Fresh Archives

Alchemist & Budgie Invite Blu, Action Bronson & Domo Genesis In For Some G Code Talk (Audio)

The jewels from Budgie's Alchemist-produced The Good Book continue to stack up. Over a groovy piano loop, Budgie meshes in with guests including Blu and Odd Future's Domo Genesis, in addition to recurring cast member Action Bronson. "The G Code," applies to the streets and the skies, if you listen... Read more

March 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

45 King, Chill Rob G & Lakim Shabazz Share Flavor Unit Memories, Talk 45’s Heart Attack & Collaborations (Video)

Two New Jersey Hip-Hop legends came together over 25 years after their first link. 45 King and Lakim Shabazz, the founder and one of the star MCs of the first wave of The Unit, respectively, did a new episode of 45's "Making The Beat." While playing some joints, the pair... Read more

March 24, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Styles P Recruits Rocko and His Lox Brother Jadakiss on Sour (Audio)

Fresh off his project with The Lox, Styles P is readying his solo LP, Phantom and the Ghost. His latest release from the project is a slow burner featuring Rocko and Jadakiss. Check out Sour. Related: With A LOX Album Brewing, Mister Cee Honors Styles, Jadakiss & Sheek With A... Read more

March 24, 2014 Audio

Rakim Joins Op1 on a Walk With God (Video)

Rakim is often referred to as Rakim Allah or The God MC. Well, The R has joined Op1 on a rap some would call "spiritual" or at a minimum, "high-minded." No matter the terminology, this is a song with a positive message that has been blessed with a verse from... Read more

March 24, 2014 Video

After A Killer Sway Freestyle, King Los Unleashes Zero Gravity II (Mixtape)

King Los is making moves. Along with Def Jam Records' Logic, Los represents Baltimore's brightest moment in the Hip-Hop consciousness on the mainstream level. Los inked a deal with Diddy and Bad Boy Records a few years back. Recently, in addition to a possible entry for 2014's dopest (and purest)... Read more

March 24, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Ludacris Knocks Nardwaur Off His Game (Literally) (Video)

Ludacris is an actor and a rapper. First a DJ, Luda's personality is what ultimately led to his rise to stardom. Although he's more reserved lately than he was in his come-up, Ludacris has a ball when encountering Nardwuar. The Atlanta MC playfully jabs at Nardwaur, capping jokes on his... Read more

March 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Andre 3000 Is Working With The Legendary Queen Of Soul? Pray Tell

Over the years, Andre 3000 has worked out of the Hip-Hop genre with some monsters. Three Stacks has teamed with George Clinton (care of OutKast), in addition to working with Gwen Stefani, Lenny Kravitz, and of course the 'Kast come-up with TLC. However, Billboard is reporting that Mr. Benjamin is... Read more

March 24, 2014 Fresh

Hi-Tek Takes Us From The Crib To The Studio & Breaks Silence In New Song (Video)

Reflection Eternal's DJ Hi-Tek has been laying rather low in the last year or two. The Cincinnati, Ohio underground Hip-Hop veteran came up through Mood, before making joints for Black Star, 50 Cent, and Styles P, in addition to constant work with Talib Kweli. In the new video for "Where... Read more

March 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

D’Angelo Covers Al Green and Reminds Us of Mahogany at the Same Time (Audio)

As we reported last week, a re-issue of D'Angelo's Live at the Jazz Cafe, London album is being released with several additional songs. Among them is an amazing cover of Al Green's I'm Glad You're Mine, which Heads might also recognize as the sample anchoring Eric B & Rakim's Mahogany.... Read more

March 23, 2014 Audio

Damn It Feels Good To Hear A Gangsta: The 2014 Revival Of Gangsta Rap (Food For Thought)

In just its first quarter, 2014 has witnessed its share of high profile releases. ScHoolboy Q unleashed his major label debut, OXYMORON, while Rick Ross’ continued his growth with concept and cohesion in Mastermind. Kid Cudi surprised everybody with a sneak-attack release, while Kid Ink, The Stepbrothers, and Isaiah Rashad... Read more

March 23, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Domino Breaks Down Where He Gets His Sounds & His Father’s Punk Roots In Crate Diggers (Video)

Hieroglyphics fans are up on Domino. Not to be confused with the Los Angeles rapper of the same name, San Francisco's Dom produced early joints for Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (when it was still spelled as such), as well as Souls Of Mischief and Casual. Dom, who has been a... Read more

March 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Vince Staples Makes A Powerful Visual About His Growing Up Through The Eyes Of A Child (Video)

Children in Hip-Hop videos is a common theme over the last 15-plus years. From the Bad Boy Records glory-years Spike Jonze visual of The Notorious B.I.G. & 112's "Sky's The Limit" to Danny Brown's "Grown Up," plenty of artists (Kanye West, Atmosphere, Nas, J. Cole) have used children to show... Read more

March 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jay Z & Jay Electronica Drop Jaws & The Gloves On We Made It Freestyle (Audio)

UPDATE: Several years back, Jay Electronica confirmed his signing with Jay Z's Roc Nation, after speculation surfaced that Jay would remain a Decon artist, sign with Just Blaze's Fort Knox, or even ride with Diddy's Bad Boy Records. While the proposed tracklist to Act II: Patents Of Nobility (The Turn)... Read more

March 23, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Here’s a Truly Amazing VIDEO Mix of A Tribe Called Quest Music (Video)

DJ Cable has put together an amazing mix of A Tribe Called Quest VIDEOS. ATCQ's music catalog stands among the elite in Hip-Hop but their visuals were also groundbreaking. Here's an incredible reminder of the artful contribution they've made to the culture on all levels. Check out the video mix.... Read more

March 22, 2014 Throwback

Mila J is Jhene Aiko’s Sister. The Comparison Stops There (Video)

Last year, Jhene Aiko had a breakthrough year after pairings with Drake, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar, and the release of her stellar debut album. It turns out she isn't the only talent in the family. Meet her sister, Mila J. Mila draws on an edgier sound that is more... Read more

March 22, 2014 Video

50 Cent Still Has 1 Artist He Wants to Destroy. Guess Who? (Video)

"When you destroy, destroy completely." --50 Cent quoting the 48 Laws of Power. Few, if any artists, have had more beefs than 50 Cent. Fif recently sat down and explained why he had beef with Styles P, Jadakiss and Fat Joe, and why he has now squashed those disagreements. In... Read more

March 21, 2014 Video

SneakerBoxChock Takes The Stage In His Visual To Elephants (Video)

Recently, AFH put the "Spotlight" on New Jersey MC SneakerBoxChock and his song "Elephants." Chock keeps it moving, and came with a compelling visual to match his message about the isolation in his personal life and career at times. This is heartfelt Rap that seems to suggest that even listening... Read more

March 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Memphis Bleek Recruits Sean Price For Some RNS Overtop A Roc-A-Fella Glory-Sounding Beat (Audio)

While questions lurk about Memphis Bleek's latest label venture, Roc Solid, Marcy Projects' own is picking up speed in a career that nearly spans 20 years. M.Dot keeps things Brooklyn on "RNS," the re-popularized phrase that was also a Bumpy Knuckles & DJ Premier joint from a decade ago, bringing... Read more

March 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

ScHoolboy Q & Delaware’s Jem Cretes List Their Hustle Commandments In New Song (Audio)

With ScHoolboy Q's OXYMORON in the stores and on the charts, Wilmington, Delaware MC Jem Cretes unleashes his Groovy collaboration, "Hustle 101." The song pulls a bit from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ten Crack Commandments" and Jay Z's "1-900-HUSTLER" in terms of giving the listener an instructional look on how to... Read more

March 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s Some Previously Unreleased D’Angelo That Will Get You Jonesing for More (Audio)

Few artists have had such a huge impact on music with such a small catalog of recordings as D'Angelo. Both Brown Sugar and Voodoo are revered and considered by many to be classics but, sadly, D has not released a new album since 2000. That will change (sorta) next week... Read more

March 21, 2014 Throwback

Peep The Words From The Genius. GZA Gives A Teen TED Talk About Hip-Hop Helping His Love Of Science (Video)

GZA has kicked since for 23 years and counting. The Genius, since his days running with Marley Marl and Cold Chillin' Records' Fly Ty Williams, has been an MC who stuffed a lot of information in his verses. Now, since the boom of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA joins the likes... Read more

March 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Miguel Hazily Covers An Elton John Classic. How’s It Stack Up Against Biz Markie’s Version? (Audio)

Miguel is one of the more powerful voices in R&B right now. Blu's homie is hard at work on a follow-up from 2012's critically-acclaimed Kaleidoscope Dream. However, in between some soundtrack work, Miguel remade an Elton John classic, "Bennie & The Jets." The 1973 original (that still sounds timeless) got... Read more

March 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

De La Soul Reworks Some Of Their Own Classic Lyrics On This J Dilla Beat (Audio)

On March 26th, De La Soul is releasing Smell The D.A.I.S.Y., the group's first mixtape since 2006 (not counting the Nike project). The release pairs Posdnous, Dave, and Maseo with some unreleased/under-heard J Dilla productions, who was the trio's dear friend and collaborator since the Stakes Is High days. Following... Read more

March 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Will There Ever Be Another Wu-Tang Clan Album? Each Remaining Member of the Wu Speaks…Candidly.

Grantland has written a definitive piece tackling the question weighing on the minds of Wu-Tang Clan fans for 6 years and counting: Will there ever be another Wu album? In order to answer the question, they conducted extensive interviews with each and every member of the Clan (as well as... Read more

March 21, 2014 Fresh

Stalley Mixes Revolutionary Graffiti, Skateboarding and Alternative Rock in Long Way Down (Video)

Ever since his Lincoln Way Nights mixtape 3 years ago, Stalley has always brought a different dimension to Hip-Hop. His "intelligent trunk music" seeks to be entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time. His new video embodies that perfectly by combining powerful message-based graffiti with gritty skateboarding images, all over... Read more

March 20, 2014 Video

Got Soul? Allen Stone Does…By the Millions (Lyric Video)

Though others have become popular more quickly, Allen Stone is one of the finest Soul singers of his generations. It oozes out of his every note. He is cut from the same cloth as artists like D'Angelo and Anthony Hamilton. He's released a new lyric video for his song Millions.... Read more

March 20, 2014 Video

Snoop Dogg Talks About the One That Got Away in Miss Everything (Video)

Snoop Dogg stays working. His latest offering is the video for Miss Everything from his aptly-titled That's My Work Vol. 3 mixtape. The Big Boss Dogg laments the one that got away. Check it out. Related: Out Of Seemingly Thin & Smoky Air, Snoop Dogg Releases That’s My Work 3... Read more

March 20, 2014 Video

With A LOX Album Brewing, Mister Cee Honors Styles, Jadakiss & Sheek With A Best Of Mix (Audio)

From his ties to Bad Boy Records as well as HOT 97, Mister Cee had a bird's eye view of The LOX's rise to prominence throughout the late '90s. The trio of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P have only released two studio full-lengths, but like their Diplomats homies, rumors... Read more

March 20, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Rick Ross Decries The Devil Alone In This Backstreet Visual (Video)

As a father, husband, sports agent, multi-platinum recording artist and label head, Jay Z is a busy man. Rick Ross' former Def Jam boss missed out on the video for one of his most potent guest spots in some time in "The Devil Is A Lie." That did not phase... Read more

March 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Black Thought Hops on a Track with Truck North and Wrecks Shop…As Usual (Audio)

It's been more than 2 years since the last Roots album (though 1 is on deck for this year), so any new verse from Black Thought is a treat these days. Thought hops on a new track with Truck North and does what he does...wreck shop. Check out Visions Polarized... Read more

March 20, 2014 Audio

Bun B Interviews Himself and Asks Some Totally Inappropriate Questions (Video)

Mass Appeal has launched a new series called Time Alone where artists interview themselves. First up, is Bun B who WENT IN on himself...He asked himself about how he felt after Pimp C's death, how to save the inner cities of America and why he's such a bad rapper. You... Read more

March 20, 2014 Video

Is Nas About To Sign Boldy James? Check This South By Southwest Show Of Support (Video)

Nasty Nas has had a few labels in his career, from Ill Will Records to The Jones Experience. Along the way, Nas oversaw a few critical projects from his brother Jungle and The Braveheartz, to the QB's Finest compilation aligning legends with Queensbridge emerging voices. Nas famously inked a deal... Read more

March 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Who Can Reference Mary Poppins & Kill Bill in the Same Freestyle? Cyhi’s Got the Answers (Video)

Cyhi the Prynce is the latest to bless The Backroom on 106 & Park and he brought his A-game. Not too many MCs can credibly pull off references to Kill Bill and Mary Poppins in the same verse, but Cyhi makes it work. Check out the video. Related: CyHi The... Read more

March 19, 2014 Video

Holy _____!! King Los Dropped 1 of the Best Freestyles in AGES (Video)

You may remember King Los as having dropped one of the best of all the responses to Kendrick Lamar's Control verse. Well, he's back, and now he has done a freestyle that is 1 of the best in years. He tackled Sway's 5 Fingers of Death and just plain DESTROYED... Read more

March 19, 2014 Video

Kool Keith Takes Off The Mask & Gets Open In This Stellar Documentary (Video)

Kool Keith is a genius. The Ultramagnetic MC's front-man elevated the artform of lyricism to the highest level through albums like Ultramagnetic MC's Critical Beatdown and Wild Pitch Records one-off The Four Horsemen. However, along the way, the artist who regularly rhymed about trips to Bellevue Mental Hospital admitted to... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Nipsey Hussle Takes Cameras On A Tour Through The Crenshaw District (Video)

Crenshaw is Hip-Hop famous. In 1991, the strip became a film location in John Singleton's Boyz N' The Hood (the very place where a confrontation starting would ultimately lead to a tragedy later). A year later, a young Kurupt mentioned the intersection of Crenshaw & Slauson on Dr. Dre's "Stranded... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

King T Says That He Was Originally Supposed To Be On Kendrick Lamar’s Compton

2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city major label debut from Kendrick Lamar featured more than one Compton legend. Dr. Dre, whose Aftermath Entertainment co-released the album, appeared on "Compton," while MC Eiht provided chilly vocals to one of the LP's two title tracks. A new interview with DJ EFN's Crazy Hood... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

ZZ Ward’s Hip-Hop Blends Continue, This Time With Asher Roth & King Chip (Audio)

Singer ZZ Ward has great taste in Hip-Hop. Thus far, she's worked with Kendrick Lamar, Freddie Gibbs, DJ Premier, and others. After taking a bit of a break, she reconvenes with Asher Roth. Last year, Ward guested on Roth's "See The World." Now, on a Blended Babies remixed-"365 Days," they... Read more

March 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ab-Soul & Sir Michael Rocks Help Jesse Medina Make A Grand Entrance (Audio)

On April 1, Jesse Medina will drop the aptly-titled Meet Jesse Medina. With a new version of his single, "Riddims 2.0," Jesse recruits Black Hippy's Ab-Soul and The Cool Kids' Sir Michael Rocks, along with singer Anya Kvitka for the track about finding the pocket, of the beat and of... Read more

March 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

O.C. Is Forever A B-Boy. He Toasts To Lifetime Hip-Hop Heads In New Song (Audio)

O.C.'s been working lately. After dropping Ray's Cafe, an album with Bronx, New York producer/D.I.T.C. affiliate Ray West, Mush is back with "B-Boy Stance." The Brooklyn and Queens native (he's always claimed both) recalls his '80s childhood, and undying obsession with Hip-Hop at its purist level. Interestingly enough, the whole... Read more

March 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kool G Rap Recalls Delivering Chinese Food, Financial Strategies, & His Realest Verse Ever (Video)

Kool G Rap interviews are getting better with the Queens MC's career. Once guarded in the '90s and early 2000s, the Juice Crew alum—who influenced a generation of rhyme spitters—is seemingly unafraid to be who he is, when the setting and questions call for it. Recently, Montreality sat with the... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Ghostface Killah Flows Over a Cosmic Soul Track with Flume (Video)

Almost 20 years after Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., Ghostface Killah is still rockin' the blue and the cream joints, with crazy visions. Tony Starks blessed Australian producer Flume with a "Space Cadet" verse that celebrates some timelessness from the Ghost repertoire, underneath some incredibly busy, far-reaching production. This... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

Pusha T & A$AP Ferg Have Some Explosive Chemistry On The Sean C & LV-Produced Hand In My Pocket (Audio)

From Tyler, The Creator, to Kendrick Lamar, to Big Sean, Pusha T has always been able to carve out some chemistry with the hot new lyricists of the day. The Clipse MC has many styles, and is seemingly always able to blend with others. Such is the case on "Hand... Read more

March 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

XV Has Some March Madness Of His Own, With Support From Childish Gambino & Big Jerm (Mixtape)

Wichita, Kansas MC XV had a rather quiet 2013. The veteran, who signed to Warner Bros. Records (now Atlantic Records) a few years back was presumed to be in the lab, fast at work on his major label debut. 2014 as it were, will not be so quiet. Vizzy released... Read more

March 19, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Wu-Tang Clan Unload Their First Single From A Better Tomorrow (Audio)

During the two-year march towards A Better Tomorrow, Wu-Tang Clan has unveiled some music along the way. However, as suddenly as ever, this morning brought the first official single "Keep Watch," featuring Nathaniel and Cappadonna. Produced by DJ Allah Mathematics ("Mighty Healthy" and "Publicity"), the song uses a loop, drums,... Read more

March 19, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Audio Push Do an Off the Top Freestyle and Loaded Lux Drops Bars (Video)

Audio Push and Loaded Lux visited the Sway in the Morning show at SXSW and dropped several verses. Audio Push did off the top freestyles back and forth effortlessly, Run-D.M.C. style, and Lux contributed his own ill flow. The sound quality is not great but it's worth it. Check out... Read more

March 18, 2014 Video

Crooked I Destroys Another Track and Snow Tha Product Does Too…(Audio)

Few MCs (not named Joe, Royce or Joell) can hold their own on a track with Crooked I. Add Snow Tha Product to the list of those that can...The up and coming fellow Cali MC goes bar for bar with Crook and wrecks shop. This is Not for the Weak... Read more

March 18, 2014 Audio

Jon Connor Does Some Flint, Michigan Surgery On A Grip Of Kanye West Songs (Mixtape)

Even though he's in Dr. Dre's corner at Aftermath Entertainment, Jon Connor's playbook has not changed. The Flint, Michigan MC who paid tribute to MC Breed, got a cosign from Nas, and made the Hip-Hop/R&B charts with 2013's self-released Unconscious State is back to concept mixtapes. Two years removed from... Read more

March 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Chance The Rapper Frees Up The Original Version Of His James Blake Collabo (Audio)

The Internet era makes this sort of thing so easy... Chance The Rapper treated fans to the original version of the James Blake collaboration, a remix to "Life Around Here" that hit cyberspace a few months back. Via the share, Chance admitted that Blake was not a fan of this... Read more

March 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

2 Videos In One Day, 50 Cent Moves It From The Block To The Club (Video)

It's a media takedown day for 50 Cent. The G-Unit CEO dropped two videos in nine hours—the latter coming less than 24 hours after the song released. "Don't Worry 'Bout It" may pair with "Hold On." However, in the second visual, 50 leaves the block and heads into the club.... Read more

March 18, 2014 Fresh, Video