News Archives

Some Of Royce 5’9″ & Black Thought’s Best Work Is Side By Side In This Killer Mix

In the last two decades, two of Hip-Hop's most extraordinary MCs are The Roots' Black Thought and Slaughterhouse's Royce 5'9". Each rapper puts their working-class cities in the bars about survival, pain, addiction, and perseverance. These great minds have come together before, such as PRhyme's "Wishin' II," Statik Selektah's 2014... Read more

October 8, 2017 Audio, Mixes

The CunninLynguists’ New Album Is Topical Southern Soul That Delights (Audio)

For more than 15 years, the CunninLynguists paved the road for a "Southern Underground." Kno and Deacon The Villain symbolically formed the group in the early 2000s after meeting at a Morehouse open mic event. 2001's Will Rap For Food followed, launching a string of soulful releases that embraced concepts, brooding... Read more

October 8, 2017 Audio

Nelly Rape Charges Have Been Dropped

UPDATE #2: More than two months after Nelly was taken in by authorities in Washington state, the rape charges against Nelly have been dropped. As of the second week of December, The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office declined to file charges against Cornell Haynes, Jr. According to E!, the action... Read more

October 8, 2017 News

Rah Digga Takes The Stage & Delivers That Realness That’s Been Missing From Hip-Hop (Video)

Hip-Hop was born as a live format. For years, DJs and MCs' sole focus was literally to move the crowd. Over the years, as acts began to lay their rhymes on wax, the art of performing began to take a backseat to records, video production and other aspects of the... Read more

October 7, 2017 Exclusive, Video

Rapsody Says Forget Best Female MC. She Wants The Top Spot (BET Hip Hop Cypher)

Cypher Season is upon us, as the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards is ahead. With one of the most lauded and overall talked about albums of the moment in Laila's Wisdom, Rapsody sets off a grouping of MCs who happen to be women—and DJ Premier resumes his post as cypher... Read more

October 7, 2017 Video

Bun B & Everlast Join Slaine & Termanology On A DJ Premier Production (Video)

UPDATE: Less than one week after the audio released, Slaine and Termanology's DJ Premier-produced title track featuring Bun B (UGK) and Everlast (House Of Pain) comes to video. Directed by John Columbo, the visual is built around seamless cuts (despite two distinct locations) and in-your-face bars on Preemo drums and... Read more

October 6, 2017 Video

Ghostface Killah Is Launching His Own Currency To Bring Digital C.R.E.A.M. To The Masses

Throughout his career, Ghostface Killah has rapped about getting the money, these days he is launching a new (crypto) currency similar to that on coinblaze, via a new business, Cream Capital. The company name borrows from the Wu-Tang classic, "C.R.E.A.M." (“Cash Rules Everything Around Me”). Only this time, the business... Read more

October 6, 2017 News

Big K.R.I.T. Is Untouchable On One Of The Funkiest Songs Of His Career (Video)

It's been three years since Big K.R.I.T. released his Cadillactica album, but the Meridian, Mississippi MC is more than making up for lost time. In August, K.R.I.T.'s manager revealed that the album was done and had been turned in. While that post was removed, over the last week, K.R.I.T. has... Read more

October 5, 2017 Video

Black Thought & Method Man Go Verse For Verse In A Freestyle For The Ages (Video)

Even though MCs in groups tend to be overshadowed by the collective, there are few lyricists in Hip-Hop more respected than The Roots' Black Thought and Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man. While each MC has an album in the works, with Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues seeing its release on October 13... Read more

October 5, 2017 Video

Talib Kweli & Rick Ross Look To Enlighten Only The Lonely On “Heads Up Eyes Open” (Video)

Whether he's done it solo or in collaboration with some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop, Talib Kweli has spent his 20-year music career making poignant statements about self-reflection and soul searching. The Brooklyn stalwart brings food for thought to listeners who are emotionally lost or mentally starved, looking towards... Read more

October 5, 2017 Video

Papoose Takes A Ratchet Freestyle Challenge & Makes It Regal (Video)

Papoose kept it both real and regal as he freestyled for nearly seven minutes, during an appearance on Hot 97, this week. The Brooklyn wordsmith didn't skip a beat as he lyrically juggled his way through a medley of current events, including the government's possible involvement with Hurricane Harvey and... Read more

October 5, 2017 Video

Fat Joe Is Taking 1 Million Pounds Of Supplies To Puerto Rico (Video)

In a week filled with tragedy in Las Vegas, the devastation of Hurricane Maria two weeks ago continues to leave Puerto Rico in crisis. Only 8% of the island with over 3 million inhabitants has electricity, and only 36% of its ATMs are working. Eighty-percent of its hospitals are still... Read more

October 5, 2017 Video

Blu & Exile’s “Below The Heavens” Outtakes Are Better Than Many MCs’ Rap Caviar (Audio)

Ten years ago, Blu & Exile released their expansive slice of California dreaming, Below the Heavens. Now, in a kind of Hip-Hop Star Wars move, the Los Angeles duo is offering up a prequel to the 2007 classic album, called In the Beginning: Before the Heavens. Blu & Exile Share... Read more

October 4, 2017 Audio

The Roots Re-Make A Classic Schoolhouse Rock Song To Teach About Slavery (Video)

For many people growing up in the 70s and 80s, Schoolhouse Rock! was a fundamental part of their childhood. The interstitial series that aired during ABC's Saturday morning cartoon block featured animated clips with songs that taught about relevant issues, from history and grammar to science and civics. The combination of... Read more

October 4, 2017 Video

Wu-Tang Clan Recruit Redman For The 1st Video From Their New Album & It Hits Like A Ton Of Bricks

Ever since Wu-Tang Clan announced in late August that they were releasing a new album, the excitement has reached a fever pitch for fans of their distinctive brand of Hip-Hop. The announcement came with their first single, "People Say," featuring Wu's Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa, and... Read more

October 4, 2017 Video

Rock Steady Crew B-Boy Crazy Legs Is Providing Clean Drinking Water In Puerto Rico

When Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico on September 20th, it decimated most of the island's 3 million-plus residents' homes and left them without electricity, food, clean water. The aftermath is the prospect of the majority of the island to possibly being without power and clean water for an estimated six... Read more

October 3, 2017 News

Oddisee Uses A Simple Video To Show Just How Complex Growing Up Can Be

Oddisee demonstrates just how complex growing pains can be in the animated visual to his The Iceberg record, "You Grew Up." Oddisee Is In Amazing Stride. He Pops His Collar On A New Single (Audio) Created by husband and wife illustrators, Eugene & Louise, the music video for "You Grew... Read more

October 3, 2017 Video

Joe Budden Gains New Perspective On His Migos Altercation, With The Therapist (Video)

One of the biggest viral moments of 2017 took place at this year's BET Awards, and it had nothing to do with what happened on stage. Prior to the show, an awkward interview unfolded on the red carpet between the hosts of Complex's Everyday Struggle--Joe Budden, DJ Akademiks and Nadeska--and... Read more

October 3, 2017 Video

Actor & Ex-Player Terry Crews Details The Abusive Relationship The NFL Has With Its Players (Video)

The NFL and player protests have become more synonymous since Colin Kaepernick spearheaded the trend of kneeling throughout the National Anthem during the 2016 season. Many NFL owners and disgruntled fans have misconstrued player protests to be anti-patriotic as opposed to them making a statement against racial injustice in America.... Read more

October 3, 2017 Audio, Lifestyle, News

Kendrick Lamar & Chance The Rapper’s Place On The Forbes List Shows Conscious Rap Pays Off (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the LAST 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

October 3, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video

Kid Capri Addresses Taking Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. & Putting It In Reverse (Video)

With decades worth of credentials, Kid Capri was asked about the state of Hip-Hop within the first few minutes of his interview on Ebro In The Morning, today (October 2). The Bronx, New Yorker DJ/producer, who also dabbled with rapping declared that today's Hip-Hop isn't "for everybody." He further explained... Read more

October 2, 2017 News, Video

Sha Stimuli Asks Why A Prison Stint Is More Valued Than A College Degree In Hip-Hop (Video)

Last week Brooklyn, New York MC Sha Stimuli released Lazarus. The 10 Minutes Late Records release marks a return to a once highly prolific career, after a period of comparative quietness. In the last year, Stimuli emerged with a series of singles and music videos that were rooted in concept.... Read more

October 2, 2017 Video

EPMD Are Working On An Album Only Featuring Classic Hip-Hop Duos (Video)

It has been almost nine years since legendary duo EPMD released an album. Late 2008's We Mean Business marked the seventh group effort for Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. The EP/RBC Records release was a departure from the six consecutive gold albums the Long Islanders released dating back to 1988's... Read more

October 1, 2017 News, Video

JAY-Z Celebrates Colin Kaepernick & Bares His Soul In 2 SNL Performances (Video)

Last night, JAY-Z, along with host Ryan Gosling, helped kick off the 43rd season of Saturday Night Live. While Jay is no stranger to the SNL stage, this was the first time he performed music from his recent 4:44 album before a national TV audience, and he made the most... Read more

October 1, 2017 Video

When Loaded Lux Freestyles, You Gon’ Get That Work! (Video)

While in the last few years he has begun to lay his rhymes to wax, Loaded Lux was forged in the art of freestyling and battle rap. After an unforgettable stint in the 2000s where he won 7 consecutive weeks on 106 & Park's "Freestyle Friday," Lux went on to... Read more

September 30, 2017 Video

The Wu-Tang Flag May Be The Only One Uniting The Hip-Hop Nation (Video)

In two weeks, Wu-Tang writes the next page in their saga by way of a new project. The Saga Continues is just that, with DJ Mathematics trusted by RZA behind the boards, and working with many of the Clan members to make an LP to excite the masses. If "People... Read more

September 30, 2017 Exclusive, TBD, Video

Prince Paul Reminds That 3 Is The Magic Number, With DOOM, Chubb Rock & Wordsworth (Audio)

There were no new DOOM tracks this week, despite a promising "Missing Notebook Rhymes" series roll-out. Based on what's been reported, that series may have halted. In any case, the masked villain more than sprinkled fans with the full-length Westside Gunn collaboration, "Gorilla Monsoon." Beyond that, Prince Paul remixed an... Read more

September 29, 2017 Audio

M.O.P.’s Fame & Heltah Skeltah’s Rock Join A Band For A Menacing Beastie Boys Cover (Video)

On his landmark album 1999 Black on Both Sides, Mos Def (nka Yasiin Bey) staked the claim for “Rock n Roll” being Black Music. “Elvis Presley ain’t got no soul,” he declared, but Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Albert King and “James Brown like to rock and roll.” To close, Mos shouted... Read more

September 29, 2017 The Bridge, Video

Bun B Kicks True Reality Rap In A Sea Of Fakers & It Sounds Incredible (Audio)

Production duo Beatnick & K-Salaam is gearing up to release The Bluest Flame album (October 13). The Canadian pair works with Talib Kweli, Blu, Tech N9ne, and others on the upcoming self-released project. Following the "Fight Night (Remix)" with Kweli and Blu, they drop "Keep It 100" with Bun B... Read more

September 29, 2017 Audio

Big K.R.I.T. Kills And Buries Himself In A New Video

In the last 24 hours, Big K.R.I.T. has rallied. The Meridian, Mississippi multi-threat dropped the first single to an upcoming project. "Confetti" showered down good news that there is some exciting life after Def Jam ahead for one of the greatest emerging artists of the last decade. Just mere hours... Read more

September 29, 2017 Video

Saukrates & Kardinal Offishall Share Their Views On Being The Original 6 Gods (Audio)

Veteran MC/producer, Saukrates was born in Ottawa, but since 1986, he's claimed Toronto as his home. Saukrates has run alongside some of Hip-Hop’s best-known figures from the U.S since the 1990s. He produced for Nas on God’s Son, has guested on countless Redman records, and was also signed to Def... Read more

September 29, 2017 Audio, Exclusive

Big K.R.I.T. Has A New Album Coming And His First Single Is Worth Celebrating (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

September 29, 2017 Audio

Talib Kweli Releases A Song To Inspire Those With Their Heads Up & Eyes Open (Audio)

The Harvard Business Review has released an article about loneliness, and describes it in dire terms. "There is good reason to be concerned about social connection in our current world. Loneliness is a growing health epidemic. We live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet... Read more

September 28, 2017 Audio, Lifestyle

Elzhi & Blu Show Other Rappers They Are No Ordinary MCs (Audio)

With his third studio album, The Ordinary Man due out in a matter of weeks, L'Orange is offering a sneak peak of the project courtesy of the Blu and Elzhi-assisted, "The Difference." Talib Kweli & Blu Gang Up On A Beat. It’s Fight Night For 2 Great MCs (Audio) "The... Read more

September 28, 2017 Audio

The Outlawz & Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Are Still Riding Hard For Makaveli & Eazy (Video)

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and The Outlawz have a long collaborative history. Both groups, West Coast transplants, are mourning their figureheads: Eazy-E and Tupac Shakur, respectively. In the third installment of Thug Brothers, that's just the idea. Bizzy Says He & Krayzie Are The Ones Capable Of Creating New Waves For Bone... Read more

September 28, 2017 Video

Nas Was Only 16 When He Wrote Illmatic. He Reminisces On The Music That Made Him (Video)

Since his days of being "too scared to grab the mics in the park" and "breakin' into candy factories," Nas' youth is legendary. Since Illmatic, the son of Jazz trumpeter Olu Dara and Anne Jones chronicled his adolescence in rhyme. The Hip-Hop culture listened, and apparently related to an MC... Read more

September 28, 2017 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar & Chance The Rapper Show Conscious MCs Can Make The Forbes List Too

On his song "Moment Of Clarity," JAY-Z infamously rapped "I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars / They criticized me for it, yet they all yell 'holla' / If skills sold, truth be told / I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli / Truthfully I wanna rhyme like... Read more

September 27, 2017 Lifestyle

Stretch & Bobbito Are Back To Show A Whole New Audience What’s Good About Music & Life

Stretch & Bobbito changed lives. Their 1990s New York City radio show (via Columbia University's WKCR) had legions of fans staying up to all hours of the night, with fingers on tape recorders. On air (and off) DJ Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito The Barber were perhaps Hip-Hop's greatest A&R men.... Read more

September 27, 2017 Exclusive, Interview

Sean Price & Masta Killa Are Rap Royalty On A 9th Wonder Production (Audio)

Sean Price and Wu-Tang Clan were frequent collaborators throughout the legendary Boot Camp Clik MC's career. "Donkey Sean" has shared verses with prominent and affiliate members of Wu on a total of 12 released tracks since 1998. On Masta Killa's "Down For Me," the latest single for the Wu member's... Read more

September 27, 2017 Audio

DOOM & Westside Gunn Are The Bad Guys Who Win On A Gritty New Collabo (Audio)

Few would expect that DOOM would be taking on the straight role as he does in this vaudevillian Rap High-Art wonder, “Gorilla Monsoon,” produced by Daringer and more than ably set up by the unhinged prevarications of Westside Gunn. “Ayo/Ayo” Westside Gunn repeats in his squeakiest voice ever, alluding to... Read more

September 27, 2017 Audio

Like J. Cole, Dreamville’s J.I.D. Challenges Himself With Adventures In Storytelling (Video)

For an MC who cites sugary-sweet Swedish Electronica merchants Little Dragon and R&B star D’Angelo as influences, alongside Wu-Tang Clan and Lil Uzi Vert, this melodic single from Atlanta’s J.I.D. shouldn’t surprise. But it does. The latest visual from his 2017 Dreamville Records ‘The Never Story,“Hereditary” unmasks the emotional side and... Read more

September 27, 2017 Video

50 Cent Explains Why Despite Their Beef Prodigy & Tupac Were Truly Alike (Video)

In May of 2006, Mobb Deep would release their seventh album, a first with G-Unit/Interscope Records. Blood Money would be Prodigy and Havoc's lone album with 50 Cent. However, a Queens, New York bond seemed especially strong, when Curtis Jackson—at the top of the Rap food-chain gave his borough neighbors luxury... Read more

September 27, 2017 Video

DOOM’s “Missing Notebook Rhymes” Series Appears To Be Doomed

Adult Swim has apparently ended their business relationship with DOOM as of yesterday (September 26). As a result of their canceled partnership, the Cartoon Network programming division has ceased their release DOOM's highly anticipated "Missing Rhymes Notebook" singles series from their website. There have been no released statements from neither... Read more

September 27, 2017 News

DJ Premier Reveals Gang Starr’s “Just To Get A Rep” Was A True Story About Guru (Video)

There are few things in Hip-Hop more engaging than a great story. Artists like Slick Rick, Biggie, Nas, Scarface and others have been revered for years because of their ability to craft a narrative, in rhyme, that takes listeners on a true journey. What's even more captivating is when those... Read more

September 27, 2017 Fresh

A Study Identifies Words That Make Each MC Unique. Here’s What Defines Some Of The Best.

In 2014, data scientist Matt Daniels released a comprehensive study that stirred up intense discourse in the Hip-Hop community. The analysis dissected over 35,000 lyrics to determine which MCs had the most extensive vocabularies in their rhymes. Now, Daniels has returned with another deep dive into Hip-Hop linguistics, and this... Read more

September 26, 2017 Lifestyle

Nas Lends His Words To A Remix For A$AP Rocky Affiliate Joe Fox (Audio)

Nas has dropped guest verses for folks he believes in, across genre. British singer Joe Fox was a powerful force on A$AP Rocky's At.Long.Last.A$AP album in 2015. He appeared on five songs, several of which were video singles. The singer's delivery sounds like something out of the late '60s, coming... Read more

September 26, 2017 Audio

Raheem DeVaughn Sings A Powerful Anthem Worth Standing For (Video)

Raheem DeVaughn and Wes Felton, known collectively as The CrossRhodes, have marked their return to "reality music" with the release of the music video to their single, "America." With a return motivated by the Black Lives Matter and immigration reform movements, The CrossRhodes' "America" touches on police brutality, global warming,... Read more

September 26, 2017 Video

Rah Digga’s Lost Album Featuring J Dilla & No ID Production Has Been Released (Audio)

There were 10 long years between Rah Digga's celebrated 2000 debut Dirty Harriet and her follow-up collaboration with producer Nottz, Classic. In that time, Digga left her post as "the First Lady of Flipmode Squad" alongside Busta Rhymes and went fully independent, where she remains today. Rah Digga Rates Nicki... Read more

September 26, 2017 Audio, Throwback

Mathematics Explains How Dr. Dre’s 2001 Influenced His Production On The New Wu Album (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

September 26, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video

Royce 5’9 & His Brother Kid Vishis Show BARS Are The Family Business (Video)

In early July, brothers Kid Vishis and Royce 5'9" dropped a single "Go Off," belonging to the since-released The Purge album. As that LP, featuring Conway The Machine, Horseshoe Gang, and Nolan The Ninja makes its rounds, the Bros. Montgomery double up the visual. The video finds Vishis, Nickel, and... Read more

September 26, 2017 Ready Or Not, Video