Fresh Archives

Masta Ace Discusses Sittin’ On Chrome 20 Years Later & How It Redefined His Career (Video)

Masta Ace sat down with Watch Loud to discuss the 20th anniversary of his album Sittin' On Chrome, which was released on May 2, 1995. Ace spoke in-depth about the album and how it redefined his career. Specifically, he talked about his attempts to create a new sound on the... Read more

May 3, 2015 Throwback

Ever Hear This Extra-Large 1995 Method Man Freestyle? (Audio)

In 1995, things were reaching a boil for Method Man. The Wu-Tang Clan MC had a hit solo album in Tical, and an onslaught of classic verses with his band-mates. However, even with the presumed millions rolling in, the Iron Lung MC was not at all above ripping up bars... Read more

May 3, 2015 Throwback

These MCs Are Nearing Elimination in the Finding The GOAT Competition. Round 5 Ends Tomorrow.

Ambrosia For Heads’ Finding The GOAT series, the search for the Greatest Of All Time MC (as determined by you), began in September, 2014 and is soon down to its final 6 contestants. At 4:59pm EST on Monday May 4, Round 5 polls will close, and Round 6 will kick... Read more

May 3, 2015 Fresh

One 1990s NYC Underground Hip-Hop Outfit Drops First Visual In Years (Video)

For vinyl-buying fans of 1990s New York City street Rap, Tru Criminal Records was a trusted imprint. Whether the early days of Tonedeff or underground veteran F.T. (a/k/a Fuc That), the label believed in lesser-known acts, and gave them the shine to get heard. F.T.'s group, Street Smartz was a... Read more

May 3, 2015 Video

Kxng Crooked Remakes A 1990s Rock Power-Ballad (Audio)

Slaughterhouse MC Kxng Crooked (a/k/a Crooked I) and Shalé pair up in “I Didn't Mean to Treat You Bad”, a single from the recently dropped collaborative effort When Music Worlds Collide. In this experimental jam, producers DJ King Tech (The Wake Up Show) and company create a fresh interpretation of... Read more

May 3, 2015 Audio

Lauryn Hill Sends Out a Short & Sweet Serenade to the People of Nigeria (Video)

Lauryn Hill was recently scheduled to perform in Lagos, Nigeria, but due to unforeseen circumstances was forced to cancel her trip. While Hill promised she would make it there as soon as she could, she sent out a short and sweet special message to the people of Nigeria. In a... Read more

May 2, 2015 Video

20 Years Later…Mobb Deep Are Still Crushing Mics. Watch This Freestyle (Video)

As Mobb Deep celebrate the 20 year anniversary of their album The Infamous, Prodigy and Havoc make a pit stop at Tim Westwood TV while in the UK. As is customary, Westwood has the duo kick a Crib Session Freestyle and he cues up The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Going Back to... Read more

May 2, 2015 Video

Ever See This Rare Cypher With Tupac and Warren G Over a Classic Dr. Dre Beat? (Video)

Here's a look back at some amazing footage of Tupac, Warren G, Big Syke and Richie Rich holding a spur of the moment cypher in the studio, over the "Gz and Hustlas" track Dr. Dre produced for Snoop's Doggystle LP. Tupac and Warren G are the more commonly known of... Read more

May 2, 2015 Throwback

From the 70s to the 90s…There’s No Beat Styles P Can’t Wreck (Audio)

Styles P continues his streak of weekly freestyle with a double feature. "Give Me Your Ghost" features Styles flowing over Curtis Mayfield's ultra-soulful "Give Me Your Love" from the Superfly soundtrack. Ghost sounds right at home over Mayfield's laid back groove. For the 2nd release of the day (third if... Read more

May 1, 2015 Audio

Mac Miller Strikes Back, With Bars That Slash His Recent Silence (Audio)

For nearly six months, Mac Miller has been unusually quiet. The Most Dope front man has a new label home, production work, recording responsibilities, and plenty of material to let marinate on the minds of Hip-Hop Heads. "Boo (Interlude)" emerges from this quiet, reminding the world that the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... Read more

May 1, 2015 Audio

N.O.R.E. Speaks For the First Time on Squashing His Beef With Nas (Video)

While being known as one Rap's lighter personalities, N.O.R.E. (f/k/a Noreaga) has had his share of rifts. From Nas to Prodigy, Cormega to partner Capone, the Lefrak City, Queens MC has had cold periods with several of his closest associates. Speaking with Doggie Diamonds TV, the onetime Def Jam Records... Read more

May 1, 2015 Video

Jadakiss & Styles P Rock A Rhyme Routine For The Block (Audio)

For recent weeks, Jadakiss and Styles P have set the weekend off with borrowed beats and venerable verses. This time, holding Cam'ron and Prodigy's "Losin' Weight" for a second, they take on the task together. "Block Work" is street-focused, using images from the hustle to show the kind of strength... Read more

May 1, 2015 Audio

Lupe Fiasco’s Visual Is 9 Years Late, But Right On Time (Video)

Part of what made Lupe Fiasco's 2006 Food & Liquor debut such a captivating album was its insightfulness. Although never an official single, "Just Might Be Okay" was a grabbing album cut. The Gemstones-assisted (t/k/a Gemini) joint was an examination of where Lu' was at with his career in the... Read more

May 1, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): KRS-One vs. Nas…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

May 1, 2015 Fresh

Nina Simone’s Career, Activism, & Fiery Spirit Examined In New Documentary (Video)

Although Nina Simone only had one single enter the Top 40 (1959's "I Loves You, Porgy"), the iconic singer, songwriter, and political figure has demonstrated impact on music and culture that transcends the charts. The Tryon, North Carolina native, who died in 2003, is the subject of a new documentary... Read more

May 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Step Back In Time With This Rugged MC Lyte Freestyle (Video)

Sometimes Hip-Hop is at its best when in its purest form. Few things are more satisfying than hearing a top notch MC shred a verse over nothing but a beat. Here's a look back at a vintage moment from Rap City: Tha Basement where MC Lyte crushes a freestyle over... Read more

April 30, 2015 Throwback

Erick Sermon Makes Room For Joell Ortiz & Sheek Louch on One Star-Studded Track (Audio)

Erick Sermon has been teasing the arrival of a new album for several months, but the moment is almost here. On a recent interview with Sway, E-Double said fans could expect ESP to arrive in June, and listed off a host of guest MCs featured on the album, including Method... Read more

April 30, 2015 Audio

Wale Marches With Baltimore High School, Urges Media To Look Closer (Video)

This week has brought global news out of Baltimore, Maryland. The April 19, 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a 25 year-old local man who suffered a severed spinal cord while in police custody, before dying one week later has raised great concern, outcry, and debate surrounding the Baltimore Police Department. Gray’s... Read more

April 30, 2015 Video

Raekwon Breaks Down the Lyrics to Criminology & Details Some of Its True Stories (Video)

Raekwon sat down with DJ Booth as part of their "Inside The Verse" series and broke down the lyrics to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx's "Criminology." Rather than a standard word for word dissection of the song, Rae' chose select bars and talked about some of the realities on which... Read more

April 30, 2015 Throwback

Do Remember: AZ’s S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) Album (Audio)

Like sports, what a musician does as a free agent often determines his or her future. Some artists privately seek out their next label home, and get right to work. Others use the event as a combine of sorts, publicly postulating where they would like to be, and what it... Read more

April 30, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): The Notorious B.I.G. vs. Redman…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

April 30, 2015 Throwback

ONYX’s Latest Protest Song Advocates “No Justice, No Peace” (Audio)

ONYX (Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr) recently released "Against All Authorities," an outcry against the agencies that are not protecting nor serving all people. The New York City vets rallied up the troops and pointed fingers at law enforcement, courts, and legislators. Now, the stripped-down lineup of the 100 Mad... Read more

April 30, 2015 Audio

Scarface Calls The Diary His Dark Side of the Moon. Says He Found Himself With the Album (Audio)

Brad "Scarface" Jordan has emerged as an uncontested legend in Hip-Hop and one of the pioneers of the Southern sound. After 29 years, he is still actively engaged in the Rap community. From the release of his first solo album, in 1991, Mr Scarface Is Back, this Geto Boy's storytelling has... Read more

April 29, 2015 Audio

Take a Tour of Moscow With DJ Premier (Video)

Hip-Hop has taken DJ Premier a long way from his hometown of Prairie View, Texas. The iconic producer recently traveled to Moscow for a DJ gig and decided to share it with his fans. Throughout the video, Preemo was deeply thankful for Hip-Hop and the life journey it's allowed him... Read more

April 29, 2015 Video

Mister Cee Reveals Slick Rick Once Fully Stepped to Big Daddy Kane…Strapped (Audio)

DJ Mister Cee is the latest guest on Cipha Sounds & Peter Rosenberg's Juan Epstein podcast/show. In Part 2 (Part 1 ran earlier this month), The Finisher speaks to his friends and former HOT 97 colleagues in depth about the two figures most closely associated with the Brooklyn, New York... Read more

April 29, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Tupac vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

April 29, 2015 Fresh

Mannie Fresh Recalls Big Tymin’ With First Check, DMX’s Dog Fancy (Video)

Mannie Fresh may be a lover of flaunting jewels, cars, and even helicopters on some of his album covers and in older videos. However, the New Orleans, Louisiana icon and Bounce music pioneer had some humble beginnings. In a recent interview, he reflected on how the music industry has evolved,... Read more

April 29, 2015 Video

Whatever Happened to That Jay Z & Raekwon Collaboration? Raekwon Speaks (Video)

Back in May of 2013, a photo of Jay Z and Raekwon in the studio leaked and set the Internet ablaze. The instagram photo was released prior to the announcement of Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail album, leaving Heads to speculate wildly about what Hov and The Chef might... Read more

April 29, 2015 Video

Black Rob Reveals Rolling With Bad Boy Before Biggie, Debilitating Stroke (Audio)

With a new album in stores (Genuine Article), Harlem, New York's Black Rob recently checked in at the Combat Jack Show. The former Bad Boy Records MC opened up about the struggles he's encountered during his career, which pinnacled with 1999 crossover, "Whoa!" B.R. had no problem speaking candidly about... Read more

April 29, 2015 Audio

Agallah Gets A Career Highlight With A Fiery Big Daddy Kane (Audio)

While the EPMD family tree can quickly point to Redman, Das-EFX, DJ Scratch and Keith Murray as successful proteges, there are plenty more. As K-Solo was a verbal varsity "letterman," Craig Mack blossomed under the fold. Later on, in the '90s, "8-Off The Assassin" l/k/a "Agallah" was within the last... Read more

April 29, 2015 Audio

Bumpy Knuckles Releases Some Laid-Back Protest Music for Baltimore (Audio)

Bumpy Knuckles (aka Freddie Foxxx) has a vast catalog of aggressive music with enough energy to start a riot. However, in these times of unrest, he's released a laid-back, soulful song. But, make no mistake, this is protest music. "Can I Get a Break?!?" plays like an open letter to... Read more

April 28, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Breaks Down To Pimp A Butterfly’s Cover Art and Its Significance (Video)

Kendrick Lamar recently sat down with Mass Appeal for an interview, of which an excerpt was released on video of him explaining the album cover of his highly lauded To Pimp A Butterfly. He explains that all the people on the album cover with him are friends and family from... Read more

April 28, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Eminem vs. Busta Rhymes…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

April 28, 2015 Fresh

Dres & Jarobi Plug In, Amp Up & Rock Out (Audio)

Dres (n/k/a Black Sheep Dres) and Jarobi (A Tribe Called Quest) go way back. Before EvitaN (their group together), these two New York City MCs were founders in the Native Tongues movement, bringing knowledge for your mental over grooves for your backside. "Ain't No Day That The Sun Don't Shine"... Read more

April 28, 2015 Audio

Step Into Pete Rock’s Petestrumentals Kitchen & Watch Him Cook (Video)

Less than two months removed from Petestrumentals 2 (June 23), the Mount Vernon, New York living legend lets cameras catch him (dramatically) in action, breaking down some "Cosmic Slop" on the Akai MPC. The song features extensive percussion, and the kind of serious sounds that P.R. has offered Edo G.,... Read more

April 28, 2015 Video

Watch Scarface Perform A Different Verse Over His Classic Gang Starr Collaboration (Video)

One of the standouts on Gang Starr's classic album Moment of Truth was "Betrayal." The song featured a dark and moody track that evoked poignant performances from both Guru and featured guest MC, Scarface. The 1998 song would be the first time Face worked with Preemo. Seventeen years later, when... Read more

April 28, 2015 Video

Oddisee’s The Good Fight Battles To Be Among 2015’s Best (Album Stream)

Today (April 28), Oddisee released his seventh solo studio album, The Good Fight. The Mello Music Group release includes 12 tracks, featuring the Washington, D.C. native's verses, melodies, and production. The Diamond District member follows up 2013's Tangible Dream with an album, that based on its early singles, videos, and... Read more

April 28, 2015 Audio

This Will Make You Think Twice the Next Time You Walk By Someone Down on Their Luck (Video)

Tish Hyman has the kind of voice that penetrates souls. Part Stevie Wonder and part Roberta Flack, with a dash of Lauryn Hill, Hyman's vocals are filled with the type of raw and honest emotion that is rare these days--so much so that it's instantly stirring. Her song "Subway Art"... Read more

April 28, 2015 Video

Sean Price Borrows Kanye West’s Breakthrough Beat and Spits The Truth (Audio)

In a career that's 20 years old, Sean Price has been very calculated with mixtape releases. Three times, the Brownsville, Brooklyn MC has offered up a non-album release, and starting with 2004's Donkey Sean, Jr., (before Monkey Barz) each time they have been a warning shot before an album that's... Read more

April 28, 2015 Audio

The Knux Encounter A Mirage In Their Late Night Journey (Video)

On their upcoming album Eleven (April 28), The Knux duo consisting of members Kentrell "Krispy" Lindsey and Alvin "Joey" Lindsey, have released their first video for the album on their track "Mirage." The Brothers Lindsey made quite the entrance into the Hip-Hop scene with their electric Rock elements and flashy word play in songs such... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

Curren$y Complements His Slow Flow With Lowriders (Video)

Even More Saturday Car Tunes continues to live up to its name. Curren$y releases "Cars," where he and his Jet Life cohorts cruise through the city in the twilight. Spitta spits about his favorite hobby, as the camera catches '60s, '70s and '80s Chevrolet Impalas, and a '76 Buick Regal.... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

Rakim is Releasing His First Solo Album in More Than 5 Years (Video)

Montreality, with their original and spirited questions, spoke to Rakim, again (after his grabbing 2012 look). Sitting down with the God MC, a lot is covered in less than 10 minutes. Notably, Rakim confirmed that he is fast at work on his fourth solo studio album. "This is one of... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

Ghostface Killah & Pharoahe Monch’s Latest Collabo Comes To Comic Book Life (Lyric Video)

Although they were running in very different circles in the early 1990s, Ghostface Killah and Pharoahe Monch have some amazing rapport over the last five or so years. The Staten Island and Queens, New York lyricists fill their deliveries with fervor, passion, and lots of unique wordplay. From late 2014's... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

Ever Hear The Single From Dr. Dre & E-A-Ski’s Planned Collabo Album? (Audio)

To say things are "good" for Dr. Dre is a brutal understatement. The Compton, California impresario is breathing down the neck of being a billionaire (if he is not already there), he is the subject and producer of a major studio N.W.A. biopic, and he's got arguably Hip-Hop's best MCs... Read more

April 27, 2015 Throwback

De La Soul Defends Kickstarter Album: “This Is Not About Pocketing Money”

Last week, De La Soul released "God It," the Nas-assisted, presumed first single from their upcoming eighth studio album, reportedly called, And The Anonymous Nobody. For Hip-Hop fans, this is a benchmark album before Heads press play, due to the fact it is the largest crowd-funded album in the Rap... Read more

April 27, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Rakim vs. Mos Def…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up's—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

April 27, 2015 Throwback

Finding the GOAT: Here Are Your Top 10 MCs + 1

The polls have closed and, after a fiercely competitive and unpredictable Round 4, 10 MCs advance to Round 5 (along with Rakim who had a bye), making a grand total of 11 rappers remaining in the quest to name Hip-Hop’s greatest MC, as determined by you. Since Round 1 began... Read more

April 26, 2015 Fresh

From Groove Theory To Blackstreet, These Retro R&B Blends Welcome Summer (Mix)

In the 1990s, Hip-Hop and R&B flirted with each other in plenty of ways. The decade made an institution out of the cross-genre collaboration, making R&B albums all the more unpredictable, and Hip-Hop albums all the more versatile. Out of the decade, Mary J Blige, Jodeci, and R. Kelly were... Read more

April 26, 2015 Mixes, Throwback

Hip-Hop Myths: Here Are 5 Common Misbeliefs That Will Surprise You

During its nascent period, Hip-Hop was dismissed by many as simply a passing fad, much like Disco. As we all can see now, those critics were drastically mistaken, and it has not only grown, but has become the most influential cultural presence in fashion, dance, language, art, and of course... Read more

April 26, 2015 Fresh

Scarface Names More Than 15 MCs Better Than Him. Do You Agree? (Video)

The legendary Scarface stopped by the Sway in the Morning show in promotion of the release of his new book, Diary of a Madman: The Geto Boys, Life, Death, and the Roots of Southern Rap. Given the multi-decade history between Face and Sway, the conversation had the promise of something... Read more

April 26, 2015 Video