News Archives

Rise & Shine: Watch Janet Jackson & J. Cole in ‘No Sleeep’ (Video)

Janet is back. The legendary pop icon hasn't released any new music in more than 7 years. Next month, she will kick off her Unbreakable World Tour to promote what will be her eleventh solo effort (the first album of hers since the passing of her brother, Michael, in 2009).... Read more

July 24, 2015 Video

J. Cole and Trae tha Truth Lament Over Children Left Behind (Audio)

A veteran of Houston's rap scene (he's even got his very own Trae Day in his hometown), Trae tha Truth has been releasing solo music since 2003, when he dropped Losing Composure, an all H-Town affair featuring Paul Wall, Bun B, Chamillionaire, and his fellow Guerrilla Maab cohorts Z-Ro and... Read more

July 24, 2015 Audio

Remember When Jayo Felony, Method Man & DMX Made A Cross-Country Def Jam Hit Together? (Video)

While ONYX and 50 Cent are two of Jam Master Jay's star proteges—even if the latter found his success beyond JMJ Records, there is another artist he ushered in that is often overlooked. Jayo Felony became one of San Diego, California's first national Rap stars. Signed amidst the height of... Read more

July 23, 2015 Do Remember, Throwback

Eminem’s Latest Freestyle is an Exercise in Lyrical Stamina (Audio)

Since being named the winner of AFH's user-generated GOAT competition, Eminem has been busy promoting Southpaw, a Boxing film starring Jake Gylenhaal and 50 Cent, and for which he is the soundtrack's executive producer. Previously slated to become an honorary member of N.W.A. as he joins them on their forthcoming... Read more

July 23, 2015 Audio

Lupe Fiasco Says Commercialism Has Ruined Hip-Hop, Not Ghostwriting

Over the course of the last several days, the topic of ghostwriting has entered the conversation about Hip-Hop in a very powerful way. As a trending topic across several social-media platforms (due largely to Meek Mill's public accusation of Drake, who he claims is a used a writer for the... Read more

July 23, 2015 News

Your Old Droog Puts Together A Playlist Featuring Mobb Deep & Miles Davis

Anybody familiar with the music of Brooklyn, New York's Your Old Droog knows that that the MC enjoys music beyond his own. Admittedly a fan of Rock & Roll music first, this MC draws inspiration from 1990s East Coast Hip-Hop, and dusty Jazz and Funk breaks. All of these forms... Read more

July 23, 2015 Playlists

Straight Outta Cooperstown: Hip-Hop Meets Baseball in These Mashup Cards

Earlier this month, it was announced that Marvel comics would be recreating comic-book covers with inspiration from classic Hip-Hop albums. Now, in the latest mash-up of pop and Hip-Hop culture, the faces of Rap stars have found themselves in the world of classic baseball cards. Similar to the concept behind... Read more

July 23, 2015 Throwback

Vic Mensa Flexes His Singing Chops on a Complete Re-Invention of Future’s Codeine Crazy (Audio)

Before Vic Mensa went solo in 2013, he was in a band. Not a Hip-Hop band, a collective of 7 artists and musicians who excelled at playing music across genres. Like Kids These Days, Mensa's musical tastes are wide-ranging. In fact, he often cites Nirvana as one of his biggest... Read more

July 23, 2015 Audio

From The Roots To ‘Roots’: Questlove To Handle Music For Alex Haley Remake

Already one of the busiest entertainers in show-business, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson has taken on at least two projects this week. The band-leader for The Roots and their role on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Questlove has associated himself with another Roots. According to Variety, Quest' will serve as Executive... Read more

July 23, 2015 News

J. Cole Joins Janet Jackson With A Shining Verse For Her No Sleeep Remix (Audio)

In the seven years since Janet Jackson had released new music, J. Cole had transcended from a hopeful MC/producer in North Carolina to one of the genre's biggest stars overall. Part of what delivered Jermaine Cole to the mainstream was his knack for working with singers, showcasing versatility on nearly... Read more

July 23, 2015 Audio

Meek Mill Reveals the Ghost Writer He Claims Wrote Drake’s R.I.C.O. Verse (Video)

From The D.O.C. to Royce Da 5'9", Skillz to Ice Cube, Hip-Hop has a long line of famous ghostwriters. High profile albums such as Dr. Dre's 2001, Salt-n-Pepa's Very Necessary, and Kanye West's Yeezus are assembled around raps written by artists besides those who voiced the words. Drake, who has... Read more

July 23, 2015 Video

Stro Celebrates His Ideal Woman on a Lil Bow Wow Update (Video)

Stro (fka Astronomical Kid and Astro) is all grown up. After stepping into the spotlight in 2011 as a contestant on X Factor with his infectious song, "Stop Looking at My Moms," he's eighteen now and turning his attention to another lady in his life. On "Ghetto Girls Freestyle," he... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

President Obama’s Final Daily Show Interview Brings Powerful Ideas On College Reform (Video)

On last night's (July 21) episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart had no monologue, no schtick, and went on zero tangents. And for good reason. His guest was President Barack Obama, a leader who is entering the final year of his tenure. Stewart is also a leader (of sorts)... Read more

July 22, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Problem Clears The Table, Name-Checking Peers & Claiming His Place (Video)

It has been nine years since Problem made his breakthrough mixtape, Deal Or No Deal. Approaching a decade, after appearances on albums by Snoop Dogg, E-40, DJ Quik, and Wiz Khalifa, the Compton, California native is still without a studio full-length. On "50 Shades Of Grey," Problem speaks up. The... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Eminem Slated To Take Eazy-E’s Spot As Honorary N.W.A. Member On Tour.

UPDATE: One day later (July 23), an unnamed Eminem and Dr. Dre representative has told Rolling Stone magazine that the reports regarding Eminem and an N.W.A. are not true. The original report: For the most part, attentions surrounding August 14's Straight Outta Compton are focused on the film. The F.... Read more

July 22, 2015 News

Pharrell Shows That Freedom Is The Key To Universal Happiness (Video)

Pharrell makes statement records. Following the infectious commercial success of "Happy" through some difficult times socially, politically, and economically across the globe, the Star Trak explorer (now plugged into I Am Other) launches "Freedom." The song is built around rich instrumentation, and a strong piano. Skateboard P's vocal delivery transcends... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Prince Has Not Moved On From Baltimore. Have You? (Lyric Video)

Prince was among those deeply moved by the April protests in Baltimore, Maryland. What may seem in the rear-view of a year (perhaps a period) that continues to bring incidents, headlines, and tragedies related to police brutality and social unrest, is still very close to the iconic musician. The life... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Camp Lo’s Fashion & Luxury Transportation Suits Their Style (Video)

Sonny Cheeba and Geechie Suede are masters of nostalgia. The veteran Hip-Hop duo Camp Lo, joined by longtime mentor/producer Ski Beatz has a knack for channeling '70s slang, '60s film, and '80s New York City. From their 2015 Nature Sounds LP, Ragtime Hightimes, the duo delivers the video for "Life... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Jay Electronica Has a Strong Message for Cowards on Previously Unreleased Track (Audio)

Ever the mysterious, slightly mythical Hip-Hop demi-God, Jay Electronica's booming vocal delivery can now be heard on a new-ish track that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. We don't really know from whence it came, when it was made, or what project it belongs to, but it's Wednesday, and getting over... Read more

July 22, 2015 Audio

Pete Rock Reminisces Over “T.R.O.Y.” & Getting Emotional Hearing Tom Scott’s Sample (Audio)

One year ago, Pete Rock appeared on NPR's "Microphone Check" to discuss his catalog, remixes, and James Brown influence. At the midpoint of 2015, the Chocolate Boy Wonder (as he's been deemed) has a fresh batch of Petestrumentals available, care of Tucson, Arizona-based Mello Music Group. An MC/producer who got... Read more

July 22, 2015 Audio

Take a Long Walk Down Memory Lane With Jill Scott as she Revisits Her Debut Album

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop infused Neo-Soul songstress Jill Scott celebrated the 15th anniversary of her debut album, 2000's Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. With it, she answered her own question, and the album's platinum-selling status suggested that few were left unfamiliar with her name. She... Read more

July 22, 2015 Throwback

Where Does Rick Ross Stand in the Meek Mill/Drake Beef? For Now, He’s Claiming Family Ties (Video)

Sometimes things just fall into place. Moments after Maybach Music Group's latest #1 product, Meek Mill, called out Drake's rhyme-writing on social media, Rick Ross expressed his solidarity, sharing Meek's words. According to some late-night web-surfers, the symbolic act came after R.R. first sided with Drizzy—before deleting a highly-controversial tweet... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Meek Mill Says Drake Does Not Write His Own Rhymes. Pillow Talk?

The same week that watched former collaborators Ghostface Killah and Action Bronson enter at least a one-sided beef, the trend continues. Meek Mill was at Drake's side in the famed 2012 club incident that resulted in lawsuits, and an all-out attack between Drake and Chris Brown. On July 22, via... Read more

July 22, 2015 News

Dave Chappelle Is Funny But He Makes a Serious Point About Comedy in These Troubling Times

Dave Chappelle's humor, like many comedians, is often built around the formula of pain-plus-time-equals-funny. In his heralded series, "Chapelle's Show," the Dayton, Ohio native poked fun at a number of taboo topics. These included White Supremacy, drug addiction, and immigration reform. In the midst of a return to the public... Read more

July 21, 2015 Lifestyle

DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Protege Dayne Jordan is a True Storytelling MC (Album Stream)

Hailing from Philadelphia, the same city that birthed Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Dayne Jordan has been accumulating some serious knowledge from veterans in the game. With Jeff as his mentor, Jordan has been finessing the skills he's been accruing since 2009, when he released his debut project, Sand... Read more

July 21, 2015 Audio

A Week Before it Turns 20, the Movie ‘Kids’ is Being Remembered as a Classic

Rolling Stone called it "the most controversial film of the Nineties." With mid-'90s New York City as its setting, the Larry Clark-directed film Kids struck a chord with an entire generation, candidly portraying the sexual lives of a handful of teenagers. Released nationwide on July 28, 1995, the NC-17 drama... Read more

July 21, 2015 Lifestyle

Thundercat & Flying Lotus Make Heartbreak Sound Unusually Cool (Video)

Less than one month ago, Thundercat released The Beyond/Where The Giants Roam. The Kendrick Lamar collaborator is hard to pin down. The Brainfeeder release involves his Los Angeles, California contemporary Flying Lotus, as well as Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (the classically-trained musician responsible for the incredible Suite For Ma Dukes Dilla-inspired album/DVD).... Read more

July 21, 2015 Video

Slum Village, J Dilla & Bilal Know What Love Is…It’s Hip-Hop (Video)

Slum Village's recently-released YES! album truly is an affirmation. T3 and Young RJ manifest the Villa destiny with nine tracks featuring the late J Dilla's (and group co-founder) handiwork. "Love Is" is one such highlight, including the unmistakable vocals of Bilal, as well as former full-time S.V. member, Illa J.... Read more

July 21, 2015 Video

DJ Quik Goes Out Classic-Cruising To His Own Trunk-Rattling Production (Video)

DJ Quik's 2014 album, The Midnight Life packed an incredible punch, from a production standpoint. The G-Funk (or P-Funk) innovator shifted styles once more, to not only show his influence upon guys like DJ Mustard and Terrace Martin, but to evolve into raw instrumentation. "Puffin' The Dragon" is anything but... Read more

July 21, 2015 Video

Action Bronson Apologizes to Ghostface, Again. GFK Refuses. Here’s the Inside Story on Their Only Collabo.

Yesterday (July 20) Ghostface Killah unleashed a "mighty healthy" response to Action Bronson, following a perceived diss by the Queens, New York MC. Moments after Ghostface's video reply, which called out Bronson for disrespecting an MC who influenced him, as well as issued threats to the VICE/Atlantic Records artist on... Read more

July 21, 2015 Video

Mick Jenkins Gets Up and Gets Down in Reverse on a New Concept Track (Audio)

Mick Jenkins is proving to be one of the more creative voices to emerge in Hip-Hop in quite some time. The Cinematic Music Group artist (Big K.R.I.T., Joey Bada$$) rarely settles for songs with just heady lyrics and challenging beats. He typically elevates them into full blown concept tracks, often... Read more

July 21, 2015 Audio

Boots from the Coup Says Raising the Minimum Wage is Not Enough…We Need Revolution

Over recent months, there has been an ongoing struggle to raise the minimum wage in an effort to address the rise in the cost of living for millions of Americans. The concept is pretty straightforward - raise the minimum wage, and people can afford to live, pay rent, raise a... Read more

July 21, 2015 Lifestyle

J. Cole & Omen Prove Things Change, But Thoughtful Music Has Not (Audio)

While Bas and Cozz have jumped up early to show Dreamville's fast-track to a full-service record label, Omen has been with J. Cole since nearly the beginning. From 2009's The Warm Up, MC/producer Omen has been with Cole, sharing a similar perspective. Omen's 2010 Delayed mixtape featured an early Kendrick... Read more

July 21, 2015 Audio

The Story of Kid ‘n Play Is Much More Complex Than Haircuts & Kick Steps. Watch Their Unsung Episode (Video)

In the late 80s and early 90s, Kid 'n Play had an enviable string of hits in music, film and on TV, and they did it as nice guys. But, that doesn't mean they didn't have to overcome obstacles or battle with life's ups and downs. Each had to grow... Read more

July 20, 2015 Throwback

The Formula: Classic Hip-Hop Is Taking Over Radios Nationwide…Again

Nostalgia is a powerful sentiment. As Heads know all too well, simply hearing a track from a former era can rekindle memories of childhood, important life events, a particular friend, or just a particular feeling. That nostalgia has always been there, but part of its beauty is its amorphous nature;... Read more

July 20, 2015 News

Method Man Shares Thoughts on RZA, Friendships with Biggie & Tupac (Video)

Method Man visited DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne tha God on 105.1's Breakfast Club morning radio show today and discussed a whole host of topics ranging from his forthcoming album (The Meth Lab, August 21), his work in the film Trainwreck (Judd Apatow says he wants to put every... Read more

July 20, 2015 Video

Ghostface Killah Blasts Action Bronson. It’s Personal Now (Video)

It was all good, four years ago. Former collaborators Action Bronson and Ghostface Killah are seemingly in new waters now. Earlier this month, Bam Bam Bronson made some remarks about G.F.K. while appearing on ESPN's "Sports Nation." Immediately following reports of a perceived diss against the onetime collaborator, the Queens,... Read more

July 20, 2015 News, Video

Today Is International Boombox Day. Celebrate With the Volume WAY PAST TEN (Video)

Today (7/20), is International Boombox Day. Whether the day of recognition is an official holiday or not, it seems as good a time as any to celebrate one of the most iconic devices in Hip-Hop history. Whether it was adorning the shoulder of LL Cool J, used as a metaphor... Read more

July 20, 2015 Lifestyle

Cuba’s Hip-Hop History Resonates In The New Culture Exchange (Video)

Earlier today, it was announced that the United States and the island nation of Cuba have formally restored ties, marking the first time in 54 years that such diplomacy has existed between the two countries. In literal terms, it means that Havana now has an officially active U.S. embassy, while... Read more

July 20, 2015 Lifestyle

Dungeon To Mountain: Sign A Petition To Honor Outkast Alongside Robert E. Lee

In music, the two members of Outkast are living legends. Andre 3000 and Big Boi have accomplished massive feats in Hip-Hop originality, style, and evolution, coupled with sales benchmarks and award acclaim. However, as both MC/producers are natives of Georgia, a powerful grassroots petition is motioning to have Antwan André... Read more

July 20, 2015 News

Slaughterhouse Gives New Meaning To Bar-Brawl on Southpaw’s R.N.S. (Video)

Slaughterhouse's "R.N.S." is a lyrical upper-cut within the Southpaw soundtrack. The Just Blaze and araabMUZIK-produced song featuring Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Joe Budden is more of the same pedigree from the hardcore Rap quartet. For the video, it's bars and concrete—beyond the rapping, as the Shady... Read more

July 20, 2015 Video

DJ Premier & Dr. Dre Are Clearly Up To Something, What Could It Be?

Nas' It Was Written. The 8 Mile Soundtrack. Game's The R.E.D. Album. Only a handful of times in their careers, combined spanning more than 50 years, have Dr. Dre and DJ Premier worked on the same album in a production capacity. There would have been several more of those times,... Read more

July 19, 2015 Fresh

Black Eyed Peas’ Retro Single Gets A Video Treatment That’s Slick Like That (Video)

With the release of the Black Eyed Peas' cyclically-minded "Yesterday," the video follows quickly. Half of the group's formal lineup: will.i.am and apl.de.ap make the song, while Taboo appears in the video (and drops a few Public Enemy-minded bars). Like the single's heavy-handed production theme of interpolating, sampling, and alluding... Read more

July 19, 2015 Video

Big K.R.I.T. & T.I. Make A Retro-Melodic Car Cut With Mitchelle’l (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. and T.I. are proven masters of car songs. Both Southern MCs love old schools, boomin' systems, hydraulics, and "bowling ball swirl." Grand Hustle/Hustle Gang singer Mitchelle’l already made a song rooted in that Texas Slab Music sound. "Spillin' Drank" is a gliding record that sounds like what would... Read more

July 19, 2015 Audio

Erick Sermon, Joell Ortiz & Sheek Louch Offer Hard Lessons From Concrete Places (Video)

In late April, Erick Sermon premiered "Make Room," a crosstown New York City verbal essay featuring Joell Ortiz and Sheek Louch. The song offers some hard advice to a host of people simply doin' it wrong. For the just-released visual, E-Double, Donnie G., and Yoawa certify themselves in the company... Read more

July 19, 2015 Video

Jay Z Blessed Stretch & Bobbito’s Show With 3 Different Freestyles In 1995 (Audio)

Earlier this week, AFH shared a 1996 three-hour radio show of DJ Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito The Barber's show (thanks to DJ Eclipse, who spun then and digitized it now). Big L was among the show's guests, bringing with him Ma$e, Bloodshed, and Killa Cam'ron (as Children Of The Corn).... Read more

July 18, 2015 Throwback

Buckwild Has A Gift In Producing Emerging MC Talent. So Meet DanO (Audio)

From Big L and O.C. to Meyhem Lauren and Beanie Sigel, Buckwild is gifted in helping artists assemble their debut projects. The Bronx, New York native and non-rapping member of D.I.T.C. is a master of combining sampling, melody, with a balance for streets and crossover airplay. A native of Lagos,... Read more

July 18, 2015 Audio

Run The Jewels Cat-Scratch The First “Meow The Jewels” Single (Audio)

The fan-funded Meow The Jewels remix project by Run The Jewels is on the horizon. Following January's snippet reel, "Meowrly" marks the first single. With Killer Mike, El-P, and Boots' vocals still in tact from "Early," this version incorporates those "cat sounds" in a way that strangely feels anything by... Read more

July 18, 2015 Audio

Not Feeling 2000s Black Eyed Peas? will.i.am & apl.de.ap Travel Back To Yesterday (Audio)

A lot has been said and written about The Black Eyed Peas' early 2000s transformation. From a group with its roots tied to Eazy-E and Ruthless Records, to some of the biggest global hit-makers of the last decade, will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie got in where they fit in—and in... Read more

July 18, 2015 Audio

15 Years Later, Common’s “The Light” Remains a Shining Example of Hip-Hop Love

On July 18, 2000, Common released "The Light," and with it came one of Hip-Hop's greatest love songs. Along with Black Star's 1998 track "Brown Skin Lady" and The Roots' breakout 1999 single "You Got Me," "The Light" represented a focus on mutual respect, vulnerability, and a soulful approach to... Read more

July 18, 2015 Food for Thought