AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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

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

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

Cereal Killa: Your Favorite Childhood Cereals Are Changing…

Whether you're KRS-One or just an average Joe, things are about to change when you  "wake up every morning to your Lucky Charms cereal." Health consciousness has become a major concern for Americans as years of sedentary lifestyles and processed foods begin to manifest themselves into side effects like obesity,... Read more

Kool Keith & J-Live Make An Unlikely Pair. But They Are Great Travel Companions (Audio)

Mello Music Group's L'Orange is a quiet threat. The French producer chops down samples and breathes new life into dusty grooves. Pensive MCs, whether Blu or Gift Of Gab, thrive on his sonic textures. "The Traveler" extends L'Orange's collaborative history with Kool Keith, and welcomes J-Live to the fold. Two... Read more

Jadakiss Rips Into An O.D.B. Classic Instrumental With A Sharp Freestyle (Audio)

Jadakiss is restless when it comes to weekly throwback freestyles. He comes forth with some sharp witticisms, and clever wordplay on Ol' Dirty's 1995 classic, "Brooklyn Zoo" (as "Shame On You Rappers"). From Downtown to Uptown, 'Kiss hits this freestyle with his A-Game, and livens up another Friday. Should Jadakiss... Read more

Lil Dicky TORCHES a Sway in the Morning Freestyle. Bars Like Federal Prison…(Video)

Lil Dicky is a funny MC. He smiles, cracks jokes and has a good time with his rapping. But, when it's about those bars, he is deadly serious. Many first saw Dicky in his hilarious video for "Ex-Boyfriend," a song where he comically vents about the insecurities he as about... Read more

Whether It’s His Beat Or Kendrick Lamar’s, Fabolous Will Be Awwright (Video)

Fabolous has been on a freestyle tear recently, making his lyrical moves and laying them to waste over classic jams from the likes of fellow New Yorkers Nas, Mobb Deep, and the Wu-Tang Clan. Now, just days after jumping on the same stage as Kendrick Lamar and taking down Summer... Read more

Did Hollywood Forget N.W.A. Had 5 Members? Here’s Some Love for MC Ren & DJ Yella.

This week has been a roller-coaster for fans of "Rap's Most Dangerous Group": N.W.A. On Monday (June 8), it was revealed that Ice Cube will reunite on stage with DJ Yella for the first time since 1989. MC Ren will be there too as part of Los Angeles, California's BET... Read more

Cormega & Roc Marciano Flex Rugged Flows With No Filter (Audio)

From Queensbridge to Hempstead, Cormega and Roc Marciano represent that old New York City. Both MCs have been able to stay fresh and innovative, while always tapping into the sounds and the maneuvers of the 1980s and 1990s. Their music has bravado, street-wise sensibility, and a slickness that's hard to... Read more

Beanie Sigel & Jadakiss Are Way Past Beef. Now, They Bully Mics Together (Audio)

One of Rap's beefs that feels so distant it's hard to imagine it ever even existed is Roc-A-Fella and Ruff Ryders. Truly a byproduct of a rift between Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss, the two enforcers for Jay Z and DMX continued to throw spicy criticism of each other in subliminal... Read more

Rest In Peace Pumpkinhead, Friends & Collaborators Mourn

Veteran Brooklyn, New York MC Pumpkinhead (a/k/a PH) has been reported dead this morning (June 9). Friends and collaborators of the man born Robert Alan Diaz have begun to publicly mourn. Notably, Pumpkinhead appeared on acclaimed albums such as Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 2 albums, in addition to... Read more

Lost Ones: How A Flood Destroyed Inspectah Deck’s RZA-Produced Solo Debut (Video)

Listen to Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Like, really listen hard. Then, listen to Wu-Tang Forever. All of it, both discs. Revisiting those 1990s Rap gems should not come as a menial task to many. However, the contents of those two Loud Records releases are rich soil for debate. Often... Read more

Common, Mobb Deep, Freeway & More Set to Perform at The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

Ambrosia For Heads is proud to announce our media partnership with the 11th annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Kicking off July 8, and running through July 11, this year's series of events drives emphasis to the very spirit of Hip-Hop culture. 2015's gala includes performances by Academy and Grammy award-winning Common,... Read more

DJ EFN Elevates DJ Albums & David Banner Explains One Potent Verse (Interview)

After 20 years of his life devoted to Hip-Hop music and culture, Miami, Florida-based DJ EFN stepped to the front with Another Time. Self-released, the studio album included more than 30 years of MC greats, spanning all regions, styles, and skill-sets. Scarface, Blu, Royce Da 5'9", Killer Mike, MC Eiht,... Read more

GZA Pens An Editorial, Claiming Lyricism Is Absent Today. Do You Agree?

They don't just call him The Genius 'cause it sounds good. Wu-Tang Clan co-founder GZA has used his mental to open many doors. The Brooklyn, New York veteran MC lectures frequently at prestigious academic institutions, including Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The gold-certified MCA Records soloist has incorporated many... Read more

Nas, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, MC Eiht & More Appear On Mr. Magic’s ’94 Mix (Audio)

John “Mr. Magic” Rivas will forever be respected as a radio pioneer who introduced Rap to the masses. In 1981, "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack" became the first ever exclusive Rap radio show to premiere on a major station (WHBI) and its historic impact on the music industry can still be... Read more

Emilio Rojas Releases a Freestyle Packed With Knowledge and Unfiltered Social Commentary (Audio)

There have been a ton of 90s freestyles of late (perhaps too much), but none like this. Emilio Rojas has released a powerhouse social commentary over The Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks On Me." Just as Scarface did on the original, Rojas digs deep to speak candidly about issues most... Read more

As Fabolous Snatches Throwbacks, Capone-N-Noreaga Resuscitate “Breathe” (Audio)

Fabolous and Jadakiss (as well as Papoose, Tony Yayo, and others) have been freestyling within the confines of 1990s New York Hip-Hop hit instrumentals (often recreating the original songs). All of those mentioned names were around in the decade, either making noise on a grand level, or getting their names... Read more

Pete Rock’s Heaven & Earth Petestrumental Lives Up To Its Name (Audio)

Pete Rock's Petestrumentals 2 (June 23) is less than one month away. The Chocolate Boy Wonder unleashes another gem, "Heaven & Earth" from the Mello Music Group release. With a strong homage to David Axelrod (if you can call it that), the song is set off with some philosophy, and... Read more

At 15 Years Old, Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP Still May Reign Supreme

The problem with an incredible work is often following it up. In Hip-Hop, for every Doggystyle, there's a Doggfather, for every Black Album, there's a Kingdom Come, and for every Stankonia, there's well,...wonder. Although he had been plugging away in Hip-Hop starting in the mid-1990s, Eminem skyrocketed to fame in... Read more

Stream More Than 6 Hours Of DJ Premier’s Mid-’90s Radio Show (Mix)

Between Gang Starr's 1994 album Hard To Earn and 1998's Moment Of Truth, Guru and DJ Premier still stayed incredibly busy. Together, the band-mates would produce enduring albums by proteges Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, and Bahamadia. Guru would release a second volume of Jazzmatazz, while Preemo would provide iconic... Read more

Jadakiss & Rick Ross Are Lyrical Champions In The Same Conference (Audio)

Jadakiss and Rick Ross have a strong catalog of collaborative works. Jada' calls upon Mastermind for his usual Friday firing of the bars. "Eastern Conference" reworks some literal stadium-music for the two Def Jam Records mainstays to spotlight their figurative jerseys in the rafters. The message is topical, as the... Read more

Snoop, Pharrell, Nia Long and Stevie Wonder Do Some Soulful Time Traveling on California Roll (Video)

They say history repeats itself. So, why wouldn't the future have parts of it that look like the past? We see this often with fashion, hairstyles and even sounds that seem to come back around every 20 years, give or take. There are films that have explored the concept, like... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Final 4): Rakim vs. Tupac…Who You Got?

There are now only 4 MCs remaining in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Since the elimination, bracket-style tournament was launched in September of 2014, including more than 200 overall MCs, there have been six completed rounds, featuring contenders from all eras of Hip-Hop,... Read more

Fabolous Takes On Another Nas Classic And Smashes It (Audio)

After rhyming over It Was Written's "Black Girl Lost," Fabolous re-ups his 90s freestyles series with another Nas classic. This time, he takes on the Pete Rock-produced Illmatic staple, "The World Is Yours." Updating the track with up to the minute references like Derrick Rose's now infamous stoic pose (as... 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

Fabolous Updates Nas’ Black Girl Lost With His Best 90s Freestyle Yet (Audio)

It takes a brave heart to follow Nas on a track. For the latest in his top notch series of 90s throwback freestyles, that's exactly what Fabolous does and he responds with his best to date. On Nasir's "Black Girl Lost," from It Was Written, Esco weaves a mournful tale... Read more

Moka Only & Illa J Team Up To Deliver A Smooth Jam For The Ladies (Audio)

Today (May 8) Moka Only released a new album called Chicken Wingz on Self Serve Records, the first release on the newly formed, Vancouver-based label. The lead single from the album features label mate Illa J rapping with Moka on a smooth, relaxing, J Dilla-esque production called "Freak Ya Heart... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 6): Tupac vs. The Notorious B.I.G.…Who You Got?

With now only 6 MCs remaining, we have entered Round 6 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only two match-up’s—both running this week—remain until the final 4 are revealed. Since the elimination, bracket-style tournament was launched in September of 2014, including more... Read more

Camp Lo Re-Team With Luchini Producer Ski Beatz on Black Jesus (Audio)

Camp Lo is in tact with their original mentor/producer Ski Beatz. However, the upcoming Ragtime Hightimes (May 19) is not a regurgitation of that Uptown Saturday Night sound. Instead, "Black Jesus" is just the latest example of Sonny Cheeba and Geechie Suede's ability to flex new styles. The 20-plus-year pair... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): KRS-One vs. Nas…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

Mister Cee Reveals Slick Rick Once Fully Stepped to Big Daddy Kane…Strapped (Audio)

DJ Mister Cee is the latest guest on Cipha Sounds & Peter Rosenberg's Juan Epstein podcast/show. In Part 2 (Part 1 ran earlier this month), The Finisher speaks to his friends and former HOT 97 colleagues in depth about the two figures most closely associated with the Brooklyn, New York... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Eminem vs. Busta Rhymes…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Rakim vs. Mos Def…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up's—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

Lloyd Banks Perfectly Matches The Pharcyde’s Flow on His Passin’ Me By Freestyle (Audio)

Lloyd Banks has released some of the best freestyles of the month, but he's outdone himself with the latest. Banks picks The Pharcyde's seminal "Passin' Me By" track, produced by J-Swift, and perfectly mimics the flows and cadences of multiple members of the group. As the G-Unit member tailors his... Read more

Few MCs Can Flow on a Big Daddy Kane Classic. Jadakiss is One of Them (Audio)

"Raw," "Ain't No Half Steppin'," "Smooth Operator"...Those are Big Daddy Kane classics, for sure, but for many Heads there is no finer lyrical performance from Kane than the one he dropped on 1989's "Young, Gifted and Black." There was no hook, no smooth R&B, just BDK detonating a two minute... Read more

Kendrick Lamar and Glasses Malone Search for Harmony Over a Bone Thugs Inspired Track (Audio)

Although there have been a slew of freestyles over classic Hip-Hop tracks from the 90s lately, Glasses Malone's "Thuggin'" featuring Kendrick Lamar is something different. The two MCs come together on an interpolation of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's seminal "Foe Tha Love of $" and flip the script. Rather than a celebration... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): KRS-One vs. Guru…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

Kurupt & Tha Alkaholiks Show Diamond D A West Coast Party (Video)

Celebrating all regions, eras, and styles, Diamond D's The Diam Piece continues to knock on doors, and knock in systems. In an onslaught of visuals, the Diggin' In The Crates co-founder heads to sunny California to link with longtime collaborators Tha Alkaholiks, and Kurupt. The video and the song ("We... Read more

Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa’s Chemistry Never Rests, Even If They Do (Audio)

After a friendly, little conversation on Twitter, Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa have leaked another single from their newest project, #2009. Heads have seen and heard Jet Life and Taylor Gang collaborate on numerous singles and celebrated mixtapes like their 2009 joint project How Fly, but after the release of "Uber... Read more

Lloyd Banks Drops a Killer Freestyle on a Vintage Dr. Dre Beat (Audio)

Of the many 90s Hip-Hop freestyles over the last few weeks, Lloyd Banks has released some of the best. After tackling classics by Black Moon and Raekwon, Banks sets his sights to the Left Coast and unleashes a powerhouse verse over the "Serial Killa" track Dr. Dre produced for Snoop... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Tupac vs. Scarface…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

Jadakiss Takes Jay Z’s Beat and Gets Far From Jiggy With It (Audio)

In the 2010s, Heads may not realize it, but Jadakiss has released some of the coldest music that still carries the Roc-A-Fella Records logo on the back. That said, 'Kiss takes an In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 standout moment from Jay Z and makes it his own. "Where I'm From,"... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Mos Def vs. MF DOOM…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): LL Cool J vs. Redman…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

Ever Hear This Rare Mos Def & Talib Kweli Freestyle? (Audio)

One of the most disappointing moments in Hip-Hop relates not to something that happened, but rather something that didn't. After releasing the nearly universally acclaimed album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Yasiin Bey (pka Mos Def) and Talib never united again for a follow up. At the... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Busta Rhymes vs. Ludacris…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH's bracket-style series towards... Read more

Charles Hamilton Pays Tribute to the Civil Rights Movement in His Latest Visual (Video)

As part of his comeback, Charles Hamilton has been making a good amount of press from his interviews and blazing freestyles, and by recently releasing his entire discography for free to the public. The Harlem, New York MC just released a video for his single "New York Raining," featuring Roc... Read more

Chris Rivers, Grandmaster Caz & More Bridge Generations in a Cypher w/ R.A. The Rugged Man (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man is gearing up to go on his Shoot Me In The Head Tour, but before heading out, he did a show at SOB's in New York City and brought out an all-star cast to join him in a cypher on stage. The cypher bridged together generations... Read more