News Archives

Imagine A World With UGK & B.B. King Collaborating. The Thrill Is Trill. (Audio/Video)

In the world of mash-up mixes, Amerigo Gazaway is one of the premier visionaries as of late. The Nashville, Tennessee based-DJ/producer looks beyond the quirky, the niche, or the party staples to draw connections out of time, space, and genre for artists. Amerigo displayed greatness in 2014's Yasiin Gaye merging... Read more

September 16, 2015 Audio, Video

A New Def Jam Biopic May Be in the Works. The Choices For Russell & Rick May Surprise You

By now, the news of Straight Outta Compton's success is common knowledge; the N.W.A. biopic soared into film history by becoming the highest-grossing music biopic ever, beating out films about superstars like Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. That success has opened up space for ongoing discussions about the Hip-Hop Biopic... Read more

September 16, 2015 News

Run the Jewels Perform on Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ & Bring Along a Big Name Backup Band (Video)

Now in his second week of his new tenure as host of the "Late Show," Stephen Colbert has already amassed an impressive list of musical guests including Toby Keith and Kendrick Lamar. Last night, El-P and Killer Mike graced the stage as Run the Jewels, performing "Angel Duster" off their... Read more

September 16, 2015 Video

Would You Let Stevie Wonder Take You for a Joyride? James Corden Almost Did (Video)

The Late Late Show host James Corden is starting to give his earlier night peers a run for their money with his video vignettes. Back in July, a segment of his Carpool Karaoke featuring Rod Stewart and A$AP Rocky made the rounds. Now, he's released an installment featuring the one... Read more

September 16, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Pretends to Be a Female Admirer on a Prank Call to Jay Rock (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar is a man of many voices. He can go from a high-pitched whisper to a fierce growl in an instant, as showcased on a number of songs. Recently, he put this talent to use in playing a prank on his label-mate and friend, Jay Rock. During one of... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

Spotlight: Ace Cosgrove Aims to Feed the Uninspired with New Project (Album Stream)

24-year-old Ace Cosgrove is a Maryland MC for whom 2014 was a watershed year. Two of last year's releases, Simple Criticism and UsVsRobots, introduced him to a wide swath of Heads, thanks in part to acclaim from a handful of highly respected outlets. Today (September 15), the young spitter releases... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

This Group is Using Hip-Hop’s Influence to Fight Against Climate Change (Audio)

Hip-Hop's birthplace - New York City - is preparing to host some important and high-profile events revolving around issues of climate change and environmental awareness. Both Climate Week and the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit are landing in the Big Apple this month and in preparation, one organization is taking... Read more

September 15, 2015 Lifestyle

Mac Miller Says Donald Trump is “Like a Struggling Rapper,” And Those Were His Nice Words…(Video)

Mac Miller and Donald Trump have a complicated history. In 2011, Mac Miller released his song named after Trump and, as Trump is fond of noting, the song has gone on to yield more than 100 million streams on YouTube. In true form to many politicians, Trump has flip-flopped on... Read more

September 15, 2015 Video

Sean Price & Grand Puba Do Some Bar Bullying on the Newly-Released “We Don’t Play” (Audio)

Next month (October 9), QNC will release their debut album, The Habit Of A Lifetime (And How To Kick It). The Attic Records release is a collaboration between Curt Cazal (of 1980s Hip-Hop group JVC Force) and Q-Ball (D&D Crew) and veteran English producer Aim. Previously, Aim has released a... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

Masta Ace Remembers Feeling Ostracized By His Native Brooklyn…& Other Personal Stories (Audio)

Masta Ace's nearly 30-year career as a tremendously gifted MC has hit its rough patches along the way, but as his fans around the world are well aware, his resiliency and tenacity have allowed for his name to be continuously mentioned in conversations about great - even if underrated -... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

Quincy Jones Passes His Torch of Knowledge & Wisdom About Music & Life to Kendrick Lamar (Video)

"Music can never be more or less than what you are as a human being...You get back what you give." As a student of music, 2015 has been an advanced PhD curriculum for Kendrick Lamar. Earlier in the year, he interviewed all of the remaining members of N.W.A., as he... Read more

September 15, 2015 Video

Keith Murray & Fredro Starr’s MC Battle Is Back On The Books (Video)

UPDATE: In the summer of 2014, it was announced that veteran 1990s MCs Keith Murray (Def Squad/UnderGods) and Fredro Starr (ONYX) would face off in a competitive battle. After the event was promoted, it postponed. More than one year after it was first reported, the match-up is back on. Next... Read more

September 15, 2015 Video

DOOM & Ghostface (DOOMSTARKS) Release a Tribute to New York That’s as Grimy as It Gets (Audio)

For the last several weeks, Adult Swim has been releasing a series of singles that match the edginess and counter-cultural themes of its vaunted series. Songs have spanned multiple genres and artists, including Skrillex, Sia and Danny Brown, and forthcoming tracks will feature Flying Lotus, Run the Jewels, and more.... Read more

September 14, 2015 Audio

Sadat X & El Da Sensei Form New Group. Here’s A 9th Wonder-Produced Introduction (Audio Premiere)

For more than 20 years, MCs Sadat X and El Da Sensei have run in the same circles. A product of Brand Nubian and The Artifacts, respectively, these East Coast lyricists have flipped words with flare to stand out amongst their band-mates and peers. Ambrosia For Heads is pleased to... Read more

September 14, 2015 Audio

‘GO:OD AM’ Aims to Wake Up Anybody Still Sleeping on Mac Miller (Album Stream)

Since breaking onto the Hip-Hop scene with the mixtape K.I.D.S. in 2010, Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller has dealt with his share of detractors, many relegating him to the genres of "frat boy" or "pop rap," but his fans have maintained their strident loyalty and his latest album is proof that... Read more

September 14, 2015 Audio

On Its 10 Year Anniversary, Little Brother Remember The Minstrel Show With New Perspective

According to many Hip-Hop Heads, one of the most complete, cohesive Rap albums of the 2000s is Little Brother's The Minstrel Show. Released by Atlantic Records, the LP is a bittersweet moment for its makers and its legions of fans. Ten years ago yesterday (September 13, 2005), 9th Wonder, Phonte,... Read more

September 14, 2015 Throwback

Hip-Hop Has No Age or Geographic Boundaries. These Portuguese Graffiti Grandmothers Are Proof (Video)

Lata65 is an organization in Lisbon, Portugal highlighting the global prevalence of Hip-Hop culture to a demographic that isn't necessarily associated with it. The street-art focus of the organization is commonplace enough, but the ages of its members make it a uniquely wonderful community. Ranging from ages 59-60, Lata65 (which... Read more

September 14, 2015 Lifestyle

Guilty Simpson Finds The Beauty In Detroit’s Concrete Struggle (Video)

Guilty Simpson just reunited with his original backer Stones Throw Records for Detroit's Son. Nearly a decade after his debut, Guilty has built a career out of tireless microphone activity, from an onslaught of collaborative works, Random Axe, and plenty of features. Something about Detroit's Son stands tall though, and... Read more

September 14, 2015 Video

Imagine Sitting Courtside At Every Game. Virtual Reality Is Coming…Soon

17-year-old Palmer Luckey spent some time in his parents garage one year, fiddling around with something that would eventually be sold for $2 billion. Whether intentionally or not, the young tech genius was orchestrating what is promising to be the next major chapter in consumer-tech news: virtual reality or, more... Read more

September 14, 2015 Lifestyle

What Was It Like to See a Boogie Down Productions Show in 1987? Press Play (Video)

"Rap is still an art, and no one's from the Old School, 'cause Rap is still a brand-new tool. I say no one's from the Old School 'cause Rap on a whole, isn't even twenty years old. Fifty years down the line, you can start this, 'cause we'll be the... Read more

September 13, 2015 Throwback

Jay Rock Refuses To Compromise. Even His Freestyles Are Hard-Body (Audio)

Throughout the weekend, many Hip-Hop Heads are making visits to the 90059 zip code, listening to Jay Rock's sophomore solo album. The breakthrough Top Dawg Entertainment artist for nearly a decade swings through L.A. Leakers. Not often recognized as much as onetime pupil Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul in the freestyle... Read more

September 13, 2015 Audio

It’s Been 19 Years Since We Lost Tupac Shakur. Re-Live His Brilliance (Audio)

Nineteen years ago today (September 13, 1996), Tupac Amaru Shakur was pronounced dead in a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital. In his final year of life, 'Pac transcended from incarcerated poet to Rap's reigning superstar. In his wake, the MC left some of the most dramatic, fiery, and profound music and... Read more

September 13, 2015 Throwback

Imagine The Fresh Prince With No Hilary or Carlton. It Almost Happened…

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the debut episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," an NBC-aired television show that not only helped launch the career of Will Smith but also cultivated a strong Hip-Hop presence in American living rooms throughout its six-year run. In recent years, a nostalgic... Read more

September 12, 2015 TV

J-Live Says Biters & Posers Won’t Feel This But Hip-Hop Junkies Will. Can You Dig It? (Audio)

As a completely independent artist, J-Live stays quite busy. The Brooklyn, New York native follows this month's "You're The One" with a new album on the way. How Much Is Water is coming October 23 on Justice's Mortier Music imprint. "Feel This" is the first delivery, a song that serves... Read more

September 11, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers & Nitty Scott, MC Flip the Script on Hip-Hop Gender Stereotypes (Video)

There have been a number of Hip-Hop songs over the years with the "Bonnie and Clyde" theme. Tracks like Jay-Z's "'03 Bonnie & Clyde," Method Man's "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Me & My Bitch" all depict scenarios where the... Read more

September 11, 2015 Video

Krayzie Bone Has Powerful Memories About Ice Cube & Eazy-E’s 1995 Reunion After Years Of Beef

It's well-known N.W.A. lore that Eazy-E and Ice Cube's relationship hit a sour note towards the end of Eazy's life, and Cube has often remarked on how he wishes the friendship had been more strongly rebuilt before Eazy passed away due to complications from H.I.V. Without his own testimony, it's... Read more

September 11, 2015 Throwback

Here’s a DJ Gilles Peterson Mix of Roy Ayers’ Deep Cuts in Celebration of His 75th Birthday (Audio)

Happy Birthday to Roy Ayers. The legendary musician and composer turned 75 this week (9/10). With a career spanning 6 decades, Ayers has been heavily influential in Jazz, Soul, Funk and Hip-Hop. Perhaps the most recent example of just how deep his impact runs comes from the hugely successful N.W.A.... Read more

September 11, 2015 Mixes

Before Yo! MTV Raps & Rap City, There Was Graffiti Rock. Its Creator Details the History (Video)

Michael Holman's name remains relatively unknown in mainstream discussions about Hip-Hop culture, but there are plenty who recognize his contributions and achievements, and rightfully so. The man behind the short-lived but historic Hip-Hop television show "Graffiti Rock" is also a longtime artist, writer, filmmaker, and overall Head whose experiences in... Read more

September 11, 2015 Lifestyle

Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & ScHoolboy Q List Their Vices With No Shame (Video)

A lot can change in 4 years. When Jay Rock released his debut album, Follow Me Home, in 2011, Top Dawg Entertainment was a fledgling imprint trying to establish itself. Though its core 4 artists--Rock, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar--had amassed a healthy following amongst Heads, they were nowhere... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

For Ice Cube, It Was A Big Step In Small Time From C.I.A. To N.W.A. (Audio)

Straight Outta Compton viewers had a glimpse of what Ice Cube did in his days after school in circa 1987. Before it was Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella he surrounded himself with, it was Sir Jinx and K-Dee (a/k/a Kid Disaster) that O'Shea Jackson favored. They were... Read more

September 10, 2015 Do Remember, Throwback

Jay Rock Flashes The Black Hippy Sign In The Booth For 90059 (Audio)

On TDE albums, Heads often flip over the digital covers in search of that coveted Black Hippy posse cut. On tomorrow's (September 11) 90059 album by Jay Rock, it does exist. "Vice City" is no video game homage, but rather a verbal sin-bin for Jay, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and... Read more

September 10, 2015 Audio

Just Blaze Has Made Smashes For Jay Z, Kanye West, T.I. & More. Watch How He Does It (Video)

Over the years, Just Blaze has powered some of Hip-Hop biggest hits and most revered classics. The superstar producer is responsible for defining records by Jay Z ("Girls, Girls, Girls," "Song Cry," "Public Service Announcement"), Kanye West ("Touch the Sky"), T.I. and more. Though his style varies, he is known... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Beastie Boys Share How Paul’s Boutique Might Have Gotten a Record Company Exec Fired (Video)

Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond recently sat down with New Zealand radio personality Zane Lowe for an intimate conversation about Beastie Boys history in celebration of the 26th anniversary of their album Paul's Boutique, and even more poignantly, the conversation took place on August 5, which would... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Imagine Pete Rock & Large Professor DJ’ing, While D’Angelo is on the Phone. Q-Tip Made It Happen. (Audio)

On the latest edition of Q-Tip's Abstract Radio show, he treats fans to a mind-blowing experience. He is joined by Pete Rock and Large Professor in the studio, and the collective serves up a smorgasbord of classic break beats, anchored by a healthy dose of James Brown. Before that, Tip... Read more

September 10, 2015 Mixes

Check Out the Big Brain on Brett: Here’s How Sounds Evolved It (Audio)

Earlier today, NPR aired a segment on its Health program "Shots" during today's "Morning Edition" that explored the role of auditory experiences on the development and evolution of the animal brain. In fact, there is an entire school of scientists devoted to the field, and they are called "acoustic biologists."... Read more

September 10, 2015 Audio

Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake are Back at It: Check Out Part 6 of Their History of Rap (Video)

It was a big day for Hip-Hop in late-night television yesterday. With Kendrick Lamar's awe-inspiring performance on Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" last night and the return of the Fallon-Timberlake duo to the "Tonight Show," there is plenty to go around. Since 2010, the two have partnered in medley-style performances of... Read more

September 10, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Raury Refuses To Be Boxed In. He Taps Tom Morello & Redefines the Atlanta Sound (Video)

In just over a month (October 16), Raury will his next album, All We Need. The Columbia Records sensation follows up his Indigo Child breakthrough with a continued message of hope, peace, and fellowship. In subject matter, in fashion, and in attitude, the Atlanta, Georgia native MC/singer is quite unlike... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Dam-Funk Sells Funk Straight Out The Trunk. Literally (Video)

In an era of software-driven producers, Los Angeles, California's Dam-Funk is about that hardware. Since 1988, the Stones Throw Records artist has made bodacious Funk through a series of synthesizers, cheap and expensive alike. If you see the Snoop Dogg and Blu collaborator on the road, you'll see that he... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Big Boi Debuts His New Sound With Phantogram on “Fell in the Sun” (Audio)

Apart from their handful of Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors collaborative songs, Big Boi and Phantograms aim to make Big Grams its own thing. Following the reveal of the September 25 EP's tracklist and artwork, the Decatur, Georgia-to-Greenwich, New York trio unveiled their first look: "Fell In The Sun." Like... Read more

September 10, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Gives the First Ever Performance on Colbert’s Late Show & Tears It Down With FUNK (Video)

As the new talk television season kicks into gear this week, morning, daytime, and evening shows are booking the elite guests in culture. As Stephen Colbert eases into the seat of "The Late Show," one of the higher profile moves in media, he called upon Kendrick Lamar to stop by.... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Jay Rock Retraces His Watts Roots In A 90059 Mini-Documentary (Video)

Jay Rock's sophomore album 90059 is arriving Friday (September 11). The Watts, California MC made a mini-documentary video explaining his skill development leading into his first LP in four years. Moreover, the five-minute film gets rare access to Jay's Nickerson Gardens houses in Watts, a grid notorious for its gang... Read more

September 9, 2015 Video

Public Enemy’s Latest is an Homage to the Motherland & All of Her Pain (Video)

In July, Public Enemy released Man Plans God Laughs, the 13th studio album from the Long Island, New York icons. Reportedly inspired by the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Run the Jewels, the album is replete with the content familiar to P.E. Heads - politics, thought-provoking content, and unbridled depictions... Read more

September 9, 2015 Video

Rest In Peace To Hip-Hop Pioneer & Kurtis Blow Affiliate Kool DJ AJ

On Kurtis Blow's seminal 1984 album Ego Trip, he made a cult-favored jam in "AJ Scratch." Featuring his crisp scratches and personal story, that song's namesake, Kool DJ AJ, has passed away. In addition to his longtime role as Blow's DJ, Kool DJ AJ is known for his work behind... Read more

September 9, 2015 News

Scarface Says Kanye West & Jay Z Wanted Him On Jesus Walks (Video)

Scarface and Kanye West worked together in the early 2000s. First on Jay Z's "This Can't Be Life," and then on a chunk of 'Face's own The Fix album, the then-Def Jam Records label-mates began a strong bond. In the 15 years since, Kanye West has closely worked with 20-plus-year... Read more

September 9, 2015 Video

Apollo Brown & Planet Asia Make The Song Cry For Ill Street Blues (Audio)

Apollo Brown is the veteran producer MCs see when they aim to make something different in the catalog. O.C., Ras Kass, and Guilty Simpson all have jewels to show. Planet Asia, who did a whole album with Mello Music Group (2013's Abrasions with Gensu Dean), may be next in that... Read more

September 9, 2015 Audio

Israeli Hip-Hop Groups Have a Lot to Overcome, But the Music Keeps on Keeping On (Video)

For many, Israel is immediately associated with religious war and strife, not entirely incorrect but exceedingly short-sighted, as much of the country's ancient cultural history is overshadowed in the media by ongoing conflicts with Palestine and other tragic goings-on that have plagued the Holy Land for all of its short... Read more

September 9, 2015 Video

Big Boi & Phantogram Team With Run The Jewels & L.A. Reid On New EP (Tracklist)

UPDATE: Additional information has released regarding Big Boi & Phantogram's project. An EP, the work is called Big Grams, and will release September 25. Coming on Epic Records, this is the latest reunion between Big Boi and Outkast mentor L.A. Reid. The eight song EP features Dungeon Family affiliates Run... Read more

September 9, 2015 News

Melle Mel & Big Daddy Kane Vouch For Macklemore & Say Other Rappers Should “Hang Their Heads”

Throughout the last 10 days, a lot of attention has fallen upon Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Downtown." Already a video single from the Seattle, Washington, Grammy Award-winning, platinum act, the pair performed the song to open the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards two Sundays ago (August 30). Perhaps most pertinently,... Read more

September 9, 2015 News

A New Mini-Documentary Explores the History of N.W.A.’s ‘F the Police’ & its Influence in Compton (Video)

In the weeks since Straight Outta Compton hit theaters, the discussions about N.W.A.'s role in Hip-Hop history have become commonplace, and rightfully so. While arguments have been made that the film omitted much of their story, what has prevailed are the Compton, California group's contributions to politically driven, reality rap.... Read more

September 9, 2015 Video

A Heartfelt Documentary Film On Geto Boys’ Bushwick Bill Is Fundraising. See The Trailer (Video)

Although he was never a front man in his own group, Bushwick Bill may one of Hip-Hop's most interesting stories. Bushwick Bill (born Richard Shaw), the dancer-turned-MC from platinum Gangsta Rap pioneers the Geto Boys, has been a music mainstay for nearly 30 years. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in... Read more

September 8, 2015 Video