AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Bad Boy’s Hitmen Justify Taking Hits From The ‘80s & Making ‘Em Feel So Good (Audio)

Since the earliest days of Bad Boy Records there has was a production team in place known as The Hitmen. Sometimes known as "Puffy's Hitmen," the collective included Puff Daddy as a figurehead with a decorated staff that has at times included Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Nashiem Myrick, Sean C &... Read more

Redman Keeps It All The Way Real On “Wus Really Hood” (Video)

For the entirety of his 25+ year career, Redman has been nothing, if not all the way real. The Newark, NJ native has never put on airs or changed who he is for anyone, whether it be radio, record companies or MTV. Last year, Redman spoke in depth with Combat... Read more

AZ Vows “Doe Or Die 2” Will Be His Final Album & It’s Coming This Year (Audio)

It has been more than seven years since Brooklyn, New York MC AZ has released an official album. In 2010, the co-founder of The Firm dropped a special 15th anniversary homage to his debut Doe Or Die. In that time, the Quiet Money lyricist has vowed that like peers Nas,... Read more

Redman On Getting Stepped To By MC Hammer In The 90s: “Hammer Don’t Play!!” (Video)

At the height of his career, MC Hammer was far from considered a gangsta rapper. With his parachute pants, highly-choreographed dancing and big pop records, Hammer was often the butt of jokes from his peers and considered a "sell out." His image was so cemented that when he showcased a... Read more

Ed Lover’s Tupac Stories Will Make You Cover Your Mouth (Audio)

Contemporary Hip-Hop has a plethora of media personalities presenting, dissecting, and analyzing the music and culture. Names such as Sway Calloway, Charlamagne Tha God, Miss Info, and DJ Vlad come to mind in breaking news, discourse, and reaction to the daily stream of events. These personalities use different media platforms... Read more

A3C Honors 1996 With Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Redman, Too Short & Bun B

This year’s upcoming A3C Festival in Atlanta, Georgia will look back on the year 1996. The five-day event, beginning October 5 on over 75 stages in the city’s Old 4th Ward and surrounding areas, will feature headlining performances by some of the top acts from 20 years ago — all... Read more

Rakim Addresses The Rumors That He Wrote DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”

For 25 years, there have been longstanding questions (and some rumors) surrounding DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's biggest hit, "Summertime." The 1991 Top 5 Jive/Zomba Records single from Homebase showcased a different flow from the West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC now known as Will Smith. Many speculated that the... Read more

Curren$y Reveals That He & Raekwon Have New Material Recorded

Over the last decade, Curren$y has ascended from a flagship artist at Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment to a successful independent MC. In the years since, the onetime 504 Boyz member has released collaborative projects with Wiz Khalifa, producer Ski Beatz, and his own Jet Life squad. In a year... Read more

Redman Dares To Do An EDM Track With 1000volts. Who’s With Him? (Audio)

“You're not trying to win by doing the new era music when you know you’re from the ’90s...A lot of artists try to implement some of the new wave into they situation. It works and [does not] work, because, sometimes the fans, they want originality. They want that artist that... Read more

DJ Jazzy Jeff Remixes “Summertime” 25 Years Later & It’s A Scorcher (Audio)

This week kicks off the official summer season. In the Hip-Hop genre, no song is more synonymous with the season than DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's 1991 platinum single, "Summertime." The Jive/Zomba Records hit was a Top 5 record for the West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania duo—the highest of their... Read more

Stretch & Bobbito Recall Expectations Around Nas’ Illmatic Release (Audio)

Last night (June 13), Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito The Barber returned to radio, in a new way. The legendary New York City duo conducted two hours of live radio via Samsung 837 approximately 26 years after the pair began with a historic eight-year run at Columbia University's WKCR 89.9FM radio... Read more

Willie D Reveals The Origins Of Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” (Audio)

In the last three years, Scarface has had at least two very memorable interview conversations with the Combat Jack Show. In his latest episode, Combat sits down with another high profile Geto Boys member in Willie D. The Houston, Texas native and onetime Rap-A-Lot Records star discusses his views on... Read more

Meet The Secret Weapon To Hits By Nas, Eric B. & Rakim & Main Source (Audio)

Anton Pukshansky is a name that likely appears in your music library—even if you don't know it. Born in Russia, raised in New York City, the producer, engineer, bassist, and keyboardist would work on heralded albums including Nas' Illmatic, Eric B. & Rakim's Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em, Kool G Rap &... Read more

Eric B. Defends His Legacy & Claims His Credit In History (Audio)

Eric B. may be one of the most misunderstood figures in Hip-Hop. An Elmhurst Queens, New York native, Eric Barrier formed one of the genre's most technically advanced groups in Eric B. & Rakim. Furthermore, the DJ/producer established a brand in Rap music that not only pivoted towards the materialism... Read more

Prince Paul Recalls MF DOOM’s “Impostor” Idea & Wu-Tang’s Earliest Days (Audio)

The "devastating" Prince Paul is a living Hip-Hop legend. Although he is a self-professed "shy guy," the Long Island, New Yorker would eventually find himself winning Grammy Awards for cracking jokes around Chris Rock and elite comedians. Listening to Paul is a joy in and of itself; an experience filled... Read more

Mannie Fresh & Juvenile Say That A Reunion Album With Lil Wayne Is Underway (Video)

Juvenile and Lil Wayne made up one half of the Hot Boys (with B.G. and Turk). Also on the 1990s Cash Money Records roster were the Big Tymers, featuring Mannie Fresh and Baby (n/k/a Birdman). In 2016, three star forces from those two entities appear to be coming together. In... Read more

Sheek Louch Discusses Silverback Gorilla 2 & Talks Working With Biggie and DMX (Interview)

Whereas speaking to Jadakiss or Styles P is often a lower key experience, their LOX band-mate Sheek Louch is high-energy. The Yonkers, New York veteran MC did not equate himself to one of the most ferocious members of the animal kingdom by being docile. In the Tommy Boy Entertainment conference... Read more

Former Young Thug Road Manager Sentenced For Lil Wayne Tour Bus Shooting

In late April of this year, Lil Wayne's tour bus was fired upon while in Atlanta, Georgia. While no parties were injured, the incident came at a time when Wayne was in a heated personal and financial dispute with label Cash Money Records, with whom he has recorded since the... Read more

Redman Gets Real About Def Squad, Leaving Def Jam & Staying True To Self (Audio)

Approaching this Friday's release of Mudface, Redman's media campaign rages on. The MC extraordinaire appeared on The Combat Jack Show with a one-hour interview that covers Red's career with the questions so many want to know. Reggie Noble goes in, from his support of Fetty Wap, to the break-up days... Read more

Norman Lear’s TV Shows Inspired the Hip-Hop Generation, But It Wasn’t Always “Good Times” (Audio)

As television royalty goes, there are few whose pedigrees compare to that of Norman Lear. Quite literally a living piece of Americana, Lear is the 93-year-old creative zeitgeist whom we have to thank for All in the Family, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Sanford & Son. But that's... Read more

Warren G Recalls Trying To Mediate Tupac & Biggie, An Untold Feud Behind Regulate (Audio)

In honor of his just-released Regulate…G Funk Era Pt. 2 EP, Warren G took the guest seat on the Combat Jack Show. The Long Beach, California MC/producer/DJ tells the show several times, that he is planning a book. This interview, (later featuring actor R. Marcus Taylor ("Suge Knight" in Straight... Read more

Big Pun’s Widow & Chris Rivers Offer Up The Real & Uncut Story of Life With Pun (Audio)

Fifteen years removed from Big Pun's death, there has been a lot of attention paid to one of Hip-Hop's greatest lyricists. The Bronx, New Yorker Terror Squad founder born Chris Rios has been survived by his wife, Liza Rios, and three children. The youngest, Christopher Rios (same name as his... Read more

DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

Fresh off of DJ Kool Herc's groundbreaking interview with The Combat Jack Show, another Hip-Hop pioneer is profiled extensively. Kool DJ Red Alert is Combat's guest this week. The Harlem, New York native (not Bronx, as often reported) opens up about his career trajectory, the radio wars evolving into "The... Read more

Black Rob Reveals Rolling With Bad Boy Before Biggie, Debilitating Stroke (Audio)

With a new album in stores (Genuine Article), Harlem, New York's Black Rob recently checked in at the Combat Jack Show. The former Bad Boy Records MC opened up about the struggles he's encountered during his career, which pinnacled with 1999 crossover, "Whoa!" B.R. had no problem speaking candidly about... Read more

Diamond D Reveals He Was With Tupac the Night He Shot Two Cops; Recaps His Entire Career

The Combat Jack Show, fresh off of a groundbreaking interview with DJ Kool Herc, stays in the Bronx, New York mind-state, to interview Diamond D. Traditionally, the Diggin' In The Crates co-founder, onetime pupil to DJ Jazzy Jay, and mentor to Fat Joe is not that chatty. However, just like... Read more

DJ Kool Herc OPENS UP & His Top 5 MCs & DJs Will ASTONISH You (Audio)

DJ Kool Herc interviews, especially with much depth and room for conversation are a scarcity. It is astounding how Hip-Hop music's credited founder lives in the Bronx, New York today, with relatively low profile. The Kingston, Jamaica native known as Clive Campbell is not a public figure, despite his groundbreaking... Read more

J. Cole Reflects On His Art & Career With Tavis Smiley (Video)

In support of his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive and its corresponding 64-city world tour, J. Cole recently gave an interview on the Tavis Smiley show. The interview touches on a few things Cole has spoken about before, but also gives fans a more introspective look at Cole's past and... Read more

LL Cool J Refutes Battling Jay Z, Talks 2 Types Of Album Styles & Some Amazing Rumors (Audio)

The Combat Jack Show has left Hip-Hop journalism better than they found it in 2014. In the closing weeks of the year, the show invited LL Cool J for what immediately feels like one of the finest sit-downs. At nearly two hours, LL turns towards his devout Hip-Hop fans, his... Read more

9th Wonder Says Without Phonte, There Is No Drake (Audio)

During A3C week earlier this month, 9th Wonder served as Reggie Osse's latest guest for a live taping of The Combat Jack Show. Per usual, the conversation spanned the career of the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina producer/DJ/sometimes-MC. However, there are certainly some impromptu side discussions and points made that make this... Read more

Big K.R.I.T. Explains Being Sharper In 2010 vs. 2014, Less Likelihood Of Country Cousins (Audio)

With his sophomore major label album, Cadillactica (premiered last night, September 30) just over five weeks away (November 11), Big K.R.I.T. is the latest guest on The Combat Jack Show. Making his 2014 stop on the audio program, Krizzle really opened up on everything from his skills, to emotions, to... Read more

Chuck D Uses Acronyms & Wordplay To Talk About Race, Radio & Rosenberg (Audio)

Last week, HOT 97 radio host, DJ, and member of the Low Budget Crew, Peter Rosenberg publicly apologized to Public Enemy front-man Chuck D. The words followed a month-long social media debate, which bled its way onto airwaves and interviews, following HOT 97's 2014 Summer Jam. After the Long Island,... Read more

Common Talks Chicago Music, Culture, & The “Heat” That Inspired Him & Nobody’s Smiling (Audio)

Days before the release of his 10th studio album, Nobody's Smiling, Common delivers an insightful interview with Combat Jack discussing the inspiration behind his upcoming album (2:45) and the significance of the cover (8:00), Chicago's musical "heat" (11:45), his first encounter with racism (27:30), his experiences with Rev. Jeremiah Wright... Read more

Peter Rosenberg Apologizes To Chuck D (Video)

Throughout June, Public Enemy's Chuck D and HOT 97's Peter Rosenberg had a debate-possibly perceived as a war of words on social media. The Hip-Hop legend—who has long run an online radio platform, RapStation.com, called out the New York City station's 2014 Summer Jam event, in regards to the station's... Read more

Black Thought, Action Bronson & Royce Da 5’9 Link On A Statik Selektah Joint (Audio)

Hailing from three different decades of Hip-Hop, Black Thought, Royce Da 5'9, and Action Bronson sound great together. The Roots, Slaughterhouse, and The Outdoorsmen all share a reputation for hard-hitting, rewind-worthy lyrics, which is exactly what producer/host Statik Selektah hoped for when he assembled "The Imperial." Boastful bars shine, as... Read more

D-Nice Recalls The Day Of Scott La Rock’s Murder, Reveals That After BDP, He Battled Homelessness (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's most resilient figures is D-Nice. The Human TR-808 came into vogue as an MC, down with KRS-One, Scott La Rock, and Boogie Down Productions. Rolling with one of the late '80s most ferocious Hip-Hop outfits, D-Nice became B.D.P.'s most prominent off-shoot, signing a solo deal with Jive... Read more

Get The Story Of Lord Finesse Discovering Big L In A Record Store (Audio)

D.I.T.C.'s history is the kind of tales that legends are made of. From Diamond D discovering a young Fat Joe in the Bronx, "in Forest, across from Morris," and putting him on Ultimate Force's demo, to Afrika Bambaataa's right-hand-man DJ Jazzy Jay taking Lord Finesse, Diamond, and Showbiz under his... Read more

Listen To The Precision Lyricism Of One Of Hip-Hop’s Masters As Pharoahe Monch Takes On The Backroom Booth (Video)

Since the days of Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch's breath control, wordplay, syncopated delivery, and metaphors have made him in the most elite class of MCs, all time, in Hip-Hop. With P.T.S.D. available now, Monch hits BET's Backroom for an accapella display that dazzles: Related: Pharoahe Monch Opens Up About His... Read more

Russell Simmons Explains Success Through Meditation, Recalls Some Vivid & Never Before Heard Def Jam Memories (Audio)

With his latest book hitting shelves (Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple), Russell Simmons stops by his former Def Jam Records employee, Combat Jack's show. Beginning at the 16-minute mark, Uncle Rush enters. In the lengthy and coherent interview, Russ speaks about his storied drug days and early era as... Read more

Sauce Money Talks Jay Z’s “Disgusting” Flow, Ghostwriting & Why He Didn’t Sign To Roc-A-Fella (Audio)

It's easy to confuse Sauce Money as a Jay Z protege. After all, many Heads may have heard Sauce by way of Roc-A-Fella Records releases, as well as Jay's support of Middle Finger U. However, those who listened to Big Daddy Kane & DJ Premier's famed "Show & Prove" know... Read more

Scarface Says the Powers That Be are Dumbing Down Hip-Hop. Here’s Why (Video)

Chuck D famously said "radio suckas never play me" over 2 decades ago in protest of a format he believed catered to the lowest common denominator. According to Hip-Hop OG Scarface, not much has changed. He sat down with Combat Jack and spoke on how he believes Hip-Hop is being... 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

Large Professor Showcases One Of His Dopest New Beats With Timeless Truth On Wavelength (Video)

From Akinyele to Nas, REKS to Rob Swift, Large Professor helps cultivate lasting talents in Hip-Hop. From his own Queens borough, Extra P provides a scorching track, and some assistance on the chorus for Timeless Truth's "Wavelength." The pair of Solace & Oprime39 have a cool, throwback style that goes... Read more

Members Of Ultramagnetic MCs & Main Source Remember The Late Paul C.

For those that don't know, one of Hip-Hop's unseen hands in the late 1980s was a Queens, New York engineer/producer named Paul "C" McKasty. Large Professor, who came up with Paul (both with works uncredited) on albums by Eric B. & Rakim and Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo, named... Read more

Peter Rosenberg Speaks in Support of Mister Cee (Video)

After 20 years, Mister Cee (legendary DJ to Big Daddy Kane) resigned from NYC's Hot 97 amid a swirl of controversy around his sexuality.  Today, he came on the Hot 97 morning show and openly addressed the issues.  Peter Rosenberg spoke in support of his former colleague. Check out the... Read more

Talib Kweli – Human Mic (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man directed this Prisoner Of Conscious video. The treatment to the "Human Mic" single plays with the title, with the Brooklyn, MC oozing words and his kicks his verses. Throughout his career, Kweli has embodied what it means to master the ceremony. And over 15 years removed from... Read more

DJ Premier Speaks on His Favorite Current MCs and More (Video)

Here's one that might be a scratcher for some Heads...The legendary DJ Premier, the stalwart of hip-hop credibility, named Drake as the current MC with whom he wants to work and praises 2 Chainz rhyming ability. Check out the video of him on The Combat Jack Show below to learn... 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

D-Dot Compares Biggie’s Work Style To Jay-Z’s (Video)

When you're blessed to work with two of the greatest MC's that have ever graced this industry, you can't help but pay attention to the process that goes into recording classic material. Check out this clip of D-Dot speaking on the difference between Biggie and Jay-Z's recording habits. Related: DJ Premier... Read more

Joey Bada$$ – 95 Til Infinity (Video)

Joey Bada$$ goes HARD on 95 Til Infinity. Check out the video. Related: Joey Bada$$ on The Combat Jack Show (Video)... Read more

Killer Mike & El-P – Run the Jewels (Free Album)

Killer Mike & El-P (aka Run the Jewels) have been dropping some sonic bombs the last several weeks and now they've released their full album...for free. You can listen to and download Run the Jewels below. Related: Killer Mike & El-P on The Combat Jack Show (Video) Click here to... Read more