Fresh Archives

Nas Strolls Down Memory Lane, Talking The Legendary Producers Who Backed Him Early, With Zane Lowe

Illmatic XX has Nas really looking in his rearview. The sometimes reclusive Queensbridge MC is completely open in looking at the formation of his most celebrated album. Zane Lowe, who is getting unrivaled access to guys like Eminem, Jay Z, and Kanye West, sits down with Nasir on his audio... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Yasiin Gaye’s (Mos Def & Marvin Gaye) Ms. Fat Booty Gets A Mashed Up Visual Component (Video)

Just when it felt like Yasiin Gaye could get no bigger, the creator of the fully-produced Marvin Gaye and Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) mash-up project, Amerigo Gazaway, went to the visual medium. For the Gaye-enhanced remix of Mos Def's Black On Both Sides single, "Ms. Fat Booty," Gazaway morphed... Read more

April 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rapsody Paints Her Numbers On The Boards With Some Attitude (Audio)

This month, Pusha T's "Numbers On The Boards" has its first birthday. That doesn't mean that the grimy instrumental created by DJ Don Cannon and Kanye West doesn't still attract MCs from elsewhere to mold it to them. Such is the case with Rapsody. She barely stops for air as... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Nas Performs One Love & The World is Yours with The Roots & Q-Tip (Video)

Nas performed One Love & The World is Yours with Q-Tip and The Roots on The Tonight Show and the results were pretty epic. Check out both performances below. One Love The World is Yours Related: Nas Talks 20 Years of Illmatic with Bill Maher (Video)... Read more

April 8, 2014 Video

Statik Selektah Lays Down A Great Scratch-Chorus For 1982’s Sucker Free (Audio)

Statik Selektah and Termanology appear to be ramping up another 1982 project. Statik laces a really grabbing scratch-chorus (showing his emulation of onetime mentor DJ Premier), on a faster-pace track called "Sucker Free." Term talks about handing out buck 50's (not meaning six quarters), while his own protege Ea$y Money... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Fat Joe Interpolates A Little Classic Queen Latifah Alongside Rick Ross & French Montana (Audio)

Back in 2010, Fat Joe took an unmistakable Soul II Soul vocal riff, and made it into a grimy summertime anthem alongside Young Jeezy for his first Darkside LP. While the faces have changed, the D.I.T.C. member-turned-global superstar has done it again. Interpolating Queen Latifah's catchy 1993 chorus from "Just... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Roots Premiere A New Song That Speaks To Everyman (Audio)

Although The Roots worked with Elvis Costello in 2013, it's been some months since the Heads were treated to a completely Roots Crew jam. That changed today with "When The People Cheer." While the record might sound entertainment-specific in the title, it's some great Everyman Rap that furthers the tradition... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Nas Talks 20 Years of Illmatic with Bill Maher (Video)

Nas was a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher and spoke in-depth about the upcoming 20th anniversary of Illmatic. Hip-Hop's ambassador showed incredible humility in discussing one of the greatest albums of all-time. Check out the video. Related: Here’s an Alternate Take of Mobb Deep’s Eye For an Eye... Read more

April 7, 2014 Video

KRS-One Does Not Want You to Miss 1 Word of This True School Rap (Video)

KRS-One has released a lyric video for his True School song which features the Blastmaster teaching over a killer Jimi Hendrix sample. Check it out. Related: DJ Kenny Parker Unearths 22 Minutes Of Lost KRS-One & DJ Scott La Rock Dopeness (Audio)... Read more

April 7, 2014 Video

SZA Offers Up The Dreamy & Thoughtful Kendrick Lamar-Assisted Babylon (Audio)

In less than 12 hours, (the opening ticks of April 8th), TDE's songstress SZA will deliver her Z EP. With a nice sampling already in the marketplace, fans were treated to "Babylon" today. The track features star label-mate Kendrick Lamar with some incredibly dense, personal-feeling rhymes, while SZA's cloudy vocals... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Freeway & Girl Talk Invite Jadakiss On Board For Hardcore, I Can Hear Sweat (Audio)

Tomorrow, Freeway & Girl Talk will release Broken Ankles, the free-EP. The Philly-Pittsburgh connect showed off their raucous video for the Waka Flocka Flame-assisted "Show You How" last week, before turning to "I Can Hear Sweat" this week. This track features the same strong energy, and attitude as the first,... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Watch ONYX’s Sticky Fingaz & Fredro Starr Brutally Body A Freestyle (Video)

HipHopDX & Team BackPack's Rooftop Freestyle series in Hollywood has included some buzzing names in Hip-Hop's come-up scene. Additionally, a host of veterans have rolled through and kicked some verses in the sunshine. However, can anybody ever say they came as hard as Fredro Starr and cousin Sticky Fingaz? The... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ & Kirk Knight Go Back & Forth In The Booth For 10 Minutes, Over Classic Instruments (Video)

Stopping in London recently, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight hit the recording studio for the "Fire In The Booth" series. Kirk gets a coming out party, noting that he doesn't even have a project available, while the pair play games with the BBC's Charlie Sloth, implementing some homegrown... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass & Mista Lawnge’s White Crows Kick Something R.E.A.L. Over A New Wave Sample (Audio)

After their first song back in February, the HRSMN x Black Sheep connection strengthens. Ras Kass & Mista Lawnge's The Black Crows are back with "Something R.E.A.L." The lyric-driven track features a sampled chorus from Boy George's original group, which Heads might not expect. But it comes out nicely. After... Read more

April 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop to Drop in March 2014 (Audio)

As we ease our way into April, here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop in March. You'll hear new music from Jay Z, Jay Electronica, Wu-Tang Clan, Crooked I, The Lox, Mobb Deep, Jon Connor, Devin the Dude, Big K.R.I.T., Nitty Scott, MC, Kendrick Lamar, YG, 50 Cent,... Read more

April 6, 2014 Audio, Playlists

Da Beatminerz In The House! DJ Evil Dee’s Tribute Mix For Frankie Knuckles (Audio)

DJ Evil Dee stays on the mix (c'mon, and kick it!). One of the living legends of Bushwick, Brooklyn and Hip-Hop production has been making mixtapes for over 25 years. Although Evil Dee (and brother Mr. Walt) are best known for grimy, bass-driven Hip-Hop beats (especially with his group, Black... Read more

April 6, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Here’s an Alternate Take of Mobb Deep’s Eye For an Eye Featuring Nas, Rae & Ghost (Audio)

Think you've heard Mobb Deep's Eye for an Eye? Think again...Here's an alternate mix that sports a different track, different verses from Havoc, Prodigy and Raekwon, and some bars from Ghostface Killah. Though it has different elements, it has all the grit and grime of the original. This is from... Read more

April 5, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Throwback

Here’s an Amazing Mix of Music from the Legendary Roots Crew from Qool DJ Marv (Audio)

Here's an amazing mix of music from The Legendary Roots Crew courtesy of Qool DJ Marv. Marv got his start in Philly around the same time The Roots were coming up. With his impeccable ear and seamless blends, there are few more qualified to document the sounds of the venerable... Read more

April 5, 2014 Audio

Cam’ron Gets Down and Dirty with His Girlfriend JuJu on Devil (Audio)

Cam'ron and his better half, JuJu, get down and dirty on a flip of an 80's soundtrack gem. The Devil is in the details... Related: Smoke DZA and Cam’ron Resurrect the Ghost of Dipset (Audio)... Read more

April 5, 2014 Audio

Snoop Dogg & Daz Dillinger Pay Tribute to Snoop’s Late Uncle (Audio)

Rest in peace to Snoop Dogg's Uncle Junebug who passed away earlier this week. He and Daz Dillinger honor him with a soulful and moving tribute. Check out We'll Miss U (Uncle Junebug). Related: Snoop Dogg Talks Us Through His Life & Shows Us Why Peace Is The Word (Video)... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio

Fashawn & Exile Make Some Fight Music, For The Bradley Vs. Pacquiao Fight (Audio)

On 2009's Boy Meets World, Fashawn rhymed quite a bit about gettin' picked on in his younger days, over DJ Exile production. As the Fresno, California MC got older and was taken under the wings of older Heads, he started fighting back, and a few harassers got punched in the... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Papoose Links With DJ Premier Again, This Time On Current Events (Audio)

Papoose has been in the Rap game for over 16 years. From how people get their music to "what's beef," the Brooklyn MC has watched a lot change. He talks about what sees as it pertains to the now, while DJ Premier pieces together one of the best scratch-choruses heard... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Scarface Announces His First Album In 6 Years, And A Book To Go With It (Video)

Scarface has not released a studio album since 2008's Emeritus. However, the Geto Boy/Facemob member has not retired, as previously speculated. Au contraire, as 'Face tells MySpace that Deeply Rooted is what's next. "It talks about my life," Scarface says of the book and album in the video. "The good... Read more

April 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Yelawolf Turns The Keys To The Pickup Truck In Box Chevy V (Video)

Although Yelawolf has been in the mainstream Hip-Hop scene for less than five years, he's quickly become one of the biggest endorsers of Chevrolet. Up there with Trick Daddy and Death Row-era Dr. Dre, Yela has made anthem after anthem about Caprices, Impalas, Monte Carlos, and Malibus. Now, for "Chevy... Read more

April 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

KRS-One Kicks Some Hard Rhymes Overtop A Guitar Loop. It’s True School (Audio)

DJ Jean Maron has worked with an assortment of New York Hip-Hop legends. Maron's 2010 Run-MPC LP with M-Dot included M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Craig G. Almost four years later, Maron links with KRS-One. On "True School," Blastmasta has that Teacha's fervor as he expounds on why... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s Another Amazing Mos Def & Marvin Gaye Mashup. It Gets No Better (Audio)

In February, Amerigo Gazaway released an amazing project blending the soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye with the artful rhymes of Yasiin Bey (primarily when he was known as Mos Def). That compilation was called Yasiin Gaye – The Departure: Side 1, leaving hope for a Side 2...Well, the wait is... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio

Jon Connor’s Annihilation of Devil is a Lie Gets a Video. Connor Season is Open (Video)

Jon Connor took the Devil is a Lie beat from Rick Ross and Jay Z and made it his own. Now, he's released a video for em-pha-sis...Connor Season is open. MC's beware...Check it out. Related: Jon Connor Does Some Flint, Michigan Surgery On A Grip Of Kanye West Songs (Mixtape)... Read more

April 3, 2014 Video

Rick Ross Releases the Video for Rich is Gangsta (Video)

Rick Ross releases the video for Rich is Gangsta, the bombastic orchestral track that launches Mastermind into orbit. Check it out below. Related: Rick Ross Decries The Devil Alone In This Backstreet Visual (Video)... Read more

April 3, 2014 Video

Tony Yayo is Back with a Vengeance…and He Brought Joell Ortiz & Uncle Murda. This is New York Life (Audio)

Tony Yayo goes in with Joell Ortiz and Uncle Murda over a track that is hard as nails. This is New York Life. Related: Young Buck & Game Hit The Studio For The First Time In Almost 10 Years (Video)... Read more

April 3, 2014 Throwback

Jay Electronica Laces The New Royales with Some Choice Verses on Minutes of Moog (Audio)

After a long hiatus, Jay Electronica is back with a 2nd song in as many weeks. Last week, he and Jay Z set the internet on fire with their We Made It freestlye. Now, Jay Elec lends some laid back verses to The New Royales' Minutes of Moog. This is... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio

Add-2 Makes Perhaps The Realest Rap Commentary On The Violence In Chicago (Video)

Since long before he was a Jamla artist, Add-2 has been grinding, part of the independent renaissance coming from Chicago, Illinois since the mid-2000s and before. Now teaming with The Away Team/Soul Council's Khrysis, Add is reaching a higher plateau with an expanding audience. Hurt and disgusted by the violence... Read more

April 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

SZA Delivers A Tune In Sweet November That Sounds Like An Early ’70s Time Capsule (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment's SZA is something special. While some of her material sounds especially futuristic, other moments, like today's "Sweet November" sound like holdover sessions from the late '60s or early '70s. This Z EP inclusion is the latter style, sounding like a catchy love ballad that might sound fine... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

If You Want To Understand No Malice’s Newfound Principles, Listen To These Backroom Bars (Video)

In the last week, a March video interview at South By Southwest found No Malice adamantly dismissing rumors of another Clipse album. While Heads across the universe may have sighed, eye-rolled, or just flat-out been upset, the artist formerly known as Malice has his reasons. The Virginia lyricist still takes... Read more

April 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

24 Hours After Draft Day, Drake’s Got A Slowed Down, Melodic Days In The East (Audio)

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday Drake let some bars off with the talk of the proverbial town in "Draft Day." Drizzy drops two songs in as many days now with "Days In The East." The song explores cross-town love, and its affect on perspective. PartyNextDoor produced this sung track, with some thumping... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Hulk Hogan Speaks on How Mr. T Changed Wrestling Forever (Video)

Pro Wrestling has been a staple in Rap lyrics for years. Artists ranging from Ghostface Killah to Action Bronson have referred to their favorite heroes and heels in songs. In preparation for Wrestlemania 30, Hulk Hogan, the biggest wrestling star of them all, sat down with Arsenio and talked about... Read more

April 2, 2014 Throwback

RZA Claims He’s Already Had A $5 Million Offer For The Wu-Tang Clan One Of One Album

Last week, AFH was among the first to report on a Wu-Tang Clan album, recorded in and currently stored in the nation of Morocco. Produced largely by longtime WTC affiliate Cilvaringz, the 31-track LP known as Wu: Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is reported to be only released on... Read more

April 2, 2014 Fresh

The Boondocks Is Back, But Will It Be the Same Without Aaron McGruder? (Video)

The Boondocks makes its return to Adult Swim on 4/21, but this will be the first season that was not under the stewardship of franchise creator, Aaron McGruder. Do you think the show will be the same without its fearless leader? Here's a look at the official trailer for Season... Read more

April 2, 2014 Video

Janelle Monae Covers The David Bowie Classic & She Does It Justice (Audio)

Just two weeks after Miguel (with Wale) tackled the Elton John classic "Bennie & The Jets," another British musical icon with decades of hits gets covered. Janelle Monae revisited David Bowie's transcending 1977 hit "Heroes" for the upcoming Rio 2 film soundtrack. While The Wallflowers and Oasis have both covered... Read more

April 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

2014 Record Store Day Will Include Limited Edition Gil Scott Heron Recordings, Including This 2008 Gem (Audio)

It's soon to be almost three years since the world lost an amazing singer, poet and author in Gil Scott Heron. The Harlem, New York-based Heron is known for creating the basis of songs that spoke candidly about the last days of the Civil Rights Era, drug use, gentrification, and... Read more

April 2, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Shots Fired!!! Drake Strikes Back At Jay Z AND Chance the Rapper (Audio)

Two Sundays ago, Jay Z shook things up in the Rap hemisphere with a Jay Electronica collaboration where Hov seemingly addressed Drake's Rolling Stone magazine comments, criticizing the art and fashion contents of his Magna Carta...Holy Grail raps. So Jay sarcastically apologized in the song, apparently addressing Drake as "Miss... Read more

April 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

RIP Marvin Gaye: Here’s a Playlist Celebrating the Hip-Hop Legacy He Left (Video)

Rest in peace to Marvin Gaye who died 30 years ago today. He left the world with countless soul classics, but he also had an incredible impact on Hip-Hop. To celebrate that legacy, here's a video playlist of songs that sampled his music. You'll hear Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The... Read more

April 1, 2014 Playlists, Video

RIP Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House Music

Rest in peace to Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House Music. Knuckles passed away yesterday at the age of 59, due to complications related to diabetes. Though he was born in the Bronx, Knuckles moved to Chicago and became a dominant force in the House scene there. He produced a... Read more

April 1, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh

Mobb Deep Give Gritty Insight Into Life on Their Block (Audio)

Mobb Deep's deluxe re-packaging of their classic, The Infamous, hit stores today. They've included several stellar bonus cuts with the re-release, including My Block, produced by up and coming hit maker Kaytranada, which you can hear below. Check it out and you can pick up the entire bonus album at... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio

Big Boi Gets Beautifully Trippy With A Paul McCartney & Wings Blend (Video)

OutKast Heads may remember that the third member of Earthtone III, 'Kast's mixmaster, Mr. DJ, had a Wings sample on his MySpace back in the day. While Big Boi's latest mash-up does not tap into that "Wild Life" joint, Daddy Fat Sax morphed his 2012 single, "Mama Told Me" with... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Did You Know Smoke DZA’s Name is a Tribute to Snoop? The Boss Dogg and DZA Converse on GGN (Video)

Smoke DZA's album Dream.ZONE.Achieve hit stores today. Here's another release from the album, the soulful Bamma Weed featuring Flatbush Zombies, as well as an entertaining episode of Snoop Dogg's GGN featuring the Kushed God. Snoop and DZA talk pro wrestling, the origins of DZA's name (a tribute to Snoop) and... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio, Video

LeBron James Has Skills on the Court But Can He Rock the Mic? Roll With Us You Know We Got It…(Audio)

LeBron James has been named in his fair share of raps and, of course, he is friends with some of the biggest names in the game. Now, 'Bron has put down the rock and grabbed the mic, rapping over Jay Z and Rick Ross' F**kWithMeYouKnowIGotIt. Check out RollWithMeYouKnowIGotIt. Think it's... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio

Denitia And Sene Are Divided On A Slow & Sexy Beat (Audio)

One of the popular producers in this style of Hip-Hop, Christian Rich, laces Sene and Denitia with this slow-moving, smoky and sexual song about how being apart affects being together. Sene's definitely headed in a different direction than what Heads witnessed with Blu over the years. How do you feel... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kanye West Isn’t The Only Artist To End Up In The Trunk Of A Woman’s Car. 50 Cent Follows (Video)

It's now safe to assume that if 50 Cent releases a song from Animal Ambition, you'll get the video within 24 hours. This held true of the Dr. Dre & Dawaun Parker-produced "Smoke." Following yesterday's intentional leak, the video arrives. This visual kind of ends up where Kanye West's "Flashing... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Chuck Inglish & Action Bronson Bring Throwback Elements To New Music In Gametime (Audio)

The lead-up to Chuck Inglish's Convertibles is in at least fourth gear. The Cool Kids MC plans his LP for next Tuesday (April 8th), and he unleashed "Gametime" featuring a blog-era Rap contemporary, Action Bronson. Both MCs are known for throwback qualities, subject matters, and favored production styles. That's very... Read more

April 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

What If You Treated Your Haters Like Mortal Kombat? Freeway, Girl Talk & Waka Flocka Flame Show You How (Video)

One week from today, Freeway & Girl Talk are releasing Broken Ankles EP via DatPiff. The State Property vet from Philly and the mash-up/legal juggernaut from Pittsburgh may make an unlikely pair, however, there's clearly something special here. "Tolerated" shows that. The Keystone State kids walk around Hollywood, encountering hate... Read more

April 1, 2014 Fresh, Video