Video Archives

Watch Common, Mobb Deep, Freeway & More At The 2015 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Video Stream)

Today (July 11), the 2015 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is ongoing. The 11th annual festival in Dumbo, Brooklyn features headliners including Common, Mobb Deep, Freeway, Skyzoo, Charles Hamilton, John Robinson & PVD, Stro, Lion Babe, Consequence, and more. The event is hosted by Uncle Ralph McDaniels and Torae, with DJ sets... Read more

July 11, 2015 Video

David Banner & Big K.R.I.T.’s Single Has Explosive Contents (Lyric Video)

Last month saw the release of the latest All-Mississippi moment courtesy of David Banner and Big K.R.I.T. "My Uzi" is the presumed first look at D.B.'s The God Box, and an essay on self-preservation with jacketed ammunition in the form of penetrating lyrics. Still a car-jam in its presentation, this... Read more

July 10, 2015 Video

Drake Has a Message for His Enemies: He Has Energy And He Doesn’t Stand Alone (Video)

Drake takes a look at pop culture and turns it on its head in the instantly rewind-worthy new video for "Energy." The visual, for the song which is directed straight at Drake enemies, re-creates several recognizable moments from TV shows, films and real-life. Drake channels Oprah, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus,... Read more

July 10, 2015 Video

Sheek Louch Wants To Celebrate Your Hood In His Next Video (World Premiere)

Last week, Sheek Louch released his first single from Silverback Gorilla 2 (September 18). Through Tommy Boy Entertainment, the track which features Billy Danze (M.O.P.), Trae Tha Truth (ABN), and Joell Ortiz (Slaughterhouse), is titled "Hood Ni**a," and celebrates the real concrete that each MC comes from, in an anthem for everyone... Read more

July 10, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Says He Knew He Arrived When He Recorded With Snoop (Video)

For fans who have listened to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album more than once since its release, the album has the rare quality of revealing new elements with each touch of the "play" button. Like a fine meal, the complexities of the LP's offerings take time to be... Read more

July 9, 2015 Video

Hip-Hop’s Global Influence is Being Documented for an Online Museum (Video)

Hip-Hop's far-reaching influence on the worlds of art, dance, fashion, language, and of course music has long since been considered worthy of documentation. With talks of opening the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx and the handful of nationwide efforts to digitally archive Hip-Hop's past (including the Hiphop Archive &... Read more

July 9, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Diamond D Has More in Common With Wu-Tang Clan Than Hot Tracks (Video)

Diamond D's album The Diam Piece was one of 2014's unsung gems. In many ways, the LP was a return to form for Diamond, both in terms of sharp lyrics and pristine beats. Nine months later, it's the gift that keeps on giving, as Diamond releases his latest video. "I... Read more

July 9, 2015 Video

Murs Gets Real About the Consequences of Infidelity, While Keeping It Light (Video)

Murs has made a career of making songs that are deeply insightful, yet supremely entertaining. Whether debating the merits of organized religion on songs like "Gods Gone Crazy," or tackling same sex love on tracks like "Animal Style," he's able to deftly convey life lessons, without sounding preachy. On "The... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

Lupe Fiasco & Consequence Show Us How to Make Every Word Count (Video)

It's hard to believe that Queens MC Consequence has only released one solo album (2007's Don't Quit Your Day Job). Heads may remember him from as far back as '96, when he appeared on A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes, Life. Nearly 20 years later, he remains respected, both lyrically... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

Cannibal Ox Make A Rare Visual…In Front Of Big L’s Harlem Mural (Video)

Part of Cannibal Ox's mystique surrounding The Cold Vein came in the fact that its presentation relied almost entirely on the music. Vast Aire, Vordul Mega, and then-producer El-P were not about the video components (just one, really), photo shoots, and over-the-top interviews. The Def Jux hallmark spoke for itself, and... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

Janet Jackson’s No Sleeep Is A Wake Up Call (Lyric Video)

Last month, Janet Jackson revealed her first single in years, "No Sleeep" (don't slumber on that third 'E'). Miss Jackson's awakening, came courtesy of a reunion with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, producers regularly associated with her greatest successes. Following a late June BET Icon Award reception, Janet moves forward... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

Hopsin Lyrically Attacks Higher Education, Reality TV & Chemical Addictions (Video)

Set as a classroom final project, Hopsin's "Fly" is a lyrical thesis. The Funk Volume co-founder sets up Pound Syndrome (July 24) with a verbal exposé on things that he sees in this world that are designed to hold us back. Despite the academic setting of the visual, Hop' begins by calling... Read more

July 8, 2015 Video

Sole Survivors: A New Documentary Explores the Cultural Obsession With Sneakers (Video)

On the heels of the release of Fresh Dressed, a documentary film examining the marriage of Hip-Hop culture and fashion, a new film being released this summer will extend the examination, albeit with a narrower focus. An exploration of those obsessed with kicks, Sneakerheadz premiered at SXSW earlier this year... Read more

July 7, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Follow the Leader: A$AP Rocky Got More Than a Name From Rakim (Video)

A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Meyers), shared his first album-buying experience, an experience younger generations of Heads may never have. For most, buying one's first C.D. or cassette tape was an almost religious experience; the ritual of getting to the store, hoping it hadn't sold out, unwrapping the plastic, removing the... Read more

July 6, 2015 Video

The Plot Thickens in Part 2 of Czarface’s Cinematic Series (Video)

Picking up right where the previous video left off, 7L, Esoteric and Inspectah Deck are back with the second installment of their Czarface music video series. Marking the release of their sophomore album together, Every Hero Needs A Villain, their video for "The Great (Czar Guitar)" started this cinematic series... Read more

July 6, 2015 Video

This 1976 Mini-Documentary Explores The Complexity of Graffiti Culture Before ‘Style Wars’ (Video)

It the late '70s, a distinctively rebellious trend began to populate the walls, monuments, and empty spaces of New York City, one that would go on to become a founding principle of Hip-Hop culture. Graffiti, despite having been around for millennia, experienced a surge in popularity in the late 20th... Read more

July 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Why Wait Till February to Celebrate J. Dilla? Watch This Incredible Video Mix (Video)

February has become the time to pay tribute to J. Dilla because it is the month of the legendary producer's birthday and the anniversary of his death. But, does that mean we can't celebrate his ongoing impact at other times? Nope... Here's an amazing video mix of Dilla-produced music from... Read more

July 5, 2015 Video

Thelonious Martin Is One Producer You MUST Be Watching For (Video)

So who will be the highly sought-out producers of tomorrow? Montclair, New Jersey's Thelonious Martin is one worthy of consideration. After work with Curren$y, Mac Miller, and MC Tree, Theo' is holding down his own fort. Taking 2014's Wunderkid freebie project, Martin provides a quick visual for "Wrong Or Right." Just... Read more

July 5, 2015 Video

Inspectah Deck Reflects on the Good, the Bad and the Mad of ODB (Video)

It's been more than 10 years since Hip-Hop lost one of its most eccentric and beloved personalities. With the passing of O.D.B. in 2004, one of history's most legacied and influential Rap groups lost an integral member, one who contributed not only so much personality, but also legitimately incredible lyrics,... Read more

July 3, 2015 Video

Has President Obama Done Right By The Hip-Hop Community? Killer Mike Shares His Views (Videos)

Killer Mike (born Michael Render) has been making moves in his music career for more than a decade, working alongside the likes of Outkast, Ice Cube, Funkadelic, and of course El-P, with whom he performs as Run the Jewels. The success of RTJ, for many, is what has launched Render... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

This Father/Daughter Beatbox Team Will Blow Your Mind. Watch Them Battle (Video)

Nicole Paris has uploaded a handful of videos on her YouTube channel in which she showcases her phenomenal beatboxing skills, but the latest installment is an inter-generational tête-à-tête featuring Paris and her father. The latest addition to her catalog is a follow-up to Round 1 of the Daddy-Daughter battle, which... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Meek Mill Pops A Wheelie & Rides Through His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Meek Mill may be an acquired taste to some. However, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania veteran brings an impassioned delivery without failure, no matter what the track's vibe is. That's what makes the Maybach Music Group MC's appearance on Sway In The Morning so interesting. Meek Millie takes 5 Fingers Of Death... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Big K.R.I.T. Shows His Inspiring Life Journey in a New Short Film (Video)

It has been a wondrous five years for Big K.R.I.T. From Kritwuzhere to the Top 10 of the charts, the Meridian, Mississippi MC/producer is proof that hard work and persistence can make dreams tangible. Anyone familiar with the music and passion of Justin Scott knows that the journey has been... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Rihanna Throws Caution, Clothes & Everything Else to the Wind in the Video for BBHMM (Video)

On the heels of becoming the biggest selling singles artist of all-time, Rihanna is not resting on her laurels. Not one to play it safe, she releases the visuals for her boundary pushing song, "Bitch Better Have My Money." With the same theme of the song, the visual is a... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Stephen Colbert Takes Over Local TV In Monroe, MI and Makes It the Eminem Show (Video)

Monroe, Michigan (pop.20,733). 25 miles south of Detroit, the small town's glory days during the war of 1812 make it an important American city for history buffs, and as the home of La-Z-Boy, it enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the '70s. Today, it has become a city buzzing with... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

Locksmith Freestyles So Hard He Scares the Beat Away…And He Has A Message (Videos)

Richmond, California's Locksmith, a rapper who established himself early on as a vicious lyricist while partaking in MTV's MC Freestyle Fellowship, has served up not one, but two helpings of nasty freestyling. In celebration of yesterday's release of his Lofty Goals album, he took to the airwaves to remind Heads... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

Eminem Helps Signal The Return Of Epic Blockbuster Visuals, But Can All Enjoy? (Video)

Eminem has released a 30-second trailer for his "Phenomenal" video. Part music video, part short-film, the moment alludes to its place as the latest big budget, high concept visual from an A-list artist. Kanye West, Drake, and Vic Mensa have been doing this throughout recent years. Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" video,... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

Redman & Erick Sermon Re-Team To Make An Anthem For Deebo Tactics (Video)

Redman knows what really goes on. The Brick City MC releases a new video, clowning at misfortunes of those who get stuck-up in today's dog-eat-dog world. "Somebody Got Robbed" is that gutter Reggie Noble, where the song moves and grooves, but still bases itself on Everyman experiences. Even mentioning Nia... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

Kendrick Lamar Just Released the Video of the Year. Alright Is Truly EPIC (Video)

Remember when music videos were artistic statements that could immediately shift the cultural zeitgeist? Kendrick Lamar has released just such a tour de force in his epic visual for "Alright." The nearly seven minute black and white short film is stunning both visually and in its symbolism. The video starts... Read more

June 30, 2015 Video

Even At 14 Years Old, Amy Winehouse’s Voice Could Bring Down The House (Video)

Amy Winehouse only lived to be 27 years old. The London, England songstress' 2011's death came as a major tragedy, following two breakthrough albums at the time of her passing. However, Amy's skills were honed long before she inked a deal with Island Records, and got in the studio with... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

Lost Ones: Common & Eminem Recorded Tracks For DJ Jazzy Jeff’s LP. Why Didn’t Sony Release It? (Video)

In a new interview with Polish Hip-Hop outlet Popkiller, DJ Jazzy Jeff shares details about much of his career, including history into his solo debut (2002's The Magnificent), his early work with Eminem, his role as the face of Starter jackets and hats, his definition of a real DJ, the... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

August Alsina Looks At What Hip-Hop Is Really About At Its Core (Video)

Even though August Alsina is not a traditional MC, Hip-Hop is a big part of his music. The Def Jam Records-backed singer follows up 2014's Testimony with "Hip-Hop," a single focused on the way things were when they were at their best. Nostalgic, intimate, and easy to relate to, the... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

Big Sean, Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign Recreate The Opening Credits To “Martin” (Video)

Big Sean's "Play No Games" is a 1990s experience by design. The Dark Sky Paradise single heavily-samples Guy's "Piece Of My Love." So for the video to the Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign-assisted jam, Sean Don stays in that realm. The video calls back to "Martin." Martin Lawrence's FOX... Read more

June 29, 2015 The Bridge, Video

Kendrick Lamar Strikes Heartfelt Chords Performing A Symbolic “Alright” (Video)

Hope can be hard to find in 2015. There are mass-shootings, continuous fatalities attached to incidents of police brutality, and a quest for justice that can seem elusive. Kendrick Lamar used the BET Awards stage wisely this weekend. The Top Dawg Entertainment star did not make his 2015 standout televised... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

The Legends Of Bad Boy Records Come Out To Play At BET Awards (Video)

A big part of what's made Bad Boy Records such a great label over the last 20-plus years is the label's ability to deliver cathartic performances. Whether it was peer-criticism, tragedy, or legal woes, Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy family used the stage to remind the world that they... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video

The Mystique & Mystery Behind Your Old Droog Is Unveiled In A Mini-Doc (Video)

Your Old Droog took Hip-Hop lovers by storm in 2014. Faceless throughout several Internet-buzzing releases, some Heads even went as far as thinking that the clearly New York City narrative was a new pseudonym for Nas. That even had Nasir Jones speaking up. Not the case. And to quote Ghostface... Read more

June 28, 2015 Video

Kenny Dope Rocks All Vinyl, From Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s, To J Dilla To Bob James (Mix)

Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez's name does not come up as often as it should. The Brooklyn, New York producer/DJ is one half of Masters At Work. Also known as Nuyorican Soul, the team of Kenny and "Little" Louie Vega remixed Michael Jackson, Madonna, Tito Puente, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Additionally,... Read more

June 28, 2015 Video

Fresh Dressed Continues To Make Rounds, A Film As Colorful As Its Fashion Focus

From Run-DMC rapping about their Adidas to A$AP Rocky's self-proclaimed status as a Fashion Killa, the merging of clothing and Hip-Hop has been a mainstay throughout the culture's history. From track suits, gold rope chains, over-sized shirts, Kangol hats, and entire lines like Sean John and Rocawear, Hip-Hop artists have... Read more

June 27, 2015 TV/Film

Audio Push Redefine What’s Regular In Normally (Video)

Hailing from the Inland Empire, a sprawling suburban section of Southern California that is far enough from Los Angeles to have its own cultural identity but close enough to still feel the influence of Hollywood's superstardom, Audio Push is a duo comprised of MCs Oktane (Julian Brown) and Price (Larry... Read more

June 27, 2015 Video

Oddisee Delivers One of Hip-Hop’s Standout Performances in 2015. This Is Special (Video)

Oddisee's The Good Fight is touted as one of 2015's most cohesive, relateable albums. Beyond simply Hip-Hop, the Diamond District member's latest solo outing dabbles in Jazz, R&B, and Spoken Word. Moreover, from the independent label of Mello Music Group, the mainstream is taking notice. The perfect example of that... Read more

June 27, 2015 Video

Rick Ross Is A Mastermind At Giving Fans What They Want, In A Remix (Video)

It's been a hard week for Rick Ross. Following his arrest, the Miami, Florida superstar MC reportedly lost an estimated $100,000 in earnings. However, R.R. returns to his modus operandi—giving fans exactly what they want. "Neighborhood Drug Dealer" is one of Mastermind's best kept secrets. Even though Ricky Rozay has... Read more

June 26, 2015 Video

DJ Quik Truly Is Unsung. Watch An Incredibly In-Depth Look At His Career (Video)

From his reportedly uncredited assistance with Dr. Dre in the 2000s to his days on Death Row Records working under his government pseudonym (David Blake), DJ Quik epitomizes "unsung." For the television series "Unsung," the Compton, California star MC/producer/DJ is chronicled. Quik's days of underground tapes, assisting other would-be sensations... Read more

June 26, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Vic Mensa Is Breaking New Ground. But He Can Still Crush Old Ice Cube Beats (Video)

Vic Mensa fronted a Rock & Roll band. Vic Mensa made hits with House music. But can Vic Mensa obliterate some '90s and 2000s G-Funk? Most definitely. The Save Money MC hits "The Cruz Show" to munch on some "Breakfast Bars," better described as classic Ice Cube instrumentals. The Chicago,... Read more

June 25, 2015 Video

Raury Finds The Blues Backdrop For Devil’s Whisperer (Video)

One week after sharing "Devil's Whisperer," Raury follows up with the visual. The song serves as a fusion of genres, tying in Blues conventions, with a rapid-fire flow to close down the record. The Atlanta, Georgia MC/singer complements this idea in the visual. He goes down South to a juke-joint... Read more

June 25, 2015 Video

Skyzoo & Westside Gunn Have Luxury & Lyrics To Go (Video)

Just a month removed from his headlining performance at the 11th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, Barrel Brother Skyzoo is bringing Brooklyn and New York City back to life yet again with his latest video, "Luxury." Stark black and white visuals boast simple, yet flashy imagery of Skyzoo and the gutturally... Read more

June 25, 2015 Video

Erykah Badu & The Roots Perform The Ultimate Hip-Hop Medley (Video)

Erykah Badu and The Roots took the stage together at the 2015 Roots Picnic and performed the mother of all tributes to Hip-Hop. Black Thought kicked things off, ripping through "Act Too (Love Of My Life)," which segued perfectly into Badu's "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)," and... Read more

June 24, 2015 Video

King Los Rips What May Be the Best Freestyle of the Year…Off the Top (Video)

King Los has been responsible for some of the best freestyle moments of the last several years. Just as Supernatural, J.U.I.C.E., Eminem, Crooked I, and Canibus helped certify The Wake Up Show in the 1990s, the Baltimore, Maryland MC legitimized Sway's latest platform with off-the-top bars that drove clicks, interest,... Read more

June 24, 2015 Video

Why Did Nas Sign Dave East? Because He’s Hungry. Just Listen (Video)

Every once in a while, you can hear the hunger in an MC's voice. Whether it's untempered desire for success or the unabashed quest for the throne, there's an edge that comes out, and it's palpable. It was audible in Kendrick Lamar's career-shifting "Control" verse. It manifested in King Los'... Read more

June 23, 2015 Video

The Internet and Kaytranada Look to the Stars for the Perfect Girl (Video)

Tyler, the Creator's Odd Future menagerie has given Heads a lot of quality music to knock, including his own discography and those of Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Domo Genesis, and more. OFWGKTA producers Syd Tha Kyd (also the gang's DJ) and Matt Martians ventured into their own artistic detour, forming... Read more

June 23, 2015 Video

E-40 Makes A Clever Yet Simple G-Code Anthem, Assisted By The Whole Industry (Video)

E-40 knows how to make catchy songs. Whether it's mid-2000s ringtone rap, Hyphy hits, or his Click tracks from the early '90s, 40 Water knows how to pen a hit. From 2014's Sharp On All 4 Corners, the Vallejo, California veteran releases "Choices (Yup)." On the surface, the song may... Read more

June 23, 2015 Video