Fresh Archives

Royce 5’9 Explains In Detail What Went Wrong With Slaughterhouse (Video)

This month, Hip-Hop fans learned that Slaughterhouse has disbanded. One week ago, KXNG Crooked (aka Crooked I) announced his group exit on social media. Within days, Royce 5'9 explained how without Crook, that the group also including Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz would not continue as a unit. He added... Read more

April 29, 2018 Video

KRS-One Explains Why He No Longer Performs The Last Verse To “The Bridge Is Over” (Audio)

KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock made one of Hip-Hop's most iconic diss records in Boogie Down Productions' "The Bridge Is Over." In the eyes of many, the song was a second-round knockout punch against the Juice Crew's MC Shan, DJ Mr. Magic, Marley Marl, and Roxanne Shanté—four artists that... Read more

April 29, 2018 Audio

A 1993 JAY-Z Battle Shows He Was Already Dope Beyond A Reasonable Doubt (Video)

Back in the early 1990s, before many MCs had coveted record deals, they got their profiles up and buzzes hot through battling. This is the position JAY-Z was in back in 1993, as he was still two years away from founding his independent label, Roc-A-Fella Records, and was only known... Read more

April 28, 2018 Throwback, Throwback, Video

Kanye West’s New Song Explains Why He’s Wearing This Hat & It’s Not What You Think (Audio)

Maybe Kanye West should run for president. When it comes to dominating a news cycle, West may be the only person in the world who can compete with the person who currently holds that job. Since his return to social media nearly two weeks ago, Kanye has made headlines every... Read more

April 28, 2018 Audio

Kanye West Releases A Song That Proves Anyone Paying Attention To Him Is A Fool (Audio)

For the last week, Kanye West has had the internet on fire in both the best and worst possible ways. Seemingly every day, West has dominated the news cycle, with everything from epic announcements of new music produced by him on the way from Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Nas and... Read more

April 28, 2018 Audio

A New Video Shows The Music OutKast Had In The Caddy To Make A Classic Album

Yesterday (April 26) marked the 24th anniversary of OutKast's debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Looking back, the LP's influence stretches wide, especially for southern Hip-Hop. The Funk-laden, groovy tunes André 3000, Big Boi, and producers/musicians Organized Noize brought to the culture set the standard for everything that wasn't New York or West... Read more

April 27, 2018 Throwback, Video

The Internet Rolls Out Some New Funk That Skates Back In Time (Video)

The Internet has proven to be capable of channeling many styles, moods, and eras. Soul, House, Jazz, and of course Funk have been along for the ride in the musical journey of Syd, Steve Lacy, and Matt Martians and the rest of the band. The Odd Future family show the... Read more

April 27, 2018 Video

Kelis Accuses Nas Of Physically & Mentally Abusing Her (Video)

Singer and chef Kelis and ex-husband Nas recently settled a tense and public custody battle. The former Star Trak Records artist conducted one of her first interviews in nearly a decade and made some powerful claims against her former marital partner of five years. Kelis describes her time with Nas... Read more

April 26, 2018 News, Video

Do Remember When DOOM Was Just An MC With Peachfuzz On His Chin (Video)

MF DOOM is a master of disguise. However, he was not always known by his modern moniker, and did always cover his face. Back in 1988, as Zev Love X, the London-born wordsmith created the Rap group KMD, along with his younger brother DJ Subroc and Rodan (who would later... Read more

April 26, 2018 Do Remember, Video

Fat Joe Talks About The Time Big L Said He Was Going To Steal All Joe’s Fans (Video)

In 1997, Diggin' In The Crates was in strong stride. The New York City MC and producer collective saw albums by O.C., and Diamond D. Fat Joe was one of the members of the crew that was on the rise. The following year, Joe earned a gold plaque through third... Read more

April 26, 2018 Throwback, Video

Bill Cosby Found Guilty Of Sexual Assault & Faces Up To 30 Years In Prison

Moments ago in Norristown, Pennsylvania this afternoon (April 26), actor, comedian, and media mogul Bill Cosby was convicted on all counts of aggravated indecent assault. The 80-year-old creator of The Cosby Show was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in his Cheltenham, Pennsylvania home in 2004. Cosby... Read more

April 26, 2018 Lifestyle, News

J. Cole Reveals Who Kill Edward Is And It’s Deeper Than Rap

On J. Cole's newly-released KOD, there is one guest by the name of kiLL edward. The character appears on two songs: "The Cut Off" and "FRIENDS." These are two powerful cuts on an album that carries three titles: Kids On Drugs, Kill Our Demons, and King Overdose. For an artist... Read more

April 25, 2018 Food for Thought

Miguel & J. Cole Build On Their Musical Chemistry With A Seductive Video

In an act of phenomenal timing, Miguel dropped a crisp new video to accompany the single, “Come Through And Chill” featuring J. Cole. The track is off the singer’s fourth album, War & Leisure which dropped last December. It also features producer Salaam Remi (Nas, Amy Winehouse, No Panty). Cole’s... Read more

April 25, 2018 Video

Daz Dillinger Says He Produced Some Of The Classics Credited To Dr. Dre & Names Them (Video)

In the mid-1990s, Daz Dillinger became an elite music producer. In addition to a heavy hand in his Dogg Pound group with Kurupt, the Long Beach, California representative laced high-profile tracks for Tupac Shakur's chart-topping All Eyez On Me, as well as tracks for Snoop Dogg, WC, C-Murder, and Nate... Read more

April 24, 2018 Video

Pete Rock Gives A Fantastic Update On The De La Soul Project He & DJ Premier Are Producing

Hip-Hop luminary and Grammy-winning producer/DJ Pete Rock was on hand for the Seattle, Washington Museum of Pop Culture’s grand opening of their new exhibit, Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes. The legendary beat creator was invited to DJ the engagement and was also an honored guest. While Rock wasn’t conducting interviews... Read more

April 24, 2018 Exclusive, News

Wu-Tang Clan Will Celebrate The 25th Anniversary Of 36 Chambers With A Special Show

The 14th annual A3C Festival will commence in October and announced its headliners. The two-day Atlanta, Georgia festival selected Wu-Tang Clan to headline, bringing together the Shaolin group to perform their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers just a month before it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Diplomats will also... Read more

April 24, 2018 Fresh

Kevin Hart Feels The Full Sting Of His Infidelity In J. Cole’s Powerful New Video

J. Cole season is in full force. Starting with Friday's (April 20) release of KOD, the Dreamville MC/producer followed with a video for "ATM" that paid with rich symbolism. Now, just a handful of days since his fifth solo album released, Cole releases his second visual from KOD. "Kevin's Heart"... Read more

April 24, 2018 Video

Dynasty Teaches That Simplicity Is Genius Over A Brilliant Apollo Brown Beat (Video)

Queens, New York's Dynasty embodies power, leadership, and sovereignty. All of this is apparent from her past work with Talib Kweli and DJ Premier. From her 2016 album Forever, DY; Dynasty recently dropped the visuals for her single, "One Day," produced by Detroit, Michigan’s Apollo Brown (Ras Kass, O.C., Planet Asia).... Read more

April 24, 2018 Ready Or Not

Royce 5’9 Reacts To KXNG Crooked’s Surprise Disbanding Of Slaughterhouse (Video)

Many Hip-Hop fans were shocked to learn of KXNG Crooked's exit from Slaughterhouse last weekend (April 20). The Long Beach, California MC once known as Crooked I released a video thanking his brothers, Eminem, and Shady Records, as well as fans. In the video, Crook' explained that the collective is... Read more

April 24, 2018 News, Video

Will Smith Details The Night Michael Jackson Gave Him The Thrill Of His Life (Video)

At 49 years old, Will Smith may be the champion of social media. The actor, MC, comedian, and media mogul has put a fresh spin on several platforms by injecting his personality, wit, wisdom, and family dynamics for the public to see. In a "Storytime" video, Smith does it again.... Read more

April 24, 2018 Video

Yasiin Bey & Talib Kweli Are Reuniting On Stage To Celebrate 20 Years Of Black Star

September marks 20 years since the release of Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The collaborative album was the first full-length efforts from both Brooklyn, New York MCs. The Rawkus Records pair has gone on to decorated solo careers, capturing some of that Black Star chemistry on a... Read more

April 24, 2018 Fresh

Janelle Monáe Plays It Crazy, Sexy & Cool By Design In Her Latest Over The Top Video

The dynamic singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe is only days away from releasing Dirty Computer, and today she rolls out the red carpet with the visuals for the single, “I Like That.” Kicking off with an eye-catching black, white, and red treatment, Monáe’s striking presence is seen standing in an empty auditorium... Read more

April 23, 2018 Video

Capone-N-Noreaga Join Forces With Cormega To Rule A Track Like Queens Kings (Audio)

It's been four years since Cormega released an album. Still, the Queens, New York representative has stayed busy releasing books, a la carte singles, and maintaining his ironclad reputation for feature work. 2014's Large Professor-produced Mega Philosophy is an album that offered plenty to sustain fans of introspection and cultural... Read more

April 23, 2018 Audio

Talib Kweli Discusses The Genius Of Madvillainy & Its Impact On Hip-Hop (Audio)

Last month, Madvillain's album celebrated its 14th birthday. In the early 2000s, MF DOOM and Madlib formed the group and recorded Madvillainy in the latter's bomb shelter studio in Glendale, California. The resulting Stones Throw Records album was a game-changer in the careers of two elusive, decorated veterans, both creatively... Read more

April 23, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Colin Kaepernick Receives Amnesty International’s Highest Award (Video)

This past weekend, human rights organization Amnesty International honored Colin Kaepernick with its Person Of Conscience Award. The former NFL star received the distinction for his commitment to social justice and racial discrimination, including public protest and personal sacrifice. "The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and... Read more

April 23, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

KXNG Crooked Has Left Slaughterhouse. Here’s Why (Video)

For the last decade, Slaughterhouse helped set a trend of MCs raising their profiles through forming a super-group. The cross-country collective of Royce 5'9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and KXNG Crooked (fka Crooked I) released two albums, an EP, and two mixtapes between 2009 and 2014. Slaughterhouse's future appears to... Read more

April 22, 2018 News, Video

J. Cole Gives A Verbal Beat Down With A Lesson. But Who Is The Target? (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

April 21, 2018 Audio

J. Cole Cashes In With One Of The Most Creative Videos Of The Year

Historically, April 20 is an unofficial holiday celebration for mental relaxation and controlled substances. J. Cole's just-released 4/20 album frames that conversation differently. Songs address deadly recreational drug use, such as pill-popping, without any glorification. Instead, on the LP reported to partly mean Kidz On Drugz and King Overdose (in... Read more

April 20, 2018 Video

Styles P Is Releasing A New Album. Get Ready For “G-Host” (Audio)

The L.O.X.'s Styles P has been very consistent with solo projects. While his group has dropped just three albums, Holiday Styles has steadily fed the masses with LPs, mixtapes, EPs, and collaborative works dating back to 2002's A Gangster & A Gentleman—which set the gold standard for the discography. It... Read more

April 20, 2018 Audio, News

J. Cole Has Just Released His New Album. Listen To All Of KOD (Audio)

Mere moments ago, the five time Grammy award nominated-J. Cole dropped K.O.D., his fifth full-length album. Once again approaching his project roll-out in perplexing and unpredictable fashion, Cole shook the Hip-Hop community with an abrupt announcement just four days prior to K.O.D.’s unveiling. With 16 months between his last release (4 Your Eyez Only) and... Read more

April 20, 2018 Audio

Royce 5’9 Will NEVER Dumb Down His Lyrics. He Goes All-In On A New Banger (Audio)

Although he has been one of the most consistently excellent MCs in Hip-Hop for more than 20 years, it is only in the last few years that Royce 5'9 has started getting his proper recognition as an elite lyricist. While Nickel Nine had breakout hits at the turn of the... Read more

April 19, 2018 Audio

J. Period’s New Mix Blends Verses From OutKast With The Sounds Of Wakanda (Audio)

J. Period has made some of the best, most conceptual, and musically-moving mixtapes of the last 15 years. That gift has led the New York City-based California native to work up close and personal with Black Thought, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas, Q-Tip, and others. Having now earned a #1 album... Read more

April 19, 2018 Audio, Mixes

O.C.’s Tiny Desk Concert Shows Time Is Never Up For Classic Hip-Hop (Video)

There’s a special kind of flavor required for an MC to shine at one of NPR’s "Tiny Desk" concerts, and Brooklyn, New York spitter, O.C. really spreads it on for his five-song set. The low-key backdrop provided by Soul'D U Out, a Jazz band headed by Maurice “Mobetta” Brown (Talib... Read more

April 19, 2018 Video

Kanye West Is Writing A Philosophy Book On Twitter. So Far, It’s Insightful

Kanye West has pushed the boundaries of what is expected from a musician, and he continues to do so. While fans are always eager to hear any new music from the superstar, his interviews and tweets are often just as anticipated. So, when he returned to Twitter last week after... Read more

April 19, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Brand Nubian’s Unsung Tells The Group’s Story In Full. Slow Down & Watch (Video)

Brand Nubian is one of the most influential Hip-Hop groups. In the eyes of many, they are also heavily underrated. Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, Sadat X, and DJ Alamo introduced a sound, style, and consciousness that became a formula for a new breed of Heads in the 1990s. Further, this... Read more

April 18, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

Freeway’s New Freestyle Shows He Is 100% Back & At Peak Powers (Video)

Compared to his mid-2000s run, Freeway has been out of the spotlight lately. From health concerns to label shifts, he has his reasons. However, the Roc Nation MC snatched it right back the best way he knew how. The Philly spitter, accompanied by fellow Roc-A-Fell Records alum Pain In Da... Read more

April 18, 2018 Video

TDE Has Made The Funniest Concert Promo Video Of All-Time

Top Dawg Entertainment is taking its whole show on the road the 2018 Championship Tour. In January, TDE announced cross-country US dates for May and June. At the time, Kendrick Lamar had not yet won a historic Pulitzer Prize for Musical Composition (the first ever going to an artist outside... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

Nas, Rakim, Pete Rock & More Break Down Why AZ Is 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Best Visualizers (Video)

Twenty years ago this month, AZ released his sophomore album, Pieces Of A Man. The Brooklyn, New York MC, author, and co-founder of The Firm has a decorated career that is still very much in swing. Previously, BET released portions of their #20YrsLtr: Doe or Die documentary featuring AZ, but... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

Questlove Is A Creative Genius. He Shares His Secrets On How To Become One Too (Audio)

In his fourth book, Questlove takes a deep dive into his memories and experiences - a vast trove of material, considering the illustrious career he's had thus far. Already a published author, Ahmir Tompson spent decades performing as co-founder of The Roots, Grammy-winning musician and performer and late-night-TV bandleader (not... Read more

April 17, 2018 Audio, News

Lauryn Hill Celebrates 20 Years Of “Miseducation” With A Major Tour

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lauryn Hill releasing her classic debut, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. The New Jersey songstress and MC is celebrating the milestone by touring her beloved work this summer. The 1998 Ruffhouse/Columbia Records album has earned her many accolades over the years, at first starting... Read more

April 17, 2018 Fresh

Jay Lonzo Raps Out His Dream While In The Studio With Marco Polo (Video)

Throughout history, Brooklyn, New York has birthed some of Hip-Hop's most enduring voices. Crown Heights native Jay Lonzo aims to be the next MC to put it down for his borough, and take the originality, swagger, and skill of his area across the globe. In recent years, Lonzo has consistently... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

Method Man Explains Wu-Tang Clan’s Tiered Pay Scale & The Rationale Behind It

Wu-Tang Clan is a diverse collective. In addition to an assembly of MCs from different sections of New York City, the Wu brothers signed to different labels and reached varying levels of success. The members of the Clan also split their money differently. When it comes to touring and other... Read more

April 16, 2018 Fresh

Bobby Sessions Takes Back His Identity In A Jarring & Symbolic Video

Bobby Sessions is a veteran product of the Dallas, Texas Hip-Hop scene. He has been spitting verses with raw social commentary since the turn of the decade. Meanwhile, Bobby has repped the HIGH STANDARDz family since his debut album LOA (Law Of Attraction) launched the label in 2016. That impressive... Read more

April 15, 2018 Video

Hip-Hop Is Driving The Music Business, But Few Black Executives Are Brought Along For The Ride

Hip-Hop continues to prove itself as big business that is driving culture across the commercial landscape. With that success, it is important to acknowledge those helping to push the culture, music, and business ahead. In this regard, professionals in business management advisory services offer invaluable guidance and strategic insights to... Read more

April 15, 2018 Fresh

Saba Confronts His Demons & Mortality With A Bleak Certainty In Life (Video)

As listeners have learned with the unfolding of Saba’s new album Care For Me, beginning with the release of the project’s first video single (“Busy”) last month, it’s has been quite a disheartening and dreary recent stretch of life for the 23-year-old Chicago-based MC. The culmination of that bleakness coming... Read more

April 15, 2018 Video

Rakim Reveals Nas Called Him For Advice Before He Ethered JAY-Z. Here’s What Ra Said (Video)

Recently, a number of MCs have openly rebelled against those that came before them. Lil Yachty said The Notorious B.I.G. was overrated. Young Dolph openly disrespected Pete Rock. And, too many rappers to count have favorably compared themselves to Tupac. But, it wasn't always that way. There was a time... Read more

April 14, 2018 Video

ANoyd May Rule The World Better Than Nas & Lauryn Did With This Freestyle (Video)

ANoyd might not be a household name yet, but he is one to watch. Closely. The Connecticut-based MC is quickly establishing himself as among the most talented in his generation. Like Kendrick, Cole, Logic and Joey Bada$$, the up and coming artist flexes a more lyrical style than many of... Read more

April 14, 2018 Video

Action Bronson Is Independent Again. He Celebrates With A Lovely Collabo With Alchemist (Audio)

For the first time in roughly five years, Action Bronson is a free agent. After publicly griping about the situation with his label Vice/Atlantic Records online last Spring, the New Yorker returns to the independent status that earned him a strong following at the top of the decade. Since then,... Read more

April 13, 2018 Audio

Talib Kweli & Jay Electronica Release A Song Meant To Bring All Of Us Together (Video)

The latest example of Hip-Hop artists bringing awareness through their art to the brutality of some law enforcement is Talib Kweli's "All Of Us" visual. Featuring Jay Electronica, Yummy Bingham, and directed by Yassin "Narcy" Alsalman, the video illustrates police intimidating communities of color. It also portrays a shooting of... Read more

April 13, 2018 Video

Naturally 7’s Acapella Remake Of Digable Planets’ Hit Is Slick & Cool Like That (Video)

Naturally 7 are a seven-man acapella group out of New York City. However, the septet strafes the line between traditional vocal group and beat-boxers. They don’t simply sing. Each member has also all mastered imitating a specific instrument. While they have dropped eight albums full of original material since they... Read more

April 13, 2018 Exclusive, Video