Fresh Archives

Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 First Class Section Includes Jadakiss, Cool & Dre Production (Audio)

Curren$y's Pilot Talk 3 hit the skies this weekend, releasing yesterday (April 4). Spitta is selling the LP for $100 USB drives (with additional, more expensive packages available) for the moment—taking a page from Nipsey Hussle's Crenshaw idea. CDs and other formats are said to follow, but for now, it's... Read more

April 5, 2015 Audio

Ever Hear The 5 Deadly Venoms Of Brooklyn? It’s Widely Considered To Be Rap’s Greatest Tape (Mixtape)

1997 was an interesting year for Hip-Hop, especially as far as New York City was concerned. Tragically, The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered just months into the new year, throwing a dark cloud and massive vacancy in the hearts, souls, and earphones of many. Additionally, the part of Biggie's music that... Read more

April 5, 2015 Throwback

DJ Jazzy Jeff Calls Will Smith One Of Rap’s Greatest Storytellers. Do You Agree?

Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Rakim, Ghostface Killah, Ice Cube, Andre 3000, Nas, Kendrick Lamar...Hip-Hop has its list of great storytellers. According to DJ Jazzy Jeff, any GOAT Storyteller list is severely suspect if it does not include Will Smith, perhaps forever known to Hip-Hop Heads as The Fresh Prince. In... Read more

April 5, 2015 Fresh

Chuck D Gives a True Music History Lesson in His Conversation with Nardwuar (Video)

When it comes to conducting interviews, Nardwuar is a crate-digger, literally and figuratively. When he got his shot to interview Public Enemy's Chuck D, courtesy of Brother Ali and Z-Trip, the Canadian journalist took full advantage. As is often the case with Nardwuar interviews, he drove the discussion by going... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

DJ Premier Is a Supreme Producer But Can He Rap? Nah, But Here’s a Dope Interview (Video)

While at SXSW, a festival where interactive VR lounges and pop-up spaces for bitcoin casinos share the same crowded blocks as legendary hip-hop sets, PRhyme, DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9″, stopped by for a special edition of Sway in the Morning. They spoke on a litany of new topics,... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

Fabolous Flows Over a Wu-Tang Classic. It’s Not a Game (Audio)

When presented with a concept, Fabolous never falters. The Brooklyn, New York star follows up his freestyle rendition of Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones, Part 2," and stays in the mid-1990s zone. Here, he moves from Havoc's anthem to one of RZA's finest concoctions, in 1993's "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers DESTROYS the Mic on Sway In The Morning (Video)

Chris Rivers (f/k/a Baby Pun) recently stopped by the Sway In The Morning show to chop it up. Before getting to possibly one of the best freestyles the show has seen, Sway starts off by talking about how Rivers' father, the legendary Big Pun helped him establish himself as a... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

The Ghost Sightings Continue. Styles P Snatches ScHoolboy’s Beat & Comes Correct (Audio)

Springtime brings showers. Styles P has drenched Heads with lots of new content, between fully-produced songs with his D-Block affiliates, more cannon fodder with his protege Chris Rivers, and four straight weekends of freestyles on industry beats. The quickfire attacks continue, as this week, S.P. holds ScHoolboy Q's "It's True"... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Many Think DJ QBert Is The Best Turntablist Alive. Listen As He Obliterates a ’60s Soul (Mix)

Chances are that if you own a pair of turntables, you know who DJ QBert is. The San Francisco, California DJ helped coin the term turntablism. The front man of the Invizbl Skratch Piklz crew (which also includes Beastie Boys' DJ Mixmaster Mike, and Fool's Gold Records founder DJ A-Trak,... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Freestyle Fellowship Are Often Revered As MC Innovators. They Still Push The Envelope (Audio)

Los Angeles, California's Freestyle Fellowship is a legendary outfit. Although it really never showed up in sales, and only sporadically in critical acclaim the collective including Aceyalone, Myka 9, Self Jupiter, and P.E.A.C.E. are among Rap's greatest MC innovators. Their leading role in The Good Life Cafe in South Central... Read more

April 4, 2015 Audio

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Salutes MF DOOM By Performing 9 DOOM Songs (Video)

Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) has been vocal in the past about his love for fellow underground MC, MF DOOM. Bey has spent the past few months releasing videos of himself performing live covers of his favorite DOOM tracks as a project he's called BEYONDOOM. The visual EP sees Yasiin... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

Ever See This Footage of Busta Rhymes Battling a Student at His Old High School? (Video)

Imagine you're Busta Rhymes visiting your old high school and a current student/wannabe MC steps to you to battle. Do you a) salute the lil homie for having the courage to spit his bars, b) forcefully check some disrespectful onlookers, or c) teach him why you're the DUNGEON DRAGON? Naturally,... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

There Have Been a Lot of Kendrick Lamar Interviews. This One is Different (Video)

Kendrick Lamar has done a slew of interviews over the last few weeks since the release of his album, To Pimp a Butterfly. With so many conversations, inevitably, there is a fair amount of repetition. When Kendrick visited The Breakfast Club, however, Charlamagne, DJ Envy and Angela Yee brought something... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

Nick Cannon’s Signee Got In With DJ Premier. The Results May Surprise You (Video)

For the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, one of the great ways to introduce—or really break an artist is to get him or her in the lab with DJ Premier. From Nas and The Notorious B.I.G. to Macy Gray and Limp Bizkit. One person who knows this is entertainment mogul Nick... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

Common & John Legend Are Friends…But Not in This Lip Sync Battle (Video)

Spike TV has launched a new show called Lip Sync Battle that is hosted by none other than LL Cool J. As the title suggests, the show pits contestants against one another in epic fake verbal jousts. In its premiere episode, oft-collaborators and joint Grammy/Oscar winners Common and John Legend... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

Watch Kendrick Lamar’s First Concert Post To Pimp a Butterfly in HD (Video)

Kendrick Lamar and Reebok partnered for a one of a kind rollout of Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly album and Reebok's ZPump Fusion shoe. 100 lucky fans and tastemakers were given the opportunity to watch Kendrick perform for the first time since the release of his LP, and receive a... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

Blueprint Honors The Breakers While Kickin’ A Flow That Windmills On Its Own (Video)

"I may not ever see more cheddar than you, but I bet you I can windmill better than you." - 'Printmatic. MC/producer Blueprint gives props to the B-boys and B-girls of the world in "Just Move." Built around a charged jam that makes breakers want to build momentum, 'Print salutes... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

If There Was Ever a Question About Ludacris’ Lyricism, It Stops With This Intro (Video)

Much of the press around Ludacris' new Ludaversal album has centered around his renewed focus on lyricism on the project. Luda, himself, has spoken about believing he's been underrated as an MC over the years and that this album is about honesty and lyrical ability. No song makes his intent... Read more

April 3, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Slick Rick vs. Rakim…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 3, 2015 Throwback

Rick Gonzales Taps A Tony Toni Tone! Classic For Inspiration In Honoring The ’90s (Audio)

Actor Rick Gonzalez is best known for starring in “coming of age” movies like Coach Carter, or the roller-skating themed Role Bounce. After the news that Mobb Deep member Prodigy signed him to his Infamous Records in January 2013, Gonzalez, (a/k/a Realm Reality) has seemingly put more of a focus... Read more

April 3, 2015 Audio

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of March 2015 All in One Playlist (Audio)

Along with the start of Spring, the month of March brought much to celebrate in Hip-Hop. Action Bronson released Mr. Wonderful, his major label debut album. DJ EFN hit Heads off with a slew of amazing collaborations on his Another Time LP. Earl Sweatshirt fired the latest salvo from Odd... Read more

April 3, 2015 Audio

Ludacris and The Roots Perform a Mind-Blowing Acoustic Version of What’s Your Fantasy (Video)

The last several weeks have been all about Ludacris' return to super-lyricism on his new album Ludaversal, which was released on March 31st. While quality new material is always welcomed, sometimes it's good to re-visit the classics, and that's just what he and The Roots did on a mind-blowing acoustic... Read more

April 2, 2015 Video

Watch Big Daddy Kane Tear Down the Stage in This Rare Concert Footage from 1999 (Video)

If you've ever been fortunate enough to witness a Big Daddy Kane show, live and direct, you know no one goes harder. In addition to top choice lyricism, Kane provides all-out choreography, complete with jumps, kick-stepping and even splits. Legendary DJ, and former Fat Beats staple, DJ Eclipse attended a... Read more

April 2, 2015 Throwback

Amy Winehouse is Gone But a New Documentary Shows She is Far From Forgotten (Video)

It's been almost four years since the unfortunate and untimely death of Amy Winehouse. Though she is gone, she is not forgotten. A documentary titled Amy is slated to be released to commemorate the late British jazz and soul singer. The Back to Black musician passed away on July 26,... Read more

April 2, 2015 Video

Do Remember: Scritti Politti, Mos Def & Lee Majors – Tinseltown To Boogie Down Remix (Audio)

Heads may or may not be up on Scritti Politti. However, the band from Leeds, England has been working for almost as long as Hip-Hop has been around. Since 1977, singer Green Gartside has carried the outfit (with revolving fellow band members) through the decades, and dabbles with Synth Pop,... Read more

April 2, 2015 Throwback

Rapsody Discusses Being One of Only 2 Guest MCs On Kendrick Lamar’s New Album (Video)

Unlike many of today's Hip-Hop albums, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly LP did not feature a lot of guest contributions. There were no verses from previous collaborators like Drake, J. Cole and A$AP Rocky. None of Kendrick's TDE label mates such as Jay Rock, Ab-Soul or Schoolboy Q joined... Read more

April 2, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Game vs. Ludacris…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 2, 2015 Fresh

DJ EFN Unleashes Another Heavy Collabo with Ras Kass, Black Milk, Black Collar and Cory Gunz (Audio)

For the last several months, DJ EFN has released some of the most interesting collaborations in Hip-Hop. Similar to peers like Statik Selektah and DJ Khaled, EFN has put out his own star-studded project, Another Time, featuring the likes of Killer Mike, Inspectah Deck, MC Eiht, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez,... Read more

April 2, 2015 Audio

Locksmith, Jarren Benton & Futuristic Have The Substance & The Style (Video)

Fresh off of February's "Killin' My Soul" video connect between Jarren Benton and Locksmith (with Hopsin), the pair come back with another tandem. This time, Futuristic joins the foray in "Blinded." The song talks about the distractions—whether social media comment sections, industry pressures, or significant others clawing that challenge focus.... Read more

April 2, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Releases the Video for the Ultra-Funky King Kunta. Can You Dig It? (Video)

Even before Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album was released, his song "King Kunta" already had people buzzing. Reports that, upon hearing the song for the first time, Pharrell had deemed it "unapologetically Black and amazing" set off a firestorm of social media chatter. When the song hit the... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Shares Some Bars That Were Left Off To Pimp a Butterfly (Video)

Kendrick Lamar is seemingly giving radio and major media outlets the most access he has since the Section.80 days this week. The Compton, California MC—whose To Pimp A Butterfly held the #1 spot on charts for a second consecutive week—appeared on Los Angeles' Power 106' The Cruz Show. Talking at... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

A New Straight Outta Compton Trailer Emerges. It Still Looks Incredible…(Video)

The latest in a series of trailers has emerged for Straight Outta Compton, the upcoming biopic (August 14) on N.W.A. With Universal Pictures' branding, this appears to be the real deal, and builds greatly upon the part-trailer, part Chrysler advertisement, part vignette from February. There are some really interesting things... Read more

April 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Prince Paul Clarifies an MF DOOM Production Rumor, Revisits Prince Among Thieves (Audio)

Prince Paul is one of the more legendary producers of the last 30 years. Throughout that time, the Long Island, New York native has been involved with an extensive range of music, into Comedy and Spoken Word. His approaches have changed and pioneered the modern Rap sound, with the use... Read more

April 1, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Redman vs. Phife Dawg…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 1, 2015 Throwback

Styles P & Chris Rivers Spit Bars in a Smoked Out Room (Video)

Styles P is back with another new freestyle, this time featuring Chris Rivers (aka Baby Pun) in a video called "Ghost Dance Freestyle", which has them rapping over the Slaughterhouse track "Hammer Dance". Few MCs should ever dare to get on a Slaughterhouse track after the fearsome foursome bless the... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

PRhyme & Dwele Get Elemental In A Stripped Down Setting (Video)

From one of 2014's highlight albums comes the video to one of the album's highlight tracks. "You Should Know" featuring Dwele is a standout on PRhyme, with DJ Premier scratching it up between warm notes and hard drums (thank Adrian Younge for that), and Royce Da 5'9" presenting his verbal... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

Camp Lo’s Futuristic Flows Get A Visual Treatment To Match (Video)

Since the Profile Records, Uptown Saturday Night days, Camp Lo has created this world intersecting the future with the past. Geechie Suede and Sonny Cheeba, as their names have always suggested, are inspired by the 1970s New York City. From slang to album covers to strong cinematic references, these guys... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

Joey Bada$$ Joins B-Real’s Smokebox, Talks Artistry & Originality (Video)

Joey Bada$$ is the latest to join Cypress Hill legend B-Real on his YouTube series, "The Smokebox". The concept is simple: they hot-box a car and talk as they would as artists getting to know each other, without a camera. B-Real gets Joey to talk about establishing himself as a... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Decodes His New Album and Reveals Who the Butterfly Is (Video)

Kendrick Lamar came to New York for a few short hours to announce his participation in Hot 97's 2015 Summer Jam concert. During his stint in the city, he sat down with Ebro, Peter Rosenberg, Laura Stylez and Miss Info for his most extensive interview since releasing his To Pimp... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Styles P Gets Funkdafied & Fired Up Thanks To Cookin’ Soul On The Boards (Audio)

Whether it's with The Roots, with Rick Ross, or Raekwon, is there a beat—or type of beat that Styles P cannot destroy? The LOX O.G. brings his D-Block protege Blazin on board for "True & Living." Here, thanks to Spanish production duo Cookin' Soul (OJaYzis, Freddie Gibbs), S.P. The Ghost... Read more

March 31, 2015 Audio

Willie The Kid Is An Old Soul As He Brings A 2013 Alchemist Collab To Life (Video)

It's been a long time comin', but Willie The Kid continues to deliver great music to the masses, even if some are still sleeping. One person who is not, is Drake—who back in 2012 championed Willie and Willie's O.G. brother (and longtime Wu-Tang Clan affiliate) La The Darkman. Alchemist is... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Big K.R.I.T. vs. Action Bronson…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

March 31, 2015 Fresh

Alright, Stop What You’re Doing…The Muppets Do the Humpty Dance (Video)

Digital Underground have proudly boasted "No Nose Job" in their funky Hip-Hop run since the late 1980s. If there's somebody who can say the same, it's Gonzo from The Muppets franchise. Kermit The Frog's slippery sidekick has a few things in common with the D.U. For starters, both are all... Read more

March 31, 2015 Throwback

Ras Kass Meets DJ Premier’s Bars In The Booth With Those Classic Snaps & Punchlines (Video)

Since the very beginning, Ras Kass has had no fear with his verses. The Southern California MC loves a good joke at a peer's expense, whether it's Lil' Kim, Seal, or even Prince, and it's what's made the confident and cocky lyricist so punchy. Those good ol' jabs are at... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Rapper Big Pooh Talks Words Paint Pictures, History With Little Brother and Kicks a Freestyle (Video)

Rapper Big Pooh stopped by the Sway in the Morning show to promote his stellar Words Paint Pictures joint project with Apollo Brown. Pooh spoke about how he, Phonte and 9th Wonder met before forming Little Brother, as well as the current status of their relationship. He also spoke generally... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Rodney Hazard, DANSE & King Mean Glimpse Into Victim Volunteer (Video)

Following his four-part, "Learn From Legends" interview-advice series, emerging producer Rodney Hazard releases video, “Two Lanes” featuring DANSE and King Mean. The Brooklyn, New York natives are seen going off during a live showcase, and looking the lens dead on, delivering their bars over Rodney's beat. The shotbythethird-directed visual is off... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Wale Goes Back To His Nike Boots Roots (Video)

It's hard to believe it was seven years ago that Wale burst on the scene with "Nike Boots." Released in 2007 and distributed in '08, the powerful moment that mixed substance and style was the ultimate vehicle that made the MC from the DMV catch the ear of Mark Ronson,... Read more

March 30, 2015 Video

Ludacris Opens Up to Sway About His Most Personal Album Ever (Video)

On the eve of the release of his Ludaversal album, his first in four years, Ludacris sat down with Sway for an extended one on one conversation. Consistent with the tone of the album, Luda was extremely personal and unguarded during the interview. Notably, this was the first time Sway... Read more

March 30, 2015 Video

Rhymefest Made A Film About Finding His Homeless Father. Watch The Trailer (Video)

The Academy Award-winning and Grammy Award-winning Rhymefest has a lot going for him. Che Smith isn't rushing back into the lab to make another album. With the hot hand, 'Fest is instead opening up into his compelling story. At the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, Rhymefest will premiere In My Father's... Read more

March 30, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

eMC Aviate & Elevate In Their Aerospace-Inspired New Visual (Video)

Masta Ace has two videos in one day. Following his Diamond D-laced "Ace Of Diamonds" video single, Brownsville Brooklyn MC extraordinaire joins Wordsworth and Stricklin for The eMC's "Fly Thoughts" visual. Taking the idiomatic expression quite literally, the NYC-Milwaukee trio takes to the skies, the airfields, and the cabin to... Read more

March 30, 2015 Video