Fresh Archives

Common Reunites With No ID At Def Jam Records, Nobody’s Smiling Release Date Announced!

With Nobody's Smiling announced in the first days of 2014, Heads weren't sure of any more details. The Chicago Hip-Hop pioneer had fulfilled his deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music years ago, before releasing 2011's The Dreamer/The Believer at Warner Bros. Records, an imprint which has since rolled into Atlantic.... Read more

June 4, 2014 Fresh

DJ Scratch Goes Into The Crates With An All-45 James Brown Mix (Mixtape)

In one of the cooler reveals in Hip-Hop as of late, it turns out that J. Period was not alone in honoring James Brown this week. As the True Elements DJ went in on #The Legend Of James Of Brown, EPMD/Flipmode Squad alum DJ Scratch offered up a companion mix,... Read more

June 4, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Mixes

Ameriie Is A B-Girl At Heart. Just Listen To Her New Incredible Bongo Band-Sampling Single (Lyric Video)

So Ameriie (who, throughout the 2000s, was simply known as Amerie) has always been on the outskirts of Hip-Hop. The longtime Sony Records songstress has teamed with producers ranging from Roc-A-Fella Records hit-man Bink! to Cee-Lo to Teddy Riley. And who could forget the early 9th Wonder, albeit unofficial, remix... Read more

June 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

If You Like Gritty, 90s-Rooted New York Hip-Hop, Your Old Droog May Be Your Best New Artist (Mixtape/EP)

DJ Skizz, whose keen ear, made some AFH favorites of 2013, is out with a relatively unfamiliar artist. Brooklyn MC Your Old Droog (or just "Droog" for short/ease) is fresh on the scene. With straightforward honesty, raspy, streetwise deliveries, Droog is rooted in that Group Home, Akinyele, and Ghostface Killah... Read more

June 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Take A Journey With The Serial Killers, Better Known As B-Real, Xzibit & Demrick (Video)

Slightly (and perhaps intentionally) under the radar, multi-platinum super-group The Serial Killers are still plotting. The trio of B-Real, Xzibit and Demrick are approaching music with the steel-sharpens-steel approach, as two '90s lyrical giants in B and X-to-the-Z find excitement in Young De to call back to those earlier lyrical... Read more

June 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

G-Unit’s Engine Just Started And They’re Already Gunning From 0 To 100 (Audio)

As if their performance at Summer Jam, an all new track, and subsequent reunion announcement wasn't enough for fans of 50 Cent and G-Unit, don't worry, your day just got better. With an exclusive release on ThatsEnuff.com, the squad takes over the recently released Drake single, "0-100," and provides that... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J. Period Honors The Godfather Of Soul, James Brown (Mixtape)

Brooklyn-based DJ J. Period (who is actually the Music Supervisor for the Brooklyn Nets) loves many shapes and colors of music. Coming up as a DJ affiliated closely with Oakland duo Zion I, J. Period and his True Elements platform have made celebrated tapes for living legends like The Isley... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Homeboy Sandman Makes An Oceanic Cut Over Some ’70s-Tastic Blu Production (Audio)

Two of the most versatile voices in the contemporary Underground Hip-Hop world are Homeboy Sandman and Blu. Running in similar circles (Stones Throw Records, Sene, etc.), the pair comes together nicely on "Atlantis." H.B.S. states why underwater is the place to be, given some of the goings-on to be found... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Canibus, Kurupt, Ras Kass & Killah Priest’s Four Horsemen Unit Is Back With New Music (Audio)

Canibus, Kurupt, Killah Priest and Ras Kass reunite as the Four Horsemen (a/k/a HRSMN) and drop their first single ("Historic") in almost five years from the upcoming Canibus LP, Fait Accompli, releasing one week from today (June 10). Alongside the highly-influential scholarly MC Tragedy Khadafi, The Four Horsemen dive into... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Timeless Truth Breathe New Life Into New York Hip-Hop With Old School Samples (Audio)

Coming from Flushing, Queens, Oprime39 and Solace are two up and coming New York artists that, when together, morph into the Hip-Hop duo Timeless Truth. Timeless is the simplest way to describe their sound, and their latest cut, "Trife," is no exception. Production from Fafu flood the streets with cooing... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

G-Unit’s Reunion May Go Beyond The Summer Jam Stage, With New Album News

It's been six years since G-Unit put out their second and last studio album T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight), and just two days ago, The Unit surprised everybody with their performance at this year's Hot 97 Summer Jam. To add to the hype and less than 24 hours after they graced... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh

Those Summer Street Lights Come On In Jadakiss’ Addition To Apollo The Great’s Single Remix (Audio)

Late last year, Apollo The Great hit Heads off with his South American-inspired single, "Rio De Janeiro." However, the New Jersey MC dusts off his joint with a new addition right in time for Summer. Lyrical giant Jadakiss hops on the verse to make the illustration of treacherous moves happening... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Bishop Nehru Is The Latest & One Of The More Unlikely MCs To Tackle Iggy Azalea’s Fancy (Audio)

There is Smif-N-Wessun with Mary J. Blige, Ol' Dirty Bastard with Mariah Carey, so how about Bishop Nehru and Iggy Azalea? Although the Australian T.I. affiliate is not a singer as much as she is a rapper, the Island Records star has a Pop pocket, and has at least two... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Freddie Gibbs Shows The Crime & The Punishment On The Madlib-Produced Deeper (Video)

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's Pinata is still dropping jewels since being busted back in March. One of the album's earliest singles, "Deeper" is Freddie Gibbs' storytelling at his finest, with a signature Madlib concoction of Soul, Funk, and avant-garde Jazz. For the visual, the ESGN (Evil Seeds Grow Naturally) family... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ & Freddie Gibbs Carry On With An AZ Scratch-Chorus For Statik Selektah’s New Single (Audio)

"Carrying on tradition" is an appropriate way of describing both Joey Bada$$ and Freddie Gibbs. Each MC is a bit out of step with their peers, far more interested in preserving the brands of Hip-Hop they grew up listening to. For the Pro Era MC, this includes the free-form linguistics... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

David Alan Grier Provides A Dramatic Reading Of Some Of Kanye West’s Classic Tweets (Video)

Since I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, David Alan Grier has been supplying Heads with laughs. In actuality, this classically-trained actor's resume spans over 30 years, long before he was an integral part of the "In Living Color" cast from beginning to end, and star of such films as Blankman and... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

In The Mood For Some Pharoahe Monch, Blu, Royce Da 5’9 & More? Stream Coalmine Records’ Unearthed LP (Audio)

Brooklyn-based Coalmine Records has been consistently working with Hip-Hop luminaries from coast-to-coast, and abroad. The label has facilitated projects ranging from The Artifacts' El Da Sensei to Blu & Nottz' EP, to Rah Digga releases, and of course the Guilty Simpson x Small Professor collision. Celebrating a decade in indie... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

50 Cent Uncages The Title Visual From Animal Ambition On Release Day (Video)

What better way to punctuate release day than with a title single video? If the three-month roll-out to 50 Cent's first independent album (since 2002's Top 50 charting Guess Who's Back street LP) did not convey what "Animal Ambition" truly means, the video ought to. Fif has a drive and predatory... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Check Out The Ultimate Unofficial Erykah Badu Mixtape, Featuring Rarities & Unreleased Remixes (Mixtape)

For 17 years, spanning five LPs and one live effort, Erykah Badu has helped change Soul/R&B music forever. The Dallas, Texas native approached her genre with a keen appreciation for Hip-Hop all along, and found Everywoman (and Everyman) subject matters to breathe organic life into her field at a time... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Mannie Fresh and Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) Release Some New Bounce Just in Time for Summer (Audio)

More than a year after the release of their single, "Black Jesus," Mannie Fresh and Yasiin Bey release another collabo and it's got that BOUNCE. Check out the instantly-catchy "Let's Go." Related: Mannie Fresh Premiers New Mos Def Collaboration, Talks Making Juvenile’s 400 Degreez With NPR (Video)... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio

Black Thought & Lavaa Burn With Bars Over A Beat From J. Serious (Audio)

Snapping church organ chords are the nuts and bolts to the vintage J. Serious production featured on the Surgeon General release, "They Want Hardcore," and hardcore is exactly what you're getting. The head nodding instrumental, reminiscent of the recently released Root's track "Understand," is walloped by Black Thought and Lavaa's... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pharoahe Monch’s Tremendous Vocal Range & Enhanced Songwriting Is On Smash In Broken (Video)

Pharoahe Monch is often revered as one of Hip-Hop's elite lyricists, since his days of kicking syncopated verse alongside Prince Po in Organized Konfusion. However, more than just wordplay, flow, and precision-driven rhymes, the Queens MC has bared his soul more than a few times in his songs. That's especially... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Did Drake Just Blow Up Jay Z & Kanye’s Throne? 0 to 100. You Do the Math…(Audio)

Drake just released a new track that is deceptively catchy and lyrical. On first listen to the 2-part song, it's easy to get caught up in the dual personality of the track (a la Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2) and skip over the lyrical content. Upon review, however, what's revealed... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio

G-Unit Releases Their First Song With Young Buck Since 2008 On A Hit-Boy Beat (Audio)

Strategy much? Less than 24 hours after the 2014 Summer Jam onstage reunion, G-Unit entrusts DJ Enuff with their first song (in three years as G-Unit / in six years, with Young Buck). Buck Marley kicks things off with a verse on the quartet's snatching of Hit-Boy's "Know What I'm... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Chance The Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Vic Mensa, Kevin Gates & August Alsina Rock A XXL Cypher (Video)

Five of 2014's highest profile XXL Freshmen kick off this week's recurring series of cyphers featuring the magazine's upcoming cover stars. Two Chicago luminaries, Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa unite, joined by Southern guttural spitter Kevin Gates, TDE's Tennessee delegate Isaiah Rashad, and Interscope's breakthrough singer/rapper double-threat, August Alsina.... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Everything That’s Great About The ’80s Comes To New Life In R.A. The Rugged Man’s Ill New Visual (Video)

Coming up in the mid-1980s New York City Hip-Hop era, R.A. The Rugged Man traveled from Long Island to Brooklyn to experience his favorite MCs. The friend of The Notorious B.I.G. and longtime collaborator of Havoc and Sadat X loved Hip-Hop's history, and collected tapes and studied flows. The 20-plus-year... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

T.I. & Young Thug Play With Colors In The Self-Directed About The Money (Video)

T.I.'s Paper Work single "About The Money" appears intended to show the Grand Hustle rapper's mojo, aside from his bank accounts. Thus, for the video on the Young Thug-assisted song, Tip keeps things simple. The toys are kept at home, as the pair rock on a soundstage, and let the... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

As Predicted, The Mid-2000s G-Unit Reunites As 50 Cent & Young Buck Make Peace

After months of speculation, 50 Cent's co-headlining Summer Jam set yesterday (June 1) included a career benchmark. The Queens, New York superstar reunited with his multi-platinum G-Unit group at East Rutherford, New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The group's most famous, Beg For Mercy lineup of 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo,... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh

The Roots Bring the Heat to Summer Jam (Video)

With all the talk recently of bringing back New York Hip-Hop, leave it to The Roots to actually do it. During their dynamite set at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, the legendary crew brought out The Lox, Dres from Black Sheep and... Read more

June 1, 2014 Video

Digga, The Producer Responsible For Cam’ron’s Earliest Hits & Children Of The Corn, Plays Rhythm Roulette (Video)

Although Cam'ron's music is commonly associated with the Roc-A-Fella Records-era sounds of Just Blaze, Kanye West, and The Heatmakerz, he came into vogue under the musical guidance of Darrell "Digga" Branch. The fellow Harlem native was the sound-source for Children Of The Corn, an early '90s group which included Big... Read more

June 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Watch The Full Premiere Episode Of 50 Cent’s Starz Drama, “Power” (Video)

Lining up perfectly with Animal Ambition's June 6 release, 50 Cent's first executive produced premium cable show, "Power" will air next week. In a draw to attract out-of-market viewers to the Starz program, the premiere episode is available online, in full. Starz describes the show as follows: "James 'Ghost' St.... Read more

June 1, 2014 Fresh, TV, Video

The Week in Hip-Hop Video Featured Camp Lo, Ab-Soul, Styles P, Jadakiss, Murs & More (Video Playlist)

The past week in Hip-Hop video brought sneak peeks at upcoming projects from Camp Lo and Yasiin Gaye (the 2nd part of the Mos Def/Marvin Gaye blend mixtape), strong freestyle from Brother Ali and Mayhem Lauren, new music videos from Ab-Soul, Murs & Mayday, Styles P & Jadakiss and more.... Read more

May 31, 2014 Playlists, Video

50 Cent – Animal Ambition: The Videos (Video Playlist)

Update: 50 Cent has now released the video for the Animal Ambition title track. The playlist has been updated and you can now watch the videos for the entire album, in full. 50 Cent has quietly put together one of the most strategic and aggressive marketing campaigns in recent memory.... Read more

May 31, 2014 Playlists, Video

The Message: The Complete Story of the Evolution of Hip-Hop (Video)

Next week (6/4 at 10pm EST), BET is premiering part 1 of a 4 part documentary on the evolution of Hip-Hop. The film will cover all 40+ years of the Hip-Hop era and will examine how it spread across the country, region-by-region. Participants include Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Kendrick... Read more

May 31, 2014 Featured-homepage, Video

Ab-Soul Bears His Cross in Stigmata (Video)

In 1999, Nas released what, at the time, was an extremely controversial video for his song "Hate Me Now." The video depicted Nas being crucified and the airing of a version also featuring Puff Daddy on the cross led to the infamous Champagne bottle altercation between Diddy and Steve Stoute.... Read more

May 31, 2014 Video

Watch Big L & Big Pun in a Never Before Released Cypher (Video)

Yesterday (5/30) would have been Big L's 40th birthday. To celebrate the fallen MC's life and legacy, Complex premiered never before released footage of Big L in the studio dropping a verse AND a previously unreleased cypher that included L, Charlie Hustle and Big Pun. Check out both videos below.... Read more

May 31, 2014 Throwback

Young Roddy & Trademark Da Skydiver Talk Legal Tender Over a Soulful Burner (Audio)

Jet Life brothers, Young Roddy & Trademark Da Skydiver, link on a new record about currency, minus crew leader Curren$y. The result is still the same. They deliver laid back, in the pocket flows over a soulful burner. Check out Legal Tender. Related: Trademark Da Skydiver Doubles As Flamingo Barnes... Read more

May 30, 2014 Audio

Pack Your Bags And Take Off With Mary J. Blige (Audio)

It's been quite some time since Mary J. Blige has released a studio, non-holiday album. At 43 years young, the talented songstress unpacks her latest single, "Suitcase," since her three year long vacation. Upbeat piano keys and club ready electronic production lay the foundation for Ms. Blige to take control... Read more

May 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Heaven Can’t Wait For Common On Kingdom (Audio)

Soothing church house vocals give Common the keys to the "Kingdom" for his latest single. Produced by fellow Chicagoan and frequent collaborator, No I.D., the angelic piece is blessed by Common's new perspective in death as he stands in front of the pearly gates as "Chicago's prodigal son." The track's... Read more

May 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Skyzoo & Torae Get a Rough and Rugged Beat from DJ Premier (Audio)

Skyzoo and Torae's album, Barrel Brothers, hit stores earlier this week. If you're in search of strong lyrics and beats with that BOOM BAP, look no further. Their DJ Premier-produced track, "The Aura," is proof positive. Check it out below and pick up the album here. Related: Skyzoo & Torae’s... Read more

May 30, 2014 Audio

Brother Ali Goes On The Attack In A Freestyle. But Who’s The Target? (Video)

Brother Ali kicked a dope a capella verse on the Sway in the Morning show as part of a sound check. What seemed like a casual rhyme at first turned into a blistering story about an MC who made it based on lies and biting. The target could be an... Read more

May 29, 2014 Video

Murs & Mayday Take a Stand Against the American Prison System in Serge’s Song (Video)

Mayday & Murs make a strong statement against the American prison system in Serge's song. The song depicts a conversation between 2 friends, one free and one behind bars. The video shows Murs and Mayday re-enacting the phone call but bookends the visuals with powerful facts about how many more... Read more

May 29, 2014 Video

50 Cent Releases the Full Album Stream for Animal Ambition (Audio)

A lot has been written about the resurgence of 50 Cent since he left Interscope and renewed his grind as an independent artist. The reaction has been with good reason. 50 has been putting out some of his best music in years. The album, Animal Ambition, is set to be... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

Chance The Rapper Covers A Children’s TV Show Theme Song (Video)

Chance The Rapper has this keen ability to harness some deep seeded, fantastical energy into his music that penetrates your heart and soul, and gives you goosebumps in the best way possible. Now, there is one more reason to love the approachable Chicago artist. At a recent performance at Sasquatch... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mannie Fresh Premiers New Mos Def Collaboration, Talks Making Juvenile’s 400 Degreez With NPR (Video)

Veteran Bounce producer and DJ Mannie Fresh sits down with NPR Hip-Hop to discuss a myriad of topics including his work with Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne's career, working with Mos Def, and the lack of diversity on the Hip-Hop horizon. Along the way, the Big Tymers co-founder also premiered... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Enter Mayhem Lauren’s New York State Of Mind Through A Freestyle (Video)

Mayhem Lauren fuels up with "Danny's House of Pizza" before unleashing his New York peppered bars for Statik Selektah and the crew at Shade 45. The Queens rapper continues to push his New York state of mind with strong work on his recently released project, Silk Pyramids, which features production... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rocko & Nas Share A Love For The Hustle (Audio)

One may say that a key component to the "Hustle" of living is the ability to continue to move forward even during tough, dire situations. Atlanta, Georgia veteran rapper Rocko links up with Nas to relive life's struggles over production from Fatboi that emotes the progression of an '80s montage... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kool G Rap & DJ Premier Make Another Joint, Courtesy Of Spe$h. Scratch Chorus Lovers Rejoice (Audio)

Since "First Nigga" back in the Rawkus Records era, DJ Premier has been one of the masters in showcasing Kool G Rap's genius. The former partner of DJ Polo came in the game destroying the silence over beats by Marley Marl, Large Professor, and Dr. Butcher, but these days, Giancana... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Common Can’t Be Pinned Down Ever. Just Hear Him Alongside Dreezy On No Good (Audio)

When it comes to songs about intimate relationships, Common's usually thought of as rhyming about the upside. While "I Used To Love H.E.R." was a metaphoric breakup with Hip-Hop, "The Light" and "I Want You" are remembered as seductive approaches of harmonious love. On Dreezy's "No Good," Common speaks from... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Vince Staples & Bad Rabbits Get Made And Go Back To The Future (Audio)

Vince Staples' impressive output continues. This time, the Earl Sweatshirt protege meshes with band Bad Rabbits for Converse's upcoming CONS EP Vol. 2 project. The result is a groovy, Electro-Funk backdrop with Vince rapping some autobiographical truths, and a crescendo chorus. Is Vince ready for the proper retail album on... Read more

May 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh