Fresh Archives

Schoolboy Q Discusses Getting Kicked out of His Hotel in Vegas on The Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Schoolboy Q discusses how he hangs out in Vegas--like really hangs out off the balcony in his room--and why it lead to him getting kicked out of his hotel last Spring on The Sway in the Morning Show. He also touches on whether he would sell his soul (literally) for... Read more

August 12, 2013 Video

Dizzy Wright – The Flavor ft SwizZz (Video)

Dizzy Wright will be dropping his new mixtape, The Golden Age, on 8/19. In the meantime, he releases a video for his track The Flavor that has a hard BOOM BAP drum beat reminiscent of 90's-era Hip-Hop (aka The Golden Age). The video features Dizzy's Funk Volume label mate SwizZz... Read more

August 12, 2013 Video

Stüssy x Yo! MTV Raps – Part 1 – The Importance of Yo! MTV Raps (Video)

As we previously reported, Yo! MTV Raps turned 25 last week. To celebrate the significant anniversary and a launch of a new Yo!-inspired clothing line, Stussy has put together a dope mini-documentary on the importance of Yo! MTV Raps. The short film features several Hip-Hop luminaries such as ?uestlove, Alchemist,... Read more

August 12, 2013 Throwback

Oprah Speaks on the Recent Back and Forth Between Jay Z & Harry Belafonte (Video)

Shaheem Reid sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss the new film The Butler and managed to sneak in a question about the recent back and forth between Jay Z and Harry Belafonte. Oprah answered the question straight on and even managed to bring it back around to the relevance... Read more

August 12, 2013 Video

Terrace Martin – Triangleship ft Kendrick Lamar

Terrace Martin's new album 3ChordFold hits stores at midnight tonight. Until then, he's dropped another hot record. This one features none other than Kendrick Lamar on the hook. Check out Triangleship. Related: Terrace Martin – You’re The One ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Tone Trezure (Audio)... Read more

August 12, 2013 Audio

Jim-E-O – Special ft Lab Ox

I love the independent grind. Texas rapper Jim-E-O is a car salesman by day, devoted father by night and passionate artist by nature. His latest single, Special, deals with the toll the daily juggling act can take on a relationship, even with someone who Is truly special. Check it out... Read more

August 12, 2013 Audio

DJ Skizz – Light Years ft Roc Marciano, A.G., O.C. & Godfather Pt. 3

Here's a grimy new track from DJ Skizz featuring Roc Marciano, A.G., O.C. & Godfather Pt. 3. Check out Light Years. Related: DJ Skizz – Vio-Lence ft Lil Fame & Ill Bill (Video)... Read more

August 11, 2013 Audio

Mayer Hawthorne Performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Video)

Mayer Hawthorne's music has hints of The Doobie Brothers and old Hall & Oates, update to feel contemporary and uniquely his own. His album, Where Does This Door Go, is one of the best soul releases of the year. He recently performed his single Her Favorite Song, as well as... Read more

August 11, 2013 Video

AFH: The Week in Video (8/11/13) (Video Playlist)

This week's video wrap up features a groovy new video by Schoolboy Q featuring Kendrick Lamar, freestyles from Lord Finess and Camp Lo, Tony Touch showing off his vinyl collection and Jean Grae putting it down with Mobetta. Check it out below. Related: AFH: The Week in Video (8/3/13) (Video... Read more

August 11, 2013 Playlists, Video

Krayzie Bone – The Future ft Pozition

Krayzie Bone paints a vivid picture of the future (and the present) in his latest release, and it's bleak. He takes aim at materialism, conspiracy theories, soulless Hip-Hop and more. Check out The Future featuring Pozition. Related: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Everything 100 (Audio)... Read more

August 11, 2013 Audio

Breaking Bad: The Final Season (Video)

Breaking Bad, one of the most critically acclaimed shows to hit the TV screen premieres episode 1 of its final season tonight. Walter White, unassuming school teacher turned meth lord, has evolved into one of the hardest G's on TV. Below is a video showing the arc of his character... Read more

August 11, 2013 Video

The Show (Video)

Last but not least, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the weekend Hip-Hop was born, we take a look at the role of the MC. Without a doubt, the rap game is the predominant force in Hip-Hop culture. It has gone from the chanting simple couplets to keep the... Read more

August 10, 2013 Throwback

Scratch (Video)

As we continue our all day celebration of Hip-Hop on the weekend of its 40th birthday, it's time to show some love to the DJ. The documentary Scratch is one of the best films ever on turntabilism. Scratch gives an in-depth look at the art of working the 1s and... Read more

August 10, 2013 Throwback

Style Wars (Video)

Of the 4 elements of Hip-Hop, graffiti is often the most overlooked. Films like Beat Street touched on the controversial nature and danger surrounding the graf, but it was the 1983 documentary Style Wars that showed viewers the real. The film originally aired on PBS and won the Grand Jury... Read more

August 10, 2013 Throwback

The Rub: The History of Recorded Hip-Hop From 1979-Present (Audio)

We continue our all-day long celebration of the 40th anniversary of the weekend Hip-Hop was born with the music. Here are links to a collection of Hip-Hop mixes that document Hip-Hop music from 1979-2009, YEAR BY YEAR. The mixes are courtesy of The Rub, one of the dopest DJ collectives... Read more

August 10, 2013 Audio

See Shabba-Doo Before Breakin’, In The Breakin’ N Enterin’ Documentary

The movie Breakin’ introduced many to the West Coast break dancing scene but before Breakin’ there was the documentary Breakin’ N Enterin’. Breakin’ N Enterin’ is a film from 1983 that documented the then nascent LA B-boy scene and inspired the landmark dance film Breakin’. It featured many of the... Read more

August 10, 2013 Throwback

Wild Style (Video)

As we continue our all day celebration of Hip-Hop on the weekend of its 40th Anniversary, it is only fitting that we celebrate Wild Style, a 1983 film produced by Hip-Hop pioneer Charlie Ahearn that was the first glimpse of Hip-Hop culture for many of those not living and breathing... Read more

August 10, 2013 Throwback

Because They Made It That Way (Hip-Hop At 40 Years Old)

If you go by the books, Hip-Hop (I’ll spell it with capital letters since KRS-One told us to do so) turns 40 years old this month. Six summers before Big Bank Hank, Wonder Mike and Master Gee drove a Lincoln Continental and great big Cadillac up the charts to a... Read more

August 10, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Throwback

ScHoolboy Q – Sway In The Morning Freestyle (Video)

ScHoolboy Q is one of these young guys that really, really, spits freestyles. How do you feel about this one from Groovy Q's latest appearance on Sway In The Morning. Freestyles are great, but I'm fiendin' for Oxymoron. Related: Schoolboy Q – Collard Greens ft Kendrick Lamar (Video)... Read more

August 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Juicy J – Ain’t No Comin’ Down Remix ft T.I.

I'm personally anxious to see who has the better album: Juicy J's Stay Trippy or 2 Chainz' B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. Both spitters are very similar, even though Juice has been doing it over a decade longer (on the big stage, anyway). Both of these men have a style and... Read more

August 9, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Happy 50th Birthday Whitney Houston (Playlist)

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Whitney Houston. The Voice would have been 50 years old today. Here's a playlist of just a few of the many gifts she left with us. Related: Robert Glasper – Calls ft Jill Scott (Audio) Whitney Houston by Parfit on Grooveshark... Read more

August 9, 2013 Playlists

In The Kitchen With Sean Price (Video)

In the over-saturated age of video interviews, there are few MC's more engaging than Sean Price. While Killer Mike, Immortal Technique, and David Banner are the teachers, Tech N9ne, Bun B and Jay Z are the charmers, Ruck is eternally the everyman comedian. From years ago, Sean's videos of drinking... Read more

August 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Diddy & Ma$e Hit the Stage Together for the First Time in 9 Years (Video)

This has been quite the week for reunions. Jay-Z and Dame Dash got together for the first time in years, and earlier in the week, Diddy and Ma$e hit the stage together for the first time in 9 years at Drake's show in Toronto. Here's a video of the Bad... Read more

August 9, 2013 Video

Kanye West & The Beatles – What’s A Black Beatle (Mixtape)

“What’s a Black Beatle anyways, a f***ing roach? I guess that’s why they got me sitting in f***ing coach” – Kanye West on the track “Gorgeous” from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy It’s a known fact that a single hip-hop lyric has the power to birth many things: a catch... Read more

August 9, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

The Album Heard ‘Round the World: N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton Turns 25-years Old

25 years ago yesterday, N.W.A released Straight Outta Compton and changed music forever. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella brazenly said "F*ck The Police" (and the FBI took notice), weaved visceral tales of street life and introduced the city of Compton to the world. The Ruthless... Read more

August 9, 2013 Throwback

Realm Reality – Concrete Jazz ft Ea$y Money & Spit Gemz

Realm Reality takes on a flow reminiscent of early Eminem in his latest release. Check out Concrete Jazz featuring Ea$y Money & Spit Gemz. Related: Realm Reality - Sleeping With the Enemy ft Melody Angel (Audio)... Read more

August 9, 2013 Audio

Nas Raises Money to Aid Homeless Family (Video)

Nas has had the most incredible 3 week stretch as a brand ambassador for hip-hop that I can ever recall. After having a Harvard Fellowship named after him and appearing on CNN to discuss the enduring effect of racism, he has now started a fund to help Stanley Young, a... Read more

August 8, 2013 Throwback

Goodie M.O.B. on RapFix Live (Video)

Goodie M.O.B. sat down with Sway on RapFix Live and discussed the old days with OutKast, whether the rumors of a new Andre 3000 album were true and dropped an a capella freestyle. Check out the videos below. Related: Goodie Mob – Special Education ft The Roots (Live Video) Part... Read more

August 8, 2013 Throwback

Jadakiss on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Jadakiss is the latest guest on The Combat Jack Show and he drops some jewels. He discusses the need for older Heads to be accepting of current hip-hop, Biggie getting killed during Jada's first ever trip to LA, his past beef with Diddy and more. Heavy. Check out the videos.... Read more

August 8, 2013 Video

Stalley – Honest Cowboy (Mixtape)

Often overlooked by many in comparison to his MMG label mates (Meek Mill and Wale), Stalley hopes to bring his lyricism to the forefront with his latest project Honest Cowboy. Although it’s a mixtape and not an album, Stalley promises that doesn’t mean it will lack in quality. Stating in... Read more

August 8, 2013 Mixes

Big Sean Plays Hall Of Fame For One Special Fan (Video)

With the abundance of stories that shine a negative light on hip-hop (altercations, arrests, beef, lawsuits), it’s always a refreshing sight when a positive story about the culture glares through. With the release date of Big Sean’s Hall Of Fame quickly approaching (August 27 to be exact), the G.O.O.D. Music... Read more

August 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Yo! MTV Raps Turns 25 (Documentary Video)

Although hip-hop might not be the first words that come to mind when thinking of MTV these days, this week 25 years ago the network premiered a show that not only made history, but was crucial in spreading the hip-hop movement all around the world. On August 6, 1988 MTV... Read more

August 8, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce Da 5’9″) – Lighters (G-SHOCK Performance Video)

Over two years later, it's great to see Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" still working from Hell: The Sequel. Bad Meets Evil seems eclipsed by both solo artists' careers, though it gave Royce his first gold album. In honor of G-SHOCK's 30th anniversary party in Manhattan yesterday (August 7), the... Read more

August 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Mobetta – Back At The Ranch ft Jean Grae (Video)

Following last week's release of the song, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Mobetta drops the video to "Back The Ranch." Jean Grae's talent in performing shines, despite a career without a plethora of music videos. DJ Scratch, who produced the track, also makes a cameo in front of the Big Apple-inspired green-sky... Read more

August 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

D-Pryde – Faded (Video)

You’re not “hood enough," you’re not “Black enough”, you’re not “hip-hop” enough. While a lot of people used to tell Toronto’s D-Pryde what he wasn’t, it seems that more and more now see quite clearly what he is. And what’s that exactly? A 19-year-old Filipino MC that toured and opened... Read more

August 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Jay Z and Damon Dash Bury the Hatchet

We've been watching the ice between Jay Z and Damon Dash melt over the last few weeks. First, we saw Dame listening to Jay's Magna Carta Holy Grail album and publicly giving it props. Then, Jay spoke candidly about his former friend and business partner, calling him an "amazing and... Read more

August 8, 2013 Food for Thought

Macklemore – 97 Seconds With Macklemore (Video)

We first posted Macklemore nearly 2 years ago today (and would you believe it was his current smash Can't Hold Us?). It's amazing to see his growth. Here's an intimate and candid interview he did discussing overcoming addiction, his creative process and the spirituality he achieved through writing. Check out... Read more

August 7, 2013 Video

DJ Chuckie – Makin’ Papers ft Lupe Fiasco, Too Short & Snow (Video)

A day after taking thinly veiled shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco is back with a video that also features Too Short, Snow and DJ Chuckie, and which was directed by Larenz Tate. Check out Makin' Papers.... Read more

August 7, 2013 Video

Stalley – NineteenEighty7 ft Schoolboy Q

Stalley drops one of his toughest joints yet. He takes on a more aggressive flow over a soulful 70's track and adds Schoolboy Q to the hook. Check out NineteenEighty7 below. His Honest Cowboy album will be released tomorrow (8/8). Related: Stalley Freestyles On Sway In The Morning (Video)... Read more

August 7, 2013 Audio, Video

Rapsody – Never Know ft. Ab-Soul, Nipsey Hussle & Terrace Martin

I really love the Jamla/TDE/Nipsey Hussle connection. What 9th Wonder did so seamlessly with Brooklyn in the mid-'00s (Smif N' Wessun, Sean Price, Buckshot and Jean Grae) now seems to work with South Central, Los Angeles and C-Arson. "Never Know" is a truly versatile joint produced by the professor himself.... Read more

August 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Terrace Martin – You’re The One ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Tone Trezure

To me, this sounds like a hybrid of DJ Quik and J Dilla, with a nice composition for two rising features. That being said, Terrace Martin is completely his own man, and one of the most exciting producers in Southern California since the '90s. His 3ChordFold is out next week... Read more

August 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Schoolboy Q – Collard Greens ft Kendrick Lamar (Video)

Schoolboy Q has released the video to Collard Greens, his red hot collabo with Kendrick Lamar. The video plays like a kaleidoscopic trip with an appearance from Kendrick and a random cameo from Macklemore. This one is a bit cheeky (literally) so careful where you watch...Related: Schoolboy Q Performs New... Read more

August 7, 2013 Video

Crate Diggers: Tony Touch

Forever and always, Tony Touch is my favorite 1990s NYC mixtape DJ. We used to buy his tapes (usually colored plastic cassettes) that would ship in from Tapekingz. The freestyle-format was so fresh, and Tony Toca would always make your money count with sounds you couldn't hear anywhere else. Plus,... Read more

August 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Eve Recalls Time With The Ruff Ryders & Dr. Dre With Peter Rosenberg (Video)

Philly's Eve has an interesting story. From the days of the Bullworth soundtrack, her career began with Dr. Dre on then-fledgling Aftermath Entertainment (I always thought that '97-'99 roster was the best). Then, Eve made history with DMX, Swizz Beatz and the Ruff Ryders, keeping her success in the Interscope... Read more

August 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Suicide Kings – Savages ft M.O.P.

Anybody who knows me knows that M.O.P. is one of my favorite groups in all of music. The same way that Public Enemy channeled Hard Rock angst and chutzpah in the '80s, Billy Danze and Lil Fame rocked out in the '90s. While I hope we get another LP with... Read more

August 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Stalley Freestyles On Sway In The Morning (Video)

Maybach Music Group's Stalley discusses his role in Rick Ross' conglomerate and kicks some bars in a two-part appearance on Shade 45's Sway In The Morning. Stalley even gives props to Buckwild and O.C. for a "Times Up" soundbed. You can't help but like the Massilon, Ohio native who lives... Read more

August 7, 2013 Fresh, Video

Lord Finesse – Heavyweights Radio Freestyle (Video)

Lord Finesse drops a super quick off the top verse over Brand Nubian's Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down track. Check out the video. Related: Lord Finesse – Fat for the 90′s ft AG (Original Version) + No Gimmicks ft KRS-One... Read more

August 7, 2013 Video

Ab-Soul – Christopher DRONEr

Whoa. Ab-Soul gets his Michael Moore on in his latest release and takes on the government, military and consumerism with one shot. The song plays like a more complex part 2 to Kanye West's New Slaves (and Soulo's references at the end of the track bring it full circle), and... Read more

August 6, 2013 Audio

DJ Jazzy Jeff – Vinyl Destination Ep. 16 (Video)

Here's the latest installment of DJ Jazzy Jeff's Vinyl Destination series. In this installment, Jeff goes on Safari in Africa. Check out the video. Related: DJ Jazzy Jeff – Vinyl Destination Ep. 15 (Video)... Read more

August 6, 2013 Video

Camp Lo – Toca Tuesdays Freestyle (Video)

This is it...Camp Lo drops a flame verse on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays Freestyles (along with a few ad libs from Pete Rock). Check out the video. Related: Pete Rock & Camp Lo – 80 Blocks from Tiffany’s, Pt. II (Mixtape)... Read more

August 6, 2013 Video