AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Explaining Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Albums

More than any other artist in Hip-Hop, and perhaps in all of music, Kendrick Lamar expresses himself through albums. Over the years, these albums have shown themselves to be dense bodies of work, filled with cryptic references and hidden meanings. Entire college courses and podcast series have been devoted to... Read more

Scarface’s Political Agenda Is Just Like His Music: Revolutionary (Video)

Scarface is the latest guest on The Connect Podcast. Hosted by fellow Houston, Texas native and longtime 'Face collaborator Slim Thug, as well as O.G. Chi, Rico, and DJ Young Samm, the H-Town cast interviewed Brad Jordan at length. The interview was filmed as the legendary MC-turned-politician advanced one step... Read more

Snoop Explains Why He Loves Suge Knight & How They Rebuilt Their Bond (Video)

Earlier this month, Snoop Dogg released his song, "Let Bygones Be Bygones" from his 17th solo album, I Wanna Thank Me. The 47-year-old Doggfather has been in a nostalgic spirit lately. More than 20 years after parting ways with the label, Snoop has been wearing his Death Row Records medallion,... Read more

KRS-One Speaks About The Power Of Hip-Hop To Change The World (Video)

Few Rap legends seem to have as much to say, especially beyond their lyrics, as KRS-One. However, in recent years, Blastmasta KRS has seemingly stepped away from the media spotlight. Equally, Kris Parker is sparse on social media. Last year he was said to be working with Dr. Dre, following... Read more

Evidence’s Weather Or Not Is Your Best Rap Album Of 2018

Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018's Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence's Weather Or Not bested Royce 5'9's Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition. Notably, Ev's third... Read more

Erick Sermon Details EPMD’s Terrible 1st Contract & How They Got The Big Payback

EPMD is one of those groups that are always mentioned among Hip-Hop's legendary duos, however it always seems like they don't quite get their full due. That was especially true of a mid-1980s contract that the pair of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith signed. They later got the big payback... Read more

Do Remember When EPMD Teamed With Red & Meth For A Rap Symphony (Video)

Def Jam Records had made some of the most iconic Hip-Hop albums of all-time during the 1980s. After some sluggish years in the early 1990s, the label started by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin rebounded in a major way in 1998. That was the same year that the imprint forecast... Read more

MGK Pours Some Out For Eminem’s Dying Relevance (Video)

"I think the world was watching. I think I stepped up and did what no one in the history of Hip-Hop has done," MGK proclaimed on The Breakfast Club this morning, referring to his bout with Eminem. "And I think I gave people one of the funnest weeks in Hip-Hop... Read more

Eminem Fires A Killshot Diss At MGK & Diddy Gets Caught In The Crossfire (Audio)

On Wednesday, Eminem told Sway Calloway he was going to think things over before replying to MGK. “I’m gonna sit back, and I’m gonna wait for a second, just to see…because if people start firing off, and I try to answer every-f*cking-body that I dissed on Kamikaze, I’ma be [in... Read more

Eminem Says His Homophobic Tyler, The Creator Diss Went Too Far (Video)

So far, the first two parts of Sway Calloway's Kamikaze interview with Eminem has provided insight into his now high-profile beefs with MGK and Joe Budden. The rare public conversation also unpacks his more recent musical output, which the Detroit native admits hasn't been as on point as work from... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Run-D.M.C. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

Do Remember When King T Toasted Tha Alkaholiks & Spilled Great Lyricism (Video)

When West Coast vets are being discussed, King T’s name does not come up nearly enough. The Compton, California native released a robust major label debut, Act A Fool, in late 1988. This puts him in scarce company indeed, as Ice-T’s essential first album Rhyme Pays had dropped only a... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Run-D.M.C. vs. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

John Singleton Reveals He Wanted N.W.A. To Star In Boyz N The Hood

Thirty years ago today, on August 8, 1988, the N.W.A. released its proper debut album, Straight Outta Compton. Bursting onto the scene with rawness and aggression fueled by the Reagan-era Compton climate and lifestyle, Ni**az Wit' Attitudes presented an LP that would shape the sound and narrative in Rap for... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: EPMD vs. Eric B. & Rakim. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Run-D.M.C. vs. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Geto Boys vs. N.W.A. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Fat Boys vs. Run-D.M.C. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Brand Nubian vs. Jungle Brothers. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: N.W.A. vs. UGK. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: EPMD vs. Beastie Boys. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Erick Sermon Is Executive Producing Redman’s “Muddy Waters Too” & Says It Will Be Classic (Audio)

Approaching 30 years since EPMD released Strictly Business, Erick Sermon is in the midst of a creative renaissance. Last month, the Green-Eyed Bandit secured more than $60,000 of crowd-funding for his upcoming ninth solo album (now titled Vernia). As E-Double gets underway on that release promised to feature Method Man,... Read more

The Book of Ra. Rakim Confirms His Memoir Is Coming This Year. (Audio)

Many of Hip-Hop's best-known and greatest MCs have released autobiographies and memoirs. JAY-Z published Decoded. LL Cool J (I Make My Own Rules), Ice-T (The Ice Opinion), Snoop Dogg (Tha Doggfather), Prodigy (My Infamous Life), Eminem (The Way That I Am), Common (One Day It'll All Make Sense), 50 Cent... Read more

Common & Questlove Share Stories About Bargaining For Beats From J Dilla & D’Angelo

On January 25, Common was the guest for the first live audience recording of Questlove Supreme. At Manhattan's Gramercy Theater, Questlove, Laiya, Suga Steve, and Boss Bill interviewed Common for nearly two hours. Ambrosia For Heads was front and center for the event. Today (February 21), that interview is available... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2017 (Battle 11): Kendrick Lamar vs. Logic

We have our opinions on the best albums of 2017, but rather than simply list them, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2017. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2017 (Battle 4): Drake vs. Logic

We have our opinions on the best albums of 2017, but rather than simply list them, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2017. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of... 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

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

Meet Eminem’s Newest Signee In The Rawest BET Cypher Of 2017 (Video)

Last night (October 10) Eminem's BET Hip Hop Awards cypher shook the universe, in what stands to be the MC's most political moment in a career that's never shied away from dissing public figures of all kinds. The previous time Marshall Mathers blessed the BET cypher stage, he brought his... Read more

Method Man Details The Life Experiences That Influenced His Complicated Role On The Deuce

For 13 episodes of The Wire, Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man played Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff. Well into a career that included film and television roles, "Cheese" showed Meth build on his portrayal of a Baltimore drug dealer over multiple seasons. He is back at work with The Wire's creator, executive producers, and many... Read more

Black Thought Performs A New Verse With Statik Selektah & Melts The Mic (Video)

Black Thought is one of Hip-Hop's consummate showmen. Flip on the TV five nights a week, attend a Roots Picnic, or search the web, and it's well documented. As if Tariq Trotter does not already work hard enough, the Philadelphia MC swung through Statik Selektah's Blue Note show in New... Read more

Black Thought Slows His Flow On A New Verse With Sum (Audio)

In 2017, Black Thought has been a busy man. While The Roots are reportedly working on their twelfth album with 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and DJ J. Period, Tariq Trotter has doled out dope verses all calendar long. From DangerDOOM to David Banner, Logic to Posdnuos and Pharoahe Monch, there... Read more

Logic’s Latest Music Video Involves Don Cheadle & Luis Guzman For True Life Support

Logic uses a grand scale to tackle one deeply important issue. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Statistics, it's the nation's 10th leading cause of death. For every 25 people attempt to end their own life, one person sadly euthanizes themselves as planned. Joey Bada$$ & Logic Go Bar... Read more

Confederate Statues Are Coming Down As Rappers Speak Up

At this very moment, the United States is undergoing an unnerving week of heated political debate. Over the previous weekend, a rally organized by members of White nationalist, KKK, and other extremist groups turned violent and fatal. Charlottesville, Virginia has become the unwitting headquarters for America's latest civil-rights battle, one... Read more

Remy Ma Sends Shots From The Podium Like It’s The Source Awards (Video)

Twelve years since her last BET Awards win, Remy Ma took home "Best Female Hip-Hop Artist" honors in 2017. The complement to Kendrick Lamar's male win, Remy celebrated the accolade with some controversy. For starters, upon winning she broke a seven-year streak held by foe/rival Nicki Minaj. And Remy knew... Read more

An Argument For Why Black Thought Is The Greatest MC Of All Time (Video)

For almost 25 years, Black Thought has been putting his raspy voiced verses to record. The constant MC for The Roots crew has made a dozen albums, seemingly performed as much as any Rap artist, and is now typically on television five nights per week. More than just simply hard... Read more

Logic Reveals He Would Not Be A Rapper If It Weren’t For J. Cole (Video)

Logic's Everybody is currently the #1 album in the country. This achievement by the Maryland MC puts him in an elite class of artists. Symbolically, "Young Sinatra" joins 2010s Rap peers such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, ScHoolboy Q, Future, Travi$ Scott, Meek Mill, Mac Miller, and... Read more

Tupac Shakur’s Formative Years: The Young Man Before The Myth (Video)

"I loved my childhood, even though it was bad. I love it. I feel like it's taught me so much. Nothing can faze me. Nothing in this world can surprise me. It might set me back, but only momentarily can it set me back. I think it's helped me to... Read more

Questlove Mentors A Young Street Drummer With Common & Black Thought’s Support (Video)

In the early 1990s, The Roots (as The Square Roots) regularly played before sidewalk audiences along Philadelphia's South Street. In the days before major label support and Grammy awards, Questlove, Black Thought, Malik B, and company used their music as a free gift to the people, and presumably welcomed any... Read more

J. Cole Gives Logic Blunt Life Advice In A Hard Hitting Hidden Verse (Audio)

While Kendrick Lamar has dominated the Hip-Hop discourse for the last four weeks, there has been some amazing Hip-Hop to drop before, during and after that time. Joey Bada$$, Talib Kweli & Styles P, Brother Ali, Big Sean and Oddisee all have released stellar projects in 2017, just to name... Read more

N.W.A. & Ruthless Records Producer & Keyboardist L.A. Dre Has Passed Away

Ruthless Records affiliate L.A. Dre, who in the 1980s and '90s worked as a producer and keyboardist on albums like N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton, Efilzaggin, The D.O.C.'s The Formula, and Eazy E's Eazy-Duz-It (as well as on works from Above the Law, Michel'le, and more) has passed away. A longtime friend and... Read more

In 1991, Ice Cube Spoke With Angela Davis About Using Rap To Wake Up The People (Video)

In 1991, the Hip-Hop world awaited Ice Cube's follow-up to his 1990 solo debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The former N.W.A. member had taken a bold step in pursuing a career of his own, and even more so by enlisting the help of definitively East Coast-sounding production crew, Bomb Squad, to... Read more

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton Album Heads To The Library Of Congress

Approaching its 30th anniversary of release, N.W.A.'s album Straight Outta Compton continues to be rather suddenly treated as a classic album in the mainstream. The 1988 Ruthless Records LP by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella has always been a grassroots success. However, the album that... Read more

Kanye West Recalls Watching J Dilla Work. He Compares Him To Quincy (Video)

In 2005, Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music was the label responsible for Common's sixth album, Be. That album, which was Common's first Top 10 release (debuting at #2) was critical to the Chicago, Illinois MC's career, and transformation. While West was responsible for nine of the LP's 11 tracks, the other... Read more

Redman Explains How MC Lyte Is The Reason He Met EPMD (Video)

Tomorrow (March 8), an international movement calling itself A Day Without A Woman will take place as a continuation of the Women's March energy that spread across the world like wildfire earlier this year (and as an acknowledgment of March being Women's History Month). The general strike is meant to... Read more

Erykah Badu Shares An Early Version Of On & On, Complete With A Rap (Video)

Twenty years ago this month (February 11, 1997), Erykah Badu opened the doors to her musical house of worship. Baduizm was a way of life, an inviting presentation of Soul music that stood apart from most of what was out there. Despite its refusal to conform to a very formulaic... Read more

What The Ohio Players’ & P-Funk’s Junie Morrison Meant To Hip-Hop (Audio)

Yesterday (February 16) Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician/producer Walter "Junie" Morrison died. The Dayton, Ohio native was a critical part of the Ohio Players band as keyboardist, vocalist, and producer. Joining the veteran outfit in 1970, he was on hand for some of the band's most memorable work,... Read more

Finding The GOAT Producer: Erick Sermon vs. DJ Quik. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Producer,” the third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and two slots will be reserved for wild-card entries, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more

Erykah Badu Discusses The Making Of Baduizm On Its 20th Anniversary

Twenty years ago today (February 11, 1997) Erykah Badu opened the doors to her musical house of worship. Baduizm was a way of life, an inviting presentation of Soul music that stood apart from most of what was out there. Despite its refusal to conform to a very formulaic time... Read more