News Archives

Finding The GOAT: Pete Rock vs. J. Dilla…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

December 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Ice-T Gives Mobb Deep An Amazing Interview, From Police To Hip-Hop (Audio)

Did you know that Ice-T is one of the biggest Mobb Deep Heads out? The O.G. is a big fan of the M-O-B-B. If you didn't know, it becomes abundantly clear in this recent Final Level Podcast episode (#24). Ice welcomes Prodigy and Havoc into his sponsored podcast. Joined by... Read more

December 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Do Remember: Beanie Sigel, Grand Puba & Sadat X’s Bread & Butter (Audio)

With Beanie Sigel currently in our hearts and on our minds, this week's "Do Remember" seemed fitting to dedicate to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC born Dwight Grant. Following two Top 5 charting albums (2000's The Truth, 2001's The Reason, respectively), Beanie Sigel took a break from the catalog. A gold-certified... Read more

December 11, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Your Old Droog Paints a Vivid Lyrical Picture with His Toca Tuesday Freestyle (Video)

"Musicians acting like mobsters. That's Steven Van Zandt." Your Old Droog stopped by Tony Touch's Shade 45 show and kicked a Toca Tuesday Freestyle. Ever long on colorful metaphors, Droog painted a vivid picture with clever references like the above Soprano's nod. "Your Old Pal" will have another performance at... Read more

December 11, 2014 Video

Nipsey Hussle & Rick Ross Enjoy The Perks Of The Spotlight On A Hit-Boy Track (Audio)

Following the precise wordplay and honesty of "50 Niggaz," Nipsey Hussle returns to his (other) form on "1 Hunnit A Show." The sophomore Mailbox Money (December 20) look also incorporates numbers, as the Crenshaw District MC joins Rick Ross on a thumping Hit-Boy track. The two MCs have found fame... Read more

December 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive Is A Homecoming For More Than Himself (Album Review)

There is beauty in the struggle. There is ugliness in the success. Whether you’re currently satisfied within the achievements you envisioned for yourself, on the cusp of that individual gratification, or miles away from your desired prosperity, Jermaine Lamar Cole has arrived with his third full-length album, 2014 Forest Hills... Read more

December 10, 2014 Food for Thought, Fresh

50 Cent Remembers Being Afraid In The Early 2000s, Big Ups KRS-One (Video)

Ninety-second interviews would be irrelevant for most people, let alone celebrities or MCs. Somehow, 50 Cent's lucid admissions defy that logic though. Sitting down with HOT 97, 50 Cent uses a minute and a half to speak so bluntly about 2000, when the Queens, New York hopeful was shot multiple... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Royce Da 5’9″ Hid The PRhyme Guests From DJ Premier At First (Video)

Yesterday, PRhyme's self-titled album released. The three-man crew of DJ Premier, Royce Da 5'9" and Adrian Younge rolled out their fourth segment of the "Raiders Of The Lost Art" documentary series. Tracing the group through their release party performance earlier in the week, Royce admits, "I didn't tell Preme about... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Explains Who He is Through Verse and Visuals (Video)

Unless you grew up in or regularly visited Southern California, most Heads have not been to the city of Compton. Kendrick Lamar's rise in Hip-Hop brought renewed attention to Hub-City, making it quite different in some ways, and quite the same in others, as portrayed by N.W.A., DJ Quik, MC... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Lil Dicky Keeps It 100% Real in Detailing His Criminal Record on White Crime (Video)

Lil Dicky continues his razor sharp satirical streak. On his song "White Crime" he takes aim at studio gangsterism in Hip-Hop by hilariously detailing his real-life criminal offenses on record. His transgressions include such things as sneaking candy into the movie theater, taking shampoo from hotels, jaywalking and...gasp...stealing wifi. Ironically,... Read more

December 10, 2014 Video

Andre 3000 Explains Why Each OutKast Album Sounded So Different; Talks Jimi Hendrix (Video)

Andre 3000 sat down for an extended interview with HardKnock TV where he detailed how he prepared for his role as Jimi Hendrix, explained why each OutKast album sounded so different from its predecessor, discussed his foray into clothing and more. Check out the video and a detailed description from... Read more

December 10, 2014 Video

Shady Records Gathers a Gang of MCs for the Detroit vs. Everybody Remix (Audio)

Shady Records continues the Detroit takeover with a remix to their "Detroit vs. Everybody" anthem. This version features Trick Trick,Dej Loaf, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Sino, Marv Won, Payroll, Hydro, Boldy James, Big Gov, Kid Vishis, Big Herk, Icewear Vezzo, Detroit Che, Calicoe, and Diezel The Hitman. It also weighs... Read more

December 10, 2014 Audio

Detroit Che Follows Her Cypher with a Monster Backroom Freestyle (Video)

Detroit Che earned her way into the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher by winning the Hot 16 contest sponsored by Sprite. She was grouped with MCs like Logic, Lil Mama, Troy Ave and Dee-1. Undaunted, she stood toe to toe with each and came away with one of the... Read more

December 10, 2014 Video

Kurupt Projects Are A Welcomed Treat. Moon Rock Weighs A Ton (Mixtape)

Although Tha Dogg Pound has been enjoying the free music circuit as of late, co-founder Kurupt is a Rap veteran not typically associated with mixtapes. Out of nowhere, Kuruption's Moon Rock hit Earth today. The 23-track free tape features a plethora of new music from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-born, South Central... Read more

December 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Dee-1 Makes Thoughtful Bounce Music, Evident In This Backroom Freestyle (Video)

New Orleans, Louisiana MC Dee-1 has the respect and support of some of the Bayou City's masters of Bounce. Mannie Fresh and Juvenile both clamored to work with the RCA Records-backed artist. In his recent appearance in "106 & Park's" The Backroom, Dee delivers lyrics with substance and flare at... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Dr. Dre Named Forbes’ Highest Paid Musician Of 2014 (Video)

"Either everything is workin', or you're workin' for everything." - Edo G. Dr. Dre did not release an album in 2014. In fact, Dre's Aftermath Entertainment did not release an album in 2014. However, Forbes estimates that the Compton, California 30-year Hip-Hop veteran made more money than any musician in... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Puff Daddy & Drake Got Physical Over The 0 to 100 Beat. Cameras Don’t Lie (Video)

Reports flooded the Internet Monday morning (December 8) that the unlikely pair of Drake and Puff Daddy came to a physical altercation over the weekend. Diddy, as he was then known, brought Drizzy on board for his Last Train To Paris album (single "Loving You No More") with Diddy Dirty... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Finding The GOAT: Nipsey Hussle vs. Jay Rock…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ludacris Slows Things Down & Joins John Legend In A Personal Revelation (Audio)

Ludacris is not an artist typically associated with being highly-personal. The Atlanta, Georgia superstar has built a career by making smash hits for the club and radio, and executing thoughtful concept albums that rely more on theme than revelation. After taking a hiatus from making a body of solo work,... Read more

December 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Fabolous’ Lituation Is Inspired By A Great King Of New York Scene (Video)

From The Notorious B.I.G. to Schoolly D, Abel Ferrara's 1990 film, King Of New York, had a profound impact on Hip-Hop. The New Line Cinema picture starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, and Wesley Snipes captured a style, grit, and era in New York City. In making his The Young O.G.... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Punch Makes A Potent Song About Living Past 25, With Kendrick Lamar On The Hook (Audio)

President Punch of Top Dawg Entertainment has begun transitioning from independent label executive to a thoughtful MC in 2014. No stranger to TDE's pre-Interscope releases of the early 2010s, Punch was part of the ensemble that made albums by Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and ScHoolboy Q so potent. His... Read more

December 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Cormega Releases a Dream Team Remix with AZ, Redman & Styles P (Audio)

This past Summer, Cormega released "MARS (Dream Team)" featuring AZ, Redman and Styles P. Just the lineup was enough to make Heads explode, but it actually lived up to its billing. Each MC flexed on the Large Professor beat which was one of the crown jewels on Cormega's stellar Mega... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio

J. Cole Sings About His Mother Losing Her Home to Foreclosure on Apparently (Video)

J. Cole is his own featured artist on "Apparently." The majority of the song finds Cole in stream of consciousness mode singing about such intimate things as his guilt over being unaware his mother was losing her house on Forest Hills (part of the title of his new album) to... Read more

December 9, 2014 Video

Blu’s soul amazing Returns, With A 31-Track Part Four (Album Stream)

For the fourth time in two years, Blu has released a soul amazing collection. Part Four, as it were, includes 31 songs, stemming from a host of projects, well known and otherwise. Those collaborative efforts include work with Black Milk, Nottz, Cunninlynguists, Rapsody, and even a rare Large Professor remix.... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

LL Cool J Refutes Battling Jay Z, Talks 2 Types Of Album Styles & Some Amazing Rumors (Audio)

The Combat Jack Show has left Hip-Hop journalism better than they found it in 2014. In the closing weeks of the year, the show invited LL Cool J for what immediately feels like one of the finest sit-downs. At nearly two hours, LL turns towards his devout Hip-Hop fans, his... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Finding The GOAT: Murs vs. Ras Kass…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

December 9, 2014 Fresh

Gangrene’s Oh No Makes A Thumping Beat Out Of Nintendo 64 Samples (Video)

Oh No is the next contestant on the Rhythm Roulette platform. Part of Gangrene, blood brother of Madlib, the Oxnard, California producer/MC wanted to do things a little differently for Mass Appeal's series. That said, Oh No The Disrupt goes D.I.T.C., but not in the record crates. Rather, he uses... Read more

December 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

DJ Spinna & J. Rocc Cross The Coasts In 2 Separate ’90s Mixes (Audio)

Two veteran masters of the mix are DJ Spinna and J. Rocc. AFH's faithful are quite familiar with J. Rocc, the SoCal spinner who is part of JayLib, The Beat Junkies, and a frequent affiliate with Stones Throw Records. Across the country, in the borough of Brooklyn, DJ Spinna was... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Joell Ortiz Literally Depicts the Crack Spot with His Latest Visuals (Video)

To date, Joell Ortiz' House Slippers glimpses have charted his growth, improved life outlook, and range as an artist. With "Crack Spot," Joell brings Heads back around the corner from the Bodega, where the villains lurk. Following the age-old dope-to-rap metaphor, Jo's visual shows the literal operation, as he kicks... Read more

December 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Fashawn Finds His Boy Meets World Form Alongside Evidence (Audio)

Now with Nas in the fold, things look especially interesting for Fashawn's studio sophomore LP, The Ecology (February 24). After two tracks have rolled out in the course of the last year and a half, Mass Appeal Records dropped off an ear-grabber in "Dreams." This track, touted to be an... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Diamond D Remixes Diamond District & It’s A Gem (Audio)

Diamond D is an exceptional producer at those guitar-driven tracks, with dusty, accentuated grooves. He's given these type of joints to Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs, Ras Kass, and of course, The Fugees. In 2014, he hits off his shelf-mates in the record store, Diamond District, with a remix to... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

J. Cole Releases One of His Realest Songs Yet with Adolescence (Audio)

Witness the re-birth of J. Cole. With very little fanfare, he has released one of his finest works yet with his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album. Contrary to what the title suggests, this is a return to the J. Cole of 2009--the North Carolina MC whose Warm Up mixtape restored... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio

Rick Gonzalez Makes A Spacey Street Track With Infamous Mobb’s Big Twins (Audio)

Rick Gonzalez pulls in some heavyweight collaborations for his growing discography. Fresh off of a Kool G Rap link, and a Blu collabo last year, the newly-inked ShowOff Records artist teams with another Queens, New York veteran bully rapper in Big Twins for "Cross The Line." Mobb Deep and Alchemist... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ Rolls Deep. They Terrorize The Borough & The Beat (Video)

Just one day after releasing "No. 99" in audio, Joey Bada$$ drops the video for his Statik Selektah-produced sophomore single. The visual features a faux Brooklyn news report of a menace on the loose. "Badman" is none other than Joey, who with his Pro Era crew is causing mass destruction... Read more

December 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Earl Hayes, Former 50 Cent, Timbaland & Dr. Dre Collaborator, Involved In Murder Suicide

In some difficult news, rapper Earl Hayes (who also went simply by "Hayes") was found dead today (December 8) in Los Angeles, California. Authorities allege that Hayes fatally shot his girlfriend, dancer and "Hit The Floor" television star Stephanie Mosely, before turning the gun on himself in what has been... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh

Pharrell’s Happy Is The Best Selling Song On iTunes In 2014

Released in November of 2013, Pharrell's "Happy," the lead-single from his sophomore album, G I R L, takes the honors of being iTunes' best-selling song of 2014, per a XXL report. Written and produced by Pharrell, the I Am Other launchpad also took top-steaming honors for '14 on the Spotify platform.... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh

Trademark Da Skydiver Returns with Lush Strings Attached (Video)

Trademark Da Skydiver, longtime JET Life member with Curren$y, has stepped out on his own with his Return of the Super Villain album. Even in his solo endeavors, he still gravitates toward that lush JET Life sound. "The Return" is a laid-back track which surrounds him with melodic Spanish-influenced guitars... Read more

December 8, 2014 Video

Termanology’s Shut Up And Rap Features Lil Fame, Inspectah Deck & Slaine (Album Stream)

Twelve hours before it's available for sale, 1982's Termanology offers up Shut Up And Rap for free, full stream. This LP, the latest from the Massachusetts-to-New York MC, features REKS, Lil Fame, Inspectah Deck, Torae, Skyzoo, Slaine, Willie The Kid, and others. Alchemist also drops in on production. Sample the... Read more

December 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

DOOM & Ghostface Killah Calls Dibbs On 2015’s Most Anticipated Album

DOOM (f/k/a MF DOOM) and Ghostface Killah have both released albums in 2014. In the case of the latter, there's both a solo (36 Seasons) and Wu-Tang Clan project, while DOOM teamed with Bishop Nehru (NehruvianDOOM). However, after more than eight years in waiting, the two '90s Hip-Hop mainstays are... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh

Need Some Ways To Express Your Affection For Her? Enter Majid Jordan (Video)

OVO Sound duo Majid Jordan may have become well-known thanks to their strong assist on Drake's "Hold On (We're Going Home)," but they stand tall on their own four feet. A Place Like This released in July of this year, and third single "Her" carries all of its charms for... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass Joins Some Detroit Bad Boys Around A Barrel Fire For A Cypher (Video)

This year, West Coast MC vet Ras Kass linked with Detroit, Michigan's Apollo Brown to make a celebrated, highly-cohesive LP in Blasphemy. Keeping things focused on Motor City, Ras circles up around a barrel-fire, Doo Wop-style, to unleash a monstrous cypher. Apollo's beat seems to pay careful homage to Diamond... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Finding The GOAT: Buckshot vs. Billy Danze…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

December 8, 2014 Fresh

Joey Bada$$ Unleashes A New Album Single. He & Statik Selektah Have Chemistry (Audio)

For an artist who puts art above image, music above interview antics, and the engaged live show above dedicated social media presence, January is a great month to release an album. Slow burn and long consideration will go a long way for Cinematic's longtime emerging star. With January 20, 2015... Read more

December 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ghostface Killah Compares Himself To Martin Scorsese. Here’s Why (Food For Thought Interview)

Speaking about his upcoming eleventh solo album, Ghostface Killah is in his glory. The Staten Island MC is spirited, especially on the subjects of 1980s Rap and 1990s cinema. The day his 36 Seasons was publicly premiered in a full-length NPR Music stream, Ghost speaks to Ambrosia For Heads, and... Read more

December 8, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

3D Na’ Tee Releases a Powerful and Disturbing Video Protesting Police Brutality (Video)

3D Na'Tee is a New Orleans born video director, songwriter and MC. She has put together one of the most explosive videos yet in the face of seemingly countless killings of Black men around the country by law enforcement officials (and those posing as such), with no accountability. "Who Can... Read more

December 8, 2014 Video

Timbaland Plays Andre 3000’s Full UFO Verse and It’s FIRE (Video)

Remember that snippet of a Timbaland song that featured Andre 3000 and what many believed was Jhene Aiko? As reported, the female co-vocalist was actually Timbaland's hot new artist named Tink. Timbaland has now released a full preview of the song. Andre 3000 brings a FIRE verse and Tink turns... Read more

December 7, 2014 Video

Chris Rivers Samples Nas and Channels Pun on His Latest (Video)

Chris Rivers (formerly Baby Pun) has had a breakout year in 2014. Big Pun's son has shown that the apple did not fall far from the tree with his razor sharp lyrics and eerily similar tone. On "Ain't Hard to Tell," he puts a Nas sample to good use and... Read more

December 7, 2014 Video

A Chronology Of Rap Criticism Of Police Featuring P.E., dead prez & Dilla (Mixtape)

In the midst of a troubling, if not challenging year with police brutality, Hip-Hop's discography carries a lot of the frustrations in the archives. As today's Hip-Hop artists reflect on the 2014 murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, and look for the expression, let alone the words of the... Read more

December 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

M.O.P. Discuss Their History with Jay Z & Dame Dash, Perform Ante Up & More with Sway (Video)

M.O.P. sat down with Sway and had an extended conversation amongst Hip-Hop O.G.'s. They discussed their extensive history, including some real talk about their history with Jay Z and Dame Dash and how they handled the fall out of the Roc-A-Fellas. The Mash Out Posse also spoke about the current... Read more

December 7, 2014 Video

Ever Heard Cookin’ Soul’s Big Pun & J. Dilla Mixtape? You Should…(Mixtape)

Big Pun and J. Dilla share status as Hip-Hop icons. The two also have a significant date in common: February 7th is Dilla's birthday and the day Pun passed away. One connection Pun and Dilla did not have was working on a record together. A few years ago, the production... Read more

December 7, 2014 Mixes