News Archives

Talib Kweli’s Cold Rain dropped a few weeks ago. Here’s the video.

It's a cool concept. He does his spin on The Book of Eli but the precious thing he's protecting is music. Talib has always been a heady MC. It's good to see there is still room for that in hip-hop.... Read more

January 25, 2011 Video

Lloyd Banks’ album was ridiculously slept on. The video for I Don’t Deserve You ft Jeremih is yet another banger.

Click here to cop the album, HFM2. Support good music.... Read more

January 24, 2011 Video

The Kid Daytona flew under the radar in 2010 but dude is DOPE. Get ready to hear a lot more from him in 2011. Here’s the video for his song On The Hill.

He takes it back to the nineties, kicking hot lyrics over a super-jazzy sample. You may recognize the sample from when Biggie and Jay-Z murdered it on Puff Daddy's Young G's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmYks8YKOZU Here's the original--On The Hill by Oliver Sain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-MSeohFtnM&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 24, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Ever see the movie Wildstyle? It was the first hip-hop film ever.

While it was fiction, it plays almost like a documentary, transporting you back to 1983 for a look at the early days of hip-hop culture. It covers all 4 elements of hip-hop culture, from DJing to MCing to Breaking and Graffiti, and features many of hip-hop's pioneers, including Busy Bee,... Read more

January 23, 2011 Throwback, Video

This joint with TiRon ft Asher Roth and Blu is a heatrock. It’s called The Richers and it’s got that vintage 80’s R&B sound to it.

TiRon dropped another cool joint last week. That one had a kind of playfulness to it that The Richers doesn't. The Richers is just plain spit kicking over a nice soulful track. Click here to download. This track is one of 10 on TiRon's project called Hney Mstrd. It's chock... Read more

January 22, 2011 Audio, Mixes

Pharoahe Monch’s Clap (One Day) sounds like it could have been produced by DJ Premier. The track has Primo’s signature boom bap.

The track is actually produced by M-Phazes and features Showtyme and DJ Boogie Blind. Click here to download. Pharoahe's biggest track is Simon Says (Get the f*ck up), but like Clap, much of his material has had a political theme. Here's one of my favorites, The Truth ft Common and... Read more

January 22, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Here’s some new J. Cole for you. My bet is on him to have the rookie album of the year. The song is called Pass Me By and features B.o.B. on the hook.

There were some incredible first albums last year from B.o.B., Drake and Nicki Minaj. Who's got next this year? J. Cole? Wiz Khalifa? Click here to download.... Read more

January 22, 2011 Audio

With all the beefs it’s easy to forget that sometimes 50 Cent is a really funny dude. Check out Happy New Year to hear his (dark) sense of humor on display.

"I got a dog named Oprah and a cat named Gayle..." 50 once described his music as lyrical cinema. When you listen to it from that perspective, it takes on a different tone, no? Click here to download.... Read more

January 22, 2011 Audio

Is the art of crate digging dead? Not for ?uestlove of The Legendary Roots Crew. Watch him break down the contents of his shopping bag at Amoeba Records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CrcLoIPzow&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 22, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

Kidz in the Hall are one of my favorite groups to drop in the last 5 years. Here’s a video preview for their new song Amzin (yep, that’s how it’s spelled…).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLIbxOoqjJQ&feature=player_embedded Apparently, Kidz in the Hall are also going to start dropping weekly product to set up their new album (told ya Kanye started a revolution). They're branding their campaign "Brain Candy." Click here to download the full track.... Read more

January 21, 2011 Audio, Video

When’s the last time you heard Xzibit? Check him out on Don’t Believe You by Slim the Mobster.

The track is produced by Nottz. If you missed Nottz's album, it was one of the better ones of 2010. Click here to download.... Read more

January 21, 2011 Audio

Rewin(d) – AFH Samples (Video Playlist)

We recently posted a documentary about sampling so it seems fitting to make this week's playlist one dedicated to some classic samples. You'll find music sampled by Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, DJ Quik, Biggie, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Redman, Black Moon and more. The tracklist... Read more

January 21, 2011 Audio, Playlists

It’s a good day for hip-hop. Check out the full stream of Talib Kweli’s upcoming album Gutter Rainbows.

The album drops on Tuesday, 1/25. Props to MySpace for the preview. Click here to stream the album.... Read more

January 20, 2011 Audio

It’s REALLY hard to go wrong with a Statik Selektah mixtape. Take a listen to Concepts: Selektions his new mixtape with Frank the Butcher and download it if you like what you hear.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Provided by DatPiff.com... Read more

January 20, 2011 Audio, Mixes

The art of sampling is nearly as fundamental to hip-hop as MCing. Check out this documentary on the history of sampling and its impact.

In the early days of sampling, it was done liberally and, at its finest, was used to create completely new sonic landscapes. Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us back was groundbreaking in its sound and was one of the most sample-heavy albums of all time.... Read more

January 20, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

I usually don’t post concert videos from phones but: 1. the sound quality is good on this, and 2. It’s Common…Check out his new song Believe.

Sounds like Kanye may have done the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2nFwPdFsk&feature=player_embedded#!... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

Ever heard the name Steve Stoute? You definitely know his partner…Jay-Z. Even without the Jay affiliation Steve is one of the most powerful people in hip-hop. Check out this video to see why.

This is from a series called INFLUENCERS. The description of the series is below. http://vimeo.com/18910788 INFLUENCERS In-depth Series features Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of Translation, a brand management firm that arranges strategic partnerships between Pop Culture icons (Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Lebron James, Justin Timberlake, etc.) and Fortune 500 companies.... Read more

January 19, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

Okay. Back to laid back and funky (er…was it soulful?). MeLo X’s Orgasmic Audio is both.

It gives a new meaning to G-Funk. Fans of New Jack City will recognize one of the samples here. This is the remix. Click here to download. And, here's the Christopher Williams track from New Jack City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0SZBFcuil4... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

The video for Point ‘Em Out by PHZ-Sicks ft Young Scolla and Seanny Greggs was shot on a shoe string budget but it’s dope to see dude’s making it happen no matter what.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5zo2TcPtUI&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

Soulful and laid back is the theme so let’s keep it going. Check out Good Credit by Rain. Guaranteed to have your head noddin’.

January 19, 2011 Audio

Killa Kyleon funkdafies a classic Teddy Pendergrass joint on Rubberband Bank Rolla. Need some soulful ish in your life? Look no further.

Killa Kyleon digs his old soul. On his last song Get Rich or Die Tryin', he flowed over a Sade track. The combo works for him. Click here to download. Ahmad also rocked the same sample on Back in the Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0WMSovOboY And here's the original Teddy Pendergrass classic, Love... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Outasight’s song Losing My Mind dropped last week. Here’s the video. Not surprisingly, it’s still dope…The visuals play like a day in the life of Outasight’s New York experience.

Click here for the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLCCGvhLoLs&feature=player_embedded#!... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

Ever heard of Wes Fif? He has a dope song with Big K.R.I.T. and CyHi Da Prynce called Hometeam.

Hometeam also features Dreamer of a group called Hollyweerd. Click here to download.... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio

The remix for Groundhog Day by !Mayday! is a catchy little song. It features Cee-Lo, Mack Maine and GhostWridah. Check out the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVhH__dFhQM&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

Are there any better “freestyle” sessions than the one’s on Shade 45’s Toca Tuesdays? Saigon is the latest to drop a verse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF95HoNUmFc&feature=player_embedded And this one from Cyhi Da Prynce is still one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

Tired of hearing B.o.B. on pop tracks? Check out how he goes IN on the remix of Travis Porter’s Make It Rain.

Click here to download.... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio

Terrace Martin has been releasing some heat lately. His latest is a dope underground posse cut ft Murs, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Skeme, Problem and Casey Veggies.

This one weighs in at about 9 minutes strong. There is no hook. It's just a bunch of MCs spitting over a dope beat. "Samples we can't even clear." Real hip-hop. Click here to download and click here for more Terrace Martin. The length, lack of chorus and just endless... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Reek Da Villian and Freeway kick tailor-made flows over this laid back Statik Selektah track called I’m in the Hood.

This is one of the better songs off the Statik Selektah and Freeway project, The Statik Free EP. Statik Selektah has been steady grinding the last few months. Click here to download.... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio

Big K.R.I.T.’s Neva Go Back really comes alive when accompanied by a band. Check out this ill performance with Grillade.

We posted the preview of Big K.R.I.T.'s collabo with Grillade last week. This is going to be a dope EP when it drops. Support good music.... Read more

January 19, 2011 Audio

Missed this dope article Complex did on the Top 25 Kanye West verses of 2010 but it’s worth posting late.

It includes a breakdown of each verse along with an audio snippet. It's a must for all Kanye fans. Big props to Complex for this. Click here for the article. Below is the intro. From Complex: 2010 belonged to Kanye West. He was the year's most creative, controversial, and entertaining... Read more

January 17, 2011 Food for Thought

This track for Members Only Jacket Music by The NU Revolution Camp is official. The sample is mostly violin and there’s no real bass line, so it’s a nice contrast to the usual.

Click here to download.... Read more

January 17, 2011 Audio

Here’s another video premiere. This one is courtesy of Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa for That Good. I bet you can guess the theme…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lkXxO4YgY&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 17, 2011 Video

You’ve heard Saigon’s Greatest Story Never Told. Here’s the video.

The album drops on 2/15. Support good music.... Read more

January 17, 2011 Video

Happy MLK Day. It’s a day of reflection so here’s a playlist that reflects many perspectives on the State of the Union 82 years after the birth of the man named King.

You'll find music from Common, Black Star, Nas, Actual Proof, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., 2Pac and others. Enjoy and keep the dream alive.... Read more

January 17, 2011 Playlists

AFH TV – Your 24-Hour Fix of the Best in Hip-Hop

January 16, 2011 TV

Could Araabmuzik be the next producer to dominate hip-hop? @omarakil3 thinks so after seeing his razor sharp skills on the MPC beat machine. What do you think?

The kid in this post just might have invented the next trending topic in hip-hop battling, cause he most likely won't be (or is not) the only game in town for much longer. But for now, ARAABMUZIK is definitely a beat machine savant. If you haven't heard of this guy,... Read more

January 16, 2011 Video

With the NFL playoffs heating up and DJ Premier dropping some heat on that Reks track, it’s perfect timing for this week’s PREEM-EAR by @omarakil3.

PREEM-EAR: NICK JAVAS PEPSI NFL AUDIBLE Sorry folks about the delay. The PREEM-EARs have been more delayed than a NY snow plow after the 2010 Blizzard. But being a true fan of a the grid-iron I'm back for the NFL Playoffs. Or should I say Nick Javas is back for... Read more

January 16, 2011 Video

Reks wrecks a DJ Premier beat on 25th Hour. This is vintage Primo. Check it out.

There are tags on this one but I'm betting you won't care by the end. Click here to download.... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio

Lloyd Banks is really, really underrated. He consistently puts out quality joints. Here’s one called Fly Like the Wind ft Jim Jones.

Click here to download.... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio

Wow. Copywrite go IN lyrically on Mega Mega. Here’s the video ft Camu Tao, Tage, Jakki and RJD2.

January 16, 2011 Video

Saigon’s album is sounding like it’s going to be a classic. Here’s another hot joint called Clap from the forthcoming Greatest Story Never Told. It features Faith Evans singing the best gospel heard on a track since Jesus Walks.

Once again, Just Blaze provides the fire on the track. Click here to download. The Greatest Story Never Told drops on 2/15. Here's some more of that gospel rap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYF7H_fpc-g&ob=av2el And, here's an interview with Saigon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSq7ocQm41s&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Actual Proof’s Talented Tenth album dropped on Dr. King’s birthday. There have been a lot of great leaks from this one the last few days. Here’s one more and a link to download the album. They’re giving the album away for free but it would have been worth buying.

Click here to download the album from DJ Booth's site. Here's the official description of the album: Fresh off their DJ Booth approved single Breathe, Sundown and Enigma, together known as Actual Proof, are proud to present The Talented Tenth. The project is comprised of two sides - The Dr.... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio, Mixes

Something about TiRon and Ayomari’s Good Food reminds me of The Pharcyde. What do you think?

Both groups have similarly light-hearted, melodic flows and the ability to rhyme about silly subjects but still keep them engaging. Click here to download. And here's a little Pharcyde for ya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJunijzmjks&ob=av2el... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

DJ Khaled’s Welcome to My Hood will be rocking the clubs for a minute. It features Rick Ross, Plies, Lil Wayne and T-Pain.

Click here to download.... Read more

January 16, 2011 Audio

This week’s playlist is an ode to some of the G-Funk greats of the 90s. Some will be expected–Dre, Snoop, DJ Quik, Ice Cube–but there may be a couple of surprises that make your head nod a little harder.

I was catching up on some reading today and finally read the Wiz Khalifa article in the October 2010 issue of XXL magazine (the whole issue was incredible). There was a line in the Wiz article that struck me. It was something to the effect of Wiz having moved from... Read more

January 14, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback, Video

This may be blasphemy but the hook on Rittz’s Fulla Sh*t sounds just like Pimp C. It’s fitting coming from a dude who named his album White Jesus. This song is TOUGH. It features Big K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf. One of the strongest to drop in a while.

Rittz actually has the best verse on the song, and that's saying something with K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf on the track.... Read more

January 13, 2011 Audio

Statik Selektah drops a cool animated video on a track that sounds like it could have been done in the mid-90s (and I mean that in the best possible way) for the song 17 ft Mac Miller and JFK.

This is from Statik Selektah's album called Leftovers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNYFSE3AvTI&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 13, 2011 Video

Here’s a 4th track from the upcoming Actual Proof project called The Talented Tenth. These dudes are serious. Serious lyrics, serious beats, serious talent. This one is called The March.

The track is produced by Khrysis who Little Brother fans might remember from some quality collaborations. If you missed the other Actual Proof leaks, click here. Or, wait to get the Talented Tenth album which drops on 1/15, MLK's bday. It sounds like it will definitely be worth it. Support... Read more

January 13, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

It’s been a good week for Chicago MCs. Rockie Fresh and Naledge from Kidz in the Hall make it even better. Check out the video for Living.

Kids These Days kicked off the week showing there's room for more than one hip-hop band and Rockie Fresh ends it showing there are more Chicago MCs than those named Common and Kanye. Check out Living: http://vimeo.com/18327852... Read more

January 13, 2011 Video

How could I not post a new joint by Showbiz and KRS-ONE ? This one is called We Love This and also ft Fred Tha Godson

Click here to download. And, here are a couple of classics from Showbiz and the blastmaster KRS-ONE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_jpVH3nlZo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDyYHIDJ1CQ... Read more

January 13, 2011 Audio, The Bridge, Throwback