News Archives

Locksmith Has Already Delivered The Freestyle Of The Year

Richmond, California's Locksmith is a decorated veteran MC who makes music with substance. He has made songs with Xzibit, KXNG Crooked, Ras Kass, Apathy, and others along the way. However, the East Bay lyricist is also known for being the source of incredible freestyles. Over the last decade and a... Read more

January 19, 2024 Trending Stories, Video

Drake Responds To Yasiin Bey Saying He Is Not Hip-Hop

In the first month of the new year, one of the biggest stories came from clips from a Yasiin Bey interview. The artist formerly known as Mos Def made a rare media appearance on The Cutting Room Floor podcast. While there, in footage published last week, the Brooklyn, New York native and Black... Read more

January 16, 2024 Fresh, Trending Stories

N.W.A. Will Receive The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

N.W.A. changed culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collective, launched by Eazy-E, included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, and helped bring the city of Compton, California to the mainstream entertainment lexicon. While superstar careers emerged out of the Gangsta Rap outfit,... Read more

January 5, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Kid Capri Was Fighting For His Life Last Year

As Hip-Hop celebrated its symbolic 50th birthday, one of its pioneers revealed he battled a life-threatening illness. Kid Capri, one of Hip-Hop's mixtape pioneers, legendary party-rockers, and celebrated personalities of the last 30 years, shared that he is now cancer-free. It was a fight that included multiple chemotherapy treatments that... Read more

January 3, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Rah Digga Celebrates Hip-Hop’s 50 Years On A Powerful Song

It is now 2024, which closes the book on a year-long campaign celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop. The August 11, 1973 birthday resonated throughout 2023, in the form of Grammy performances, incredible tribute songs (which also earned Grammy recognition), and a litany of concerts—including one at Yankee Stadium—just minutes from... Read more

January 1, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

Black Thought Names 5 MCs Who Deserve More Props

In the last month, Black Thought published his memoir, The Upcycled Self. Appearing on the New York Times' "Best Sellers" list, the autobiography reveals aspects of Tariq Trotter's personal life, including suffering the losses of his father and mother, respectively. The Grammy Award-winning (and currently nominated) Roots MC examines his... Read more

December 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2023

As 2023 comes to its close, it is time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. For 2023, we present a tight list of 10—celebrating the best of the best in the Rap genre.... Read more

December 19, 2023 Best Rap Albums Of 2023, Trending Stories

Scarface Delivers One Of The Best Tiny Desk Performances Ever

Scarface is at an interesting point in his career. It has been over five years since the Houston Hip-Hop legend released an album (2017's Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files compilation). In that outage, Face has been quick to demonstrate his supreme Rap skills on songs with DJ Muggs, E-40, and... Read more

December 18, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Amp Fiddler, Detroit Legend & J Dilla Mentor, Has Passed Away

This morning (December 18), the music world has learned that Detroit, Michigan music pioneer Amp Fiddler has died at the age of 65. The artist, musician, and producer born Joseph Anthony Fiddler is known for his years as a member of both Parliament and Funkadelic, a collaborator of Prince, as... Read more

December 18, 2023 News, Trending Stories

KRS-One & Smif-n-Wessun Are Back With Some New Boom Bap

Thirty years ago, Da Beatminerz helped lead a charge with Black Moon's Enta Da Stage. The Nervous Records LP was produced by Evil Dee (also a Black Moon co-founder) and his brother Mr. Walt. The album help launch several movements—for the Boot Camp Clik, for underground/independent Hip-Hop, and for a... Read more

December 16, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

André 3000 Shares The Tough Love He Got From Prince

Last month, André 3000 released his first full-length project in over 17 years. The Blue Sun finds the legendary MC/producer focusing his passions on Jazz, with an album rooted in his flute playing—and no rapping and singing. Days after the Epic Records release, André sat down with fellow veteran producer... Read more

December 13, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Will Smith Tells Rakim He Copied Him On Summertime

One of Hip-Hop's longstanding curiosities surrounds DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's 1991 hit "Summertime." The Homebase single landed the West Philadelphia duo their second Grammy Award, but it also marked a shift in tempo, style, and flow for the Hip-Hop vets. For years, some have speculated that Rakim... Read more

December 12, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Black Thought, Benny & DZA Link For A Song That’s 3x Dope

In 2019, Benny The Butcher and Black Thought teamed for "Crowns For Kings," one of the hardest-hitting collaborations of the last five years. The Plugs I Met look was produced by Benny's mentor, DJ Shay, who has since passed away—and remains one of The Butcher's biggest songs. During the summer... Read more

December 9, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Masta Ace Releases A Song Filled With Positivity

In 2018, Masta Ace and Marco Polo released their first album as a unit. A Breukelen Story was a concept album—something the Brooklyn, New York MC has done for much his 35-year career. That LP was named by Ambrosia For Heads among the best of '18, and it featured Smif-n-Wessun,... Read more

December 2, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories, Video

AZ Reintroduces Himself With Amazing New Music

Today (December 1), Brooklyn, New York veteran MC AZ released a new album. However, unlike AZ's respected back-catalog, Truth Be Told marks his first album-long partnership with a producer. Diggin' In The Crates legend Buckwild has been working with S.O.S.A. since "Ho Happy Jacky" on Doe Or Die. The Bronx... Read more

December 1, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Diddy Steps Down As Revolt Chairman

This month, one of Hip-Hop's most influential and successful moguls is the center of multiple accusations from two women, including one of his artists and ex-girlfriends. In the wake of these allegations, including a recent eight-figure settlement, Sean "Diddy" Combs has stepped down as Chairman of Revolt. The decision comes... Read more

November 28, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Lupe Fiasco Raps Over André 3000’s Flute Music

Earlier this month, André 3000 released his first album in 17 years. New Blue Sun is not only noteworthy as a deviation from OutKast, but the LP also featured no rapping whatsoever. Instead, the Hip-Hop legend opted to play flute. In the days before releasing the Epic Records album, Dre... Read more

November 26, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Watch Little Brother’s Documentary Now

Just moments ago, the documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story premiered for all to see. The film, produced by Little Brother, is directed by Holland Randolph Gallagher and written by esteemed Hip-Hop journalist "Yoh" Phillips (of documentary studio Rap Portraits). After years in the making, the documentary allows... Read more

November 24, 2023 Trending Stories, TV/Film, Video

Busta Rhymes’ New Song Is A Statement About 30 Years Of Greatness

Today (November 24), Busta Rhymes has released his 11th solo album. Blockbusta follows a three-year break from Extinction Level Event 2 (aka E.L.E. 2), an album that some Busta fans—including Ambrosia For Heads–considered a classic album well-into his 30-year career. For Blockbusta, Busta returns to a major label, Epic Records,... Read more

November 24, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Treach Details How He & Tupac Were Ending The East/West Feud

Treach and his group Naughty By Nature were a linchpin of 1990s Hip-Hop. The Grammy Award-winning East Orange, New Jersey trio had ties with a cross-section of the Rap scene, including Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. These connections especially mattered by the mid-1990s, when Tupac and Biggie had entered a... Read more

November 21, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Black Sheep Has Lost Its $750 Million Lawsuit Against Universal Music

Earlier this year, respected Hip-Hop duo Black Sheep filed at $750 million class-action lawsuit against Universal Music Group. The duo of Andres “Dres” Vargas Titus and William “Mista Lawnge” McLean alleged that UMG agreed to a royalty agreement with Spotify in 2008 that violated compensation structures previously in place for... Read more

November 21, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Treach Names His Top 5 MCs From New Jersey

On the most recent episode of Drink Champs, Naughty By Nature's Treach appeared as the guest. The Grammy Award-winning veteran MC discussed over three hours worth of topics. Last year, the NBN co-founder vented frustrations about Top 5 lists and their impact on Hip-Hop. “I don’t think a lot of... Read more

November 19, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Common & DJ Premier Reunite On A New Song

Over the last quarter-century, Common and DJ Premier have made magic together. In 2000, Premier was a guest within The Soulquarians ensemble for Comm's benchmark Like Water For Chocolate album. On Comm's fourth LP, Preemo produced the masterful "The 6th Sense," which featured Bilal. The video single showed new range... Read more

November 17, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories, Video

Drake Disses Kanye, Joe Budden & Pusha-T With His Best Raps In Years

Today (November 17), Drake has released one of his most potent bodies of pure lyricism in years. Scary Hours 3 is the third installment in a series of EPs Drake began releasing in 2018. Drake does not treat these song bundles as throwaways. 2018's Scary Hours contained "God's Plan." The... Read more

November 17, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Drake and J. Cole Have Released The Year’s Best Rap Video

While there are a lot of them releasing every week, music videos appear to be a lost art. While some artists deliver original and clever concepts, it appears commonplace for many videos to feature rapping to the camera, street scenes, and the cliché models and entourage. Two artists who defy... Read more

November 16, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

André 3000 Explains Why It Feels Inauthentic To Rap

Tomorrow (November 17), André 3000 is releasing his first album in 17 years. New Blue Sun marks Dre's first full-length outside of OutKast. Twenty years ago, André and Big Boi attached two solo projects together for the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below double album that remains Hip-Hop's most recent "Album Of The Year"... Read more

November 16, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Eazy-E Put Compton On The Map & Now The City Is Returning The Favor

During the late 1980s, Eazy-E helped take the city of Compton, California, to the mainstream. The N.W.A. co-founder and Gangsta Rap solo star was famed for wearing Compton hats, titling game-changing albums and songs after his city, and recruiting talent from Hub City. Ruthless Records artists, including Dr. Dre, MC Ren,... Read more

November 14, 2023 News, Trending Stories

André 3000 Is Releasing A New Album On Friday

Less than one week after earning two Grammy nominations for his 2023 collaboration with Killer Mike, André 3000 has surprised fans with an announcement that he is releasing his first album in over 15 years, New Blue Sun, which will arrive Friday (November 17). The OutKast co-founder's album is eight tracks... Read more

November 14, 2023 News

Killer Mike Is Grammy-Nominated For “Best Rap Album”

The nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards announced this weekend (November 10). As the symbolic 50th year for Hip-Hop marches towards its close, there are several nominated albums and songs that exemplify the benchmark year and the culture. Killer Mike’s album, MICHAEL, is a noteworthy inclusion in the “Best Rap... Read more

November 11, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Shaq & Dame Lillard Face Off On A Song After Years Of Trading Disses

Rick Ross and Meek Mill have teamed up for a full-length collaboration album, Too Good To Be True. The Maybach Music Group founder and one of his star artists have made massive hits together for the last dozen-plus years. Now, they unleash a new chapter for the label—now distributed by the... Read more

November 11, 2023 Audio

Black Thought’s Epic Freestyle Is Nominated For A Grammy

The nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards were announced Friday (November 10). As the symbolic 50th year for Hip-Hop marches towards its close, there are several nominated albums and songs that exemplify the benchmark year and the culture. In the "Best Rap Performance" category, Black Thought's "Love Letter" is nominated.... Read more

November 10, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Missy Elliott Is The First Female Hip-Hop Artist Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

This weekend (November 3), Missy Elliott became the first female Hip-Hop artist to enter the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. The Virginia veteran MC/producer appeared at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center, where she was presented the honor by her "Fast Car" collaborator Queen Latifah. The presenter credited Missy Elliott... Read more

November 5, 2023 News, Video

J. Cole Explains Why His New Album Is Called The Fall Off

Over five years, ago, J. Cole's acclaimed KOD included a song "1985 ('Intro To The Fall Off')." At the time, the song made headlines as a response song to Lil Pump and others, that defied the convention of traditional Rap disses. In the days that followed, J. Cole revealed that... Read more

November 5, 2023 Video

DJ Kool Herc Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame By LL Cool J

This weekend, Hip-Hop pioneer and architect DJ Kool Herc officially entered the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. The Jamaican-born, Bronx, New York-raised Clive Campbell was joined by his sister Cynthia at a ceremony at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. There, Herc was inducted into the Hall by an artist with that... Read more

November 5, 2023 News, Trending Stories, Video

200 MCs Celebrate DJ Kay Slay On The Ultimate Posse Cut

Last year, Hip-Hop lost DJ Kay Slay. The Harlem legend passed away on April 17, 2022. His 40+ year legacy began with graffiti and evolved into him becoming one of the biggest mixtape DJs in the world. The self-proclaimed "Drama King" ultimately used his tastemaking skills as a record executive... Read more

November 3, 2023 Video

Alchemist Names His Top 5 Producers

Alchemist has had a busy 2023. The acclaimed producer (and MC/DJ) has released albums alongside Larry June, Earl Sweatshirt, and MIKE and Wiki—along with fresh solo material. Amid the prolific year, Al spoke to Genius' Andres Tardio to list his Top 5 Hip-Hop producers—including one of his mentors. Along the... Read more

November 1, 2023 Video

AZ’s New Album Is Weeks Away. Here’s The First Video

It's been two years since AZ released his Doe Or Die II album. The legendary Brooklyn MC had not released an album for ten years, prior to the long-awaited project. AZ has stayed active in the two years since Doe Or Die II, appearing on Westside Gunn's "99 Avirex," Statik... Read more

October 31, 2023 Trending Stories, Video

Rapsody Has Released One Of The Realest Songs Of The Year

It's been more than four years since Rapsody released her critically-acclaimed album, Eve. In the time that she's been away, Hip-Hop has seen a proliferation of women MCs. Names like Ice Spice, Latto, Glorilla, Sexyy Red and Scar Lip, now dominate Rap charts and playlists. Though the traditionally male-dominated genre... Read more

October 30, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Just Blaze Has Released 2 Songs From Slaughterhouse’s Glass House Album

In 2009, four of Hip-Hop's sharpest lyricists joined forces to form one of the most beloved super group's of the last 15 years. Joe Budden, Royce 5'9, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked (then known as Crooked I) each had well-established careers, but Slaughterhouse propelled the collective to mythical heights. By... Read more

October 24, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Jay Rock & Ab-Soul’s New Songs Are Reminders Of TDE’s Greatness

Over the last 10+ years, Top Dog Entertainment has proven itself to be not just one of the greatest record labels of the 2010s, but one of the greatest in the history of Rap music. Built around the Black Hippy collective of Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q,... Read more

October 21, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Del The Funky Homosapien & Living Legends Shine On A New Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Legendary Hip-Hop Producer 45 King Has Passed Away

As Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, of the most music's legendary producers has reportedly died. 45 King, aka Mark James, is known for founding the original Flavor Unit—a launchpad for the careers of Queen Latifah, Lakim Shabazz, Apache, Chill Rob G, and Latee. The Bronx native (who relocated to New... Read more

October 19, 2023 News

C.L. Smooth Returns In A Verse With Rough Words

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 17, 2023 Audio

Redman Has Released A Series Of Freestyles Over Hip-Hop Classics

Next month will make it eight years since Redman released an album. However, as the Def Squad MC plugs away at Muddy Waters Too and Blackout! 3 with Method Man, he frequently gives his devoted fan-base new music. In 2023, Reggie Noble has teamed with Royce 5'9, Logic, Tony Touch,... Read more

October 17, 2023 Video

Westside Gunn, JID & Conway Make 1 Of 2023’s Great Collabos

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 13, 2023 Audio

Rakim & LL Cool J Perform A Boomin’ Tribute To Marley Marl

Earlier this month (October 3), the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards taped in Atlanta, Georgia. The awards show now aired tonight (October 10). Among its highlights was producer/DJ Marley Marl winning the coveted I Am Hip Hop Award in the culture's ceremonial 50th year. Marley Marl is the Queens, New... Read more

October 10, 2023 TV, TV/Film, Video

Drake Disses Joe Budden’s Rap Career Following Album Criticism

Yesterday (October 7), Drake released his eighth album, For All The Dogs. The OVO/Republic Records LP contains songs such as "7969 Santa," which finds the superstar speaking to an ex-lover and blaming differences on her being 25 years old. He opens the 21 Savage-assisted "Calling For You" with suggestive wordplay:... Read more

October 7, 2023 News

Lil Yachty Shows He Can Really Rap On A Song With J. Cole

Earlier this year, Lil Yachty released one of 2023's more surprising albums from an artist often categorized in Rap. January's Let's Start Here. deviated from the sound that the Atlanta, Georgia had established over the last decade. On this go-round, the Quality Control/Motown Records artist delved into contemporary Psychedelic Rock... Read more

October 7, 2023 Audio, Video

Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist’s Album Was Worth The Wait

Since 2019, Earl Sweatshirt and Alchemist claimed a collaborative album existed under a fake name. Two years later, the production half of the duo confirmed its existence. “We hid a whole album on YouTube under a fake name and YouTube page. Fake album cover, song titles, the whole nine. Nobody... Read more

October 7, 2023 Audio

J. Cole & Drake Go Head To Head On A Heavyweight Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 6, 2023 Audio