News Archives

Kooley High Reach For The Ceiling In The Group’s Newest Video

The “Hip-Hop group” seems to be an endangered species in today’s landscape. There are plenty of collectives comprised of loosely-associated solo MCs, or super-group side projects. However, acts with more than two members are becoming rarer and rarer. Enter Kooley High, a North Carolina Hip-Hop crew who are driven by... Read more

March 13, 2018 Ready Or Not

Can You Hear Me Now? Lil Yachty Freestyles With Clear Intent (Video)

Lil Yachty has become one of the most recognized rappers under the legal drinking age. He has endorsement deals, a video approaching 120 million plays, a Top 5 charting album, a Grammy nomination, and platinum singles alongside D.R.A.M. and Kyle. The Quality Control/Capitol Records artist is not without his critics.... Read more

March 13, 2018 Video

Bumpy Knuckles & Snoop Are Proud To Be O.G.s & Share Their Wisdom (Audio)

With over 50 years in the Rap game combined, Snoop Dogg and Bumpy Knuckles (aka Freddie Foxxx) have immense credibility. They are two MCs who have navigated several eras of Hip-Hop's evolution. Each can spit hard rhymes that chin-check opponents and they both have reputations for offering righteousness. It all... Read more

March 13, 2018 Audio

Craig Mack Has Passed Away At The Age Of 47

MARCH 15 UPDATE: The New York Times has confirmed that Craig Mack was 47 years old at the time of his passing. The Colleton County coroner reports that the rapper died of "natural causes." ORIGINAL MARCH 13 STORY: Craig Mack, the artist who, with his single “Flava In Ya Ear,"... Read more

March 13, 2018 News

9th Wonder Speaks On Why Bruno Mars’ Critics Are Fakin’ The Funk

Last month, while accepting his Grammy for "Album Of The Year" for 24K Magic, Bruno Mars made it a point to address the other nominees by name. He shouted out "Kung-Fu Kenny, JAY-Z and Gambino," saying to them "You guys are the reason I'm in the studio pulling my hair out...thank... Read more

March 12, 2018 Food for Thought

For The 1st Time Ever, The #1 & 2 Films In The Country Were Directed By Black Filmmakers

A series of historical firsts for the film industry took place this past weekend, thanks to Black Panther and A Wrinkle In Time. The films are directed by Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay, respectively. Black Panther continued its reign hovering atop of the rankings as #1 at the box office... Read more

March 12, 2018 News, TV/Film

The Coup’s Boots Riley’s Debut Film Looks Like It May Be 2018’s Breakout Movie (Video)

For 25 years, Boots Riley has injected satire into his social, political, and racial commentary into the music of The Coup. In a celebrated catalog, songs like "5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO," "Fat Cats Bigga Fish," and "Me And Jesus The Pimp In A '79 Grenada Last Night"... Read more

March 12, 2018 News, TV/Film, Video

Scarface Is Teaching High School Students About The Music Business

For more than 30 years, Scarface has recorded some of the most compelling Hip-Hop music in the genre. In 2018, Brad Jordan is passing on what he's learned and teaching some tricks of the music trade to students at Houston, Texas' Jack Yates High School. There, the multi-platinum member of... Read more

March 12, 2018 News

This Mix Takes JAY-Z’s Most Powerful Lyrics & Blends Them Into A New Masterpiece (Audio)

Throughout the ages, many DJs have created mixtapes that artfully honor JAY-Z's vast catalog. In November, MICK and Chi Duly imagined a world in audio where Jay and DJ Premier expanded upon their stellar 1990s collaborative chemistry. The resulting 7:18 is a one-hour crowd-pleaser, placing new and old Hov' verses... Read more

March 12, 2018 Audio, Mixes

Martin Shkreli Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison For Fraud

Martin Shkreli earned himself no favors in the Hip-Hop community when he came into possession of the Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, an LP of which there is reportedly only one copy in existence. The former hedge-fund manager and pharmaceutical business investor (coined "Pharma Bro") first made waves when... Read more

March 9, 2018 News

Roc Marciano’s New Album Is The Latest Indie Uppercut To The Streaming Model

Today (March 9), Roc Marciano's RR2: The Bitter Dose became available on all major streaming platforms. The album released late last month, and was contained to Roc's online store for download sale and physical copy pre-order. As a 20-year Hip-Hop veteran, it was calculated move made by the former Flipmode... Read more

March 9, 2018 Food for Thought

David Banner Releases A Powerful New Video From One Of The Best Rap Albums Of 2017

David Banner released a stellar album in 2017's The God Box. Mississippi's mainstream Rap pioneer involved Black Thought, Big K.R.I.T., CeeLo Green, Raheem DeVaughn, and Tito Lo were all involved in the Banner Vision/EMPIRE LP. A focal point of the album (presently included on the official Ambrosia For Heads playlist)... Read more

March 9, 2018 Video

Maseo Details How Beats Stetsasonic Rejected Helped Form De La Soul’s 1st Album (Video)

De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising is a benchmark Hip-Hop album. The introduction of Posdnuos, Trugoy (nka Dave), and Maseo proved to be a crucial link in the evolution of Native Tongues. It also showcased the producer who Maseo today credits as De La's "fourth member." Following the... Read more

March 8, 2018 Video

Phonte Has Made An Elite Album For The 99% Of Grown Hip-Hop Fans

It's been more than six years since Phonte released his solo debut. Late 2012's Charity Starts At Home was critically-acclaimed and seemed to indicate that Tigallo was on his way to creating a stellar solo catalog beyond his celebrated work with Little Brother and Foreign Exchange. It did not quite... Read more

March 8, 2018 Audio, Food for Thought

Craig G Returns To Battle Rap & He’s Ready To Juice The Competition

Much like many aspects of Hip-Hop, Battle Rap today looks (and sounds) a lot different than it did when it originated. With the help of some of the pioneers, like MC Craig G, Heads may get new glimpses at its past glory. The documented freestyle master and Juice Crew member... Read more

March 8, 2018 News

U-God Says The $2 Million Wu-Tang Album Ain’t Nuthin’ To Get Excited Over (Video)

Wu-Tang Clan co-founder U-God is the latest guest on The Breakfast Club. This week, the Staten Island, New York MC published his memoir, Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang. According to Charlamagne Tha God, who read the text, Lamont Hawkins' pre-music days may be the most compelling aspect of the... Read more

March 8, 2018 Video

Tech N9ne Knows The Plan To End Racism But Questions Whether We Can Follow It (Video)

Last Friday (March 2), Tech N9ne released his album, The Planet. It is a fitting title for the 46-year-old Kansas City, Missouri MC-turned-mogul. With platinum and gold singles now under his belt, Aaron Dontez Yates labored to create a bustling universe that existed beyond commercial radio, music video channels, and... Read more

March 8, 2018 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Interview, Video

Vince Staples’ CrowdFunding Campaign Is Doomed To Fail & That’s The Best Thing For Hip-Hop

The Hip-Hop industry is adapting to the times. A-list rappers release albums through cellphone carriers, cryptocurrency is accepted as a form of payment by artists, and the idea of a project being for sale is being challenged by some of the genre’s top earners. Recently, an expert panel discussing emerging... Read more

March 7, 2018 Food for Thought, News, Video

Erick Sermon Is Executive Producing Redman’s “Muddy Waters Too” & Says It Will Be Classic (Audio)

Approaching 30 years since EPMD released Strictly Business, Erick Sermon is in the midst of a creative renaissance. Last month, the Green-Eyed Bandit secured more than $60,000 of crowd-funding for his upcoming ninth solo album (now titled Vernia). As E-Double gets underway on that release promised to feature Method Man,... Read more

March 7, 2018 Audio

Luke Cage Season 2 Episodes Are Titled After Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Songs

Fans of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth now have more incentive to watch the upcoming season of Luke Cage. Viewers of the Marvel series know that its soundtrack is heavily inspired by 1980s and 1990s Hip-Hop. Launching June 22, all of Season 2's episodes are titled after Pete Rock &... Read more

March 7, 2018 TV, TV/Film

Will & Jaden Smith Pledge To Provide Water To Flint Until The Crisis Stops

Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith, are lending a hand to a very important, and life-threatening cause. Yesterday (March 5), the company founded by the father-and-son team, Just Water, donated 9,200 bottles of water to the city of Flint, Michigan. The action comes after a local report that five... Read more

March 6, 2018 News

ODB’s Estate To Launch “Dirty Coin” Cryptocurrency & It’s For The Children (Video)

Late Wu-Tang Clan member O.D.B. will be among the growing list of Hip-Hop artists to have their own cryptocurrency. The money will be appropriately called Dirty Coin and used to purchase his music and officially authorized merchandise. The announcement was made by O.D.B.'s son and aspiring rapper Young Dirty during... Read more

March 6, 2018 News, Video

The Kennedy Center Put Q-Tip In Charge Of Hip-Hop Culture & He Built A Dream Team To Help

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. has announced the inauguration of its Hip Hop Culture Council, and the names are nothing short of heavyweights. According to the center's Medium page, the council is comprised of Hip Hop luminaries from across various elements of the culture.... Read more

March 6, 2018 News

Suge Knight Defense Attorneys Charged With Conspiracy

Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight is currently on trial for the vehicular hit-and-run murder of music executive Terry Carter, among a list of other charges. If convicted the Compton, California native and onetime music mogul could face life in prison. Despite his incarceration for more than two years,... Read more

March 6, 2018 News

Eric B. & Rakim Announce First Tour Dates In 25 Years

Last July, Eric B. & Rakim reunited on stage for the 30th anniversary of Paid In Full. At Harlem's Apollo Theater, the Hip-Hop legends added a new chapter in their history, performing a plethora of hits from their early catalog. Ambrosia For Heads filmed from the audience as more than... Read more

March 6, 2018 News

Sade Releases Her First Song In 7 Years & It’s Spectacular (Audio)

Already, 2018 has been a surprisingly big year for soundtracks. Just when that appeared to be a medium misplaced in the decade, some of music's most powerful voices are proving otherwise. Last month, Kendrick Lamar and his Top Dawg family hit fans with the musical companion to Black Panther. The... Read more

March 6, 2018 Audio

Martin Shkreli Must Forfeit The Only Copy Of Wu-Tang Clan’s “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” LP

After previous speculation and deliberation, Martin Shkreli is finally going to have to turn over the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin as part of his forthcoming criminal sentence. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled today (March 5) that in order to help pay off a $7.36 million... Read more

March 5, 2018 News

Rick Ross Is Home From The Hospital & Continuing Treatment

On Thursday (March 1) Rap star Rick Ross was rushed to a Miami, Florida hospital after a suspected heart attack. Today (March 5), after a quietly concerning weekend, the Maybach Music Group founder is reported to have returned home. TMZ reports that the 42-year-old rapper returned to his residence early... Read more

March 5, 2018 News

Herbie Hancock Will Rock It With Kendrick, Snoop & Common On Next LP

Herbie Hancock is a 14-time Grammy Award recipient (as well as an Oscar winner) that many cite as a provider of their introduction to Hip-Hop and DJ'ing on television. Although the Jazz impresario's recording career began at the top of the '60s, Hip-Hop and Hancock helped each other achieve mainstream... Read more

March 5, 2018 News

Common Did Not Win Another Oscar But His Freestyle Still Gave Him Glory (Video)

Common did not win his second Oscar award last night (March 4). The Chicago, Illinois MC, actor, and author was nominated for “Best Original Song" for his "Stand Up For Something," which appeared in the film, Marshall. That category (also featuring a nomination for past Common collaborator) Mary J. Blige... Read more

March 5, 2018 Lifestyle, News, Video

Ladybug Mecca, Prince Paul & Don Newkirk Bring The Warm Sounds Of Brazil To Brooklyn (Video)

BROOKZILL!, the quartet made up of Digable Planets' Ladybug Mecca, legendary producer Prince Paul, keyboardist Don Newkirk, and Brazilian MC Rodrigo Brandão, is a globally-minded outfit. Nearly two years after their album releases, this exciting group is still spinning its powerful messages. Their 2016 effort Throwback To The Future bridged... Read more

March 5, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Big K.R.I.T.’s First Recording Proves He’s Always Had Soul For Real (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. brings his double-LP 4Eva Is A Mighty Long Time (deemed the best 2017 Hip-Hop album by the readers of Ambrosia For Heads) to NPR's Washington, D.C. offices. There, the Meridian, Mississippi MC/producer put on a Tiny Desk concert that is anything but small. Performing “Mixed Messages,” “Keep The... Read more

March 5, 2018 Video

The Book of Ra. Rakim Confirms His Memoir Is Coming This Year. (Audio)

Many of Hip-Hop's best-known and greatest MCs have released autobiographies and memoirs. JAY-Z published Decoded. LL Cool J (I Make My Own Rules), Ice-T (The Ice Opinion), Snoop Dogg (Tha Doggfather), Prodigy (My Infamous Life), Eminem (The Way That I Am), Common (One Day It'll All Make Sense), 50 Cent... Read more

March 5, 2018 Audio, News

Jordan Peele Is The 1st Black Screenwriter To Win The Oscar For Best Original Screenplay

Just two years after the #OscarsSoWhite movement that blasted Hollywood for a lack of diversity in Academy Award recognition of people of color, the pendulum has swung in a massive way. In theaters, Black Panther continues to make history, leading the box office for the third straight weekend with $65.7... Read more

March 4, 2018 News

M.O.P.’s Lil Fame Is Releasing His 1st Solo Album But He’s Still Mashing Out MCs (Audio)

Twenty-five years ago, M.O.P. asked "How About Some Hardcore?" They have been offering it ever since. Lil Fame and Billy Danze appear to have one of Rap's strongest group bonds. The Brownsville, Brooklyn duo has remained in tact through the independent grind, mainstream recognition surrounding 2000's Warriorz, and fruitless tenures... Read more

March 3, 2018 Audio

Rick Ross Is Reportedly On Life Support After Being Rushed To The Hospital

Rick Ross has reportedly been checked into a Miami hospital after he was found unresponsive at his residence in the same city early Thursday (March 2) morning. According to TMZ, there was an emergency 911 call made because the Maybach Music label boss had been initially unconscious when he was... Read more

March 2, 2018 News

Gifted Gab & Blimes Brixton Can Serve 99% Of Other MCs, Male Or Female (Video)

Gifted Gab and Blimes Brixton have talent. It's undeniable. The two women, from Seattle and California's Bay Area, respectively, show off their braggadocios bars on their latest collaborative video "Come Correct." With this video single, it's easy to see why the two gravitated toward one another in the first place.... Read more

March 2, 2018 Ready Or Not

Kool Keith Shows He Can Still Deliver Critical Beatdowns On A New Dr. Octagon Song (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight 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, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to go back... Read more

March 2, 2018 Audio

Sean Price & Prodigy’s Posthumously Released Collabo Gets An Animated Send-Off (Video)

Last year, Sean Price's fourth solo album, Imperius Rex, released. The Duck Down Music LP was eventually included in Ambrosia For Heads' "Best 15 Hip-Hop Albums" of 2017 list. It was a bittersweet honor for a collection of songs released two years after the death of the beloved MC and... Read more

March 2, 2018 Video

DJ Jazzy Jeff Explains Why Chance The Rapper Would Be A Great New Fresh Prince (Video)

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air broadcast its 148th and final episode on May 20, 1996. At that time, Will Smith was 27 years old and progressing into film for what has proven to be an incredible entertainment career. The MC-turned-actor from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had won two Grammy Awards. He... Read more

March 2, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

Saba Explores Social Anxiety & Depression In Powerful New Video

For any creator who considers social anxiety a personal adversary, one of life’s grandest conundrums is embracing the opportunity that comes along with the perception of your art, while simultaneously being immune to opinion crippling your creative process. Anxiety, depression, and digesting hardship are lonely climates to navigate, and can... Read more

March 2, 2018 Video

Phonte’s Second Solo LP Is Finally Here & It’s All Good News

Nearly seven years after the release of Phonte's last solo LP, Charity Starts at Home, Hip-Hop fans can rejoice: New Tigallo! New Tigallo! New Tigallo! Earlier today (March 1), the rapper and singer alerted Heads to what is actually great news. No News Is Good News, the much anticipated solo... Read more

March 2, 2018 Audio

De La Makes A Brilliant Guest Appearance On A Song That’s Truly From The Soul (Audio)

London-based singer-songwriter Tom Misch has released two beat tapes and two EPs since bursting onto the music scene in 2014. Primarily he produces, plays guitar and DJs, but now he's adding Hip-Hop to his musical arsenal, enlisting De La Soul on his latest single. "It Runs Through Me" meshes Misch's... Read more

March 1, 2018 Audio, Fresh

What’s Better Than 1 Billionaire? 2. JAY-Z Passes Puffy On The Forbes List

Diddy once famously claimed that it's all about the Benjamin's. Well, now he and JAY-Z are closing in on about 10,000,000 of them. Both are atop Forbes' annual "Wealthiest Artists of Hip-Hop list." For years the mogul also known as Puff Daddy held the crown, but at this time, it's... Read more

March 1, 2018 News

Hip-Hop Needs To Take A Stand On Gun Violence. We’ll Go First.

Since the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that took the lives of 17 people, the discourse around gun violence, and how to lessen it, is as engaged as it’s ever been. The fact that the story has stayed in the news cycle... Read more

February 28, 2018 Food for Thought

Tory Lanez Delivers The Best Freestyle Of The Year, So Far (Video)

Tory Lanez capped off 2017 with one of the most notable live, on-air freestyles of the year when he went off for eight minutes on Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 series. Now in early 2018, Lanez appears on Sway In The Morning and topped that showing—not only by spitting for one... Read more

February 28, 2018 Video

Wu-Tang Clan To Perform 36 Chambers At 2018 Soundset Festival

Rhymesayers Entertainment's 11th annual Soundset lineup is announced. For 2018, the Minneapolis, Minnesota Hip-Hop festival will feature some of RSE's founders and quite active artists. Event co-organizers Atmosphere will perform on the heels of reissuing their 1997 debut Overcast!. Slug, Ant, and company will be joined by Evidence, following last... Read more

February 28, 2018 Fresh

D.I.T.C.’s O.C. Just Dropped A Strong Album. His Video Shows It’s A New Dawn.

Coming off the heels of his latest collaborative project Perestroika with Apathy, along with the first installment of his album trilogy Same Moon, Same Sun in 2017, D.I.T.C. member O.C. has re-upped his stock in 2018. It is evident by way of the second edition of the latter series titled... Read more

February 28, 2018 Video

Mysonne Channels Killmonger Following Arrest At Immigration Rally

In the months since his stirring appearance on the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, rapper Mysonne has continued to garner tremendous support for his steadfast dedication to the cause. He's voiced his support for civil rights of all kinds, frequently speaking out against injustices in housing, prisons, education, politics and... Read more

February 28, 2018 News

The Golden State Warriors Pass The White House To Visit African American Museum

For much of modern American sports history, champions have visited The White House and met with the President of the United States. Following their 2016-2017 NBA championship season, the Golden State Warriors refrained from a trip inside the White House gates. In September, that decision prompted some public outcry from... Read more

February 28, 2018 Lifestyle