News Archives

Joyner Lucas Is Sick Of “Panda” So He Kills It With A Lethal Verse (Audio)

With 55-million plays on YouTube, Desiigner's "Panda" has become unavoidable to many. So many, in fact, that artists are remixing the track and voicing their displeasure. Enter: Joyner Lucas. Heads may recall his performance during the BET Hip-Hop Awards last October, where he took part in an explosive cypher alongside... Read more

April 18, 2016 Audio

Leaders Of The New School Hold Class Even Without Busta Rhymes (Audio)

In the 25 years since they released their debut album, Leaders of the New School have maintained a low profile from a recording standpoint - but their collective place in the catalogs of Hip-Hop collectors remains steadfast. The Long Island, New York group hit the scene in 1991 with A... Read more

April 18, 2016 Audio

Prodigy & Alchemist Give “Albert Einstein” Album Away For Free

After giving away three different bundles of music in March, Mobb Deep's Prodigy is still in a generous spirit for April. The Queens, New York veteran MC and author has decided to liberate his 2013 collaborative album with Alchemist, Albert Einstein. Released on P's Infamous imprint, the Top 200-performing LP... Read more

April 18, 2016 Fresh

11 Veteran Lyricists Break Ground In One Video With Another In MC Spiritual Essence

In today's musical age, assembling collaborations seems relatively easy. Translating that to a compelling, well-produced video is not quite as accessible. Especially in hardcore, purebred Hip-Hop, making videos like Sway & King Tech's "The Anthem" seems implausible without big budgets like the one the two iconic radio personalities had at... Read more

April 18, 2016 Video

Run The Jewels Celebrate The Birds & The Bees In Their Video For “Love Again”

Run The Jewels is known for their hard raps and nostalgic Hip-Hop aesthetics. Killer Mike and El-P channel the likes of 2 Live Crew, Eazy-E, and even Lil' Kim when they team with Gangsta Boo for "Love Again (Akinyele Back)." Even in its title, the late 2014 Run The Jewels... Read more

April 17, 2016 Video

Celebrate Redman’s Birthday With This Rare 1995 Funk Doc Prescription (Audio)

Today (April 17) is Reggie Noble's birthday. The man better known as Redman has been giving Hip-Hop Heads quote-worthy verses, one-of-a-kind charisma, and sheer originality for more than 25 years. In all of that time, he has been one tough mudder on the mic. In 1995, Funk Doc was in... Read more

April 17, 2016 Throwback

C.L. Smooth & Skyzoo Have “Perfect Timing” With A Record Store Day Remix (Audio)

Today (April 16) is Record Store Day. One artist whose catalog has long been celebrated on vinyl albums is C.L. Smooth. With partner Pete Rock, throughout the early 1990s (and for a couple 12" singles in the early 2000s), the pair made sought-after Elektra Records wax. Today, the New Rochelle,... Read more

April 16, 2016 Audio

Remy Ma & Fat Joe Have A Raw Conversation On The Effects Of Prison & Coping With Trauma (Audio)

In a union of two of Terror Squad's major players, earlier this year, Fat Joe and Remy Ma announced they were releasing a joint album. Since then they have been making the rounds discussing the project and their storied shared history. Recently, Remy and Joe were guests on Shawn Setaro's... Read more

April 16, 2016 Audio

The Coup’s Pam The Funkstress Explains Working With Prince On Tour

Although she may not be a household name, Pam The Funkstress is one of Hip-Hop's most acclaimed female DJs. Since 1993's Kill My Landlord, the San Mateo, California native has been riding alongside Boots Riley as one of the steadfast members of Oakland's 20-plus-year political Rap outfit The Coup. From... Read more

April 16, 2016 Fresh

Anderson .Paak Slows Down The Tempo & Turns Up The Funk In A Performance With ScHoolboy Q (Video)

When Anderson .Paak released "Am I Wrong," his first single from his album Malibu, last Summer, it was an uptempo Funk jam that featured ScHoolboy Q and a retro, almost Disco feel. As with almost all of his music, .Paak changes things up on the live version. With Q joining... Read more

April 16, 2016 Video

ONYX & Chris Rivers Unite Against Dirty Cops (Audio)

In 2014, ONYX released their first album in 11 years. While the LP, which was produced by the Snowgoons, maintained the hardscrabble Rap style that is core to ONYX, the substance of their raucous rhymes was different. Rather than slamming and taking out their competitors, Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Big K.R.I.T. Remembers Those He Owes For Where He Is Now, On A Flip Of Kanye West’s 30 Hours (Audio)

There have been a number of re-interpretations of songs from Kanye West's The Life Of Pablo, since he began releasing tracks from the album. The a capella vocals of "I Love Kanye" beckoned remixes from a number of producers, including DJ Premier. Other songs called to various MCs to lay... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Open The Book On J Dilla’s Last Vocal LP, “The Diary” (Album Stream)

Today (April 15) marks the true release of J Dilla's The Diary album. First recorded and plotted in 2001 and 2002, the project was then shelved by MCA Records. Seeing the album properly delivered to fans was a top priority of James Yancey at the time of his 2006 death.... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Slick Rick Is Officially a United States Citizen & Hints That the Ruler May Be Back

It's hard to believe considering the tremendous contributions he's made to Hip-Hop culture, which is a divinely American creation, but Slick Rick has never been a citizen of the United States of America, until now. The English-born Ricky Walters has spent more than two decades embroiled in a highly contested... Read more

April 15, 2016 News

Masta Ace Announces His Latest Concept Album & Gives A Glimpse

From Masta Ace Incorporated to Disposable Arts, Brooklyn, New York veteran MC Masta Ace has been known for cohesive album-length concepts. His latest, in a career that dates back to the mid-1980s is upon us, as the Juice Crew and eMC alum announces The Falling Season. Releasing May 13, the... Read more

April 15, 2016 News, Video

From Kanye To Pete Rock, Get The Story On J Dilla’s “Diary” Over 15 Years (Audio)

Today (April 15), J Dilla's The Diary releases. The album featuring contributions from Nas, Snoop Dogg, Pete Rock, and many others has come a long way since its early 2000s plans to be an MCA Records release. Sadly, that never happened as planned. In 2016, it has been more than... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Styles P Does Not Stop for a Breather. He Releases 2 New Freestyles (Audio)

Last week, Styles P delivered four new freestyles, each of which highlighted different facets of the Yonkers, New York MC's gifted vocabulary. His most recent solo album came in the form of 2015's A Wise Guy and a Wise Guy, but many Heads have developed a fondness for his lyrical... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

Black Thought Fronts A Funky Track That Uses Blues To Motivate (Audio)

The Roots' Black Thought does not do a ton of features, relatively speaking. However, in recent years, when the South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC puts his vocals on something beyond the circle, he does not seem to play politics. From Thurz ("Riot") to L.A. The Darkman ("Rap Poloticians"), Tariq supports what... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

DJ Shadow Recruits Run The Jewels For His First Album In 5 Years (Video)

Although he has stayed active on the performance circuit, DJ Shadow has not released an album in nearly 5 years. The producer and sampling innovator is readying a new project titled The Mountain Will Fall, which will be available on June 24. After releasing the instrumental title track, Shadow follows... Read more

April 15, 2016 Audio

D.L. Hughley Offends Everybody. No Politician, Athlete Or Doctor Is Safe (Video)

King of comedy D.L. Hughley recently visited Sway's Universe for an interview that played like a set from the celebrated stand-up. As great comedy is prone to do, topics that are often uncomfortable to talk about are brought right to the surface, where Hughley poked and prodded through astute observation... Read more

April 14, 2016 Video

As A Former Teacher, Erykah Badu Describes Her Dream School (Video)

Erykah Badu recently spent considerable time with high-school students in New Jersey as part of the Future Project, a multi-tiered and all-encompassing education-focused program deeply rooted in the notion that young minds need to be cultivated and encouraged both inside and outside of the classroom. Through the use of Dream... Read more

April 14, 2016 Lifestyle

Tribe’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge To Score Marvel Series

Hip-Hop artists are having a strong year already in 2016, in terms of scoring and music supervision. In January, Gang Starr's DJ Premier handled the music to VH1 film-turned-series The Breaks. The Roots' Questlove has been named musical director of this year's forthcoming TV remake of Roots. The ever-illusive Dr.... Read more

April 14, 2016 News

On A Great Night For Cali, Planet Asia Is Another Agent Of State Pride (Video)

Planet Asia's career benefited greatly from Sway & King Tech's The Wake Up Show. When P.A. (along with Jurassic 5) were Interscope Records label picks from the West Coast Hip-Hop Underground, they got massive spots on 1999's This Or That, the hallmark album from Sway, Tech, and DJ Revolution. In... Read more

April 13, 2016 Video

Daz Explains Why Lady Of Rage & Inspectah Deck Verses Did Not Make “All Eyez On Me” (Video)

Daz Dillinger produced five of the 27 tracks on Tupac's All Eyez On Me double album. Tha Dogg Pound MC/producer was a close affiliate of Shakur during his year with Death Row Records. The blockbuster album would eventually reach diamond certification, with Daz producing singles such as "I Ain't Mad... Read more

April 13, 2016 Video

Nas & J Dilla On A Madlib Track Is A Powerful Bookmark In “The Diary” (Audio)

In two days (April 15), J Dilla's posthumous album, The Diary, will finally release. With its beginnings dating back to the opening of the 2000s, the then-MCA Records solo artist and current Slum Village member plugged away at the LP that would never see release before his February 2006 death.... Read more

April 13, 2016 Audio

Robert Glasper & Bilal Re-Interpret Miles Davis’ “The Ghetto Walk” (Video)

Last month, Robert Glasper unveiled the first audio glimpse of his Everything’s Beautiful album (May 27). The Jazz musician is bridging the generations on an album inspired by and featuring some works by the late Miles Davis. In a season that looks at the trumpeter's life and times, courtesy of Don... Read more

April 13, 2016 Video

Asian MCs Have A Tougher Road In Rap. This Documentary Shows Why (Video)

Hip-Hop has long been considered a cultural melting pot. While the culture was established by Black and Latino men and women in 1970s New York, it has since grown to include nearly every racial, socioeconomic, age, and religious background across the globe. A new full-length documentary film, currently screening at... Read more

April 13, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Rittz Waits Out the Storm for a Better, Brighter Day Outside His Window (Audio)

As a roster member of Tech N9ne's Strange Music imprint, Rittz's career as an MC has taken him far outside the confines of his native Gwinnett County, Georgia. The 35-year-old spitter has made a name for himself as a gifted performer whose rapid-fire delivery has led to much comparison to... Read more

April 13, 2016 Audio

Consequence & His Young Son Partner Up for a Powerful Future (Audio)

At only four-years-old, Caiden is a burgeoning MC whose bloodline is imbued with enough Hip-Hop influence to last a lifetime. As the son of Queens, New York's Consequence, Caiden has already made his rapping debut, appearing alongside his dad on "That Dude," a single Cons dropped in December. According to... Read more

April 13, 2016 Audio

Having Artificial Intelligence at Your Fingertips Just Got a Whole Lot Closer (Video)

Heads of a certain age may remember SmarterChild. He (or she) was a computer-controlled “buddy” that would appear on one’s AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) contact list, and who could interact with users, albeit on a very rudimentary level (think Siri, only in text form). A “chatterbot” by technical definition, SmarterChild... Read more

April 13, 2016 Lifestyle

Afrika Bambaataa Denies All Allegations Of Molestation & Calls Claims Baseless

For the first time since Bronx judicial delegate, and former New York State Democratic Committeeman, Ronald Savage accused Hip-Hop pioneer and co-founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, of sexually molesting him in the 1970s, as a teenage boy, Bambaataa has spoken out against the claims. In a statement... Read more

April 12, 2016 News

Elzhi Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head To A J Dilla Donut (Video)

With his sophomore studio album Lead Poison now released, Elzhi is the latest guest on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays radio show. There, the Detroit, Michigan MC veteran was not immune to the hot seat. He tackles two beats. Fans of Motown music will particularly enjoy El' buckling down on Dilla's... Read more

April 12, 2016 Video

Native Tongues Father, Brothers & Affiliates Come Together For Phife (Audio)

Following the March 22 death of Phife Dawg, Black Sheep Dres has been deeply instrumental in raising awareness of the life of Malik Taylor. Both members of the Native Tongues movement, these MCs rolled together in the '90s and 2000s. After being a key organizer in last week's memorial event... Read more

April 12, 2016 Audio

Rare Photos of Jay Z, KRS-One, Nas, Run-D.M.C. & More Are Heading to the Smithsonian

As an institution, the Smithsonian is the preeminent organization of its kind in the United States. Actually a cluster of museums and research centers, it's under the direct supervision and administration of the government, giving it an air of authenticity and credence that lend serious cache to its collections. Far from... Read more

April 12, 2016 Lifestyle

Action Bronson’s Latest Is A Blue Chip Off Of Biggie & Super Cat’s Block (Audio)

Action Bronson has garnered some of the strongest acclaim of his career through the Blue Chips mixtape series with Party Supplies. Some of that same chemistry made its way onto 2015's Mr. Wonderful, with Bam Bam and the Fool's Gold Records production team creating four of the Top 10 LP's... Read more

April 12, 2016 Audio, The Bridge

A Popular Adult Website Is Standing Up for LGBTQ Rights In North Carolina

In recent weeks, news of conservative laws being enacted in southern states have made news within the LGBTQ movement. In North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory has been the target of criticism after he signed into law a bill which would force transgendered men and women to use restrooms which match... Read more

April 12, 2016 Lifestyle

Common Still Loves H.E.R. Watch Him Breakdance While The Roots Play (Video)

During The Electric Circus and Like Water For Chocolate tours, it was not uncommon to see Common Sense bust out some B-Boy moves during his sets. That was 15 years ago though, and also well before the Chicago, Illinois MC/actor won Oscars and Golden Globes. Now a household name, juggling... Read more

April 12, 2016 Video

Kendrick Lamar Makes A Tribute Video For Kobe Bryant’s Retirement (Video)

Kendrick Lamar and Kobe Bryant share a connection that goes deeper than their ties to Los Angeles. When Kendrick faced off against Jay Z for the first time on a track, he chose the iconic photo of a young Kobe lined up against the aging Michael Jordan, as the cover... Read more

April 12, 2016 Video

Erykah Badu Sings “On & On” During A High School Lunch Period (Video)

Erykah Badu loves avant-garde art. Whether she's video-bombing a news reporter, making beautifully controversial music videos, or blend-covering newly-released Kanye West with Whodini, it is always an experience. Ms. Badu recently popped into Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, New Jersey as part of the Dream Directors from the... Read more

April 11, 2016 Video

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Hologram Is Coming Soon, With The Blessing Of His Family & Friends

Last month, Faith Evans announced that she was working on a duets album of music with The Notorious B.I.G. The revelation was shocking, in that it was believed that there were not many remaining unused vocals of B.I.G., after the posthumous releases of Born Again and Duets: The Final Chapter.... Read more

April 11, 2016 News

Logic & Tech N9ne Competitively Compare Notes On How To Rap Incredibly Fast (Video)

Some of Hip-Hop's greatest MCs have earned their place by sometimes rhyming slow, and sometimes rhyming really, really fast. Artists such as Eminem, Jay Z, Big Daddy Kane, Andre 3000, and Kool G Rap are among the elites who can tear into a beat, and turn their mandibles into automatic... Read more

April 11, 2016 Video

10 Years Later, D12 Show Proof’s Memory Is Very Much Alive In A New Documentary (Video)

It's been a decade since Detroit, Michigan's Proof passed away. An integral part of the city's Rap scene, his 2006 death was only 2 months after fellow Motor City native J Dilla left a gaping whole in the Hip-Hop community. Having performed as a member of the oft-overlooked 5 Elementz,... Read more

April 11, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Reintroduces Himself At The Top Of His Game On “Layers” (Album Stream)

Royce 5'9" album Layers is planned for April 15 release. However, the Detroit, Michigan gold-selling MC shares his self-released sixth LP four days early. Layers is the first Nickel Nine album since 2011's Success Is Certain, and unlike previous albums, seemingly covers every facet of Ryan Montgomery's life and career.... Read more

April 11, 2016 Audio

Nas Signee Dave East Goes All The Way Up With Fat Joe & Remy Ma (Audio)

In a show of strength that Terror Squad is alive and thriving, earlier this year, Fat Joe and Remy Ma announced they would be releasing a joint album. The announcement was quickly followed by "All The Way Up," a monster single featuring Joe and Remy going to work on a... Read more

April 11, 2016 Audio

Krizz Kaliko Reworks His Sound. This Elite MC Is Also A Showman (Video)

For more than a decade, Krizz Kaliko has been one of Strange Music's dedicated weapons. Although he charts higher than many of his peers, the Kansas City, Missouri MC/singer has not nearly been embraced in the mainstream like so many in his position. Kaliko's sixth album, Go, is out to... Read more

April 11, 2016 Video

Between Jay Rock & Ice Cube, King Harris II Has Serious Westside Connections (Audio)

From Snoop Dogg to Daz Dillinger, Ice Cube to Del The Funky Homosapien, Hip-Hop has some crafty cousins that prove that dope rhymes can be part of a family tree. The latest example, as it were, comes from Jay Rock and cousin King Harris II. The artist formerly known as... Read more

April 11, 2016 Audio

KRS-One Makes A Soulful Phife Dawg Tribute & Invites All To Join (Audio)

KRS-One was among the litany of artists on hand last week (April 5) for the Phife Dawg memorial at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Now, the MC who was featured on the cover of A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders album makes a song dedication to Malik Taylor, with a call to... Read more

April 10, 2016 Audio

C.L. Smooth’s Latest Song Shows He Is Still A Rap King (Audio)

While Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth are back in the studio in this young 2016, the New Rochelle half of the highly respected duo pushes on with some solo material. "King" finds C.L. Smooth celebrating his knack for making songs for the ladies, earning a nice living, and cruising the... Read more

April 10, 2016 Audio

Afrika Bambaataa Attorney Releases Statement Denying Accusations

UPDATE: Afrika Bambaataa's attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, has released an April 8 statement on behalf of her client, the Hip-Hop pioneer born Kevin Donovan: "Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client's reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from... Read more

April 10, 2016 News

N.W.A. Are Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame By Kendrick Lamar (Video)

Last night, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, N.W.A. joined Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys and Public Enemy as the only Hip-Hop acts to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. After being nominated but passed over in 2014, many saw the Hall of Fame's actions this year... Read more

April 9, 2016 News