Fresh Archives

Black Sheep’s Dres, A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi & G-Side’s ST 2 Lettaz Get Gone (Audio)

Wow. New York City to Hunstville, Alabama. The late 1980s to the late 2000s. Hip-Hop knows no boundaries when Dres & Jarobi's evitaN (that's "Native" spelled backwards, if you're playing at home), link with ST 2 Lettaz. With the Black Sheep and A Tribe Called Quest ties here, and ST... Read more

December 3, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Raps About The Winners Circle With Old Partner Kanin (Audio)

Throughout the last three years, Kendrick Lamar frequently lends his vocal talents to artists on the come-up. Whether Y.G. Hootie, Mann, or Nitty Scott, MC, K-Dot is generous with the look, but hoards the spotlight as he famously promised earlier this year. "Winners Circle" is an Old School New single... Read more

December 3, 2013 Audio, Fresh

You Probably Haven’t Heard Sean Price Tackle A Track Like Dump In The Gut (Audio)

Sean Price doesn't care. That's what makes him great. The Heltah Skeltah MC that said "I don't Wale with you new niggas" a few years back is back to talk his trademark cranky rap on "Dump In The Gut." Produced by longtime Duck Down affiliate from Down Under M-Phazes, the... Read more

December 3, 2013 Audio, Fresh

A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words When Outkast’s Andre 3000 & Big Boi Are Photo’d Together. Could a Reunion Album Be Next?

Short of Dr. Dre's Detox, is there something a Hip-Hop Head can hope for more than an Outkast reunion? It's been a mere seven years, but it feels like forever. HypeTrak highlighted the instragram post of Andre 3000 and Big Boi (in vintage Outkast Clothing, no less) hanging out. While... Read more

December 2, 2013 Fresh

Bonita. Bonita. Bonita. Stephanie Santiago As A Tribe Called Quest’s Real Bonita Applebum (Video)

Decades before Sherane, there was Bonita. The apple of A Tribe Called Quest's eye had a suggestive name of more produce, and Heads fell in love the minute Q-Tip compared the buxom beauty to "a Hip-Hop song." The fictional character has become a lasting reference in Hip-Hop, and for a... Read more

December 2, 2013 Throwback

Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick & Big Daddy Kane Perform The Hits At 2013 Soul Train Awards (Video)

For as long as Heads can remember, Harlem's Doug E. Fresh has been calling himself the World's Greatest Entertainer. With the energy the living, working Hip-Hop pioneer brought to the 2013 Soul Train Awards, which aired last night, it's hard to disagree. Joined by Cali Swag District (who were discovered... Read more

December 2, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

J. Cole Has A Problem With Rich People…& He Realizes What That Means For Him. Here’s How He Reconciles The Conflict (Video)

Heads may've heard J. Cole's track "Rich Niggaz." Track 9 from Born Sinner captures Cole's disdain for silver-spoon folks in contrast to his own working-class upbringing. Now with two top-selling albums under his belt, touring, endorsements, and whatnot, Cole reconsiders just six months since the cut released. Jermaine speaks about... Read more

December 2, 2013 Fresh, Video

Pusha T Talks About What it Would Take for a Clipse Reunion Album and His Album Being the Best of the Year with Zane Lowe (Audio)

Pusha T says he “turns down features all the time,” and maintains that he’s got “album of the year” to Zane Lowe. The Clipse lyricist sits down at BBC Radio for a discussion about 2013, his My Name Is My Name solo debut, and why he refuses to phone-in features,... Read more

December 2, 2013 Throwback

Childish Gambino Explores Egos Run Amok and Brought Back Down to Size on The Worst Guys ft Chance the Rapper (Audio)

Ever talk junk and fail to back it up? Childish Gambino explores the theme in a tale of a menage gone bad on The Worst Guys featuring Chance the Rapper. So far, the songs Gambino has released are playing like a soundtrack to the 20-minute inscrutable short film Clapping for... Read more

December 2, 2013 Audio

Bring ‘Em Back: D’Angelo Plays Curtis Mayfield’s Gimme Your Love in the Brown Sugar Era (Video)

If you're a fan of the 70's film Superfly or even Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle album, you know the impact that Curtis Mayfield had on soul music, Hip-Hop, film and pop culture, generally. I first saw D'Angelo channel the late, great Mayfield as he opened a soulful show on New... Read more

December 2, 2013 Throwback

Wale & Stokley Williams Have Some Of Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues At The 2013 Soul Train Awards (Video)

On The Gifted, Wale linked on several compositions with Mint Condition lead singer Stokely Williams. The Minneapolis vet teamed with the DMV star on "LoveHate Thing," the LP's second single which, among other items, examines Wale's curious relationship with his region, while being their breakout star since 2006 (as he... Read more

December 2, 2013 Fresh, Video

Travi$ Scott Releases One of the Most Visually-Stunning and Disturbing Videos of the Year for Uptown. Let the Illuminati Talks Begin (Video)

Heads may still be warming up to Travi$ Scott. Along with CyHi, Trav is one of the newer acts to the G.O.O.D. Music crew, and he also is a member of T.I.'s Hustle Gang, and part of a joint venture with Grand Hustle. You can get a sense of his... Read more

December 2, 2013 Video

Raekwon Freaks The Classic Gang Starr Funk On Lion’s Paw Freestyle (Audio)

Gang Starr and DJ Premier have longstanding ties to the Wu-Tang Clan, from the days of Premo lending equipment to RZA in the Tommy Boy Records days, to Inspectah Deck on "Above The Clouds," and Method Man's appearance on the "In Together Now" remix. Interestingly enough, Staten Island's Raekwon has... Read more

December 2, 2013 Audio, Fresh

When’s the Last Time You Watched Mike Tyson Bite Off Evander Holyfield’s Ear? Watch the Footage While Listening to Freddie Gibbs’ Deuces (Video)

Freddie Gibbs releases a new song called Deuces and attaches it to the footage of the infamous bout between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. Check it out. Related: Freddie Gibbs & ESGN Cover 3 X Krazy’s Keep It On The Real (Video)... Read more

December 1, 2013 Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of November 2013 (Audio Playlist)

The year is winding down, no doubt, but the good music kept coming in November. Here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop last month, including songs from Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Joey Bada$$, Eminem, Masta Ace, Raekwon, Posdnuos, Rah Digga, Elzhi, Jay Z, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Jhene Aiko,... Read more

December 1, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

This Week in Video Was Dominated By Kanye West’s Epic Meltdown on Sway…But There Was So Much More. Here’s a Playlist of the Kanye Highlights and Anything Else Worth Watching from the Past Week (Video Playlist)

Kanye West shut down the web with his extremely heated exchange with Sway. In the midst of the furor, last week was one of the best of the year for Hip-Hop video programming--Eminem's Rap God video, Snoop talking TDE vs. Death Row, A Tribe Called Quest discussing their farewell shows,... Read more

November 30, 2013 Playlists, Video

Kendrick Lamar Has a Compton Reunion with YG Hootie on Two Presidents (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar teams up with YG Hootie, who went to Centennial High with K. Dot in Compton, on Two Presidents. Check it out below. Related: Kendrick Lamar Performs Swimming Pools / Poetic Justice Medley At 2013 AMAs (Video)... Read more

November 30, 2013 Audio

DJ Premier Cuts The Scratches To Who’s Gonna Take The Weight Live (Video)

Asking a Head to name their favorite Gang Starr tracks can be a lot like Sophie's Choice. From the joints included on the duo's two greatest hits compilations onto the album cuts from 1986 to 2003, it was all pretty revolutionary for beats, rhymes, style, charisma, and "tha voice." One... Read more

November 30, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Da Mafia 6ix Give Their Own Spin On The Fame Soundtrack & Remind Us To Remember (Video)

DJ Paul's mostly-reunited 2013 rendition of the Three 6 Mafia includes Gangsta Boo, Crunky Black, Lord Infamous, and Koopsta Knicca. While Juicy J and La'Chat aren't down (yet), the tribute crew known as Da Mafia 6ix still upholds some of the tactics that made Memphis' breakthrough group so cult-beloved back... Read more

November 30, 2013 Fresh, Video

Vic Mensa Was Already a Microphone Beast in 2010. Here’s Proof…Children of the Sun (Audio)

Vic Mensa, along with Chance the Rapper, is one of the breakout Hip-Hop stars of 2013. Some may know him from Kids These Days and he's only flourished now that he's gone solo. Even when he was with the band, he dabbled in some solo material and he's released a... Read more

November 30, 2013 Throwback

J. Cole, A$AP Rocky and Pusha T All Head Up a Hip-Hop Remix of Justin Timberlake’s TKO…and J. Cole Goes at Kendrick Lamar for His Control Verse (Audio)

Almost everyone rapper named in Kendrick Lamar's Control verse has responded in one way or another...except J. Cole. Jermaine is featured on the all Hip-Hop remix to Justin Timberlake's TKO, along with A$AP Rocky and Pusha T, and he used the opportunity for a little payback. Check it out below... Read more

November 30, 2013 Audio

Mac Miller Continues His Run For This Year’s Most Improved MC on I Come in Peace (Audio)

This week, Mac Miller announced that he was headed back to Pittsburgh for some holiday fun. Presumably upon landing, Larry Fisherman linked with Big Jerm and P. Fish for "I Come In Peace." The record includes some of Mac's incredibly stepped-up 2013 lyricism, with a lot of in-the-moment references to... Read more

November 29, 2013 Audio

Young Jeezy Releases His ItsThatWorld 2 Mixtape with Features From Big K.R.I.T., Pusha T and More (Mixtape)

Young Jeezy releases part 2 of his Its Tha World mixtape, which features guest appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Pusha T and more. You can stream and download #ItsThaWorld2 below. Download Mixtape Related: Young Jeezy – Its Tha World (Mixtape)... Read more

November 29, 2013 Mixes

Cormega & Raekwon Have Honorable Repertoires (Audio)

Cormega and Raekwon have a lot of common. After over 15 years in the same game, the two worked together on 2009's "Radiant Jewels" from Wu Chamber Music. In 2013, they link again for "Honorable." Two MCs' MCs know how to provide just enough imagery to capture the essence of... Read more

November 29, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Redman and Method Man Rock Paris (Full Concert Video)

You may have caught this concert before. If so, it's still great holiday viewing and, if not, get ready to be entertained by 2 Hip-Hop heavyweights leaving it all on the stage. The dynamic duo of Redman and Method Man made their way to Paris last year and rocked out... Read more

November 28, 2013 Throwback

Childish Gambino Sings on Most of Telegraph Ave. Strip Away the Drake Comparisons and You’re Still Left with a Dope Song (Audio)

We heard most of Childish Gambino's upcoming Because the Internet album a couple of weeks ago. It's a concept album that's details a day in the life of Childish Gambino/Donald Glover. It's dark and brooding, much like material from The Weeknd, Drake and even Mac Miller's latest. If you're a... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio

NahRight Looks At Snoop Dogg’s Best Doggystyle-Era Performances (Video)

The homies over at NahRight.com have a cool retrospective of the best early performances by Snoop Doggy Dogg. The videos are from 1994-1996, surrounding Snoop's groundbreaking quadruple platinum debut, Doggystyle. This was the day when an artist could work an album for nearly three years after its release, especially on... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Sean Price Has The Thanksgiving Spirit (Video)

Sean Price can make anything comical—from "expensive waters" to his wife and kids. Duck Down Music followed Sean P into a grocery store to show one half of Heltah Skeltah's holiday preparations. Unintentionally funny, Mic Tyson is forever a riot when it comes to Everyman things, told with that Brownsville... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Video

J. Dilla Brings Out the Best in Joey Bada$$ (and So Many Others). Here’s Joey’s Song Two Lips Which Features a Previously Unreleased Dilla Track (Audio)

After rocking on 2 Dilla cuts on his breakthrough mixtape 1999, Joey Bada$$ gets the privilege of flowing over a previously unreleased Dilla beat on his latest, and he steps up to the challenge. Check out Two Lips. Related: Joey Bada$$ Releases Hilary Swank, the Newest Video from Summer Knights... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio

Eminem is Clearly a Child of the 80’s with His Inclusion of Max Headroom, Rakim, N.W.A., Bill Clinton, JJ Fad, Heavy D and Many More References in the Video for Rap God. Seeing is Believing (Video)

Eminem's career fits in the qualifications of Pop Art. The Detroit, Michigan battle-rapper entered the mainstream through poking fun at multi-platinum peers in and out of Hip-Hop, and ascended into a true global icon. Years from now, people will understand what was on people's minds in 1999, 2000, or 2013... Read more

November 27, 2013 Video

Akrobatik Is Built To Last (Audio)

Akrobatik is a veteran Boston MC. With Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One in The Perceptionists, Akro is a onetime Ed O.G. protege who helped the burgeoning Boston movement in the late '90s/early 2000s. After over five years removed from Absolute Value (which featured production from J Dilla, Da Beatminerz,... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Suge Knight Weighs In On Dr. Dre’s Chronic Influencing Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die

Yesterday, we linked you to Rolling Stone's conversation with Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight. While the published interview focused on Tha Row's second release, Snoop Doggy Dogg's 1993 debut Doggystyle, which just turned 20 years old. The writer of the rare Knight interview, Paul "Gooch" Cantor, self-published the... Read more

November 27, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

In Time For Thanksgiving, Skeme Has Plenty To Be Thankful About (Audio)

One of 2013's breakout stars, Skeme, is gearing up for Ingleworld. Taking a page from Dom Kennedy, the Inglewood MC has a digital retail LP coming on December 17. The project has a bonus cut, "Thankful." At a time when so many artists speak about not enough, it's great to... Read more

November 27, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Did Charlamagne Tha God Trigger Kanye West’s Explosion on The Sway in the Morning Show? Here’s the Interview That May Have Set if Off (Video)

After Kanye West's eruption on The Sway in the Morning show, he said to Sway "Charlamagne wanted this so bad. He wanted me to turn up so bad. I wouldn't even look at him." Kanye was referring to an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy earlier,... Read more

November 27, 2013 Video

You May Have Heard the Audio of Kanye West Going Nuclear on Sway Earlier…Here’s the Full Video (Video)

Kanye West and Sway are friends. That's why it was all the more surprising that Kanye flipped so hard on Sway today during their interview. So how does an interview starting with Sway introducing Kanye as "the most important artist of this generation" get so heated? Check out the video... Read more

November 26, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

Suge Knight Speaks at Length on Doggystye and Death Row, Claiming Dr. Dre Did None of the Production. He Also Speaks About Snoop’s Murder Trial, the Impact of Death Row and More.

Suge Knight spoke at length with Rolling Stone about Doggystyle, Snoop, Dr. Dre, Tupac and Death Row Records in light of the 20th anniversary of Doggystyle. The Death Row captain is not short on words and definitely not afraid of stirring controversy. Below are a few excerpts from the article... Read more

November 26, 2013 Throwback

Grand Daddy I.U. Still Talks Slick In This P.I.M.P. Freestyle (Audio)

Cold Chillin' Records was the label home to the Juice Crew, and all the individual stars like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, early Masta Ace, Biz Markie, and Roxanne Shante. "Fly" Ty Williams' label was also home to GZA (as the Genius) and Grand Daddy I.U.... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Trae Tha Truth Holds Court with Several Hip-Hop All Stars on His I Am King Mixtape (Mixtape)

Since the days of Screwed Up Click, Trae Tha Truth has been a major player in the Houston scene. With ties to Rap-A-Lot Records, DJ Screw, Lupe Fiasco, Chamillionaire, T.I., and more, the Grand Hustle/Hustle Gang artist welcomes T.I., Diddy, Wiz Khalifa, Lu', B.o.B., Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Meek Mill and... Read more

November 26, 2013 Mixes

Kanye West Goes Ballistic on the Sway in the Morning Show & Sway Loses His Cool. This Felt Personal (Audio)

UPDATE: Here's the Full Video of the Interview I've resisted getting on the bandwagon of calling Kanye West's recent public statements about his frustrations with his inability to break into the fashion world as "rants" because I think the term is dismissive and makes it easier to ignore some of... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio

Like Parker Lewis, Elzhi Can’t Lose (Audio)

A teen TV reference for the Heads who remember those old days of FOX ("In Living Color" / "True Colors" back-to-back). Anyway, it was five years ago that then-Slum Village member Elzhi teamed with Black Milk to make a 2008 contender for A.O.T.Y. in The Preface. Now solo-dolo, Elz is fund-raising... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Asher Roth, Blended Babies & Chuck Inglish Make A Key Visual Companion For See The World (Video)

"See The World" was a trippy collaboration released two weeks ago by Blended Babies, Asher Roth, and The Cool Kids' Chuck Inglish. The record features that liquid wordplay that made Asher a breakout star (with The Cool Kids) in '07 and '08. However, B.B. hit with the '70s Psyche/Rock samples... Read more

November 26, 2013 Fresh, Video

Raekwon Makes A Nuevo Sounding Single With Melanie Fiona On Soundboy Kill It (Audio)

Raekwon, with his Wu-Tang Clan, was instrumental in making Loud Records an imprint destination for dope Hip-Hop throughout the 1990s. When Steve Rifkind sold the company to Sony Records, he launched SRC Records, under Universal. In addition to Akon, one of Rifkind's 2000s successes was songstress Melanie Fiona. Mel and... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip Bring Kanye West & Lil Wayne To Thank You Visual (Video)

One of the more exciting collaborations of the last month puts those pesky Young Money vs. G.O.O.D Music rumors to bed. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne join Q-Tip and Kanye West in this Disco-inspired cut that has all four artists doing what they do best. It's great how the beat... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Nas Talks Being in the Game for 20 Years, Turning 40, Why Hip-Hop is Still Dead, His NY State of Mind, the “N” Word and More (Video)

To quote AZ Tha Visualiza, this is rather unique. Nas, on his 40th birthday, has "Talk Stoop" with NBC host Cat Greenleaf. The two discuss the state of the art through Nas' 20 years in the game. Perhaps most interesting, Cat asks the father for advice on helping her own... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Snoop Dogg Refutes TDE & Death Row Records Comparisons (Video)

After GQ magazine's "Man Of The Year" Kendrick Lamar cover story, Top Dawg, founder of TDE, along with K.L. dismissed the reporting. In the article, the author compared Dawg to Marion "Suge" Knight. While TDE has connections to Tha Row care of Dr. Dre, and the late Flipside (of O.F.T.B.),... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Vic Mensa Talks Life, Death, Music, Save Money and More in His Most Candid Interview Yet. Get to Know On of Hip-Hop’s Most Talented MCs on the Rise (Video)

Vic Mensa is one of the most talented MCs to burst onto the music scene in a long time. Though not technically new to Hip-Hop, having been a member of the band Kids These Days for four-plus years, Vic's solo move earlier in 2013 has allowed him to showcase all... Read more

November 25, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

A Tribe Called Quest Reflects on Their Legacy After Their Last Show. Is This the Last Time We’ll See Them on Stage Together? (Video)

3 fourths of A Tribe Called Quest sat down with Revolt after their final run of performances to discuss the feeling they had at the show, as well as what their legacy has meant to Hip-Hop. Check out the video. Related: Phife Dawg Faces The Questions from OkayPlayer (Video)... Read more

November 25, 2013 Video

T-Boz & Chilli Invite Lil’ Mama To Perform With TLC As Left Eye For AMAs (Video)

From J. Cole video singles to a record-breaking VH1 biopic, it's been a big year for TLC. The former LaFace Records superstars are waving their flag. To close down last night's 2013 American Music Awards, T-Boz and Chilli celebrated a performance 20 years ago at the AMAs, and invited the... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bun B Discourages Young Artists From Accepting Remix Offers From Mainstream Rappers (Video)

Triple O.G. Bun B sat in for an interview with G-Unit Radio's DJ Whoo Kid on Shade 45. Bun, who's been a big brother MC to rappers ranging from A$AP Rocky and Big K.R.I.T. to Termanology and Vic Mensa tells the G-Unit DJ why artists should be cautious when a... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

N.O.R.E. Details Why Kanye West is Currently His Favorite Artist, His Relationship with Big Pun and Much More. This is a Must See for N.O.R.E. Fans (Video)

You have to love N.O.R.E.'s attention to detail. In his raps and in his interviews, LeFrak City's finest (since Akinyele) loves to tell you the brands, the colors, the sights, the sounds, and the smells. One of Hip-Hop's most personable and versatile figures, N.O. sits down with Montreality to talk... Read more

November 25, 2013 Video