Fresh Archives

Method Man Returns to Where He Grew Up in Staten Island to talk Wu Origins (Video)

From Grantland: "Twenty years after releasing 'Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers,' Method Man returns to Staten Island's Park Hill Projects to detail how he became known as a rapper, the recording of the legendary album, and his special technique of serving drugs to customers in automobiles." Related: Remembering Wu-Tang Clan’s... Read more

November 11, 2013 Throwback

Nas Releases Trailer To His Shake The Dust Breakin’ Documentary (Video)

"Back in '83, I was an MC sparkin' / But I was too scared to grab them mics in da mic." - Nas Coming from Queens, Nas has always had close ties to the pillars of Hip-Hop. At a time when breakin' (or breakdancing) is seemingly endangered in its rooted... Read more

November 11, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bun B & Pimp C Wave The UGK Flag With Lil Boosie & Big K.R.I.T. On Cake (Audio)

For Trill O.G.: The Epilogue Bun B touches some unreleased Pimp C vocals and brings on two UGK proteges for "Cake." While Pimp was still alive, the group mentored Baton Rouge's Lil Boosie on the Trill Entertainment imprint (along with Webbie and others). In the last three years, Bun's helped... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Remembering Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

There are certain albums in Hip-Hop that were complete game-changers. Run-DMC’s 1983 self-titled album ripped the Disco out of Rap and, with a new look of Kangol hats, leather jackets and shell-toed Adidas along with crossed arms and boasts of college pursuits, took ownership of the culture. Five years later,... Read more

November 11, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Throwback

Jhene Aiko & Kendrick Lamar Stay Ready On The Latest Link (Audio)

Def Jam's Jhene Aiko has been in the industry for over 15 years. In addition to links with Childish Gambino and Drake, it was really her versatility as heard with Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul that showed the L.A. native's versatility, and market with today's Hip-Hop consumer. A K.Dot... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Madlib Serves Up the Ill Soul Sample for Roc Marciano on The Sacrifice (Video)

Madlib has provided sonic heat for Blu and Freddie Gibbs this year and now Roc Marciano is the benficiary. Here's the video for Marciano's soulful song, The Sacrifice. Related: Roc Marciano - The Pimpire Strikes Back (Mixtape)... Read more

November 11, 2013 Video

Casey Veggies & Dom Kennedy Remix Faces

Two of 2013's brightest stars from Southern California link up together for the "Faces Remix." Produced by Rob Halladay, this joint showcases the overlap two MCs have, despite differing messages in their solo catalogs. Who do you think, if either, will ink a major label deal first? Related: Casey Veggies... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Drake Channels Memphis Soul In The Visual To Worst Behavior (Video)

Drake loves having fun. Drizzy knows that audiences will laugh with him, and sometimes at him, so with Nothing Was The Same and its roll-out, he seems to be having tons of fun. For the "Worst Behavior" video, Aubrey channels his ties to Memphis, Tennessee and visually references Willie Mitchell... Read more

November 11, 2013 Fresh, Video

AFH: The Week in Video (11/10/13) (Video Playlist)

The past week in video brought Eminem's first ever live performance of Rap God, super creative videos from Vic Mensa and Deltron 3030 featuring Zach De La Rocha, as well as strong interviews with J. Cole and Black Milk. You can check those videos out and more below and, if... Read more

November 10, 2013 Playlists, Video

Stream Marco Polo’s PA 2: The Director’s Cut Which Features an All-Star Roster of 90’s Legends (Album Stream)

Marco Polo's new album PA 2: The Director's Cut plays like an all-star compilation of ridiculously dope tracks from 90's legends, including Talib Kweli, Masta Ace, Inspectah Deck, Organized Konfusion, Jean Grae, Posdnuos, Styles P, Alchemist, MC Eiht, King Tee, Large Professor and many more. The album hits stores on... Read more

November 8, 2013 Audio

Mister Cee Pays Tribute to Heavy D with a Mix (Audio)

Rest in peace to Heavy D who passed away 2 years ago today. Mister Cee paid tribute to the Overweight Lover with a mix which you can stream and download below. Related: A mix and video playlist to celebrate the life of Heavy D (Mixtape & Video Playlist)... Read more

November 8, 2013 Throwback

The Ultimate 1970s Grimy New York City Movie Megamix (Video)

The old New York influenced a lot of Hip-Hop. While Grandmaster Melle Mel may have been talking about The Bronx in "The Message," the vibes of "people pissin' on the street 'cause they just don't care" was not exclusive to any of the five boroughs throughout the 1970s and early... Read more

November 8, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Eddie B & Harry Fraud Enlist Sean Price & Termanology To Give Warning (Audio)

Brooklyn's Harry Fraud served up some of 2012's best beats, between scorchers to Smoke DZA, Wiz Khalifa, and a Lords Of The Underground-sampling cut for French Montana. In 2013, Fraud laced Saaab Stories for Action Bronson's Warner Bros./Atlantic Records jump-off, and passed a few more around. For years, Harry's been... Read more

November 8, 2013 Audio, Fresh

5 Things We Learned From J. Cole’s Interview With Hard Knock TV (Video)

You gotta love Hard Knock TV's interviews. Nick Huff gets down to the heart of the matter with his subjects in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. J. Cole's cooled off on press as his fame has grown. However, the Roc Nation/Sony sensation opens up to Hard Knock, with his b-boy reflection... Read more

November 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Black Milk Discusses the Events of the Hardest Year of His Life and More (Video)

Black Milk chopped it up with Montreality about working with Eminem, Proof and J Dilla, the new era of Detroit artists, some of his favorite current MC/Producers, the events of the hardest year of his life and more. Check out the video. Related: Black Milk – Sunday’s Best / Monday’s... Read more

November 8, 2013 Video

Mike Tyson Discusses His Book, Film, Relapse and More with Juan Epstein (Audio)

Mike Tyson joined Peter Rosenberg and Cipah Sounds on the Juan Epstein show to talk about life. For Iron Mike, there’s a lot to discuss. Tyson touched on his new movie with Spike Lee, his new book, meeting Michael Jackson, his recent relapse with alcohol and much more. Take a... Read more

November 8, 2013 Audio

All I Got is Styles P, Action Bronson & Ea$y Money Going to Work on a Statik Selektah Track (Audio)

Styles P, Action Bronson and Ea$y Money get busy on a Statik Selektah throwback track. Check out All I Got. Related: Styles P – Manson Murder (Remix) ft N.O.R.E. & Chris Rivers (aka Baby Pun) (Video)... Read more

November 8, 2013 Audio

Deltron 3030 and Zach De La Rocha Combine for a Visual Melding of the Minds (Video)

Rage Against the Machine's Zach De La Rocha joined Deltron 3030 (Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator & Kid Koala) on Melding of the Minds, an aptly-titled space age Hip-Hop track powered by pounding guitar riffs. The video for the song is a dark animated short film about a... Read more

November 7, 2013 Video

Snoop Dogg, Daz and Kurupt Reminisce on Menace II Society in Bad 4 Me (Video)

Snoop Dogg enlists the services of Daz and Kurupt in his video for Bad 4 Me. The visuals also incorporated several instantly recognizable scenes from Menace II Society. Check it out below. Related: Snoop Dogg - That's My Work 2 (Mixtape)... Read more

November 7, 2013 Video

Did You Know Eminem Was Originally Going to Sign with Buckshot and Duck Down? (Video)

Eminem released a dope remake of Black Moon's Don't Front earlier in the week. Buckshot gave the inside story on how the song came to pass and his involvement. During the interview, he also revealed that Eminem was going to sign with Buckshot on Duck Down before going to Dre... Read more

November 7, 2013 Video

STS Says Things As They Are On Hell Wrong (Video)

The Roots' affiliate and Money Making Jam Boys member STS (Sugar Tongue Slim) is one of the nicest MCs out who's yet to release an album. He has a unique voice and style, but the content of his verses is usually spot-on to the new generation's opinion, with old-guard wisdom.... Read more

November 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Casey Veggies Gets Smoker-Soulful With Curren$y On Life$tyle (Audio)

Casey Veggies has a slippery style that's hard to pin down. He loves name brands and findin' the essence of a track's vibe. That said, who better to link with for a "Life$tyle remix" than Spitta Andretti himself. Curren$y and Casey hit you with that herb-induced stream of consciousness that... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Does Marco Polo Have What it Takes to Make a Hot Beat from 3 Completely Random Records? (Video)

Marco Polo is on a pretty epic run this year, having released tracks with Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Lil Fame, Large Professor, Das EFX, The Artifacts, Organized Konfusion, King T, MC Eiht and more. His production skills were recently put to the test when he played Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette... Read more

November 7, 2013 Video

Madlib Drops A 55-Minute Live Free-Form Mix For Boiler Room (Audio)

Like his JayLib brother Dilla, one of Madlib's greatest attributes is his nonchalance. Like Afrika Bambaataa & DJ Jazzy Jay, 'Lib will play anything he feels like, from foreign breaks to Gospel to Children's music. He also has a deep penchant for album-cuts from Kurupt, Teflon, and Jadakiss. So when... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Vic Mensa & Eliza Doolittle Shape-Shift On YNSP (Video)

Without a deal, Vic Mensa damn sure gets it done. In the video to "YNSP," some ill post-production allows the MC to change shape and trail like some retro special EFX that looks super-tight in the visual to the INNANET TAPE joint. With the song talking about labels trying to... Read more

November 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Will C. Remixes The Beach Boys In This Trippy, Summertime-In-Autumn Adieu Or Die Mix (Audio)

Chances are, even if you live on Antarctica, you've heard The Beach Boys. The Wilson Brothers and crew are a landmark of early '60s Americana with themes are wood-sided '40 Ford wagons, surfing, going steady with your best girl, and fixing up old cars. However, like other '60s Pop acts... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Childish Gambino Gets Dreamy Up On Melrose (Audio)

Childish Gambino was never really in a box. However, whatever confines we placed his music in up until 2013 have been greatly challenged by moods and 'tudes met with warm audience response. "Melrose" is no exception, with dream, forlorn singing, that would get Heather Locklear or Courtney Thorne-Smith knockin' on... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Busta Rhymes Combines Cash Money With Native Tongues Alongside Q-Tip On Thank You (Audio)

Busta Rhymes' career is truly dynamic. Christened his name by Public Enemy's Chuck D; a Leader Of The New School tied to Native Tongues; an animated solo star; constant major label provider to J Dilla; onetime Dr. Dre affiliate; once signed Raekwon; forever tied to EPMD's DJ Scratch; mentor to... Read more

November 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)

Although "Rap City" has been largely defunct in the Slaughterhouse-era, the Shady Records super-group is a call-back to the latter years of BET's flagship Hip-Hop program. Individually, Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden, Crooked I were part of the Basement-era. Eminem was among Rap's biggest stars in the Big Tigger era... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

Take a Raw Behind the Scenes Look at Big K.R.I.T.’s Tour with Macklemore (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. recently commenced a nationwide tour with Macklemore. Here's an intimate behind the scenes look at some of K.R.I.T.'s experiences thus far on the journey. Related: Big K.R.I.T. Reflects on Life & Hip-Hop Through King Remembered in Time (Video)... Read more

November 6, 2013 Video

Fashawn Unveils The Ecology With The Evidence-Produced Single, The Beginning (Video)

Fresno's Fashawn has let four years slide between Boy Meets World and his studio sophomore album. After dabbling with many styles in between on mixtapes and joints with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Murs, and Alchemist, Fash comes home to start rolling out The Ecology. Taking its name from the... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West & Kendrick Lamar’s Yeezus Tour To Resume Later This Month

This just in from Def Jam Records and Kanye West's spokesperson: "Yesterday (October 30), on the road to Vancouver, a truck carrying The Yeezus Tour’s custom-made video truss and 60-foot circular LED screen was in an accident that damaged the gear beyond repair. This gear is central to the staging... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh

Marco Polo Orchestrates A Compton Thang With MC Eiht & King T With West Coast Love (Audio)

Canadian-born producer Marco Polo is known for working with New York City MC icons like Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, and Masta Ace. Throughout his career, the album partner with Torae and Ruste Juxx just has a sound that knocks with the feel of mid-'90s production that can make Heads... Read more

November 6, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Eminem Don’t Front When It Comes To Honoring Black Moon, Buckshot & Duck Down (Audio)

One of Rap's ultimate "what-if's" has always surrounded Eminem and Duck Down Records. The house that Buckshot and Dru Ha built made a play to sign the Detroit MC when he was kickin' around the NYC underground with Skam?, Thirstin Howl III, and Wordsworth. In the end, Eminem inked a... Read more

November 6, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Doughboyz Cashout, Pusha T, Jeezy and Big K.R.I.T. Go to Work on a Track That is Pure Heat (Audio)

Pusha T and Jeezy join Doughboyz Cashout on a killer track that also features Big K.R.I.T. on the hook. Check out Pure. Related: Pusha T Releases His Video Pain Featuring Future (Video)... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio

Snoop Dogg & Dam-Funk Got 7 Days Of Funk In The Jheri Curled Faden Away (Video)

Snoop Dogg makes Reggae. Snoop Dogg makes '80s-tinged R&B. Now, Snoop D-O-double-G makes Funk. Teaming with Stones Throw's Dam-Funk, the pair (as 7 Days Of Funk) channel the kind of music that pioneers like George Clinton and Bootsy (the inspiration for the Snoopzilla moniker) made and which eventually led to... Read more

November 5, 2013 Video

Def Jam’s Bill Adler Remembers Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures… 25 Years Later

You might know Bill Adler, and you might not. "Ill Badler," as his maroon Def Jam Records varsity jacket used to read, was the original (and the best) head of Publicity Def Jam ever had. Russell Simmons hired Bill, who would help acts like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, The... Read more

November 5, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

O.C. Time-Travels With Ray’s Cafe (Audio)

Diggin' In The Crates alum O.C. has a few styles and approaches. The MC who spent his youth in both Brooklyn and Queens may be best known for his "cap cocked" cockiness on Buckwild beats in a B-Boy stance. However, the longtime friend of Dame Dash and Jay-Z also has... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Raekwon Hops On A Marva Whitney Breakbeat To Say It’s My Thing (Audio)

From Erick and Parrish to Jiggaman, hopping on Marva Whitney's classic bassline to "It's My Thing" taps into a '70s sound that is as New York Hip-Hop as you can get. In just dabbling with some freestyles, Chef Raekwon is the latest. Throughout the last 20 years, there's something so... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Blu, MED & Mayer Hawthorne Link With Madlib For The Buzz (Audio)

Three Stones Throw Records artists (past and present) link with another staple of the Southern California independent scene (who was signed to a major label briefly). In more specific terms, MED and Mayer Hawthorne hop on a Madlib beat to be joined by Blu. "The Buzz" lives up its name,... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Mathematics Releases Double Video for “Shorty” & “Four Horsemen” With Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man & Cappadonna (Video)

Mathematics has released a double video for Shorty and Four Horsemen, two Wu bangers featuring Cappadonna & Masta Killa and Method Man & Inspectah Deck, respectively. Here's what Mathematics had to say about the videos: "This is a two-in-one video: "Shorty" featuring Cappadonna and Masta Kill (Wu-Tang Clan) set it... Read more

November 5, 2013 Video

Roc Marciano Recruits Some Heavy Hitters on The Pimpire Strikes Back (Mixtape)

Roc Marciano recruits some heavy hitters on his new mixtape The Pimpire Strikes Back. Marci is joined on the mic by Cormega, Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren and more. He also gets tracks from Madlib, Evidence, Lord Finesse, Alchemist and more. You can stream and download the mixtape below. Click here... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Mixes

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of October 2013 (Playlist)

Here's a look back at some of the Hip-Hop highlights from October. You'll hear new music from Eminem & Kendrick Lamar, Scarface, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, J. Cole, Dead Prez, Tha Dogg Pound, Common, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Large Professor, Childish Gambino, Rapsody, Crooked I, Jean Grae, Game and many, many more.... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

AFH: The Week in Video (11/03/13) (Video Playlist)

This week in video brought red hot freestyles from Vic Mensa, Young Buck, Lanatan and Lil Fame, as well as new music videos from Yancey Boys & Common (Prod. J Dilla), Stalley, Game and Crooked I, a celebration of G.U.R.U., and Kool G Rap discussing his Top 10 MCs. Click... Read more

November 5, 2013 Playlists, Video

Eminem Unloads Groundhog Day The Same Weekend He Performs Rap God (Video)

In less than 24 hours, one of the biggest Rap release dates of 2013 takes place care of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2 (aka #MMLP2). The follow-up to Em's 2000 classic includes a revived sound and style in the lyrics, with production inspired by the sample-heavy Rock/Rap synergy of the... Read more

November 4, 2013 Audio, Fresh, Video

Pharrell Revisits Working with Jay Z on The Black Album (Video)

10 years after working with Jay Z on The Black Album, Pharrell Williams discussed the process and what it meant to him with Life & Rhymes. Skateboard P discusses Jay with the utmost humility and labels him an artist's artist. He speak from the perspective of a true fan. Here's... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

TDE and A$AP Mob Squash All the Rumors in an Interview with The Breakfast Club (Video)

Making it crystal clear that there's no beef between their crews (nor with Drake), Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Jay Rock, A$AP Ferg and Schoolboy Q conducted a joint interview where they addressed all the speculation point blank. They also discussed upcoming projects from Q and Ab-Soul, Ferg's album and the... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

Audio Push Revisit J Dilla’s So Far to Go (Audio)

Audio Push pay homage to J Dilla and drop a verse on his So Far to Go track (originally featuring Common and D'Angelo). Their laid back vocal styles blend nicely with the meditative Dilla production. Check it out below. Related: Common Shines on Another Incredible J. Dilla Beat with Yancey... Read more

November 4, 2013 Audio

Serial Killers (B-Real, Demrick & Xzibit) Start a Riot with Wanted (Video)

Serial Killers (B-Real, Demrick and Xzibit) release the video for Wanted. The visuals depict a riot scene that closely matches the lyrical molotov cocktails being tossed by the MCs. Check it out below. Related: B-Real, Demrick & Xzibit - Serial Killers (Mixtape)... Read more

November 4, 2013 Video

Kool G Rap Discusses Nas, Big Pun and His Top 10 MCs (Video)

When one of the most highly-regarded MCs of all-time discusses his top 10 MCs, the world listens. Kool G. Rap sat down on the Juan Epstein Show and discussed his first meetings with Nas and Big Pun, as well as his top 10 MCs of all time. Surprisingly, Biggie and... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video