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DMX Jumps On Kanye West’s Beat And Makes It About Real Pain (Audio)

In March of 2016, Swizz Beatz teased a remix of Kanye West's "Real Friends," from his Life of Pablo album, that featured DMX. On his Instagram post, Swizz said "Oh yeah and since we're talking @dmx new music alert ⚡️ we're ready to start it up now!!!! X is my... Read more

Conway’s New Mixtape Features Royce 5’9, Styles P, Prodigy & More (Audio)

Absent in much talk about the inter-generational divide in Hip-Hop today is the discussion about why so many are drawn to the so-called “mumble rapper” MCs: two reasons might be the overriding emphasis on texture and atmosphere in their music, alongside their relentless focus on the darker side of life.... Read more

Insecure’s Issa Rae Is Set To Produce 2 New, Very Different Shows (Video)

Fresh from the announcement of a Golden Globe nomination for her star-turn in Insecure, Issa Rae is on track to co-executive produce two new shows for HBO. Teaming up with Emmy-winning, ex-Daily Show Travon Free, Him Or Her will tell the story of a bisexual Black man navigating the dating scene and... Read more

Scarface’s Life Story Is Told Against The Soundtrack Of His Latest Song (Video)

Plenty of Hip-Hop legends are living, but not nearly as many are releasing consistent, quality product. Scarface is approaching 30 years on wax, and his newest single, "Black Still," finds him spitting hard, political rhymes with fire in his belly. The just-released Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files contains six new... Read more

Dave Chappelle Tells A Joke That Becomes Funny In The Last Second (Video)

Dave Chappelle is The Comeback Kid. After walking away from a reported $50 million dollar contract with Comedy Central, on principle, Chappelle has had an epic year. He landed a Netflix deal that allegedly made up for what he sacrificed by leaving Chappelle's Show in 2005, and, over the Summer... Read more

Pharrell & Migos Make A Jam Called Stir Fry. It’s Hot & Spicy Funk (Audio)

UPDATE: Migos release the music video for "Stir Fry" which is a single from the now-available Culture II: ORIGINAL DECEMBER 20 STORY: After dropping their chart-topping, Grammy-nominated sophomore record Culture at the top of 2017, Migos is back and ready to make waves once again with their follow-up sequel. The... Read more

Joe Budden Provides A Timeline Of Events For Why He Left Everyday Struggle (Audio)

In 2017, Joe Budden added a new column to his extensive resumé: talk show host. The veteran Jersey City, New Jersey MC and Slaughterhouse member had expanded his music career to reality television and podcasts in the last decade. Teaming with Complex journalist Nadeska Alexis and prominent social media influencer... Read more

Hip-Hop Podcast Pioneer, Author & Attorney Combat Jack Has Passed Away

Reggie "Combat Jack" Ossé has died. This morning (December 20), the Hip-Hop community learns that we have lost a true champion of culture. Several sources close to the Brooklyn, New Yorker confirmed the news. In October, the father of four publicly revealed that he was diagnosed with colon cancer during... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Named Creative Director Of PONY Sneaker Company

Joey Bada$$ is an entertainer of all sorts, producing, rapping and most recently acting his way through his career at the age of 22. And now, it seems Joey is following in the ranks of fellow rappers-turned-fashion execs Andre 3000 (now a leader at Tretorn), Kanye West, and A$AP Rocky,... Read more

Rapsody Takes Her Grammy-Nominated Song Out For A Night On The Town (Video)

Forget the club. In the expertly produced video, for Rapsody’s “Sassy,” the North Carolina MC and company ghost ride a beautifully restored whip to a hopping house party before closing the night at a jam-packed diner. If anyone has the right to celebrate, it’s Rapsody. She’s had a phenomenal year.... Read more

Open Mike Eagle & Sammus Collect Props, Laughs & More In A Televangelist Spoof (Video)

Open Mike Eagle’s latest video may seem like a proselytizing infomercial peddling cheaply made wares, but “Hymnal” takes on a far deeper message. The final visuals off his recent project, Brick Body Kids Still Daydream features New York MC Sammus, and although they both spit a serious tale, neither take... Read more

Dipset Uses Their Reunion Video To Show That They’ve Really Made Peace

Last month, Cam'ron and Jim Jones released the single "Once Upon A Time." The song's lyrics reveal that Dame Dash once confronted Harvey Weinstein about his behavior towards women 15 years ago. Dame has since clarified the report to recall a slightly different story. However, it is the symbolism of... Read more

Eminem Addresses The Lack Of Dr. Dre Beats On Revival (Audio)

In mid-2017, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine released documentary The Defiant Ones. One of the focal points in the parallel documentaries on the two music producers, onetime label heads, and business partners is Eminem. Twenty years ago, Iovine handed Dre a cassette tape of Eminem's Rap Olympics battle performance and... Read more

DOOM Mourns The Death Of His 14-Year-Old Son

UPDATE (12/31/20): MF DOOM has passed away. In a developing story, the legendary MC's wife and record label have revealed that he died in late October. The man born Daniel Dumile leaves behind a rich legacy as a top lyricist, innovative producer, and one of Hip-Hop history's best comeback stories.... Read more

The Golden Globes Snubs May Be A Sign Of A Hollywood Backlash Against Women

On January 7, 2018, the 75th Golden Globes will air amidst a time in which the entertainment industry remains mired in controversy. Titans like Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Russell Simmons, Kevin Spacey and many more have had their careers engulfed in flames after decades of sexual assault, misconduct and charges... Read more

As Kobe Bryant’s Jersey Numbers Are Retired A Video Shows That Basketball Was Always His #1

When Kobe Bryant became a Los Angeles Laker, his two high school numbers were not available. #33 was out of the question, the retired jersey belonging to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Between Fred Roberts and George McCloud, #24 was also not available. The 18-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania adapted and got in where... Read more

Black Thought Reveals His 10-Minute Freestyle Was Off The Top & Kicks Another Verse (Video)

On Thursday, Black Thought unleashed a freestyle that rocked the world. Unlike Eminem’s politically-charged BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher that became world news, Thought’s verse did not have the benefit of being launched on the world’s biggest stage for Hip-Hop. Instead, his freestyle came courtesy of a digital drop by... Read more

Run The Jewels Bring On The Apocalypse In Their Latest RTJ3 Video

As 2017 lists (including Ambrosia For Heads' year-end list announcement) are pouring in, Run The Jewels is still set on adding to the album they released in the closing days of '16. RTJ3 and the tour that followed seemingly put Killer Mike and El-P's mid-2010s creation on a higher plane.... Read more

Joell Ortiz & Raekwon Join Forces For A Rap Tale Of Love & Revenge (Audio)

Five years ago, Joell Ortiz and Raekwon joined Pusha T plus Danny Brown on "Tick, Tock." The hard-hitting collaboration was just the right combination for The Man With The Iron Fists soundtrack. With Raekwon hailing from one of Rap's super-crews of the 1990s, and Joell as one-fourth of one of... Read more

N*E*R*D Hand Kendrick Lamar The Mic Again. Their Second Collabo Flies (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

U-God Can’t Let Wu-Tang’s Saga Continue Without Getting Involved. He Joins A Remix (Audio)

Founding Wu-Tang Clan member U-God is missing from this year's The Saga Continues album. Following his $2.5 million lawsuit against RZA and management over unpaid royalties, the MC appeared more than a golden-arm's length away from the rest of his brothers. Meanwhile, longtime Wu family members like Redman, Cappadonna, and... Read more

Andre 3000 Gives N*E*R*D His First Verse Of 2017 (Audio)

In two separate recent interviews, André 3000 has suggested that he feels out of place with making Hip-Hop music in 2017. Citing his age and a season in his life where he recently lost his parents while sending his son to college, Dre is experimenting. The Rap legend confirms he... Read more

Debra Lee Is Stepping Away From Running BET After Leading For More Than A Decade

Since 2005, Debra L. Lee has served as the Chairman & CEO of BET Networks. While, one of the most powerful Black women in all of media will retain both of her current titles, today (December 14), it has been announced that Lee is stepping away from her day-to-day duties... Read more

Busta Rhymes Gets Amped Up In 1 Of His Few Verses Of The Year (Audio)

Busta Rhymes was a man of few raps in 2017. After a strong campaign alongside his brothers from A Tribe Called Quest, the Native Tongues alum carefully picked his spots. Especially in the case of a Rapsody Laila's Wisdom appearance and a coast-crossing A$AP Ferg remix with Snoop Dogg, those... Read more

JSWISS’ Latest Video Shows His Dedication To Overcome & Be Heard

Up-and-coming New York MC JSWISS is getting all the right kind of attention, and the accolades are sure to continue following the release of this simple, but highly effective visual for “Dedicate.LoveSomethin,” the latest single from his No Music EP. “Dedicate.LoveSomethin” is produced by Brady Watt, a well-known bass player from New... Read more

Kevin Hart Comes Clean On Cheating & How He’s Fixing A Family Feud (Video)

One of the biggest themes for top entertainers in 2017 is admitting the mistake of marital infidelity while saving the family. JAY-Z took it to music with many of his most personal lines in the Grammy-nominated 4:44. In his own way and circumstances, Kevin Hart is doing the same. The... Read more

J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar Join Jeezy On An All-Star Collabo (Audio)

UPDATE: After video footage previewed a sizable clip of the song, Jeezy's full, official "American Dream" releases. The Pressure single is a pointed collaboration with both J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. This song may not be as Heads expected on paper. Kendrick Lamar provides some melodic singing near the track's... Read more

Black Thought Can’t Let The Year End Without Spitting Its Best Freestyle (Video)

Black Thought did not release an album in 2017, nor did The Roots. However, Tariq Trotter spent the year at the top of the MC class. He sizzled the mic on albums by Logic, Rapsody, and David Banner. There was a surprise MF DOOM collaboration released, and a deeply meaningful... Read more

Michael Che Becomes SNL’s First Head Writer Of Color

Saturday Night Live is a television mainstay dating back to 1975. In those 42 years, NBC's sketch comedy show has catapulted the careers of Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and countless others. This week, it was announced that Lorne Michaels' show has appointed its first... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & N*E*R*D’s Collabo Is Inspired By Lethal Law Enforcement Stops (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

Nina Simone Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. Following two consecutive years with Hip-Hop additions to the Cleveland, Ohio-based museum and hall (N.W.A. and Tupac Shakur), no Rap artists are selected. However, Jazz/R&B vocalist, arranger, and pianist Nina Simone is among the five honorees that also... Read more

Jadakiss & Styles P Revamp A Whodini Classic To Show That Loyalty Is Timeless (Audio)

Whodini's biggest hit "Friends" has proven itself to be an ageless Hip-Hop song. The standout single from 1984's Escape album has a message that has endured more than 33 years and a beat (thanks to late keyboardist/producer Larry Smith) that seemingly never went out of fashion either. Rap superstars Tupac... Read more

DJ Premier Says He & Pete Rock May Be Exclusively Producing De La Soul’s Next Album (Video)

DJ Premier has had one of his busiest years in recent memory. The Gang Starr member released and produced albums by MC Eiht and Torii Wolf. He just followed those efforts with a video collaboration with A$AP Ferg, helping relaunch '90s Hip-Hop source Payday Records. Preemo is the latest guest... Read more

Tyler, The Creator’s Best Rap Album Contender Sounds Even Better Live (Video)

Two weeks ago, Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy album was nominated in the Grammy category for "Best Rap Album." The nod marks a first for the 26-year-old MC/producer. In 2013, Tyler was part of Frank Ocean's Channel Orange cast that received an "Album Of The Year" nomination. Looking into next... Read more

Why Net Neutrality Will Accelerate The Changing Face Of Hip-Hop (Video)

In 2017, Hip-Hop, a culture that was founded and built primarily by Blacks and Latinos, is more diverse than ever. As in most cases, diversity is good but, if Jazz and Rock & Roll are any indication of what to expect, that diversity eventually might be at the expense, and... Read more

Big K.R.I.T. Flips Nas’ 1996 Message Into A Freestyle For The Ages (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. appeared on Sway In The Morning this week to promote his new double-album 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. After discussing the Multi Alumni release with Sway, Heather B, and Tracy G, the acclaimed Mississippi artist could not leave without dropping some freestyle flavor. And boy, did he... Read more

Vic Mensa Explains Why The Government Does Not Want The People To Be United (Video)

Twenty-four-year-old Roc Nation artist Vic Mensa was asked what makes someone a threat to the government in his most recent Montreality interview. In reply, Mensa dropped some knowledge about the exact moment governments get nervous. In doing so, he made illustrative links to assassinated Black leaders from history. “Anybody becomes... Read more

Phonte & Elzhi Reunite On A New Song & They Are Razor Sharp (Audio)

When Little Brother released The Minstrel Show, it was a huge moment for many Hip-Hop Heads. The North Carolina-based trio that won the hearts of fans with 2003's The Listening joined Atlantic Records and seemingly represented a real chance for putting a disenfranchised side of the genre back on radio,... Read more

Kxng Crooked’s New Album Artwork Is Provocative & So Is His Latest Lyricism (Audio)

Spinning off the current political scene this year has been a wave of politically-charged Hip-Hop. Eminem’s BET cypher verse (now known as "The Storm") may have commanded the most attention. But 2017 also saw highly respected, veteran MCs such as Ras Kass, Scarface, Snoop Dogg and others putting out music... Read more

The LOX & Statik Selektah Still Make The Kind Of Hip-Hop That 90s Era Fans Love (Video)

Three months ago today, The LOX and Statik Selektah released "But You Don't Hear Me Tho." The soulful collaboration, also featuring James Mtume served as a nostalgic early look into Statik's 8 album. Today (December 8), that ShowOff Records/Duck Down Music LP releases. Thus, it's just the right time for... Read more

B-Real & Everlast Reunite On A New Song To Show They Can Still Shake ‘Em Up (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 and listen... Read more

Eminem’s New Song Is A Scathing Rebuke Of Racism & White Privilege (Audio)

For the second time in 2 months, Eminem has delivered some of the most potent commentaries in music. In October, his BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, a freestyle titled "The Storm" that was a 5-minute takedown of Donald Trump, became headline news around the world. Em was not the first... Read more

Eminem Details The Making Of His Raging Freestyle Storm Against Donald Trump

One of the most memorable televised Rap performances of the last 20 years came courtesy of Eminem and Elton John. Although Dido famously sang on "Stan" (it was her would-be hit "Thank You" that producer 45 King sampled), the diamond-certified John stepped in during 2001's Grammy Awards. Besides the great... Read more

20 Years Later, Rhyme & Reason Remains Rap Music’s Ultimate Backstage Pass (Video)

During the late 1990s, Hip-Hop was a seismic force that garnered mainstream recognition as a billion-dollar industry. The culture had invalidated scores of critics who dismissed it as a fad during the previous two decades. Hip-Hop achieved this while rewriting the rules of the music business and redefining the American... Read more

Puff Daddy Speaks On Working To Be A Living & Breathing Example Of Black Excellence

Sean "Puffy Daddy" Combs is the latest guest on The Touré Show. The founder of Bad Boy Worldwide recently sat before a live Manhattan audience and spoke about his family, his health, and trailblazing role in Black culture for nearly one hour. Unlike some recent interviews with Diddy, this conversation... Read more

The Secrets To J Dilla’s Production Style Are Revealed In A Fantastic New Video

For anyone wanting to understand why Detroit producer J Dilla is so revered more than one decade after his untimely death, a new video by journalist Estelle Caswell in the Vox "Earworm" series offers the perfect starting-point. This mini-documentary takes a close look at Dilla’s radical re-invention of drums, his... Read more

Talib Kweli Recalls A Great Story Involving Freestyle Fellowship, Neo-Soul & Rent Money (Video)

There have been several memorable Hip-Hop roommates. During the early 1990s, Gang Starr members Guru and DJ Premier lived together at several New York City residences (one was a Brooklyn home owned by Branford Marsalis). RZA and Ghostface Killah were under the same roof in the days before Enter The... Read more

After 15 Years Of Disses, JAY-Z & Jaz-O Have Reunited

JAY-Z has reunited with many of the key players from his past—even after bitterness or hostility. In 2005, Jay and Nas famously put beef to bed in New Jersey. The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder has been photographed with Dame Dash multiple times since the artist and manager parted ways. Beanie Sigel and... Read more

Sadat X, Punchline & Fokis Imagine A World Where They Have It Their Way (Video)

Hip-Hop has long been a beacon of hope to people wishing for a better tomorrow. From the fantasy of Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" to the rags to riches trajectory on Biggie's "Juicy," to Nas' wishful "If I Ruled The World," some great records live by dreams. New York City Hip-Hop... Read more

Joyner Lucas Takes The Drug Pushing Rappers Of His Generation To Task (Audio)

Joyner Lucas is an MC who likes causes and concepts. Last week, the Worcester, Massachusetts native released the captivating video to "I'm Not Racist."  That symbolic visual created a dramatic face-off out of some of the conversations that exist on social media and used Lucas' songwriting to put the two... Read more