Fresh Archives

Your Old Droog & DJ Skizz Took A Freestyle & Polished It Into A Song (Audio)

Your Old Droog and DJ Skizz may have been just freestyling around last week, but the pair was in the studio for a reason. "Just Rhymin' With Skizz" has evolved into "Where The Rhymes At?" Recorded again, with some new rhymes in there, this track comes as an offering from... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

LL Cool J Bridges Mulitple Generations of New York Hip-Hop with Troy Ave on You Already (Audio)

LL Cool J teams up with Troy Ave for a generation-bridging New York coalition. L, never short on swagger, brings the heat on this one. He rides the contemporary track while staying true to his sound that has endured for 30 years. Is this a passing of the torch from... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio

M.O.P. & Busta Rhymes Show You The Life They Represent (Video)

In preparation for their new EP, M.O.P. release the visual for "Broad Daylight," featuring Busta Rhymes. The video plays like a violent metaphor for Fame, Danze and Busta's menacing lyrics about what happens to soft competition when they mix it up with hardscrabble veterans. Flipmode Squad and First Family go... Read more

November 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

How Does Taylor Swift Celebrate Selling 1.3MM Albums? With Some Kendrick Lamar (Video)

It's been a big week for Kendrick Lamar. After releasing his new single "i" it was chosen as the NBA's theme song, in the league's premiere week. If you tuned into any of the games, it was all Kendrick, all the time. The only artist who had a bigger week... Read more

November 5, 2014 Video

DJ Kay Slay Points To His Pioneering Status, With D-Block, Loaded Lux & Memphis Bleek (Mixtape)

After nearly 40 years in Hip-Hop, DJ Kay Slay refuses to slow down. The Drama King lays down The Original Man, with its Egyptian-themed cover, perhaps reminding Heads that he's been making tapes longer than some of his latest peers have been alive. With that sense of personal, professional, and... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

On The New LOX Intro, Sheek Says Benjamins Still Sons Anything Out Right Now (Audio)

The LOX are keeping the furnace fed with The Trinity: 2nd Season. The self-released EP may not be the proper third album Heads salivate for, but one cannot say that it lacks any less quality than that which we'd expect from Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch. To set the... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Open Up Shop Then Tear It Down (Video)

Less than 24 hours after Slaughterhouse's "Ya'll Ready Know" released in audio, the DJ Premier collaboration comes in living color. The impact of Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden's full-fledged run-in with DJ Premier is clear in the video, as Preem is prominently featured, arguably the... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Wu-Tang Clan Is Still Out To Bring Da Ruckus, Taking A Page From KRS-One (Audio)

Hours after one of the New York City listening sessions for Wu-Tang Clan's A Better Tomorrow empties out, Heads are treated with new music. Put simply, "Ruckus In B Minor" is busy, and a lot to process. For starters, the beat changes sporadically throughout the song, arranged as a complex... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Continues To Spread The Love With i (Video)

Kendrick Lamar continues his mission to save lives musically with the official video to his lead single, "i." Kendrick clearly understands the grasp his music has within the Hip-Hop realm and even more importantly, he understands that the people who listen to his music believe in it and look to... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Finding The GOAT: Run vs. Ecstasy…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), 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 consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

After Nas Sets Things Off, AZ Tries His Hand At Rhyming On J Dilla’s Donut (Audio)

Old friends, AZ and Nas watch each other's moves. As Nasir stole Hip-Hop's attention last week by taking one of J Dilla's 2006 Donuts beats, and coming up with "The Seasons," Tha Visualiza wanted in. AZ made his own rendition of "The Seasons," cuing up Jay Dee's "Gobstopper" instrumental. As... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

A-Villa’s New Production LP Features Kool G Rap, AZ, Elzhi & Big K.R.I.T. (Album Stream)

A-Villa's Carry On Tradition releases today. Should you want to support the Chicago, Illinois-based producer's Closed Sessions release, he's offering up a free listen first. The LP calls in verses from veterans including Big K.R.I.T., Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Freeway, Kool G Rap, Joe Budden, AZ, Elzhi, Rapper Big Pooh, and... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Slaughterhouse & DJ Premier Come Together Fully? Results Are As Expected! (Audio)

Half of Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5'9" and Joell Ortiz) have extensively worked with DJ Premier, while Crooked I and Joe Budden have not. Back in 2009, before Eminem and Shady Records took backing of the four-man lyrical militia, on a tight eOne Entertainment budget, it was DJ Premier who hosted... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kev Brown & Hassaan Mackey Got That Grit: Headnodding Beats & Smart Rhymes (Album Stream)

Today, Ill Adrenaline Records is releasing That Grit by Low Budget producer Kev Brown and MC Hassaan Mackey. The Landover, Maryland-meets-Rochester, New York connection's album is a continuation of a decade of championed independent works from Kev, since his days as a pupil in Jazzy Jeff's A Touch Of Jazz... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Action Bronson Trots The Globe For Episode 6 Of His Food Series (Video)

Shrimp in Venice, some cleverly-marinated grilled beef and lamb shoulder in Copenhagen, hot dog stands, and pot roast nachos. Action Bronson is living the life of his dreams, and he admits as much in episode 6 of "F*ck, That's Delicious." Along the way, Bam Bam admits that one particular delicacy... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

It’s A Day In The Life For Dilated Peoples, Who Show Us The Way (Video)

The Dilated Peoples have shared their visual to the second single from the heralded Directors Of Photography album, the Aloe Blacc-assisted "Show The Way." The record follows the artists through a day-in-the-life, in search of the greater purpose. For the Evidence co-directed video, that idea is still at play. Ev,... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Freddie Gibbs Reportedly Targeted In Shooting Following Concert, 2 Shot

In a year that's seen both Made Men's Benzino and former Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight shot (both survived), Gary, Indiana's Freddie Gibbs very nearly joined the ranks. The New York Post is reporting that the MC was targeted following his Brooklyn, New York concert at record store Rough... Read more

November 4, 2014 Fresh

DJ Khaled Holds it Down with Rick Ross, Fabolous, Ace Hood & Usher (Audio)

DJ Khaled resets the lineup on the remix to "Hold You Down." He keeps it smoothed out on the R&B tip but recruits Rick Ross, Fabolous, Ace Hood and Usher on the vocals. Check it out. Related: Finding The GOAT: Rick Ross vs. Fabolous…Who You Got?... Read more

November 3, 2014 Audio

KRS-One & Channel Live’s Hakim Show Out On Mr. Green’s Series (Video)

Mr. Green's Noisey-backed series, Live From The Streets, continues to expand around the Hip-Hop globe. In his third season of the series, the Outsidaz affiliate doesn't need to look far from his New Jersey upbringing to find Hakim Green (Channel Live) and Hakim's mentor/close friend, KRS-One. Blastmasta and Hak' were... Read more

November 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Your Old Droog is Not Nas But He’s Still Nasty. Here’s a New Freestyle (Video)

Now that the Nas controversy has been settled, Your Old Droog returns to what's really important to him: rhymin'. He releases part 2 of his "Rhymin' with Skizz" series which goes back to the basic with nothing but Droog on the mic and Skizz on the beat. Check out the... Read more

November 3, 2014 Video

DJ Quik, Suga Free & Dom Kennedy Hit The Seas For Their New Splash (Video)

From the recently-released Midnight Life, DJ Quik's "Life Jacket" is one of the smoother offerings. Joined by 20-year affiliate Suga Free, as well as one of the artists the Compton, California mainstay has inspired, Dom Kennedy, the trio take to the waters with some female company for the independent single.... Read more

November 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joe Budden Looks Into The Camera To Let One Of His Exes Know It’s Real (Video)

Following the release of "Ordinary Love Shit, Part 4 (Keep Running)," Joe Budden lets you know it's real, with the video. From a perhaps metaphoric cell, Joe looks the camera in the lens and tells it as it is, to him. This is masterful relationship rap from one of the... Read more

November 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Is On A Mission To Save Lives With His Music (Video)

You may see a bunch of catchy headlines about Kendrick Lamar's extended interview today with Hot 97. There will be talk about Lady Gaga, Macklemore, his upcoming appearance on SNL, how many kids he wants to have...All of that is accurate, but it's fluff compared to the jewels he drops... Read more

November 3, 2014 Video

Run The Jewels Crashes The Party On Until The Ribbon Breaks’ New One (Video)

'Cause Heads can't get enough... Beginning with 2013's self-titled album, Until The Ribbon Breaks worked with Run The Jewels ("Job Well Done"). Now, just following the last 10 days' bum-rush of RTJ2, Killer Mike and El-P return the favor, and collide with the British Electronic band for their single, "Revolution... Read more

November 3, 2014 Video

Killer Mike Does Bad Things To Snoh’s Dark, Twisted Single (Audio)

Killer Mike is on a tear this month. After RTJ2 released to dominate the Rap consciousness into the month of November, Mike Bigga has appeared on two new songs in the last 24 hours. After working with previous RTJ collaborators, Until The Ribbon Breaks, Killer Kill sets his sights on... Read more

November 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Grafh Makes One Of His Hardest Joints In Years, Alongside Raekwon & Vado (Audio)

Grafh has been a New York City street Rap mainstay for more than a dozen years. Backed and supported by folks like Chaz Williams and Black Hand Entertainment as well as DJ Kay Slay, Grafh has had trusted ears and power-players in his corner. On "Walk In New York," Heads... Read more

November 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Big L vs. Fat Joe…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), 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 consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 3, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Travel To Big K.R.I.T.’s Planet Of Cadillactica A Week Early (Album Stream)

With the new week, Big K.R.I.T. has looked to NPR First Listen (for the second straight time) to premiere his sophomore major label album, Cadillactica (November 11) more than a week early. Guests on the Cinematic/Def Jam Records affair, per usual, include many of K.R.I.T's inspirations, including the likes of... Read more

November 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Jean Grae Releases a New EP Where She’s Singing…And It Sounds Great (Audio)

Jean Grae shows her multiple dimensions on her latest project. Having long-established her razor sharp MCing abilities, she switches things up and sings on her new EP, #5. The results are quite intoxicating. She has a neo-soul vibe and great song-making skills. Check out the full stream below and purchase... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio

Jay Rock Releases His First New Video in 2 Years. That’s Watts Up (Video)

Jay Rock is back. With a VENGEANCE. In the same week he released his new collabo with Kendrick Lamar, he unleashes the video for "Parental Advisory." The song, with its double Snoop Dogg nods, already oozed Cali. But, the video takes it to another level with a detailed look into... Read more

November 2, 2014 Video

Jeezy & Beenie Man? That’s How the Real Ones Link Up (Audio)

In one of the most unexpected combinations in quite some time, Jeezy links up with Beenie Man and Ty Dolla $ign on a Reggae-tinged DJ Mustard beat. Check out "Link Up." Related: Jeezy Brings Out Jay Z for a Charged Performance of Seen it All (Video)... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio

Freeway & The Jacka Spit Some Fire in the Booth (Video)

BBC Radio 1 continues its freestyle series with some Fire in the Booth from Freeway & The Jacka. Both go off the top quite a bit in this one and Freeway rocks a live version of "What We Do." Check out the video. Related: AZ, Freeway, Havoc & Kids These... Read more

November 2, 2014 Video

Joell Ortiz, Sheek Louch & Ransom Go to Work on a Tough Track for Kay Slay (Audio)

O.G. DJ Kay Slay is readying a new mixtape titled The Original Man. Ahead of the release, he premieres (via NahRight) a tough track with steely lyrics from Joell Ortiz, Sheek Louch and Ransom. Check out "Don't Say Nothing to Me." Related: Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of October 2014 (Audio)

October yielded some of the hardest Hip-Hop of the year. Whether it was seasonal, Mercury in retrograde or something in the water, MCs brought their A-games. Here's a playlist of some of the best music of the month. You'll hear tracks from Redman, Big K.R.I.T., Logic, The Lox, Rah Digga,... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

Prince Turns on the Funk Then Rocks Out on Saturday Night Live (Video)

Saturday Night Live now belongs to Prince. He took the SNL performance stage last night and held it hostage for 8+ minutes amidst a storm of unrelenting funk and rock. Accompanied by his group 3rdEyeGirl, Prince broke a 40-year SNL tradition by playing one monster set instead of two separate... Read more

November 2, 2014 Video

Harry Potter Raps Blackalicious With The Roots? Yeah…(Video)

So...it appears Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Harry Potter film franchise, has got the Gift of Gab. The British thespian guested on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and, to show his knack for memorizing complicated lyrics, performed "Alphabet Aerobics" by Blackalicious. Backed by The Roots, Radcliffe breathlessly did Blackalicious'... Read more

November 1, 2014 Video

A.G., Sadat X & Neek the Exotic Abuse this Throwback Jazz Sample (Audio)

DJ JS-1 assembles A.G., Sadat X and Neek the Exotic on a 90's-flavored jazz loop, as they run down tales from back in the day. Check out "Sample Abusers." Related: Finding The GOAT: Kool G Rap vs. Sadat X…Who You Got?... Read more

November 1, 2014 Audio

Here’s an Incredible Curtis Mayfield Tribute Mix (Audio)

The latest edition of Stussy's Guest Artist Series clothing line is an ode to the late, great Curtis Mayfield. To commemorate the launch of the line, the clothier has released a super fly mix of some of Mayfield's soulful catalog compiled by dj/producer/artist Muro. Aside from James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic,... Read more

November 1, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Happy Birthday to Pharoahe Monch. Here’s a Celebratory Mix of His Music (Audio)

Happy Birthday to Pharoahe Monch who turned 42 on Halloween. To celebrate the date, OkayPlayer commissioned DJ Raydar Ellis to put together a mix of Monch's music. Ellis dug deep in the crates pulling out gems from Pharoahe's solo career, his days with Organized Konfusion, featured appearances and more. Check... Read more

November 1, 2014 Audio

Scarface Takes A Long, Honest Look Back At The Diary 20 Years Later

Twenty years ago, Scarface released his third solo album, The Diary. A five-mic album in The Source, the Rap-A-Lot Records effort is cemented as one of the benchmarks in Brad Jordan's extensive, near 30-year career. With a platinum plaque and two charting singles, the effort had popularity, despite incredibly dark... Read more

November 1, 2014 Throwback

Jeezy Brings Out Jay Z for a Charged Performance of Seen it All (Video)

Jeezy performed at this year's Power 105 Powerhouse concert in Brooklyn, and during "Seen It All," brought out fellow collaborator, Jay Z. Check out professional quality footage of Jay's verse below. Related: Jeezy & T.I. Hint That Their Joint Album Is Finally Coming… (Video)... Read more

November 1, 2014 Video

Ludacris Recruits Miguel on the Soulful Good Lovin’ (Audio)

Having provided key features for Miguel, J. Cole and more, Miguel is proving to be one of Hip-Hop's most valuable hook men. He lends his velvety vocals to Ludacris on the ultra-soulful "Good Lovin'," one of Luda's strongest tracks in years. Check it out. Related: Behind The Music: Ludacris (Video)... Read more

November 1, 2014 Audio

Jeezy & T.I. Say Their Joint Album Is Finally Coming… (Video)

Just as T.I. received his first week sales figures for Paperwork, the now Columbia Records artist, and Grand Hustle co-founder is already looking into the horizon. Tip and Jeezy were both involved in this weekend's Powerhouse, which also featured Jay Z appearing in support of Snowman. Tip has five albums... Read more

November 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Was We Are the World the Downfall of Purple Rain? Read This and You Decide.

In the midst of the 30th anniversary of Prince's iconic Purple Rain album, much has been written and said. For Heads who weren't paying close attention to the media following the hit-packed album, or don't recall various award show moments, a lot can be lost. Alan Light is among the... Read more

October 31, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The Hieroglyphics Paint Pictures With Words In The Studio (Audio)

Following last year's The Kitchen LP, Del The Funky Homosapien and the Hieroglyphics crew are back in the lab again. Del, A-Plus, Opio and company freak a new concept at Red Bull Studios, their first new crew music (said to be the first of two tracks) from the session. "Heebie... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Big K.R.I.T. Claims King Of The South & Says He Bested “Your Favorite Rapper” Too (Audio)

Guaranteed, you've never heard Big K.R.I.T. this confident, this unleashed... Track 7 from Cadillactica (November 11), "King Of The South" is a bold statement. With an in-your-face beat, Krizzle matches with a verse. The song talks the Meridian Mississippi's "country" upbringing, and his current urban lifestyle. He paints himself as... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The LOX Are In Their Bag This Week. They Are Taking New York Like Jason Vorhees (Audio)

After Jadakiss and Styles P got their John Gotti suits on alongside Lil Wayne, The full LOX legion unleash their next full-trio cut. "All We Know" is in that wheelhouse, with the low and eerie beat (care of Buda Da Future and Grandz) hard drums, and a take-by-force in audio.... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Get The Sum Of Raekwon’s Soul/R&B 21-Song TBT Series (Mixtape)

For 20 straight weeks, Raekwon the Chef sliced up some of his personal favorite R&B/Soul/Pop delicacies. Rae' left the vocals in tact on songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s, and a tip-toe of 2000s as he hopped on the tracks and proved that he could get a lil' Ghostdeini himself.... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Remy Ma Releases Her First Mixtape In 6 Years (Mixtape)

Remy Ma has not released a mixtape to the masses since 2008's BlasRemy, which dispersed in the midst of legal wars and a lot of tension. This year, the Castle Hill, Bronx native proved she's a different woman. Remy's grown, and focused on her career, her family, and spreading positive... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Finding The GOAT: Kool G Rap vs. Sadat X…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), 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 consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

October 31, 2014 Fresh, Throwback