, the latest glimpse, "Not Loving You" hones in on the pained songwriting,... Read more

It’s A Cold World When Pusha T & Kanye West Are On One (Audio)

If you liked last year's My Name Is My Name album, Pusha T gives more of the hardest element of the G.O.O.D Music LP in "Lunch Money." Based around bullying, King Push's newest track is more of what Clipse/Re-Up Gang Heads love. It's slick talking, mean-spirited Hip-Hop that outs the... Read more

M.O.P. & Maino Are Brooklyn O.G.’s Who Never Dodge (Audio)

M.O.P. never got that album they were promised from Jay Z at Roc-A-Fella Records or the one with 50 Cent at G-Unit some years later. However, after "Ante Up" became an early 2000s anthem, and "Cold As Ice" followed onto radio waves, nobody can argue that Lil Fame and Billy... Read more

Rick Gonzalez Gets a Vintage Verse From Kool G Rap (Audio)

Rick Gonzales continues to establish his Hip-Hop credibility. In addition to having legit lyrical skills, the actor-turned-rapper (formerly known as Realm Reality) has consistently associated himself with some of Hip-Hop's finest wordsmiths. Having signed with Mobb Deep's Prodigy, he's made records with Joell Ortiz, blu, Roc Marciano, among others. Now,... Read more

Havoc Offers Up All Of 13: Reloaded For Perusal (Album Stream)

Havoc took 2013's 13, and went back and made some adjustments for the digital release, 13: Reloaded. The Mobb Deep music mercenary brought Prodigy, Cormega, Raekwon, Sheek Louch, and Mysonne out for 14 tracks about grim street life, rising the ranks through the Rap industry, as he says, "it's all... Read more

Ghostface Killah, Kool G Rap & AZ Provide A Cautionary Street Tale (Audio)

All of the 36 Seasons are heating up! For the second weekday in a row, Ghostface Killah unleashes some new content. "The Battlefield" is one of the several appearances by Kool G Rap and AZ on the Tommy Boy Records LP. Also including The Revelations' vocalist Tre Williams, this cut... Read more

Does Ty Dolla $ign Have A Solo Hit, Produced By Diplo & DJ Dahi? (Audio)

For almost two years now, Los Angeles, California's Ty Dolla $ign has been one of the hottest things in Hip-Hop. Signed to Taylor Gang, working closely with YG and DJ Mustard, and producing for Chris Brown and Problem, Ty has been an invincible force, blending R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop melodies... Read more

Common Leads a Troop of Artists Raising Awareness About Climate Change (Audio)

This is refreshing. In a throwback to times when Hip-Hop stood for something and spoke up for change, Common has teamed with Malik Yusef, Kumasi, Aaron Fresh, Choklate, and Laci Kay on the song "Trouble in the Water." The song is part of a forthcoming project called HOME which seeks... Read more

Big K.R.I.T.’s Gospel-Influenced Saturday = Celebration is One of His Finest Songs Ever (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T.'s Cadillactica album is quite possibly his best work, yet. K.R.I.T. is in top lyrical form and, with the addition of several talented outside producers, his music has never sounded better. One of the many standouts on the album is the Gospel-influenced, tribal drum-heavy "Saturday = Celebration." With K.R.I.T.'s... Read more

CL Smooth Bobs & Weaves On This Bouncy Shuko Beat (Audio)

CL Smooth is not big on an abundance of appearances. Instead the New Rochelle, New Yorker looks on at Hip-Hop from afar, admiring his contributions, especially those over two revered LPs and an EP with Pete Rock. However, Shuko, the German producer whose beats have sounded great alongside the likes... Read more

Bundle Up For The Album Sampler To Ghostface Killah’s 36 Seasons (Audio)

In three weeks, Ghostface Killah's 36 Seasons will be released by Tommy Boy Records. With AZ, Kool G Rap and Pharoahe Monch in the supporting cast, this is a lyrically-driven LP on paper. Similarly, with Lil Fame, 45 King, and The Revelations on the boards, beats appear to have a... Read more

M.O.P. & Chris Rivers Remake A Hardcore Big Pun Album Cut (Audio)

Back in 2000, just months after Big Pun's death, his gold-certified sophomore LP, Yeeeah Baby released. Within the LP, there was an album cut, "New York Giants." This track, co-produced by Bronx, New York producer/MC Minnesota (Mos Def, Diamond D, Money Boss Players), featured Pun's Loud Records label-mates, M.O.P. Although... Read more

10 Years After His Death, Do Remember: Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Hippa To Da Hoppa (Audio)

Ten years ago today (November 13, 2004), the world lost a great one in Russell Jones. Best known as the Ol' Dirty Bastard from the Wu-Tang Clan, the Brooklyn, New York MC/singer was a founding member, along with RZA and GZA, in All In Together Now, the first iteration of... Read more

If James Brown Were A Rapper In 2014, He’d Sound Like Mystikal On This Funky Number (Audio)

With his own YMCMB debut, Original, on seeming delay, Mystikal has been a bit mysterious since leaving prison. While he's been at work with Mannie Fresh, and made some Rich Gang appearances, the 1990s star and onetime No Limit free agent acquisition is certainly quiet, relatively speaking. Mark Ronson, the... Read more

Eminem Released Infinite 18 Years Ago Today

With the anticipated release of his 9th studio album, Shady XV, Eminem continues to prove that he still has a ton of fire left in his gut. Look no further for proof of this fact than with the release of his 18 minute lyrical massacre, "Shady CVXPHER," that recently set... Read more

Juvenile Fits 2014’s YMCMB Sound & He Says Some Real Things Alongside Drake’s Chorus (Audio)

Juvenile is Cash Money for the second time in his career, after a lot of on-again, off-again status with his former label, as well as his (still estranged) producer, Mannie Fresh. Back in the paperwork, Juvy made his debut on "Sho Me Love." With a very simple, straightforward Drake chorus,... Read more

Blu, MED & J. Rocc Make A Sparse Ill AXEL F Cut & Shine (Audio)

Add another dope release to the November Rap calendar. AXEL F, the tandem of MED and J. Rocc (Jaylib) will release Theme Music on November 24 on Bang Ya Head Entertainment. After some work in late 2013, the tandem links again with close affiliate Blu for "Omega." Blu sets things... Read more

Jay Z & Rick Ross Are Out To Move Mountains Over A Bass-Heavy Timbaland Beat (Audio)

In two weeks, Rick Ross will release his second album of the year. November 24's Hood Billionaire promises to finish where Mastermind left off. As has become rather customary on Rawss albums, Jay Z is a guest (though only on the hook). Def Jam's breakout artist of 2006 and (then)... Read more

Raekwon & Ghostface Killah Like Troy Ave & Hop On His Hit For A Remix (Audio)

With Troy Ave's latest hometown hit "All About The Money" getting that Tristate burn, two of New York City's living Rap legends admired. While Raekwon's collaborative cosign of Brooklyn's BSB MC goes back a ways, Heads know how rare those Ghostface Killah looks can be. As a true nod of... Read more

Havoc & Sheek Louch Never Stopped Representing That Sound & Their City (Audio)

Mobb Deep's discography spans back before Juvenile Hell, to the duo's days as Poetic Prophets, stopping through the Stretch & Bobbito Show. After nearly 25 years, look no further than this year's The Infamous Mobb Deep to see that even with some bumps in the road, the Mobb vehicle is... Read more

Ghostface Killah To Drop A Hardcore Hip-Hop Album Really Soon, Unearths First Single (Audio)

This will have the Wu-Tang Clan controversy Heads abuzz... One week after W.T.C. is plotting A Better Tomorrow, Ghostface Killah will release 36 Seasons (December 9). What's more is that this LP teams Ghost with fellow New York City rhyme-monsters such as Kool G Rap, AZ, and Pharoahe Monch. Perhaps... Read more

Hear Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier’s Foundation In Their PRhyme Title Track (Audio)

Nearly 15 years after "Boom," Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Premier's full-length together, as PRhyme, is less than one month away. The actualization of the pair's longstanding working relationship to a true LP welcomes guests ranging from Jay Electronica to Killer Mike, Mac Miller to Common. However, for the title... Read more

Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″, Big Sean & Danny Brown Lead a Detroit Takeover (Audio)

After nearly shutting down the Internet earlier with one of the strongest cyphers ever, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" are back and they brought a few friends...or neighbors, to be exact. The dynamic duo leads an all-Detroit cast of artists, including Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf and Trick Trick... Read more

In Honor Of Big Pun’s Birthday, His Son Chris Rivers Hops On Super Lyrical (Audio)

Forty three years ago today (November 10), Christopher Rios was born. The Bronx, New York MC perhaps better known as Big Pun shook the world ablaze in the next 29 years. The pinnacle of Pun's career, according to many Heads, is his solo debut, 1998's Capital Punishment. The platinum Terror... Read more

Talib Kweli & His New Artist Clients Release Their First Project (Mixtape)

Fresh off of a partnership announced with Jamla Records and W.A.R. Media, Talib Kweli's Javotti Media platform is out to make major moves. Javotti, who has been behind 'Kweli's post-Warner Bros. Records releases (in conjunction with Duck Down Music on Gutter Rainbows), has released a mixtape, The Cathedral. Pharoahe Monch,... Read more

Rittz Works Out Some Aggression in Double-Time on Fish Hook (Audio)

Rittz gets a few things off his chest on "Fish Hook." He uses his trademark double-time flow to let off rapid-fire shots at multiple targets from haters on Twitter to parental critics, and even his frustrations at still being broke despite having a record deal. Check it out. Related: Rittz... Read more