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Game Calls Out XXL Freshmen Covers, Soft Lyrics & States What Class He’s In (Audio)

For the last decade, few artists are as outspoken as The Game. Between the storied beefs, DVD antics, the public squabbles, and mic-checking (and some subsequent truces with) everybody along the way from Joe Budden to Lil B to Ras Kass to Jay Z to Suge Knight, it's been an... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Versatility Continues To Expand, Appearing Alongside Lil Wayne & Future On A Mike WiLL Made It Beat (Audio)

Heads may forget, but one of Kendrick Lamar's breakthrough performances was all the way back in 2009, alongside Black Hippy cohort/mentor Jay Rock, and Lil Wayne on "Colors." Five years later, and the self-proclaimed "The Best Rapper Alive" on that cut may be feeling some pressure from his Compton cohort... Read more

Everybody Loves The Sunshine Of Summer, Which Is Perfect For A Dope Soul Sample-Source Mix (Mixtape)

Back in the day, Urb magazine was a top music publication. Covering several genres, this Los Angeles-based publication was front-and-center for House, Trance, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Techno, Breakbeat, and various integral 1990s and 2000s waves of Electronic Dance Music (long before Heads were calling it "EDM"). What was more,... Read more

Five Years Later, J. Cole Drops A Visual For Lights Please & A Letter To Fans (Video)

Time flies. Five years ago yesterday (June 15), J. Cole liberated one of the greatest free projects in recent memory. The Warm Up would be Cole's major introduction to the same masses who would help him reach Gold-status in his albums to come. One stand out track on that '09... Read more

Jay Z Adds A Soccer-Themed Verse To Remix X Ambassadors & Jamie N Commons’ Hit Jungle (Audio)

Between The Black Album and Kingdom Come, Jay Z picked and chose his spots to keep a reigning lyrical spot in Hip-Hop strong. From addressing the Roc-A-Fella break-up on "Diamonds Are Forever (Remix)" to the illusive, Hip-Hop and relationship-driven "Dear Summer" solo track on Memphis Bleek's 534 LP (which began... Read more

AFH Salutes the Father’s of Hip-Hop (Video Playlist)

In celebration of Father's Day, we salute some of the Fathers of Hip-Hop. Here's a video playlist with some key moments in time from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Kurtis Blow and more. Check it out. Related: Episode 1... Read more

Dave Chappelle Recalls Being Mistaken As A Member Of The Roots, Prince Laughing At Himself (Video)

Dave Chappelle had two critical media appearances in the past week. At the top of things, the Ohio native appeared on "The Late Show With David Letterman," discussing his absence from the spotlight, and walking away from $50 million from Comedy Central to fulfill a "Chappelle Show" contract. Later appearing... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Is Still Modest, Even When He’s In The Running For Rap Album Of 2014 (Video)

Isaiah Rashad has a XXL magazine cover (care of 2014's Freshmen class), and he's got a popular runner for the year's Album Of The Year, in his Cilvia Demo EP. The Chattanooga, Tennessee native's status has soared in the last 12 months. From the executive chair, Isaiah tells it how... Read more

O’My, Ab-Soul Is Hot These Days (Audio)

Ten days before the June 24 release, Ab-Soul reveals the title track to his album, These Days. "Swear to God, this the only time I use this flow," he proclaims. Soul epitomizes the cut in more ways than one as the song opens with the vocal prowess of Chicago's "band... Read more

Ice Cube Gets Mad For The Camera On Jimmy Kimmel Live (Video)

Jimmy Kimmel thinks that Ice Cube is pretty good at acting mad, and for good reason. Kimmel dims the lights as the former N.W.A. affiliate and current 22 Jump Street star cracks smiles (instead of faces) from the studio audience by reading nice things with an overly angry tone. And... Read more

Raz Simone Is Far From Where He Wants To Be, But He’s Getting Closer (Video)

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are currently the face of Seattle's scene, but for those on the outside of the Emerald City looking in, there are plenty of others who are steadily grinding their way to relevance in the Hip-Hop industry. One such name to keep your eye on is Raz... Read more

Buckshot’s Stories Reenacted At The Hip-Hop Improv Show (Video)

Hot 97 links up with Buckshot for the latest segment of "Take It Personal: The Hip-Hop Improv Show" at UCB East in New York City. The Black Moon affiliate shares stories about his career, Tupac, and his family for the "Tribe Called Yes" improv crew to reenact in front of... Read more

Philly Underground Vet MarQ Spekt Links With Aesop Rock’s Homie Blockhead & The Results Knock (Audio)

Philadelphia MC MarQ Spekt recently released a whole album with Cunninlynguists' MC/producer Kno. 2011's Machete Vision was an underground favorite in many circles. Now MarQ links with another veteran producer from the Underground Hip-Hop glory days, Blockhead. Block', who just made a stellar 2013 LP with Columbus, Ohio MC/poet/author Illogic... Read more

Mayhem Lauren Tears Down Two Ultra-Rare Vintage 1994 Buckwild Beats With Freestyles (Audio)

Throughout the just-released Silk Pyramids album, Queens' Mayhem Lauren ripped through some timeless Buckwild production on their shared bill. For two bonus cuts on the limited edition vinyl, 'Hem got to touch two rare Buck' (pictured) beats from the mid-1990s. Claiming freestyle, Mayhem went all the way in, in true... Read more

Styles P & Chris Rivers Have Trust Issues, But No Problem Busting Verses (Video)

One of the coldest cuts from Styles P's Phantom And The Ghost is "Never Trust." Assisted by Chris Rivers (who Styles has been cosigning for some time, long before his latest mixtape), this joint is all about not taking people at their word, and carefully navigating agendas. The bleek visuals... Read more

14 Years Ago Today, Slum Village Released Their Defining, Fantastic, Volume 2. AFH Took A Trip Down Memory Lane With The Remaining Founding Member, T3 (Food For Thought Interview)

Fourteen years ago today, the sentinels of Hip-Hop history were forced to chisel out a fraction of its foundation and infinitely reserve the section for a budding, yet unconventional trio's 68-minute audible depiction of the essence of life in Detroit, Michigan. Whether the culture of Hip-Hop comprehended the significance of... Read more

Game Walks Through California Hip-Hop History, Bemoans Labeling Artists East & West Coast In Present Day (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Game are two massive fans of Hip-Hop. On records, Game has name-checked everybody from Kool G Rap to King T to MC Eiht to Common. Snoop has covered numerous legends across genres, plus collaborated with everybody from Madlib to Katy Perry to Rage Against The Machine. These... Read more

GQ Gets A Star-Studded Record With Nipsey Hussle & A Rapper Big Pooh, 9th Wonder Reunion (Audio)

On June 24, Jamla Army enlistee GQ is preparing Rated Oakland. The West Coast delegation on 9th Wonder's heralded label follows up with his second project in as many years. On "Count'em Up," both worlds come together. South Central L.A.'s Nipsey Hussle fits in, with that street scholar message, while... Read more

DJ Jazzy Jeff, Questlove & James Poyser Form Like Voltron To Support One New Artist, But Who? (Video)

In the early 2000s, between Grammy awards going to The Roots and Neo-Soul climbing the charts, Philadelphia was a hot-bed of talent. At venues like The Black Lily and The Five Spot, artists from various pockets of sound were hanging out, collaborating, and making a case why Philly is The... Read more

Busta Rhymes May Be A Leader To The New School, But He’s Still Got That ’80s Bravado Alongside Raekwon (Audio)

Busta Rhymes and Raekwon's history runs deep. After all, it was through Busta (then an Aftermath Entertainment artist) that Chef was blessed with Dr. Dre production on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II (although it released later, on a different label than first planned). Both of these MCs are students... Read more

Check Rare Footage Of The Notorious B.I.G. Cosigning Lil’ Kim’s Solo Career & Raekwon Stories Wu-Tang Clan’s Logo (Video)

Gearing up for the next segment in BET's "The Message," clips are meshed together in the preview featuring everybody from the late Notorious B.I.G., to Birdman, to 2 Chainz, to Kendrick Lamar, to Jermaine Dupri. Included are Biggie recalling (to Joe Clair) a candid convo with Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Lil' Kim... Read more

Russell Simmons & Bill Adler Talk About Signing Public Enemy, The Logo & The Ramifications (Video)

Following LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys, Def Jam Records next breakthrough artist signing was Public Enemy. The Long Island, New York Hip-Hop collective including Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, The Bomb Squad, Johnny Juice and more would shake the earth with boisterous messages, social information,... Read more

Schoolboy Q Explains The Make Up Of A Classic Album

"I’m not the ‘rappity-rapper’ type dude." In an interview with Acclaim Magazine, Schoolboy Q talked about music and only music. In it, he discusses why he decided against dropping projects in between albums, performing on stage, and recording tracks. The Top Dawg Entertainment artist also dove deep into talks about... Read more

Yelawolf is Back with a Hard Driving Guitar-Tinged New Release (Audio)

Yelawolf has been relatively quiet this year, but he's back with a hard driving, guitar-tinged new single dedicated to one of the love's of his life. Check out Honey Brown. Related: Yelawolf Turns The Keys To The Pickup Truck In Box Chevy V (Video)... Read more

Dave Chappelle Says He Didn’t Quit, He’s Just 7 Years Late To Work (Video)

With new shows in New York City on the horizon, including several joined by The Roots, DJ Premier, and Erykah Badu, comedian/actor Dave Chappelle appears to climbing back to the spotlight after nearly a decade of public hiatus. The Ohio native appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman" last night... Read more

The Roots Take The 28 Days Later Approach To Never (Video)

In many of The Roots' videos throughout the last eight years, they have favored sitting it out. Arguably, The Roots television and performing schedule (especially with so many studio commitments on top) holds the group back. More likely though, it is a conscious choice to support the narrative of Black... Read more

Ice Cube, Nas, Snoop & More Speak on the History of N.W.A. (Video)

Who better to speak on the historical impact of N.W.A. than Ice Cube? As part of their ongoing Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, BET sat down with the West Coast legend for an extended conversation about the origins of his group. Others like Nas & Snoop also weighed in with their... Read more

The ’80s & ’90s Versions Connect, As Doug E. Fresh & Snoop Dogg Perform La-Di-Da-Di (Video)

In the 1980s, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick made history with a Reality Records rhyme-routine 12" known as "La-Di-Da-Di." MC Ricky D's introduction to the masses alongside "The Human Beatbox King" was a moment in time, making Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" forever rooted in the Hip-Hop consciousness. By... Read more

Episode 1 of The Message Documentary Speaks on Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., LL Coo J & Much More (Full Video)

Episode 1 of BET's Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, covers roughly the first decade of Hip-Hop. It addresses pioneers like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Cold Crush Brothers and more. It also features several luminaries including Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier,... Read more

Think Drake Takes Himself Too Seriously? Think Again. Here’s Some Sound Advice for Him (Video)

Though Drake's music career has taken a front seat to his acting, he's proven on SNL and other vehicles that he still has his thespian chops. In particular, he's flexed his comedic abilities, never being afraid to take shots at himself, or at least the perceptions about him. In Sound... Read more

Mary J. Blige’s Love Songs Continue, With A Sweet Engagement Jam In Time For Wedding Season (Audio)

M.J.B.'s love-odes continue, from the Think Like A Man sequel. Here, Yonkers' finest switches from her record about a missed connection at the forefront of a potential relationship, to the all-encompassing embrace of infinity, with "Propose." The wedding-themed record is right on time for Summer's wedding season, with a slow... Read more

Headbang-Out To Madlib’s Latest Rock Konducta Jam, Black Dreams (Audio)

Madlib's abyssal crates spawned the latest in his Beat Konducta series. As "Rock Konducta," Otis Jackson, Jr. explores his Rockier side, after dabblings in Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Dancehall, and of course, Hip-Hop. "Black Dreams (Sludge Fight)" takes on that Punk aesthetic, as 'Lib freaks 90 seconds of slamming guitars... Read more

AK of The Underachievers Proves Why He’s A “Winner” (Audio)

AK, one half of the New York duo The Underachievers, releases the cut "Winner" as a gift to his fans and to celebrate the artist's upcoming birthday (June 13). Cloud like, ambient production from The unKKKnown cushion AK's lyrical dissection, boasting bars of a mic manipulation and features elegant vocals... Read more

Reks, Fredro Starr & Ruste Juxx Form an Unholy Alliance (Audio)

Reks teams up with Fredro Starr and Ruste Juxx as they "welcome you to Hell" on his latest single, "Unholy." The Lawrence, Massachusetts artist features the eerie, horn heavy production on his upcoming collaborative project with Hazardis Soundz, Eyes Watching God. The conceptual album is divided into two parts, "God's... Read more

Delorean Punches His “Meal Ticket” With Latest Freestyle (Video)

Delorean steps up to rip apart the mic with verbal venom potent enough to snatch up any prey that lay in his way. The Houston MC's "Meal Ticket Freestyle" is enough to feed the beast, but in case you're still starved for more, download his most recent mixtape, Grace. Related:... Read more

30 Minutes Of Kanye West’s Off-The-Mic Inspiration, War-Cries & Chest-Thumping (Video)

Sometimes, the same thing that's great about an artist's music is what makes their personality and stardom so strong. Tupac Shakur had a courage in his music as he did in his life, and it's a big part of the reason why his face is printed on thousands of posters... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Confirms New Album; Talks Investment Strategies (Video)

Kendrick Lamar spoke with Revolt about a number of topics, including his new album (Dre is working on it), comments about him from Troy Ave and Lupe Fiasco, the good Dr. Dre's Apple/Beats transaction and more. In one of the most interesting exchanges, he discusses his investment strategies as he... Read more

Lupe Fiasco’s Freestyle Fearlessness Continues Alongside Tony Touch (Video)

Last week, Lupe Fiasco lit up Sway Up The Morning with a 100% free, freestyle. In that moment, Lu' was in the zone and combined humor, deep thought, and an unwavering flow. This week, Fiasco appeared on Tony Touch's Toca Radio on Shade 45, and also went off the dome.... Read more

The Dusted Hip-Hop Renaissance In New York City Continues With Timeless Truth’s Dominican Diner (EP)

From The Dopplegangaz, to Rast RFC, to Your Old Droog, New York City has its share of groups and MCs who sound, well, out of time. These artists are celebrating the mid-1990s NYC movement, an era which did not necessarily reflect well on the charts and RIAA standards, but an... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Seth Rogen’s Interests Overlap, Talking Origins Of “The Chronic” (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen. One of the coolest figures of pop culture from the '90s and one of the coolest pop culture icons of the 2000s cross paths on D-O-Double G's GGN segment. The two men share a love of medicinals, as the joints burn slow. As Snoop calls... Read more

Reek Da Villain, Kendrick Lamar & Ace Hood “Go Off” Over Swizz Beats Production (Video)

Reek Da Villain , apprentice to fellow New York artist Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar and Ace Hood "Go Off" with bars filled with more than enough Hip-Hop braggadocio to take over the world "from the South, to the West, to the East, to the North" over classic Boom-Bap production from... Read more

Ab-Soul & Schoolboy Q Sound Like Money. A Hunnid Stax to Be Exact (Audio)

Ab-Soul just dropped the 2nd release from his upcoming Stigmata album and it's a BANGER. Check out Hunnid Stax, featuring his TDE brother, Schoolboy Q. Related: Ab-Soul Uses Jay Z Lyrics To Break Down Stigmata (Video)... Read more

Canibus Details The End Of The Modern World With “Fait Accompli” (Album Stream)

It's been three years since Canibus dropped his last album, Lyrical Law, and fans of The Hrsmn member can get their fill yet again with his fifteenth studio album, Fait Accompli. Listed as one of the Top 50 Lyricists by The Source Magazine in 2012, the New York City wordsmith... Read more

The Newly Reunited G-Unit is Wasting No Time. Here’s Another New Track (Audio)

Since publicly reuniting a little over a week ago at Hot 97's Summer Jam, G-Unit has wasted no time releasing new music. After releasing 3 songs last week, here's another track. This time, they take a spin on Trey Songz's Ordinary Ni**a. Check it out. Related: G-Unit’s Engine Just Started... Read more

Nicki Minaj Has Released a Simple But Visually Stunning Video for Pills N Potions (Video)

Sometimes less is more. That is certainly the case for Nicki Minaj in the arresting video for Pills N Potions. Gone are the contact lenses, multicolored wigs and other attention-grabbing features that have accompanied Ms. Minaj the last few years. What remains is a more subtle but deceptively powerful version... Read more

ONYX Kicks That 100 Mad Rah-Rah In Buc Bac (Video)

Less than three months removed from WakeDaFucUp, ONYX is far from done promoting the Snowgoons-produced LP. Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr have no love for weakness on "Buc Bac." The apocalyptic, black-and-white visual finds the Queens-Brooklyn tandem down in their bunker, ready for war on the happy-go-lucky, soft-hearted Hip-Hop out... Read more

Locksmith Might Have 2014’s Strongest Freestyle, But Does He Also Have Best Cypher?

Locksmith is out for titles. Richmond, California's own has a great (but slept-on) album out in A Thousand Cuts. He has one of the year's most jaw-droppingly great freestyles, care of DJ Kay Slay's Streetsweeper Radio spot, and now, care of Team Backpack, Lock' is bidding for top cypher. With... Read more

A Timeless Sly & The Family Stone Joint Gets Reworked By !llmind (Audio)

Sly & The Family Stone is summertime music, and we're not just talkin' about "Hot Fun In The Summertime." Sly Stone's trippy ode, "If You Want Me To Stay" may have been released 39 years ago, but Sly's final journey to the Top 40 remains timeless for lovers telling their... Read more

After A Plethora Of Recent Standout Appearances, Chris “Baby Pun” Rivers Offers Up Wonderland Of Misery 2 (Mixtape)

Although Chris Rivers has yet to release a studio album, the Bronx, New Yorker is already part of arguably the best father/son battery in Hip-Hop history. While any offspring of the legendary Big Pun could seemingly be poised for such an honorable recognition, Chris has earned his stars and bars... Read more

Ice Cube & MC Ren Reunite On This Rebel Remix With Attitude! (Audio)

One of MC Ren's faster flows since the mid-'90s brought attention to "Rebel Music" a few months ago. Out of thin air, Lorenzo brings out a remix with his N.W.A. partner Ice Cube. These O.G.'s worked together a handful of times in the last 15 years, and this is the... Read more