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T.I. Speaks on the Advice He Gave Jeezy to End the Beef with Rick Ross (Video)

There was a time when no one would expect T.I., who had an infamously short temper, to be a peace keeper, but that's exactly the role he took on in the Rick Ross/Young Jeezy feud that came to a head at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Here's a short clip... Read more

How Did Pharrell React To Watching Kanye West Rap Never Let Me Down For The First Time? Watch (Video)

With all the attention on Kanye West's College Dropout this month, one track that deserves special mention is "Never Let Me Down." The Jay Z-assisted moment, which closed with a powerful Spoken Word piece by J. Ivy was a stellar album cut on the 2004 Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records debut. But... Read more

Thurz Delivers Punky Brewster In Living Color (Video)

From his DIY platform, Thurz does a lot. The U-N-I co-founder continues to represent Inglewood with big concepts and bold visuals. "Punky Brewster," which premiered in audio a few months back, sees Thurzday's growing trademark of beautiful women, and in this case, a spectrum of paint. Art... Related: DJ Bizzy... Read more

Cyhi The Prynce Drops Off Some Hip-Hop Love Just in Time for Valentine’s Day (Audio)

Cyhi the Prynce releases a Hip-Hop love song just in time for Valentine's day. Check out Coretta, which is part of Cyhi's forthcoming "Black History Month" project that is being executive produced by Kanye West. Related: Who Needs Hooks When You’ve Got BARS? Cyhi The Prynce is Back (Video)... Read more

Drake’s Done Talking. To Magazines Anyway.

On "F*ckin' Problems," Drake reminded listeners that he's not "for the long-talking." Communication will be at a premium with all formats it seems, for Drizzy. After there was a media hailstorm yesterday, surrounding Drake's Rolling Stone magazine comments about Macklemore's "wack as fuck" decision to text message Kendrick Lamar after... Read more

Gil Scott Heron’s Poetic & Musical Accomplishments May Be Unsung, But They’re Timeless (Video)

The late poet/musician Gil Scott Heron is arguably one of those figures that was rapping before Hip-Hop even came to form. The Harlem, New York luminary warned Heads everywhere that "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," and then he made an assortment of other powerful pieces on the subject of... Read more

John Singleton Is Taking Over The Tupac Shakur Biopic

Director/writer John Singleton has been reported as the latest visionary at the helm of Tupac Shakur's biopic. After years in pre-production, the film, which is partially in the hands of veteran Hip-Hop producer L.T. Hutton (Eazy-E/Snoop Dogg) now goes to the director of Boyz N The Hood. John will re-write... Read more

Capone-N-Noreaga Are Back In Business. They Recorded An EP In One Night

EPMD loved the break-up to make-up approach. Erick Sermon & Parish Smith made (and make) incredible music together, but the Brentwood, Long Island B-Boys can never seem to sustain as a bond. A walk-through EPMD's discography shows more grand openings and not-so-grand closings than Flava Flav's fast-food chicken franchise. Are... Read more

Juvenile Is Signed To Rap-A-Lot Records Now. Get A Glimpse Of What His New Album Sounds Like (Audio)

What a long, strange trip it's been for Juvenile. One of Bounce music's breakthrough stars came up with Warlock Records, which Heads may remember from late '80s releases by The Jungle Brothers, as well as early Trick Daddy/Slip-N-Slip material. Shortly thereafter, Juvy inked with Cash Money Records, where he became... Read more

Although The Vid Is Big On Body Shots, Is Nicki Minaj Back To Bars? (Video)

In 2009 and 2010, Nicki Minaj took Hip-Hop by force with hardbody raps, while showing a lot of body. The Queens MC even took this approach to radio in 2012 with the 2 Chainz-assisted "Beez In The Trap," from her Pink Friday II album. In the time since, besides a... Read more

Common’s Nobody Smiling Shows Its Teeth With An Ab-Soul Feature On A No ID Jam (Audio)

Fresh off of Rick Ross' Mastermind listening session and album preview, 2014's album landscape is looking quite fertile. Coming up soon is Common's Nobody Smiling, a Chicago-themed conversation piece about the youth violence epidemic. Late today, the L.A. Leakers dropped the digital needle on "Made In Black America." The song,... Read more

Drake Thinks Macklemore’s Post-Grammy Text To Kendrick Lamar Was “Wack As F*ck”

Throughout the last five years, Drake has artfully dodged controversy. Even when seemingly playing back and forth with Rap contenders and foes, the polished Toronto actor-turned-MC knows when to hold 'em, and rarely folds 'em. However, in the young 2014, he picked an odd time to step out of character.... Read more

Mayhem Lauren Is An Outdoorsmen Member With Bars That Need Hunting Fatigues (Audio)

Mayhem Lauren is one mean MC with the mic. The Outdoorsmen member (Action Bronson, AD Da Coroner, J-Love) doesn't mess around, and brings that no-nonsense persona to his music. After going quietly for some weeks, 'Hem hems up "Egyptian Musk" for a throwback-feeling cut that has a bullymouth delivery and... Read more

Jadakiss & Sheek Louch Make More Funeral Music, D-Block Affiliate Syp Life (Audio)

The Lox are cooking back up lately. The material as of late is really dark, eerie, and from that wave that some purists say left NYC albums in the early 2000s, to be relegated to mix tapes. "Closed Casket" lives up to its name, with D-Block affiliate Snyp Life. Styles... Read more

Here’s a Previously Unreleased Wu-Tang Clan Video From Iron Flag. Y’all Been Warned…(Video)

A previously unreleased video from Wu-Tang Clan's 2001 Iron Flag album has just hit the web. Check out Y'all Been Warned. Related: Wu-Tang Clan Reflects On Place In Hip-Hop After 20 Years (Video)... Read more

Rick Ross’ Mastermind Album is His Finest Yet. Some May Say Classic (Food For Thought)

Last night (February 11), Rick Ross hosted a Mastermind album release party at New World Stages in New York City and AFH was in the building. The event was a star-studded affair, with Ross and Meek Mill there from MMG, as well as DJ Khaled, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, Mack Wilds,... Read more

Nature & Black Rob Are Telling Us That Brighter Days Are Coming (Audio)

In the late 1990s, Nature and Black Rob had a lot in common. Both street-certified rappers got nods from lyrical circles, while still securing major label deals. Nature, taking Cormega's spot in The Firm, also had a solo deal with Poke & Tone's Trackmasters Entertainment at Columbia Records. Meanwhile, Rob,... Read more

ONYX Put Their Hands Around the Throat of Hip-Hop and Shake It on Their New Single (Audio)

ONYX is back with an aggressive new track addressing all the things they think are wrong with today's Hip-Hop. In a word, they see the music as "soft" and this is their collective call to all MCs to Wakedaf*cup. Check it out. Related: Onyx Reminds Listeners That They Still Get... Read more

Ma$e Sounds Like He Never Left on Remo the Hitmaker’s Tricky Situation (Audio)

Verses from Ma$e have been rare over the last decade, but the Bad Boy has not lost a step. He drops a buttery but too short verse on Remo the Hitmaker's R&B track, Tricky Situation. Check it out. Related: Ma$e Makes His First New Music in 9 Years. Check out... Read more

Nas’ Street Dreams Take Shape In The Form Of An Episodic Series In Development At XBox Studios

Nasir Jones is making unfathomable moves for the MC who once "waved automatic guns at nuns." Queensbridge's finest has a Harvard University Fellowship. He has a stake in Mass Appeal magazine and digital. The veteran lyricist is enjoying the latest in a long catalog of originally-shelved and tribute material, in... Read more

Layzie Bone & Dizzy Wright Join Futuristic on His Tongue-in-Cheek Attempt to Resist “Peer Pressure” (Video)

Futuristic has a bouncy track with Layzie Bone and Dizzy Wright about their tongue-in-cheek attempt to combat peer pressure to smoke...The video features each of them partaking aplenty. Check out I Guess I'll Smoke. Related: Dizzy Wright Honors Fans With The Thoughtful No Writers Block, I Like To Rap (Audio)... Read more

Phife Dawg Honors Dilla In This Endearing Visual To His Jay Dee Tribute (Video)

Just before the 2014 Dilla Day Detroit lineup was announced, Phife Dawg released "Dear Dilla," a touching tribute. After all, in his solo career and earlier, with A Tribe Called Quest, the 5 Foot Assassin was instrumental to getting Jay Dee placements. Since the event last week, Phife Diggy drops... Read more

Is Bronze Nazareth & Willie The Kid’s Living Daylights The Best Wu-Tang Off-Shoot In A Decade? (Album Stream)

Outside of the nine original Wu-Tang Clan members, and even including tour mate/unofficial tenth member Cappadonna, there have been some powerful albums. The Sunz Of Man's debut, The Last Shall Be The First, and break-out solo star Killah Priest's Heavy Mental debut rang some serious bells in the late '90s.... Read more

How Deep Did J Dilla’s Crates Go? Deep As The Abyss & House Shoes Reminds You (Audio)

From Daft Punk to Steve Miller Band to Aretha Franklin, J Dilla's ears were scanning through a lot of music when it came time to craft his own compositions. That's why, even in his death, Heads are still finding stashes of Dilla's vinyl collection in storage units, stores, and elsewhere.... Read more

This Portrait Of Rakim Will Give You Goosebumps With Hip-Hop Pride (Video)

The lyrical giants of Hip-Hop's mid-'80s aren't the type of guys to always appreciate a camera up in their world. KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim (as well as Kool G Rap, Kool Keith, Ice Cube, and Scarface) are big on their privacy. Rakim's not a Twitter guy, and he's never... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Reveals What His Life Would Have Been Had He Not Signed With TDE (Video)

Unlike so many of his contemporaries, Isaiah Rashad is not an artist looking for interviews and ways to constantly tell his story, off the mic. Instead, the Chattanooga, Tennessee native quietly signed with the biggest new label in Hip-Hop (Top Dawg Entertainment) and focused on his craft and product. Fresh... Read more

Vado Puts On The Fedora For Sinatra, With Production By Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, Plus Heatmakerz (Mixtape)

Despite a burning buzz, Vado's never been big on charging fans for music. Now backed by DJ Khaled's We The Best imprint, the Diplomats' second-generation artist comes forth with Sinatra. The project, an EP, is free to listeners, despite high production values from multi-platinum producers like Scott Storch, Cool &... Read more

Ice Cube Says He’s Reverting Back To The Old Days On Sic Them Youngins On ‘Em (Video)

Approaching the release of Everythang's Corrupt on May 13th, Ice Cube unloads some more new music. "Sic Them Youngins On 'Em" sports a new, sped-up flow by Cube. Moreover, on this song, Cube says a few really curious things, from "trying to go ham on Porky Pig" in a way... Read more

The Week in Video Brought Stage Tossing By Action Bronson, a Tech N9ne/Kendrick Lamar Collabo & More (Video)

The past week in video played like a pro wrestling tour for Action Bronson. The big man had 3 on stage "altercations" that led to pushing, shaving and stage tossing. The week also brought an Isaiah Rashad documentary, new music videos from Tech N9ne & Kendrick Lamar, Yo Gotti &... Read more

Kevin Hart Discusses His First Sex Scene, Drops a Freestyle and More with Sway (Video)

Kevin Hart dropped by the Sway in the Morning show to discuss many of the the recent developments in his career, including the 6 movies he has coming out between now and 2015, doing his first sex scene, Sway's Kanye interview, Chocolate Droppa's career and more. He even dropped a... Read more

‘Ye Speaks: Kanye West Remembers The College Dropout 10 Years Later

Kanye West doesn't really seem like the type of artist who enjoys looking back at his past songs with reminiscent nostalgia. However, today he released a statement via Def Jam Records, honoring his debut album, which turns 10 years old today: "Ten years ago today we finally released what had... Read more

Crooked I May Be Rapping Around Top Dollar Toys, But It’s Beatboxing & Bars (Video)

Crooked I is one of those artists who clearly enjoys life's finer things, but those close listeners to his bars over the years know that he grew up dirt poor, and relived struggled throughout the high's and low's of his extensive career. From last year's Apex Predator, Crook tells all... Read more

Mac Miller Freaks A Classic Jazz Piano Loop For Some Stream Of Consciousness (Audio)

Mac Miller, now fully independent, has been really vibing out and defying convention. Larry Fisherman (Mac's behind-the-boards alter-ego) looped and altered some Duke Ellington & John Coltrane for "Diablo." On what appears to be a stream of consciousness cut, Most Dope's most dope speaks out against superficial parties, stresses, and... Read more

More Marvin Gaye & Mos Def Mash-Ups, This Time Tackling A Complicated Thing Called Love (Audio)

After the strong reaction to "Inner City Travelin' Man" last week, the Yasiin Gaye (Mos Def + Marvin Gaye) blend, another track is unveiled. This time it's (Marvin's deeply personal) "Anna's Love," a combination of Marvin's "Anna's Song" (from Here, My Dear), and Yasiin Bey's "Love." Besides urban living and... Read more

Big Boi Gets All Mixed Up With B.o.B., Third World & Wavves (Audio & Video)

Big Boi's mash-up's continue, as anticipated in the weekly series. The Outkast MC has tapped into Phantogram, Blue Oyster Cult, Big K.R.I.T., Sade, and UGK, and now he goes runs to the Wavves for an Electronic raw sound, while running a line into Third World, for some Reggae in "Run... Read more

Lauryn Hill Covers A Beatles Classic With Grace & Style (Video)

If you were near a television or radio in the last week, you relived Beatlemania. It's been 50 years since The Beatles, Liverpool, England's Fab 4, rocked American audiences, and shaped music as we know it ever since. In the midst of it all, Miss Lauryn Hill hit David Letterman's... Read more

Shut ‘Em Down: DMX & George Zimmerman Boxing Match Canceled After Protest

Last week, it was announced that acquitted murderer George Zimmerman would battle rapper/actor DMX in the boxing ring for a three-round, refereed fight. X immediately hyped the event, forecasting that he would not only beat up the former Florida resident, but would urinate on the man responsible for the death... Read more

Action Bronson Stage-Tossing Continues. This Time With A Little Person (Video)

Great Hip-Hop artists have stage-show conventions. Public Enemy has the SW1s. Method Man has a reputation for climbing to the top of speaker towers to deliver his verses. Common freestyles, usually incorporating street names and venues local to whatever city he's in. Jay-Z has Memphis Bleek. Is Action Bronson the... Read more

Ask Edo G About His Skills, He’ll Tell You Of Course I’m Fresh (Video)

For a guy approaching 25 years in Hip-Hop, Edo G (aka Ed O.G.) has a gift for balancing style and substance. On "Of Course I'm Fresh," produced by Confidence, you get a veteran who raps about his skills, but mixes in some views on life, labor, and what grown men... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Joins Tech N9ne & MAYDAY in the Video for Fragile (Video)

Tech N9ne has released the video for his brooding single, Fragile, which features Kendrick Lamar, MAYDAY and Kendall Morgan. Check it out. Related: ¡MAYDAY! & Tech N9ne Kick It With Kimbo Slice In Last Man Standing (Video)... Read more

Here’s a Soulful New Track From Joey Bada$$ (Audio)

Joey Bada$$ gets his mack on during his soulful new track Pantie Raid Pt. II. Check it out. Related: Think Hip-Hop is Dead? Audio Push and Joey Bada$$ Beg to Differ…Tis the Season (Video)... Read more

Deeper Than Rap: How George Zimmerman is Using DMX to Boost His Image & Defile Hip-Hop.

It was easy to get caught up in the raw emotion when it was announced DMX would be fighting George Zimmerman in a 3-round "boxing" match. Stepping back, however, if this "fight" takes place, it will be a travesty on many levels. Not only will it make a mockery of... Read more

Pharoahe Monch & Sway Have a Heavyweight Hip-Hop Convo & Monch Performs (Video)

Pharoahe Monch has been in the game a long time. Long enough, in fact, to help put Eminem on. The Hip-Hop Heavyweight sat down with Sway to discuss his career, being a record label owner, staying inspired, his new album and more. Pharoahe also performs a killer version of his... Read more

Want To See The Roots Of Big Pun? Check Out This Slept-On Documentary Featuring DMX & Redman (Video)

Because his time in the spotlight was so brief, there's often times a lot left out in the representation of Big Pun in the mainstream media. He's a Bronx, New Yorker, a protege of Fat Joe, who is the first Latin solo Hip-Hop artist to go platinum, and his Capital... Read more

Forget a Beef. Rick Ross and Jeezy are War Ready (Audio)

The ramp up to Rick Ross' Mastermind release is on full tilt. Ross and Jeezy have put aside the differences that led to their skirmish at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards, and have come together to create some real fightin' music. Check out War Ready. Related: Rick Ross &... Read more

It’s Official. The Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Joint Album Has a Release Date and the Tracklist is STRONG (Artwork)

After teasing us for years with songs here and there, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib have released the artwork and tracklist for their forthcoming joint album and they have set a retail date. The album, Pinata, will feature guest verses from Raekwon, Danny Brown, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, Scarface, Mac Miller and... Read more

Before the Madness: Here’s a Previously Unseen Look at “College Dropout-Era” Kanye West (Video)

Earlier this week, Billboard Associate Editor Erika Ramirez made a monster of a story, when she created The Oral History Of Kanye West's College Dropout. 'Ye's debut album, which turns 10 years old soon, featured involvement from Talib Kweli, Freeway, and Consequence, who contributed, as well as Jay Z, Mos... Read more

RIP Big Pun. Here’s Mister Cee’s 2014 Tribute Mix (Audio)

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the day Big Pun passed away. Here's a new tribute mix celebrating the life and legacy of the big man, courtesy of Mister Cee. Check out the stream and download below. Related: Here’s a Rare Demo Version of Big Pun’s Still Not a Player... Read more

What Would Michael Jackson Sound Like On A J Dilla Beat? J Rocc Got The Answers (Audio)

Years ago, J Rocc, the third member of JayLib, and Dilla's label-mate at Stones Throw Records made "Dill Jackson." The mash-up mixes meshed the worlds of Michael Jackson with Jay Dee. It's not designed to rock a party, or be cute. Rather, The Beat Junkies member took two artists who... Read more

How’s About Some New Slum Village Over An Unreleased Jay Dee Beat? J Dilla Forever! (Audio)

In honor of 40 years to the day since J Dilla's birth, the donutty treats just keep coming. Slum Village, which presently includes group co-founder T3, as well as (J Dilla's younger brother) Illa J and Young RJ teamed with some unreleased material, in the way of beats and rhymes,... Read more