Fresh Archives

J. Cole’s Passionate Performance Calls For Meditation Instead Of Medication (Video)

Tonight (June 24), J. Cole performed at the 2018 BET Awards. Cole used the televised stage to lead with the introduction to April's K.O.D album. Wale was the first person that viewers saw, sitting on a stage chair, staring at a television. The moment comes a year and a half... Read more

June 24, 2018 Video

Jay Rock Opens The BET Awards & Takes A Victory Lap (Video)

Fresh on the heels of releasing his third album, Jay Rock was given center stage at the 2018 BET Awards. The Watts, California MC stood in no one's shadow as he performed "Win," the second single from Redemption. Awards host Jamie Foxx joined the Top Dawg Entertainment MC on stage... Read more

June 24, 2018 Video

Rakim Shows He’s Still A Super Hero On A New Song For Luke Cage (Video)

Season 2 of Luke Cage premiered yesterday (June 22) and, as with the first season, the show continues to be steeped in Hip-Hop. Written by journalist Cheo Hodari Coker, who cut his teeth writing for VIBE magazine where he did some of the definitive interviews of The Notorious B.I.G., the... Read more

June 23, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

DJ Muggs & DOOM Tease Their Upcoming EP With A Banger Featuring Freddie Gibbs (Audio)

When it comes to collaboration tracks and albums with artists, there is a high percentage rate that Heads will get a quality product when DJ Muggs, MF DOOM, or Freddie Gibbs are involved in the effort. The stakes have been raised even more for a hardcore rapper's delight as these three... Read more

June 22, 2018 Audio

Redman Releases A Song That Reminds Us Why We All Love Hip-Hop (Video)

Since the 1990s Redman has been able to remain one of the most consistent MCs. While many who hit their peak at a young age and understandably decline over the years, the New Jersey native's been able to remain a force to be reckoned with, both through his catalog and the... Read more

June 22, 2018 Audio, Video

Busta Rhymes & Westside Gunn Break Bones With Verses, Not Sticks & Stones (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to go back... Read more

June 22, 2018 Audio

Token’s New Video Looks At The Toll Social Media Has Taken On Our Self Esteem

Token is using the platform he's building to take on one of his generation's biggest internal battles: body image and social media's exploitation of it. Now, via his latest video, the Boston-based rapper uses his own experiences to relay the struggle kids face in school and on the Internet. Directed by... Read more

June 21, 2018 Video

The 14 Best Hip-Hop Releases So Far In 2018 (Audio & Video)

Approaching 2018’s midpoint, the year has been absolutely incredible for Hip-Hop and Rap music. For many artists, the album is now shorter than it has ever been. Releases are more concentrated and digestible than they have been been in decades. Moreover, the MC/producer double-threat is winning, as is the chemistry... Read more

June 21, 2018 Food for Thought

Havoc Releases 2 Mobb Deep Freestyles To Celebrate Prodigy 1 Year After His Passing (Audio)

One year ago today Prodigy unexpectedly passed away Hip-Hop has not been the same. It's all been helpful for those who were truly touched by his spirit and life's work. What's also great to help cope is anytime new music surfaces from the Mobb camp, and that's what happened Wednesday... Read more

June 20, 2018 Audio

L’Orange and Solemn Brigham Take It Back To The Lower Levels (Video)

Over the years Mello Music Group has become recognized as one of the top indie labels in Hip-Hop. More specifically, they have become known as the home for collaborative albums between fan-favorite MCs and producers. MMG boardsmen Apollo Brown, Gensu Dean, and L’Orange have all made a name for themselves... Read more

June 20, 2018 Ready Or Not

Jay Rock & J. Cole Are A Deadly Combination Lyrically And In Their New Video

With June 15's Redemption, Jay Rock released his first album since suffering a nearly fatal dirt-bike accident in 2016. The album's title and much of its content deal with themes of triumph over adversity, including singles "King's Dead," "WIN" and "The Bloodiest." With his J. Cole collabo, "OSOM (Out Of Sight,... Read more

June 20, 2018 Video

Pusha-T’s Jarring Video Shows The Brutality & Force That Some Of Us Know Too Well

Pusha-T has released the full version of the "If You Know You Know" music video. The visual accompaniment to the opening Daytona track began as a series of vertical shorts on streaming platforms. Now fully-produced, the first full visual from the Kanye West-produced G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records release raises the... Read more

June 20, 2018 Video

Chadwick Boseman Celebrates A Real Life Super Hero With His MTV Movie Award (Video)

Chadwick Boseman has become a real-life superhero to millions of people around the world, thanks to his role as the fictional superhero Black Panther. In that role, he represented ideals of pride, virtue, strength and triumph over adversity. The monumental success of Black Panther at box offices worldwide only amplified what... Read more

June 19, 2018 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

Dr. Dre’s Next Film Project Is Bringing Marvin Gaye’s Life To The Big Screen

Dr. Dre has a great history of mixing music and film, and he's using that experience in attempting to bring to life the story of Marvin Gaye on the big screen. Dre famously was a producer for the 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, and now he's reportedly in the... Read more

June 19, 2018 News, TV/Film

Lauryn Hill Adds Nas, Chappelle, De La Soul & More To Miseducation 20th Anniversary Tour

As previously reported, L-Boogie is embarking on a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. Next month, the New Jersey songstress and MC is celebrating the milestone by touring her beloved solo debut work. However, she has sweetened the deal with a plethora of tour... Read more

June 18, 2018 Fresh

JAY-Z Is Now President Of Puma’s Basketball Operations

A little over a decade ago, JAY-Z finished four years as the President of Def Jam Records. Shawn Carter helped give the label that distributed his Roc-A-Fella Records releases a face-lift and was part of signing a new regime that included Rick Ross, Jeezy, The Roots, and Ghostface Killah, among... Read more

June 18, 2018 Lifestyle, News

There’s A New Super Power In Hip-Hop & R&B And Her Name Is Tierra Whack (Video)

Tierra Whack has taken the traditional mode of the "concept album" to a different (and sometimes bizarre) place. The Philadelphia native began her career as a teenaged Dizzle Dizz, but even a name change has done little to sway the visionary from creating her brand of whack-o, thought-provoking and unorthodox... Read more

June 18, 2018 Video

Rhymefest Rates Kanye’s Rhymes & Identifies The Beginning Of His Downfall (Video)

Che "Rhymefest" Smith and Kanye West had a bit of a public falling out recently. Well, actually, it was more like the two longtime friends and collaborators ending up at odds, with Kim Kardashian West in the middle. For those that may have missed or not followed, 'Fest had publicly... Read more

June 18, 2018 Video

Does Rhyme Still Pay? Slug & Evidence Weigh In On A Dope Vanderslice Beat (Audio Premiere)

Producer Vanderslice has been a source of dusty sounds for years. From the town of Phoenixville, outside of Philadelphia, the beat-miner has worked with Prodigy, Freddie Gibbs, Apathy, Roc Marciano, and others. He has released a string of instrumental and producer-compilation style albums. 'Slice's next LP is called The Best... Read more

June 18, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Big Daddy Kane Freestyles Raw, Uncut & With A Chip On His Legendary Shoulders (Video)

This Wednesday (June 20), Big Daddy Kane is performing a free concert in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. The living legend of the microphone is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Long Live The Kane. In an era when records are shorter and appear to be more... Read more

June 18, 2018 Video

Q-Tip Is Working On His First Solo Album In Nearly 10 Years & It’s Coming Soon

It has been exactly four years since AFH readers heard anything about Q-Tip's The Last Zulu album. Once slated to be The Abstract's first release since signing with Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music, the proposed LP marks a follow-up to 2008's Grammy-nominated album, The Renaissance. It was Tip's third solo... Read more

June 18, 2018 Fresh

Takeover: JAY-Z & Beyonce Just Released An Album. It’s Their World Now (Video)

Following two confessional albums that put some vulnerable moments of their relationship and marriage on public display, JAY-Z and Beyoncé unite for a collaborative album. Today (June 16), The Carters released their first ever joint project, a nine-track effort with no warning. The move comes as the superstar couple is... Read more

June 16, 2018 Audio, Video

Jay Rock’s Bloodiest Video Shows That Sometimes Nothing Is What It Seems

Jay Rock's just-released album, Redemption, has fans rejoicing. It's also a reminder why Top Dawg Entertainment built its foundation off his talents as an MC. The Watts, California native's latest LP has many real-life tales, but perhaps the grimiest and most vivid come from album opener, "The Bloodiest." Now, Heads... Read more

June 16, 2018 Video

Method Man Is In Johnny Blaze Mode On A Hot Beat By Rockwilder. Protect Ya Neck (Audio)

Erick Sermon's Def Squad label has revitalized in 2018. After a successful crowd-sourcing campaign to fund a new album and new label, The Green Eyed-Bandit has been giving fans plenty. The studio and label now offer some heat from one of E's longest-running collaborators: Method Man. Notably, "Who I'm Iz... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Craig Mack Explains Why He Chose Redemption Over Revenge, In His Last Interview (Video)

Rapper Craig Mack passed away this March. The Long Island, New York native was deeply mourned in the Hip-Hop community at a time when he had recently reconnected with early mentor Erick Sermon (as well as Method Man and Mr. Cheeks on "Come Thru"), and was said to be working... Read more

June 15, 2018 Video

Nas Finally Releases His Album…For Real This Time (Audio)

It's been six years since Nas fans were presented a full album from one of Hip-Hop's most revered lyricists. In that time, the MC has remained focused on his business ventures, including a media company, record label, TV and film production, Sweet Chick restaurants, and a massively successful equity firm.... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

9th Wonder Brings Smif-n-Wessun & Rick Ross Together For A Song That’s Super Fly (Audio)

9th Wonder is a master mixer—not just behind the turntables or in the swivel chair in front of the tracking boards, the North Carolina native is gifted at fusing worlds together. At the height of "mixtape Lil Wayne," he brought Weezy F. Baby to Little Brother for a meaningful collaboration... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Jay Rock Gets His Redemption Alongside J. Cole. Nothing Can Stop Him Now (Audio)

Jay Rock has just released his third album Redemption. In addition to his Black Hippy and TDE label-mates, the LP includes highly anticipated collaborative single, "OSOM (Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind)" featuring J. Cole. The song examines Johnny's rise to fame, which began a dozen years ago with a... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Apollo Brown & Locksmith’s New EP Combines Lyricism With Personal Reflection (Audio)

Richmond, California native Locksmith has a knack for mixing witty lyrics with a flow that delivers his message with a punch. It serves him well as a battle rapper, but perhaps it's even better when he's constructing a body of music. These attributes are heavily on display in his newest... Read more

June 14, 2018 Audio

Jadakiss Explains Why With The LOX It’s Never Been All About The Benjamins (Video)

Twenty years ago, on DMX's "Blackout," Jadakiss spit, "You pay 30 for the 'Kiss, a 100 for The LOX / And if we cool, then I write a hook for a drop." In 1998, Jada' was quoting prices to artists looking for those features to do, as he rapped, "boost... Read more

June 14, 2018 Video

Murs Plays A Therapist In A Video Inspired By His Own Relationship Struggles

Murs' latest album, A Strange Journey Into The Unimaginable, is one of his rawest and realest to date. On it, he opens up about his life, which has somewhat recently been plagued by death, depression, and divorce. These elements give him the opportunity to be reflective and he does just that on his... Read more

June 14, 2018 Video

Lil’ Kim & Fabolous Are The Brooklyn Bonnie & Clyde (Video)

Two Brooklyn, New York MCs who have been able to adapt their sound to other styles and markets are Lil' Kim and Fabolous. Both of these spitters can rock over Southern beats, West Coast beats, and dabble into Pop, Reggae, and R&B. No matter the production, tempo, slang, or the... Read more

June 14, 2018 Video

GoldLink Is In “I Told You So” Mode. His Tiny Desk Concert Shows It. (Video)

GoldLink is seemingly playing it cool everywhere he goes. Since his breakout 2016 hit "Crew" was certified double-platinum (and notably, spawned a standout remix with Sly Glizzy and Gucci Mane that has more than 20-million YouTube plays), GoldLink has been enjoying a gleeful walk into stardom. Of course, a few meticulously placed... Read more

June 13, 2018 Video

Kooley High Keep Ascending & Will Never Come Down (Video Premiere)

From the hills of Raleigh, North Carolina, Kooley High have ascended with Never Come Down, a 14-track album with features from fellow Tar Heels Rapsody and Carlitta Durand and 9th Wonder as executive producer. The quintet made up of MCs Charlie Smarts and Tab-One; producers Foolery and The Sinopsis; and DJ... Read more

June 13, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Pusha-T Shows The Danger Of Driving While Black In His Latest Video

UPDATE: Pusha-T has released the full version of the "If You Know You Know" music video. The visual accompaniment to the opening Daytona track began as a series of vertical shorts on streaming platforms. Now fully-produced, the first full visual from the Kanye West-produced G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records release raises... Read more

June 13, 2018 Video

Classified Personifies A Discman In The Digital Age In A Video About Changes In Rap

Classified has been making music for over two decades, and it's been a slow and steady grind to success. Hailing from Enfield, Nova Scotia, Canada, the MC/producer founded Half Life Records in 1995, and would go almost ten albums deep before gaining national recognition. He first got a national distribution... Read more

June 12, 2018 Ready Or Not, Video

Jorja Smith Sings From The Soul About Love, Loss & Police Brutality (Video)

Just days after Toronto native Daniel Caesar delivered a brilliant, Gospel-driven set as a part of NPR's Tiny Desk series, enter 21-year-old English singer/songwriter Jorja Smith. Jorja has already received co-signs and work alongside the likes of Drake, Kali Uchis, and, most recently, Kendrick Lamar on this year's #1-charting Black... Read more

June 11, 2018 Video

Snoop Claims Biggie Tried To Have Him Shot & Explains How They Made Peace (Video)

While Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls had the most storied and ultimately tragic Rap beef in history, there were other moments that greatly defined a coastal conflict between the Death Row and Bad Boy labels. In 1995, there was a shooting in Red Hook, Brooklyn while Tha Dogg Pound and... Read more

June 11, 2018 Throwback, Video

Big Daddy Kane Details Recording This 1988 Mixtape Collabo With JAY-Z (Video)

Big Daddy Kane and DJ Mister Cee have been performing and recording together for more than 30 years. The two Brooklyn, New York natives appear together on Funkmaster Flex's I Got A Story To Tell series. For more than an hour, one of the greatest MCs of all time revisits... Read more

June 10, 2018 Throwback, Video

Phonte Starts His Day With Some Brutal Breakfast Bars (Video)

At the top of the year, Phonte released his superb solo sophomore album, No News Is Good News. The record serves as a vignette of 'Te's 39-year-old life – a life shrouded in anxiety of mortality, a growing disconnect with significantly younger industry peers, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. But most... Read more

June 8, 2018 Video

Westside Connection’s Biggest Hit Was Almost Jacked By Dr. Dre

A dozen years before Slaughterhouse formed, Westside Connection was one of Hip-Hop's super-groups. Following a run of acclaimed solo albums and hit movie success, Ice Cube merged with longtime associate WC and protege, Mack 10. The Connect-Gang formed, with The M.A.A.D. Circle's DJ Crazy Toones (Dub's brother) coming along behind... Read more

June 8, 2018 Throwback

A Comedian Explains Why He Feared For His Life After Prank Calling J. Prince (Video)

Comedian Roy Wood, Jr. is now a regular contributor to The Daily Show. Before the Birmingham, Alabama native appeared on Def Comedy Jam, Chelsea Lately, and Comic View, he made a name for himself prank-calling celebrities. Earlier this week, the 39-year-old shared a story online about botching a Comedy record... Read more

June 8, 2018 Fresh, Lifestyle, TV, TV/Film, Video

Pete Rock & Bootsy Collins Unleash A Storm Of Soul & Funk With Tyler, The Creator (Audio)

Pete Rock may be a Hip-Hop legend, but it certainly isn't the only realm in music he has the ability to reign supreme. The New York producer was tapped to create the remix to songstress Kali Uchis' "After The Storm," a standout track on her recently-released debut album Isolation. As... Read more

June 8, 2018 Audio

Kanye West Shows He Still Does Some Of His Best Work With Kid Cudi (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to go back... Read more

June 8, 2018 Audio

The Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Songs Titling Each Luke Cage Episode Are Revealed

In 15 days (June 22), Netflix will premiere its highly anticipated second season of Luke Cage, a Marvel series based off the Harlem bulletproof superhero of the same name. The show will see the return of Mike Colter as "Luke Cage," as well as Simone Missick as "Mercedes 'Misty' Knight,"... Read more

June 7, 2018 Fresh, TV, TV/Film

Digable Planets’ Unsung Episode Reveals Why A Great Group Only Made 2 Albums (Video)

The Digable Planets' story is told in an episode of Unsung. The two-men-and-a-lady trio from three different cities would stretch to achieve Grammy success and respect within the Hip-Hop community at the same time. However, the collective of Seattle, Washington's Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, Silver Spring, Maryland's Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira,... Read more

June 7, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

NFL Player Malcolm Jenkins Uses Signs & Silence To Send A Very Clear Message (Video)

Throughout the 2017-2018 NFL season, NFL players took to the field to line up against their opponents, not necessarily those awaiting the first whistle in different colored jerseys on the other side, but in a fight in activism against a multitude of atrocities and oppressive acts committed against the greater... Read more

June 7, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

On His 60th Birthday, This Unreleased Prince Song Will Make You Weep (Audio)

Prince would have turned 60 years old today (June 7). More than two years after his death, the Purple One's discography remains active. Prince's estate and his label for many years, Warner Bros. Records, are releasing Piano & A Microphone: 1983 on September 21. The first single "Mary Don't You... Read more

June 7, 2018 Audio

Eligh, R.A. The Rugged Man & Eamon Chase The High Of Self-Love (Audio Premiere)

Eligh is one of the busiest members of the ultra-prolific Living Legends crew. This MC/producer has released more than 20 solo and collaborative albums since 1996. After a hiatus from 2006-2009, the Los Angelino came back reinvigorated and with a new perspective—thanks in large part, to sobriety. While he didn’t... Read more

June 6, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Will Smith Reminds Jaden Who The FIRST Icon In The Family Was With A New Freestyle (Video)

For the Smith family, entertainment is the trade. In the last year, Jaden Smith has made some impressive music, even winning over some skeptics of the celebrity son to Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Jaden is serious about his musical craft, evident on last year's SYRE. In two days (June 8),... Read more

June 6, 2018 Video