REKS – Revolution is Here (Video)
REKS attacks a boom bap track with aggression on Revolution is Here. Check out the video. Related: REKS – The Molotov (Video)... Read more
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Rittz – The Backroom Freestyle (Video)
Rittz is the latest to bless The Backroom on 106 & Park with an ill verse and he blazed it. Check out the video. Related: Rittz: Beyond the Booth (Video)... Read more
Talib Kweli on Why Hip-Hop Isn’t Talent Based Now (Video)
“I don’t care about bars, I just wanna turn up” As disgusting a statement like that is to Hip-Hop heads, legendary lyricist Talib Kweli states that sadly that’s the truth for the majority of the country right now, if their only source for Hip-Hop is the radio. However, he does... Read more
Just Blaze X Roofeeo – Back and Forth (Interview)
It’s not very often we see artists take the role of the interviewer, so when Noisey launched their “Back & Forth” series, we got to witness a totally different type of interview take place. In their latest edition, Noisey put together DJ, producer and drummer Roofeeo and legendary Hip-Hop DJ,... Read more
Ron Rico – Can I ft Rapper Big Pooh, Skyzoo & Tony V
Rapper Big Pooh, Skyzoo and Tony V jump on a soul-tinged track from producer Ron Rico. Check out Can I below. Related: Rapper Big Pooh – Fat Boy Fresh Vol. 3: Happy Birthday, Thomas (Album Stream)... Read more
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, M.A.A.D. city Album Crosses the 1 Million Sold Mark (Food for Thought)
Salute to Kendrick Lamar. His good kid, M.A.A.D. city album has officially sold more than 1 million copies this week, according to SoundScan. There was a lot of conversation about the album being a classic when it was released. Now that it's been nearly a year since it debuted, would... Read more
DJ Jazzy Jeff – Vinyl Destination, Ep. 17 (Video)
Here's the latest episode of DJ Jazzy Jeff's Vinyl Destination series. In this episode, Jeff and Skillz continue their travels through South Africa. Related: VINYL DESTINATION | EPISODE 17 from DJ Jazzy Jeff on Vimeo.... Read more
DJ Spintelect – The Best of Nas (Mixtape)
Here's a mixtape for any Nas fans out there (pretty much all Heads, right?). DJ Spintelect has put together a collection of Nas hits, features, rarities and album cuts all in one dope mix. You can listen to and download The Best of Nas below. Related: Nas Speaks on Kendrick... Read more
The Underachievers – Leaving Scraps
The Underachievers are back with a surprising new track that draws on a Southern Funk sounding track (reminiscent of UGK and 8Ball & MJG). The Lex Luger-produced beat is a departure from some of their 90's east coast flavored music and it suits them. Check out Leaving Scraps. Related: Astro... Read more
Goodie M.O.B. – Age Against the Machine (Album Stream)
Can't wait to hear Goodie M.O.B.'s new Age Against the Machine album? Say no more. You can listen to a full stream of the album here at amazon.com. The album is in stores on 8/26. Related: Goodie M.O.B. – Special Education ft Janelle Monae (Video)... Read more
Oddisee – Lonely Planet
How should an artist follow up a year that included him winning “Best Hip-Hop/Rap” album by iTunes UK? By releasing a completely instrumental LP of course. Ok, maybe that isn’t the most traditional of routes to take for an artist following one of the biggest years of their career, but... Read more
King Of The Beat – Looking For The Perfect Beat Trailer & Poster (Video)
There are tons of music documentaries that have come and gone throughout the years, but it seems only a few are aimed directly at us Heads. After watching the trailer for King Of Beats: Looking For The Perfect Beat however, it’s quite evident Hip-Hop heads have a documentary that they definitely... Read more
Talib Kweli – Human Mic (Video)
R.A. The Rugged Man directed this Prisoner Of Conscious video. The treatment to the "Human Mic" single plays with the title, with the Brooklyn, MC oozing words and his kicks his verses. Throughout his career, Kweli has embodied what it means to master the ceremony. And over 15 years removed from... Read more
Wiz Khalifa – Look Into My Eyes
Now focused on family and albums, Wiz Khalifa's output (at least what he releases) has slowed quite a bit in 2013. Touring, family and a big year for expanding Taylor Gang Records has kept the Steel City MC from churning out songs. "Look Into My Eyes" is a welcomed catch-up.... Read more
Rapsody – Jedi Code ft Phonte & Jay Electronica
I had to sit down for this one. Seriously. It's not knee-jerk early-edition hyperbole for me to deem this my favorite collaboration of 2013. In the order of appearance, Phonte calls back to Minstrel Show Phonte, not to say that he hasn't had lethal bars since then, but this cocky... Read more
AZ – I Excel
Not since the Disposable Arts-era Masta Ace have I seen artist with an already-heralded career get consistently better with time. No longer signed to the major EMI Records, you cannot help but acknowledge that Tha Visualiza's intricate and vivid imagery is just as good, if not better than "Rather Unique."... Read more
Big K.R.I.T. – 4EvaNADay Instrumentals (Mixtape)
With so much attention being paid to lyrics as of late (thanks to a young MC out of Compton), an entire mixtape without any words whatsoever is quite refreshing to hear. Which brings us to 4EvaNaDay (Instrumentals), Big K.R.I.T.’s latest project that features 15 soothing, self-produced beats from the project... Read more
The History of Rock the Bells: A 10 Year Retrospective (Video)
When a festival’s debut features the entire Wu-Tang Clan as headliners (after a lengthy crew tour hiatus), it’s probably safe to say that it's made for fans, by fans. Fast forward to the year 2013, and almost an entire decade has flew by since Guerilla Union's Rock The Bells Festival... Read more
Janelle Monae – Prime Time ft Miguel
Here's a new song from Janelle Monae and Miguel that feels a lot like Purple Rain-era Prince, in a GREAT way. Check out Prime Time. Related: Janelle Monae – Q.U.E.E.N. ft Erykah Badu (Video)... Read more
Ab-Soul Discusses Growing Up In A Record Shop (Video)
Being a member of one of the biggest groups in Hip-Hop could give some people Alzheimer’s regarding where they came from, but Ab-Soul is not one of those people. In Noisey’s latest episode in the “Turning Points” series, the Black Hippy soldier depicts his childhood and how the majority of... Read more
Big Sean – First Chain ft Nas & Kid Cudi
Big Sean's Hall Of Fame is exfoliating some of its biggest assets. On "First Chain," Sean channels early Kanye West's penchant for Jacob The Jeweler talk, as he links with Def Jam Records big brother Nas, and contemporary/former label-mate Kid Cudi. Since the days of Nice & Smooth's "Gold," this... Read more
Pete Rock Discusses His “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” Sessions
My personal favorite Kanye West album is 2010's My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy. Individually, 'Ye's made songs that I've grown obsessed with on other albums (see: "Gone," "Can't Tell Me Nothing," and "Never Let Me Down"), I thought that his fifth LP hit his greatest stride in making a cohesive,... Read more
Kendrick Lamar Discusses Black Hippy’s Mystique & Purpose (Video)
In the late '90s/early 2000s, there were some cool super-groups that never put albums out: The Four Horsemen (Kurupt, Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest) The Golden State Warriors (Xzibit, Saafir, Ras Kass) The Likwit Cru (King T, Xzibit, Tash, E-Swift, J-Ro, Defari, Madlib, Phil Da Agony, Wildchild, DJ Romes) The... Read more
The Weeknd – Live For ft Drake
Together, The Weeknd & Drake can break many hearts, but they also be able to break the Internet when they collaborate. Toronto's newest wave collaborates for "Live For."With a combined age less than 50, how do you think this pair of free-music givers told Universal Motown Group flagship acts stack... Read more
Dizzy Wright – The Golden Age (Mixtape)
Amidst a breakthrough 12 months, Las Vegas' Dizzy Wright delivers his most polished to date. The Golden Age is a freebie that features Wyclef Jean, Joey Bada$$, Honey Cocaine, SwizZz, and his XXL Freshmen classmate Logic. Early Twitter fanfare is calling it Dizzy's best work to date. What we love... Read more
Action Bronson Slams Another Stage Crasher (Video)
Action Bronson has a pro wrestling career waiting for him in the rap thing doesn't work out. He slammed another stage crasher over the weekend and finished it up with an arm bar (and this one looks kinda like pro wrestling...). Check out the video. Related: Action Bronson Demonstrates His... Read more
Lupe Fiasco – SLR 3 (Round of Applause)
Lupe Fiasco spits a tough freestyle over a smoothed out jazz track. You can do the math on the subject of the verse. Check out SLR 3 (Round of Applause). Related: Lupe Fiasco – #DopeFrancis (American Trap) (Audio)... Read more
AFH: The Week in Video (8/17/13) (Video Playlist)
This week in video brought one of the best Hip-Hop videos of the year with Just Blaze & Baauer's Higher, a stylish short film featuring some incredible combat scenes. It also featured new music videos from Stalley featuring Schoolboy Q, Dizzy Wright, and Styles P featuring N.O.R.E. and Chris Rivers... Read more
Bumpy Knuckles – New York, Where You At?
Bumpy Knuckles goes in on a slowed down version of the beat Diamond D used on I'm Outta Here. It's more OG New York pride than a response to Kendrick. Check out New York, Where You At? Related: The 25 Greatest Diss Records of All-Time (Food For Thought)... Read more
Joe Budden – Control Freestyle
Joe Budden joins his Slaughterhouse brother Joell Ortiz in responding to Kendrick Lamar--and he names names too...He also reps heavy for New York legends he thinks were disrespected like The Lox, State Property, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, Big Pun and more. Check it out below. Who do you... Read more
Nice Guys Finish First…But Not By Playing Nice
Kendrick Lamar and Big K.R.I.T. After the late 2000s breakthrough of Blu, Thurz, Fashawn and Torae, it is these two men that truly opened me up to what I considered the youthful unknown in Hip-Hop. In 2010, I was very much the anti-new-rapper’s fan, convinced that labels (large and small)... Read more
The 25 Greatest Diss Records of All-Time
This has been one of the biggest weeks for Hip-Hop in a long, long time. The foundation was set on Sunday when Hip-Hop turned 40 (at least if you count the first party Kool Herc through in the Bronx as the official anniversary). What became even the bigger story, however,... Read more
Nas Speaks on Kendrick Lamar’s Control Verse (Video)
Miss Info caught up with Nas to discuss the recent influx of discussion of fine art in Hip-Hop (he name checks Wild Style), and he also spoke briefly on Kendrick Lamar's Control verse. Not surprisingly, Nas stays above the fray and talks about the historical context of competitive rap. That's... Read more
Dizzy Wright – World Peace
In a week of fierce lyrical warfare, Dizzy Wright changes the tone with his latest release. If you miss that Rawkus-era conscious Hip-Hop. This one's for you. Check out the introspective and insightful World Peace. Related: Dizzy Wright – The Flavor ft SwizZz (Video)... Read more
Papoose – Control (Kendrick Lamar Response)
Out of all the responses to Kendrick Lamar's verse, Papoose's is BY FAR the most personal. Papoose takes aim at K. Dot (and damn near every other commercially successful rapper) claiming Kendrick contributed to the "feminization of the Black male" and more (going in for 4+ minutes). This is more... Read more
Living Legends: Missy Elliott
"Me, I'm supa fly!" With those 4 words, Missy Elliott changed the landscape of Hip-Hop, particularly its depiction of women, forever. In 1997, Missy burst onto the scene with her single The Rain and brought a new sing-songy flow, effortlessly shifting from singing to rhyming then back again, as well... Read more
Goodie M.O.B. – Pinstripes ft T.I.
Goodie M.O.B. gets a verse from fellow Atlien T.I. on their latest release. Check out Pinstripes. Related: Goodie M.O.B. – Special Education ft Janelle Monae (Video)... Read more
Earl Sweatshirt – Sasquatch ft Tyler, The Creator
With the release of Doris just 5 days away, a leaked track featuring Earl Sweatshirt and the leader of Odd Future hit the masses. Earl teams up with band-mate Tyler, The Creator on “Sasquatch," which features laid-back production and some entertaining lyrics. Always the lightning rod for controversy, Tyler spits... Read more
Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) – Clapping for the Wrong Reasons (Short Film)
Here's a short film called Clapping for the Wrong Reasons that was written by Donald Glover that plays like a a day in the life of Childish Gambino. Though the film is fiction, it feels almost like a documentary. The pacing is slow and deliberate (and at times meandering) like... Read more
Talib Kweli Speaks on Kendrick Lamar’s Verse (Video)
Talib Kweli has provided one of the most thoughtful responses to Kendrick Lamar's verse so far. In this extended interview, he talks about Kendrick's progression as an MC, the fact that Kendrick was actually quoting a Kurupt verse when he said he was King of New York, how he feels... Read more
Goodie M.O.B. – Special Education ft Janelle Monae (Video)
After dropping a lyric video last month, Goodie M.O.B. release the official video for Special Education featuring Janelle Monae. Related: Goodie M.O.B. on RapFix Live (Video)... Read more
No Malice – Shame The Devil ft Pusha T
Isn't it amazing that No Malice and Pusha T are releasing debut albums in the same Summer? They have more in common with Outkast than both being stranded in the Arista/Jive Records merger of the mid-2000s now. From his solo album Hear Ye Him which drops August 18, No Malice... Read more
Prodigy & Alchemist – Back & Forth (Video)
I remember hearing "Keep It Thoro" for the first time and just wondering who could have possibly made that beat. Enter: The Alchemist. While around on Mobb Deep's seething fourth LP, Murda Muzik, P and Al built chemistry to last careers on H.N.I.C. Fresh off the strength of Albert Einstein,... Read more
Stalley – NineteenEighty7 ft Schoolboy Q (Video)
Here's the video for the super tough collabo between Stalley and Schoolboy Q. Check out NineteenEighty7. Related: Stalley – Honest Cowboy (Mixtape)... Read more
Juvenile – Mo Money ft Curren$y
Juvenile and Curren$y, two generations of New Orleans MCs, unite on Juvie's latest track. Mike Will made the beat. Check out Mo Money. Related: Curren$y – New Jet City (Mixtape)... Read more
E-40 – All My N*ggas ft Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q (Video)
E-40 is joined by to leaders of the new school in his latest club banger. Check out the video for All My N*ggas featuring Schoolboy Q & Danny Brown. Related: Murder Dog Magazine Celebrates 20th Anniversary (Food for Thought)... Read more
The Almighty (Canibus, Cappadonna, Planet Asia, M-Eighty & Nino Graye) – Prelude to the 2nd Coming (Mixtape)
In all the hype over The Verse, this mixtape from The Almighty (Canibus, Cappadonna, Planet Asia, M-Eighty & Nino Graye) might have gotten lost in the shuffle. With tough beats and features from Styles P, Talib Kweli, Keith Murray, Raekwon, RZA and more, it is not to be overlooked. You... Read more
Danny Brown – The Old Documentary (Video)
Danny Brown has been on my radar since late 2007, when some homies from Detroit started telling me to put an ear to the MC with the common-sounding name. Upon listening to the early music of Danny Brown (Detroit State Of Mind and Hot Soup), there is nothing common about... Read more
Drake Says He Won His Battle With Common
Drake and Common’s beef (if we can call it that?) might seem like a pillow fight compared to the atom bomb Kendrick dropped on Hip Hop this week, but in an interview for next month’s XXL, Drizzy claims he came out the victor. In the new issue (which hits stores... Read more
K-Def – The Meeting ft Blu
Need some underground music in your life? K-Def and Blu have you covered. K-Def provides a RZA-like track, complete with eerie strings, and Blu goes in. Check out The Meeting. Related: Slum Village – Let It Go ft Blu (Audio)... Read more