AFH Ambrosia for Heads

ONYX Put Their Hands Around the Throat of Hip-Hop and Shake It on Their New Single (Audio)

ONYX is back with an aggressive new track addressing all the things they think are wrong with today's Hip-Hop. In a word, they see the music as "soft" and this is their collective call to all MCs to Wakedaf*cup. Check it out. Related: Onyx Reminds Listeners That They Still Get... Read more

Ransom Crosses Paths With Jadakiss & Raekwon To Pop Bottles Of Shampaign (Audio)

Since the mid-2000s days with Joe Budden, fans of Ransom have touted the New Jersey MC as one of lyrical giants within his class in Hip-Hop. Recently, by way of an album with Statik Selektah, and a redefined solo career, Ransom's getting some of the biggest looks of his run.... Read more

25 Tracks From Stars & Emerging Voices Affirm That Jamla Most Definitely Is The Squad (Album Stream)

Just in the last five years, 9th Wonder's Jamla Records has released critically-acclaimed and commercially-dominant albums from the likes of Skyzoo, Rapsody, and Murs, among a host of others. The North Carolina-based label is ramping up for its latest wave, with a blossoming expanded roster, which includes TP, Add-2, and... Read more

Buckshot & 9th Wonder Come Back Together For Some 3am Square Biz (Audio)

From 2005 to 2012, Black Moon's Buckshot and Little Brother's 9th Wonder made an Interstate 95 link to record three albums together. These works charted new waters for both artists, who when they set out to collaborate, were largely known for the personas created in their respective groups. By 2012,... Read more

BJ The Chicago Kid & Add-2 Apply 15 Minutes Of Fame To Relationships Over A 9th Wonder Beat (Audio)

While Andy Warhol's notion of the "15 Minutes of Fame" tends to apply to well, fame, it can mean anybody's limited moment in the sun. Jamla Records artist Add-2 and fellow Chicago, Illinois native BJ hook up for "15 Minutes Of Fame," looking at fickle romantic relationships cut short. The... Read more

Whoa. The Incomparable Shakespeare Sets A 2014 Standard With This Freestyle (Video)

Ambrosia For Heads has been down with Brooklyn's The Incomparable Shakespeare for a minute. After this stop on Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio show, Heads can expect more. Over classics by The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Scarface, Shake' slams some bars that show his confidence in himself, while still paying... Read more

Pete Rock, Rapsody & Lecrae Find The Good In Things, On A Khrysis Beat (Audio)

Jamla most definitely Is The Squad, especially this week. 9th Wonder's imprint has set the week ablaze with leaks from the upcoming project, mixed by Statik Selektah. If you thought Rapsody's She Got Game was impressive with its vocal and production chemistry with other artists, you'll enjoy "Be Inspired." In... Read more

GQ & Khrysis Pick Up Where Slick Rick’s Mona Lisa Left Off (Audio)

It was cold how Mona Lisa sang (courtesy of a cut-in Dionne Warwick) to "walk on by." Well, 25 years later Jamla's basketball star-turned-professional MC GQ picks up in that same frame of mind, rappin' on a Khrysis flip of the beat that Heads have known for years. This comes... Read more

Trae Tha Truth Raps As DJ Fresh Reworks Some Familiar Sounds Into Dope Beats (EP Stream)

Trae Tha Truth pumps out music at a rate that rivals only Statik Selektah. The Screwed Up Click alum and ABN (Asshole By Nature) general makes mixtapes, albums and a steady stream of collaborations that have taken him from cult-followed obscurity to a nationally-televised face, courtesy of his Hustle Gang... Read more

Talib Kweli, Phonte & Elzhi Come Together For Some Fly Wordplay On A Khrysis Beat (Audio)

In 2000s, some of the most elite MCs have come from three crews that run in the same circles. Reflection Eternal's Talib Kweli, Little Brother's Phonte, and Slum Village's Elzhi have all successfully built identities outside of the groups they came up in. Years later, after a bunch of overlapping... Read more

When DJ Premier Speaks Hip-Hop Listens. Here are His 20 Favorite Songs of 2013.

There have been lots of wrap up lists of the "best of" 2013, including many of our own. When one of the greatest producers of all-time weighs in, however, Heads take note. DJ Premier has put together his list of his 20 favorite Hip-Hop songs of the year and some... Read more

Onyx is Reuniting in 2014…But First Here are a New Album and Video from Fredro Starr (Audio & Video)

In advance of Onyx's upcoming reunion album (see below), Fredro Starr has released a solo project that was produced entirely by Audible Doctor. You can stream all of Made in the Streets below, as well as watch the first video from the LP below. And about that new album... MAD... Read more

Got BARS? These MC’s Do. Here Are The Best Freestyles of 2013 (Video)

There are few things more satisfying in Hip-Hop than a killer verse. It's why Kendrick Lamar shook up the Internet for 3 weeks (an eternity these days) with his Control verse...and then again with his BET Cypher. We've assembled a collection of the best freestyles (mostly "writtens") of 2013. Check... Read more

Ambrosia For Head’s 13 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2013 (Food For Thought)

2013 was a different kind of year in music. Not only did Rick Rubin return to crafting Hip-Hop albums, but he had a hand in three of the genre's biggest releases from top artists like Jay Z, Eminem, and Kanye West. Meanwhile, as has been the case over the last... Read more

Raekwon & The Roots Rock That Incarcerated Scarfaces. Sounds So Lovely With a Live Band (Video)

This week in Brooklyn, OkayPlayer threw their annual Holiday Jam. Special guest Raekwon hit the stage with the full Roots crew, and DJ J. Period on the decks. Rae performed his Purple Tape joint "Incarcerated Scarfaces," with Black Thought providing extensive support vocals. It's cool how they riff on the... Read more

15 Years in and Talib Kweli is Still Schooling the Competition. He’s Looking for New Leaders…(Audio)

Talib Kweli is a week away from his second album of 2013. Gravitas will include the Statik Selektah-produced "New Leaders." Joined by Flatbush, Brooklyn's The UnderAchievers, Kweli demands new leadership in Hip-Hop, in Brooklyn, on Twitter, in society, and in government. Throughout the last 15 years, Kweli has been able... Read more

Eddie B & Harry Fraud Enlist Sean Price & Termanology To Give Warning (Audio)

Brooklyn's Harry Fraud served up some of 2012's best beats, between scorchers to Smoke DZA, Wiz Khalifa, and a Lords Of The Underground-sampling cut for French Montana. In 2013, Fraud laced Saaab Stories for Action Bronson's Warner Bros./Atlantic Records jump-off, and passed a few more around. For years, Harry's been... Read more

Fredro Starr Contemplates How Different the World Could Be on What If II (Audio)

Fredro Starr has released part 2 of his song What If, where he speculates on how different the world would be if certain things had happened differently ("What if the NRA changed all the gun laws and no one could by guns out of the gun stores?"). Take a listen... Read more

The Pro Era Cypher (Video)

Rather than complain or whine about not being included in the BET Hip-Hop Awards cyphers, the Pro Era Crew did what a group of MCs is supposed to do: take it to the mic. Featuring DJ Statik Selektah on the turntables, Pro Era delivers an 11 minute cypher showcasing the... Read more

Freeway & The Jacka Coast 2 Coast Collaborate For Write My Wrongs (Mixtape)

Given his debut album's seamless collaborations with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, Freeway has always been a versatile vocalist. While the Soul-sampling, the aggression, and the subject matters of Freezer's work has always had a strong Philly backbone, this is an MC who has worked with Paul Wall, Kanye West,... Read more

Joell Ortiz – Cheers From the Crowd (Video)

Joell Ortiz continues his solo run. The Slaughterhouse MC slows down the pace over a soulful Statik Selektah track. Check out the video for Cheers From the Crowd. Related: Joell Ortiz – Outta Control (Kendrick Lamar Response)... Read more

CJ Fly – Thee Way I See It (Mixtape)

CJ Fly releases his latest mixtape. In addition to verses from his Pro Era crew like Joey Bada$$, he gets guest vocals from OG's like Phife Dawg and Buckshot as well as contemporaries from other crews like Ab-Soul. The mixtape also features production from Statik Selektah, BrandUn DeShay, Cookin' Soul... Read more

Bun B – Fire ft Rick Ross, 2 Chainz & Serani

Bun B drops a new joint featuring Rick Ross & 2 Chainz. Check out Fire. Related: Statik Selektah – Funeral Season ft Styles P, Bun B & Hit-Boy (Audio)... Read more

Astro – Starvin Like Marvin For A Cool J Song (Mixtape)

Brooklyn's Astro aka Astronomical Kid names his latest mixtape after an iconic Radio-era LL Cool J line. How cool, and fitting for a young MC with so much knowledge and influence from the glory years of Hip-Hop—especially on the New York front. The 14 song effort is Astro's second tape... Read more

Ransom – It’s Ransom ft Styles P

For the last five years, Ransom's name has come up a lot in lyrical circles. I'm personally excited that his October 1 album The Proposal will hopefully be an album we can collectively point to as evidence. This simply-titled song certainly grabbed my ears, as emotional, sincere Rap, with a... Read more

Guilty Simpson & Small Professor – On The Run ft DJ Revolution

With the release date of their album quickly approaching, Detroit's Guilty Simpson and Philly's Small Professor finally give us a taste of what to expect when Highway Robbery actually drops on September 24. Featuring some ill turntable magic from DJ Revolution, the album’s lead single “On The Run” delivers nice... Read more

AG Da Coroner – Not Gonna Cry

The Outdoorsmen is quite the crew. Following Action Bronson's major label emergence, and the recent signings of Mayhem Lauren and AG Da Coroner, this will likely be a group tempted with an album after the solo endeavors are situated. "Not Gonna Cry" is that won't-come-up-for-air Rap that calls back to... Read more

Ransom – Unexplainable

Statik Selektah has been on a tear the last 3 years. He supplies another fire beat to Ransom. Check out Unexplainable. Related: Ransom – Pray For Me ft Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock (Audio)... Read more

Termanology – Off The Block ft Sheek Louch, Lil Fame & DJ Kay Slay

Bronx, New York-based Termanology puts out projects (as does Statik Selektah) at an alarming rate. However, that doesn't mean that the content isn't strong. The Brick/ST. Records tandem has provided a ton of opportunities to a true-school community of lyricists, especially Lil Fame (who's featured on this concrete-inspired cut from... Read more

Young-Ye: How Jay-Z and Kanye West Made the World Watch the Throne (Again) and Saved Hip-Hop in the Process (Food for Thought)

For the better part of the last 2 weeks, I was convinced the sibling-like rivalry between Jay-Z and Kanye West had reached epic (and perhaps unseemly) proportions. How else could you explain the 2 dropping albums within 3 weeks of one another with Jay-Z seemingly stepping on little brother Kanye’s... Read more

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of June 2013 (Audio Playlist)

As we ease into July 4th weekend, here's a look back at the best hip-hop that dropped in June. You'll hear music from J. Cole, Nas, Curren$y, Mac Miller, Kanye West, Wu-Tang Clan, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Posdnuos, Kid Tsunami, Drake, LL Cool J, Slum Village, Wale, Lupe Fiasco, Joey Bada$$,... Read more

Kid Tsunami – The Chase (Full Album Stream)

With all the commotion about Kanye, J. Cole, Mac Miller and Statik Selektah's album, it was easy for Kid Tsunami's to get lost in the shuffle. But, with guest appearances from Masta Ace, OC, J-Live, Bahamadia, Sadat X, Kool Keith, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Chubb Rock, Pharoahe Monch, Buckshot and... Read more

Mac Miller – Watching Movies With the Sound Off (Full Album Stream)

With all the commotion about Kanye West and J. Cole's albums dropping tomorrow (as well as Statik Selektah), some may have forgotten about Mac Miller...Quietly, he has put together an incredibly solid album. His lyrics have improved 10-fold since his last album, as have the beats and features (Ab-Soul, Schoolboy... Read more

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of May 2013 (Audio Playlist)

As the year heats up, so does the music. May brought new and previously unheard tracks from Rakim, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, J. Cole, Aasim & Nas, Styles P, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Black Hippy, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Goodie M.o.B., Prodigy, Havoc, Tito Lopez, AZ, Kanye West and more. You can... Read more

Joey Bada$$ – Word is Bond

Joey Bada$$ and Statik Selektah link for another magnificent 90's-influenced track. Check out Word is Bond. Related: Joey Bada$$ – Beyond a Reasonable Doubt ft Action Bronson (Audio)... Read more

AZ – We Movin’

AZ and Statik Selektah teamed up for a BLAZING HOT new track. Check out We Movin'. Related: AZ - Thank You (Video)... Read more

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of April 2013 (Audio Playlist)

April was the best month for new hip-hop this year...BY FAR. We got new music from Jay-Z, De La Soul, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey, Pusha T, M.O.P., Logic, Ab-Soul, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Styles P, Redman and many more. You can listen to the playlist, see... Read more

Black Thought on The Comback Jack Show (Video)

Can you believe Black Thought was ready to scrap with Nas at one point? He talks about this, how he met Questlove and much more on The Combat Jack Show. Check out the interview. Related: Statik Selektah – Bird’s Eye View ft Raekwon, Joey Bada$$ & Black Thought (Audio)... Read more

Raekwon – Hip-Hop: Yesterday, Today, Forever (Video)

Here's a cool short video on Raekwon. It includes and impassioned performance of C.R.E.A.M. by The Chef as well as an interview where he discusses the current state of hip-hop, including his respect for Kendrick Lamar. Check out the video. Related: Statik Selektah – Bird’s Eye View ft Raekwon, Joey... Read more

Joey Bada$$ – Hotbox ft NYCk Caution

Here's a new one from Joey Bada$$. Check out Hotbox featuring NYCk Caution. Related: Statik Selektah – Bird’s Eye View ft Raekwon, Joey Bada$$ & Black Thought (Audio)... Read more

Capital STEEZ Freestyle (Video)

Here's a video of what is reported to be Capital STEEZ's last freestyle. He is flowing over the classic NY State of Mind track Primo crafted for Nas. His part starts at the 1:25 mark. Here's the video. Related: Statik Selektah's Capital STEEZ Tribute Mix... Read more

Babygrande Presents: The History of Freeway (Mixtape)

Here's a mixtape mixed by Statik Selektah that spans the entire career of Freeway from 1-900-HUSTLER to present day. You can listen to and download The History of Freeway below. Related: Freeway – We Up (Video)... Read more

Freeway + Talib Kweli perform P.A. and Outstanding on Showoff Radio (Video)

Freeway and Talib Kweli did impromptu performances of a couple of songs on Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio show. Check out the video of Freeway dropping some bars of P.A. and Kweli kicking a verse from Outstanding. Related: Talib Kweli on No Reservations (Video)... Read more

Twista – Show N’ Off Freestyle (Video)

Twista can still come with that rapid-fire flow. Here's a verse he dropped over a Statik Selektah beat, as part of XXL's Show N' Off Freestyle series. Check out the video. Related: Supernatural freestyles on Hot 97 with Peter Rosenberg (Video)... Read more

Jon Connor – What I Do

Jon Connor puts on another lyrical display on the Statik Selektah-produced What I Do. Check it out. Related: Jon Connor - The Backroom Freestyle (Video)... Read more

Lil Fame (of M.O.P.) and Termanology – Fizzyology (Video)

Lil Fame of (M.O.P.) and Termanology are doing an album together under the name Fizzyology. The album drops in November and will feature will Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Bun B, Freeway, M.O.P., DJ Premier, Statik Selektah and more. Here's a video for the title track which was produced by The... Read more

REKS – REBELutionary (Full Album Stream)

REBELutionary is the 2nd album REKS is dropping this year. Like Straight, No Chaser which was produced entirely by Statik Selektah, REBELutionary is produced in its entirety by one producer. This time, it's Numonics behind the boards. REBELutionary features guest verses from Jon Connor, Termanology, Sene and more, and is... Read more

Strong Arm Steady – Fair Fight ft Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Jay Rock

Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock join Strong Arm Steady on the Statik Selektah-produced Fair Fight. Related: Ab-Soul - Black Lip Bastard (Black Hippy Remix) featuring Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q & Jay Rock... Read more

Joey Bada$$ – Waves (Video)

Here's a new video for Joey Bada$$' song Waves which is one of the best songs from one of the strongest mixtapes to drop all year. His 1999 mixtape is steeped in sounds from the 90's era and features original tracks as well as tracks from J. Dilla, MF DOOM,... Read more

REKS – Riggs & Murtaugh ft Action Bronson

Here's another solid track from REKS' new Straight, No Chaser album that's produced entirely by Statik Selektah. Check out Riggs & Murtaugh featuring Action Bronson. Related: REKS - Such a Showoff ft Termanology, Kali & JFK... Read more