Fresh Archives

DJ Kool Herc OPENS UP & His Top 5 MCs & DJs Will ASTONISH You (Audio)

DJ Kool Herc interviews, especially with much depth and room for conversation are a scarcity. It is astounding how Hip-Hop music's credited founder lives in the Bronx, New York today, with relatively low profile. The Kingston, Jamaica native known as Clive Campbell is not a public figure, despite his groundbreaking... Read more

April 13, 2015 Throwback

Alchemist & Oh No Bring Grand Theft Audio To Los Santos (Album Stream)

Alchemist and Oh No infected many ears with their Gangrene work. Not a Gangrene project, Alan The Chemist and Oh No The Disrupt come together for Welcome To Los Santos. Releasing tomorrow (April 14), the Mass Appeal Records effort welcomes an array of genre (E-40, Ab-Soul, MC Eiht, Curren$y, Little... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Nas vs. Black Thought…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH's bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 13, 2015 Fresh

Mr. Porter, Rapsody & Scram Jones Celebrate The Sleepers (Video)

Mr. Porter (n/k/a dEnAuN) knows a little something about what Biz Markie called "The Vapors." The D12 member, Shady Records conduit, and longtime top producer does not get the recognition that matches his accolades. With a few name-changes in his career, he's anything but a household name, especially considering his... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

Chris Rivers, Grandmaster Caz & More Bridge Generations in a Cypher w/ R.A. The Rugged Man (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man is gearing up to go on his Shoot Me In The Head Tour, but before heading out, he did a show at SOB's in New York City and brought out an all-star cast to join him in a cypher on stage. The cypher bridged together generations... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

Yelawolf & Eminem Look to the Heavens for a Place to Send Their Enemies (Audio)

Yelawolf has released the full version of an epic collaboration with Eminem. Each MC is capable of delivering rapid-fire blistering lyrical assaults, but they divide and conquer on "Best Friend." Rather than rapping, Yela sings on the haunting first verse and then throws the alley-oop to Em who slips into... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Cookie Lyon Meets Cookie Monster. No One on Sesame Street is Safe (Video)

The season might be over for FOX's breakout hit, Empire, but that doesn't mean the show's matriarch, Cookie Lyon (played by Taraji P. Henson), is taking a break. Instead, she's taking over a new show and a new street. In a hilarious SNL spoof, Queen Lyon invaded the world of... Read more

April 13, 2015 TV

Finding the GOAT: These MCs Are Going to Round 4

The polls have closed and, after a fiercely competitive and unpredictable Round 3, there are only 21 MCs remaining in the quest to name Hip-Hop's greatest MC, as determined by you. Since Round 1 began in September, more than 200 MCs have been considered and millions of Hip-Hop fans have... Read more

April 12, 2015 Fresh

Talk About Ambition… Charles Hamilton Freestyles… For Nearly 19 Minutes (Video)

Harlem, New York MC Charles Hamilton understands that it takes extraordinary measures to win back a fan-base after several years of hiatus, public mishaps, and some industry controversy. He seems to be rising to the occasion, simply through showing and sharing his love of rapping. Open interviews are one element,... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

Curren$y Picks Up the Pace on Sidewalk Show. It’s Still Soulful Though…(Video)

Curren$y has a penchant for laid-back, soulful beats. Few can ride a track with the flexibility and ease of Spitta. Ski Beatz also has a taste for these dark and melodic sonic textures, which makes the two a formidable match. As collaborators for more than five years, Curren$y and Ski... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

Donnie Trumpet & Chance the Rapper Deliver Some Colorful Sunday Candy (Video)

Donnie Trumpet & Chance the Rapper have made a colorful visual for their joyous and Gospel-tinged "Sunday Candy." The artists are collaborating under the name The Social Experiment, and the song is from their Surf album. Both natives of Chicago, Donnie and Chance have been working together for years. As... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

20 Years After “I Got 5 On It,” Tha Luniz Reunite, With 4/20 Album Plans

Oakland, California duo Tha Luniz have been separated for more than a decade. However, Yukmouth and Numbskull have announced a reunion, 20 years following breakthrough hit "I Got 5 On It" and its platinum LP, Operation Stackola. The Dru Down and Digital Underground proteges, respectively, will release High Timez on April... Read more

April 12, 2015 Fresh

Imagine Nas Over Some of Kanye West’s Hardest Beats…Now Take a Listen (Mixtape)

Over the years, while Nas has rocked over some classic beats, one of the few criticisms levied against the iconic MC has been his beat selection. With a catalog that sports classic tracks from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, No I.D. and more, there have also been records... Read more

April 12, 2015 Mixes

Astro, Sir Michael Rocks & More Refelect On Obstacles Overcome (Audio)

Sir Michael Rocks, Astro, El Prez, SkyBlew, and Clay James have put their heads together on “Untouchable," a reflective posse cut produced by Money Montage and Coopatroop. Each MC touches on obstacles met and overcome in his past, on the meditative song. Check it out. Related: Astro Handles the 5... Read more

April 11, 2015 Audio

Raekwon & Ghostface Take the 2015 Coachella Stage and Rock Like Veterans (Video)

The first weekend of the 2015 Coachella Festival is taking place this weekend in Indio, CA. The stages and tents will be filled with performers and DJs all weekend long, but fans got a real treat earlier today when Raekwon and Ghostface Killah rocked a 30+ minute set filled with... Read more

April 11, 2015 Video

Ever See This Mos Def Freestyle From 1992? The Star Power is Already Clear (Video)

Long before his acclaimed collaboration with Talib Kweli, Mos Def was a star. Here's a look back at the then 19-year old MC (now known as Yasiin Bey), stepping to the mic and wrecking shop on Toronto's Power Move Radio show. The clip is an excerpt from the 1994 documentary... Read more

April 11, 2015 Throwback

Fabolous Needs to Do an Album With Havoc. Listen to Him WRECK This Mobb Deep Track (Audio)

Over the last several weeks, there have been a slew of artists dropping freestyles over classic 90s Hip-Hop beats, but Fabolous has been the author of some of the very best. Two weeks ago, he set the internet on fire with is explosion over Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Pt. II."... Read more

April 11, 2015 Audio

The Friday Soundtrack Turns 20. Here’s Why It’s Still Influential Two Decades Later (Food For Thought)

Released twenty years ago today (April 11, 1995), the soundtrack to Friday is exemplary of the musical consciousness emanating from many inner cities in America at the time. Equal parts R&B, funk, and Hip-Hop, the soundtrack went double-platinum, besting soundtracks to other popular films featuring Black lead actors, like Bad... Read more

April 11, 2015 Food for Thought

Vic Mensa Releases the Official Version of His Kanye West Collaboration. U Mad? (Audio)

Vic Mensa has been steadily putting in grind time for more than 6 years. The Chicago MC burst onto the scene in 2009 as part of the Hip-Hop band, Kids These Days. While a member of the group, Mensa and the Kids released a dark and stirring version of Kanye... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Lecrae Releases an Explosive Portrayal of America. It Isn’t Pretty (Video)

If there is any MC to help stimulate an open and honest conversation about the State of the Nation, it's the conscious and spiritually-minded Lecrae. The Grammy nominated rapper has released the video for "Welcome to America", the second track off of his commercially successful and critically acclaimed 2014 album, Anomaly. The video... Read more

April 10, 2015 Video

Rapsody Drops a Thunder Clap Freestyle Over Biggie’s Who Shot Ya (Video)

Rapsody's profile has taken on new heights over the last few weeks after her inclusion as one of only two guest MCs on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album. Now, she and Kendrick have something else in common as each has dropped rough and rugged freestyles over The Notorious... Read more

April 10, 2015 Video

Flying Lotus Interviews Kendrick Lamar and Premieres Unreleased Verse (Audio)

Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar have collaborated on a number of projects. Last year, Kendrick lent his staccato jazz vocals to "Never Catch Me" from the producer's You're Dead LP, and K. Dot tapped FlyLo to produce "Wesley's Theory," the first song on Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly album. The... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Lloyd Banks Sounds Like He Was Built to Flow on This Raekwon Classic (Audio)

Lloyd Banks is on a mission with these takeovers of classic 90s Hip-Hop beats. After rocking out over Black Moon's "How Many MCs" earlier in the week, Banks serves up some icy cold lyrics over the "Criminology" beat RZA concocted for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx second single. Banks,... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

Celebrate the Incomparable Jill Scott’s Birthday With This Mix of Remixes & Covers (Audio)

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Jill Scott who celebrated her born day on April 4th. Since her voice is the gift that keeps on giving, it seemed only right to honor the occasion with her music. Last year, DJ Rahdu put together an amazing mix of remixes and covers by... Read more

April 9, 2015 Mixes

Here’s Vintage Footage of Lauryn Hill Showing and Proving Her Freestyle Vocab (Video)

Before becoming mega-platinum stars with multiple Grammy Awards, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef used to actively go from school to school searching for worthy MCs to battle. One look at this vintage clip of Lauryn effortlessly flowing off the top over Wyclef plucking the acoustic guitar shows exactly why most MCs... Read more

April 9, 2015 Throwback

Fresh Off His Album Release, Curren$y Is Right Back to Giving Fans New Music (Audio)

Just five days after the release of his third installment of the high flying Pilot Talk 3, Curren$y has released a single last night titled "Life 2 Die For", which was not included on his album. Spitta Andretti links up with producer Purpdogg, and the result is another smooth cut... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio, Fresh

A$AP Rocky is Going For M’$ On His Next Album (Audio)

A$AP Rocky is preparing to release his sophomore album, At.Long.Last.A$AP (A.L.L.A.), later in 2015. He has released a new single off of the upcoming album called "M'$", a song about making money by the millions. It features Rocky spitting fiery raps over a hard-hitting beat. As Heads may know, Rocky... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio

Tyler, The Creator Sets Off a Cherry Bomb of an Announcement (Video)

Tyler, The Creator has been quiet lately in terms of new music, until now. He released a new music video today (April 9) which, as he's done in the past, features two songs: "F*cking Young" and "Death Camp". More notably, the description in the video has a link that leads... Read more

April 9, 2015 Video

Do Remember: DJ QBert’s Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik (Mixtape)

Although he does not get nearly enough credit in mainstream Hip-Hop circles, DJ QBert is one of the proven masters within the culture. The San Francisco, California DJ/turntablist/producer born Richard Quitevis has advanced the possibility of the turntable, mixer, and scratch language beyond comprehension. The leader of the Invisibl Skratch... Read more

April 9, 2015 Throwback

Kxng Crooked Goes Hard Over a Beat That Recalls Vintage Dr. Dre (Audio)

Kxng Crooked, formerly known as Crooked I, returns with a new banger than shows why he deserves his new title. Producer, Jonathan Elkaer, is a Denmark-native whose style on "I Don't Give a F**k" can be compared to a Chronic 2001-era Dr. Dre, which only adds to Crooked's delivery. While... Read more

April 9, 2015 Audio

DJ Kay Slay’s New Mixtape Features Big K.R.I.T., Freeway, Styles P, Raekwon & More (Mixtape)

After several hot leaks over the last few months, DJ Kay Slay releases his latest mixtape, The Industry Purge. The project features a host of guest MCs, including, Raekwon, Styles P, Big K.R.I.T., Jon Connor, Freeway, Lil Fame, Young Buck, Sheek Louch, Papoose, Chris Rivers, Locksmith, Troy Ave and more.... Read more

April 8, 2015 Mixes

No 90s Beat is Safe. Tony Yayo Sparks Up Channel Live (Audio)

While it's fairly common in Hip-Hop for MCs to jack each other for beats, the practice is usually directed at the hot track of the moment. Last year, songs like Drake's "0 to 100," Troy Ave's "All About the Money" and Bobby Schmurda's "Hot N*gga" were all regular targets. However,... Read more

April 8, 2015 Audio

Young Buck, Freeway & Lil Fame Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with Kay Slay (Audio)

On the eve of the release of DJ Kay Slay's mixtape, The Industry Purge, he teams up with Young Buck, Freeway and Lil Fame (of M.O.P) to bring us “Memories”. In this Stay Gettin'- produced track, the MCs take turns spitting candidly about the things they've witnessed on their rise... Read more

April 8, 2015 Audio

MC Lyte is Still Checking Mics Effortlessly. Just Watch (Video)

"When you say you love me, it doesn't matter. It goes to my head as just chit chatter." Ever since MC Lyte uttered those words on 1988's "Paper Thin," the game changed. Lyte burst onto the scene as one of the hardest-spitting MCs around (male or female). She also was... Read more

April 8, 2015 Video

Ludacris and Marshawn Lynch Are in Full Beast Mode in His Latest Visual (Video)

Ludacris' new album hit stores last week, but his hustle continues. Ludaversal showcases some of Luda's most aggressive rhymes in years and none are more hard-hitting than in "Beast Mode." In the video for the song, Ludacris stages a mock press conference in order to seemingly mock outlandish media coverage... Read more

April 8, 2015 Video

Rapsody Revamps Beauty And The Beast With 3 New Songs. Check Out This One (Audio)

Through the #1 album in the country for two weeks straight, Rapsody is reaching audiences the Raleigh, North Carolina MC previously has not. Hearing "Complexion" on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, listeners inevitably want to know more. So last year, when Rapsody released Beauty And The Beast, an EP... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Raekwon & Snoop Dogg Sound Illustrious In This F.I.L.A.-Fresh Moment (Audio)

Raekwon laces his F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxury Art) with a smashing look from the April 28 release. Reuniting with Snoop Dogg, Chef marinates a Scoop Deville chop of Isaac Hayes, with a medley of dope drums for "1,2 1,2." While both Rae' and Snoop have found success throughout their career... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT: What We’ve Learned So Far & Why No MC is Safe

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 21 contestants. The MC who wins by the biggest margin in Round 3 will get a bye in Round... Read more

April 7, 2015 Fresh

Rapsody Breaks The Backboard With A Freestyle, After Discussing Race & Complexion (Videos)

Rapsody continues to garner strong attention over the last month. Since appearing on "Complexion" from Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, the Jamla Records veteran (of sorts) has a story that everyone is curious about. Rap' appeared on HOT 97's Ebro In The Morning this week, to speak with E,... Read more

April 7, 2015 Video

Bad Boys For Life: Looking Back on the Classic 20 Years Later

It's been 20 years since Will Smith and Martin Lawrence teamed up to play detectives Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett in the Michael Bay film, Bad Boys. An article from The Shadow League breaks down the history behind the film and the impact it's had 20 years later. The article... Read more

April 7, 2015 TV/Film

How Many MC’s Could Freestyle Over This Black Moon Classic As Well As Lloyd Banks? (Audio)

G-Unit has been quite active throughout the last month. With their second EP, The Beast Is G-Unit and a number of freestyles from Kidd Kidd during his promotion for XXL's 10th spot in the 2015 Freshmen class, the Unit has been hard at work. While Tony Yayo recorded his own freestyle... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Inspectah Deck, Esoteric & Meyhem Lauren Flash The CZARFACE Signal (Audio)

It was more than two years ago that CZARFACE was born. Part group, part album, the Brick Records effort linked Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck with Boston, Massachusetts underground Hip-Hop veterans 7L & Esoteric for what would be a career-defining work. Featuring involvement from Ghostface Killah, DJ Premier, and Action... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

Vince Staples’ Atypical Long Beach Upbringing Comes To Life In A Mini-Documentary (Video)

In the latest episode of "The Neighborhood," Complex zooms in on Long Beach, California lyricist Vincent Staples. The video takes the viewers on a casual stroll through the young MC's old stomping grounds and let's us get up close and personal with some of his childhood friends and family members.... Read more

April 7, 2015 Video

Ghostface Killah, AZ & Kool G Rap Go to Battle in This Comic-Style Visual (Lyric Video)

It's hard to believe that Ghostface Killah has released two albums in less than four months. Before Sour Soul, it was all about 36 Seasons. The narrative-style G.F.K. effort was an ensemble effort, part fiction, part seemingly fact about a character returning to Staten Island's Stapleton Projects after nine years... Read more

April 6, 2015 Video

Oddisee Goes Against Time In A Stimulating Visual (Video)

Oddisee easily captures the viewers attention in his new video for his song, "CounterClockwise" which will be on his upcoming solo album, The Good Fight (May 5). The cut is about "being there for people, and them going against you as a result, which leads to you becoming the bearer... Read more

April 6, 2015 Video

Jhene Aiko Re-Enacts Her Near Death Experience in the Visual for Eternal Sunshine (Video)

Singer-songwriter Jhene Aiko released a video for the single "Eternal Sunshine" off of her 2014 debut album Souled Out. The video captures her above while she exhibits her emotions when a car crash occurs in the background, as paramedics rush to the scene of what seems to be a tragedy. The R&B artist based... Read more

April 6, 2015 Video

Logic Squeezes Everything He Possibly Can Out Of This Freestyle Opportunity (Video)

Today's crop of artists really seem to love the moment. Logic is one of the nouveau stars who—no matter his place on the charts or the magazine covers, still hits the mic like he's fresh in the door. The Def Jam budding MC hit the BBC's Fire In The Booth... Read more

April 6, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Tupac vs. Ice Cube…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

April 6, 2015 Throwback

Take Off With A Full Listen To Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 (Album Stream)

Curren$y's Pilot Talk 3 is a self-released break from Spitta's DD172-backed, Def Jam-distributed first two flights. The third is packaged fan-friendly style, with USB drives, and an assortment of goodies. However, to access the collector's item-style release, it takes $125 and up on the Jet Life Apparel site. Before CDs... Read more

April 6, 2015 Audio

Prince Paul Effortlessly Cuts Up A Tribe Called Quest, Canibus, Freddie Foxxx & Rah Digga (Mix)

Fresh off of his two-part The Cipher Show comprehensive interview appearance, "The Devastating" DJ Prince Paul returns to his "It's Not The Size Of Your Mix, It's How You Use It" obscure record mix series. Part 3 in as many months includes a lot of hardcore Hip-Hop. Paul, a mastermind... Read more

April 5, 2015 Audio