News Archives

Do Remember: Pumpkinhead’s Emcee (Audio)

On Tuesday (June 9) of this week, Brooklyn, New York MC Pumpkinhead passed away. The 39 year-old Brooklyn, New York native born Robert Alan Diaz left behind more than a 15-year legacy in Hip-Hop. He was an MC, a songwriter, a battle rapper, and a member of Brooklyn Academy, among... Read more

June 11, 2015 Throwback

Obey Your Thirst, And Some Nas, Biggie, Drake, & Rakim Lyrics While You’re At It…

One of the first companies to respect and reflect Hip-Hop for the force that it is will be honoring the culture again. Soon, cans with lyrics by Rakim, Nas, Biggie and Drake will be in stores across the nation. Sprite has launched a new line of limited edition products sporting... Read more

June 11, 2015 News

Method Man Gets 100% Real About His Album, The Media & Why He No Longer Curses on Songs (Interview)

We had the opportunity to speak at length with Method Man to discuss his forthcoming new album, The Meth Lab, and more. The veteran MC had a lot on his mind and did not hesitate to touch on several issues with candor and depth. In addition to talking about his... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Watches Vintage Tupac Shakur Footage & Reacts Powerfully (Video)

Long before To Pimp A Butterfly, comparisons have been made between Kendrick Lamar and Tupac Shakur. Both MCs promote sensitivity, amidst surroundings and times where that is most certainly not the norm. Each poet is fiercely competitive, and not above throwing his weight around in the Rap community, albeit for... Read more

June 11, 2015 Video

Havoc Makes A Rumbling Beat Evoking Papoose & Troy Ave’s War Cries (Audio)

Every few years, Havoc switches it up on us. The Mobb Deep producer/MC's sound on the boards changed greatly from The Infamous to Infamy, and both ways, the M-O-B-B still had grime that wiped across the charts. Gearing up for Papoose's You Can't Stop Destiny (July 17), Hav' hits the... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

From Big Pun & Fat Joe’s Takeover To Miami Bass, The Latino Hip-Hop Legacy Is Examined (Audio)

The great Hip-Hop photographer and documentarian Joe Conzo, Jr. recently told Latino USA, "I'd go toe-to-toe with anybody that says Latinos weren't there in the beginning." Joe was dubbed as the photographer of "Hip-Hop's baby pictures" by The New York Times, which means he was there when it all started... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Slum Village’s YES! Completes The Circle With 9 J Dilla Productions (Album Stream)

One week early, Slum Village is sharing their eighth studio full-length, YES!. Founding S.V. member T3, along with trusted production confidant Young RJ (who came to the collective in the early 2000s with Black Milk as BR Gunna) made an album that follows the Villa's journey. Late co-founding member of... Read more

June 11, 2015 Audio

Run The Jewels Turn The Back Of A Taxi Cab Into A Stage (Video)

Taxis are held up for robbery often. But for once, Run The Jewels in a cab is a great thing. Killer Mike, El-P, and Boots are the latest in Black Cab Sessions. In a crammed taxi cab, the three artists perform "Early." One of the most pointed (and topical) songs... Read more

June 11, 2015 Video

Sheek Louch Takes a Mobb Deep Beat and Sets It On Fire (Audio)

As a collective, The LOX have had a lock on freestyles over the last couple of months. Styles P and Jadakiss kicked things off with their regular Friday drops but, as of late, Sheek Louch has been adding some real heat to the collection. In addition to taking on 90s... Read more

June 10, 2015 Audio

Shad Remains One Of Hip-Hop’s Best Kept Secrets, 10 Years Deep

Ten years ago today (June 10), Shadrach Kabango, more widely known as Shad, had a box delivered to his parent’s house in London, Ontario, Canada. As he recalled today via Facebook, the box contained the first CD pressings of his debut album, When This Is Over, which he would take... Read more

June 10, 2015 Food for Thought

Method Man Releases the First Visual From His New Album The Meth Lab (Video)

Last week, Method Man announced he was releasing a new album, The Meth Lab, and set the internet on fire. The album title leverages a clever reference to both the dopeness Meth cooks up in the studio, as well as a nod to Breaking Bad, one of his favorite television... Read more

June 10, 2015 Video

Yasiin Bey Makes A Clutch Appearance Alongside The Vibrant Golden Rules (Lyric Video)

Whether with De La Soul, High & Mighty, Gorillaz, or DJ Honda, Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) knows how to elevate tracks from a feature role. The Brooklyn, New York native plays guest on Golden Rules' "Never Die." The Lex Records-backed project from producer Paul White (Homeboy Sandman, Danny Brown,... Read more

June 10, 2015 Video

Skyzoo’s “Music For My Friends” Documentary Opens Up His Circle (Video)

Now fully independent, Skyzoo's EMPIRE-distributed Music For My Friends arrives in less than two weeks. The June 23 album through his own First Generation Rich (FGR) company includes appearances from Jadakiss, Black Thought, and Bilal, among others. However, beyond just collabos, artwork, or titles, there is some very deep meaning... Read more

June 10, 2015 Video

MC Ren Gets Ruthless About N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” Trailers

N.W.A. had four MCs: founder Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren. In the marketing materials for August 14's Straight Outta Compton biopic, Ren feels as though he is not getting proper billing. Specifically, Ren attacked some of the Universal Pictures trailers. The promotional artwork, however, featured Embossed Sticker... Read more

June 10, 2015 News, TV/Film

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Are In Vintage Form Over a Dusty Adrian Younge Track (Audio)

Ghostface Killah is hard at work on his third album in 12 months, fourth if his contributions on Wu-Tang Clan's A Better Tomorrow are counted. His latest project is the second installment of his acclaimed Twelve Reasons to Die series with artist and producer, Adrian Younge. Younge's reputation has grown... Read more

June 10, 2015 Audio

The End of an Era? Homer and Marge Simpson Are Separating.

From money problems, to troubled children, FOX's "The Simpsons" have been built on dealing with the problems facing many modern families. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Santa's Little Helper, and Snowball have been making it work for more than 500 episodes (574, if you're counting at home). However, one of... Read more

June 10, 2015 TV

Vic Mensa & Kanye West Make ‘Em Mad, But They Love It Though (Video)

Vic Mensa is hitting 2015's midpoint on a whole other level from where he started. The Save Money MC/vocalist went from Kids These Days to a Roc Nation solo deal in no easy steps. He made groundbreaking music, and Rap's elite took notice. While Jay Z inked Vic, Kanye West... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Usher Says Meeting and Being Around Biggie Made Him More Driven (Video)

While there are elements of Hip-Hop in Usher's music, in listening to the R&B superstar one might not guess that The Notorious B.I.G. was one of his biggest influences. However, in a recent interview with Montreality, he spoke at length about how meeting Biggie changed his life. When asked if... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Pete Rock Knows Dusty Loops, Hot Bars… & PLENTY About Comics (Video)

Pete Rock is "The Creator." However, the Mount Vernon, New York Hip-Hop legend is also a reader. In preparation for this month's Petestrumentals 2 project, Mello Music Group went shopping with the Chocolate Boy Wonder. The same master crate-digger that put Heads onto Tom Scott & The California Dreamers' "Today,"... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Rest In Peace Pumpkinhead, Friends & Collaborators Mourn

Veteran Brooklyn, New York MC Pumpkinhead (a/k/a PH) has been reported dead this morning (June 9). Friends and collaborators of the man born Robert Alan Diaz have begun to publicly mourn. Notably, Pumpkinhead appeared on acclaimed albums such as Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 2 albums, in addition to... Read more

June 9, 2015 News

Large Professor Details His Role in Bringing Nas to the World on In the Scrolls (Video)

Though Large Professor brought the world Main Source, his solo works and countless classic productions for others, his greatest contribution likely will always be considered his role in bringing Nas to the world. As Heads know, Large Pro was one of the first to put Nasir Jones on a high... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Lost Ones: How A Flood Destroyed Inspectah Deck’s RZA-Produced Solo Debut (Video)

Listen to Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Like, really listen hard. Then, listen to Wu-Tang Forever. All of it, both discs. Revisiting those 1990s Rap gems should not come as a menial task to many. However, the contents of those two Loud Records releases are rich soil for debate. Often... Read more

June 9, 2015 Food for Thought

Stro & Bishop Nehru Take Aim At All Those Exploiting Hip-Hop (Video)

Stro (f/k/a Astro) and Bishop Nehru are '90s babies, but they are clearly historians. "K.I.N.G. (Keeping Ignorant Niggas Glorified)" is a collaboration tasked with speaking on some of the pitfalls existing in the mid-2010s, especially for Black folks. Lyrically, the two New York natives attack status symbols like sneakers, exotic... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Common, Nicki Minaj and More Will Join Ice Cube in Barbershop 3 (Behind The Scenes Video)

Out of Ice Cube's many film franchises, Barbershop is one of the most beloved. The original film debuted in 2002, starring Anthony Anderson, Cedrick the Entertainer, Eve and more, along with Cube. The movie went on to gross $75 million in theaters and spawned a sequel in 2004, a Beauty... Read more

June 9, 2015 Video

Are We Overdue For That Lil Fame Solo Album? Hear This Freestyle (Audio)

For nearly five years, there has been talk of M.O.P. pausing to do solo albums by Billy Danze and Lil Fame. The problem? The Brownsvillians simply love mashing out, together. After a series of albums, EPs, and even a joint effort between Fame and Termanology, the MC/producer also known as... Read more

June 8, 2015 Audio

Action Bronson & Joey Bada$$ Celebrate Success While Staying True (Audio)

It was just 30 months ago that Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$ appeared on A$AP Rocky's "1 Train," a unified front of a new, nostalgic New York City Rap crop. In 2015, a lot's changed, but a lot hasn't. All three MCs have 2015 albums, all garnering a lot of... Read more

June 8, 2015 Audio

Drake Makes Waves Of His Own As The Face Of Apple’s New Music Service

Today (June 8), the forthcoming Apple Music is not starting from the bottom. The electronics giant announced at San Francisco, California's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that Apple Music is on its way—June 30 to be specific. Moreover, Hip-Hop superstar Drake was on hand for the affair. Wearing a vintage Apple... Read more

June 8, 2015 News

The Muppets Shimmy To Some Classic ODB. How Do You Like It? (Video)

ODB had a style that was otherworldly, sometimes cartoonish. Perhaps the Muppets can relate, even though neither entity was a true cartoon. Just days after Ghostface Killah honored his fallen Wu-Tang Clan swordsmen by covering some of the 1995 classics, YouTube user "isthishowyougoviral" is at it again with an O.D.B.... Read more

June 8, 2015 Video

This Large Professor Mix Celebrates The Explosiveness Of Rap’s Mad Scientist (Mix)

Tomorrow (June 9), Large Professor is releasing his fifth solo album, RE: Living Legend. The Queens, New York iconic MC/producer/DJ is more than 25 years deep in making monumental Hip-Hop albums. As a high school student, the Extra P studied under the late, great Paul C., various techniques of sampling,... Read more

June 8, 2015 Throwback

Ice Cube To Perform With MC Ren & DJ Yella For First Time Since 1989

The N.W.A. storyline is most certainly heating up with Summer. It has been more than 15 years since N.W.A. appeared to reunite care of The Next Friday soundtrack's "Chin Check" and Ice Cube's "Hello." However, while both Priority Records-backed songs were billed to media and fans as N.W.A. hallmarks, the... Read more

June 8, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar & Fabolous Shut Down Summer Jam 2015 (Video)

Much has been made of the unfortunate events that took place outside Met Life Stadium last night during Hot 97's 2015 Summer Jam, but inside, there was a raucous party led by Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Fabolous, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Chris Brown, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Mobb... Read more

June 8, 2015 Video

Summer Jam 2015: What the State Police Could Learn From Travis $cott About Crowd Control (Video)

Summer Jam 2015 took place today in East Rutherford, NJ. As has been the case for several years, the event was divided into two parts. The first consisted of a festival that was free to fans during the day. The lineup consisted of Joey Bada$$, B.o.B., Fetty Wap, Dej Loaf,... Read more

June 8, 2015 News

Here’s a Cypher Between Nas & De La Soul From 1996 (Audio)

Tim Westwood digs in his massive vault and pulls out a 1996 freestyle featuring Nas and De La Soul. In an 11-minute cypher amongst true MCs, they pass the mic, trading verses, all off the top. Notably, this is well after each artist was firmly established, with De La Soul... Read more

June 6, 2015 Throwback

Imagine You’re Bootlegging Tupac’s Music and He Rolls Up on You…Watch What Happens (Video)

Here's a look back at an unbelievable montage of personal footage of Tupac with his friends. The video starts with Pac freestyling as he walks the streets of New York. While doing so, he runs into a bootlegger who is selling his music. Without an ounce of hesitation, he confronts... Read more

June 6, 2015 Throwback

The Real War On Drugs. Two Men Are Taking On Cartels…And Winning (Video)

Arriving in theaters next month, the Sundance Award-winning documentary Cartel Land is the result of a partnership between Vice and the Orchard, a film and television distribution studio. Both entities are known for their global approach to film-making in an effort to provide audiences with intimate portrayals of life around... Read more

June 6, 2015 TV/Film

From Acid Jazz to House, Hiatus Kaiyote & DJ Spinna Are Breathing Underwater (Audio)

Much like Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai before them, Australia's Hiatus Kaiyote bring a special brand of Acid Jazz and Soul to the table. Under the guidance of label chief Salaam Remi (The Fugees, Nas, Amy Winehouse, Miguel, Usher), the group is quickly becoming an intercontinental sensation. In March, they... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Chris Rivers Earns Every Instrumental, From Big Pun To LOX (Audio)

When you're constantly compared against your father, you have to make it count. Chris Rivers has massive shoes to fill as Big Pun's son. So when the Bronx, New York heir to the family microphone takes his dad's instrumental, it's a sign of confidence. In a quick strike, that's just... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

De La Soul & Slum Village Make Magic Together On A J Dilla Beat (Audio)

While Slum Village was never in the Native Tongues crew, they most certainly were an extension of it. More than 600 miles from New York City, Detroit, Michigan's breakthrough Hip-Hop crew made soulful, sample-savvy music combined with lyrics about buggin' out, keepin' the faith, and strobe light honeys. In the... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Villains Unite As MF DOOM & CZARFACE Wreak Havoc On A Beat (Audio)

Two of Hip-Hop's comic-inspired bad boys are MF DOOM and CZARFACE. To be clear, CZARFACE is in fact a trio of Esoteric, Inspectah Deck, and DJ 7L, who together form a force that would love to shoot a fair one with Voltron. From the Bronx-to-Boston crew's sophomore album, Every Hero... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Here’s a VIDEO Mix of 90s Gems For True Lovers of Hip-Hop (Video)

DJ E Double D does it again. The UK-based DJ/VJ has put together an amazing blend of Hip-Hop videos. This is a full-on visual mixtape, complete with cutting, scratching, beat juggling and, above all, some incredible music. He balances classic staples and deep album cuts by De La Soul, Mobb... Read more

June 5, 2015 Throwback

Keeping It Real: How A Facebook Policy Is Changing The Name Of The Game

In recent months, viral campaigns have addressed Facebook's crackdown on users posting on the site under false names, most of which are monikers or stage names. Facebook's policies can have a far-reaching effect, particularly for those who use social media as not only a means of communication, but also self-expression. According... Read more

June 5, 2015 Lifestyle

Styles P’s Fierce Flow & J Dilla’s Soultastic Beat Make A Musical Marriage (Audio)

In life, Styles P and J Dilla never got to work together. Presumably, the men respected each others' work. Both artists enjoyed big trucks, all-natural mind elevation, and making that knock amidst music that makes you feel weightless. In his weekly series, S.P. The Ghost has been going for some... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Troy Ave May Be Without A Deal, But His LP Feels Major (Album Stream)

For several calendars, Brooklyn, New York's Troy Ave has been steadily climbing the rungs, garnering a considerable amount of buzz. With more than a dozen mixtapes under his belt, the outspoken rapper has been putting in some serious work, work that has been noticed by some of Hip-Hop's biggest names. His... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Troy Ave, Jadakiss & Fabolous Talk Like Bosses Over A Catchy Loop (Audio)

Troy Ave's presentation is an extension of the New York City Rap he personally misses. The late '90s-early 2000s reign returns to Troy's ambitious records, mirrored greatly in the image, technique, and subject matter of MCs like 50 Cent, Fabolous, and Jadakiss. Having worked with all aforementioned rappers, Fab' and... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

DJ QBert Massacres A Stack Of ’60s & ’70s Rare Groove Breaks (Mix)

DJ QBert is still on one. The longtime title-winning DJ follows up his April Hard Boiled Scrambled mix with a part two (joined by "DJ Rockit Rooster"). The Invizibl Skratch Piklz co-founder stays in the Rare Groove format, but seems to step a bit more into the '70s/formative Hip-Hop sound.... Read more

June 5, 2015 Audio

Method Man Releases His Second Song in a Week. Summertime is Heating Up (Audio)

Earlier this week, Method Man announced a release date for The Meth Lab, his first solo album in 9 years. Using an animated trailer that spoofed the series Breaking Bad to reveal the news, Meth quickly followed up the video with the release of the LP's title track. Now, he's... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio

Travel Back To A Funkmaster Flex Playlist With ONYX, Redman & Kool G Rap (Mix)

Even before he was dropping bombs, Funkmaster Flex was explosive to airwaves. On May 7, 1993 the DJ assisted the newly-launched HOT 97 set the weekends off proper. The Bronx, New York mixmaster began an 11pm-2am "Friday Night Street Jam" show on 97.1 FM, bringing the energy of the streets... Read more

June 4, 2015 Throwback

One Week Later, Ea$y Money Is Still The Motive (Audio)

Bars come easy for Ea$y Money as the Show Off recording artist unloads a brand new single just one week removed from the release of his album, The Motive Of Nearly Everybody, Yo. The aptly-titled "One Week Later" conjures a looming Boom-Bap production from Billy Loman, allowing the Haverhill MC... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Rapper Big Pooh Shows 1 of the Scariest Things in Life for Black Men…Being Pulled Over By the Police (Video)

For decades, Hip-Hop has played a pivotal role as a voice for the people and especially so during tough, critical moments in United States history. Most recently, that role has come to the forefront due to consistent acts of police brutality and violence against, most specifically, young black men. That... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Organized Noize Define “Soul,” Recall Moving From Sampling To Instrumentation (Audio)

In the same week that host Frannie Kelley interviewed her co-host Ali Shaheed Muhammad, NPR Microphone Check sat down with Atlanta, Georgia production trio Organized Noize. Interviewed before a live New York City audience, the moment included appearances from Big Rube, Big Boi, and other members of the Dungeon Family.... Read more

June 4, 2015 Audio