News Archives

The War On Drugs Failed. Now It’s a War For Recovery (Audio)

When President Richard Nixon made the war on drugs one of his signature domestic campaigns, his administration set into motion one of the most unpopular cycles of American social change. Effectively criminalizing all drug-related activities - from the high level trafficking to the pedestrian smoking of a joint - the... Read more

March 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Troy Ave Mocks Capital STEEZ’s Suicide In A Joey Bada$$ Diss Record (Audio)

With the release of his latest single "Ready," Joey Bada$$ seems to have reignited a war of words with fellow Brooklyn MC Troy Ave. It all began where much of today's "beef" seems to originate - on social media. A debate between the two young artists on Twitter several months... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

DOOM & Sade Get Mashed Up On SADEVILLAIN (Full EP Stream)

DOOM and Sade have had a sonic affair for years. The masked villain tapped into the sweet sounds of the British Chanteuse on his song "Doomsday," from Operation: DOOMSDAY, as well as on "Kon Karne" from MM...Food? Producer Seanh2k11 picked up on the chemistry between the two and ran with... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

Pro Era’s Nyck Caution Is Limitless On High-Flying New LP (Album Stream)

22-year-old Pro Era spitter Nyck Caution (born Jesse Cordasco) has been sharing the limelight with his Brooklyn cohorts Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, and others for several years now, helping to invigorate the young creative streak in the New York City borough which has also exposed the talents of... Read more

March 1, 2016 Audio

Kxng Crooked Celebrates Those That Came Before Him As He Plots His Future (Video)

On Februay 12, Kxng Crooked and Statik Selektah released their collaboration album, Statik Kxng. The album was filled with Statik's hard beats and Crooked's complex rhymes, as they took Hip-Hop back to the basics. "Let's Go," featuring Termanology, was one of the album's standout tracks, and now Statik Crook' have... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

D.I.T.C.’s O.C. Rhymes About What’s Really Important in Life…& What’s Not (Audio)

"Champagne wishes and caviar dreams" has become a popular phrase for the rags-to-riches motif found in a lot of music, particularly Hip-Hop. Originating as the catchphrase of the television series Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, which ran from 1984 to 1995, the saying has been featured in countless music... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Nas Details That Time He & Biggie Were Supposed to Collaborate (Video)

"Gimme the Loot" is a Hip-Hop staple, a classic piece of the Notorious B.I.G.'s repertoire from what is arguably one of the most influential debut albums in history. But what some may not know is that 1994's Ready to Die almost inspired a remix to the song featuring Nas, another young MC who also... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

Joell Ortiz Refuses To Give The Mic Up Till He’s The Last Man Standing (Audio)

A decade ago, Joell Ortiz was signed to Aftermath Entertainment. In 2016, the Brooklyn, New Yorker appears to be in a better position—given the fact that he's released a number of acclaimed mixtapes, albums, and work with Slaughterhouse. On March 15, Ortiz is fronting a project called That's Hip Hop.... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Elzhi Drops First Visual Dose of “Lead Poison” & Describes Deeply Personal Inspiration

In the nearly five years it's been since Detroit MC Elzhi has released a full-fledged solo project in the form of his Elmatic mixtape, Heads have been eager for his return. So eager, in fact, that many gladly contributed to the rapper's Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise the... Read more

February 29, 2016 Food for Thought, Video

Rakim & Talib Kweli Unveil The Master Plan As They Rock “Paid In Full” Together (Video)

Fans of traditional New Orleans jazz may already be familiar with the Soul Rebels. Performing every Thursday in their hometown, the band formed in the early '90s and has since exploded into an international touring sensation, sharing their unique approach to brass band repertoire with millions of people around the... Read more

February 29, 2016 Video

Cormega & Gunplay Flow Together Like Guns & Butter (Audio)

Cormega is known for his laid back delivery. While he can spit his words quickly, the Queensbridge veteran never needs to raise his voice to drive a point home. Maybach Music Group's Gunplay is a bit different. The Miami, Florida MC is one who amplifies tracks with his raw emotion,... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Writers From The 90s Look At The Media’s Role In The East vs. West Beef (Video)

Twenty years later, there are few developments more significant in Hip-Hop than the events that unfolded around the feud that arose between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. That bad blood started when Tupac was shot in the lobby of Quad Recording Studios in New York City, in 1994. There... Read more

February 28, 2016 Video

This Is The Only Way Straight Outta Compton Stood A Chance For a Best Picture Nomination

Despite the fact that the film Straight Outta Compton featured a predominantly Black cast, Black producers and a Black director, the only people nominated for an Academy Award in conjunction with the movie were its White writers. Many believe the film was worthy of several nominations, including Best Picture, Best... Read more

February 27, 2016 Video

This Documentary Treats Masta Ace’s “Disposable Arts” Like The Masterpiece It Is (Video Premiere)

Fifteen years ago this October, Masta Ace released his sophomore solo album, Disposable Arts. The Jcor Records release marked the Brooklyn, New York MC's first album after a six-year period. While signed to Big Beat/Atlantic Records, the Masta Ace Incorporated alum aimed to return to his solo catalog. The recordings... Read more

February 27, 2016 Exclusive, TV/Film, Video

45 King Reaches In His Pocket Full Of Miracles & Hands Blu A Gem (Audio)

Almost 20 years ago, 45 King (and Kid Capri) gave Jay Z one of the biggest anthems of his career with "Hard Knock Life." Before the vocal sample trend would define the early 2000s, the original Flavor Unit founder returned to form by letting the cast of Annie chronicle life... Read more

February 27, 2016 Audio

No Malice Won’t Count Out a Clipse Reunion, Announces New Film & Album (Video)

In the years since Virginia Rap duo the Clipse broke up, brothers No Malice and Pusha T have not made many appearances in the booth together, but as Push shared in a recent documentary, there has been no love lost between them. No Malice (fka Malice) embarked onto a life... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Scarface Plays Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” On Guitar (Video)

As an MC, Producer and author, Scarface is a man of many talents. Over the years, he's also shown himself to be an able guitarist. In concert, the MC born Brad Jordan has been known to put down the mic and pick up the six-string to pluck out a tune... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Dipset/Slaughterhouse Producer araabmuzik Shot In New York City

Veteran Hip-Hop and Electronic music producer araabmuzik has been shot. The 26 year-old Providence, Rhode Island native known for his work with Cam'ron, Slaughterhouse, Styles P, and Capone-N-Noreaga was reportedly shot in a Manhattan parking garage last night (February 25). The artist born Abraham Orellana was struck in the jaw,... Read more

February 26, 2016 News

Curren$y & Alchemist Charge Their “Mack Book” with Rhymes & Vintage Clips (Video)

It's only the second month of the year, and already New Orleans MC Curren$y has released two free collaborative projects. In January, it was The Owners Manual with Cool & Dre, and in February arrived The Carrollton Heist with the Alchemist. Named after a major thoroughfare in Crescent City, Heist... Read more

February 26, 2016 Video

Facebook Stands Up for Black Lives Matter with Powerful Statement From Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg - the former wunderkind who founded Facebook more than ten years ago - has released a stern criticism of his employees, but it's not about something they did online. Rather, he is admonishing behavior taking place in a very rudimentary form of social media: A community chalkboard. Specifically,... Read more

February 26, 2016 Lifestyle

Royce 5’9″ Is Releasing a New Solo Album & It’s His Best Work Ever. This Video Shows It.

Royce 5'9" (as it is now officially stylized) is releasing his sixth solo album, Layers, on April 15, 2016, his first in nearly 5 years. Distributed through his own Bad Half Entertainment, the Mr. Porter and Royce executive-produced LP delves deeply into the many sides of the Detroit, Michigan veteran... Read more

February 26, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Video

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Are Back In The Studio, Together

It has been more than a decade since Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth released music together. The early 1990s Elektra Records duo released a handful of songs since 1994's The Main Ingredient. While the Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, New Yorkers have been guarded about adding to their celebrated catalog... Read more

February 26, 2016 News

Viola Davis Gets Real With Sway About Hollywood’s Race Problem (Video)

Viola Davis is no stranger to the inner workings of Hollywood and has experienced the benefits and the difficulties of a successful career. Last year, she made television history as the first Black woman of any nationality to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. How... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Xzibit Cast As Crooked Record Executive In Upcoming “Empire” Episodes

Veteran MC Xzibit has made a solid career out of acting. In addition to his hosting on series such as MTV's Pimp My Ride, the onetime Loud Records star lyricist has appeared in XXX: State Of The Union, 8 Mile, and TV reboot Hawaii Five-O. According to Deadline, Mr. X-to-the-Z... Read more

February 25, 2016 News, TV/Film

DJ Premier Remixes Kanye West & Makes Him Sound Like The Old Kanye (Audio)

Throughout the last decade, DJ Premier and Kanye West have worked together several times. Whether "Classic," "Everything I Am," or Common's "The Game," Preemo has been a reigning affiliate of the G.O.O.D. Music family, and one of West's influences. Thereby, the Gang Starr member takes it upon himself to remix... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

Hear How Muhammad Ali & Malcolm X Met And Why They Parted Ways (Audio)

Today marks the anniversary of former heavyweight champion boxer Sonny Liston's 1964 defeat at the hands of Cassius Clay, a young boxer who boasted that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Later changing his name to Muhammad Ali, the new heavyweight champion would go on to... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Lay the Foundation for Black Star in this 1997 Performance (Video)

For Heads, there may not be a more-missed entity in Hip-Hop retail than Fat Beats. Established in New York City in 1994, the former brick-and-mortar outlet for tapes, CDs, LPs, and more now only exists as an online retailer, but its legacy remains vivid, thanks in part to live performances that... Read more

February 25, 2016 Video

Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne Reunite. Juvenile Joins In On A Totally New Sound (Audio)

After years of speculation, the hit-making team of Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, and Juvenile finally showcases their new music. Mannie mentored both Weezy and Juvy at Cash Money Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the Big Tymers member and label producer would exit to sign with Def... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

Joell Ortiz Takes Drake’s “Summer Sixteen” Like A Bully & Beats It Up (Audio)

Joell Ortiz is on a crusade for Hip-Hop. The Brooklyn MC and producer Domingo are releasing an entire album dedicated to preserving the culture, fittingly tiled That's Hip-Hop. On the singles thus far from the project, Ortiz has chosen hungry and deeply skilled young lyricists like Token and Snow Tha... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

O.D.B. Put The “Free” In Freestyle In This 1995 Outburst (Audio)

Twenty years ago this week, O.D.B. was waiting to see if he would win the Grammy for "Best Rap Album." The 1995 debut, Return To The 36 Chambers (The Dirty Version) would ultimately lose to Naughty By Nature's Poverty's Paradise, but the unconventional Brooklyn, New York MC was clearly reaching... Read more

February 25, 2016 Throwback

Jay Z Wins Legal Battle Against Former Engineer With Unreleased Tapes

Two years ago, Jay Z and Roc Nation were alarmed to learn of a former Roc-A-Fella Records engineer who was accused of trying to sell master recordings. Chauncey Mahan, a Roc recording engineer who worked on 1999's Vol. 3...Life And Times Of S. Carter and other early 2000s material originally... Read more

February 24, 2016 News

K-Def Takes His Rhythm Roulette Experiment To An Early ’90s-Sounding Paradise (Video)

K-Def has been making great Hip-Hop music for 25 years and counting. The New Jersey native just released two albums in The Way It Was and The Unpredictable Gemini. With lots to promote, the Redefinition Records honcho is the latest participant in Mass Appeal's Rhythm Roulette. Hitting up Jersey City's... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Ras Kass & Planet Asia Burn It Down. No Fire Drills (Audio)

It was three years ago this month that Planet Asia and Ras Kass released "Kings." The song was produced by South Florida's Numonics. The producer and two California lyrical monarchs return together on "Fire Drills." This song is not just a bell-ringer, it delivers heat as the MCs from Carson... Read more

February 24, 2016 Audio

Black Sheep Dres & A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi Aim To Take Hip-Hop “Higher” (Video)

In 2012, Black Sheep Dres (as he is now known) and A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Jarobi released the debut project from their unit, evitaN. At The Speed Of Life was a prime offering for the two New York MC vets. Joined by everybody from Mobb Deep's Havoc to Bootsy... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Phonte’s New Solo Album Is Just The Next Step In His Already Incredible Career.

Phonte Coleman has taken on many roles in his nearly 20-year career, including founding member of both Little Brother and the Foreign Exchange. Relatively quiet on the solo front, the North Carolina singer and MC hasn't released his own album since 2011's Charity Starts at Home, but he has just announced... Read more

February 24, 2016 News

This 360° Run The Jewels Concert Is As Close As It Gets To Being On Stage With Them (Video)

Over the years, Run The Jewels, the duo of Killer Mike and El-P, have shown themselves to be among the most energetic performers in Hip-Hop. Mike and El pour as much passion into their onstage delivery as they do their fiery lyrics. To capture the energy and show what it... Read more

February 24, 2016 Video

Imagine If Jimi Hendrix & Prince Had A Guitar Prodigy Son. Meet Marcus Machado (Audio & Video)

In the life of every music lover there comes a time when a live performance reminds us of the purest form of power in talent - to reinvigorate, re-inspire, and rekindle that spark which made us fall in love with music in the first place. When coming across an artist... Read more

February 24, 2016 Food for Thought

John Oliver Shows Just How Deep Hollywood Whitewashing Goes (Video)

Next week, Hollywood's biggest night will take place when the 88th Academy Awards take place in Beverly Hills, California. It will transpire amid a cloud of controversy related to the lack of racial diversity of the nominees in the more major categories including Best Actor & Actress and Best Supporting... Read more

February 24, 2016 Lifestyle

Pusha T Kicks His Icy Flow on Baauer’s “Kung Fu” (Audio)

Pusha T continues on the torrid pace he started last fall. After announcing his presidency of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, Pusha Ton proceeded to release a barrage of hot singles leading up to his December album, King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude. He has stayed active this year... Read more

February 24, 2016 Audio

A Track Tupac Produced & Wrote For MC Hammer Surfaces & It’s Too Tight (Audio & Video)

To describe Tupac as prolific in the eleven months after his release from prison and before his death would be a gross understatement. According to reports, Pac recorded more than 14 songs in the first two weeks after his return home and, over the next several months, he had enough... Read more

February 23, 2016 Throwback

Freddie Gibbs Has Some Things To Get Off His Chest On “Freddie Gordy” (Video)

Spitting reality Rap is what made Freddie Gibbs pivot from being an Interscope Records castaway to one of the prime independent movers and shakers of Hip-Hop. Gangsta Gibbs epitomizes Gangsta Rap in the 2010s. Shadow Of A Doubt single "Freddie Gordy" is the latest article of evidence in just how... Read more

February 23, 2016 Video

Los Angeles Street Art is Highlighting the City’s Failure to Address Homelessness

Los Angeles conjures up images of beachfront properties, endless avenues decorated with palm trees, and a year-round climate that is so close to perfect it has become a number-one destination for millions. However, the rich and famous are not the only ones who benefit from the area's weather. Mild temperatures... Read more

February 23, 2016 Lifestyle

L.A. Reid is the Man Behind Outkast & TLC. Listen To How It All Came to Be (Audio)

Antonia L.A. Reid stands tall as one of the most influential players in the music industry. Heads love him for introducing such acts as Outkast and TLC to a broad audience, but he's put in more than three decades of work into the careers of others, as well. Having essentially... Read more

February 23, 2016 Audio

Ja Rule Tells Ice-T That “Coup De Grace” Will Be His Last Album (Audio)

Ja Rule is the latest guest on Ice-T's Final Level Podcast. The Hollis, Queens MC veteran spoke to the O.G. about his ascent from independent MC to a multi-platinum superstar. In the hour-plus formatted interview, the flagship Rap act of Murder Inc. describes meeting Irv Gotti (through Mic Geronimo), hustling... Read more

February 23, 2016 Audio, News

T.I. Joins Roc Nation, Announces Part Ownership In Tidal

Less than six months after announcing his departure from Columbia/Sony Records, T.I. has announced his new home. The Atlanta, Georgia veteran MC has moved his business and his Hustle Gang imprint (a/k/a Grand Hustle Records) under Jay Z's Roc Nation umbrella. There, Tip joins the likes of collaborators such as... Read more

February 23, 2016 News

Consequence Details A 1996 Brawl Between Ghostface Killah & Wish Bone (Video)

As Heads know, back in 1996, it was not all good between the East Coast and West Coast in Hip-Hop. Due in part to an ongoing feud between Bad Boy Entertainment and Death Row Records, and the media's part in escalating the drama, tensions were high. In September of that... Read more

February 22, 2016 Video

Joey Bada$$’ New Single Shows He’s Ready To Do It All Again, In 2016 (Audio)

Joey Bada$$ has released his first proper single of 2016. "Ready" keeps one of the Pro Era front man MC's strongest music mates close to the fold in Statik Selektah. In the song, the Brooklyn, New Yorker promises to be around a mighty long time, as he stretches out his... Read more

February 22, 2016 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Confirmed To Induct N.W.A. Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

One week ago today (February 15), Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson, Jr. presented Kendrick Lamar with the Grammy Award for "Best Rap Album Of The Year." The honors went to To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick's latest work. In the speech that followed, the Compton, California MC thanked Ice Cube (along... Read more

February 22, 2016 News

Rihanna Turns Up The Heat In A Steamy Double Video With Drake (Video)

Since releasing a teaser over the weekend, Rihanna has had her legions of fans more than ready for the release of the video for "Work," but RiRi had something more in store. Today she released not one but two videos for the song, each showcasing a different side of the... Read more

February 22, 2016 Video

It’s A Bad Boy/Junior M.A.F.I.A. Reunion on “Auction” With Puff, Kim, Styles & Los (Video)

With the shiny jackets, posse camera shots, and braggadocious lyrics, the Bad Boy family certainly left its imprint on the Rap video canon, and the Jiggy Era for many Heads will always symbolize a heyday of mainstream New York City Hip-Hop. A key player in that movement was, of course,... Read more

February 22, 2016 Video