AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Audio

Nas’ Illmatic Gets an Infectious Injection of Pure Soul (Mixtape)

Just when you thought the Nas Illmatic tributes were over, Cookin' Soul pulls you right back in...The production team has created a completely re-imagined version of some of the album's key tracks using some of the most soulful beats you will ever hear. This is a MONSTER. No matter how... Read more

Too Short and Rocko Take it Back to the Freaky Tales Sound on Sucka (Audio)

Early in his career, during the Life is...Too Short and Freaky Tales days, Too Short's sound was based on simple drums and simple bass lines. Rocko's song, Sucka, draws on that "back in the day" sound and he invited Short Dog along for the party. Check it out. Related: The... Read more

Evidence & AWAR Drop Heavy Bars on a Vibe Out Track and Everything’s Awesome (Audio)

Quietly, Evidence has made some of the most consistently good music of anyone in the game. Each of the Dilated Peoples albums was strong, and Ev's 2011 solo project, Cats & Dogs, was one of the best of the year. His recent Lord Steppington collabo LP with Alchemist also did... Read more

Chance The Rapper Sings A Simple Song All About Isolation (Audio)

Chance The Rapper releases a song on the anniversary of his Acid Rap mixtape. "I Am Very Very Lonely," is straightforward in its title. Instead of Rap, the song feels more like a moody jam session for Chance. The subject matter, a blue reflection about loneliness and isolation, is something... Read more

Kurupt, ScHoolboy Q, Bad Lucc & Problem Show Out For Salva On A Bouncy Track (Audio)

Getting to Salva is pretty easy. The producer recruited O.G. Kurupt, as well as white-hot West Coast spitters ScHoolboy Q, Bad Lucc, and Problem for "Drop That Bitch." The song samples an Eazy-E lyric most Heads are familiar with. The unique, bouncy production style stands apart from what's been in... Read more

Mobb Deep & Big Noyd Come Back Together On A Rich Soundscape (Audio)

Outside of their new Infamous Mobb Deep album, M-O-B-B has been sitting on a cut for the Heads. Produced by, and released through DJ Jean Maron (who is just on a roll lately), "Itinerary" unites Prodigy and Havoc with their original protege, Big Noyd. With a smooth, oft-messed with sample... Read more

In A Genre Where “Nobody’s Smilin’,” Pharrell Has Another Happy-Go-Lucky Record (Audio)

Have you found yourself in the car, seeking through stations, getting Pharrell's "Happy" on every spin of the roulette wheel? It feels like for more than two months, this Head has. Well, it wasn't a one-off. At a time when there are certainly sad albums, break-up albums, and mourning albums,... Read more

Joell Ortiz, Sheek Louch & Sauce Money Rep New York Overtop James Brown For DJ Kay Slay (Audio)

DJ Kay Slay aligns a strong trio to rep their hometown. The Drama King gathers Sheek Louch, Joell Ortiz and Sauce Money, making a rare appearance, on NYC Shine. Why do you think Kay Slay is so passionate about these ongoing NYC Hip-Hop songs? Related: Joell Ortiz Has Got BARS…But... Read more

M.O.P. Still Makes That Bang-Your-Head-Against-A-Wall Music (Audio)

After over 20 years, the Mash Out Posse is still rugged, and never smooth. Billy Danze and Lil Fame linked DJ Jean Maron, who's making some dope cuts with the likes of KRS-One as of late, for "You Can't Hide." Using a sample Heads may know from the '70s (and... Read more

Days After We Lose A Hip-House Pioneer, Vic Mensa Makes A Heartfelt Club Track (Audio)

In the last 48 hours, it was announced that DJ EZ Rock had died. The Harlem native, and musical partner of Rob Base was a prominent, gold-certified part of the late '80s "Hip-House" movement, whereby the genres of Hip-Hop and House music collided for a series of hit singles, albums,... Read more

Think Country Rappers Aren’t Lyrical? Big K.R.I.T. Ends That Discussion with Mt Olympus (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. has just released arguably his most lyrical record to date...and that's saying a lot. As if he's putting all rappers from the country on his back, K.R.I.T. steps to the mic and delivers a blistering display of wordplay. This record could not be more fitting after a weekend... Read more

NBA Bans L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling For Life, Hip-Hop Artists React

Earlier today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban sanctioned against 30-plus-year owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling. The streamed and televised press conference took place following a week where racist remarks from Sterling during a phone-called were leaked to website TMZ.com. Additionally, Sterling will be forced... Read more

Bink Remixes Big L & Fat Joe’s Historic D.I.T.C. Moment Together (Audio)

Philadelphia native producer Bink is known for producing joints for nearly 20 years, including Jay Z's "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)," Mr. Cheeks' "Lights, Camera, Action," and Kanye West's "Devil In A New Dress." The onetime Roc-A-Fella affiliate now takes a hand at D.I.T.C.'s "Da Enemy." The late '90s track was... Read more

Cormega & Sadat X Come Together Nicely With That Everlasting Fire (Audio)

Two giants in the mental: Sadat X and Cormega link up for "Fire." The jazzier track, led by Lanelle Tyler has a cooled-out '70s feel that was re-popularized in the mid-'90s, around the time 'Mega was making a name, and Datty X was trying his hand at solo LPs. The... Read more

Creep To Styles P’s Phantom And The Ghost (Album Stream)

Today (April 29), Styles P releases his eighth solo album, Phantom And The Ghost. The Yonkers, New York veteran lyricist and former Interscope Records star (in addition to his LOX deal with Bad Boy) is also making history, partnering with NMC (New Music Cartel) for the digital LP. Twelve years... Read more

DJ Khaled Releases His Single with Jay Z, Rick Ross, Meek Mill…Does It Live Up to the Hype (Audio)

Earlier today, DJ Khaled was featured in an interview where he went on a bit of a "tirade" about owning the summer with his anthems for the last 8 years, when asked if he could do it again. Khaled said he his streak would continue because he has Jay Z... Read more

Out Of Thin Air, The U.M.C.’s Are Back, And Sound Fresh As Ever (Audio)

While a lot of the Wild Pitch Records alumni are continuously spreading the message (Large Professor, DJ Premier, O.C., The Coup, Kool Keith, etc.), it's been a while since The U.M.C.'s were discussed. The duo released hit single "Blue Cheese" back in the early '90s, over two Wild Pitch LPs,... Read more

Da Brat Jumps on Iggy Azalea’s Fancy Track and Flexes (Audio)

It's been 20 years since Da Brat's debut with Funkdafied, but make no mistake, she can still get the party started. She jumps on Iggy Azalea's Fancy track and smokes that joint like she's trying to prove a point...Check it out. Related: Da Brat Makes a Strong Return on Trae... Read more

The Roots Open Up A New Chamber With Raheem DeVaughn on Tomorrow (Audio)

Some say that since 2004's The Tipping Point, Black Thought and The Roots crew have been making nothing short of dark albums. Although the acclaim continues to grow for the Philadelphia mainstays, radio play and Top 40 alludes the former Geffen/MCA Records three-time Grammy Award-winners. Well, as ...& Then You... Read more

Celebrate The 20th Anniversary Of OutKast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik With The Diamond D Remix (Audio)

Twenty years ago today, Big Boi & Andre 3000 (as OutKast) released Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The seminal 1994 debut album, with the LaFace Records label, opened the door for a catalog filled with game-changing greatness, with the promise of possibly more additions coming. Ambrosia For Heads salutes "one of our favorites," by... Read more

Beyonce Liberates The Full Version Of Her Up-Tempo Standing On The Sun (Audio)

In addition to being a Covergirl cover-girl, Beyonce is attached to H&M. With her young, hip, and fashion-forward BeyHive in tow, Beyonce released a snippet of a non-album cut not so long ago. On a breezy Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Carter offers up the full version of "Standing On The Sun."... Read more

Close Out The Nas’ Illmatic Celebrations With DJ Moneyshot’s Amazing Sample-Sourced Mega Mix (Mixtape)

In one week, it'll be May, and much of the April coverage celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of Hip-Hop's hallmarks, Nas' Illmatic, will seem out of vogue, or passé, while other things are highlighted. Before the calendars change, Solid Steel's DJ Moneyshot, who has previously re-considered and extensively examined... Read more

Detroit is in the Building. Slum Village Link with Black Milk on a Burner (Audio)

Slum Village and Black Milk have created a tough new Detroit collaboration. Black Milk supplies the beat and a verse and Slum Village do what they do. This is how to start a weekend...Check out We on the Go. Related: Black Milk Gives Herb Alpert A Hit Of Tronic For... Read more

Skyzoo & Torae Morph Into The Barrel Brothers And Pay Homage To The Classic Yankee Cap

With the anticipation of Skyzoo and Torae's collaborative project, Barrel Brothers, building, it's time for all to release a collective sigh of relief with the drop of their latest single, "Blue Yankee Fitted." Dedicated to the universally recognized baseball cap of quite possibly the most beloved and most hated team... Read more

Hit-Boy Makes Another Dope Beat, Rapping About His Career Sacrifices (Audio)

Coming up under Kanye West, Hit-Boy routinely works with one of Hip-Hop's ultimate dues-payers. That "Spaceship" mentality has traveled with Kanye for a decade, nearly eight years after he began shopping beats under D-Dot. The Los Angeles native Hit-Boy, who like 'Ye, also raps, has a similar complex. And why... Read more

Logic Flexes His Double-Time Flow with an Assist from Big Sean (Audio)

Logic and Big Sean share XXL Freshmen and Def Jam ties and now they team up in verse. Logic flexes a double-time flow while Sean lets the track breathe. Both styles work over the atmospheric track. Check out Alright. Related: Logic Explains Where He Spent His Advance On While You... Read more

J-Live Spreads Good Cheer & Soul, City to City with Tanya Morgan (Audio)

J-Live releases some soulful feel good music with Tanya Morgan and Sam London on City to City. The teacher turned MC keeps kicking knowledge after almost 20 years of honing his craft. Check it out and enjoy the warm vibes. Related: J-Live Smashes Every Cliche in Hip-Hop in 1 Verse... Read more

Rapsody Thanks Some Of The People Who Have Helped Her Along the Way (Video)

Since her days in Kooley High, Rapsody's been a very gracious artist. To peers, to media, to behind-the-scenes friends, and especially to fans, Rap' has been very thankful (just look at her Twitter interactions). If that wasn't enough, she made a song (from She Got Game) and now a video,... Read more

Time Travel Back To Rap Radio’s Golden Days In This 1991 Gang Starr Interview & Tim Westwood Mix (Audio)

Take yourself back almost exactly 23 years to the date, to April 19, 1991, when London’s Hip-Hop radio prophet Tim Westwood links up with Gang Starr's DJ Premier and Guru (plus Caveman) as they take the world by storm promoting the release of their album, Step In The Arena LP.... Read more

Pharoahe Monch Opens Up About His Darker Side On The Combat Jack Show (Audio)

Queens, New York rapper Pharoahe Monch sits down with Combat Jack  and his radio team to discuss a wide variety of topics including his asthma issues, his fascination with "scary, real, horrific," violence, and the truly personal and introspective direction behind his latest project, P.T.S.D. Pharoahe has been in the... Read more

Prince’s The Breakdown Sounds Like Its Titled (Audio)

Prince has influenced at least four decades of artists. Rock & Roll, soulful, sensitive, and sexual, Prince's music is very dynamic, and completely disregards expectations. Artists ranging from Drake to Phonte to The Weeknd to Solange are all clearly inspired by the Twin Cities icon. Well, Prince is far from... Read more

Termanology, Chris Rivers, Papoose & More Get Old School Fresh On A DJ Kay Slay Cypher (Audio)

Coming from Uptown, DJ Kay Slay certainly knows about a lil "Uptown anthem" in the form of The Mohawks' "Champ." Later used as a comeback crossover single for KRS-One in "Step Into A World," this famous Bronx park-jam break is as Hip-Hop as it gets. So are the corresponding cypher... Read more

Murs & MAYDAY! Have A Strange Party That Makes You Want To Dance On Tabletops (Audio)

Following Murs' signing to Strange Music, the Los Angeles MC veteran is already at work on a collaborative project with the label's South Florida Rock-Rappers, ¡MAYDAY!. Murs appeared on the crew's standout 2012 album Take Me To Your Leader, so these outfits go back like matching outfits. On "Tabletops," a... Read more

Want To Try Something Different? Roll Up Asher Roth’s Full RetroHash Album (Audio)

Asher Roth has released just two albums in nearly five years, and they could not be more different. The Pennsylvania MC who entered the scene in 2008 and 2009 had some rocket-fueled success when he dropped Asleep In The Bread Aisle back at the top of his career. After changing... Read more

Pharoahe Monch & DJ Revolution Know A Lil’ Something About Getting Down (Audio)

As if a whole new album's worth of fresh material was not enough for last week, veteran supreme lyricist Pharoahe Monch made a Record Store Day exclusive with Wake Up Show alum DJ Revolution. Produced by Australia's M-Phazes, this joint, "Get Down" shows Monch's ongoing versatility in a career spanning... Read more

DJ Premier Remixes A 22-Year Old Classic From D.I.T.C.’s Showbiz & A.G. (Audio)

Twenty-two years later, the joint that got it all started for D.I.T.C. (Diggin' In The Crates) gets amazing reconsideration. For May 7's D.I.T.C. remix album, DJ Premier (who always rolled close to the crew) reworked the Showbiz & A.G. "Soul Clap" B-side, which featured Diamond D and Lord Finesse as... Read more

N.O.R.E., Styles P and Raekwon Release Their Inner Lion (Audio)

N.O.R.E., Styles P and Raekwon release their inner Lion on a jazzy throwback track. Check it out. Related: N.O.R.E. and Busta Rhymes Go In on a Classic Hip-Hop Break Beat. Check Out Manners (Audio)... Read more

Daz Dillinger Reunites Snoop Dogg & Devin the Dude on His Latest Track (Audio)

Daz Dillinger reunites Snoop Dogg and Devin the Dude on his latest track. Check out Blow'd. Related: Daz Dillinger Keeps it Real Witcha (Audio)... Read more

Ab-Soul Breaks Down the Tree of Life on His Latest Release (Audio)

Ab-Soul teams with producer Curtiss King on his latest release. Soulo explores several tree-related metaphors (money trees, medicinal trees...) on Tree of Life. Check it out. Related: TDE Plans to Release New Albums From Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Black Hippy & Kendrick Lamar in 2014... Read more

Vado, Prodigy & Chinx Drugs Kick Some Cocky Raps Over An Old Eagles Record (Audio)

Vado is gearing up to release his We The Best Entertainment debut. The Harlem veteran teams up with The Coke Boyz' Chinx Drugs and Mobb Deep's Prodigy for "Zoo Muzik." The cut looks at the animal instincts and animal ambitions (word to 50 Cent) of the streets. P raps "The... Read more

Santana Recruits Miguel For The First Single From Their Reunion Album (Audio)

Miguel's been on a tear lately. After recently covering an Elton John classic from the early '70s, Miguel links with an alum of that era (and even before) in Carlos Santana. Santana, who's worked extensively with Hip-Hop/R&B figures like Wyclef Jean, Everlast, and of course Product G&B, now opens up... Read more

Daz Dillinger Keeps it Real Witcha (Audio)

Daz Dillinger is releasing a new solo album next week. Here's the latest single. Check out Real Witcha featuring Z-Ro. Related: Daz Dillinger is Working Overtime on His Latest Release (Audio)... Read more

Nitty Scott, MC’s Second Art Of Chill Single Is Produced By Ski Beatz. The Hip-Hop Hippie Plants Some Flowers In Your Brain (Audio)

Nitty Scott, MC is releasing her hallmark project to date, The Art Of Chill, on May 23rd. The Brooklyn-by way of-Florida native is building buzz on the project. Nitty teamed with Ski Beatz, who's made a few breakthrough joints for artists (Camp Lo, Jay Z, Outsidaz), for "Feng Shui." Slow... Read more

KRS-One Salutes His City and the Pioneers of Hip-Hop (Audio)

KRS-One and Frank Sinatra? Why not? The Blastmaster makes a tribute to his city and the pioneers of Hip-Hop on NY, NY. Check it out. Related: KRS-One Does Not Want You to Miss 1 Word of This True School Rap (Video)... Read more

De La Soul Is Pressing Up 100 Copies Of Smell The Da.I.S.Y. & Hiding Them In Record Stores (Video)

De La Soul is forever the coolest. Following last month's Smell The Da.I.S.Y. mixtape, combining Posdnous and Dave verses, with some Maseo flavor with J Dilla beats, the group that invented the three-sided single back in the late '80s is coming to wax (white vinyl to be exact) with it.... Read more

Two Generations Of Dungeon Family Come Together: Future & Andre 3000’s Benz Friendz (Audio)

Almost 25 years ago, Positive K made "I Got A Man," an anthem about the road blocks in trying to step to an object of your desire. Off of Honest, Future and Andre 3000 take that same idea and update the language and aesthetic on "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)." Future, although... Read more

Here’s a Dark New Track from Mobb Deep. You Know the Outcome (Audio)

Here's a new song from Mobb Deep off DJ Whoo Kid's upcoming mixtape, The Elevation, Vol. 2. Check out The Outcome. Related: Here’s an Alternate Take of Mobb Deep’s Eye For an Eye Featuring Nas, Rae & Ghost (Audio)... Read more

Buckwild Makes Beats That Make Rappers Shine. Check What He Does For Mayhem Lauren (Audio)

D.I.T.C.'s Buckwild sometimes feels like the lowest-profile producer within the clique. True, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, and Showbiz often get more name-checked recognition from MCs and aspiring producers, but it seems that Buckwild is the most prolific, especially within the last 15 years. The Bronx producer, who created Kurupt Money... Read more

Remember Those Raw Jay Dee Verses? Here’s One You Haven’t Heard On J Dilla’s Give Em What They Want (Audio)

With Slum Village, and on his 2001 solo debut, Welcome 2 Detroit, J Dilla (as Jay Dee) was a cold cat. You can see why Dilla got along so well with Phat Kat and Guilty Simpson when it came to talking about accessorizing his truck, or enjoying carnal pleasures without... Read more

Swiff D Offers Up A Batch Of Instrumentals That Will Take You Back To Simpler Times (Album Stream)

Swiff D has been making a lot of moves over the last decade. Closely associated with Pac Div, this producer has had major placements on Talib Kweli's Eardrum, Jadakiss' The Last Kiss, and most recently, ScHoolboy Q's OXYMORON. Yesterday (April 15th), Heads were treated to Swiff's latest Logic collaboration, while... Read more