News Archives

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Tupac vs. Scarface…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 17, 2015 Throwback

Redman, Talib Kweli & Wrekonize Celebrate a Night In Paradise (Video)

One of the strongest moments from DJ EFN's amazing Another Time album, is "Paradise." The moment links Redman, Talib Kweli, and ¡Mayday!'s Wrekonize. All three MCs are known for big body bars, but the record notably takes aim at the nightlife and club crowd, with a surprising smoothness. In the... Read more

April 17, 2015 Video

Jadakiss Takes Jay Z’s Beat and Gets Far From Jiggy With It (Audio)

In the 2010s, Heads may not realize it, but Jadakiss has released some of the coldest music that still carries the Roc-A-Fella Records logo on the back. That said, 'Kiss takes an In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 standout moment from Jay Z and makes it his own. "Where I'm From,"... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio

Gang Starr’s Guru Lives In Spirit. Watch His New Music Video (Premiere)

This weekend (April 19) marks five years since the tragic passing of Keith "Guru" Elam. A founding member of Gang Starr, Guru is a Boston, Massachusetts-born MC known for his street-smart rhymes, raspy voice, and 20-plus-year quest to stylishly merge Hip-Hop with Jazz. In honor of Guru and the sad... Read more

April 17, 2015 Exclusive, Video

Just Blaze Re-Examines The Musical Magic In Michael Jackson’s Human Nature (Audio)

2015 has seen Just Blaze shake things up with some instrumentals. The New Jersey producer/DJ really became a go-to sound source for flipping, altering, and reinvigorating certain samples, especially in his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records. Keeping things in the Def Jam building, Just recently laced Ludacris with a Ludaversal closer... Read more

April 17, 2015 Audio, The Bridge

Tyler, The Creator Breaks Down His Inspirations & Talks New Album (Video)

After releasing his new album, Cherry Bomb earlier this week, Tyler, The Creator stopped by the Tavis Smiley show to chop it up. Before even beginning the interview, Tyler tells Tavis about the first time he watched the show, which had R. Kelly and Pharrell Williams talking about N*E*R*D's In... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

Do Remember: Fu-Schnickens’ Breakdown (Video)

The music industry is filled with plenty of curiosities. One lesser profiled head-scratcher is the fact that the Fu-Schnickens released only two albums, and yet the East Flatbush, Brooklyn trio had a Greatest Hits just four years into a short-lived career. Even more curious, the crew disbanded just after their... Read more

April 16, 2015 Throwback

Tech N9ne Opens Up About Mother’s Passing, Confirms Latest Eminem Collabo (Video)

Tech N9ne is gearing up to release his 15th album, Special Effects on May 4, 2015. To promote the album, he stopped by Sway In The Morning to give some details behind it, including guest appearances and the content in the music. They start the interview off by talking about... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

Chill Moody Takes A Guns N’ Roses Ballad & Makes It Hip-Hop (Audio)

Chill Moody is an up and coming rapper from West Philadelphia with a raw sound, and riveting lyrics. The "Nice Things movement" MC prides himself is being one of the top emerging lyricists in the City Of Brotherly Love, and he goes for the gusto with "November Funk." The beat... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Mos Def vs. MF DOOM…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 16, 2015 Fresh

SPOTLIGHT: DAP The Contract Plays With Genre & Defies Expectations (Audio / Video)

Often times, for as colorful and diverse as Hip-Hop music may appear, there is a constant cry for more originality. There are storytellers, social activists, party-starters, and technically-savvy lyricists, but the genre arguably misses the eclecticism and diversity among the new class, at least at a certain skill level. A... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio, Food for Thought, Fresh, Video

Styles P Fires Up A Dr. Dre Chronic-Era Instrumental For A Freestyle (Audio)

Styles P's rapping rampage continues. A day earlier than usual, Holiday Styles attacks Dr. Dre's "Puffin' On Blunts & Drankin' Tanqueray" instrumental from The Chronic-era B-side, and puts in work like he was stranded on Death Row. This 1992 excursion known as "Ghost Blunts" is the farthest back Ghost has... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

Sean Price Shows True Grit In His Latest Freestyle (Audio)

Sean Price releases a track where he collaborates (again) with the veteran DJ PF Cuttin (Blahzay Blahzay) in his latest freestyle, "Garbanzo Beans." Another name for "chickpeas" Sean P pummels his bars, making hummus out of this one. The Brooklyn MC definitely demonstrates his strength and prowess lyrically on the... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

Jay Z Releases Visual To One Of His Most Personal Songs In Years (Video)

Jay Z has been making headlines recently through his new business venture with Tidal. In support of the new music streaming business, he released a music video for the song "Glory," reminding us that he is an artist and a father first and foremost. Before Common & John Legend were... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

TIME Names Kanye West 1 of the 100 Most Influential People. Hate Him or Love Him, It’s True (Video)

Kanye West has come a long way from lobbying Dame Dash and Jay Z for a record deal as an artist. Since his debut album, The College Dropout, in 2004, he has re-shaped the sound of Hip-Hop, and all music, time and time again. Not one to settle, West has... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

Raekwon Performs a New Song on Revolt Live (Video)

Raekwon kept busy last year with his Throwback Thursday Freestyle series and the A Better Tomorrow album with Wu-Tang Clan. It's been four years, however, since the Chef released a solo studio album. All that will change later this month when Rae releases F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art). Raekwon stopped... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

Your Old Droog’s Stream Of Consciousness Flows So Smoothly (Audio)

Your Old Droog has the gift of gab, whereby the Brooklyn, New York MC thrives without track structure. Linking up with close affiliate DJ Skizz, Droog takes a simple-but-highly-effective loop on "Hidden Persuaders," and gets busy talking about his rhyme skills, T-Ray (Lord Finesse, Cypress Hill, MC Serch) and Alchemist... Read more

April 16, 2015 Audio

The Full Version of Kanye West’s All Day Remix Featuring Kendrick Lamar Is Here (Audio)

Snippets have leaked of Kendrick Lamar's verse from a remix of Kanye West's "All Day" single, and now the full version of the song has been released. The remix starts off like the original song, with Kanye West spitting the first verse, but then K-Dot replaces Theophilus London on the... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Yelawolf & Eminem Bring Great Vengeance & Furious Anger To Verse (Lyric Video)

The biggest song of this week—at least evident by the AFH readership—has been Yelawolf & Eminem's "Best Friend." At the intersection of high concept and skillful rapping, the Love Story (April 21) single plays like a prayer—but not of the traditional form. Instead, both of these childhood outcasts ask the... Read more

April 15, 2015 Video

From “Diary” To Memoir…Read Scarface’s Excerpt On Teenage Suicide Attempts

Scarface has been incredibly vocal about his battles with depression. In fact, the Houston, Texas MC's biggest hit, Geto Boys' "Mind Playin' Tricks On Me" alludes to Brad Jordan's paranoia, and mental struggles. Next week, Scarface is releasing his memoir, Diary Of A Madman: The Geto Boys, Life, Death, and... Read more

April 15, 2015 Food for Thought

Blueprint Gives a Heartfelt Tribute to Eyedea (Video)

Blueprint is gearing up to release his fourth studio album, King No Crown on April 28 through Weightless Recordings. As a single off the album, he released a music video for the song "Great Eyedeas Never Die", a tribute to the late Eyedea who had passed away in 2010. Eyedea... Read more

April 15, 2015 Video

Oddisee Is Out To Break The Mold In Every Way Possible (Audio)

At a time when bragging is really in vogue for a lot of artists, Oddisee refrains. Leading up to The Good Fight (May 5), the Diamond District co-founder uses "Belong To The World" to look within, and reflect on how being different is not only refreshing, but largely responsible for... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): LL Cool J vs. Redman…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 15, 2015 Throwback

Chicago Hip-Hop Heads Rejoice…Twista & Do Or Die Team Up For EP

For nearly 20 years, Twista and Do Or Die have worked together. Two icons of Chicago, Illinois music (Rap music, to be specific), these artists have helped define the framework now used and upheld by Kanye West, Chance The Rapper, and Sir Michael Rocks. After appearances together on major releases... Read more

April 15, 2015 News

Spit Gemz & Kool G Rap Host A Wordplay Clinic In Latest Collab (Audio)

Spit Gemz is one of Hip Hop's rising rugged Rap voices. In his track “Legacy," he teams up with veteran supreme lyricist Kool G Rap to deliver some of that classic New York under-belly flavor. The two MCs both represent Queens, but it's not the only thing they have in... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Large Professor Is So Consistent For Pensive Lyrics & Thick Tracks (Audio)

While Large Professor is forever associated with dope beats, the Flushing, Queens producer first gained mainstream recognition as a phenomenal MC. Although Large Pro's cadence and rhyme style is forever stuck to the streets, his themes and verses are colorful musings about his life and the world around him. In... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

stic.man & Last Poets’ Umar Bin Hassan Bring Rap Back To Its Roots (Audio)

Last Poets legend (and MC pioneer) Umar Bin Hassan shares a canvas with Rap renegade stic.man of dead prez. The two oft-outspoken wordsmiths paint a vivid picture of the moral atrocities happening in America's shadows. In their song “Are We Trapped," the two touch on a number of our society’s... Read more

April 15, 2015 Audio

Diamond D Reveals He Was With Tupac the Night He Shot Two Cops; Recaps His Entire Career

The Combat Jack Show, fresh off of a groundbreaking interview with DJ Kool Herc, stays in the Bronx, New York mind-state, to interview Diamond D. Traditionally, the Diggin' In The Crates co-founder, onetime pupil to DJ Jazzy Jay, and mentor to Fat Joe is not that chatty. However, just like... Read more

April 14, 2015 Throwback

Project Pat Releases Sequel To Mista Don’t Play Album, 14 Years Later

Memphis, Tennessee veteran MC Project Pat's best selling album is 2001's Mista Don't Play: Everythangs Workin'. A platinum effort, the Hypnotized Minds/Loud/Universal Records effort thrived amidst a Three 6 Mafia mainstream breakthrough. Produced by Three 6's Juicy J and DJ Paul, the album, thanks in large part to "Chickenhead" would... Read more

April 14, 2015 News

Astro Shortens His Name But Keeps Pushing Forward Lyrically (Audio)

As he's gone from a boy to a man, The Astronomical Kid has shortened his name to Astro and now Stro. No matter the moniker, since his seventh place finish on the first season of the U.S. version of X Factor, he has remained one of Hip-Hop's most promising voices.... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Inspectah Deck & DJ Revolution Release A Ghostly Visual (Video)

Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck released a video for his single "These Broken Wings." With cuts brought to you by legendary turntablist (and Wake Up Show alum) DJ Revolution, the Rebel INS flows conceptually on this eerie track about the trials and tribulations of a woman in a "broken" relationship... Read more

April 14, 2015 Video

Murs Serves Up Some Protest Music in His Powerful Visual for No More Control (Video)

Over the years, Murs has been unafraid to travel down paths many MCs would not go. Whether it's pursuing his love of graphic novels or taking a hard and unflinching look at intolerance of same sex love, Strange Music's latest addition to the roster does not back away. Last month,... Read more

April 14, 2015 Video

Ever Hear This Rare Mos Def & Talib Kweli Freestyle? (Audio)

One of the most disappointing moments in Hip-Hop relates not to something that happened, but rather something that didn't. After releasing the nearly universally acclaimed album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) and Talib never united again for a follow up. At the... Read more

April 14, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Busta Rhymes vs. Ludacris…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH's bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 14, 2015 Fresh

Illa J Releases An Anthem For The Late Night Listeners (Audio)

Slum Village/Yancey Boys alum Illa J released a single, "Strippers." The Detroit, Michigan native (and California transplant) crafts a song about what the title implies...and it is a catchy tune that is sure to generate some buzz in and out of the cabaret club. The production is handled by Potatohead... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Do Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Have Another Hit? Leave It To The Pros (Audio)

Snoop Dogg is the comeback master. Whether his albums are experimental or returns to early form, Tha Doggfather is able to always please enough masses in certain moments to reclaim the high-ranking post he's had in Hip-Hop and music for more than 23 years. BUSH (May 12) follows what may... Read more

April 14, 2015 Audio

Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late CD Bonus Sounds As If It Belongs (Audio)

Bonus songs are a tricky concept anymore. Firstly, should they be considered or not? In the case of Kurupt's "Callin' Out Names," the angsty outbreak on Rap peers was a defining point to 1999's Streetz Iz A Mutha. 2Pac's "Pain," which was only available on early Above The Rim soundtrack... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Charles Hamilton Pays Tribute to the Civil Rights Movement in His Latest Visual (Video)

As part of his comeback, Charles Hamilton has been making a good amount of press from his interviews and blazing freestyles, and by recently releasing his entire discography for free to the public. The Harlem, New York MC just released a video for his single "New York Raining," featuring Roc... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

DJ Kool Herc OPENS UP & His Top 5 MCs & DJs Will ASTONISH You (Audio)

DJ Kool Herc interviews, especially with much depth and room for conversation are a scarcity. It is astounding how Hip-Hop music's credited founder lives in the Bronx, New York today, with relatively low profile. The Kingston, Jamaica native known as Clive Campbell is not a public figure, despite his groundbreaking... Read more

April 13, 2015 Throwback

Alchemist & Oh No Bring Grand Theft Audio To Los Santos (Album Stream)

Alchemist and Oh No infected many ears with their Gangrene work. Not a Gangrene project, Alan The Chemist and Oh No The Disrupt come together for Welcome To Los Santos. Releasing tomorrow (April 14), the Mass Appeal Records effort welcomes an array of genre (E-40, Ab-Soul, MC Eiht, Curren$y, Little... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Nas vs. Black Thought…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH's bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 13, 2015 Fresh

Mr. Porter, Rapsody & Scram Jones Celebrate The Sleepers (Video)

Mr. Porter (n/k/a dEnAuN) knows a little something about what Biz Markie called "The Vapors." The D12 member, Shady Records conduit, and longtime top producer does not get the recognition that matches his accolades. With a few name-changes in his career, he's anything but a household name, especially considering his... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

Chris Rivers, Grandmaster Caz & More Bridge Generations in a Cypher w/ R.A. The Rugged Man (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man is gearing up to go on his Shoot Me In The Head Tour, but before heading out, he did a show at SOB's in New York City and brought out an all-star cast to join him in a cypher on stage. The cypher bridged together generations... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

Yelawolf & Eminem Look to the Heavens for a Place to Send Their Enemies (Audio)

Yelawolf has released the full version of an epic collaboration with Eminem. Each MC is capable of delivering rapid-fire blistering lyrical assaults, but they divide and conquer on "Best Friend." Rather than rapping, Yela sings on the haunting first verse and then throws the alley-oop to Em who slips into... Read more

April 13, 2015 Audio

Cookie Lyon Meets Cookie Monster. No One on Sesame Street is Safe (Video)

The season might be over for FOX's breakout hit, Empire, but that doesn't mean the show's matriarch, Cookie Lyon (played by Taraji P. Henson), is taking a break. Instead, she's taking over a new show and a new street. In a hilarious SNL spoof, Queen Lyon invaded the world of... Read more

April 13, 2015 TV

Finding the GOAT: These MCs Are Going to Round 4

The polls have closed and, after a fiercely competitive and unpredictable Round 3, there are only 21 MCs remaining in the quest to name Hip-Hop's greatest MC, as determined by you. Since Round 1 began in September, more than 200 MCs have been considered and millions of Hip-Hop fans have... Read more

April 12, 2015 Fresh

Talk About Ambition… Charles Hamilton Freestyles… For Nearly 19 Minutes (Video)

Harlem, New York MC Charles Hamilton understands that it takes extraordinary measures to win back a fan-base after several years of hiatus, public mishaps, and some industry controversy. He seems to be rising to the occasion, simply through showing and sharing his love of rapping. Open interviews are one element,... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

Curren$y Picks Up the Pace on Sidewalk Show. It’s Still Soulful Though…(Video)

Curren$y has a penchant for laid-back, soulful beats. Few can ride a track with the flexibility and ease of Spitta. Ski Beatz also has a taste for these dark and melodic sonic textures, which makes the two a formidable match. As collaborators for more than five years, Curren$y and Ski... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

Donnie Trumpet & Chance the Rapper Deliver Some Colorful Sunday Candy (Video)

Donnie Trumpet & Chance the Rapper have made a colorful visual for their joyous and Gospel-tinged "Sunday Candy." The artists are collaborating under the name The Social Experiment, and the song is from their Surf album. Both natives of Chicago, Donnie and Chance have been working together for years. As... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

20 Years After “I Got 5 On It,” Tha Luniz Reunite, With 4/20 Album Plans

Oakland, California duo Tha Luniz have been separated for more than a decade. However, Yukmouth and Numbskull have announced a reunion, 20 years following breakthrough hit "I Got 5 On It" and its platinum LP, Operation Stackola. The Dru Down and Digital Underground proteges, respectively, will release High Timez on April... Read more

April 12, 2015 Fresh