Fresh Archives

Drake’s New Video Is The Most Important Thing He’s Done In His Career

Drake is among the few Hip-Hop artists who can afford to make a million-dollar music video in 2018. One of the reigning cash kings of popular culture creates all forms of his art with strong intent and frequently does things on a grand level. In making the music video to... Read more

February 16, 2018 Video

Common Looks Back At His Time With Dilla On A Song Fit For February (Audio)

Common has transcended Hip-Hop. He is now a political activist. He's won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe award for his song "Glory" featuring John Legend in the film Selma. Also, he's the only Hip-Hop artist to achieve an "E.G.O." hat trick by receiving an Emmy Award for his... Read more

February 16, 2018 Audio

Kool Keith, Dan The Automator & QBert Revive Dr. Octagon With A New Album & Single (Audio)

This past weekend, Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) revealed that he and Talib Kweli are reuniting for a sophomore Black Star album. Meanwhile, another late '90s Hip-Hop squad finally debuts new music with its founding lineup. Dr. Octagon returns with Kool Keith, Dan The Automator, and DJ QBert. Moosebumps: An... Read more

February 15, 2018 Audio, News

Blu & Exile’s Video Imagines Their Playful Chemistry 20 Years Before “Below The Heavens”

Blu and Exile are back with heartfelt visuals to match the pensive rhymes and nostalgic sounds. "Constellations" weaves a visual tapestry that explores the essence of youth and the knowledge of being star-born. The song is off of their recent album In The Beginning: Before The Heavens. The video takes viewers back... Read more

February 15, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Combat Jack’s Friend Details His Bravery & Dignity In His Final Days

Combat Jack, known to his closest friends and acquaintances as Reggie Ossé, passed away on December 20, 2017, after a battle with colon cancer. During the Redman episode of his Combat Jack Show podcast, Ossé revealed to the public that he had been diagnosed and was fighting for his life. Two months... Read more

February 15, 2018 Fresh

Remy Ma Samples Mint Condition For A Message About Black Beauty (Video)

Remy Ma has been a respected lyricist since she emerged on M.O.P.'s mash out-turned-mainstream hit, "Ante Up (Remix)." She has multiple career-highs under her belt with verses alongside Fat Joe on platinum-selling bangers "Lean Back" and "All The Way Up." Along with her marriage to venerated Brooklyn spitter Papoose, Remy's... Read more

February 14, 2018 The Bridge, Video

Chris Rock Admits Addiction & Infidelity In A Stand-Up Special That’s Just Released (Video)

Overnight, Chris Rock released Tamborine. The Netflix-backed stand-up special is Rock's first long-form Comedy project since 2008's Kill The Messenger. This release came without announcement, six weeks after two specials from Dave Chappelle. In his latest special, Rock admits marriage infidelity, as well as the damaging effects of his pornography... Read more

February 14, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

The Roots Will Turn 2018’s Picnic Into A Dave Chappelle-Hosted Jam Session

The Roots Picnic has become one of the culture's longest-running artist-run Hip-Hop festivals. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania event has expanded to include New York City satellite festivals, and seen its share of historic moments. The 2018 affair has been announced and will see the event playing out a little differently. On... Read more

February 14, 2018 Fresh

Black Milk Creates 1 Funky & Electronic Mix. He Unveils Some New Music Too. (Audio)

Black Milk came into the game as a hungry, young producer in the Slum Village camp. He was lucky enough to place two beats on Slum Village’s 2002 album, Trinity (Past, Present and Future). However, by the next Slum album, Detroit Deli, in 2004 he had production credits on almost... Read more

February 14, 2018 Audio, Mixes

Nipsey Hussle & Kendrick Lamar Form A Westside Connection To Uplift Their People (Audio)

Nipsey Hussle and Kendrick Lamar have been steadfast voices of change from the streets of Los Angeles' under-served communities. From Slauson Avenue to Rosecrans Boulevard, these two artists' careers span more than a decade. Before there was major backing, these MCs hustled raps through powerful features, free projects, and seemingly... Read more

February 13, 2018 Audio

Planet Asia Shows Exactly Why His New Album Is Titled The Golden Buddha (Video Premiere)

Stretching back to its foundations, Hip-Hop has often put the spiritual beliefs of its makers front and center. Whether it is adherence to the basic tenets of Islam, the Five-Percent Nation, Rastafari, Pan-African-inspired mysticism, or Christianity, one of the genre's key aspects is the way MCs seek to merge the... Read more

February 13, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole Stand With Cozz On An Album That Shows He’s In Full Effect (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment and Dreamville Records are two of the most talent-packed rosters in Hip-Hop. Both labels have taken chances on lesser known MCs and provided them the resources to make cohesive, highly-conceptual albums with major label distribution, marketing, and touring. In an industry often chasing buzz, Top Dawg and... Read more

February 13, 2018 Audio

Fabolous & Jadakiss Get Dressed To Kill To Deliver More Lethal Rhymes (Video)

When Fabolous and Jadakiss announced they'd be putting out a collaboration album, fans were initially wondering how it would sound. Sure, the two MCs are about as New York as it can get, but their styles and flows are vastly different. Luckily, with the help of Swizz Beatz' production, what... Read more

February 12, 2018 Video

Big K.R.I.T. Rates The Bars & Hands Pimp C The Lowest Score In The Batch (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. is the latest rapper in the hot seat for "Rate The Bars." More than most, Krizzle seems to be a generous rater (handing out almost exclusively 4's and 5's). Heads have long found this artist to be generous with his music, whether giving away acclaimed mixtapes and making... Read more

February 12, 2018 Video

Ab-Soul Reminds His Pen Is Still Sharp Enough To Draw Blood (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 and listen... Read more

February 12, 2018 Audio

Yasiin Bey Says Black Star Is Working On New Music With Madlib (Audio)

This August makes 20 years since the release of Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The Rawkus Records album is a benchmark album of Hip-Hop's underground uprising, and a key introduction of Mos Def (nka Yasiin Bey), Talib Kweli, and producer DJ Hi-Tek. While Talib and Yasiin have collaborated... Read more

February 11, 2018 Audio, News

Q-Tip & Kendrick Lamar Link On A Song That Sounds Like Vintage ATCQ (Audio)

It’s no secret that Kendrick Lamar is heavily influenced by A Tribe Called Quest. During his To Pimp A Butterfly Tour, Lamar made 18,000 concertgoers in Sydney, Australia pay homage to Phife Dawg the day Tribe's co-founder passed away back in 2016. Later that year, fans heard Phife and Lamar... Read more

February 10, 2018 Audio

Joey Bada$$ & Chuck Strangers Kick Red Hot Rhymes Like 2 Pros (Audio)

Since 2018 kicked off, Joey Bada$$ has been steadily trickling out single after single. The latest comes in “80 Blocks” a collaboration with his Pro Era cohort Chuck Strangers, who also produced the sample-heavy beat. The slow, yet edgy track sounds like something that the Brooklyn MC could have churned... Read more

February 9, 2018 Audio

Lyric Jones Is More Proof Of Why This Is A Renaissance Period For Women MCs (Video)

Planet Asia's Gold Chain Miltary has assembled a clan of lyrical assassins, two of which just happen to be women. One of those MCs is L.A. transplant Lyric Jones. "Nat Queen Cole" (as she calls herself in this cut) has been on her grind in the last couple months, dropping... Read more

February 9, 2018 Video

Elzhi & Khrysis’ 1st Collabo Single Shows What Jericho Jackson’s Got…FIRE (Audio)

In two weeks, 9th Wonder's Jamla Records is releasing the first collaborative project from Elzhi and Khrysis. The February 23 album takes its title from the Detroit, Michigan MC to Raleigh, North Carolina producer tandem's group name, Jericho Jackson. The name is a reference to Carl Weathers' character in 1988's... Read more

February 9, 2018 Audio

Skyzoo & Raheem DeVaughn Hit The Bakery To Slice Some Devil’s Pie (Video)

If you haven't listened to Skyzoo's new album, In Celebration of Us, this first music video may be just the nudge you need. Both his 2017 projects, Peddler Themes and The Easy Truth with Apollo Brown, raised the lyrical bar in a time when it often seems to have been lowered.... Read more

February 9, 2018 Video

Jay Electronica, Obie Trice & Bumpy Knuckles To Perform At Dillatroit Tribute Concert

February 10 marks 12 years since the untimely death of J Dilla. In James Yancey's hometown of Detroit, Michigan the third annual Dillatroit concert will take place in his memory. On Sunday, several collaborators, peers, and admirers of the Slum Village co-founder are confirmed to perform at the event held... Read more

February 8, 2018 Fresh

Nas Speaks On The Importance Of Black History In EVERY Month (Video)

Just last week, PBS aired an incredible performance with Nas and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The televised special saw the Queensbridge native rap the entirety of his debut, Illmatic – an LP that has been archived as a part of a project at... Read more

February 8, 2018 Video

Big K.R.I.T. & T.I. Show They Are Both Kings Of The South With Rich Rhymes (Video)

In a lofty warehouse, grilled up, talking on his money phone, Big K.R.I.T. flexes his southern rap flavor in the video for “Big Bank,” directed by Music Family. The track, which features T.I., is off K.R.I.T.’s independently successful and critically acclaimed third album, 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time. Although... Read more

February 8, 2018 Fresh, Video

MF DOOM & CZARFACE Are Releasing A Joint Album. Here’s The First Song (Audio)

In 2013, Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck joined forces with 7L & Esoteric to form the group, CZARFACE. Since then, the collective has released four albums filled with grimy, no frills underground Hip-Hop. Along the way, they've worked with a who's who of MCs, including Ghostface Killah, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson,... Read more

February 8, 2018 Audio, News

KXNG Crooked, Tech N9ne, Rittz & Chino XL Go Berserk On A Killer Collabo (Audio)

Nearly 20 years ago, Sway & King Tech released their major label debut compilation album, This Or That. With DJ Revolution behind the Technics 1200s, the album, which nearly broke the Top 100, was a crucial launch-pad in the careers of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Planet Asia, and a Long Beach... Read more

February 7, 2018 Audio

J.I.D.’s Video Is An Animated Cartoon Tribute. But The Raps Are Very Real.

While J. Cole is recognized as one of the best MCs of this generation, his nose for talent is still underrated. Sure, people know who Bas, Cozz, Lute, Omen, and EarthGang are, but heavily due to the fact that they're Cole’s opening acts (and label artists) on any given Dreamville... Read more

February 7, 2018 Video

Common, Brandy, Robert Glasper & Karriem Riggins’ Video Breathes Hope Into Hard Times

Hip-Hop Heads learned about Common’s newest venture, a genre-defying collaboration with pianist/producer Robert Glasper and drummer/producer Karriem Riggins as the group, August Greene. The news came late last month with the drop of their single, "Optimistic" featuring Brandy. The record covers the Twin Cities’ R&B/Gospel group Sounds Of Blackness’ 1991 original... Read more

February 7, 2018 Video

Chris Rivers & Star Rios Honor Their Father Big Pun With Verses (Audio)

February 7 is a milestone day in Hip-Hop. It marks the birthday of J Dilla (in 1974), and also the day that Big Pun passed away, back in 2000. Typically, Pun's son Chris Rivers uses the date to pay tribute to his father, a personal and controversial figure within the... Read more

February 7, 2018 Audio

Wu-Tang Clan & Redman Are Back To Teach Lessons To Wack MCs (Video)

Last October, Wu-Tang Clan released The Saga Continues. The album marked a first for the Clan, in that DJ Mathematics assumed RZA's role as producer. Using some of The Abbott's same equipment from those early '90s joints, the Queens, New York native producer (and DJ for Red & Meth) orchestrated... Read more

February 7, 2018 Video

Black Panther’s Director Reveals How He Got Kendrick Lamar To Curate The Soundtrack

In less than 48 hours, The Black Panther soundtrack will be released (February 9). The TDE/Interscope Records soundtrack tracklist boasts new music from label acts Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, SZA, and Ab-Soul, as well as other popular acts including Future, 2 Chainz, Travi$ Scott, Vince Staples, and Anderson .Paak. Perhaps... Read more

February 7, 2018 Fresh, TV/Film

Ill Camille Is A Lyrical Soldier. She Fights On For Her Rap Dreams (Video)

Hip-Hop at its best does more than make you move; it makes you think. When a song shares one’s personal experience, listeners going through the same thing don’t feel so alone. And on the other hand, for others, it opens their eyes. Either way, this is the kind of powerful... Read more

February 6, 2018 Ready Or Not

Murs Is Starting A Residency At Duke University (Video)

The long-term partnership between Los Angeles, California MC Murs and producer 9th Wonder is taking a new turn, as the self-described "Captain California" heads to Duke University to start a week-long residency as part of its African and African American Studies program. Finding himself in a college setting is not... Read more

February 6, 2018 News, Video

Kendrick Lamar & SZA Show The Gorgeousness Of Wakanda In Their New Video

Hip-Hop is poised to win big at the box office when Black Panther hits theaters later this month, replete with a soundtrack boasting features from most of TDE's roster, Vince Staples, Anderson .Paak and more. On Friday, February 9, the official soundtrack drops, and with it an executive producer credit... Read more

February 6, 2018 Video

15 Years Ago, 50 Cent Plotted A Pathway From Underdog To Superstar

Fifteen years ago today (February 6, 2003), Queens, New York's 50 Cent took the world by storm with his debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. When Curtis Jackson burst onto the mainstream scene with a survivalist story, vendetta vocals, and Eminem and Dr. Dre in his corner, the industry... Read more

February 6, 2018 Food for Thought, Throwback

DJ Spinna’s Moving 90-Minute Mix Teaches Black History, In Audio

DJ Spinna is well known for his massive record collection, varied musical tastes, and extensive mixes. This Brooklynite has refused to be pigeon-holed and has created essential mixtapes and compilations that focus on a wide variety of genres including Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk, Deep House, Jazz, Post-Disco, R&B, and more. He... Read more

February 6, 2018 Audio, Mixes

Scarface Rates The D.O.C.’s Rhymes Higher Than His Own (Video)

In the "Rate The Bars" series, guests on the video program are challenged when they are provided excerpts of verses from peers who often happen to be homies, band-mates, or nemeses. It is a test of objectivity set against the craft of MC'ing. This has led to some memorable appearances,... Read more

February 5, 2018 Video

Nas Performs With The National Symphony Orchestra & It’s Truly Illmatic (Video)

Over the years, Nas has had many distinctions. He is the namesake of a Harvard fellowship. He was given BET's "I Am Hip Hop Award." His album, Illmatic was chosen to be preserved in Harvard's library. And, just last week, he was given the Spotlight Award from the New York... Read more

February 3, 2018 Video

Pharoahe Monch, Apathy & Pete Rock Keep On Repping Boom Bap Hip-Hop (Audio)

In the name of balance, Apathy took a more traditional Hip-Hop approach on “I Keep On,” the second single off his forthcoming LP, The Widow’s Son (March 2). Keeping in line with the precedent he set with the first single, “Alien Weaponry,” Ap’ called on another legendary producer, Pete Rock,... Read more

February 2, 2018 Audio

Snoop Dogg Has Made Reggae, Funk & Retro R&B. Now He’s Going Gospel (Video)

Snoop Dogg is a musical chameleon. Twenty-five years ago, millions of Hip-Hop Heads gravitated to the laid-back delivery and aggressive content in the Gangsta Rap style that they heard on Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Snoopy's solo debut, Doggystyle. In the periods since, Snoop has worked with a litany of musical... Read more

February 2, 2018 News, Video

Busta Rhymes Shows He Still Spits Fire From The Dungeon On A Collabo With Missy (Audio)

Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott are two beloved MCs that transcend the Hip-Hop genre. Since the TV music video-era boom, these lyricists played to the mainstream with bigger than life stage personas and massive bursts of creativity. Pop peers wanted in, and Bussa-Bus and Misdemeanor became household names with catalogs... Read more

February 2, 2018 Audio

DJ Premier & Royce 5’9 Release The First Video From Their Upcoming PRhyme 2 Album

Royce 5'9 and DJ Premier's PRhyme group announced a March 16 release date for PRhyme 2 earlier today (February 1). The news came with the arrival of first P2 single, “Era,” featuring Dave East. Only hours later, the visual, directed by Jacob Arden McClure is unveiled. The dark aesthetic is... Read more

February 2, 2018 Video

Kendrick Lamar & The Weeknd’s Collabo Is Fit For A Superhero Journey (Audio)

One week from today (February 9), The Black Panther soundtrack will release on TDE/Interscope Records. With Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg at the helm, the compilation album has already witnessed strong showings from K-Dot, SZA, and Jay Rock. With the tracklist made available earlier this week, Lamar releases his latest... Read more

February 2, 2018 Audio

Skyzoo’s New Album May Be The Crown Jewel In His Catalog (Audio)

Brooklyn, New York veteran Skyzoo has self-released In Celebration Of Us. With "Baker's Dozen" (an homage to D'Angelo's "Devil's Pie") making great headway, "Crown Holder" is the perfect follow-up punch. Like the Apollo Brown-produced first single, this track is laced by a past full-LP collaborator. This time it is !llmind (who... Read more

February 1, 2018 Audio

Black Thought Lists His Top 5 MCs & The Reasons He’s A GOAT (Video)

The latest episode of the Touré Show podcast released this week, and the guest is none other than Black Thought of The Roots. This insightful conversation (named "How To MC") took place in late 2017 at the Brooklyn Museum and was filmed in front of a live audience of a... Read more

February 1, 2018 Video

Evidence Explains How Weather Or Not Is A Personal & Therapeutic Album (Video)

Just days ago, Evidence released his fourth solo project, Weather Or Not. Featuring Styles P, Alchemist, Rapsody, and his Dilated Peoples cohorts Rakaa and DJ Babu (among others), the Rhymesayers release closes out a nearly 11-year-old album series from Mr. Slow Flow. Last night (January 31), on a Midtown Manhattan... Read more

February 1, 2018 Exclusive, Interview, Video

PRhyme 2 Is Coming Soon & The First Single Signals A New Era (Audio)

In late 2014, DJ Premier and Royce 5'9 released PRhyme, an album that challenged all others that year as one of the best. Preemo launched his first group since Gang Starr, and Nickel Nine extended his exceptional collaborative stride that began with Slaughterhouse and Bad Meets Evil. The tandem used... Read more

February 1, 2018 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Reveals Tracklist & Release Date For “Black Panther” Soundtrack

On January 29, Marvel Studios hosted an early premiere of Black Panther ahead of its February 16 United States release. One of the most anticipated films of 2018, the superhero flick is bound to be a blockbuster success, thanks in no small part to its cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B.... Read more

January 31, 2018 Fresh

Former No Limit Star C-Murder Declares Hunger Strike Protesting Prison Conditions (Audio)

Twenty years ago this March, No Limit Records rapper C-Murder released his platinum solo debut, Life Or Death. The TRU and 504 Boyz member (and brother of label founder Master P) was one of No Limit's homegrown New Orleans, Louisiana success stories. That career trajectory was derailed after the artist... Read more

January 31, 2018 Audio, Lifestyle, News

Redman Says People Who Show Money Don’t Really Have It (Video)

For more than 25 years, Redman has built his public-facing brand as a blue-collar MC. Even as a superstar with How High presumably raking in box office dollars, a handful of platinum and gold albums, and arena tours, Redman still stands as a reflection of his faithful fans' lifestyle. Beyond... Read more

January 30, 2018 Video