Fresh Archives

Logic Fights The Worst Cravings In The Sequel To “Nikki” (Audio)

One of the charms on Logic's 2014 debut album Under Pressure was "Nikki." While MCs have written metaphoric love songs to women that double-played as Hip-Hop, guns, or money, the Maryland lyricist went to another place. On his Def Jam debut, "Nikki" was short for nicotine—and chronicled Logic's 10-plus-year battle... Read more

August 20, 2016 Audio

Ambrosia for Heads’ Founder Reggie Williams Shares His Personal Story & Philosophy (Audio)

Reggie Williams has spent nearly 20 years in the music industry. Armed with the keen insight and experience acquired from spending so many years as an industry insider, he launched Ambrosia For Heads (AFH) in 2010. With "ambrosia" being the food of the Greek gods, and "heads" being those in... Read more

August 19, 2016 Audio

Isaiah Rashad Lets His Ego Talk As He Allows His Soul To Sing (Audio)

In what felt like an overnight progression, Isaiah Rashad transformed from a talented (but largely unknown) artist in Chattanooga, Tennessee into a Top 40 MC on the charts. The difference was Top Dawg Entertainment, and linking up with the team responsible for introducing a handful of talented artists in multiple... Read more

August 19, 2016 Audio

Grandmaster Flash Educates & Demonstrates Pioneer DJ Techniques (Video)

If not for the work of pioneers like Grandmaster Flash, Hip-Hop would not be on radio today. Long before strong signals were freely broadcasting cutting, scratching, and Rap music into the universe, DJs were transmitting live in the parks, house parties, and New York City clubs in the mid-1970s. That... Read more

August 19, 2016 Video

Hands On The Wheel. Unh-Unh…Driverless Cars Are Coming (Video)

In the last 48 hours alone, major news has broken on several different fronts of the driverless car movement. Earlier this week, Ford announced it would be introducing a fleet of auto-piloted vehicles occupying city streets and available for ride-sharing by 2021. But in Pittsburgh, there is only a month... Read more

August 19, 2016 Lifestyle

Redman Highlights Cypress Hill’s Green Thumb In Cultivating His Career (Video)

In the early 1990s, Cypress Hill and Redman would two Hip-Hop artists who launched careers that have lasted well into today. While Cypress Hill hailed from Southern California and Red' from Northern New Jersey, these acts helped expand the Rap genre's mind with songs about mind elevation. 1991's Cypress Hill... Read more

August 19, 2016 Video

The Internet’s Syd Continues To Showcase Her Amazing Talent On Her Latest Solo Release (Audio)

While Tyler, The Creator was the first from Odd Future to have breakout success, the talent in the collective has proven to be deep and diverse. From Earl Sweatshirt to Frank Ocean, there is no pinning down the loose group of artists that stormed onto the scene in 2001. As... Read more

August 18, 2016 Audio

Mac Miller & CeeLo Green Conjure Some Soul Music To Calm The Storm (Audio)

Three weeks ago, Mac Miller announced he was releasing his next album in September. Titled The Divine Feminine, Miller described the LP as “an album that’s all about the journey that is love.” Since then, he has delivered on that promise, commencing with the song and video for "Dang!," a... Read more

August 18, 2016 Audio

The United States Is Planning to Abolish the Use of Private Prisons

In a massive step in the criminal-justice reform movement, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) today (August 18) announced it will no longer use private prisons. Long since a bone of contention by opponents of prison privatization, the facilities in question are overwhelmingly for-profit institutions which usually have contracts... Read more

August 18, 2016 Lifestyle

Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch & Chuck D Revisit Biggie’s ‘Who Shot Ya’ in Living Colour (Audio)

Musical hybrids through-and-through, Living Colour's sound is nearly impossible to describe in one genre. A full-fledged Rock band, the New York City-based outfit also heavily borrows from the sounds of Heavy Metal, Jazz, Funk, and certainly Hip-Hop. On September 9, the longtime group whose discography stretches back over 25 years... Read more

August 18, 2016 Audio

D12’s DeNauN Porter Is Every Bit As Talented A Singer As He Is An MC & Producer (Video)

DeNauN Porter is a rare talent. The Detroit native is a bona fide double threat, equally skilled at producing and rapping. As some may know, Porter played a key role in launching Eminem's career, producing his debut album, Infinite, in its entirety. That affiliation would remain strong for years, with... Read more

August 18, 2016 Video

Jidenna Shows The Classic Man Is Also A Rapping Man (Video)

Nigerian-American artist Jidenna has proven himself to be one of the most original artists of his generation. With the success of his 2015 singles "Classic Man" and "Yoga," the Wisconsin-born singer has helped make Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Records a hotbed for recording artists who are unique as they are talented. Earlier... Read more

August 18, 2016 Video

Logic May Be In Super Mario World But His Lyrics Are Not A Game (Video)

Along with blistering verses, Logic clearly has a penchant for video games. Two years ago, when he released the video for "Under Pressure," the title song for his debut album, it was a high octane combat adventure shot from the first person perspective like a real-life game of Call Of... Read more

August 18, 2016 Video

Prince Paul Drops a Mixtape Highlighting Digable Planets’ Ladybug Mecca (Audio)

Earlier this summer, news broke that Grammy-winning producer Prince Paul teamed up with Grammy-winning Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets to form BROOKZILL! alongside Don Newkirk (The Dix) and veteran São Paulo, Brazil MC Rodrigo Brandão (aka Gorila Urbano). A blend of Brazilian and New York City Hip-Hop music, the group will... Read more

August 17, 2016 Audio

Outkast’s Aquemini Gets Broken Down to Expose the Art in Storytelling (Video)

In his ongoing web series Lyricology 101, Andre Gainer takes a highly detailed approach to analyzing not only the lyrics but also the form and function of some of Hip-Hop's greatest hits, both old and new. He's broken down everyone from Joey Bada$$ to Eminem bar for bar, and in... Read more

August 17, 2016 Video

Sean Price & Chris Rivers Spit Venom On A Track With Bruse Wane (Video)

Sometimes the best way to make a name for oneself is to make songs with established, respected MCs in a lane you aspire to merge into. Sean Price made his debut on Smif-n-Wessun's 1995 debut, Dah Shinin', and began a shuffle into the game through key spots alongside fellow Boot... Read more

August 17, 2016 Video

Yasiin Bey Shows He’s At His Best Making Powerful Thought-Provoking Music (Video)

Last month, A Tribe Called Red released its high profile single with Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) and Narcy. "R.E.D." serves as an uplifting anthem for the indigenous people of the world. With percussion from Black Bear, this song fuses genres and two MCs of different backgrounds with a common... Read more

August 17, 2016 Video

Mothers of Black Boys Are Uniting to Protect Sons From Police Violence

For millions of Americans, the racial climate in the country today is not only unsettling, but in many instances lethal. In a nation where colonization and slavery were founding principles, there remains a system in place which continues to encourage the economic, political, and social disenfranchisement of people of color... Read more

August 17, 2016 Lifestyle

This Cypress Hill Anniversary Mix Shows Why Their Music Still Kills 25 Years Later (Audio)

Twenty-five years ago this month (8/13), Cypress Hill released their debut eponymous album. It was both a critical and commercial success, going on to sell over two million copies. Beyond its reception, the album represented a major milestone for Latinos. Despite the contributions of Latinos to Hip-Hop from its earliest... Read more

August 17, 2016 Throwback

Prodigy & Big Twins Keep The Imagery Infamous In The Rotten Apple (Video)

Twenty years ago, when Hip-Hop Heads pressed play on Mobb Deep's gold-certified Hell On Earth, they heard Big Twins on opener "Animal Instinct." Known then as "Twin Gambino," the raspy voiced MC would join Big Noyd as one of the M-O-B-B's most recognized offshoots. A fellow Queens, New York product,... Read more

August 17, 2016 Video

De La Soul’s New Song About The Old New York Is No Fairy Tale (Audio)

De La Soul records can be highly personal. Songs like "Trying People" and "I Am I Be" are remarkable reflections of one's place in the world, identity, and self-preservation. Other times, Posdnuos and Dave wax gripping tales that are about others. "Keepin' The Faith" is a virginity story, supported by... Read more

August 17, 2016 Audio

Drake Brings Eminem Out At His Detroit Show Calling Him The Greatest Rapper Ever (Video)

Nearly 2 weeks ago (8/3), the Internet went wild after a statement by Hot 97 personality Ebro Darden that he had been speaking with Drake about his ongoing feud with Joe Budden, and suggested that Eminem might enter the war of words, on Budden's behalf. “I told Drake that I... Read more

August 16, 2016 Fresh

DOOM & Kool Keith Are Villains With Heroic Verses (Audio)

DOOM (f/k/a MF DOOM) and Kool Keith have some over-arching qualities. For starters, these two 1980s-rooted MCs can never seem to decide on one name to release their product. Outside of titles, these artists have evolved with a love of unconventional writing, strong imagery, and the furthest reaching pop culture... Read more

August 16, 2016 Audio

Ed Lover’s Tupac Stories Will Make You Cover Your Mouth (Audio)

Contemporary Hip-Hop has a plethora of media personalities presenting, dissecting, and analyzing the music and culture. Names such as Sway Calloway, Charlamagne Tha God, Miss Info, and DJ Vlad come to mind in breaking news, discourse, and reaction to the daily stream of events. These personalities use different media platforms... Read more

August 16, 2016 Audio

YG, G-Eazy & Macklemore Unite In an Effort to Trump Hate (Video)

In the April video for "FDT," YG and Nipsey Hussle open with a question for their audience: "in which direction will we go?" It's a pointed reference to the presidential election, one in which the political arena has become more divisive and fraught with implications than most in recent history.... Read more

August 16, 2016 Video

Rah Digga Burglarizes A Beat With Break-In Bars (Audio)

Last month, Rah Digga was among those celebrated at "Hip-Hop Honors." The Jersey City, New Jersey veteran MC took the stage during a mega-medley and celebrated a career that has lasted nearly 20 years. Now independent, "Dirty Harriet" proves she's still got imperial flows, and lives to shine on a... Read more

August 16, 2016 Audio

REKS Shares The Recipe For Roasting Wack MCs & It Starts With Fire (Video)

For over a decade, REKS has been putting in work as one of Boston's finest. During that time, the underground MC, known as Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme, has worked with and earned the respect of some of Hip-Hop's most revered beatmakers, including DJ Premier Pete Rock, Hi-Tek and Statik Selkektah.... Read more

August 15, 2016 Video

Joell Ortiz, Salaam Remi, Nitty Scott & Bodega BAMZ Celebrate Nuyorican Pride On A Joint LP (Audio)

Joell Ortiz knows a thing or two about forming high-profile groups. In the late 2000s, Slaughterhouse was born out of mid-2000s friction between Joe Budden and Royce 5'9." They would go on to make amends, and invite two other under-valued MCs (Joell and Crooked I) to the fold. Since then, that... Read more

August 15, 2016 Audio

YG & Drake Answer Their Own Question With a Video for the Haters

This has been a major summer for Compton, California's YG, whose sophomore album Still Brazy has been making ways inside and outside Rap music. With "FDT," he released a defiantly anti-Trump anthem with Nipsey Hussle. But when he enlisted G-Eazy and Macklemore for the song's remix, he paired the song's... Read more

August 15, 2016 Video

Anderson .Paak & Free Nationals Transport NPR’s Offices To “Malibu” (Video)

Having one of the most exciting albums of the year is one thing. To see Anderson .Paak perform live is another world in of itself, which takes the album Malibu and casts a new shade entirely on the rich Empire-released LP. On the road, the Southern California native plays the... Read more

August 15, 2016 Video

This 1994 Biggie Interview Shows How He Turned an Everyday Struggle Into Rap History

Nearly twenty years since his passing, the Notorious B.I.G. continues to inspire contemporary art, from music to television, and beyond. Just this month, Biggie served as the inspiration behind "Nobody," a tribute song from rising Atlanta, Georgia spitter Nick Grant. Just a few days prior to its release, Mass Appeal... Read more

August 15, 2016 Throwback

Buckshot Credits Sean Price For Saving Duck Down & Taking Over Boot Camp Clik (Video)

Whether solo, or as part of Heltah Skeltah or Random Axe, Sean Price would release all of his albums with Duck Down Music. The label founded by Black Moon's Buckshot and manager Dru Ha would launch with the release of 1996's Nocturnal album by Sean Price (as Ruck) and Rockness... Read more

August 15, 2016 Video

CyHi The Prynce & Locksmith Combine Their Superpower Skills In One Cypher (Video)

In the freestyle Hip-Hop community, CyHi The Prynce and Locksmith are two of the most exciting MCs out. From across the country (Georgia and North California, respectively), both of these fervent lyricists are able to jam substance into their fiery flows. These artists touch upon social issues in a way... Read more

August 15, 2016 Video

Akinyele Suggests An Unkept Promise Planted The Seeds For The Nas & JAY-Z Beef

Queens, New York veteran MC Akinyele has not released an album of new material in more than 15 years. However, the raspy-voice rapper remains very much tied to the Hip-Hop culture he came up through. DJ Khaled and Drake's current hit "For Free" is an homage to a 1997 single... Read more

August 14, 2016 Audio

DMX Says He Won Every Battle With Jay Z. Who Won The War? (Video)

In 1999, Jay Z and DMX embarked (and majorly cashed in) on the Hard Knock Life Tour. Although Jay Z's album gave the tour its name, the lineup was a joint headliner of the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and DMX. Both artists had become the flagship acts at Def Jam Records... Read more

August 13, 2016 Food for Thought, Video

Hot 97 vs Joe Budden: An Interview Turns Into A Personal War Of Words (Video)

On August 12, Joe Budden visited Hot 97 in New York City to presumably promote his forthcoming album with AraabMusik, Rage And the Machine. However, what ensued was a nearly hour-long war of words that devolved to the point that Budden walked out of the studio. It all began when... Read more

August 13, 2016 Video

An Argument For Why Redman Is The Greatest Rapper Of All-Time (Video)

It's been less than a year since Redman released his last solo album, Mudface, but the short time span has not quelled the fervent interest in what he's reportedly got on the horizon: Muddy Waters 2. This year marks the 20th anniversary of arguably one of his most celebrated albums... Read more

August 13, 2016 Video

Ab-Soul’s New Album Is Done & Jay Rock’s Is Close. He Previews A New Song (Video)

At the beginning of the year, Top Dawg, founder and owner of Top Dawg Entertainment promised the label would release 6 projects in 2016. Kendrick Lamar led off with untitled unmastered in March, and he was followed by ScHoolboy Q who dropped his Blank Face LP in July. Last week,... Read more

August 13, 2016 Fresh

The LOX Recruit Rick Ross On Their Rags To Riches Song “Feel My Pain” (Audio)

From "Money, Power, Respect" to "Rich Forever," both The LOX and Rick Ross have catalogs filled with street dreams. Over the years, the artists have had a number of collaborations, particularly Ross and Jadakiss, on tracks like "Oil Money," "Maybach Music III" and "500 Benz." And, of course, Styles P... Read more

August 13, 2016 Audio

Nick Grant’s New Jam Reminds Why Hip-Hop Was Built On James Brown Music (Audio)

Earlier this month, Nick Grant showed off his Rap chops with the Biggie-inspired "Nobody." The Atlanta, Georgia MC also earned the applause from Heads for his flip of Erykah Badu's "Window Seat," proving that he's got what it takes to take cues from icons while also remaining fresh and inventive.... Read more

August 12, 2016 Audio

New Smart Tattoos Can Control Phone, Computer & More From Your Skin (Video)

Leave it up to the brilliant minds at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Microsoft Research to develop on-skin user interfaces. In layman's terms, this wearable technology serves as a fully connected input mechanism for things like smartphones and computers, much like a wireless keyboard or remote - except... Read more

August 12, 2016 Lifestyle

Chris Rivers Claims “Best In The Streets. No Debating” (Audio)

Last year, Chris Rivers kept the Summer hot with his Freestyle Fridays series. His releases were a combination of new songs and Rivers taking his turn on previously used beats, whether current hits or old classics. It looks like Rivers is rekindling the series, and he leads it off with... Read more

August 12, 2016 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Fans Should Not Be Devastated. He Didn’t Sell Out… (Video)

Earlier this week (August 10), Joey Bada$$ released the self-directed video to "Devastated." Dropped in May as a standalone official single, the song is a departure from the sounds of last year's Top 5 charting debut, B4.Da.$$ and previous mixtape work. "Devastated" features a Pop-tinged chorus and an uptempo beat.... Read more

August 12, 2016 Video

Nas Raps About The Struggles Of Being A “Black Man In A White World” (Audio)

Nas is back--in a BIG way. After a 4-year break since his album Life Is Good, and very sparing appearances on record in between, the MC dubbed "God's Son" has blessed 3 songs in just two weeks. Nas started with a moving collaboration with Erykah Badu on "This Bitter Land."... Read more

August 11, 2016 Audio

Snoop Explains Why He Befriended Suge Knight After Knight Tried To Have Him Killed (Video)

Snoop Dogg was the latest guest on The Breakfast Club and, as is often the case, the OG shared a lot of game. Shortly into the discussion (3:45), the conversation turned to the current status of Snoop's relationship with Suge Knight. Snoop said that he and Knight, who is currently... Read more

August 11, 2016 Video

Alchemist & Roc Marciano On Another Collab? They’re All For It (Audio)

Alan the Chemist and Roc Marciano have been frequent collaborators since the latter dropped his 2010 debut album, Marcberg. The Hempstead, New York MC is now the latest to hop on Alchemist's Craft Singles series, in which the famed producer drops a loosie featuring different rappers with each installment. Thus... Read more

August 11, 2016 Audio

A3C Honors 1996 With Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Redman, Too Short & Bun B

This year’s upcoming A3C Festival in Atlanta, Georgia will look back on the year 1996. The five-day event, beginning October 5 on over 75 stages in the city’s Old 4th Ward and surrounding areas, will feature headlining performances by some of the top acts from 20 years ago — all... Read more

August 11, 2016 Fresh

Another Scarface Remake Is Planned For The Near Future

February 1, 2017 UPDATE: Approaching six months after Antoine Fuqua was first attached to the latest remake of the film Scarface, the director has stepped away from the project. Variety reports that the director of Training Day and Brooklyn's Finest disassociated himself from the film, which is still in pre-production,... Read more

August 11, 2016 TV/Film

President Obama Has Given More Medical Marijuana Research the Green Light

The powerful effectiveness of cannabis in treating ailments as far-ranging as anorexia and cancer has very often been the subject of scientific studies, but Americans cannot walk into a drug store and procure the plant, thanks in part to its being considered an illicit substance. They can legally obtain CBD... Read more

August 11, 2016 Lifestyle

Method Man, O.D.B., & RZA Proved That In ’97, Wu-Tang Could Freestyle Forever (Audio)

In June of 1997, Wu-Tang Clan kicked the summer off at the top of the Hip-Hop class. Whereas 1993's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) just missed the Top 40 (to eventually reach platinum), its follow-up Wu-Tang Forever would debut at #1. A double album, the Loud/RCA Records release of the... Read more

August 11, 2016 Throwback, Throwback