News Archives

Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short & Snoop Are Giving Free Game

Over the last several years, one of the biggest super-groups in Hip-Hop history has been brewing. Mount Westmore is Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short. To date, the collective has released a handful of singles and performed together. However, now the California delegation from South Central Los Angeles,... Read more

November 25, 2022 Video

Method Man & Vinnie Paz Deliver A Wu-Tang x Jedi Mind Tricks Collabo

Earlier this month, the Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz released his seventh solo album. Twenty-five years to the month after The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness, the Italian-born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania raised MC maintains his place among the most consistent voices in hardcore Hip-Hop. An alum of the... Read more

November 22, 2022 Audio

Nas Has Tied JAY-Z In Making Album Chart History

This month, Nas and producer Hit-Boy released King's Disease III. The Mass Appeal Records album finds the MC and producer alone, showing new range and depth within one of Hip-Hop's most respected catalogs. In one song, the Queens, New York-inspired “Thun,” Nas quips, “No beef or rivals, they playin’ ‘Ether’... Read more

November 21, 2022 Fresh, News

Ab-Soul Goes Back To His Roots & Shows He’s Still A Top Dawg

Next month makes it six years since Ab-Soul released an album. In the time since Do What Thou Wilt., the Carson, California veteran worked on 2018's chart-topping Black Panther soundtrack, which was nominated for "Album Of The Year" at the following Grammy Awards. He made meaningful collaborations with fellow Carson... Read more

November 19, 2022 Video

See Portraits Of Biggie, J. Dilla, Phife & More If They’d Lived To Grow Old

More than with any other genre, Rap artists seem to perish far too young. While that has disproportionately been driven by altercations that could have been resolved differently, there have also been a number of MCs who have succumbed to other fates. Phife Dawg, from A Tribe Called Quest, succumbed... Read more

November 17, 2022 Video

Kendrick Lamar Celebrates His Grammy Noms By Showing He’s Already Won

Yesterday (November 15), the 2023 Grammy nominations were announced. Kendrick Lamar received eight nominations ahead of the 65th annual Grammys taking place February 5, 2023 on CBS. Only bested by Beyoncé's nine noms, K-Dot has received consideration in categories ranging from "Album Of The Year," "Song Of The Year," "Record... Read more

November 16, 2022 Video

Nas Is In His Prime In His 40s

Last Friday (November 11), Nas and Hit-Boy released their fourth project since 2020. The King's Disease campaign, responsible for three of those albums, has taken Nas (and Hit-Boy) to new dimensions with their careers. In that time, Nas won his first Grammy, reunited with The Firm as well as Ms.... Read more

November 16, 2022 Video

JAY-Z & Kendrick Lamar Are Competing For Best Lyricist On Music’s Biggest Stage

Earlier today (November 15), the Recording Academy announced their 65th annual Grammy Awards nominees in an online broadcast featuring Smokey Robinson, John Legend, and others. The precursor to the CBS televised February 5, 2023 event sets the stage for an exciting night for fans, especially those who closely follow the... Read more

November 15, 2022 News, Video

Black Star Make SNL Chappelle’s Show With 2 Stellar Performances

In 2016, the Saturday following a pivotal American election, Dave Chappelle hosted SNL in one of the sketch show's more memorable moments of the last decade. That November 12 night, the musical guest was the recently reunited A Tribe Called Quest, making a rare performance following the death of Phife... Read more

November 13, 2022 TV, TV/Film, Video

Lupe Fiasco Has The Year’s Best Verse & It’s Only 1 Line

Each year, there are a handful of raps that compete for verse of the year. Sometimes, these extraordinary lyrical displays come in the form of freestyles, like Black Thought's unforgettable 10-minute MC master class for Funkmaster Flex, in 2017. Occasionally, an MC who has been absent for a while drops... Read more

November 12, 2022 Audio

Nas Pays Tribute To Takeoff With Powerful Words About Self-PRESERVATION

Yesterday (November 11), Nas and Hit-Boy released their fourth collaborative album since 2020. King's Disease III finds the legendary MC and the acclaimed producing carry on a tradition that earned both men Grammy Awards in 2021. The new collection of songs, released through Nas' Mass Appeal Records imprint, is about... Read more

November 12, 2022 Exclusive, News, Video

Snoop Dogg’s Story Will Be Told In A Definitive Biopic

2022 has become one of the most cinematic years of Snoop Dogg's life. At 51 years old, Calvin Broadus, Jr. delivered an Emmy-winning Super Bowl Halftime Show performance alongside his mentor, Dr. Dre, as well as artists he influenced, including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. In the days around... Read more

November 11, 2022 News, TV/Film

Nas Uses 5 Heartbeats For A Song That’s A Perfect 10

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

November 11, 2022 Audio

Westside Boogie’s Freestyle Makes Other MCs Look this Big

Nearly four years ago, Westside Boogie made a major impression with his first album on Shady Records. 2019's Everythings For Sale joined the Griselda crew in expanding Eminem's roster with new depth and range. That move had been happening since both parties smashed a 2017 BET Cypher. While the Buffalo,... Read more

November 9, 2022 Video

Busta Rhymes’ Video Shows What His Life Would Be If He Never Rapped

Over two years ago, Busta Rhymes released a hallmark album in his career. 2020's Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God arrived at a time following a near-death respiratory issue for the MC legend. Additionally, the Conglomerate release drew from various sides and career points from Trevor Smith, Jr.—including... Read more

November 9, 2022 Video

The History Of Violence In Hip-Hop: 6 Years Changed Everything

In the last year, Hip-Hop has lost an alarming number of its artists to violence. Young Dolph, PnB Rock, Trouble, and Drakeo The Ruler are just some of the noteworthy examples, among several others. In the last week, Migos member Takeoff was killed in Houston, Texas on November 1—adding to... Read more

November 7, 2022 Video

Erick Sermon Confirms The Passing Of Hurricane G

UPDATE: On Monday, November 7, The New York Post reported that according to family members, Hurricane G had been battling cancer. “My mom has stage 4 lung cancer,” Gloria's daughter Lexus previously announced via social media. “I don’t know how many of you understand what that means but even after... Read more

November 7, 2022 News

The Artifacts’ Tame One Has Passed Away At 52

NOVEMBER 7 UPDATE: Fans and friends of Tame One have learned some additional information surrounding his recent death. The artist born Rahem Brown was mourned by his mother and other family members online. “I can‘t express this any other way,” Tame's mother, Darlene Brown, Harris wrote in a Facebook post, as... Read more

November 7, 2022 News

Eminem’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Speech Praises Over 100 Hip-Hop Influences

This weekend, Eminem became the latest Hip-Hop artist to enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. At a Saturday (November 5) induction event and concert, Marshall Mathers was celebrated alongside Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, The Eurythmics, and Carly Simon. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis joined... Read more

November 6, 2022 News

Drake Reveals He Faked Making Peace With Kanye West

Over the last decade, Drake and West's relationship had evolved from close collaborators into a heated feud, and beyond. Eleven months ago, Drake appeared alongside Kanye West for a historic concert at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The moment orchestrated as a benefit to raise awareness in freeing incarcerated Gangsta Disciples co-founder... Read more

November 4, 2022 Audio, News

Migos Member Takeoff Has Been Shot & Killed

Migos co-founder Takeoff was shot and killed at a downtown Houston, Texas bowling alley and pool hall Tuesday morning (November 1). The 28-year-old born Kirshnik Khari Ball has been confirmed dead by sources, including TMZ, which has published photographs of the slain chart-topping Greater Atlanta, Georgia Rap artist. Reports indicate... Read more

November 1, 2022 News

Griselda Makes Its Case As Hip-Hop’s Best Crew With 7 MCs On 1 Song

For the last several years, one of Hip-Hop's greatest debates has been who is Rap's best crew, between TDE and Dreamville. Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) held the advantage in the early 2010s, with a roster which included Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, SZA and more. The... Read more

October 30, 2022 Audio, Fresh

Raekwon, Ghostface, Busta Rhymes & More Put On A Clinic In Dropping Science

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 29, 2022 Audio

Black Star & Westside Gunn Join Forces On A Collabo That’s Hot Fire

Today (October 28), Westside Gunn delivers 10, the completion of his cult-lauded #HWH series. The Griselda Records founder's second LP of 2022 is a star-studded affair that features Run The Jewels, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, A$AP Rocky, Ghostface Killah in a cast that also includes The Goo Goo Dolls' Robby Takac... Read more

October 28, 2022 Audio

Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane & Conway Slap The Competition On A New Song

Busta Rhymes approached the 2020s with something to prove. Two years ago, the veteran co-founder of Leaders Of The New School and Flipmode Squad gave fans a classic-level album—arguably the best in his career. Extinction Level Event 2 showed the many sides of Busta Bus, including collaborations with Rakim, Kendrick... Read more

October 28, 2022 Audio, Video

Kanye West Has Reportedly Lost More Than 75% Of His Net Worth In 2 Weeks

The month of October 2022 may likely go down as the complete undoing of the artist formerly known as Kanye West. During a less than 4-week span, Ye has released t-shirts that alienated millions, distributed Instagram and Twitter posts that constituted hate speech, insisted that the death of George Floyd... Read more

October 25, 2022 News

Ab-Soul Has Released A New Song And It’s His Best In Years

Ab-Soul has been very quiet for the last several years. The Carson, California MC released his last album, Do As Thou Wilt, in 2016, and prior to that he had not released a full-length project since 2014. There have been scant songs since then, but his output has been few... Read more

October 21, 2022 Audio

J. Cole Told Us Who Kanye West Was 6 Years Ago But Many Ignored Him

During the intro to Kendrick Lamar's song "Savior" on his Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers album, the Compton MC says "Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your savior. Cole made you feel empowered, but he is not your savior. Future said, 'Get a money counter,'... Read more

October 19, 2022 Video

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E Member Monsta O Has Passed Away

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. member Monsta O aka Danny Devoux has reportedly passed away yesterday (October 12). The bassist and producer for the veteran collective was 56 years old. The cause of death is unknown, however, West Coast Hip-Hop insider Chad M. Kiser is among those who broke the news, with Rock... Read more

October 13, 2022 News

Mac Miller’s Incredible Talent Is On Full Display On A New Robert Glasper Song

It's been more than four years since the Hip-Hop world lost Mac Miller. The MC/producer/musician was an incredible talent whose artistic accomplishments were only growing, at the time of his passing, with his 2018 album Swimming subsequently being nominated for "Best Rap Album." Unlike with other artists, there have not... Read more

October 13, 2022 Audio

Kanye West’s Self-Destruction Should Not Be Televised

A dozen years ago, Kanye West released one of his many anthems in "Power." In the preview single to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 'Ye proclaimed, "I embody every characteristic of the egotistic / He knows he so f*ckin' gifted / I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts /... Read more

October 12, 2022 Video

Kendrick Lamar Explains His Internal Conflict With Releasing Mr. Morale

Kendrick Lamar has been relatively quiet surrounding his 2022 double album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. A decade after his major label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, and over 15 years into a professional recording career, the award-winning music superstar chose now to unpack his most personal collection of songs... Read more

October 11, 2022 Fresh

The Game Says Dr. Dre Has Never Produced A Song For Him

Last week, The Game appeared on Uproxx's Fresh Pair podcast to discuss a range of topics surrounding music and his nearly 20-year career. While the multi-platinum Compton, California promoted his new album, DRILLMATIC Heart Vs. Mind, he also opined on the five greatest Los Angeles Hip-Hop albums—with a list that... Read more

October 10, 2022 Video

Cormega & Nas Have Reunited On A Song & It’s Glorious

Today (October 7), Cormega has delivered The Realness II. As Cormega recently detailed to Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, the album was carefully made to be a true sequel to the original—which arrived just over 21 years ago. Beloved song “American Beauty" gets a stylish update on "Her... Read more

October 7, 2022 Audio, Interview, Video

The Game Names His Top 5 L.A. Rap Albums & It’s Hard To Argue Against Him

Since the release of his debut album The Documentary in 2005, The Game has been a mainstay in the Los Angeles, California Hip-Hop scene. When the 50 Cent and Dr. Dre executive-produced project dropped, The Game almost single-handedly put L.A. back on the Rap map in the maintream. While legends... Read more

October 6, 2022 Video

Method Man, Busta Rhymes & 18 Other MCs Perform A Medley Of Their Classics

Many would like to forget the events of 2020, with good reason. The year brought a lot of challenges. However, amidst the trials and tribulations, there were a number of culture-shifting events and personalities that arose. D-Nice captivated the world with an Instagram Live DJ set that entertained millions. The... Read more

October 6, 2022 Video

Joey Bada$$ Calls Out MCs Who Perpetuate Genocide In A Powerful Performance

There have been at least 59 Rap artists who have died from gun violence. That's more than one per year for a Hip-Hop genre which is less than 50 years old. Last night (October 4) at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards, during the performance of the night, Joey Bada$$... Read more

October 5, 2022 TV, TV/Film, Video

Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, M.O.P. & More Celebrate LOUD Records

Tonight (October 4), BET aired its annual Hip Hop Awards. Hosted by Fat Joe, the night was meant to celebrate Hip-Hop's finest, both old and new. The big winner of the night was Kendrick Lamar, who took home awards for artist of the year, album of the year, video director... Read more

October 5, 2022 TV, TV/Film, Video

Big Tigger & Rapsody Tear Down The Booth In A Rap City Freestyle

The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards aired tonight (October 4), hosted by Fat Joe. The show has been BET's celebration of the culture since 2006, featuring appearances and performances from Rap's biggest stars, as well as next generation MCs poised to grab the torch. This year's show featured performances by... Read more

October 4, 2022 TV, TV/Film, Video

Freddie Gibbs Shows Love To Jeezy On A Song About Growth

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 2, 2022 Audio

Snoop Dogg Confirms Details Of Upcoming Album With Dr. Dre

During the summer, one of Death Row Records' financiers, Michael "Harry-O" Harris revealed that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre are making an album together. The revelation came on Kevin Garnett's KG Certified talk show. The man who supplied funds for a label intended to be Godfather Entertainment, spoke about reconnecting... Read more

October 2, 2022 News

Rapper Big Pooh Explains Why Little Brother Is Only 2 Members Now

Last month, Rapper Big Pooh released one of the standout solo albums within his extensive career. To Dream In Color addresses personal growth, family, sacrifice, and dedication to music. The 10-song album was sequenced by Pooh's Little Brother partner Phonte. Three years removed from May The Lord Watch, the two... Read more

September 29, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Coolio Has Passed Away At Age 59

In a breaking story, Hip-Hop artist Coolio died today (September 28). The Grammy Award-winning artist born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. was 59 years old. On Wednesday, he was found unresponsive at a friend's residence in the rapper's hometown of Los Angeles, California. According to TMZ, EMTs arrived and pronounced Coolio dead... Read more

September 28, 2022 News

DJ Akademiks Clarifies His Insults Of Hip-Hop’s Founders & Raises Serious Questions

Last week, DJ Akademiks made some strong remarks surrounding the pioneers of Hip-Hop. While the media personality, podcaster, and Rap music social media maven did not criticize artists by name, he opined with harsh words amid an hours-long Twitch stream. "Them old rappers? Them ni**as [are] broke. Have you seen... Read more

September 27, 2022 Fresh, Video

Rapper Big Pooh Talks His New Album, Little Brother’s Status & More

Last month, Rapper Big Pooh released one of the most spirited works of his extensive 20-year career. The North Carolina-based Virginia native MC delivered To Dream In Color. The 10-song album features some powerful commentary on the pursuit of dreams, the value of family support and the will to succeed. Blakk Soul,... Read more

September 26, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

LL Cool J Blasts DJ Akademiks For Dissing Hip-Hop’s Pioneers

Weeks after Hip-Hop celebrated its honorary 49th birthday, one of the more popular commentators within the space has come under fire for some recent remarks surrounding Rap's pioneers. DJ Akademiks, known for his social media posts and co-host role on Complex's Everyday Struggle and Off The Record, did a Twitch... Read more

September 22, 2022 Fresh, News, Video

Cormega Explains Why The Realness 2 Is A True Sequel To The Original

Upon its mid-2001 arrival, Cormega's The Realness lived up to its title. After years of waiting his turn, the MC asserted himself to step forth with a body of work that combined a passion for wisdom-drenched lyricism with a survivor's tale of life in New York City streets and the Rap industry. The independently... Read more

September 20, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Symba Calls Funkmaster Flex Out While Freestyling For Him

This week marks the 26th anniversary of the death of Tupac Shakur. On September 13, 1996, the MC, actor, poet, and pop culture superstar died in a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital following a drive-by shooting one week earlier. While many Tupac affiliates, insiders, and law enforcement officials have opined who... Read more

September 15, 2022 Video

Eminem Discusses His Conflict With Snoop. He Reveals When & Why They Made Peace

In 2021, Eminem and Snoop Dogg went from collaborators to opposing forces in Hip-Hop. In January of that year, each superstar MC made comments about one another. Just over a year later, they shared the stage for an Emmy-winning Superbowl Halftime Show performance. Then, they released their first collaboration in over a... Read more

September 14, 2022 Video

Hip-Hop Culture Is Closer To 100 Years Old Than 50 Years Old

Every August 11, Hip-Hop Heads celebrate a birthday associated with the culture. In 1973, that was the day that many historians credit DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) with throwing a back-to-school jam at the rec center of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in New York City's Bronx borough. In the last... Read more

September 14, 2022 Video