Whoa... Here's a crazy cross-generational lineup of MCs. Check out Hit-Boy & HS87's Cypher featuring Schoolboy Q, Casey Veggies, Xzibit, Rick Ross, Method Man, Redman & Raekwon. Related: Hit-Boy – T.U. ft Audio Push, Problem & Juicy J... Read more

The West Coast Cypher featuring Snoop, Kendrick Lamar, E-40, Kurupt, YG, Xzibit and DJ Quik was definitely one of the best of the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Here's a behind the scenes look at the making of the cypher, that includes interviews with Snoop, E-40, Quik and DJ Premier. Check... Read more

There were some strong verses from OGs and young guns in this year’s Cyphers. Below are all the Cyphers, including verses from DMX, Eve, Jean Grae, Ab-Soul, Talib Kweli, Childish Gambino, Driicky Graham, Schoolboy Q, Mystikal, Snoop, DJ Quik, E-40, Kurupt, Xzibit and Kendrick Lamar, starting with the West Coast... Read more

DJ Quik talks about the origins of Cyphers, the difference between MCs and rappers and more behind the scenes at the BET Hip Hop Awards West Coast Cypher. Check out the video. Related: Sneak peek of the West Coast and Ruff Ryders Cyphers (Video)... Read more

As the premiere date for the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards approaches, BET releases a Warm Up Cypher featuring Tito Lopez, The Kid Daytona, Brianna Perry, Fame, K'la and Relly. Check it out and let us know who you think had the best verse. Related: Preview of West Coast Cypher... Read more

The 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards tape tomorrow in Atlanta and air on Tuesday, 10/9. As the show draws closer a couple of Cypher previews have surfaced. First up, is a West Coast cypher featuring Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, E-40, Kurupt, Xzibit and YG. Next is a Ruff Ryders cypher preview... Read more

We've heard a lot of 5 Fingers of Death from the Sway in the Morning show. Here's a good old-fashioned cypher featuring dead prez, Fashawn, Chris Webby & Supa Star Torch (Sway's intern--he's got bars). Ski Beatz supplies the music. Check out the video. Related: Brother Ali - 5 Fingers... Read more

Here's a good old-fashioned cypher from Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era crew. Make no mistake, Joey is not the only one with skills in the crew. The cypher kicks in at about the 2:20 mark. Check out the video. Related: Joey Bada$$ - 1999 (Mixtape)... Read more

Oooohhh. This Crooked I presented C.O.B. Cypher is SERIOUS! He doesn't spit a verse himself but every MC is nice. Check out the video below. Related: Crooked I - Psalm 82: v6 (Mixtape)... Read more

Wow. Method Man just simultaneously co-signed and son'd up and coming MC, Bigstat. The 2 were hanging out and Meth was giving Bistat big props. After Meth's strong endorsement of Bigstat's skills, they started to rhyme and, while Bigstat was nice, Meth said it best in his verse: "Don't ever... Read more

Who had the best verse? Big K.R.I.T., TechN9ne, Machine Gun Kelly, Kendrick Lamar and B.o.B. Reek Da Villain, 2 Chainz, Busta Rhymes and Ludacris Lady of Rage, Blind Fury, Dom Kennedy and Skillz Yelawolf, Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 5'9" and Eminem Click here for the rest... Read more

YG, Mac Miller, Diggy Simmons and Lil Twist Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar, Lil B and CyHi Da Prynce Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T. and Fred Da Godson... Read more

The fact that he's riding the track that Method Man crushed on Bring the Pain just makes it more ill. Here's Meth's joint: And, the original track was called I'm Your Mechanical Man by Jerry Butler (the sampled part comes in at around the 3:00 mark but the whole song... Read more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evGF596N1I4 If you like what you hear, check out Skillz' new mixtape with Jazzy Jeff.... Read more

The BET Hip-Hop Awards have been featuring Cyphers for years and they've taken a life of their own. Last year's launched the career of Nicki Minaj. This year's are the best yet. Check them out: [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.971347&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dord%253D457795567011120900%2526tile%253D2%2526reportPropChannel%253Dhiphop10%2526reportPropSubSection%253Dhiphopawards10%2526reportPropContentType%253Dhha10_videos%2526adAspectRatio%253D2%2526reportDartNValue%253Dhha10_video_showcypher%2526reportDartSubValue%253Dhiphopawards10%2526   [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.971341&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dord%253D206602806129951520%2526tile%253D2%2526reportPropChannel%253Dhiphop10%2526reportPropSubSection%253Dhiphopawards10%2526reportPropContentType%253Dhha10_videos%2526adAspectRatio%253D2%2526reportDartNValue%253Dhha10_video_showcypher%2526reportDartSubValue%253Dhiphopawards10%2526   ExternalVideo.971338&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dord%253D48253978693669320%2526tile%253D2%2526reportPropChannel%253Dhiphop10%2526reportPropSubSection%253Dhiphopawards10%2526reportPropContentType%253Dhha10_videos%2526adAspectRatio%253D2%2526reportDartNValue%253Dhha10_video_showcypher%2526reportDartSubValue%253Dhiphopawards10%2526 [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.971339&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dord%253D119154515025513440%2526tile%253D2%2526reportPropChannel%253Dhiphop10%2526reportPropSubSection%253Dhiphopawards10%2526reportPropContentType%253Dhha10_videos%2526adAspectRatio%253D2%2526reportDartNValue%253Dhha10_video_showcypher%2526reportDartSubValue%253Dhiphopawards10%2526... Read more

Richmond, California's Locksmith is a decorated veteran MC who makes music with substance. He has made songs with Xzibit, KXNG Crooked, Ras Kass, Apathy, and others along the way. However, the East Bay lyricist is also known for being the source of incredible freestyles. Over the last decade and a... Read more

Treach and his group Naughty By Nature were a linchpin of 1990s Hip-Hop. The Grammy Award-winning East Orange, New Jersey trio had ties with a cross-section of the Rap scene, including Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. These connections especially mattered by the mid-1990s, when Tupac and Biggie had entered a... Read more

In 2009, four of Hip-Hop's sharpest lyricists joined forces to form one of the most beloved super group's of the last 15 years. Joe Budden, Royce 5'9, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked (then known as Crooked I) each had well-established careers, but Slaughterhouse propelled the collective to mythical heights. By... Read more

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

This weekend (August 5), LL Cool J is headlining the annual Rock The Bells Festival in his home borough of Queens, New York. L will be joined by The Roots and DJ Z-Trip as he shares the main event with the MC's longtime friends and peers Run-D.M.C. Other performers include... Read more

For more than six years, Detroit, Michigan MC Page Kennedy has been making noise. A purebred MC, Page embodied a pivot to Hip-Hop. The actor from S.W.A.T., Weeds, Blue Mountain State, and countless other roles began releasing albums with 2017's Torn Pages, and his Straight Bars mixtape series. He made... Read more

Nearly four years ago, Westside Boogie made a major impression with his first album on Shady Records. 2019's Everythings For Sale joined the Griselda crew in expanding Eminem's roster with new depth and range. That move had been happening since both parties smashed a 2017 BET Cypher. While the Buffalo,... Read more

Today (October 7), Cormega has delivered The Realness II. As Cormega recently detailed to Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, the album was carefully made to be a true sequel to the original—which arrived just over 21 years ago. Beloved song “American Beauty" gets a stylish update on "Her... Read more

The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards aired tonight (October 4), hosted by Fat Joe. The show has been BET's celebration of the culture since 2006, featuring appearances and performances from Rap's biggest stars, as well as next generation MCs poised to grab the torch. This year's show featured performances by... Read more

On the most recent episode of Drink Champs, co-host N.O.R.E. told guests Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey, and Dave Chappelle about the moment he felt Hip-Hop became divided. The co-founder of Capone-N-Noreaga opined to Black Star that he feels The Roots' 1996 "What They Do" music video was a dividing line... Read more

Over the last five years, Joyner Lucas has gone from a standout independent lyricist to a Grammy-nominated artist. The Worcester, Massachusetts native MC released ADHD to a Top 10 charting response, following "Best Rap Song" and "Best Music Video" Grammy nods for Eminem collaboration "Lucky You" and "I'm Not A... Read more

Twenty years and one month ago, Eminem's single "Without Me" spoofed the late singer Elvis Presley. In the Bass Brothers-produced song, he rapped, "But it's just me, I'm just obscene / Though I'm not the first king of controversy / I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley / To... Read more

For three and a half years, there has been tension brewing between Joe Budden and CyHi The Prynce. The MC-turned-media mogul has been critical of the former G.O.O.D. Music artist. In 2018, Budden criticized CyHi's relationship with Kanye West. “CyHi just tweeted yesterday, ‘Uh oh, masta’ said, I’m gettin’ seven... Read more

In June of 2012, Joey Bada$$ launched what has become a highly-respected catalog with 1999. The mixtape from the Brooklyn, New York MC helped usher in the Pro Era movement, with appearances by Capital STEEZ, CJ Fly, Chuck Strangers, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, Dessy Hinds, and more. As a 17-year-old... Read more

Chicago MC J.U.I.C.E. is revered as one of Hip-Hop's all-time elite freestylers and punchline wordsmiths. During the late 1990s and early 2000s in particular, J.U.I.C.E. commanded the spotlight on Sway & King Tech's The Wake Up Show, Cincinnati's Scribble Jam battles, and appearances on Molemen albums. However, J.U.I.C.E. is also... Read more

For a group that has not released a project in almost eight years, Slaughterhouse is currently making big waves in Hip-Hop news. The collective of Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Kxng Crooked, and Royce 5'9 is presently at odds, and the disagreement is playing out in real-time. This Friday (March 11),... Read more

On Sunday night (February 13), Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem put on a Super Bowl halftime show for the ages (embedded below). 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak also appeared as Dre's latest comeback campaign resulted in the biggest concert of his 35-plus-year-career. Although Dre... Read more

Following an incredible 2021 that saw LL Cool J and JAY-Z inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Hip-Hop stands to make an encore in '22. A Tribe Called Quest and Eminem are among the nominees for the induction—which will be confirmed in May. The legendary Queens,... Read more

BET's Rap City was a staple of Hip-Hop culture for nearly 20 years. The show evolved with Rap culture over a series of hosts, studios, and themes. Through it all, BET found a vehicle that was a rival to Yo! MTV Raps as a vessel of the music on television. From 1989 to late 2008,... Read more

In the last year, Busta Rhymes has released one of the finest Hip-Hop albums in Extinction Level Event 2. ELE2 stands tall in Busta's extensive 30-year career and catalog, with Ambrosia For Heads arguing that it is worthy of the "classic" adjective. The concept album (featuring Rakim, M.O.P., Q-Tip, Kendrick Lamar, Ol' Dirty... Read more

Next month makes 30 years since Common received the coveted "Unsigned Hype" column in The Source magazine. As he would do with Biggie Smalls and Mobb Deep, journalist Matty C. found Common Sense a worthy inclusion for the highly-respected Hip-Hop publication. Unlike today, 1991 was a time when MCs from... Read more

Kendrick Lamar made a rare and significant announcement in the last week: his upcoming album would be his last with Top Dawg Entertainment. For more than a decade, Kendrick has been TDE's flagship artist. He is even a part-owner in the record label responsible for taking SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay... Read more

Hip-Hop is witnessing its most exciting battle in more than a year, and it is playing out with more than just two opposing MCs. In 2020, two Midwest giants, Lupe Fiasco and Royce 5'9, partnered in a podcast. The two veterans joined forces to create 45 episodes of The Lupe... Read more

For more than 20 years, core fans kept hope that the HRSMN might release an album. As one of Rap's earliest super-groups, the quartet composed of Kurupt, Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus hurdled label challenges, leaks, bootlegging, legal woes, and all that comes with four separate lives and careers.... Read more

Two of Rap's most active MCs in recent years are Conway The Machine and Jim Jones. Conway has been part of Griselda Records' breakout trifecta, including his half-brother Westside Gunn and cousin, Benny The Butcher. During the mid-2010s, the Buffalo, New York veteran gained acclaim for his independent catalog. The... Read more

Last Friday (April 9), family, friends, and millions of Hip-Hop fans mourned the loss of DMX. The 50-year-old rapper born Earl Simmons passed away at age 50. For the previous week, X had been on life support in White Plains, New York hospital, following a cardiac arrest. Decades into a... Read more

One decade ago (November 22, 2010), Kanye West released a blockbuster album in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Whereas 2008's 808's & Heartbreak confronting loss and lust with sounds that veered beyond 'Ye's first three albums, 2010's M.B.D.T.F. marked a return to form, even if it was nothing like the Roc-A-Fella Records mid-2000s run. Just... Read more

Busta Rhymes is one of Hip-Hop's most enduring stars. Named by Chuck D, a fixture within Native Tongues, a requested artist on Tupac's One Nation project, a member of the Aftermath/Shady/G-Unit reign as well as Cash Money/Young Money, and one of J Dilla's closest collaborators, Trevor Smith, Jr. has done... Read more

Last Friday (September 4), Big Sean released his fifth album, Detroit 2. One day before the eighth birthday of his 2012 mixtape that launched the series, the G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records LP is another ensemble affair. Like the freebie, Royce 5'9" offers some big-brother-support from Detroit. Meanwhile, Eminem, Lil Wayne,... Read more

After 10 years of striving to serve up the best that Hip-Hop has to offer each and every day, today (March 2) is the last day we will be updating ambrosiaforheads.com. It's been an amazing journey since I first registered the URL back in June of 2009. I was sitting... Read more

Last month, Ambrosia For Heads decided that Madlib & Freddie Gibbs' Bandana was the Best Album Of 2019. Announced the same night as the Grammy's, the sophomore collaboration between the two veterans bested another producer/MC battery, Gang Starr, in the championship round. The decision came after the annual Sweet 16-themed... Read more

When John Forté had his 14-year prison sentence commuted more than a decade ago, he immediately went to the studio with longtime friend and fellow Brooklyn, New York native Talib Kweli. It was there that the former Fugees affiliate recorded "Homecoming," a personal cover to Kanye West's one-year-old Graduation cut.... Read more

"What I would say to any up-and-coming rapper? I would say that it is hard to get it, and it's even harder to maintain it." Eminem shares those words in the closing minutes of a one-hour-plus interview with Kxng Crooked on Crook's Corner. The video interview takes place in Dr.... Read more

Last night (February 6), Rapsody performed at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, New York. After touring with Big K.R.I.T. in late 2019, the Jamla Records MC is headlining the A Black Woman Created This Tour (dates below), which also features Sa-Roc. Black Thought, who has worked with Rap' several times, appeared on... Read more

Hip-Hop Heads are less than a month out from Royce 5'9's The Allegory album. The February 21 Heaven Studios/eOne album will feature Benny The Butcher, Kxng Crooked, Vince Staples, Conway The Machine, DJ Premier, and Oswin Benjamin, among others. Dating back to late 2019, Nickel Nine has released two video... Read more