AFH Ambrosia for Heads

News

Kendrick Lamar Performs These Walls For the First Time on Television (Video)

Kendrick Lamar's song "These Walls" is one of the most complex in the dense stew that is To Pimp a Butterfly. The track, which features Anna Wise and Bilal, is as much Neo Soul as it is Hip-Hop, laced with lush instrumentation from Thundercat's bass, Terrace Martin's saxophone and keys... Read more

Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD Perform 2 Ol’ Dirty Bastard Classics (Video)

For well over a decade, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Ghostface Killah were comrades. Beyond their Wu-Tang Clan bond, these men worked together. G.F.K. was among the guests on 1995's Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. That said, who better than to honor the late MC today? Alongside band... Read more

As Fabolous Snatches Throwbacks, Capone-N-Noreaga Resuscitate “Breathe” (Audio)

Fabolous and Jadakiss (as well as Papoose, Tony Yayo, and others) have been freestyling within the confines of 1990s New York Hip-Hop hit instrumentals (often recreating the original songs). All of those mentioned names were around in the decade, either making noise on a grand level, or getting their names... Read more

RZA To Direct Film “Coco,” Starring Common & Jill Scott

In the Fall of 1991, RZA (as Prince Rakeem) had a Tommy Boy Records EP, Ooh, I Love You Rakeem, which would prove to be a jumping off point for the Wu-Tang Clan. That same season, a Chicago, Illinois MC named Common Sense appeared in the October, 1991 "Unsigned Hype"... Read more

A$AP Rocky’s New Album is Full of Surprises…Including Mos Def (Audio)

A$AP Rocky's new album, AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, has been surprising on a number of levels. For starters, Rocky surprised fans with an early release of the LP, moving it from June 2 to May 26, after it was leaked. Beyond that, however, the project finds the A$AP Mob leader exploring several unexpected... Read more

Jedi Mind Tricks & Eamon Call Out The Frauds In Their Lives (Video)

Vinnie Paz and Stoupe The Enemy Of Mankind have come together to craft a new Jedi Mind Tricks album, The Thief And The Fallen, set to hit stores on June 2, 2015, on Enemy Soil. They've released a music video for a new single off the album called "Fraudulent Cloth,"... Read more

Pete Rock Fires Up One Of His Finest Verses Of Late Alongside Canibus (Audio)

Pete Rock is ageless. For almost 25 years, the Mount Vernon, New Yorker has been a master at DJ'ing, production, and MC'ing. While many greats of that span can rest on their laurels and celebrate their past glory, the mighty P.R. has always innovated and pushed forward. In 2015, Pete... Read more

Pharoahe Monch, Murs & Fashawn Assist J57 In Supplying Sample-Free Dope (EP Stream)

After releasing them over the course of the year, Brooklyn, New York-based J57 has culminated his series of official sample-free remixes into one conveniently packaged EP. The producer/MC re-designed four tracks, each with an original arrangement that includes a fresh beat and original vocals in the place of what were... Read more

Jesse Boykins III Shares His Own Wonder Years In The Form Of Polaroids (Video)

Jesse Boykins III has released the video for his single "The Wonder Years," off of his 2014 LP Love Apparatus. Boykins, a Bilal protege, has stayed consistent through putting his own spin on popular songs, like Drake and Jhene Aiko's "From Time." This visual is compilations of images of Jesse's recent... Read more

Pharrell May Have Another One Courtesy Of The Ever-Funky OverDoz (Audio)

OverDoz. is a name to write down right now. The Los Angeles, California quartet of Creamie, Kent Jamz, Joon, and P have worked with Terrace Martin, A$AP Ferg, and now Pharrell. Whether the wavy viral vibes of "Lauren London" or the oddball didactic rapping of "Killer Tofu," the crew shows... Read more

The Weeknd Uses Wrecks & Explosions To Symbolize A Twisted Love (Video)

The Weeknd's "The Hills" describes a love (or maybe just a lust) that's sincere, but enhanced by intoxication. He only calls when he's messed up, but that's the real him. For the visual, Abel and a female companion escape a flipped '80s Lincoln Towncar, to walk away alive, barely. Dim... Read more

After 30 Years, DMC & DJ Premier Are Finally Working Together (Audio)

After several years of focusing on comics and other passions, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels has been making plans for a comeback to the Rap world. In the next installment of his appearance on Tim Einenkel's On The Library podcast, D talks about his current music projects.  The Run-DMC member begins this... Read more

The Weeknd Releases a Full Blown Funk Jam With Max Martin (Audio)

The last few years have brought a resurgence in 70s Soul and Disco, from the good vibes of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," featuring Mr. Disco, himself, Nile Rogers, to Robin Thicke's Marvin Gaye-influenced "Blurred Lines." However, the last few months have spawned several hits influenced by 80s R&B, Dancehall and... Read more

Mick Jenkins Puts on a Lyrical Display Reserved for a Rarefied Few (Video)

Mick Jenkins is well aware of Rap concept cliche. The Chicago, Illinois MC says he was out to reach new ground in "P's & Q's." Knowing that Nas famously rewound a story with suspense, and Jay Z rigorously rocked repetition, he wanted to stand apart. Big on literary devices, the... Read more

Rapsody, Stacy Epps & Boog Brown Prove Diamond D Beats Are A Woman’s Best Friend (Video)

"Pump Ya Brakes" is another standout from Diamond D's 2014 album, The Diam Piece. On an upbeat composition, the Diggin' In The Crates producer/MC aligns Rapsody, Stacy Epps, and Boog Brown for a lyrical exhibition from some of the nicest in the game. North Carolina to Atlanta to New York... Read more

Marco Polo Outdoes Himself On The Reverberating Remix To PRhyme’s Courtesy (Audio)

In four decades, DJ Premier has been remixing tracks. Whether Showbiz & A.G.'s "Next Level," Fat Joe's "Success," or Craig David's "7 Days," some of those very mixes have arguably eclipsed their originals. That said, it's a big deal to remix Premier's handiwork, and few producers would dare. Marco Polo,... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & Ty Dolla $ign Show Some Dramatic California Love (Audio)

UPDATE: While the May 26, 2015 demo version of Ty Dolla $ign's "L.A." was pulled from the Internet, it now reappears in November. Presently tagged by Big Boy's Neighborhood (and posted below), the upcoming audio is expected to follow. If you were to take the musings behind Tupac and Val... Read more

Finding The GOAT (The Final Battle): Eminem vs. Tupac…Who You Got?

The championship round of "Finding The GOAT" has arrived. After eight months, 200-plus MCs, and plenty of down-to-the-wire races, the two finalists meet at last. Both Eminem and Tupac have been undefeated in "Finding The GOAT." For Tupac, twice those triumphs came down to a single percent. For Em', those... Read more

Pete Rock’s Heaven & Earth Petestrumental Lives Up To Its Name (Audio)

Pete Rock's Petestrumentals 2 (June 23) is less than one month away. The Chocolate Boy Wonder unleashes another gem, "Heaven & Earth" from the Mello Music Group release. With a strong homage to David Axelrod (if you can call it that), the song is set off with some philosophy, and... Read more

DJ Evil Dee Makes A House Birthday Mix For Himself That All Can Celebrate (Mix)

DJ Evil Dee had a birthday recently (May 24). The Bushwick, Brooklyn co-founder of Black Moon and Da Beatminerz celebrated in style. The veteran DJ/producer fired up the Technics 1200s, and pulled out some dance-friendly crates of records for his two-hour "Church" mix-show. The "birthday edition" features the producer for... Read more

Chris Rivers & Denzil Porter Hold A Lyrical Stick-Up, So Run Your Bars (Video)

It's prime season for "Lootchini." Chris Rivers and Denzil Porter took their Camp Lo-borrowing update, and produce a visual. Perhaps a small nod to Point Break, the pair of lethal MCs flaunt presidential masks as they hold a heist for the dead presidents, at a city building. They take their... Read more

Dizzy Wright, Big K.R.I.T., & Tech N9ne Honor Memorial Day With A Deep Message (Audio)

Dizzy Wright, Big K.R.I.T., and Tech N9ne all love a good party record. These three MCs are masters at bringing the vibes of a strip club, a house party, or a festival to a track, with commanding energy. However, part of the reason all three artists are in an elite... Read more

Easy Mo Bee Brought Us Biggie, GZA, & Craig Mack. So Meet Emskee (Audio)

In terms of talented producers with ears for development, Brooklyn, New York's Easy Mo Bee is one of the best. The DJ/producer helped cultivate the careers of The Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, and GZA. Additionally, Mo Bee worked extensively with Tupac during the mid-1990s, in addition to critical work with... Read more

Your Old Droog Raps and Scats on a Heavy Jazz Beat (Audio)

For those that miss lunchroom insults, playin' the dozens, and cappin' on loved ones, Your Old Droog is a welcomed throwback. The Brooklyn, New York MC is so irreverent, so cutting, and so witty (to those in-the-know) that he revives those pastime traditions. "Senseless Killin' II" is Droog just going... Read more

Spice 1 & MC Eiht Form a North/South West Coast Connection on a New Track (Audio)

"It's all good, from Diego to the Bay," rapped Dr. Dre famously on Tupac's "California Love." Nineteen years later, Oakland's Spice 1 and Compton's MC Eiht continue to make good on that promise. The two have linked on 1Mt's "Kill or B Killed," forming a West Coast connection that stretches... Read more

Grandmaster Melle Mel Has An Unpleasant Message For Grandmaster Flash

Thirty-three years ago, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 made one of Hip-Hop's seminal singles, "The Message." In 2015, two of the Furious 5's MCs, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio, have a message for Flash: pay up. “No matter what happens, if you say ‘Grandmaster Flash,’ you think of ‘Grandmaster... Read more

A Dr. Dre & Kendrick Lamar Collaboration Surfaces With D-R-E Spittin’ Like It’s 1999 (Audio)

Leave it to a drowsy holiday weekend for some unheard Dr. Dre to rattle the Internet. From the depths of Reddit emerges an unheard Dre and Kendrick Lamar collaboration, with vocal assistance by Jeremih. "2Nite" is some sensuous Dre, presumably no relation to the music he's hinted at making for... Read more

This Heavy D Performance Was In A Vault For 30 Years…Until Now (Video)

Today (May 24) is Heavy D's birthday. The MC/producer/singer born Dwight Myers would have been 48 years old. Sadly, family, friends, and Hip-Hop Heads worldwide lost "the overweight lover" on November 8, 2011 to a pulmonary embolism. Just one month prior to his death, Hev' reunited with Heavy D &... Read more

Common’s Be Turns 10 Years Old Today. Is It The Definitive Comeback Album?

One decade ago today (May 24, 2005), Common released his sixth album, Be. Although Common was then already a Grammy Award-winning, gold-certified MC, he was in an odd place. Comm' Sense was 11 years removed from his brilliant grassroots Hip-Hop commentary sophomore, Resurrection. The Chicago, Illinois MC was also five... Read more

Here’s a Feel Good 90s Hip-Hop and R&B Mix to Kick Off the Summer (Audio)

As the warm rays of the Summer sun start to shine through, soak up the good vibes of this 90s Hip-Hop and R&B mix put together by DJ Rumor. You'll hear music from Groove Theory, SWV, Aaliyah, Missy, Hi-Five, TLC, The LOX, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, Michael Jackson,... Read more

Black Milk, Daz & Do Or Die All Featured On An Electro-Hip-Hop LP (Album Stream)

On his new album Fundamentals, Onra craftily fuses French Electronica with mellow vibrations spawning from his love for ’90s Hip-Hop and R&B. The Franco-Persian producer merits the exclusive use of an Akai MPC in creating a sound that salutes the retro while fostering the futuristic. During a recent interview, he... Read more

Chance The Rapper Makes Some Lazy Afternoon Soul-Infused Rap (Audio)

Effortless is how Chance The Rapper's music often sounds—and that's a compliment. The Chicago, Illinois MC/singer has an ability to make songs-about-nothing stand tall as art. Moreover, the structure, attitude, and presentation never seems to take itself very seriously. C.T.R. releases "Hiatus Broadcast," which is pure Jazz. Chance flexes his... Read more

At 15 Years Old, Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP Still May Reign Supreme

The problem with an incredible work is often following it up. In Hip-Hop, for every Doggystyle, there's a Doggfather, for every Black Album, there's a Kingdom Come, and for every Stankonia, there's well,...wonder. Although he had been plugging away in Hip-Hop starting in the mid-1990s, Eminem skyrocketed to fame in... Read more

Finding the GOAT: Here’s a Look at When the Musical Worlds of Tupac and Eminem Collided (Video)

For those paying attention, this past week was suspenseful. Ambrosia For Heads' eight-month undertaking "Finding The GOAT" has reached its championship contenders. Tupac and Eminem are squaring off. Less than a percent separated Rakim from taking 'Pac's place, but in a heated ballot-box blowout, the All Eyez On Me superstar... Read more

Canibus’ Career Is Mysterious. So Let Him Tell All In “Audiobiography” (Audio)

It's been almost two decades since rapper Canibus arrived on the scene with his 1998 debut, Can-I-Bus. After quite a few label changes, controversial songs and interviews, and changes in direction, the Jamaican-American emcee has released an album with Wu-Tang affiliate Bronze Nazareth called Time Flys, Life Dies... Phoenix Rise.   With... Read more

Fabolous & DJ Clue Compile Friday Freestyles With Plenty Of Bonus Songs (Mixtape)

In the last five years, few high-profile MCs have used the free-mixtape format as effectively as Fabolous. He's gone retail too, but the Brooklyn, New York star is gifted in assembling material aimed at his core fans, in between his mainstream-tinged albums and features. Never one to shy away from... Read more

A$AP Rocky & ScHoolboy Q Revive Their Chemistry With Danger Mouse’s Help (Audio)

A$AP Rocky and ScHoolboy Q have been in cahoots since the days before either had major label backing. In 2015, both men are among Rap's elite, complete with plaques, national TV appearances, and out of genre feature work. From At.Long.Last.A$AP (June 2), the tandem reunites. "Electric Body" focuses on a... Read more

Stream More Than 6 Hours Of DJ Premier’s Mid-’90s Radio Show (Mix)

Between Gang Starr's 1994 album Hard To Earn and 1998's Moment Of Truth, Guru and DJ Premier still stayed incredibly busy. Together, the band-mates would produce enduring albums by proteges Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, and Bahamadia. Guru would release a second volume of Jazzmatazz, while Preemo would provide iconic... Read more

Jadakiss & Rick Ross Are Lyrical Champions In The Same Conference (Audio)

Jadakiss and Rick Ross have a strong catalog of collaborative works. Jada' calls upon Mastermind for his usual Friday firing of the bars. "Eastern Conference" reworks some literal stadium-music for the two Def Jam Records mainstays to spotlight their figurative jerseys in the rafters. The message is topical, as the... Read more

Finding The GOAT: The Match That Had to Happen – Big Daddy Kane vs. Rakim

The votes have been cast and the decision has been made. Eminem and Tupac will face off against one another in the final battle of the Finding the GOAT competition to name Hip-Hop's greatest MC (as determined by you). Since the elimination, bracket-style tournament was launched in September of 2014,... Read more

It’s The Roc In Here. Beanie Sigel & Freeway Discuss Reuniting With Jay Z (Video)

Jay Z conducted two high profile B-Sides concerts for his new Tidal music service last weekend (5/15 & 5/16). While Jay pulled out his bag of tricks, including a diss of competitors like YouTube and Spotify, the event that reverberated the most was his reunion with State Property members, Beanie... Read more

Troy Ave Releases a New Banger With 50 Cent (Audio)

While artists like Joey Bada$$ and Action Bronson brought back a New York Rap sound akin to 90s acts like Buckshot and Ghostface Killah, Troy Ave drew his influences from artists who debuted a few years later, like Mase and 50 Cent. And, since he burst onto the scene a... Read more

George Clinton Considers Rakim & Eminem GOATs, Praises Kendrick Lamar (Video)

Along with James Brown and Sly Stone, George Clinton revolutionized R&B, twisting Soul music into pure Funk. He became the mastermind behind Parliament, as well as companion band, Funkadelic. Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic have ignited the party in six decades, spawning three platinum releases. He expanded the boundaries of his music,... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & Lady Gaga’s Shelved good kid, m.A.A.d. city Moment Surfaces (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga are more than simply label-mates. Yes, each artist are among the flagship, platinum, and award-winning acts within the Interscope Records family. But moreover, the Pop chameleon and King Kunta are collaborators. In fact, before Imagine Dragons, Alicia Keys, Dido, or even 50 Cent was clamoring... Read more

Daz Speaks on Suge Knight Causing His Beef With Kurupt and How It Was Resolved (Video)

In the early to mid-90s, Death Row Records put together a string of releases enviable to this day by most record labels. From The Chronic to All Eyez on Me, seemingly everything released by the company was a success. One such album was Tha Dogg Pound's 1995 debut LP, Dogg... Read more

Even Ghostface Killah Thinks Action Bronson Sounds Like Him…But He’s Not Mad (Video)

Though the chatter has subsided as of late, for years fans commented on the striking similarity of Action Bronson's voice to that of Ghostface Killah. While Bronson has clearly established his image now, he was often criticized for seemingly drawing from Ghost's tone and cadence. As the world witnessed again... Read more

Hear Rakim Rarities, Pete Rock Freestyles From 1996 Future Flavors Set (Mix)

Just like in the late 1980s, Marley Marl and Pete Rock transmitted dopeness into radio waves in much of the 1990s. The Juice Crew founder and The Chocolate Boy Wonder brought their ear for excellence and supreme Rap mixing skills to airwaves for the HOT 97 Future Flavors radio show.... Read more

Do Remember: The Whassup Ad Campaign Was the Hip-Hop Nation’s Greeting to the World

The Sunday (May 17) series finale of "Mad Men" has many thinking about the powers of advertising and messaging. In the early days of its existence, Hip-Hop often was used as a punchline in commercials. Actors would be shown lampooning Rap, beatboxing and other aspects of the culture. In the... Read more

Prodigy & Rick Gonzalez Make That Rugged & Raw Relationship Rap (Audio)

As an actor, Rick Gonzalez can play many parts. As an MC, the artist formerly known as Realm Reality can do the same. Teaming with mentor Prodigy and producer Statik Selektah, "Love & Money" moves Rick's traditionally-aggressive pastiche over to something softer, intimate and reflective. Aimed at relationships, this moment... Read more

Just 2 Hours & 1 Percent May Decide Who Goes To The GOAT Championship: Tupac Or Rakim

Tonight may be the most critical moment in "Finding The GOAT" to date. In the second of two Final 4 match-ups, Tupac Shakur and Rakim have see-sawed since the battle began Monday (May 18). The debate, running strong on Facebook, has bled onto Twitter, and certainly has occurred offline to... Read more