Video Archives

Chance The Rapper Covers A Children’s TV Show Theme Song (Video)

Chance The Rapper has this keen ability to harness some deep seeded, fantastical energy into his music that penetrates your heart and soul, and gives you goosebumps in the best way possible. Now, there is one more reason to love the approachable Chicago artist. At a recent performance at Sasquatch... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Mannie Fresh Premiers New Mos Def Collaboration, Talks Making Juvenile’s 400 Degreez With NPR (Video)

Veteran Bounce producer and DJ Mannie Fresh sits down with NPR Hip-Hop to discuss a myriad of topics including his work with Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne's career, working with Mos Def, and the lack of diversity on the Hip-Hop horizon. Along the way, the Big Tymers co-founder also premiered... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Enter Mayhem Lauren’s New York State Of Mind Through A Freestyle (Video)

Mayhem Lauren fuels up with "Danny's House of Pizza" before unleashing his New York peppered bars for Statik Selektah and the crew at Shade 45. The Queens rapper continues to push his New York state of mind with strong work on his recently released project, Silk Pyramids, which features production... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Miguel Reflects on the Simple Things in His Stylish New Visuals (Video)

Miguel has never been one to be put in a box, musically. Whether it's vibing with DJ Premier or conjuring Prince, he's created a very diverse sonic spectrum for himself. His latest, Simple Things from the Girls soundtrack, is a meditative guitar-driven song where he recounts the desire to enjoy... Read more

May 29, 2014 Video

Kanye West Explains How J Dilla Influenced Yeezus (Video)

Back in 2005, during the launch of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, 'Ye inked a deal with one of his influences, Common. During the making of Comm's Be LP, two producers worked on the album: Kanye and J Dilla. The gold-certified, Grammy-nominated album would eventually feature two Jay Dee production, and... Read more

May 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

50 Cent is a Man of Many Talents. Baseball is NOT One of Them…Worst Pitch Ever? (Video)

50 Cent has been on a tear lately. Over the last couple of months, he's released some of his best music in nearly a decade with the lead up to Animal Ambition and he has provided some incredibly entertaining interviews about G-Unit, why he split with Interscope and more. Recently,... Read more

May 28, 2014 Video

Jadakiss & Rocko Join Styles P in the Video for Sour (Video)

Styles P releases the latest video from his Phantom and the Ghost album. Check out Sour featuring Jadakiss and Rocko. Related: Styles P and Chris Rivers Get Gritty In The New York City Streets (Video)... Read more

May 28, 2014 Video

Big REC Chops Up His Unstoppable Bars Over A Diamond D Beat (Video)

From Fat Joe to Illegal to Big L, Diamond D knows how to give an MC the soundscapes for lasting impact. The D.I.T.C. co-founder's latest protege, Big REC, has a style unlike those typically associated with the Bronx O.G., and co-founder of Ultimate Force. "Unstoppable" shows REC trying his hand... Read more

May 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rest In Peace To Dr. Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou, one of our greatest poets, has passed away at the age of 86. Dr. Angelou was a poet, author, activist and influencer, having inspired everyone from Oprah to Bill Clinton to Common. Our condolences go out to her family, friends and all those she touched.... Read more

May 28, 2014 Featured-homepage, Video

Jim-E-O Weaves a Tale of Redemption in Word on the Street (Video)

Here's a refreshing take from Jim-E-O, an artist we spotlighted a couple of years ago. In a genre dominated by (often fake) talk from suburban rappers about hustling on the corner, Jim-E-O talks about cleaning up his act and becoming a better man. That's his Word on the Street. Check... Read more

May 27, 2014 Video

Vic Mensa Goes Back to Hollywood LA with a Dynamic Performance (Video)

Vic Mensa renders a dynamic performance of "Hollywood LA," one of the many standout cuts on his Innanet Tape, at Truth Studios in Los Angeles. His dynamic delivery emphasizes the intricate wordplay embedded in the deceptively laid back song. Check out the video. Related: Vic Mensa Releases One of the... Read more

May 27, 2014 Video

Here’s Another Timeless Blend of Marvin Gaye & Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) (Audio & Video)

Earlier this year, Amerigo Gazaway released Inner City Travelin' Man, one of the better projects of the year. The album blended the music and vocals of Marvin Gaye and Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def), under the collective name of Yasiin Gaye. Gazaway is readying part 2 of the release, Yasiin... Read more

May 27, 2014 Audio, Video

Camp Lo & Ski Beatz Confirm A Reunion Album, Preview Some Joints From The Studio (Video)

For over three albums, Bronx duo Camp Lo closely worked with Ski Beatz. Ski, who hailed from Original Flavor, was also working closely with Jay Z and Roc-A-Fella Records at the time of 1996's Uptown Saturday Night album. Ski, Geechie Suede, and Sonny Cheeba have worked together again, into the... Read more

May 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

Get To Know Jarren Benton Through His 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

Although he's hardly a new MC, Heads are just getting to know Jarren Benton. The Atlanta, Georgia-based MC is down with Funk Volume (Hopsin, Dizzy Wright), as well as R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, and other bully-mouth MCs from the Northeast. He's already got a Top 200 debut album... Read more

May 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Week in Hip-Hop Video Brought Hot Freestyles, Powerful Music Videos & More (Video Playlist)

This week in video brought 2 killer freestyles from Logic, strong new music videos from Ice-T, CyHi the Prynce, Buckshot & Pro Era, and Schoolboy Q, a mini-doc showing Erykah Badu tracing her roots, The Roots playing their new album with an orchestra, the definitive D'Angelo interview and much more.... Read more

May 26, 2014 Playlists, Video

Here Are Some of the Best Freestyles of 2014 (So Far) (Video Playlist)

UPDATED to include fiery verses from Lupe Fiasco, Lecrae, Remy Ma, Vic Mensa, Elzhi and more. The last few weeks have brought some killer freestyles. Here's a video playlist of some of the MCs dropping the heaviest bars so far in 2014. You'll see Logic, Papoose, King Los, Prevail and... Read more

May 25, 2014 Playlists, Video

From Yeezus to God Level: New Music From Kanye West (Audio)

Update: Sources have confirmed the track is in fact called "God Level" and was produced by Grammy Award winning producer 88-Keys. Both friends and collaborators, this is not the first time Kanye and 88 have worked together. Most people know 88-Keys for his stellar production on Ye and Jay's "No... Read more

May 24, 2014 Audio, Video

D’Angelo Explains Delving Into Funk-Rock, Brotherly Bond With Questlove (Video)

D'Angelo takes the microphone in a much different capacity as the singer-songwriter hits the Red Bull Music Academy in New York for an hour-and-a-half-long talk with journalist/author/filmmaker Nelson George. In front of an energetic audience at the Brooklyn Museum, D'angelo discusses a wide variety of topics including his inspiration from... Read more

May 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

CyHi The Prynce Goes to South Africa For His Mandela Visuals (Video)

When Kanye West was named executive producer of CyHi The Prynce's Black Hystori Project mixtape, Heads may have been confused. After all, the G.O.O.D. Music founder who inked CyHi some years back was not a track-by-track producer on the project, or a guest. However, when it's come time to make... Read more

May 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Can You See Danny Brown in G-Unit? It Almost Happened…(Video)

Danny Brown keeps it as real as it gets in his interviews. His laid-back demeanor and complete "lack of filter" are magnetic and highly-engaging. He sat down for an extended conversation with The Breakfast Club and touched on several things, including being the unofficial "5th member of Black Hippy," choosing... Read more

May 23, 2014 Video

Jon Connor Hits His 2014 XXL Freestyle At 100 Miles Per Hour & Runnin’ (Video)

Among 2014 XXL Freshmen, Jon Connor appears to have the most exciting situation. The Flint, Michigan MC is inked to Aftermath Entertainment. While the world has yet to hear #ConnorSeason on a truly-produced Dr. Dre track, Jon has put his skills and output in high gear. So it's only natural... Read more

May 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic’s Story May Be Even More Compelling Than His Verses. Here’s Why (Video)

Logic has been blistering microphones lately as he makes the rounds in NYC. Many are just starting to understand the talent the MC commands. It turns out, his story is every bit as compelling as his verses. He spoke to Sway about being biracial, growing up in an all Black... Read more

May 22, 2014 Video

Ready for Another Ill Freestyle? eMC Abuse Some DJ Premier Tracks (Video)

Here's another ill freestyle session courtesy of Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio. Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Strick (aka eMC) bless the mic over some DJ Premier goodness, off the top...Check out the video.... Read more

May 22, 2014 Video

Boot Camp Clik Meets Pro Era, As Buckshot Crosses Paths With Joey Bada$$ & CJ Fly (Video)

Whether it be with Black Moon, Boot Camp Clik, or just on his own two as the B.D.I. Thug, Buckshot Shorty has been dropping music for over two decades and has worked with a slew of notable artists including 9th Wonder and KRS-One. To add to his extensive catalog, the... Read more

May 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

De La Soul Presented With Webby Awards’ Artist Of The Year By Questlove (Video)

Only releasing a mixtape and a handful of loose tracks in the last 12 months, De La Soul received Artist Of The Year honors at the 18th annual Webby Awards. The Long Island, New York trio was presented with the award (by De La disciple, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of The... Read more

May 22, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh, Video

Tim Westwood’s Reggae, Dub & Classic Hip-Hop Vinyl Weighs A Ton (Video)

To younger Heads, Tim Westwood may be known for his wild enthusiasm during guest-stops from the likes of Eminem, Drake, and Jay Z. However, the London-based BBC DJ has nearly 30 years rooted in bridging the gap and crossing the oceans in making Hip-Hop, Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, and House mixes.... Read more

May 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

Erykah Badu Traced Her DNA to Determine Her Ancestry. Here’s What She Found (Video)

Erykah Badu took a DNA test to get a better sense of her full ancestry. OkayPlayer accompanied her on her journey and it yielded some fascinating results. Not only did Ms. Badu come away with a deeper understanding of her roots, she also learned that some of the things that... Read more

May 21, 2014 Video

Logic Destroys the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. Did He Even Take a Breath?? (Video)

Logic took on Sway's 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle challenge and did what real MC's do...BODIED IT. Not only did he deliver some crushing off the top lyrics, it almost seemed like he didn't even take a breath. True lyrics of fury. Check it out. Related: Logic Shows Off His... Read more

May 21, 2014 Video

M.K. Asante Recruits Talib Kweli, Ras Kass & Bishop Lamont For Godz In The Hood (Video)

Multi-talented M.K. Asante is an MC, author, filmmaker, professor, and scholar surrounding Hip-Hop and modern race relations in America. The Philadelphia native recruited MCs from Brooklyn to C-Arson in Talib Kweli, Ras Kass, and Bishop Lamont. "Godz In The Hood" is a song that explores the ulterior motives to some... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ice-T & Body Count Are Back To Making Threatening Rock-Rap. But Who’s Their New Target? (Video)

When some Heads talk about Ice-T's songs, they inevitably mention "Cop Killer." It's not a celebrated street-anthem like "6 'N The Mornin'," "Colors," or "New Jack Hustler." It's a song made by Tracy's Metal/Rock-Rap outfit, Body Count. The 1992 single about retaliation from police violence prompted strong reactions from everybody... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Roots’ Never Gets A Live Choral Flip, With DJ A-Trak On The Cut (Video)

Released yesterday, The Roots' ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin steps further in the direction that the group has been heading since parting ways with MCA/Geffen Records a decade ago. Dark, thoughtful, and often veiled in the perspectives and voices of others, the Philadelphia group is making quite different music... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Think You Know A Hard Rap Verse? Tech N9ne & Murs Raise The Ante (Video)

With Strangeulation making its round, Tech N9ne unleashed a rough-edged exterior video to his Murs-assisted "Hard." Strange Music's co-founder and the label's most recent signee link for this skills-forward single. Tech puts on his paint for this video, letting Heads know it's real, while Murs goes back to some of... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

“Button Up” For Kevin Gates 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

Kevin Gates, creator of the recently released, well-rounded mixtape, By Any Means, steps up to the microphone for his official XXL Freshman Freestyle of 2014. When asked how it feels to be on the cover of XXL's 2014 Freshman Class, the Atlantic/Warner Bros. Records artist responded, “I always been a... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Some Texas Street Musicians Get A Dream Come True Care Of Juicy J, Aloe Blacc & Trey Songz (Video)

It can be easy to roll your eyes at the seemingly-cliche term "viral video." The label is thrown on anything anymore, whether it actually makes its rounds or not. However, in the past week, some phone-cam footage of a sidewalk jam session in Texas. The simple jam about the uncertainty... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic Shows Off His Lyrical Skills Over a DJ Premier Beat (Video)

Still sleeping on Logic's skills? Watch how he blisters the mic over this DJ Premier track on Statik Selektah's Show Off Radio. Part written. Part off the top. All dope. Related: Logic Re-Interprets a Common Classic In Finding Forever (Audio)... Read more

May 20, 2014 Video

Troy Ave Unveils His Own Brand of Gangsta Rap With His 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

27 year-old Troy Ave has been waiting for a few years to make it to the cover of XXL magazine, and in 2014, he finally gets his opportunity. Once the photo shoot cleared and the 2014 XXL "Freshman" cover hit the shelves, his wait was over. "I envisioned it. I wanted it... Read more

May 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Jurassic 5 Reunion Continues With All New Visuals Of A Heavy D-Produced Track (Video)

They're back. Jurassic 5 surprised fans by reuniting at Coachella last year, sporadic festival performances throughout the U.S., as well as a mini tour throughout Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. To add to the hype, Jurassic 5 announced an all new album dropping July 5, a/k/a J5 Day. This will... Read more

May 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

ScHoolboy Q Depicts His Grim Coming of Age Story in Hoover St (Video)

There have been a number of stories over the years detailing survival tactics in Southern California, from Compton's Most Wanted's "Growing Up in the Hood" to Ice Cube's "How to Survive in South Central" and many others. Recently, Kendrick Lamar's entire good kid, m.A.A.d. city album was dedicated to the... Read more

May 20, 2014 Video

Pharrell Makes An Open-Letter Visual To All The G I R L S He’s Loved Before (Video)

From "Rump Shaker" to "Excuse Me Miss," Pharrell Williams has over 20 years of celebrating the female form through music. In the wake of his G I R L album, complete with its artwork and complementary visuals, Skateboard P continues to salute the fairer sex. "Dear G I R L" is... Read more

May 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

Questlove & Black Thought Talk 25 Years Of The Roots, Where The Last 5 Albums Fit In With The First 6 (Video)

Late last week, Heads saw Black Thought freestyle over a Questlove beat, with the funky drummer on the cut, no less. From that same interview, Tariq and Amir sat down with Sway Calloway on his Hip Hop Nation show, to talk about 25 years of the crew. In this hour-plus... Read more

May 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

Witness a Taste of The Roots “First Opera” (Video)

The Legendary Roots Crew took the stage last week at NYC's Public Theater and did a live rendition of their forthcoming album "...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin." Rather than a straight performance, they presented the work as a high art project, calling it their "first opera." Here's a trailer... Read more

May 19, 2014 Video

New DJ Quik, Cam’ron, Talib Kweli, ONYX, The Roots…Here’s The Week in Hip-Hop Video (Video Playlist)

This week in Hip-Hop video brought new music videos from DJ Quik, The Roots, Cam'ron, Talib Kweli & Raekwon, unbelievable freestyles from Black Thought and Prevail, a stylized faux trailer from Jay Z & Beyonce and more. See it all in the video playlist below. Related: Last Week in Hip-Hop... Read more

May 18, 2014 Playlists, Video

Jay Z And Beyoncé Reinvent ’03 Bonnie & Clyde In A Blockbuster Trailer (Video)

Are you ready for 2014's biggest summer blockbuster never to hit theaters? Guns ablaze, Jay Z and Beyoncé go paper chasing, robbing, and stealing through the Brooklyn city streets in a faux trailer boasting a star studded cast including Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Blake Lively. The video,... Read more

May 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Boot Camp Clicks On Ruste Juxx & Rockness Monstah’s Off The Hinges (Video)

Sean Price's onetime understudy Ruste Juxx has broken out and built a nice career for himself. The raspy Brooklyn MC is a no-nonsense street MC, who celebrates the roots of Hip-Hop. In "Off The Hinges," Ruste teams with Sean's Heltah Skeltah partner Rockness Monstah, who together, amidst cuttin' and scratchin',... Read more

May 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Project Blowed’s Open Mike Eagle Channels All Of The The Cosby Show Intros (Video)

From that Freestyle Fellowship-launched Project Blowed camp (Aceyalone, Myka 9, Volume 10, Ganjha K, Abstract Rude, Skee-Lo, etc.), Open Mike Eagle is one of the newer artists. Down with Busdriver and 2Mex, California's O.M.E. (who hails from Chicago originally) is known for bombastic deliveries, precise technical flows, and a sardonic... Read more

May 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here is One of the Best Freestyles You’ve Heard in Weeks. GUARANTEED (Video)

Time and time again, Sway's Five Fingers of Death has been the vehicle that separates the MC's from the wannabes. Prevail, from Swollen Members, has firmly established himself as the former. The elite MC tackled 5 random tracks, of different BPMs and genres, and destroyed them...OFF THE TOP. Many are... Read more

May 16, 2014 Video

Want To Better Understand? Stop And Listen To The Roots In Stop Motion (Video)

The Roots are just a few days away from the release of their eleventh studio album and anticipation is permeating across the internet. The character-driven conceptual album ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin is molded in the same light as their previous release, Undun, except that it features multiple characters satirizing stereotypes in... Read more

May 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Put A Smile On With Terrace Martin & 9th Wonder (Video)

There are feel-good moments from our youth that occasionally seep into our mind's eye and remind us of simpler times. Some days, it's these little nuances in life that make it all the more worth living. That's the tone that Terrace Martin sets with warm visuals cutting between saxophone vignettes, giddy... Read more

May 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Vic Mensa Turns Down A “Deal” And Then Breaks Out For XXL’s Freshman Freestyle (Video)

Vic Mensa's been displaying an incredible amount of versatility lately with the releases from the Trance-like, House-inspired "Down On My Luck," to his feature on Donnie Trumpet's jazz heavy, "Pasadena." His talents have definitely not gone unnoticed, as the soon to be 22 year-old Save Money artist has recently earned... Read more

May 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Kay Slay Releases a Video for His Grimy ONYX & Outlawz Collaboration (Video)

Last week, DJ Kay Slay released The Last Hip Hop Disciple, a mixtape chock full of grimy goodness. One of the most rugged tracks was an unlikely collaboration between ONYX and 2Pac's Outlawz. That record, My Brother's Keeper, now gets the video treatment. Check it out. Related: Here’s Kay Slay’s... Read more

May 15, 2014 Video