News Archives

Kxng Crooked Cuts Loose With Another Razor Sharp Freestyle (Audio)

Kxng Crooked is on a relentless streak of music. The Long Beach, California veteran fires up freestyles like he enjoys his stogies. This Friday (March 3), he revisits an early Slaughterhouse instrumental (the Mr. Porter-produced "Cut You Loose") for some detaching bars. He uses addresses alcoholism, hunger pains and poverty,... Read more

March 3, 2017 Audio

DJ Red Alert Offers Some Deep History About Why The Bridge Wars Really Started (Video)

Hip-Hop's biggest story-line in March of 2017 is a Bronx MC apparently responding to an MC from Queens on the microphone in back-to-back disses. Thirty years ago today (March 3, 1987), that tactic was introduced by Boogie Down Productions' two-song arsenal on Criminal Minded used against MC Shan, producer Marley... Read more

March 3, 2017 Throwback, Video

Fat Joe Airs Out Terror Squad’s Dirty Laundry & Defends His Name (Video)

Fat Joe is one of Hip-Hop's most controversial figures. The Bronx, New Yorker has roots in some of the hardest Rap music of the '90s, starting with his '93 debut, Represent. However, in the days after Big Pun's sudden 2000 death, Joe stepped forward to become a mainstream giant, making... Read more

March 3, 2017 Video

Remy Ma Is Out To Destroy Nicki Minaj. She Goes Back To Back With Another Diss Record (Audio)

Taking a page from the playbooks of Drake and Joe Budden, Remy Ma has released a second diss record aimed at Nicki Minaj, before Nicki could even respond to Remy's savage attack over the weekend. On Saturday, Remy dropped "ShEther," one of the most scathing diss records in Hip-Hop history.... Read more

March 2, 2017 Audio

Rare Video Reveals That B.D.P.’s Criminal Minded Was An Answer To Non-Believers

Thirty years ago this week (March 3, 1987), the direction and style of Hip-Hop forever changed thanks to Boogie Down Productions' debut album, Criminal Minded. With only "South Bronx" in wide circulation prior to the release of the B-Boy Records album, KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock made a jaw-dropping... Read more

March 2, 2017 Food for Thought, Throwback, Video

Two Dave Chappelle Comedy Specials Are Coming In March. Here’s The Trailer (Video)

Late last year, news broke that comedian Dave Chappelle was releasing his first stand-up special in 12 years. Three different programs were confirmed, with at least two planned for 2017. While the Half Baked star and creator of Chappelle's Show has not been active in the format of specials or... Read more

March 2, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Method Man, Redman, Snoop & Cypress Hill Are Touring As The Mount Kushmore Of Rap

As concert heats up, a legendary lineup has just been announced and is hitting the road. The duo of Redman & Method Man will join Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, and Wiz Khalifa as headliners for the first annual Mount Kushmore Wellness Retreat Tour. Other artists involved include Taylor Gang's Berner,... Read more

March 2, 2017 Fresh

Hank Shocklee Reveals Don’t Believe The Hype Wouldn’t Have Been Released Without D.M.C.

Producer Hank Shocklee is attached to some of Hip-Hop (and R&B's) biggest records. As a founding member of The Bomb Squad, the Long Island, New Yorker made history with Public Enemy, as well as produced hits for 3rd Bass, Eric B. & Rakim, and Ice Cube, among many others. In... Read more

March 2, 2017 Video

Joey Bada$$ Says He’s A Better Rapper Than Tupac Was (Video)

In January, Joey Bada$$ released "Land of the Free," by far the most politically-minded song of his career. The record was about self-empowerment, and featured lines like “realize the real games that they tried to show us/300+ years of them cold shoulders/Yet 300 million of us still got no focus/Sorry... Read more

March 1, 2017 Video

Murs Uses Kanye West As A Metaphor For The Stress We’re All Facing (Video)

Murs is just days away from his second Strange Music solo album, Captain California. The veteran, with histories tied to Def Jux, Rhymesayers and his own Living Legends squad moves towards a March 10 LP with a powerful single. "God Bless Kanye West" may sound like its simply about 'Ye,... Read more

March 1, 2017 Video

Kendrick Lamar Gives A Glimpse Into His Mindset As He Approaches His New Album (Video)

Kendrick Lamar's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly became a zeitgeist. It seemed to arrive right on time and embodied the spirit of American social consciousness amid the growth of a progressive fight for civil rights in the 21st century. "Alright" became the theme song for a movement, while Lamar's... Read more

March 1, 2017 Fresh

Sha Stimuli Raps About The Mighty Movers Of Change In This Brilliant Freestyle (Video)

Sha Stimuli is the latest MC to create a topical freestyle verse on video for Ambrosia For Heads. The Brooklyn, New Yorker was asked to cover something from the news in the previous week that meant something to him. Instead, the former Virgin Records MC and Just Blaze affiliate focused... Read more

March 1, 2017 Exclusive, Video

Talib Kweli Discusses Digital Media’s Role In Shifting Discourse To Disagreements (Video)

Talib Kweli is one of the most active Hip-Hop voices on social media. The Brooklyn artist touted for his lyrical content is also celebrated as a vociferous opponent of racism, homophobia, sexism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other microaggressive and blatant acts of abuse online. On any given day, the MC can... Read more

March 1, 2017 Lifestyle

Raekwon’s J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Single Hints At What Wu’s Next LP May Sound Like (Video)

Raekwon is less than one month away from his album, The Wild. The Chef appears out for growth on the March 24 ICE H20/Empire release. While it is void of any Wu-Tang Clan appearances, Rae' connects with other disciples of his sound and style. Despite the fact that he grew... Read more

March 1, 2017 Video

Rick Ross, E-40, Fat Joe, Slim Thug & Nipsey Hussle Buy Back The Block (Audio)

Late last year, Rick Ross released "Buy Back The Block," a thunderous street anthem about MCs from the hood looking to re-invest in the communities that raised them. The original song featured 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane, alongside the MMG leader. Pusha T & Rick Ross Join Forces For a... Read more

March 1, 2017 Audio

Cam’ron Believes The Way To Make America Great Again Is To Start Snitchin’ (Video)

In 2007, Cam'ron made national news for his views on "snitching." Speaking with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Cam' matter-of-factly said he had no intention of divulging any information to the police about whoever had shot him in 2005. Although he was shot in both arms, with lingering nerve damage... Read more

February 28, 2017 Video

El-P Explains How Def Jux Turned Into A Bubble That Didn’t Represent Him (Video)

In an exhaustive interview with Hot97's Ebro and Peter Rosenberg, Run The Jewels shared a ton of details about their career as a unit, while El-P and Killer Mike each also spent time sharing their unique, individual experiences as veterans in Hip Hop. For more than an hour, the interview... Read more

February 28, 2017 Video

The Original Ruff Ryders Are Reuniting For A Mega Celebration

Since they burst onto the scene in the 90s, members of the original Ruff Ryders crew have been ever-present in Hip-Hop. Consisting of DMX, The LOX, Eve and, leader, Swizz Beatz, they created a new sound for the era, built on thin synths and thunderous drums. Since those early days,... Read more

February 28, 2017 News

Jay Lonzo Spits More Knowledge at 17 Years Old Than Many Do In a Lifetime (Video)

Last month, J. Cole acknowledged Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ongoing fight for equality and freedom in the U.S. with "High For Hours," a poignant record that compares 2017 America to chapters in its dark past. As he says in the song, not much has changed, and slavery has... Read more

February 28, 2017 Ready Or Not

Oddisee Goes Beyond the Surface of the Muslim Experience in America (Audio)

Born Amir Mohamed el Khalifa, producer and rapper Oddisee is a Muslim African-American whose unique experiences with identity and race influence in large part his phenomenal new album, The Iceberg. During a time in U.S. politics when the term "Muslim ban" has become commonplace, Islamophobia and our perceptions of Muslims... Read more

February 28, 2017 Lifestyle

Brother Ali Reveals The Title & Release Date Of His New Album & Releases Its 1st Single (Audio)

Yesterday (February 27), a Brother Ali video called "Pen To Paper" emerged. It revealed that the Minneapolis, Minnesota veteran MC is plotting his return. One of the most respected, recognized, and successful members of the Rhymesayers crew dropped poignant bars in a track that was less than three minutes long.... Read more

February 28, 2017 Audio

J. Cole Announces 4 Your Eyez Only World Tour Dates

In December, J. Cole released his fourth consecutive #1 album. 4 Your Eyez Only, the Roc Nation/Dreamville MC/producer's fourth album overall, featured no significant vocal features. Since its December 9 release, the Interscope-distributed LP has been certified gold. Last October, Cole announced a hiatus from performing while at The Meadlowlands... Read more

February 28, 2017 Fresh

Page Kennedy & Marsha Ambrosius Spill Deep Secrets On “Torn Pages” (Audio)

Addressing his deeply personal trials and tribulations on "Torn Pages," Detroit, Michigan rapper Page Kennedy has made the most introspective song of his career. Appearing on his forthcoming album of the same name, the song features Marsha Ambrosius and touches on fatherhood, sex addiction, and unhealthy relationships. It's an intimate... Read more

February 27, 2017 Audio

Brother Ali Returns. After Being Profiled By Feds, He Puts Pen To Paper (Video)

Brother Ali went from one of the breakout stars of independent Hip-Hop in the 2000s to rather quiet in the last five years. The Minneapolis, Minnesota MC who is a keystone in the Rhymesayers family has not dropped a project since his 2013 freebie, Left In The Deck. In the... Read more

February 27, 2017 Video

Before Mahershala Ali Had Gold Statues He Had Golden Bars (Audio)

Last night (February 26), Mahershala Ali made history as the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award to win an Oscar. He took home the gold as Best Supporting Actor for his work as Juan in Moonlight, but longtime fans know that his success did not happen overnight. He... Read more

February 27, 2017 Audio

Ice Cube Wants To Make One Last Friday & Bring Back Chris Tucker (Video)

Ice Cube is the most recent guest on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN's Drink Champs. The same weekend Cube's Fist Fight opened in theaters, his "Pushin' Weight (Remix)" collaborator asked him about one of his most famous films, Friday. While the 1995 F. Gary Gray-directed film (written by Ice Cube and... Read more

February 26, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Nick Grant Spits A Blazing Hot Freestyle That Melts Raekwon’s Ice Cream (Video)

At the top of 2017, Nick Grant released his major label debut album, Return Of The Cool. The Epic Records artist chose a bold title, but he's backed it up. South Carolina's own has made a name for himself through sheer skills above feature-driven guest-work. Through dope freestyle appearances, well-executed... Read more

February 26, 2017 Video

Swizz Beatz Premieres A New Song Featuring Nas, Jay Z, DMX & Jadakiss And It’s Unreal (Video)

Note: To hear the track, skip to 2:27:15 in the long video, or play the short clip just below. Although they have both reached G.O.A.T. status among Hip-Hop producers, with catalogs of hits rivaled by few, at their cores, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz are still DJs too. With nothing... Read more

February 25, 2017 Video

Remy Ma Is Out To Ether Nicki Minaj. These 7 Minutes May Make Nick Lean Back (Audio)

In the last 48 hours, Nicki Minaj's fiery appearance on "Make Love" led many to believe that the Cash Money/Young Money Queen was gunning for crosstown MC, Remy Ma. Going strictly off ill subliminals, it would be hard to say who struck first, in a series of raps where the... Read more

February 25, 2017 Audio

Just Blaze & Swizz Beatz Have A Beat Battle For The Ages. Watch The Masters Work (Video)

Note: To hear the track, skip to 2:27:15 of the video. Although they have both reached G.O.A.T. status among Hip-Hop producers, with catalogs of hits rivaled by few, at their cores, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz are still DJs too. With nothing left to prove behind the boards, each now... Read more

February 25, 2017 Video

Oddisee May Be Hip-Hop’s Most Underrated MC. His New Album Is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg (Audio)

If you count collaborative works, Oddisee has released 11 albums since 2008. That does not account for the litany of mixtapes, plethora of compilation work, and four EPs from the Mello Music Group mainstay. While so many contemporary independent artists can often recklessly release product to see what sticks, the... Read more

February 25, 2017 Audio

This Classic Raekwon Mix Is Scalding Hot. Even The Chef Says So. (Audio)

Raekwon is just less than a month away from his album, The Wild (March 24). The ICE H20/Empire project has rolled out two singles in "This Is What It Comes To" and the G-Eazy-assisted "Purple Brick Road." Those records feature the backbones of samples that Rae' is known for, since... Read more

February 25, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Did Nicki Minaj Just Turn All The Way Up On Remy Ma In This Scathing Diss Record? (Audio)

For months, listeners have been speculating that there is a storm brewing into a full blown beef between Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj. In November, Remy dropped a verse on a remix to Phresher's "Wait A Minute," that many took to be pointed barbs at the Black Barbie. On the... Read more

February 24, 2017 Audio

Taylor Bennett Bares All In New Album Featuring His Brother Chance & More

Taylor Bennett, the Chicago rapper whose big brother Chance just took home three Grammys, is not riding any coattails. He's been releasing solo material since 2013, and has been in the trenches as an activist and engaged presence for even longer. Raised in the same politically involved family as his... Read more

February 24, 2017 Audio

Beloved Soul Songwriter & Producer Leon Ware Has Passed Away

Songwriter and producer Leon Ware has passed away. The Detroit, Michigan native was a musical wizard to produced hits for such icons as Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson throughout his 50-year career. Over the course of that half century, he gifted R&B, Disco, Funk, and Jazz with masterpieces, but it... Read more

February 24, 2017 News

O.C. Tells The Heartbreaking Story Of How He Learned Of Big L’s Death (Video)

O.C. recently released his album Same Moon Same Sun. Available without cost for download, the D.I.T.C. Entertainment LP is the latest in a career that spans back more than 25 years. The Brooklyn, New York representative has been a key MC within Diggin' In The Crates, and made important records... Read more

February 24, 2017 Video

Method Man Shows The Sky’s The Limit With Another High-Powered Verse (Audio)

While Heads keep waiting for a new solo album, Method Man continues to provide us with exciting content in the form of guest appearances. From his recent work on Masta Killa's "Therapy" to January's feature on Dave East's "Eviction," the Wu-Tang MC continues to remind fans that he's never not... Read more

February 24, 2017 Audio

Main Source Discuss The Impact Of Breaking Atoms, 25 Years Later (Video)

This month, Main Source's Large Professor and K-Cut reunited for their first concert together in 25 years. With Cut's brother Sir Scratch, the three men made what is widely considered a classic album in 1991's Breaking Atoms. That LP introduced the world to Large Pro's sharp lyricism, as well as Nas,... Read more

February 23, 2017 Video

Jay Z Creates A Playlist Of MCs Who Should Join Him In The Songwriters Hall Of Fame (Audio)

Yesterday (February 22), Jay Z made history, again, by becoming the first Hip-Hop artist chosen to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As one of the most successful and prolific MCs of all-time, with 21 Grammys, 100 million records sold and 13 number one albums under his belt,... Read more

February 23, 2017 Audio, News

Joey Bada$$ Says Obama Wasn’t Enough. America Needs to Wake Up (Video)

On Inauguration Day, Joey Bada$$ released "Land Of the Free," an exercise in Hip-Hop as political tool. In the song, the Brooklyn, New York MC continues a tradition present throughout his young yet inspiring career, tackling everything from the KKK to personal destiny. As such, the song's lyrics are potent,... Read more

February 23, 2017 Video

Kool G Rap Announces First Solo Album In 6 Years & It Has Some Exciting Guests

Less than a week ago (February 17), Queens, New York veteran Kool G Rap and Juice Crew band-mate Big Daddy Kane performed a co-headlining event in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Billed as an "The Most Epic Hip-Hop Showdown," the Sherman Theater concert featured each legendary MC going song-for-song in a battle... Read more

February 23, 2017 News

Thundercat & Kendrick Lamar Stay In The Groove On “Walk On By” (Audio)

Although he is not a Hip-Hop artist, Thundercat has been at the epicenter of the massive 2010s Rap movement in Southern California. The Los Angeles musician and vocalist has a particular bond with Kendrick Lamar. The pair have won Grammy Awards together, care of To Pimp A Butterfly songs like... Read more

February 22, 2017 Audio

Bow Wow Shifts Into Mixtape Mode & Barks With Bite (Video)

Over the years, Bow Wow has had a number of facets to his career. Releasing his first album in 2000, as Lil Bow Wow, under the tutelage of Jermaine Dupri, the artist was only 13 when he became a household name. Within two years, he had added the title of... Read more

February 22, 2017 Video

J. Cole’s New Artist Combines Cole’s Lyricism With Devin The Dude’s Swag (Video)

Tony Touch is a DJ known for breaking some important artists. For almost 25 years, the Brooklyn, New York DJ/producer/radio personality handed microphones to MCs without albums out, and let them shine through freestyle. Members of Boot Camp Clik, D.I.T.C., Royce 5'9, Bumpy Knuckles, Wu-Tang Clan, Hurricane G, and others... Read more

February 22, 2017 Video

Consequence & Royce Release An Anthem Filled With Self Pride & Soul (Audio)

2017 has already been a major year for Consequence, and it appears even bigger things are on the horizon for the Queens, New York rapper. Featured on A Tribe Called Quest's We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, Cons' took to the Grammys stage earlier this month... Read more

February 22, 2017 Audio

Jay Z Becomes The First Rapper In The Songwriters Hall Of Fame

While Jay Z is a man of many "firsts" on the business side, his artistry is what allowed him to be in that position. All 15 of Jay's solo and collaborative albums are platinum, in many cases multiple. He has 13 #1 releases, including his 2004 Collision Course EP with... Read more

February 22, 2017 News, Video

Jay Z Is Launching A Venture Capital Fund To Help Early Stage Entrepreneurs Succeed

Even a casual Jay Z fan has to admit that the Brooklyn, New York MC has redefined what it means to be a businessman. The young hustler from Bed-Stuy is now one of the wealthiest and most successful entrepreneurs and artists in music history, pushing the boundaries of Rap fame... Read more

February 22, 2017 Lifestyle

A New Documentary Shows Rap Has Been Around For More Than 70 Years (Video)

Ron "Amen Ra" Lawrence may not be a household name producer, but he's made hits that many know. The Dominica-born, Queens, New York-raised producer is an integral part of Puff Daddy's Hitmen collective at Bad Boy, with credits on Biggie Smalls' "Hypnotize," Puffy's "Been Around The World," and The LOX's... Read more

February 22, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Snoop Talks With The Star Of All Eyez On Me About How Much The Film Moved Him (Video)

On June 16, 2017, All Eyez On Me, the long-awaited biopic on Tupac Shakur, will hit theaters. The film is directed by legendary music video and film director, Benny Boom, and stars Demetrius Shipp, Jr., as Tupac, and Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead's Michonne), as Pac's mother, Afeni Shakur. All... Read more

February 21, 2017 Video

Everlast, Sick Jacken & Divine Styler Declare War Alongside B-Real, Vinnie Paz & More (Mixtape)

Long before Everlast made the whole world hear and feel "What It's Like," he was a slick-talking MC. The multi-talented Los Angeles, California resident (by way of New York) found major success with House Of Pain, but his days on wax stem back to the late 1980s, running with Ice-T's... Read more

February 21, 2017 Audio