News Archives

DJ Scratch Lets Fuse Dig In The Crates (Video)

DJ Scratch is one of the more versatile, yet under-sung producers in Hip-Hop. A major DJ component in the late '80s-through-'90s iteration of EPMD, Scratch was a turntablism award-winner who learned under Jam Master Jay, before tackling production. In the 2000s, Scratch produced hits for Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and... Read more

November 17, 2013 Fresh, Video

Rah Digga Smacks Down Undeserving Female Rappers AND Salutes G.U.R.U. with One Verse. It’s Mostly the Voice (Audio)

Rah Digga drops a verse on Gang Starr's Mostly Tha Voice track from Hard to Earn and calls out what she sees as unbecoming behavior from many of the current generation of female MCs. She doesn't name names, but she doesn't have to...Check out Mostly the Voice. Related: Rah Digga... Read more

November 16, 2013 Audio

When’s the Last Time You Saw a Dave Chappelle Interview?? Exactly. Here’s the First in Years (Video)

During a stop in Minneapolis on his comedy tour, Dave Chappelle sat down with his longtime friend, Reg Chapman. Dave spoke about why playing Minneapolis' First Avenue club was like playing Carnegie Hall for him, whether he was returning to TV, the infamous Hartford incident and more. Check out the... Read more

November 16, 2013 Video

All Eyes are on Rihanna in the Video for What Now (Video)

Is Rihanna the Madonna of this generation? The comparisons are all there: monster sales--check; boundary-pushing--check; sex-as-a-weapon--check. But, to compare the 2 would be to do both a disservice. Madonnna was the Queen of Pop in her time and now, it's Bad Girl Ri-Ri's time to shine. Her latest video, What... Read more

November 16, 2013 Video

Geto Boys are Truly One of the Most Unsung Groups in Hip-Hop. This is Their Story. (Video)

The latest installment of TV One's bioseries focuses on the story of Rap-A-Lot records and their signature artist, the Geto Boys. Witness the stories of Willie D, Bushwick Bill and the one and only Scarface. Your browser does not support iframes. Related: Geto Boys Interview + Performance (Video)... Read more

November 16, 2013 Throwback

Who’s Better, JAY-Z or KRS-One? Here’s What Brother Ali Had to Say (Video)

Brother Ali connected with Mass Appeal and weighed in on many debates including KRS-One vs. Jay Z, Rakim vs. Melle Mel, Erykah Badu vs. Lauryn Hill and more. Check out what he had to say about each below. Related: Brother Ali – Left In The Deck (Free Album)... Read more

November 16, 2013 Video

Crooked I Continues His Lyrical Assault on Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia Intro Track (Audio)

Here's round 2 of Crooked I's Shady Dynasty Freestyle. Related: Crooked I - The Shady Dynasty Pt. 1 (Audio)... Read more

November 16, 2013 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Boycotts GQ Party. Here’s Why TDE Believes the Article Was Disrespectful and Filled With Racial Overtones.

Kendrick Lamar received what should have been a tremendous honor by being selected as part of GQ's 2013 Men of the Year, but it has not ended well. TDE has gone on record as being unhappy with the angle that was taken in the article. Specifically, Top Dawg, TDE's owner,... Read more

November 16, 2013 Fresh

Raekwon Drops a Verse on Drea’s So Good (Audio)

RZA made it clear earlier in the week that Raekwon is the lone holdout on a reunion Wu-Tang album. The Chef has been keeping busy on the solo tip, though. His latest effort is adding a verse to Drea's So Good. Check it out below. Related: Raekwon Hops On A... Read more

November 15, 2013 Audio

Hot off the Presses, Timbaland Releases Know About Me featuring Jay Z, Drake & James Fauntleroy (Audio)

Timbaland has been previewing new music from him and Jay Z for the last several weeks. Here's a CD-quality version of a song called Know About Me which features Jay, Drake and James Fauntleroy. Check it out below.... Read more

November 15, 2013 Audio

Dom Kennedy Explains His Place In Hip-Hop To Mass Appeal (Video)

Dom Kennedy is so West Coast, and it's part of what's made his music in 2013 (and before) so resonant with fans from Cali and beyond. Speaking with them Brooklyn boys at Mass Appeal Dom explains the void he fills, the Biggie Smalls and Bobby Womack influence, and his unique... Read more

November 15, 2013 Fresh, Video

Just Blaze & 9th Wonder Discuss Their Contributions to Jay-Z’s Black Album (Video)

The credits for Jay-Z's Black Album read like a virtual who's who of Hip-Hop super producers--Timbaland, Kanye West, DJ Quik, Rick Rubin, The Neptunes...Just Blaze and 9th Wonder were also part of that elite corps and each recently reflected on their contributions to the album with Revolt, as part of... Read more

November 15, 2013 Video

Mister Cee Drops A 10th Anniversary Black Album Mix (Audio)

Mister Cee was one of the earliest DJs to compile the work of a young Shawn Carter and let everybody know to take notice. In the tradition of Best Of Biggie, Best Of Redman, and Best Of Mobb Deep, Big Daddy Kane's longtime DJ grabbed those early freestyles and guest... Read more

November 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh

A Look At Bill Adler’s Def Jam Records Archives (Video)

Bill Adler was among the first folks hired at fledgling early 1980s label Def Jam Records. The house that Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin built, in its earliest days, would include T. La Rock, LL Cool J, and the management of Rap superstars Run-DMC. Adler directed the label's Publicity department... Read more

November 15, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

The “Ultimate” Exit That Was Jay Z’s Black Album (Food For Thought)

Hip-Hop celebrates a grand entrance. Since the days of receiving Bad Boy Records promo-packs of The Notorious B.I.G. & Craig Mack in a McDonald’s "Big Mac" container, the dog-and-pony show known as the music industry has embraced the infinite possibilities of the new over the challenges of re-purposing the old.... Read more

November 14, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

RZA and Arsenio Hall Reminisce on 20 Years of Wu-Tang Clan (Video)

RZA sat down with Arsenio Hall to discuss 20-years of Wu-Tang Clan. Check out the video. Related: Method Man Returns to Where He Grew Up in Staten Island to talk Wu Origins (Video)... Read more

November 14, 2013 Video

Vic Mensa, A$AP Rocky & Bun B Drop Bars In Rap Fix Freestyle (Video)

Think Vic Mensa takes an appearance alongside Bun B, Kool DJ Red Alert, A$AP Rocky, A$AP Yams, Sway Calloway and Nadeska lightly? Hardly. When was the last time you've seen an MC go so far that he nearly had to be pried off the mic. A$AP, a disciple of Bun's... Read more

November 14, 2013 Fresh, Video

Crooked I Puts His Stamp on The Shady Dynasty (Audio)

Crooked I continues his monstrous run of the last few months (starting with the Hip-Hop Awards Cypher). This time, he jumps on Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia intro track. Crook is one of the few who could follow Hov and do it justice. Check it out. Related: Crooked I... Read more

November 14, 2013 Audio

Childish Gambino Chats with Porn Star Abella Anderson in 3005 (Lyric Video)

Childish Gambino has put together one of the most creative executions of a lyric video yet, for his song 3005. He fakes a live cam experience with porn star Abella Anderson (though she is very real...) as the lyrics appear as a chat between Gambino and Anderson. There's no nudity... Read more

November 14, 2013 Video

Casey Veggies and Dom Kennedy Make Perfect Ride Around Music in She in My Car (Video)

Casey Veggies releases the video for his Cali collabo with Dom Kennedy. Check out She in My Car. Related: Casey Veggies Gets Smoker-Soulful With Curren$y On Life$tyle (Audio)... Read more

November 14, 2013 Video

Esoteric, Reef The Lost Cauze, Planetary & Blacastan Stage An Old School 2 On 2 Battle (Video)

Following the smashing indie success of CZARFACE with Inspectah Deck and DJ 7L, Esoteric is on the horizons of Machete Music, a solo LP produced entirely by another New England-based Hip-Hop artist, Stu Bangas. Stu's produced joints for Sean Price, Blaq Poet, Vinnie Paz and plenty more. For the video... Read more

November 14, 2013 Fresh, Video

Blended Babies Team With Asher Roth & Chuck Inglish For See The World (Audio)

Blended Babies links with their frequent artist Asher Roth and The Cool Kids' Chuck Inglish. Together, the late '00s trio vibes out over the slow beat with slower flows. The collabo marks the opening of Blended Babies Music Group. No word on the acts yet, but this Psyche sample chop... Read more

November 14, 2013 Audio, Fresh

A$AP Rocky Continues His Artistic Visual Choices with Phoenix (Video)

Here's a beautifully shot and incredibly intense new video from A$AP Rocky. It stars Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar from The Wire) and model Joan Smalls who portray a couple that have gotten to a dark place. Check out Phoenix. Related: A$AP Rocky – Fashion Killa (Video)... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Pusha T and Rick Ross Unite in the Video for Hold On (Video)

Pusha T releases the video for his collabo with Rick Ross. Check out Hold On. Related: Pusha T Releases His Video Pain Featuring Future (Video)... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Slum Village Makes A New Orleans-Inspired Sequel To Let It Go (Video)

Slum Village shoots a lot of videos in the last three years. So much so, that they made a second look at "Let It Go." They pull a reverse Reggie Bush, and go from Detroit to New Orleans to bring some Mitten flavor to the bayou. Evolution is making its... Read more

November 13, 2013 Fresh, Video

Ka Gives A Textured Visual To Know It’s About (Video)

One of the year's most-heralded albums came self-released from Brownsville, Brooklyn MC Ka. The veteran of the Natural Elements has a unique delivery, and an approach to songwriting big on lessons and a cautionary tone. He really captured the vibe on '13's The Night's Gambit as an ill continuation of... Read more

November 13, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kendrick Lamar Freestyles for GQ as Their Rapper of the Year (Video)

GQ announced their Men of the Year last week and Kendrick Lamar was selected as Rapper of the Year. Here's a video where Kendrick spits a brief a capella verse and physically and lyrically changes his image. Related: Jhene Aiko & Kendrick Lamar Stay Ready On The Latest Link (Audio)... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Bun B Drops Knowledge and a True Freestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

The Trill OG Bun B hit the Sway in the Morning show and dropped knowledge. He spoke about the class he is currently teaching at Rice University, his new Trill OG: The Epilogue album (in stores now), how he sees the current state of Hip-Hop and more. After, he kicks... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Killer Mike & El-P’s Run The Jewels Team With Big Boi To Bring The Toys Out (Video)

Just as was the case with last year's "Big Beast," Killer Mike & El-P know how to show Southern style in their collaboration's visuals. The Dungeon Family reunion of "Banana Clipper" with Outkast's Big Boi is no exception. Muscle cars and burning rubber color this potent track from one of... Read more

November 13, 2013 Fresh, Video

Eddie B & Harry Fraud Are About The Paper, Piff & Polo Life (Album Stream)

Childhood friends Eddie B & Harry Fraud go back to the last days of the New York City Underground Hip-Hop. Since Fraud has become a go-to producer for Action Bronson, Wiz Khalifa, and French Montana's Coke Boys, the shine's started rolling in. Man Bites Dog Records signed the project, Paper,... Read more

November 13, 2013 Audio, Fresh

El Da Sensei Returns To His Graf Writer Roots On SilentSomeone’s ‘Lab 82 (Video)

The Artifacts' El Da Sensei and Tame One had a lot to do with educating early/mid-'80s babies on the importance of graffiti in Hip-Hop. Signed to Big Beat Records through Atlantic, the New Jersey duo kicked ill tracks that were about breaking into train yards, gettin' zooted, and going all-city.... Read more

November 13, 2013 Fresh, Video

The Beatnuts & Cypress Hill Link With Psycho Les & B Real’s Attack On Everything (Audio)

Two groundbreaking Latino Hip-Hop crews of the early '90s were Los Angeles' Cypress Hill, and Queens, New York's The Beatnuts. Carrying on tradition, Psycho Les of the 'Nuts and B Real of Cypress linked for a new collaboration, "Fuck 'Em If They Listening." The song basically shows both MCs bragging,... Read more

November 13, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Elzhi Delivers Under Pressure (Audio)

Here's 1 verse from a new song from Elzhi called Pressure. It will definitely leave you wanting more. Related: Elzhi performs Blue Widow in Poland (Video)... Read more

November 12, 2013 Audio

Mac Miller Kicks A Powerful, Smoky Freestyle For SBTV (Video)

The realness in Mac Miller's raps in 2013 might go overlooked by some, but there's so much there. Nonchalantly, Mac smokes a cigarette through his SBTV freestyle over The Notorious B.I.G. & 112's minimalistic "Sky's The Limit" instrumental. Mac makes the beat his own, and kicks some fly bars with... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Video

¡MAYDAY! & Tech N9ne Kick It With Kimbo Slice In Last Man Standing (Video)

Hip-Hop and martial arts have a long history of influencing each other. South Florida's ¡MAYDAY! and their label boss Tech N9ne made a survival, sports-inspired anthem in "Last Man Standing." To illustrate the message and premise of the record, the Strange Music camp welcomed Kimbo Slice to the studio, as... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Video

Isaiah Rashad Freestyles For Tony Touch (Video)

Not all freestyles are crisp and buttery. In the TV era, many MCs kept unheard (and many times heard) writtens memorized for on-the-spot beckons for free's, whether Big Tigger or Sway & King Tech. Tony Touch has long been a DJ demanding dope content from MCs. With Top Dawg Entertainment's... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Video

Young Buck Raps About a Friendship Gone Wrong on The Separation (Video)

Young Buck has been steady grinding since his return from prison. He's back with a new video for The Separation, a song where he details the consequences of betrayal by a friend. Check it out. Related: Young Buck Drops a Quick Freestyle to Let Everyone Know He’s Gettin’ Back (Video)... Read more

November 12, 2013 Video

Wu-Tang Clan Reflects On Place In Hip-Hop After 20 Years (Video)

Five members of the Clan, as well as Shyheim and Cappadonna reflect on the group's 20 years of greatness for Revolt. It's short quotes, but a nice montage that makes you catch the vibe of one of the active jewels of Rap. Masta Killa says it's "20 years at the... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Marco Polo Goes for the Glory and Finishes Hard with Masta Ace, Posdnuos, A.G. & Dion Jenkins (Audio)

Marco Polo's PA2: The Director's Cut is in stores today. Here's another strong release from the album. Check out Glory (Finish Hard) featuring Masta Ace, Posdnuos, A.G. & Dion Jenkins. Related: Stream Marco Polo’s PA 2: The Director’s Cut Which Features an All-Star Roster of 90′s Legends (Album Stream)... Read more

November 12, 2013 Audio

Astro Catches Wreck in Another Cypher (Video)

After wrecking shop at the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, Astro gets busy during another one for The Cypher Effect. His verse commences at the 8:40 mark. Check it out below. Related: Astro Speaks on His New Mixtape and Drops a Verse (Video)... Read more

November 12, 2013 Video

Boldy James & Alchemist Get Vivid For Moochie (Video)

Boldy James' My First Chemistry Set has alchemy from the longtime producer for Prodigy, Action Bronson, and Dilated Peoples. Decon unleashes a colorful, informational video-inspired visual to the Alchemist-featuring single, the Big L-inspired "Moochie." Related: Boldy James & Alchemist – Reform School ft Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis & Da$h... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Video

Method Man Returns to Where He Grew Up in Staten Island to talk Wu Origins (Video)

From Grantland: "Twenty years after releasing 'Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers,' Method Man returns to Staten Island's Park Hill Projects to detail how he became known as a rapper, the recording of the legendary album, and his special technique of serving drugs to customers in automobiles." Related: Remembering Wu-Tang Clan’s... Read more

November 11, 2013 Throwback

Nas Releases Trailer To His Shake The Dust Breakin’ Documentary (Video)

"Back in '83, I was an MC sparkin' / But I was too scared to grab them mics in da mic." - Nas Coming from Queens, Nas has always had close ties to the pillars of Hip-Hop. At a time when breakin' (or breakdancing) is seemingly endangered in its rooted... Read more

November 11, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bun B & Pimp C Wave The UGK Flag With Lil Boosie & Big K.R.I.T. On Cake (Audio)

For Trill O.G.: The Epilogue Bun B touches some unreleased Pimp C vocals and brings on two UGK proteges for "Cake." While Pimp was still alive, the group mentored Baton Rouge's Lil Boosie on the Trill Entertainment imprint (along with Webbie and others). In the last three years, Bun's helped... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Remembering Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

There are certain albums in Hip-Hop that were complete game-changers. Run-DMC’s 1983 self-titled album ripped the Disco out of Rap and, with a new look of Kangol hats, leather jackets and shell-toed Adidas along with crossed arms and boasts of college pursuits, took ownership of the culture. Five years later,... Read more

November 11, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Throwback

Jhene Aiko & Kendrick Lamar Stay Ready On The Latest Link (Audio)

Def Jam's Jhene Aiko has been in the industry for over 15 years. In addition to links with Childish Gambino and Drake, it was really her versatility as heard with Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul that showed the L.A. native's versatility, and market with today's Hip-Hop consumer. A K.Dot... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Madlib Serves Up the Ill Soul Sample for Roc Marciano on The Sacrifice (Video)

Madlib has provided sonic heat for Blu and Freddie Gibbs this year and now Roc Marciano is the benficiary. Here's the video for Marciano's soulful song, The Sacrifice. Related: Roc Marciano - The Pimpire Strikes Back (Mixtape)... Read more

November 11, 2013 Video

Casey Veggies & Dom Kennedy Remix Faces

Two of 2013's brightest stars from Southern California link up together for the "Faces Remix." Produced by Rob Halladay, this joint showcases the overlap two MCs have, despite differing messages in their solo catalogs. Who do you think, if either, will ink a major label deal first? Related: Casey Veggies... Read more

November 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Drake Channels Memphis Soul In The Visual To Worst Behavior (Video)

Drake loves having fun. Drizzy knows that audiences will laugh with him, and sometimes at him, so with Nothing Was The Same and its roll-out, he seems to be having tons of fun. For the "Worst Behavior" video, Aubrey channels his ties to Memphis, Tennessee and visually references Willie Mitchell... Read more

November 11, 2013 Fresh, Video

AFH: The Week in Video (11/10/13) (Video Playlist)

The past week in video brought Eminem's first ever live performance of Rap God, super creative videos from Vic Mensa and Deltron 3030 featuring Zach De La Rocha, as well as strong interviews with J. Cole and Black Milk. You can check those videos out and more below and, if... Read more

November 10, 2013 Playlists, Video