AFH Ambrosia for Heads

T.I. Outlines What He Sees As The Positive Aspects Of The Crack Era (Video)

Although the crack epidemic is one of the most tragic times for addiction, poverty, and crime, it has an odd relationship with Rap music. Iconic songs and albums have used the free base form of cocaine as thematic inspiration. This ranges from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "White Lines... Read more

The Story Of How ODB Recorded His Verse For Mariah Carey’s Remix Is Fantastic

In 1995 Mariah Carey scored her ninth #1 single with "Fantasy." From her fifth album, Daydream, the song offered a nod to Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, by sampling The Tom Tom Club's "Genius Of Love," a staple from New York City's Downtown scene a dozen or so years... Read more

Swizz Beatz Reveals The Hidden Secrets He Learned At Harvard (Video)

Less than one week ago, Swizz Beatz released his first album in more than a decade. The arrival of POISON has the hit-maker for DMX, JAY-Z, Beyoncé, T.I., and Styles P promoting the Epic Records LP. However, few interviews in Swizzy's 20-plus-year career are as engaging as his second sit-down... Read more

Swizz Beatz Explains Why The JAY-Z, Nas & DMX Collabo Has Not Come Out (Video)

Yesterday, Swizz Beatz released his POISON album. For the Bronx, New York representative, it is his third retail release over the last 16 years. Rather than bring attention to his catalog, the Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, DJ, and musician has spotlit so many moments for his peers in Rap, R&B,... Read more

RZA Explains How His Attempted Murder Case Transformed Him

Last night (October 5), RZA was interviewed before a live audience during Atlanta, Georgia's A3C Festival. Wu-Tang Clan's Abbott spoke about his career, personal transformation, and the earliest days of his group to National Public Radio's Rodney Carmichael. Ambrosia For Heads was in attendance for the revealing conversation featuring one... Read more

Eminem Becomes LL Cool J’s Stan In A Conversation Between Two GOATs (Audio)

Eminem tends to offer impassioned anecdotes when crediting his multiple Rap music influences. For the first episode of LL Cool J's new show, The Influence Of Hip-Hop on Sirius XM's Rock The Bells Radio channel, Eminem tells LL that he is one of the main reasons that he began rapping as a child. "I... Read more

Canibus & Wyclef Detail Their Beef & How They Squashed It In A New Song (Audio)

When Canibus came on the scene in the late 1990s, he made a name for himself by out-shining MCs on their own tracks. Common, The Lost Boyz, and Heltah Skeltah can all testify to those early, devastating appearances. Then, when the already platinum Wyclef Jean got behind the hungry New... Read more

One Of Biggie’s Final Radio Appearances Is A Moment That Can Never Be Tuned Out (Video)

In today’s Hip-Hop landscape, Sway Calloway is most synonymous with hosting both established and budding MCs at the Shade 45 studios in New York, providing them a globally esteemed platform to showcase their verbal readiness. A successful Sway In The Morning appearance has become somewhat of a seal of approval for... Read more

Ice Cube Says He Is Finishing The Script To The Final Friday Movie

This weekend, Ice Cube answered a few questions from fans and dropped some surprising news for those who love the artist's music and film output. Online, a fan asked the legendary West Coast MC when fans can expect a new Ice Cube album. The rapper simply responded "This fall." This... Read more

Royce 5’9 Explains How Beef With Joe Budden Led To A Slaughterhouse (Video)

In the last five weeks, Slaughterhouse has publicly disbanded. Following KXNG Crooked's (aka Crooked I) announcement that he was stepping out of the group, Royce 5'9 and Joe Budden both responded in the media. The quartet, also including Joell Ortiz, has seemingly hung up its four mics after a run... Read more

John Witherspoon Says He & Chris Tucker Were Only Paid $5K For Friday (Video)

At present, there are discussions about the possibility of a fourth and final film in the Friday franchise, Last Friday. One year ago, Friday co-writer DJ Pooh told Drink Champs that the film script is in the works, “Me and [Ice] Cube haven’t worked together in a while, but we’re... Read more

GZA Slices Through The Tiny Desk To Perform Liquid Swords With A Brass Band (Video)

It's been a decade since Wu-Tang's GZA released his sixth studio album, Pro Tools. Among the projects he has dropped in the years previous, it is almost no contest which album has garnered the Genius more accolades than his 1995 platinum sophomore LP, Liquid Swords. Following recent, individual performances from... Read more

Method Man Explains Wu-Tang Clan’s Tiered Pay Scale & The Rationale Behind It

Wu-Tang Clan is a diverse collective. In addition to an assembly of MCs from different sections of New York City, the Wu brothers signed to different labels and reached varying levels of success. The members of the Clan also split their money differently. When it comes to touring and other... Read more

N.O.R.E. & Pharrell Playfully Honor Robert Palmer’s Addicted To Love Video

N.O.R.E. has diversified his brand and repertoire in the 2010s. The Lefrak City, Queens rapper now reaches the masses with his Drink Champs platform alongside DJ EFN and his On The Run Eatin' food series. However, the same MC who impressed the Hip-Hop masses alongside partner Capone for C-N-N's 1997 debut, The... Read more

Rakim Hilariously Details His High Stakes Slap-Boxing Match With LL Cool J (Video)

Being a legendary MC comes with a lot of praise, pressure, and stories. Rakim's faced or experienced a lot of all three, and when it comes to interviews over the years, "the God MC" has treated Heads to a lot of great tales. For example, one of those stories was... Read more

RZA Responds To U-God’s Accusations Of Wu-Tang Mismanagement & Greed

Last month, Wu-Tang Clan member U-God published a memoir. With regards to the behind-the-scenes business and inner-workings of a legendary Hip-Hop group, Raw lives up to its name. After announcing a seven-figure lawsuit against RZA and Wu-Tang in late 2016 over unpaid royalties, many speculated that the artist (who followed... Read more

25 Years Ago, ONYX Knew Just How To Make Heads Back Up & Slam (Video)

On Friday (March 30), ONYX's debut album Bacdafucup turned 25 years old. The LP is quintessential Big Apple "tough-guy Rap" and perhaps one of the more hardcore Hip Hop albums of all-time. Back in 1991, the group sent a demo of some of their earliest music to Jam Master Jay,... Read more

U-God Airs Wu-Tang’s Dirty Laundry. It Was Far From Simple Back Then.

The Wu-Tang Clan are in the midst of a 25-year anniversary of their debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The New York City Hip-Hop collective has made it to a silver anniversary not without tragedy, or conflict. Founding member O.D.B. died in November of 2004. Surviving members have been... Read more

U-God Says The $2 Million Wu-Tang Album Ain’t Nuthin’ To Get Excited Over (Video)

Wu-Tang Clan co-founder U-God is the latest guest on The Breakfast Club. This week, the Staten Island, New York MC published his memoir, Raw: My Journey Into The Wu-Tang. According to Charlamagne Tha God, who read the text, Lamont Hawkins' pre-music days may be the most compelling aspect of the... Read more

Martin Shkreli Must Forfeit The Only Copy Of Wu-Tang Clan’s “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” LP

After previous speculation and deliberation, Martin Shkreli is finally going to have to turn over the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin as part of his forthcoming criminal sentence. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled today (March 5) that in order to help pay off a $7.36 million... Read more

Chris Tucker Confirms Rush Hour 4 & Speaks About Whether He’ll Do Last Friday

Comedian and actor Chris Tucker has made three highly-successful Rush Hour films with Jackie Chan. The stunt-filled comedy franchise has been on an 11-year hiatus. However, in a period where the 46-year-old made a return to stand-up, Tucker has more good news. “[Rush Hour 4 is] happening," Chris Tucker confirmed... Read more

Erick Sermon’s New Album Features Method Man, AZ, GFK & More. Here’s The 1st Song (Audio)

In 2017, EPMD announced that they were working on a concept album. Dynamic Duos: Big Business is slated to be the Long Island, New York duo's eighth album in a series that dates back more than 30 years. The first LP in almost a decade comes after a reported Roc... Read more

GZA & Inspectah Deck’s Cold World Lyricism Still Causes Chills (Video)

Summer may be Hip-Hop's most treasured season. Cookouts, drop-tops, park jams, and "just hangin' out" have spawned plenty of beloved playlist hits. However, the winter section of the year has inspired some incredible Rap music in its own right. Bundled up bars about construction Timbs, 4x4 Landcruisers and Jeeps, skull... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Details The Rich History Of How The Juice Crew Started (Video)

Big Daddy Kane is the latest guest on Drink Champs. The Brooklyn, New York lyrical legend is in a casual mood, often joking during the three-hour episode. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview the Juice Crew MC about a number of highlights from his life and career. There are probing questions... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan Was Originally RZA, GZA & ODB But Protect Ya Neck Changed Everything (Video)

In one of the most epic installments yet of the Drink Champs podcast, Wu-Tang Clan joined N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN for a conversation that lasted 3 hours and change. While the Clan was not at full strength, Method Man, Raekwon, U-God, Cappadonna, Masta Killa and DJ Mathematics represented well for... Read more

Kool G Rap Explains How Record Label Politics Made Him Lose Like The Ill Street Blues

Twenty-five years ago today, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo released their third album, Live & Let Die. Featuring singles "Ill Street Blues" and "On The Run," the Cold Chillin' Records release marked a shift for the Queens, New York MC and DJ team. The release would be the final... Read more

By All Means Necessary: How Boogie Down Productions Was Formed Against All Odds (Video)

"You could call a man a bum with disgust on your morning run. 'Cause he lives outside in the street, you don't know this, but you've failed to realize that the one you so despise reflects yourself  'cause every Black man is homeless." KRS-One has never hidden the fact that... Read more

Irv Gotti Says He Stopped Suge Knight From Releasing A Jennifer Lopez Sex Tape (Video)

In 2002, Irv Gotti produced two #1 remix singles for Jennifer Lopez. As a supplement to the actress-singer's quadruple-platinum J.Lo LP, she took a page from Mary J. Blige by releasing J To Tha L-O!: The Remixes. Like it's companion, the Epic Records remix album went to #1, featuring Hip-Hop guests... Read more

Irv Gotti Explains Why Nas & Murder Inc.’s Brief Union Was A Huge Mistake (Video)

Irv Gotti is the latest guest on Drink Champs, and the beverages flowed in a big way. The Queens, New Yorker began as a DJ, became one of Hip-Hop's biggest A&Rs (at Def Jam) along with a producer charging $250,000 per beat. However, Gotti is best known for founding Murder... Read more

A Near 500-Song Mix Showcases The Magnificent History Of West Coast Hip-Hop (Audio)

West Coast Hip-Hop is incredible. So many of its pioneers are still making albums, doing shows, and adding to their legacy. As a tribute to the Left Coast immense contributions to Hip-Hop, Take It Personal Radio has compiled a four-part episode dedicated to gangsta and underground Rap classics from the... Read more

Lil’ Kim Confirms Recent Accounts Of Biggie’s Violence With Details Of Her Own (Video)

Last month, So So Def Records founder Jermaine Dupri told Drink Champs about witnessing Biggie Smalls threaten Lil' Kim at gunpoint during an Usher studio session. Dupri, who produced the resulting song ("Just Like Me") alleged, "So what [Biggie] did was he wrote the rap for Lil’ Kim…This was the... Read more

Erick Sermon Reveals The Source Of The Def Squad Album Samples To Prince Paul (Video)

Recently, Redman told New Jersey's Grass Routes Podcast that he hopes Def Squad can record a sophomore album. Next year marks 20 years since he, Keith Murray and mutual mentor Erick Sermon came together for El Niño. The album debuted at #2, following the group's covering of 1979 breakthrough Hip-Hop... Read more

Jermaine Dupri Describes Biggie Threatening Lil’ Kim At Gunpoint (Video)

NOVEMBER 4 UPDATE: Lil' Kim has since confirmed Jermaine Dupri's report, with some additional clarifications. ORIGINAL OCTOBER 27 STORY: The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A. protege, Lil' Kim had a complicated relationship. Biggie Smalls groomed Kim in his group offshoot, and had a documented romantic affair, despite the rapper's marriage... Read more

EPMD Are Working On An Album Only Featuring Classic Hip-Hop Duos (Video)

It has been almost nine years since legendary duo EPMD released an album. Late 2008's We Mean Business marked the seventh group effort for Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. The EP/RBC Records release was a departure from the six consecutive gold albums the Long Islanders released dating back to 1988's... Read more

LL Cool J To Receive W.E.B. DuBois Medal From Harvard University

Nas and LL Cool J are not only two of Hip-Hop's most revered lyricists. Not only are both men from the borough of Queens, New York, they each will carry Harvard University's W.E.B. DuBois Medals. LL was announced as a 2017 recipient, alongside Oscar-winning filmmaker Ava Duvernay, artist Kara Walker,... Read more

EPMD Detail The Night Their Beef With Eric B. & Rakim Almost Got Physical (Video)

Earlier this year, EPMD joined Flava Flav, Large Professor, Bumpy Knuckles and more than 20 MCs at the 30th anniversary concert for Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full. Rakim and Eric's first concert together in years, also marked a historic armistice in 1980s Hip-Hop folklore. On this week's episode... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Is Now A Part Owner Of His Record Company

Kendrick Lamar and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith have a different relationship than most label founders and artists. That was clear to any listeners of 2017's "DUCKWORTH.," a spellbinding revelation that these two had intertwining paths even ahead of Lamar's 1987 birth. For the last 14 years, these two men from... Read more

N.O.R.E. & Pharrell Reunite For One More And It’s Another Hit (Video)

Since 1998, N.O.R.E and Pharrell have been making great music together. In fact, though Pharrell and his Neptunes partner Chad Hugo had been around the industry for several years, contributing to tracks produced by Teddy Riley and others, N.O.R.E. was one of the first acts to give Chad and Pharrell... Read more

Action Bronson Samples Food AND Music & He’s Not Stopping (Audio)

Just days ago (August 25), Action Bronson released Blue Chips 7000. The third and now-confirmed final installment of the mixtape series closes out an important chapter in the Queens, New Yorker MC's career. In 2012, when his first Party Supplies-produced tape launched, Action was an emerging Hip-Hop voice. In mid-'17,... Read more

See The Full Historic Conversation & Cypher Between Mos Def, Big Pun, Canibus & DMX (Video)

Twenty years ago, Hip-Hop was in crosswinds. Microphones were grabbed by emerging voices from across the landscape, geographically, stylistically, and regarding content. As the genre collected itself following the sudden and tragic killings of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, it wanted new sounds, messages, and conversations. Mos Def & Dave... Read more

Parrish Smith Discusses LL Cool J Dissing EPMD ON THEIR OWN SONG (Video)

For decades, LL Cool J has been known as one of the most ferocious MCs ever to pick up a microphone...or ink one on his arm. Long before 50 Cent, LL Cool J was the bully from Queens, taking on all comers, old and new. LL's beefs with Kool Moe... Read more

Bun B Drops Jewels On How An Artist’s First 3 Albums Should Progress (Video)

UGK released three albums in the 1990s. There was great progression between 1992's Too Hard To Swallow, 1994's Super Tight, and 1996's gold-certified Ridin' Dirty. Bun B and Pimp C entered as Port Arthur, Texas' take on Gangsta Rap, and evolved to pioneers of their own sub-genre of Slab Music.... Read more

DOOM Is Opening His Missing Notebook Of Rhymes & Releasing 15 New Songs (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

LL Cool J Tells The Full Story Of When He Knocked Out Jamie Foxx (Video)

Over the last couple of years, Drink Champs, hosted by N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, has become one of the most popular podcasts, and with good reason. The show, fueled by the hosts' familiarity and respect for their guests, along with a healthy amount of alcohol, often leads to some of... Read more

N.O.R.E. Says He Knows Who Ruined Prodigy’s Mural & Why (Video)

One of July's most disturbing stories in the Hip-Hop space was when a Queens, New York mural honoring the late rapper Prodigy was defaced on July 6. The attack came just two weeks after the Mobb Deep co-founder's death. Artists Jeff Henriquez and Eli “Eos” Lazare had created the work... Read more

LL Cool J Wanted To Do A 2nd Collabo With Canibus To Avoid Their Beef (Video)

LL Cool J and Canibus put their beef to bed back in the closing days of 2014. What started out as a rhyme battle (on the very same song) expanded into 17 years of feuding that involved tattoos, subliminal album titles, and a feature on QDIII's Beef DVD series. In... Read more

ONYX May Have Never Slammed If They Weren’t Stuck In Traffic With Jam Master Jay (Video)

Run-D.M.C.'s Jam Master Jay was instrumental in the development of fellow Queens, New York Hip-Hop group ONYX. Later on, Jay would ink Jayo Felony and 50 Cent, but no artist experienced more success on JMJ Records than Fredro Starr, Sticky Fingaz and company. Jay signed ONYX and secured the Def... Read more

Swizz Beatz Details Why DMX’s Next Album Will “Change The Game” (Video)

DMX has been on the minds of Hip-Hop fans for many reasons in recent days. The legendary rapper is expected to release a new album later this year, an eagerly awaited follow-up to 2012's Undisputed. With five platinum (or better) albums under his belt, the Yonkers, New York icon has left... Read more

DJ Pooh Confirms “Last Friday” Is Happening. He Also Defends Chris Tucker’s Exit (Video)

DJ Pooh is a legendary Hip-Hop mix-master and producer who has made hits with Ice Cube, King T, LL Cool J, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop, plus Tupac Shakur. However, measuring success, the West Coast Hip-Hop pioneer may be best known for co-writing Friday. Also a highly-accomplished director and an... Read more

Kid Capri Details Exactly How B.D.P. Hijacked The Stage From P.M. Dawn (Video)

Kid Capri's vocals can be heard multiple times on the current #1 album in the country. The Bronx, New York DJ, producer, and onetime MC put his voice on multiple tracks belonging to Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. In a career that spans 30 years of mixtapes, Def Comedy Jam, production for... Read more