News Archives

Black Thought’s Fresh Freestyle Serves The Good Food To Expect At The Roots Picnic NYC (Video)

This past Saturday (June 4), the ninth annual Roots Picnic took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hosts The Roots played alongside Pop-R&B superstar Usher, while other feature performers included Future, DMX, Swizz Beatz, Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kaytranada, Lil Dicky, Migos, Tish Hyman, Willow Smith, and... Read more

June 6, 2016 Fresh, News, Video

Jurassic 5 Service Fans With Their First New Song in a Decade (Audio)

The last time Los Angeles, California group Jurassic 5 put out a new album, George W. Bush was President and Instagram was still four years away. While much of the world has changed since Feedback arrived on July 25, 2006, there do remain a few constants, two being the perennial... Read more

June 6, 2016 Audio

Creators of the ‘Roots’ Reboot Get Real About the Need for a Remake (Video)

"King Kunta," one of Kendrick Lamar's stand-out tracks off To Pimp a Butterfly, bears a title that references what is perhaps the most iconic miniseries to ever air on American television. Kunta Kinte was the name of a central character in Roots, a visual requiem about slavery in the United... Read more

June 6, 2016 TV/Film, Video

The Magical Day When Prince & Muhammad Ali Met (Video)

Though 2016 is not yet halfway over, it already has been one in which several tremendous pop culture icons have been lost. David Bowie, Phife Dawg, Prince and Muhammad Ali are just some of those greats. However, while their physical forms are no longer among us, their bodies of work... Read more

June 6, 2016 Throwback

Vic Mensa Shows A Courage Rarely Seen In Hip-Hop (Audio)

Having freshly delivered his Roc Nation debut There's Alot Going On last week (June 3), Chicago, Illinois' Vic Mensa's latest work has been making the rounds in the blogosphere and on the radio. Over the weekend, he visited Hot 97 in New York City to deliver a freestyle over "Drug... Read more

June 6, 2016 Audio

Prophets Of Rage Are Fighting The Power Across The Nation

In less than a month, the Prophets Of Rage have gone from a grassroots digital whisper campaign to the revitalization of at least three legendary music entities. Three-fourths of Rage Against The Machine has merged with Public Enemy's Chuck D and DJ Lord along with Cypress Hill's B-Real to form... Read more

June 6, 2016 Fresh

Fabolous Pays Homage To 2 Lauryn Hill Classics At Once (Video)

Fabolous has been wildly consistent at making songs about relationships, seemingly never alienating the other sides of his audience. Like LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, or T.I., Fab' has been enjoying this duality for 10, going on 15 years. Perhaps the Brooklyn, New Yorker's latest single "Real One" shows how... Read more

June 6, 2016 The Bridge, Video

Curren$y & Juvenile Come Together As 2 New Orleans Masters Of Rhyme (Audio)

Curren$y and Juvenile are two proven journeymen of the New Orleans, Louisiana movement. Each MC has worked on at least two illustrious labels, been part of storied groups, and built dynamic catalogs that move minds and clubs alike. Teaming with Brooklyn, New York producer Harry Fraud, Spitta and Juvy come... Read more

June 5, 2016 Audio

Missy Elliott Confirms She Has Unreleased Music By Prince

Approaching two months since the death of Prince, fans are learning more surrounding the unreleased music of the pop culture icon. While Prince's friend and collaborator Jimmy Jam alluded to the Paisley Park vaults coming to the public ears, Jay Z used recent song lyrics to assure that his catalog... Read more

June 5, 2016 News

Vic Mensa Combines Freestyling & Freedom Fighting (Video)

Last week, Vic Mensa released his first project since inking with Jay Z's Roc Nation imprint. The Chicago, Illinois MC's seven-song EP, There's Alot Going On is making its rounds in the first 72 hours. Thereby, the onetime front man of Kids These Days hit HOT 97's Ebro In The... Read more

June 5, 2016 Video

DMX & Styles P Ride Rough On A New Song That Takes No Prisoners (Audio)

Yesterday (June 4), DMX was one of the headlining acts at the 9th annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sharing the bill with fellow Ruff Ryders member Swizz Beatz (who appeared on stage during X's set), the Yonkers, New Yorker performed hits from the last 18 years of his illustrious... Read more

June 5, 2016 Audio

Drake Fires Back At Puff Daddy & Joe Budden With His Hardest Rhyme In Years (Audio)

When Drake's VIEWS album was released last month, it was met with ambivalence. On the commercial side, it was a massive success, becoming the first Hip-Hop album to sell more than one million copies in a week since Lil Wayne's The Carter III in 2008. Since then, the album has... Read more

June 5, 2016 Audio

Ever See This Cypher Featuring Big L & AG? (Video)

In the late 90s, one of the first Internet Hip-Hop shows came courtesy of 88hiphop.com. The site was far ahead of its time, as it launched when the overwhelming majority of consumers still had dial up modems. For those with the access and the patience to endure endless buffering, however,... Read more

June 4, 2016 Throwback

Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest,” Dies At Age 74

Muhammad Ali, one of the most iconic athletes and activists of all-time has died at the age of 74. While Ali made his name in the ring, as arguably the greatest boxer the sport ever saw--combining power and finesse--it likely was his activities outside of the "sweet science" that defined... Read more

June 4, 2016 News

Why “When Doves Cry” Almost Didn’t Happen & Many Other Wonderful Prince Secrets

While some are fixating on how Prince died, here's a fantastic look at how he LIVED. 20 years ago, when Prince released his first ever greatest hits compilation, some mysterious liner notes for the triple album, but different than those included with the final product, surfaced online and were quickly... Read more

June 3, 2016 Lifestyle

Talib Kweli Recalls How Blown Away He Was By An Unsigned Kanye West’s Talent (Video)

Talib Kweli and Kanye West have made several notable collaborations. That artistry began 14 years ago, with the release of the Brooklyn, New York MC's first solo album, Quality. Following acclaimed full-length projects with Black Star and Reflection Eternal, the Rawkus Records flagship artist embarked on his first release through... Read more

June 3, 2016 Throwback, Video

Pusha T & Jay Z’s Explosive Single Was Inspired By One “Appalled” TV Host

Twenty-three year-old Tomi Lahren has made a name for herself as a conservative TV broadcaster. Host of Tomi on The Blaze network caught fire earlier this year, criticizing Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime performance of "Formation." On her show, the Rapid City, South Dakota native criticized the pop superstar and her... Read more

June 3, 2016 Fresh

Maxwell’s New 1990x Lyric Video Is Sealed With A Kiss

After a 7-year hiatus, Maxwell resurfaced in a big way in April, much to the delight of fans. The Soul singer announced he was releasing a new album, blackSUMMERS'night, and launching a Summer tour to support it. He simultaneously released the LP's first single, "Lake By The Ocean." Maxwell Is... Read more

June 3, 2016 Video

Big Sean & 2 Chainz Show Out On A Mega Kanye West Posse Cut (Audio)

It has been four years since Cruel Summer showed the facelift of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. After a lot of mentions, Cruel Winter appears to be upon fans—in the midst of a heatwave. The same morning that some new 2 Chainz and Statik Selektah premiered, the first verified glimpse of... Read more

June 3, 2016 Audio

2 Chainz Leaves The Trap For Statik Selektah’s Soulful Boom Bap (Audio)

2 Chainz' versatility is his marketability. The same Atlanta, Georgia MC who made a smash hit nearly a decade ago with Dolla Boy and Lil Wayne ("Duffle Bag Boy") has since appeared on party tracks ("I'm Different"), Slab tracks ("Money On The Floor"), and even one of the finer 2010s... Read more

June 3, 2016 Audio

Vic Mensa Releases A Powerful New Song About The Killing Of Laquan McDonald (Audio)

Roc Nation signee Vic Mensa has just released a new EP titled There's A Lot Going On. In conjunction with the release, he also premiered the powerful record "16 Shots." The song is dedicated to Laquan McDonald, a 17-year old young man, from Mensa's hometown of Chicago, who was shot... Read more

June 3, 2016 Audio

N.W.A. & Close Affiliates Detail The Making Of efil4zaggiN 25 Years Later

Over the last 12 months, much has been discussed about N.W.A.'s groundbreaking album Straight Outta Compton. The classic LP was given new life when the N.W.A. biopic of the same name was released. Although the film covered the entire lifespan of the group, its central focus was on the time leading... Read more

June 3, 2016 Throwback

ScHoolboy Q & Kanye West Play THeir Parts (Separately?) In A Creative Video

Last month, ScHoolboy Q and Kanye West collaborated for the first time on a bouncy new song titled "THat Part." The song is the second single from Q's forthcoming, as yet untitled, new album, which is set to be released on July 8. Now, the video has arrived and it... Read more

June 2, 2016 Video

New Details Emerge About Tupac Ambushing A Tribe Called Quest’s Source Awards Speech (Video)

In the canon of Hip-Hop, the most famous Source Awards is the 1995 year. There, tensions between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records came to a head, after Suge Knight aimed a thinly-veiled criticism at onetime associate Puff Daddy from the microphone podium. Snoop Dogg, Danny Boy, Dr. Dre, and... Read more

June 2, 2016 Video

Pusha T Has Written Vicious Verses…And An Iconic Fast Food Jingle (Video)

Pusha T's catalog of hits includes "Grindin'," "Mercy," and "Runaway." The Virginia Beach, Virginia MC has a discography that spans more than 15 years. However, the same week he released the highly-anticipated single "Drug Dealers Anonymous" from his sophomore studio album, King Push, a new revelation was made surrounding his... Read more

June 2, 2016 Fresh, Video

Chris Rivers Recaps The Week’s News In A Blistering Freestyle (Video)

Bronx, New York MC Chris Rivers has supplied Hip-Hop Heads for years with a steady stream of freestyles, collaborations, and an acclaimed onslaught of mixtapes. The son of Big Pun now is the latest lyricist to accept Ambrosia For Heads' challenge to weave headlines in music, news, and lifestyle from the... Read more

June 2, 2016 Video

4 New York City Hip-Hop Shows Canceled After T.I. Concert Shooting

An investigation is ongoing surrounding a May 25 shooting at New York City's Irving Plaza that left one man dead. At last week's concert billed to feature T.I., Anderson .Paak, Maino, and others, a green room altercation injured at least three, and killed one. On May 26, following widely circulated... Read more

June 2, 2016 News

Bishop Nehru Touches A Jazzy Jeff Track & It’s Magnificent (Audio)

Bishop Nehru is an artist who clearly respects his Hip-Hop forefathers. Early in the Lex Records artist's career, he linked with DOOM (f/k/a MF DOOM) for a full-length project. Also down with the Mass Appeal label, it was reported in late 2014 that Nas would executive produce the MC's upcoming... Read more

June 1, 2016 Audio

DJ Spinna Returns With Latest Signed, Sealed, Delivered Stevie Wonder Mix

Brooklyn, New York's DJ Spinna has garnered acclaim for his work with Jigmastas, Eminem, and others. A mixmaster who works in Hip-Hop, House, Funk, and Rock & Roll, among other genres, Spinna and Bobbito famously launched a Stevie Wonder mix series in their 2001 Wonder Wrote It (posted below). With... Read more

June 1, 2016 Mixes

New Allegations Surface Casting A Different Light On The Troy Ave Shooting

Last week (May 25), a fatal shooting transpired at New York City's Irving Plaza. During a show billed to feature performances by T.I., Anderson .Paak, Maino and Uncle Murda, a green room altercation took place that left at least three wounded and one—Ronald "Banga" McPhatter--dead. In the hours following the... Read more

June 1, 2016 News

Jay Rock Speaks About His Motorcycle Accident For The First Time (Video)

February 15, 2016 was a day of mixed emotions for the Top Dawg Entertainment family. The record label, which is the home to Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SZA and more, was riding high as Kendrick Lamar took home 5 Grammy Awards, including the one for Best Rap... Read more

June 1, 2016 Video

Here’s What Biggie Would Have Sounded Like On Kanye West Tracks (Audio)

Last week, a Kanye West beat tape surfaced from 1997. While Kanye would land placements on records by Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri a year later, he had yet to break through in '97. Still, the beats contained on the tape showed the promise of what was to come from... Read more

June 1, 2016 Audio

Common Premieres 2 Powerful New Verses From His Upcoming Album (Video)

Today (May 31) Common was a guest on Sway In The Morning. In the last year and a half, Common has added Oscar awards, Golden Globe awards, and another Grammy to his stash of trophy accolades. Meanwhile, he put a beef to bed and made a blockbuster film and a... Read more

May 31, 2016 Video

Pusha T & Jay Z Push Each Other To Their Absolute Best On New Single (Audio)

Pusha T has released the first single from his forthcoming album King Push, and it is a barn burner. Wasting no time with fodder, Push unloads one of the finest songs he's released in years in "Drug Dealers Anonymous," featuring Jay Z. The DJ Dahi-produced track features each MC flexing... Read more

May 31, 2016 Audio

Nyck Caution Shows Pro Era Is One of the Deepest Crews On The Beast Coast (Video)

Although Joey Bada$$ may have been the first member of the Pro Era crew to have break out success, the talent in the group runs deep. Since the release of Joey's 2012 mixtape, 1999, Kirk Knight, CJ Fly, Dessy Hinds and, of course, the late Capital STEEZ have all made... Read more

May 31, 2016 Video

De La Soul’s New Single Makes The Pain Of Waiting Well Worth It (Audio)

De La Soul and Snoop Dogg have enjoyed constant careers since their introductions. While both acts have overlapping collaborators (B-Real, Slick Rick, Devin The Dude, Redman, etc.), they have never cut tracks together. August 26's And The Anonymous Nobody, De La Soul's forthcoming album changes that. As a parting shot... Read more

May 31, 2016 Audio

Chuck D & B-Real Talk Merging With Rage Against The Machine & Significance

This month, it was revealed that members of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill had come together to form Prophets Of Rage. The band, featuring R.A.T.M.'s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk merges with the vocals of Chuck D and B-Real for an upcoming project. P.E.'s... Read more

May 31, 2016 News

No Sucker MCs Can Escape The Wrath Of Joell Ortiz, Token & Big Daddy Kane (Video)

In March, Joell Ortiz and producer Domingo released a high-powered project titled That's Hip-Hop. The collaborative album was a return to hard drums and pure lyricism, what both men saw as the foundation of Rap. In speaking with Ambrosia For Heads, Ortiz said of the LP "Me and Domingo are... Read more

May 31, 2016 Video

Curren$y Channels Truck Turner On A Mixtape Rooted In 70s Soul

The 1974 blaxpoloitation film Truck Turner starred legendary Soul artist and occasional actor Isaac Hayes as Mack Truck Turner, but it's the movie's second lead who has inspired Curren$y's latest release. The Legend of Harvard Blue takes its name from the character played by Yaphet Kotto, whom Heads may know... Read more

May 30, 2016 Audio

This 3-Minute Mix Pleasantly Intersects Top 40 Rap, Old School & Turntablism (Video)

Back in March, San Jose, California's DJ Goodfoot stole the show in the midst of Ambrosia For Heads' "Finding The GOAT Album" ballots. In a competition to integrate the remaining albums in the bracket, Goodfoot's 21-minute mix made the finals all the more exciting. Ever the competitor, Goodfoot is now... Read more

May 29, 2016 Mixes, Video

Problem Shows Why He’s Special In An Aggressive Freestyle On Dr. Dre’s Pharmacy (Audio)

After a decade of putting in work, 2016 may be pivotal for Compton's Problem. The Diamond Lane Music Group alum and longtime affiliate to the likes of Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, and 9th Wonder released a lauded EP with Q-U-I-K in April's Rosecrans. The generation-bridging salute to the C-P-T added... Read more

May 29, 2016 Audio

Donnie Trumpet & Chance The Rapper Share Some “Surf” That Never Sailed (Audio)

It was a year ago this weekend (May 28) that Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment released Surf. Like this month's Coloring Book by Chance The Rapper, there was no price on the collection of Jazz-meets-Hip-Hop songs. However, thanks to a change in the data reporting by Nielsen, Coloring Book... Read more

May 29, 2016 Audio

Prince Paul Pushed More Boundaries With His Prince Among Thieves Film (Video)

In 1999, Prince Paul raised the stakes in an already illustrious career. After pivotal work with Stetsasonic and Gravediggaz, the Long Island, New Yorker had proven himself to be a visionary. More recognizably, the vet was largely responsible for the sounds of the first three De La Soul LPs, as... Read more

May 28, 2016 Throwback, TV/Film

Minnesota’s Proposed “Prince Act” Bill Is Pulled Back

Following the April 21 death of Prince, early May legislation was drafted in Minnesota concerning the creative works of deceased artists. Introduced as The Prince Act (an acronym for The Personal Rights in Name Can Endure Act) was placed before the state's House Of Representatives and Senate to "limit outside... Read more

May 27, 2016 News

Da Beatminerz Show How They Made Those Thunderous Boot Camp Clik Beats (Video)

DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt are one of the most successful brotherly groups in Hip-Hop. As Da Beatminerz, the Brooklyn, New York record clerks-turned-DJ/producers have laced ageless knocking beats for Smif-n-Wessun, The Roots, Mos Def, and of course Black Moon (which Evil is one-third of). From Academy Records to... Read more

May 27, 2016 Video

Chance, Wayne & 2 Chainz Make A Video That Even Skeptics Will Have No Problem Liking

Chance The Rapper has changed his career's scenery quite a bit in the years between Acid Rap and this month's Coloring Book. The Chicago, Illinois MC's first single "Angels" stresses that he is still rolling with the same people he always was, but for fans of the fully-independent MC it... Read more

May 27, 2016 Video

Joey Bada$$ Revamps His Sound For Some Motivational Music (Audio)

For more than five years, Brooklyn, New York's Joey Bada$$ has been credited with taking elements of his city's (and greater New York City) 1990s sound and tweaking it for a resonating update. The formula has worked, as Joey and Pro Era have challenged the charts and become a popular... Read more

May 27, 2016 Audio

T.W.D.Y. Unified The Bay Area To Make For A True Holiday Celebration (Video)

In early 1999, commercial Rap music was evolving. The Bounce music sound of No Limit and now Cash Money Records had greatly influenced what was being played on the coasts. Dr. Dre had yet to release 2001; Suge Knight was incarcerated. Meanwhile DMX, Jay Z, Rakim and Puff Daddy were... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video

Footage Released Of Troy Ave Opening Fire At T.I. Concert (Video)

Last night (May 25), a shootout occurred during a concert headlined by T.I. at New York's Irving Plaza. Shots were fired backstage sending the audience scattering in a panicked frenzy, leaving 3 wounded and one man dead. Of the wounded was Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave, who was shot in the... Read more

May 26, 2016 News

Maxwell Pours His All Into Lake By The Ocean (Video)

Maxwell's return-from-hiatus single "Lake By The Ocean" is worth the seven-year wait. Ever the charmer, the veteran vocalist uses a simple theme for the single's visual. Going to a faraway place where water is at a premium, Max' plays his song—just as he has on recent TV performances—and nourishes one... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video