News Archives

A$AP Mob Are In A New York State Of Mind & Look To Nas For Inspiration (Audio)

One of the critiques that A$AP Mob faced when they began to emerge in 2011 was that their music did not sound like "New York Hip-Hop." Rocky, in particular, unabashedly drew on Houston's chopped and screwed sound on his early single, "Goldie," and much of Ferg's music kept in step... Read more

March 31, 2016 Audio

Jamila Woods Stands Out. She Powerfully Blames Ego For Killing Romance (Audio)

Jamila Woods has been making noise for years. The Chicago, Illinois singer (and poet/writer) has been working with the likes of Donnie Trumpet & Social Experiment as well as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Now, the Closed Sessions artist helps light a path for her label-mate Kweku Collins in "Ego Killed... Read more

March 31, 2016 Audio

Ice Cube & Common’s Touted Collabo Gives History A Shape-Up (Video)

Common and Ice Cube released "Real People" one week ago. Twenty years after their bitter Rap beef, the pair uses their co-starring position in Barbershop: The Next Cut to step beyond the issue. The song's verses play on each others' lines and names, the very same way these two went... Read more

March 31, 2016 Video

Bahamadia Speaks On Artistic Integrity & Hip-Hop Womanhood, 20 Years After Kollage (Interview)

On April 2, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC known as Bahamadia celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Kollage. From her early success on radio to arriving where she is now, Bahamadia carries along with her the observations made along the way. However, the major milestones in her career are not always... Read more

March 31, 2016 Food for Thought

Afrika Bambaataa Accused Of Molestation By Bronx Politician

Afrika Bambaataa is one of Hip-Hop's pioneers. The 58 year-old Bronx, New Yorker born Kevin Donovan is credited with co-founding the Universal Zulu Nation in 1973. In the 43 years since, Afrika Bambaataa has made hit Hip-Hop records such as 1982's "Planet Rock" (with the Soulsonic Force), he has spoken... Read more

March 31, 2016 News

Anthony Hamilton’s One-Of-A-Kind Voice Will Brighten Your Day (Video)

Over the last few years, NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series has become one of the richest platforms for showcasing great music, in its purest form. The franchise allowed artists like Oddisee and Rapsody to demo the richness and depth in their song-making, and completely re-introduced T-Pain to the world as... Read more

March 31, 2016 Video

Rittz, MJG & Devin The Dude Are 3 Southern Lyricists That Buck The Trends (Audio)

At a time when Greater Atlanta is producing some of the biggest stars in Hip-Hop, it can be difficult to know where exactly Rittz fits in. The Strange Music artist and longtime Yelawolf affiliate may not have much in common with the sounds and styles of his peers, but he... Read more

March 30, 2016 Audio

Sticks & Stones Will Not Stop Big K.R.I.T. From Winning (Audio)

One week ago (March 25), Big K.R.I.T. was the latest contestant of Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette game. While past producer/MCs have taken the challenge of blindly selecting three records from a store (Erick Sermon, El-P, Large Professor, to name a few of the most esteemed), Krizzle would break new ground.... Read more

March 30, 2016 Audio

Witness The Talent Dr. Dre Saw In Anderson .Paak, As He Lights Up The Stage In A Full Concert (Video)

Anderson .Paak's rise in 2015 was nothing less than meteoric. The singer/songwriter/rapper/musician worked with DJ Premier, 9th Wonder and a host of others, and was the cornerstone of Dr. Dre's Compton album, participating on nearly half of the LP's songs. He also released The Anderson .Paak EP, with Blended Babies,... Read more

March 30, 2016 Video

The Ugly Details Of Ice Cube & Common’s Beef Show Just How Far They’ve Come

Last week, Ice Cube and Common released "Real People." The Barbershop: The Next Cut soundtrack inclusion may be promotional for the film both MC/actors star in, but the lyrics and theme of the song suggest much more. The collaboration follows a mid-1990s beef that saw both parties release dis' records... Read more

March 30, 2016 Food for Thought

Joey Bada$$ Makes The 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Into A Fist & Puts It On Troy Ave (Video)

It has been a big month for Brooklyn, New York Hip-Hop. After 2015 saw albums by Joey Bada$$ (B4.Da.$$) and Troy Ave (Major Without A Deal), the men began a social media back-and-forth regarding sales versus status that soon escalated. Last month (February 29), Troy brought the late Capital STEEZ... Read more

March 29, 2016 Video

MC Eiht & Spice 1 Strike Gold On Alchemist Production (Audio)

MC Eiht and Spice 1 made two albums together in the 2000s. The Pioneers and Keep It Gangsta were unified fronts after years of the two Cali kings working together on one another's albums. While Eiht and Spice always spit with weathered wisdom and street conviction, production has not always... Read more

March 29, 2016 Audio

Bumpy Knuckles Warns That Another Industry Shakedown Is Coming

Sixteen years ago this June, Bumpy Knuckles released Industry Shakedown. The Long Island, Njakew York MC/producer previously known as Freddie Foxxx had not released an album since 1989's Freddie Foxxx Is Here and vented his frustrations on the music industry on this grassroots album. Featuring production from DJ Premier, Pete... Read more

March 29, 2016 News

Royce 5’9″ & Black Thought Deliver Rap On Steroids On Royce’s New Free EP (Audio)

Royce 5'9" has been on a tear in 2016. Just over a month ago, he announced the release of Layers, his first solo album in nearly 5 years, on April 15. Since then he has dropped a slew of blistering freestyles, songs and videos. Keeping his foot on the gas,... Read more

March 29, 2016 Mixes

Anthony Hamilton Sings The Kind Of Soul Music That Makes You Say “AMEN” (Video)

Over the last few years, NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series has become one of the richest platforms for showcasing great music, in its purest form. The franchise allowed artists like Oddisee and Rapsody to demo the richness and depth in their song-making, and completely re-introduced T-Pain to the world as... Read more

March 29, 2016 Video

J. Prince & Bun B Discuss Rap-A-Lot Records Ties To Death Row & Beyonce (Video)

2016 marks 30 years since James "J." Prince launched Rap-A-Lot Records. The Houston, Texas-based independent label would go on to achieve #1 albums, numerous platinum plaques, and a hand in the careers of artists ranging from Scarface to Drake, Tha Outlawz to Trae Tha Truth. The label's founder is notoriously... Read more

March 28, 2016 Video

O.C. & AG Embrace Their Years Of Experience & Say They Are Only Getting Better (Audio)

Hip-Hop has not been good to its legends. Instead of being celebrated, artists who helped build the culture are often relegated to the background or cloaked in backhand terms like "Old School." The practice of ageism has been ingrained in the culture from its earliest days, and continues even though... Read more

March 28, 2016 Audio

Big Boi & Killer Mike Conjure Up Some Of That Dungeon Family Magic On “Born To Shine” (Video)

Late last year, Big Grams (Big Boi + Phantogram) released their self-titled debut EP. The major label hybrid featured two guests: Skrillex and Run The Jewels. One half of R.T.J. is Killer Mike, who 15 years ago, burst on the scene as one of the strongest branches of the Dungeon... Read more

March 28, 2016 Video

Big K.R.I.T. Returns To Soul-Sampling & Songs About Pushing Through (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. made a name and a lane for himself making songs about defying the odds. The "third coast representing" MC/producer tackled the tall walls of the music industry on early mixtapes like KRITWuzHere and Return Of 4eva before becoming a Def Jam Records-backed major label artist. Despite two charting... Read more

March 28, 2016 Audio

Nas & Large Professor Still Barbeque 25 Years Later, With One Lyric Change (Video)

This month, Nas hosted a 2016 South By Southwest event called "Live At The BBQ." The same night Nasir Jones premiered his collaborator with J Dilla, he invited mentor Large Professor to the stage. Large Pro and his early '90s group Main Source would introduce Nas to the ears of... Read more

March 28, 2016 Video

Faith Evans Is Working On A Duets Album Featuring Vocals Of Her & Biggie (Audio)

The Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans were husband and wife, parents, Bad Boy Records label-mates and collaborators together. Married for just two-and-a-half years before Biggie's 1997 murder, Evans would appear on "One More Chance," in addition to B.I.G. tribute song, "I'll Be Missing You." Approaching 20 years since the unsolved... Read more

March 28, 2016 Audio, News

Witness The Greatness Of Run-DMC With This Rare 1985 Concert (Video)

On this day in 1984 (March 27), Run-D.M.C. released their seminal debut eponymous album. In the canon of game-changing Hip-Hop albums, that album is one of the first, and possibly the biggest. Run, D.M.C., and Jam Master Jay synthesized the hardness they heard in the genre's pioneers, and adapted it... Read more

March 27, 2016 Throwback

King Lil G Brings Warmth To Watts’ Projects On “Cold Christmas” (Audio)

Despite relatively tepid American winters growing up in Watts, California, King Lil G's experiences during December weren’t always as warm, giving, and lavish as the department store aisles may have taught him, as some of his Hip-Hop counterparts from the area, Jay Rock and Glasses Malone, may attest to. For... Read more

March 26, 2016 Audio

Q-Tip Opens Up His Archive Of Live A Tribe Called Quest Recordings To Celebrate Phife Dawg (Audio)

While Q-Tip did not appear on last night's edition of his Abstract Radio show on Beats 1, he dedicated the entire episode to his fallen A Tribe Called Quest brother, Phife Dawg, and celebrated him with a 2-hour mix of live and rare Tribe recordings, from Tip's personal archives. During... Read more

March 26, 2016 Audio

Busta Rhymes Pays Tribute To Phife Dawg With A Heartfelt Open Letter (Video)

There have been and will continue to be many tributes to Phife Dawg, who succumbed to complications resulting from diabetes, earlier this week. One with a particularly powerful impact comes from Busta Rhymes. As part of the Leaders Of The New School, Busta was an emerging star back in 1991,... Read more

March 26, 2016 News

Meet The Secret Weapon To Hits By Nas, Eric B. & Rakim & Main Source (Audio)

Anton Pukshansky is a name that likely appears in your music library—even if you don't know it. Born in Russia, raised in New York City, the producer, engineer, bassist, and keyboardist would work on heralded albums including Nas' Illmatic, Eric B. & Rakim's Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em, Kool G Rap &... Read more

March 26, 2016 Audio

Quentin Miller Says The Drake/Meek Mill Beef Did Get Violent. Just Not Between Them (Video)

When the Drake and Meek Mill beef boiled over last Summer, there was one central figure in the controversy: Quentin Miller. The emerging artist was the person that Meek Mill identified as the ghostwriter who penned Drake's verse on Meek Mill's song, "R.I.C.O." Miller was a credited contributor on a... Read more

March 25, 2016 Video

Big K.R.I.T. Shows How He Makes A Beat From Start To Finish Then Drops A Killer Verse (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. is the latest guest on Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette beat-making challenge. In the series, producers are blindfolded, asked to choose 3 random records and then tasked with making a track using their selections. Many have participated in the series, including Erick Sermon, Just Blaze, El-P and Black Milk,... Read more

March 25, 2016 Video

Wyclef Jean Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head…In 5 Different Languages (Video)

As one third of The Fugees, Wyclef Jean is one of the most successful artists in Hip-Hop. In his solo career and with the group, Jean has sold tens of millions of albums and garnered numerous Grammy Awards. He is also among Hip-Hop's elite in talent, with his ability to... Read more

March 25, 2016 Video

Prodigy Gives Away An Album Bundle Featuring Ghostface, Slick Rick, KRS-One & DJ Premier

Two weeks after Prodigy released the first R.I.P. album bundle, he completes the trilogy with his third and final installment. R.I.P. 3 features major Hip-Hop influences upon Mobb Deep such as KRS-One and Slick Rick, as well as peers ranging from Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, to Alchemist, Cormega,... Read more

March 25, 2016 Fresh

This Journalist Who Was Encouraged By Eazy-E Releases A Book Comparing Hip-Hop & Chess

From the Wu-Tang Clan to Wale, Fresh to Dilated Peoples, Hip-Hop's music, film, and lifestyle maintain strong ties to chess. The 64 squares relate to many aspects of life. Northern California veteran author, speaker, scholar, and music journalist Adisa "The Bishop" Banjoko has made a career out tying Hip-Hop, chess,... Read more

March 25, 2016 Food for Thought, Lifestyle

A$AP Ferg & ScHoolboy Q Flash Back To 1996 With O.D.B.’s Son (Video)

A$AP Ferg just premiered his Always Strive And Prosper (April 22) single, "Let It Bang." Assisted by ScHoolboy Q, the song examines the ruggedness within both MC's families, and how addiction, incarceration, and the wild life were impressed upon Ferg and Quincy at a ripe, young age. Less than 24... Read more

March 25, 2016 Video

In A Past Recording, Q-Tip Shares The Story Of How Phife Convinced Him To Try Rapping (Audio)

Yesterday, after the confirmation of Phife Dawg's passing, the remaining members of A Tribe Called Quest released a statement about his life and what he meant to them. While none of them has spoken individually, yet, J. Period has unearthed a touching recording of Q-Tip sharing some of his earliest... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

Any Questions About Whether Elzhi Is Back End With The Intro To His New Album (Audio)

After a few fits and starts, Elzhi's new album Lead Poison will be released tonight at midnight (March 25). The album was paid for by a crowd funding campaign that threatened to go really badly. After some missed deadlines, questions arose as to whether the LP would ever be released,... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

BJ The Chicago Kid & Kendrick Lamar Fight Hannibal Buress’ Cupid With An Old-Fashioned Love Song (Video)

Ever think about the kind of chaos that could happen if Cupid went rogue? That's exactly what happens in BJ The Chicago Kid's video for "The New Cupid." The song is a throwback old school Soul ballad, with BJ joined by Kendrick Lamar on a verse and Raphael Saadiq on... Read more

March 24, 2016 Video

Royce 5’9″ Savages A Track For Nearly 5 Straight Minutes. Playtime Is Over (Audio)

Royce 5'9" has gone to another level. Since announcing the release of his forthcoming album, Layers, here on Ambrosia For Heads in February, the Detroit MC has been on a mission to destroy anything that gets in his path to be recognized as one of the greatest lyricists in Hip-Hop,... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

Styles P, Joey Bada$$ & Droog Reload The Clipse On A Black Milk Beat (Audio)

Fifteen years ago, Pusha T and No Malice kicked in the door to the industry with "Grindin'." The Lord Willin' single received some of the most captivating Neptunes production of all time, that took the Brothers Thornton's Virginia Beach attitudes, and projected them upon the world. Your Old Droog finds... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio, The Bridge

Common & Ice Cube Demonstrate How “Real People” Move Past Beef (Audio)

Many artists have gone from fierce beefs to collaborating. Artists like Jay Z and Nas, Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel, and Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have simply just turned the page. The songs these once bitter rivals made after the truce was just music—with the past best unaddressed. For... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

Ice Cube & Kendrick Lamar Keep George Clinton’s Funk Torch LIT (Video)

Even though he is straight out of New Jersey, George Clinton has had a profound impact on West Coast Hip-Hop. The colorful grooves, dynamic showmanship, and heavy bass hits of Parliament, Funkadelic, and Clinton's solo work deeply influenced the music of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and... Read more

March 24, 2016 Video

Rakim May Be The God MC But He’s A Devil On The Turntables. This. Is. Hip-Hop (Video)

If you read ego trip's Book Of Rap Lists, and bluntly speaking, all Heads should, page 52 has a great list of MCs with supreme DJ skills. Rakim, often revered as one of—if not thee greatest rapper—proves himself to be one such double-threat. Recently, the Long Island, New York legend... Read more

March 24, 2016 Video

ScHoolboy Q & Ferg Make The Latest TDE & A$AP Molotov Cocktail (Audio)

Before they were major label stars, A$AP Mob and Top Dawg Entertainment were making moves together. ScHoolboy Q has been especially close to the Harlem, New York collective. After appearing on Trap Lord's "Work Remix," Groovy Q and Ferg re-up for April 22's Always Strive And Prosper. "Let It Bang"... Read more

March 24, 2016 Audio

A Tribe Called Quest Release A Statement On the Loss of Phife Dawg

Following the death of Phife Dawg yesterday (March 22), A Tribe Called Quest has come forward to release a statement. Between 1990 and 1998, Phife released five albums with the team of Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Additionally, Jarobi was involved with the group upon its inception. As published by... Read more

March 24, 2016 News

Ras Kass, Bumpy Knuckles & ONYX Take It Back To The Days Of Hard-Nosed Hip-Hop (Audio)

Yesterday, Ras Kass announced that he is working on Soul On Ice 2, a sequel to his heralded debut album, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Ras has started a crowd funding campaign to raise money to record the album and he is seeking $35,000. He wastes no time... Read more

March 23, 2016 Audio

Problem Demands That His Time Is NOW, Or Else… (Audio)

Compton's Problem may be one of the dominant new voices in 2010s Gangsta Rap, but the patient veteran has more to say than the baseline. The Diamond Lane Music Group sensation, and longtime affiliate to Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, 9th Wonder, and Wiz Khalifa makes his latest statement single in... Read more

March 23, 2016 Audio

Celebrate Phife Dawg’s Life & Legacy Through His Music With This Tribute Mix (Audio)

For many of us, today has been one of deep mourning and reflection, as we process the death of Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor. The "5ft Assassin" was a co-founder of A Tribe Called Quest, one of the most influential groups in music of any genre. Many words have been written... Read more

March 23, 2016 Audio

Oddisee Releases A Stellar New EP For Full Stream & Announces A New Album (Audio)

Oddisee is not yet a household name, but the MC/Producer is one of the most talented artists in Hip-Hop, currently. His 2015 album, The Good Fight, stood with the best of the year, and his stunning videos and performances only built on the narrative. Now, he returns with a new... Read more

March 23, 2016 Audio

Phife Dawg’s Family & Manager Release Statements About His Life And Cause Of Death

Late yesterday (March 22), founding A Tribe Called Quest member Phife Dawg passed away. The man born Malik Taylor was 45 years old. News came from friends and collaborators of the Queens, New York MC throughout his more than 26 years of songwriting, performing, and representing A.T.C.Q. Today (March 23),... Read more

March 23, 2016 News

How Organized Noize Created The Atlanta Hip-Hop Sound With Outkast & Goodie Mob

In looking at Rap superstars, their producers are never far behind in recognition. Rick Rubin was the musical architect that would have a hand in the success of Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and Beastie Boys. Dr. Dre's "Midas Touch" with N.W.A., Snoop Dogg (and to a lesser extent) Tupac cleared... Read more

March 23, 2016 Food for Thought

Action Bronson & Meyhem Lauren Heat Up A DJ Shadow Beat (Audio)

Last week (March 15) marked five years since Action Bronson formally introduced himself with the self-released Dr. Lecter album. On that celebrated LP, Bam Bam also brought his Outdoorsmen crew along with him. "Chuck Person" and "Bag Of Money" would shine a light on one member in particular: Meyhem Lauren.... Read more

March 23, 2016 Audio

Phife Dawg From A Tribe Called Quest Passes Away At Age 45

In unbelievably tragic news, Malik Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, passed away on March 22, at the age of 45. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Phife suffered from Type 1 diabetes for decades, and underwent a kidney transplant in 2008.... Read more

March 23, 2016 News