Fresh Archives

Dave Chappelle, De La Soul & More Celebrate the Obamas With a “Block Party” at the White House (Video)

Earlier this year, Dave Chappelle's Block Party celebrated its tenth anniversary, a milestone which allowed fans to reflect back on the film and its place in Hip-Hop history. A similar history was just made on Saturday Night Live, where the most recent episode sported Chappelle as host and A Tribe... Read more

November 14, 2016 TV/Film

Pharoahe Monch & O.C. Are A Nightmare For Lesser MCs (Video)

In 1991, upon the release of Organized Konfusion's self-titled debut, Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po not only laid a strong foundation for themselves, they brought along close affiliate O.C. along for hit single "Fudge Pudge." By the time O.K. geared up for their '94 follow-up, O.C. (who spent part of... Read more

November 14, 2016 Video

Snoop Dogg DJs A 2 Hour Tribute Mix For 20 Years Of “Tha Doggfather”

This weekend, Snoop Dogg's sophomore album Tha Doggfather celebrated its 20th anniversary. The LP was significant in Snoop's career in that it was his first foray without mentor Dr. Dre behind the boards, and it would be his final Death Row Records release while still at the then reigning label.... Read more

November 13, 2016 Audio, Mixes

A Tribe Called Quest Perform On SNL & Phife Dawg Looms Large (Video)

On one of the most highly-anticipated episodes of SNL in recent memory, A Tribe Called Quest joined host Dave Chappelle, as the show's musical guests. It was the group's first major television appearance since their performance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon on November 13, 2015, in celebration of... Read more

November 13, 2016 Video

Dave Chappelle Hosts SNL & The Timing Could Not Have Been Better (Video)

Tonight (November 12), Dave Chappelle hosted Saturday Night Live. It was the first time for the brilliant comedian whose Chappelle's Show gave SNL, and every other sketch comedy show, a run for its money as the best of all-time, and his appearance could not have come at a better moment.... Read more

November 13, 2016 Video

Ras Kass Sees Lady Liberty Getting Grabbed & Names Those Who Let It Happen (Audio)

For more than 20 years, Ras Kass has been one of Hip-Hop's most steadfast critics of what he perceives as lies and corruption fed to the people. The Carson, California representative has called out organized religion, school-taught history, and the old guard music industry. In a week that has many... Read more

November 12, 2016 Audio

David Blaine Produces A Live Frog From His Stomach. The Roots Freak Out (Video)

David Blaine has been performing for audiences for nearly two decades. While the magician and illusionist is always entertaining, there are times when people find the things he does to be downright scary. Whether it's levitating, taking the heads off of live chickens and re-attaching them, or driving ice picks... Read more

November 12, 2016 Video

Shia LaBeouf Transforms Into The “#1 MC In Hollywood,” With A Monster Freestyle (Video)

Many things come to mind when the name Shia LaBeouf is mentioned. "MC" is not one of them. For years, LaBeouf has been a fixture in Hollywood as an actor and director, who has been involved in major film franchises such as Indiana Jones, Wall Street and, of course, Transformers.... Read more

November 12, 2016 Video

Common Is A Rap Pharaoh Building Pyramids Of Empowerment, With Words (Video)

One week ago today, Common released his 11th album, Black America Again. The LP had many a la carte looks before its release. "Pyramids" was a highlight. Produced by Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper, the track is one of several with reverberating lyrics about the modern day Black experience, the... Read more

November 11, 2016 Video

LaKeith Stanfield Shows There’s More Than 1 Talented Rapper In “Atlanta” (Video)

In 2016, Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) showed greater dimension in his repertoire with the launch of Atlanta. Before the show's first season reached its midpoint, the network ordered two more seasons of the series. Accolades and ratings are spilling in, and Glover may have far surpassed his musical profile,... Read more

November 11, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Q-Tip & Phife Release Their Most Political Song Ever & It Ain’t Nothin’ Nice (Video)

It's been a heavy week for America. Donald Trump is President-Elect, a stark reality for the millions who have found themselves in the crosshairs of his vitriolic campaigning. Just three days into his new position, Trump has already inspired protests across the country waged by people who are literally fearing... Read more

November 11, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest Release Their Final Album. Listen Here (Audio)

After a flurry of excitement that kicked off in August and exponentially intensified a couple of weeks ago, A Tribe Called Quest have released their final album. We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service is ATCQ's first new album in 18 years, and their first featuring each of... Read more

November 11, 2016 Audio

Rapsody Brings A Fiery Message Of Strength & Resilience Right On Time (Audio)

Two days after an election that stunned people on both sides, many are still reeling as they try to process a Presidency held by Donald Trump, after running a campaign rooted in racism, xenophobia and sexism. To some there is a belief that America is going to return to its... Read more

November 10, 2016 Audio

Joey Bada$$ & Termanology Started Out At The Bottom. Now They’re Top Shottas (Audio)

Joey Bada$$ and Termanology remind listeners why they’re some of the “realest top shottas” when it comes to this generation’s true school spitters on the latest release off Term’s upcoming More Politics LP. Both MCs wax poetic about some of their personal struggles. Over a melancholy horn section, jazzy piano... Read more

November 10, 2016 Audio

Pete Rock & Smoke DZA Look To Create Milestones With Jadakiss & Styles P (Audio)

On December 2, Pete Rock and Smoke DZA will release Don't Smoke Rock, a collaborative project that's been in the works for some time. The relationship began in 2014, when the legendary producer contributed to the Harlem rapper's Dream.ZONE.Achieve and two years later, Heads are being treated to an entire LP of... Read more

November 10, 2016 Audio

Childish Gambino Funks Up Expectations Going Into His New Album (Audio)

Childish Gambino (a/k/a Donald Glover) is a hard artist to pin down or put into any box. He acts, he does stand-up, he DJs, he writes and produces acclaimed shows—most recently evident in Atlanta. However, the breakthrough of Gambino, for many, came by way of music. Thanks to the aforementioned... Read more

November 10, 2016 Audio

Donald Trump’s Presidency Presents a Threat to the Entire Planet, Literally (Audio)

Issues like the economy, foreign policy, healthcare, and immigration all dominated the 2016 presidential campaign. What all of these issues have in common is they all require a living planet in order to function. As such, one would think the issue of climate change would be the foremost issue of... Read more

November 10, 2016 Lifestyle

A Tribe Called Quest Drove Each Other To Greatness On Their Final Album (Video)

In less than 12 hours, A Tribe Called Quest will release We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service. The group's first album in 18 years (and first with all four founding members in more than 25 years) carries a great deal of anticipation. Last night (November 9)... Read more

November 10, 2016 Fresh, Video

Run The Jewels Will Not Concede. Their New Song Says It All (Audio)

Less than 24 hours after the 2016 US Presidential Election was called, Run The Jewels appears to punctuate the air of a partly astonished nation. "2100" featuring close affiliate Boots has a message of frustration with the same System that Killer Mike and El-P have rebelled against (as a unit)... Read more

November 9, 2016 Audio

RZA Explains Why Wu-Tang Clan’s Next Album Is Ghostface Killah’s Responsibility (Video)

In June, Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah revealed that if the legendary Hip-Hop crew is to release another album, he will be at the helm. “RZA put the ball in my hand. He said ‘Yo, I want you to do it,’ and I been wanting to do it, and that’s a... Read more

November 9, 2016 Video

Killer Mike Explained Donald Trump’s Victory Before It Happened (Video)

Just minutes ago, Hillary Clinton delivered her concession speech after losing the presidential election to Donald Trump. There is no doubt that today, November 9, 2016, will go down in history as a clearly marked moment in time when, years from now, we will all remember where we were the... Read more

November 9, 2016 Lifestyle

Vice Souletric Wants To Rap About ’90s Hip-Hop With You. Can He Kick It? (Video)

Vice Souletric is a promising MC and producer from Lorain, Ohio—just 30 miles west of Cleveland. Having previously worked with Pete Rock and fellow Buckeye State native DJ Hi-Tek, Souletric released Vice For President, Vol. 2. On Election Day 2016, Ambrosia For Heads holds up recent video single "90's Sumthin'"... Read more

November 8, 2016 Ready Or Not

Snyp Life Reps Mount Vernon & Salutes Heavy D On A Pete Rock Production (Video)

D-Block representative Snyp Life recently dropped some visuals for his Pete Rock-produced, head nod-inducing banger “Oh No,” featuring a catchy, melodic hook from Sheek Louch, that Ambrosia For Heads gave the first listen to in September. The video takes viewers on a tour of Mount Vernon, New York, Snyp’s hometown,... Read more

November 8, 2016 Video

REKS Returns Home With A Large Professor Track To See What Is Gone (Video)

REKS lets the “lyricals” shine on this fittingly back-to-basics video for “Gone Baby Gone.” This is his latest Large Professor-produced song and is about some of the issues that this generation faces, deemed "critical" by the Massachusetts MC. REKS' hometown, the City of Lawrence, provides an industrial, seemingly desolate backdrop... Read more

November 8, 2016 Video

Black Thought & Daveed Diggs Get Busy On An Incredible Election Day Rap-Off (Video)

Today (November 8) is Election Day in the U.S., and millions will be casting their ballots in what is proving to be the most memorable election in modern history. Hip-Hop has been putting in serious overtime in getting out the vote, with Chance the Rapper headlining a "Parade to the... Read more

November 8, 2016 TV/Film

Wu-Tang Meets D.I.T.C. Two Legendary Crews Ain’t Nuthin’ To Mash Up (Audio)

Ever go Diggin’ In The Crates for some Wu-Tang? On this ambitious mashup of two legendary New York crews who both emerged at the onset of the 1990s, Memory Man shows us what would happen if you took members of the Wu-Tang Clan and D.I.T.C. and threw their styles in... Read more

November 8, 2016 Audio, Throwback

Vic Mensa Uses 16 Shots To Say “If You Don’t Vote, Racism Wins” (Video)

In the canon of Hip-Hop music that captures the zeitgeist of American culture in 2016, Vic Mensa's "16 Shots" is as real as any song. The There's Alot Going On single was inspired by the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald in Vic's hometown of Chicago. The 17 year-old was shot... Read more

November 8, 2016 Video

There Was Scary Good Hip-Hop In October. Here’s Some Of The Best (Audio)

October was a scary month for a number of reasons. Of course, itended with Halloween, but it also featured some of the most low rent politics the country has ever seen, with even the FBI getting into the action. What's even more frightening, amongst all the jockeying for position, there... Read more

November 7, 2016 Audio

Mac Miller Has Taken His Music To A New Place. This Music Video Does The Same.

In terms of 2016's artistic strides, Mac Miller's The Divine Feminine may be one of the biggest. Having already reinvented his persona, and enriched his skills between 2011's Blue Slide Park and 2013's Watching Movies With The Sound Off, Miller made an album that basks in love, sex, and one... Read more

November 7, 2016 Video

Salaam Remi Says He Has 3 Albums Worth of Unreleased Nas Material (Video)

Earlier this year, the Fugees celebrated the 20th anniversary of The Score, an album whose sonic story was in large part shaped by producer Salaam Remi. In the years since, the Queens, New York legend has worked across the musical spectrum, helping to steer successful trajectories for artists including Amy... Read more

November 7, 2016 Video

DJ Clue Reveals How He May Have Chosen Biggie’s 2 Most Successful Singles (Audio)

DJ Clue was a pivotal figure in bringing Hip-Hop mixtapes from street culture to the charts. The Queens, New York native began in the mid-1990s, and helped pioneer the idea of exclusives. Records by Wu-Tang Clan, Jay Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. would appear on the mixmaster's unauthorized cassettes and... Read more

November 7, 2016 Audio

Bas Looks To The Clouds & Releases One Of The Year’s Most Creative Videos

With the March release of Too High to Riot, Paris-born Sudanese MC Bas has made great strides in stepping forth as some of the strongest talent in J. Cole's Dreamville camp. Though his sophomore LP, it is arguably his most standout offer to date, with singles "Night Job," "Housewives," "Methylone,"... Read more

November 7, 2016 Video

Sha Stimuli Says Sticks & Stones Break Bones But People Are Dying Over Words (Audio)

It's been four years since Brooklyn, New York's Sha Stimuli has released his most recent project, the 2012 EP The Present. Expected to drop a new album titled Lazarus later this year, it seems the MC is using his hiatus as a point of inspiration; much like Lazarus was brought... Read more

November 7, 2016 Audio

Alchemist & Curren$y Recruit Major Producers As Accomplices For “Heist” Remix (Audio)

In February of this year, Curren$y and Alchemist masterminded The Carrollton Heist. The New Orleans, Louisiana MC and Venice, California-based produced offered 12 tracks featuring Action Bronson, Styles P, and Spitta's onetime mentor Lil Wayne. Curren$y & Alchemist Re-Up On A New Mixtape Featuring Action Bronson & Styles P As... Read more

November 6, 2016 Audio

The Intelligent Hoodlum Had Felonious Flows On This 1989 Demo (Audio)

Although Tragedy Khadafi hasn’t released a new album since Pre Magnum Opus almost two years ago, an unreleased 1989 gem from the Queensbridge veteran has surfaced. Even before he was known as the Intelligent Hoodlum (and released the A&M Records LP of the same name), Trag' went by several other... Read more

November 5, 2016 Audio, Throwback

Method Man Drops One Of His Few Verses Of 2016 & It’s Straight Gutter (Audio)

2016 has been relatively quiet for Method Man, but his involvement with the soundtrack of Netflix's Luke Cage has tied him to one of the most successful television shows of the year, a reminder that with a pedigree like his, no time away from the game is enough to erase... Read more

November 4, 2016 Audio

Dave Chappelle & A Tribe Called Quest Will Kick It On SNL

One week from today (November 11), A Tribe Called Quest will release its sixth and final album We Got It From Here, Thank You for Your Service. While Phife Dawg died more than six months prior to its release, the surviving founding three members of the group aim to make... Read more

November 4, 2016 Fresh, TV/Film

Chris Rivers, Necro & Tragedy Rally 10 Bad Apple MCs From NYC (Video)

New York City Hip-Hop has many sides. Veteran MC/producer Necro gathered nine other MCs—spanning nearly 30 years of Rap to join him for "New York Gangsters." This self-produced possé cut includes Big Pun's illustrious lyrical son Chris Rivers, Tragedy Khadafi (f/k/a The Intelligent Hoodlum), Capone (Capone-N-Noreaga), vet Kurious Jorge, Dom... Read more

November 4, 2016 Video

Black Thought, Busta Rhymes & Joell Ortiz Rise & Take Their Shot At Greatness (Audio)

Over the last year, the Broadway musical Hamilton has gone from critical darling to global phenomenon. The play, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, re-wrote the rules for theater, bringing Hip-Hop to the fore, and tossing historical conventions, using a multicultural cast to portray the country's White founding fathers. The Roots Confirm... Read more

November 4, 2016 Audio

Pimp C Was Furious When He First Heard Andre 3000’s International Players Anthem Verse (Video)

Out of the many outstanding Andre 3000 guest verses, and there are plenty, one of the all-time greats is his opening on UGK's "International Players Anthem." As Andre raps about dropping out of the game of juggling multitudes of women to focus on the one he intends to spend the... Read more

November 3, 2016 Video

Even Through Changes, Zion I Continues To Push The Sound Of Hip-Hop Ahead (Videos)

Throughout the 2000s, Zion I was a trusted source for progressively lyrical, forward-sounding Hip-Hop. Zumbi (f/k/a MC Zion) and Amp Live made important records like "Critical" and amassed a dedicated fanbase. In early 2015, Amp stepped away from his dedicated producer's role. The MC, Zumbi remains at the core of... Read more

November 3, 2016 Video

A Tribe Called Quest’s Album Artwork Shows The Naked Truth About Hip-Hop’s Generation Gap

Update: Since A Tribe Called Quest member Jarobi White posted the album artwork discussed below at approximately 11am EST, Q-Tip has since posted a variation that he is calling the official album artwork. While the background is similar, the naked woman taking a selfie and the ATCQ tribal woman looking... Read more

November 3, 2016 Fresh

Rakim Opens Up About Rivalries With Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, EPMD & More

Although he is revered as one of, if not the greatest, MCs of all time–Rakim typically shuns the spotlight. Even as rumors (and anonymously reported denials) linger about an Eric B. & Rakim reunion and corresponding tour, the 30-year professional musician has not come forward to confirm or waive off reports.... Read more

November 3, 2016 Fresh, News

Meek Mill’s Blues Bring Out The Best In His Music (Video)

Since launching his Dreamchasers mixtape series in 2011, Meek Mill has landed a front-row seat at some of Rap's loudest altercations with artists like Drake, the Game, and Beanie Sigel. With the release of DC4 last week, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC is giving his music the chance to speak for... Read more

November 3, 2016 Video

Cyhi The Prynce & Matt Citron Take Their Atlanta Anthem To The Streets (Video)

Backed by Atlanta, Georgia mainstay DJ and producer Greg Street, Matt Citron has been a newly buzzing artist in 2016. Aside from Street, one of the biggest cosigns the MC has received has been from fellow ATLien Cyhi The Prynce. The G.O.O.D. Music microphone sharpshooter and Matt released "404" in... Read more

November 2, 2016 Video

Sir Jinx Speaks About Keeping The Production On Ice Cube’s Death Certificate True To The Game

Present day Hip-Hop relies heavily on serial albums. From The Blueprint to Detox, there is momentum in many great artists' catalogs that keeps the listener engaged while threading a concept. Twenty five years ago this week, Ice Cube released Death Certificate. This platinum album followed 1990's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted solo breakout,... Read more

November 2, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought

Scott Storch Details Going From Leaving The Roots To Making Hits With Dr. Dre (Video)

In Hip-Hop, Questlove and Black Thought have become household names. However, going back to Organix and the earliest album lineups of The Roots, there is arguably another. Scott Storch has become one of the most prolific, top-earning music producers of the 2000s. Beginning in 1999 with Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E.,"... Read more

November 2, 2016 Video

RAIN910 Is Not Concerned With Industry Trends & Has the Rulebook To Prove It…Or Does He? (Video)

RAIN910 is an MC and producer who has pursued full creative control of his career since its genesis. It was a decade ago when he dropped the first of his mixtapes to make waves nationwide, and in the years since Only in America, he has not fumbled with the reins,... Read more

November 2, 2016 Ready Or Not

President Obama Outlines Hopes for Young Americans on Election Day & Forever (Video)

With just one week until Election Day, President Obama is moving into his final few months in the Oval Office. While millions of Americans are saddened at the prospect of a White House without Barack and Michelle, there is mounting pressure on getting out the message to voters, particularly the... Read more

November 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Talib Kweli Is A Boss. He Showcases The Artists On His Self-Owned Record Label (Audio)

As he was ramping up his own career, Talib Kweli made critical appearances on compilations, 12" singles, and albums by the likes of Pharoahe Monch, The Roots, and others. The Brooklyn, New Yorker knew that careers didn't happen overnight—especially those that last for many, many days. Since his late '90s,... Read more

November 1, 2016 Audio