News Archives

Here’s a playlist celebrating the legendary career of Mary J. Blige (Audio)

Mary J. Blige is not an MC...but she has been the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul for more than 20 years. She is the next artist we salute as part of our Living Legends series where we celebrate the careers of our hip-hop icons while we still have them. Here's a... Read more

September 8, 2012 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream: The Air Preview (Audio)

Miguel is dropping a new album called Kaleidoscope Dream in October. Here's a 3-song sampler from the album, including one where he rides the same sample Eminem did for My Name Is (see below). Check it out. Related: Miguel – Adorn (Video) Here's the original track sampled on track #2. ... Read more

September 8, 2012 Audio

Run-DMC performed last week at the Made in America Festival and ripped through a bunch of their classics. If you missed it, here’s the full set (Video)

Missed this earlier in the week, but had to post it. Check out the video. Related: Back in the day playlist of 80′s hip-hop classics from Melle Mel, Rakim, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Kurtis Blow, Whodini and more (Audio)... Read more

September 7, 2012 Video

Jon Connor – The Backroom Freestyle on 106 & Park (Video)

Jon Connor just tore down The Backroom with the verse he spit. He attacked the mic like he was fighting for his life. Be clear. Dude is FOR REAL. Check out the video. Related: Jon Connor – While You Were Sleeping (Mixtape)... Read more

September 7, 2012 Video

Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q interview with Page 31 (Video)

Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock spoke to Page 31 about the timing of a Black Hippy album (no time soon...), voting, how dope Kendrick's album is about to be and more. Check out the video. Related: Jay Rock - Yola (Audio)... Read more

September 7, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Rittz – Questions 2012 (Video)

Earlier in the year, we named Rittz (Tech N9ne's newest signee to Strange Music) one of the MCs to have the biggest come up for a reason--dude has serious skills. If you are not up on him, this video of him wrecking the mic over the beat from Tech N9ne's... Read more

September 7, 2012 Video

DMX – Already (Video)

DMX has a new album called Undisputed dropping next week. Here's the first video from the project. Check out Already. Related: DMX performs at Rock the Bells 2012 (Video)... Read more

September 7, 2012 Video

Freddie Gibbs – The Hard ft Dana Williams

Freddie Gibbs slows it down with his new song The Hard...but it's still gangsta. Check it out. Related: Freddie Gibbs – Bout It Bout It ft Kirko Bangz... Read more

September 7, 2012 Audio

E-40 vs. Nardwaur (Video)

E-40's interview with Nardwar is thorough, even by Nardwaur's standards. E-40 goes deep about his history and music old and new. This is a must for E-40 fans. Check it out. Related: Nardwaur vs. DJ Premier (Video)... Read more

September 7, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Skyzoo – Jansport Strings (Video)

Here's the video for Skyzoo's 9th Wonder-produced Jansport Strings. Check it out. Related: Skyzoo – Theo vs JJ (Dreams vs Reality) (Mixtape)... Read more

September 6, 2012 Video

Mystikal & DJ Quik in the studio (Video)

Last week Mannie Fresh & Yasiin Bey dropped a video documenting their unexpected yet dope collabo. This week? It's Mystikal and DJ Quik's turn. Check out this behind the scenes video of them in the studio working on what sounds like it could be something special. Related: Here’s a playlist... Read more

September 6, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Big Sean, Jay-Z & Kanye West – Clique

Big Sean, Jayy-Z & Kanye West link on the latest G.O.O.D. Music release. Check out Clique. Related: Kanye West & Pusha T - New God Flow (Audio)... Read more

September 6, 2012 Audio

Joey Bada$$ – Rejex (Mixtape)

Joey Bada$$ drops off his 2nd mixtape of the year. This is a coda to his 1999 mixtape called Rejex because these cuts didn't make the first mixtape. Far from throwaways, these tracks are of the same quality as those on 1999--more vintage 90's beats laced with Joey's throwback flow.... Read more

September 6, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Jean Grae – Kill Screen

Here's a banger from Jean Grae (#sounderrated). Gamers from back in the day will recognize the theme song immediately. Check out Kill Screen. Related: Pharoahe Monch & Jean Grae experience South Africa (Video)... Read more

September 6, 2012 Audio

Xzibit – Up Out the Way ft E-40

Here's some more new music from Xzibit. Check out Up Out the Way featuring E-40. Related: Xzibit – Louis XIII ft King T & Tha Alkaholiks (Prod. Dr. Dre)... Read more

September 6, 2012 Audio

Big Sean – Detroit (Mixtape)

Here's Big Sean's new mixtape. It sports features from J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Royce Da 5'9" and more. You can listen to and download all of Detroit below. Related: Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz & Pusha T – Mercy (Video) Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com... Read more

September 5, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Throwback: Classic Audio of Rakim and Biz Markie Rhyming in High School (Audio)

Wow. Wow. WOW. Here's a super rare gem--audio footage of Biz Markie and Rakim rhyming in high school. It's so vintage Rakim rhymed under a different name...SUPER FRESH. This is from a project called the Lunchroom Battles. Check it out. Related: Rakim vs Big Daddy Kane: the playlist that settles... Read more

September 5, 2012 Audio, Throwback

Curt@ins – Ruthle$$ ft Schoolboy Q

Here's a new joint from Curt@ins. Check out Ruthle$$ featuring Schoolboy Q. Related: Schoolboy Q - Party (Audio)... Read more

September 5, 2012 Audio

Q-Tip tells the story of writing his first rhyme (Video)

Here's a cool video of Q-Tip telling the story of the first time he over wrote a rhyme. This is an outtake from Ice-T's Something From Nothing documentary. Check it out. Related: Q-Tip – Black Fist Friday Mix (Mixtape)... Read more

September 5, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Ryan Leslise does 5 Fingers of Death on the Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Ryan Leslie doing Sway's 5 Fingers of Death? He just might surprise you. Check out the video. Related: Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul – 5 Fingers of Death (Video)... Read more

September 5, 2012 Video

Blu & Exile – The Great Escape ft Homeboy Sandman & ADAD

Here's some new music from Blu & Exile. Check out The Great Escape featuring Homeboy Sandman & ADAD. Related: Blu – Rap Dope (Audio)... Read more

September 5, 2012 Audio

Slaughterhouse – Goodbye with Fat Joe

Fat Joe adds a heartfelt tribute to Chris Lighty, his longtime manager, on Slaughterhouse's Goodbye. Check it out. Related: DJ Wonder Chris Lighty tribute mix (Audio)... Read more

September 4, 2012 Audio

Tech N9ne – E.B.A.H. (Video)

Tech N9ne has a new EP called E.B.A.H (Evil Brain Angel Heart) dropping soon. Here's the first video for the title track. Check it out. Related: ¡Mayday! – Badlands (Seven Remix) ft Tech N9ne (Audio)... Read more

September 4, 2012 Video

Nas performs DJ Khaled’s Hip-Hop live at Rock the Bells (Video)

Nas brought out Scarface during his set at Rock the Bells last night. Face ran through My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me and Guess Who's Back, and he and Nas ended with their instant classic duet Hip-Hop. Check out the footage below. Related: Nas - Bye Baby (Video)... Read more

September 3, 2012 Video

Lil Wayne – Dedication 4 (Mixtape)

Lil Wayne drops the 2nd high profile mixtape of the day. You can listen to and download Dedication 4 below. Related: Keyshia Cole – Enough of No Love ft Lil Wayne (Video) Download Mixtape... Read more

September 3, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Talib Kweli & Z-Trip – Attack the Block (Mixtape)

Here's a brand new mixtape from Talib Kweli. You can listen to and download all of Attack the Block below. Related: Talib Kweli - Push Thru ft Curren$y & Kendrick Lamar (Video) Download Mixtape... Read more

September 3, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Blu – Rap Dope

Here's the latest from Blu. Check out Rap Dope. Related: Blu & Exile – A Man (Audio)... Read more

September 2, 2012 Audio

Here’s a playlist of some of the best new (mostly) hip-hop in August. You’ll hear songs from Nas & Scarface, Slaughterhouse, Kendrick Lamar, Talib Kweli, Rapsody, Xzibit, Ras Kass, ATCQ & The Pharcyde, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Asher Roth, Childish Gambino, Murs & Fashawn, Stalley, Dwele and many more (Audio Playlist)

It picks up in the middle, but mostly this is music to vibe to. Check it out. Related: Best of July 2012 (Audio Playlist)... Read more

September 1, 2012 Audio, Playlists

Made in America Festival (Live Stream)

Jay-Z's Made in America Festival is taking place in Philadelphia this weekend. D'Angelo, Jay Electronica, MMG, Janelle Monae and others performed earlier and Jay-Z performs around 9:30. You can check out a live stream here. Related: Jay-Z – From Marcy to Barclays (Video)... Read more

September 1, 2012 Video

DJ Premier in Nashville (Video)

Here's a beautifully shot video of DJ Premier rocking a party in Nashville. Check it out. Related: The making of DJ Khaled's Hip-Hop featuring Scarface, Nas & DJ Premier (Video)... Read more

September 1, 2012 Video

Lil Fame (of M.O.P.) and Termanology – Fizzyology (Video)

Lil Fame of (M.O.P.) and Termanology are doing an album together under the name Fizzyology. The album drops in November and will feature will Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Bun B, Freeway, M.O.P., DJ Premier, Statik Selektah and more. Here's a video for the title track which was produced by The... Read more

September 1, 2012 Video

The impact of Chris Lighty

The hip-hop community is still reeling from the sudden and tragic loss of Chris Lighty on Thursday. Here are links to 2 of the better articles written about both the impact Lighty had on hip-hop culture and the man, himself. First is an article written by Rob Kenner of Complex... Read more

September 1, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought

Here’s a video documenting the making of an incredibly unexpected but extremely dope collabo between Yasiin Bey and Mannie Fresh. The track is called OMFGOD and it’s about to be a PROBLEM. Check it out (Video)

These are parts 1, 2 and 3 of 4 videos. Related: Yasiin Bey recites Muhammad Ali's Rumble in the Jungle poem (Video)... Read more

September 1, 2012 Video

Slaughterhouse – Throw It Away ft Swizz Beatz (Video)

Here's the latest video from Slaughterhouse. Check out Throw It Away featuring Swizz Beatz. Related: Slaughterhouse - Throw That ft Eminem (Audio)... Read more

August 31, 2012 Video

Stalley – Last Day on the MT ft Rashad

People who have been down with Stalley for a minute may know him as the singer on Stalley's single Slapp as well as the producer of the vast majority of the Lincoln Way Nights album. The 2 reunite on Last Day on the MT. The result is the same: soulful... Read more

August 31, 2012 Audio

J-Live – As I Start (Over) (Video)

Here's a new video from J-Live. He's still spittin' that flame. Check out As I Start (Over). Related: J-Live - The Authentic (Video) As I Start (Over) (Single) by J-Live... Read more

August 31, 2012 Video

Roc Marciano – Sweet Nothings

Roc Marciano slips into a laid-back flow reminiscent of Raekwon over a soulful flute-driven track. Check out Sweet Nothings. Related: M.A.R.S. (Cormega, Action Bronson, Saigon & Roc Marciano) – M.A.R.S. (Video)... Read more

August 31, 2012 Audio

Big Boi – She Said OK ft Theophilus London (Video)

Here's Big Boi's new video for She Said OK featuring Theophilus London. Check it out. Oddly, I was cool with posting this video but not this one. Thoughts? Related: The making of Big Boi's She Said OK video (Video)... Read more

August 31, 2012 Video

Here’s the video for Nas’ autobiographical Bye Baby. True to the song, it depicts many of the scenes Nas describes related to his split with Kelis. Powerful ish. Check it out (Video)

Related: Nas speaks on Kelis’ thoughts about the Life is Good album cover (Video)... Read more

August 30, 2012 Video

Various Artists – Closed Sessions Vol. 2 (Mixtape)

We've dropped a few joints from the Closed Sessions Vol. 2 mixtape over the last few weeks. Now you can listen to and download the whole thing which features songs from Blu, Action Bronson, Freddie Gibbs, Sir Michael Rocks, Raekwon and many more. Check it out below. Related: Download the... Read more

August 30, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Jon Connor – Showoff Radio Freestyle (Video)

Jon Connor is a lyrical monster. Here's a video of him doing a freestyle on Showoff Radio where he did just that: mashed the mic off the dome. Related: Jon Connor - Never Left (Video)... Read more

August 30, 2012 Video

Casual & J Rawls – Hier-O-Dot ft Souls of Mischief and MHz

Here's another Hieroglyphics reunion. This time Casual teams up with Souls of Mischief. Check out Hier-O-Dot. Related: Casual & J Rawls - Respect Game Or Expect Flames ft Del the Funky Homosapien (Video)... Read more

August 30, 2012 Audio

Brother Ali – Mourning in America (Video)

"This is the title track to my new album, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color. The first half of the album highlights and critiques the dire situation in which we live. The second half outlines the tremendous opportunity we have to re-imagine and reform our society. This song is... Read more

August 30, 2012 Video

Pac Div – Black Acura ft Mac Miller & Raven Sorvino

Here's a tough new minimalist track from Pac Div--nothing but beats & rhymes. Check out Black Acura featuring Mac Miller & Raven Sorvino. Related: Pac Div - Bank (Audio)... Read more

August 29, 2012 Audio

Skyzoo – Theo vs JJ (Dreams vs Reality) (Mixtape)

Skyzoo dropped a hot new mixtape with a dope concept. The tape is split into 2 parts. On part 1, he rhymes the perspective of Theo Huxtable—privileged, strong family, etc. On part 2, he takes on the persona of JJ Evans, rhyming more aggressively and with the hunger of someone... Read more

August 29, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Happy Birthday Michael Jackson – Mister Cee Tribute Mix (Mixtape)

Happy birthday to the King of Pop. As has become his custom on meaningful dates for fallen legends, Mister Cee did a tribute mix. You can listen to the whole thing below. Related: DJ Jazzy Jeff's Micheal Jackson Tribute (Mixtape)... Read more

August 29, 2012 Audio

Showbiz & AG – Every Time I Touch The Mic ft OC & Frank V

Here's a new track from Show & AG featuring OC and Frank V. Check out Every Time I Touch the Mic. Related: Showbiz & AG - Walk With Me (Audio)... Read more

August 29, 2012 Audio

Trae Tha Truth – F*cked Up World ft Z-Ro & Noble (Video)

Trae Tha Truth updates a Makaveli classic with F*cked Up World featuring Z-Ro & Noble. Check out the video. Related: Trae Tha Truth – I’m On 2.0 ft Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, B.o.B., Tyga, Bun B, Gudda Gudda and Jadakiss (Audio)... Read more

August 29, 2012 The Bridge, Video

Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era Cypher (Video)

Here's a good old-fashioned cypher from Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era crew. Make no mistake, Joey is not the only one with skills in the crew. The cypher kicks in at about the 2:20 mark. Check out the video. Related: Joey Bada$$ - 1999 (Mixtape)... Read more

August 28, 2012 Video

Big K.R.I.T. interview with Ashley Outrageous (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. talks with Ashley Outrageous about working with J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar on Khaled's album, his relationship with Big Boi, performing on national television and his favorite country ish. Check out the video. Related: DJ Khaled - They Ready ft Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar (Audio)... Read more

August 28, 2012 Food for Thought, Video