Fresh Archives

Fat Joe & Remy Ma Discuss How Big Pun Is Still Watching Over Them (Video)

Fat Joe and Remy Ma joined The Breakfast Club for a lengthy discussion yesterday (March 4). In fact, it was the longest interview in the show's history, clocking in at a whopping 78 minutes. The two discussed everything from their tumultuous history to Love & Hip-Hop to their forthcoming collaborative... Read more

March 5, 2016 Video

This Oral History of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Shows Why Their Music Is Eternal.

Last year, Cleveland, Ohio Hip-Hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony celebrated the 20th anniversary of their iconic album, E. 1999 Eternal. In recognition of the milestone, the five-member crew undertook a massive tour, an opportunity for fans both young and old to reconnect with music that influenced a generation. Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Krayzie... Read more

March 5, 2016 Throwback

Black Sheep Dres & Jaleel Shaw Fly High With the Help of New York City’s Jazzy Streets (Video)

The musical marriage of MC Dres (of Black Sheep) and Jazz saxophonist and composer Jaleel Shaw represents an intersection of two genres with a longstanding history. Shaw - a frequent collaborator of Robert Glasper's - released his second solo album back in 2008, but music's perennial ability to inspire others... Read more

March 4, 2016 Video

Zoe Saldana Looks Better in Blueface Than Blackface. What Happened, Miss Simone? (Video)

Less than a week after the 88th Academy Awards took place during a maelstrom of controversy surrounding the lack of diversity in Hollywood, the official trailer for an upcoming biopic about iconic singer Nina Simone was released, and the controversy continues. Starring Zoe Saldana in the lead role, Nina tells... Read more

March 4, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Royce 5’9″ Discusses “The Most Significant Day Of His Life” & Debuts 2 New Songs (Video)

On the heels of announcing the forthcoming release of Layers (April 15), his first solo album in nearly 5 years, Royce 5'9" paid a visit to the Sway in the Morning show to premiere the album's lead single, "Tabernacle." Over the course of a nearly 35-minute interview, Royce would play... Read more

March 3, 2016 Video

Step Inside The Mind of Earl Sweatshirt With A Wildly Diverse DJ Set (Video)

Earl Sweatshirt is the latest to play a DJ set for Boiler Room. Performing under the alias "Earl Fletcher" at Babylon Skate Shop in Los Angeles, the Odd Future member's set is truly all over the place. Some may see it as a sprawling mess. For others, it is a... Read more

March 3, 2016 Video

AG Da Coroner Bags & Tags One Of Alchemist’s Dustiest Beats (Audio)

AG Da Coroner has been bringing out the big weapons lately. The New York MC just released his studio debut, Sip The Nectar. The Man Bites Dog Records LP features label-mate Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, and Infamous Mobb's Big Twins. Included on the album is "The Stick Up." This track... Read more

March 3, 2016 Audio

This 25-Minute Redman & Method Man 1999 Freestyle Shows How High They Fly (Audio)

Just when it seemed the gems Tim Westwood pulls out of his vault could not get any better--with vintage freestyles from O.D.B. Eminem & Proof, Snoop Dogg, and more--he releases a 25-minute cypher from Redman and Method Man. In 1999, the "How High" pair were in London promoting their Blackout!... Read more

March 3, 2016 Audio

Royce 5’9″ Releases The Song Of His Life. “Tabernacle” Is A Game-Changer (Audio)

Last week, Royce 5'9" announced, on Ambrosia For Heads, that he is releasing Layers, his first solo album in nearly 5 years. The album arrives in stores on April 15 and features Royce's best and most personal work to date. He wastes no time in showcasing both on his lead... Read more

March 3, 2016 Audio

Lupe Fiasco Flips SZA & Cuts Right to the Bone (Audio)

Lupe Fiasco is an artist who thinks ahead. Known for referencing projects way ahead of schedule, he's also known for frequently surprising fans with unannounced music, much like he did when releasing his Pharoah Height 2/3 mixtape for free last summer. His Wikipedia page lists four albums in his discography... Read more

March 2, 2016 Audio

Kid ‘N Play Discuss Being Some Of The Earliest Innovators in Hip-Hop Fashion (Video)

From the beginning of their careers, Kid 'N Play have been trendsetters. They were among the first to craft Hip-Hop songs with big hooks, they were pioneers in Hip-Hop dance, and they led the way for Hip-Hop stars in Hollywood film, with their seminal House Party franchise. In addition to... Read more

March 2, 2016 Video

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Words In This Rare 1967 Interview Are Still Relevant Today (Video)

A recently found master tape of a 1967 interview featuring Martin Luther King, Jr. on the iconic Merv Griffin talk show surfaced earlier this year, and it is an awe inspiring look at a man who was rarely seen in casual conversation. The Civil Rights Era thought leader has always... Read more

March 2, 2016 Lifestyle

A$AP Ferg, Your Old Droog & Wiki Crush A Next Level Cypher With A Live Band (Video)

There are few things in Hip-Hop more exciting than a great cypher. Over the years, there have been some special ones, big and small. On a grander scale, Eminem, Black Thought & Mos Def rocking together comes to mind, as well as the TDE cypher where Kendrick Lamar went absolutely... Read more

March 2, 2016 Video

10 Years After a Classic, No Malice Loves & Distances Himself From Clipse’s Music (Video)

Come November, an album which helped to define the sound of a generation will be turning 10 years old. In 2006, Clipse released their second album, Hell Hath No Fury, home to singles "Mr. Me Too" and "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)." However, as time would tell, its true strength... Read more

March 2, 2016 Video

Elzhi Discusses His Battle With Depression and It’s A Testament To His Courage (Interview)

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. However, Lead Poison, his highly-anticipated follow up, is on its way (March 25), and with it comes Elzhi's most... Read more

March 1, 2016 Food for Thought

The War On Drugs Failed. Now It’s a War For Recovery (Audio)

When President Richard Nixon made the war on drugs one of his signature domestic campaigns, his administration set into motion one of the most unpopular cycles of American social change. Effectively criminalizing all drug-related activities - from the high level trafficking to the pedestrian smoking of a joint - the... Read more

March 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Troy Ave Mocks Capital STEEZ’s Suicide In A Joey Bada$$ Diss Record (Audio)

With the release of his latest single "Ready," Joey Bada$$ seems to have reignited a war of words with fellow Brooklyn MC Troy Ave. It all began where much of today's "beef" seems to originate - on social media. A debate between the two young artists on Twitter several months... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

DOOM & Sade Get Mashed Up On SADEVILLAIN (Full EP Stream)

DOOM and Sade have had a sonic affair for years. The masked villain tapped into the sweet sounds of the British Chanteuse on his song "Doomsday," from Operation: DOOMSDAY, as well as on "Kon Karne" from MM...Food? Producer Seanh2k11 picked up on the chemistry between the two and ran with... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

Pro Era’s Nyck Caution Is Limitless On High-Flying New LP (Album Stream)

22-year-old Pro Era spitter Nyck Caution (born Jesse Cordasco) has been sharing the limelight with his Brooklyn cohorts Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, and others for several years now, helping to invigorate the young creative streak in the New York City borough which has also exposed the talents of... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

Kxng Crooked Celebrates Those That Came Before Him As He Plots His Future (Video)

On Februay 12, Kxng Crooked and Statik Selektah released their collaboration album, Statik Kxng. The album was filled with Statik's hard beats and Crooked's complex rhymes, as they took Hip-Hop back to the basics. "Let's Go," featuring Termanology, was one of the album's standout tracks, and now Statik Crook' have... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

D.I.T.C.’s O.C. Rhymes About What’s Really Important in Life…& What’s Not (Audio)

"Champagne wishes and caviar dreams" has become a popular phrase for the rags-to-riches motif found in a lot of music, particularly Hip-Hop. Originating as the catchphrase of the television series Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, which ran from 1984 to 1995, the saying has been featured in countless music... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Nas Details That Time He & Biggie Were Supposed to Collaborate (Video)

"Gimme the Loot" is a Hip-Hop staple, a classic piece of the Notorious B.I.G.'s repertoire from what is arguably one of the most influential debut albums in history. But what some may not know is that 1994's Ready to Die almost inspired a remix to the song featuring Nas, another young MC who also... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

Joell Ortiz Refuses To Give The Mic Up Till He’s The Last Man Standing (Audio)

A decade ago, Joell Ortiz was signed to Aftermath Entertainment. In 2016, the Brooklyn, New Yorker appears to be in a better position—given the fact that he's released a number of acclaimed mixtapes, albums, and work with Slaughterhouse. On March 15, Ortiz is fronting a project called That's Hip Hop.... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Elzhi Drops First Visual Dose of “Lead Poison” & Describes Deeply Personal Inspiration

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. So eager, in fact, that many gladly contributed to the rapper's Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise the... Read more

February 29, 2016 Food for Thought, Video

Rakim & Talib Kweli Unveil The Master Plan As They Rock “Paid In Full” Together (Video)

Fans of traditional New Orleans jazz may already be familiar with the Soul Rebels. Performing every Thursday in their hometown, the band formed in the early '90s and has since exploded into an international touring sensation, sharing their unique approach to brass band repertoire with millions of people around the... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

Cormega & Gunplay Flow Together Like Guns & Butter (Audio)

Cormega is known for his laid back delivery. While he can spit his words quickly, the Queensbridge veteran never needs to raise his voice to drive a point home. Maybach Music Group's Gunplay is a bit different. The Miami, Florida MC is one who amplifies tracks with his raw emotion,... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Writers From The 90s Look At The Media’s Role In The East vs. West Beef (Video)

Twenty years later, there are few developments more significant in Hip-Hop than the events that unfolded around the feud that arose between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. That bad blood started when Tupac was shot in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in New York City, in 1994. There... Read more

February 28, 2016 Video

This Is The Only Way Straight Outta Compton Stood A Chance For a Best Picture Nomination

Despite the fact that the film Straight Outta Compton featured a predominantly Black cast, Black producers and a Black director, the only people nominated for an Academy Award in conjunction with the movie were its White writers. Many believe the film was worthy of several nominations, including Best Picture, Best... Read more

February 27, 2016 Video

This Documentary Treats Masta Ace’s “Disposable Arts” Like The Masterpiece It Is (Video Premiere)

Fifteen years ago this October, Masta Ace released his sophomore solo album, Disposable Arts. The Jcor Records release marked the Brooklyn, New York MC's first album after a six-year period. While signed to Big Beat/Atlantic Records, the Masta Ace Incorporated alum aimed to return to his solo catalog. The recordings... Read more

February 27, 2016 Exclusive, TV/Film, Video

45 King Reaches In His Pocket Full Of Miracles & Hands Blu A Gem (Audio)

Almost 20 years ago, 45 King (and Kid Capri) gave Jay Z one of the biggest anthems of his career with "Hard Knock Life." Before the vocal sample trend would define the early 2000s, the original Flavor Unit founder returned to form by letting the cast of Annie chronicle life... Read more

February 27, 2016 Audio

No Malice Won’t Count Out a Clipse Reunion, Announces New Film & Album (Video)

In the years since Virginia Rap duo the Clipse broke up, brothers No Malice and Pusha T have not made many appearances in the booth together, but as Push shared in a recent documentary, there has been no love lost between them. No Malice (fka Malice) embarked onto a life... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Scarface Plays Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” On Guitar (Video)

As an MC, Producer and author, Scarface is a man of many talents. Over the years, he's also shown himself to be an able guitarist. In concert, the MC born Brad Jordan has been known to put down the mic and pick up the six-string to pluck out a tune... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Curren$y & Alchemist Charge Their “Mack Book” with Rhymes & Vintage Clips (Video)

It's only the second month of the year, and already New Orleans MC Curren$y has released two free collaborative projects. In January, it was The Owners Manual with Cool & Dre, and in February arrived The Carrollton Heist with the Alchemist. Named after a major thoroughfare in Crescent City, Heist... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Facebook Stands Up for Black Lives Matter with Powerful Statement From Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg - the former wunderkind who founded Facebook more than ten years ago - has released a stern criticism of his employees, but it's not about something they did online. Rather, he is admonishing behavior taking place in a very rudimentary form of social media: A community chalkboard. Specifically,... Read more

February 26, 2016 Lifestyle

Royce 5’9″ Is Releasing a New Solo Album & It’s His Best Work Ever. This Video Shows It.

Royce 5'9" (as it is now officially stylized) is releasing his sixth solo album, Layers, on April 15, 2016, his first in nearly 5 years. Distributed through his own Bad Half Entertainment, the Mr. Porter and Royce executive-produced LP delves deeply into the many sides of the Detroit, Michigan veteran... Read more

February 26, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Video

Viola Davis Gets Real With Sway About Hollywood’s Race Problem (Video)

Viola Davis is no stranger to the inner workings of Hollywood and has experienced the benefits and the difficulties of a successful career. Last year, she made television history as the first Black woman of any nationality to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. How... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Xzibit Cast As Crooked Record Executive In Upcoming “Empire” Episodes

Veteran MC Xzibit has made a solid career out of acting. In addition to his hosting on series such as MTV's Pimp My Ride, the onetime Loud Records star lyricist has appeared in XXX: State Of The Union, 8 Mile, and TV reboot Hawaii Five-O. According to Deadline, Mr. X-to-the-Z... Read more

February 25, 2016 News, TV/Film

DJ Premier Remixes Kanye West & Makes Him Sound Like The Old Kanye (Audio)

Throughout the last decade, DJ Premier and Kanye West have worked together several times. Whether "Classic," "Everything I Am," or Common's "The Game," Preemo has been a reigning affiliate of the G.O.O.D. Music family, and one of West's influences. Thereby, the Gang Starr member takes it upon himself to remix... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

Hear How Muhammad Ali & Malcolm X Met And Why They Parted Ways (Audio)

Today marks the anniversary of former heavyweight champion boxer Sonny Liston's 1964 defeat at the hands of Cassius Clay, a young boxer who boasted that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Later changing his name to Muhammad Ali, the new heavyweight champion would go on to... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Lay the Foundation for Black Star in this 1997 Performance (Video)

For Heads, there may not be a more-missed entity in Hip-Hop retail than Fat Beats. Established in New York City in 1994, the former brick-and-mortar outlet for tapes, CDs, LPs, and more now only exists as an online retailer, but its legacy remains vivid, thanks in part to live performances that... Read more

February 25, 2016 Video

Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne Reunite. Juvenile Joins In On A Totally New Sound (Audio)

After years of speculation, the hit-making team of Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, and Juvenile finally showcases their new music. Mannie mentored both Weezy and Juvy at Cash Money Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the Big Tymers member and label producer would exit to sign with Def... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

Joell Ortiz Takes Drake’s “Summer Sixteen” Like A Bully & Beats It Up (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is on a crusade for Hip-Hop. The Brooklyn MC and producer Domingo are releasing an entire album dedicated to preserving the culture, fittingly tiled That's Hip-Hop. On the singles thus far from the project, Ortiz has chosen hungry and deeply skilled young lyricists like Token and Snow Tha... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

O.D.B. Put The “Free” In Freestyle In This 1995 Outburst (Audio)

Twenty years ago this week, O.D.B. was waiting to see if he would win the Grammy for "Best Rap Album." The 1995 debut, Return To The 36 Chambers (The Dirty Version) would ultimately lose to Naughty By Nature's Poverty's Paradise, but the unconventional Brooklyn, New York MC was clearly reaching... Read more

February 25, 2016 Throwback

K-Def Takes His Rhythm Roulette Experiment To An Early ’90s-Sounding Paradise (Video)

K-Def has been making great Hip-Hop music for 25 years and counting. The New Jersey native just released two albums in The Way It Was and The Unpredictable Gemini. With lots to promote, the Redefinition Records honcho is the latest participant in Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette. Hitting up Jersey City's... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Ras Kass & Planet Asia Burn It Down. No Fire Drills (Audio)

It was three years ago this month that Planet Asia and Ras Kass released "Kings." The song was produced by South Florida's Numonics. The producer and two California lyrical monarchs return together on "Fire Drills." This song is not just a bell-ringer, it delivers heat as the MCs from Carson... Read more

February 24, 2016 Audio

Black Sheep Dres & A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi Aim To Take Hip-Hop “Higher” (Video)

In 2012, Black Sheep Dres (as he is now known) and A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Jarobi released the debut project from their unit, evitaN. At The Speed Of Life was a prime offering for the two New York MC vets. Joined by everybody from Mobb Deep's Havoc to Bootsy... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

This 360° Run The Jewels Concert Is As Close As It Gets To Being On Stage With Them (Video)

Over the years, Run The Jewels, the duo of Killer Mike and El-P, have shown themselves to be among the most energetic performers in Hip-Hop. Mike and El pour as much passion into their onstage delivery as they do their fiery lyrics. To capture the energy and show what it... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Imagine If Jimi Hendrix & Prince Had A Guitar Prodigy Son. Meet Marcus Machado (Audio & Video)

In the life of every music lover there comes a time when a live performance reminds us of the purest form of power in talent - to reinvigorate, re-inspire, and rekindle that spark which made us fall in love with music in the first place. When coming across an artist... Read more

February 24, 2016 Food for Thought

John Oliver Shows Just How Deep Hollywood Whitewashing Goes (Video)

Next week, Hollywood's biggest night will take place when the 88th Academy Awards take place in Beverly Hills, California. It will transpire amid a cloud of controversy related to the lack of racial diversity of the nominees in the more major categories including Best Actor & Actress and Best Supporting... Read more

February 24, 2016 Lifestyle

Pusha T Kicks His Icy Flow on Baauer’s “Kung Fu” (Audio)

Pusha T continues on the torrid pace he started last fall. After announcing his presidency of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, Pusha Ton proceeded to release a barrage of hot singles leading up to his December album, King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude. He has stayed active this year... Read more

February 24, 2016 Audio