AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Big K.R.I.T. Rocks The Spot & The Clock… With 12 Freestyles In 12 Hours (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. is a product of the online era of Hip-Hop. The Meridian, Mississippi MC/producer has become a stalwart of the culture, and has built a career without reliance on mediums like radio and television. Instead, Krizzle gave away his music for free over the worldwide web, and never lost... Read more

Jay Rock Speaks About His Motorcycle Accident For The First Time (Video)

February 15, 2016 was a day of mixed emotions for the Top Dawg Entertainment family. The record label, which is the home to Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SZA and more, was riding high as Kendrick Lamar took home 5 Grammy Awards, including the one for Best Rap... Read more

Between Jay Rock & Ice Cube, King Harris II Has Serious Westside Connections (Audio)

From Snoop Dogg to Daz Dillinger, Ice Cube to Del The Funky Homosapien, Hip-Hop has some crafty cousins that prove that dope rhymes can be part of a family tree. The latest example, as it were, comes from Jay Rock and cousin King Harris II. The artist formerly known as... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Leads A Freestyle Cypher With Musicians In The UK & Rocks It (Video)

With all the chatter around the political themes embedded in Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly, and the album's immense critical acclaim, it's sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that, at his core, Kendrick is an MC who loves the sport of rhyming. But, before he showcased the... Read more

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton vs. Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Jay Rock Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Accident

The same night Kendrick Lamar won big at the 2016 Grammy Awards (February 15), his mentor, and label-mate has suffered a serious injury. According to Top Dawg Entertainment's founder, Top Dawg, Jay Rock was hurt badly in a motorcycle accident. Pray 4 @jayrock he had a bad accident on his... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vs. Clipse’s Lord Willin’. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Rest In Peace David Bowie. Through Rock, Funk & Glam, He Discovered New Musical Planets.

Rock & Roll legend David Bowie has died. The 69 year-old British vocalist, guitarist, and producer had been battling an undisclosed form of cancer for 18 months. He passed away two days after his birthday, and less than one week after releasing his 25th studio album, Blackstar (January 8). In... Read more

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist vs. Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive vs. Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Was Making Great Music Long Before “Section.80.” Remember “Vanity Slaves” (Audio)

By now, Kendrick Lamar is a household name. Considered by many to be one of today's most talented Hip-Hop stars, his appeal has extended beyond the realm of Rap into pop culture and politics, thanks in part to his work with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and his... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Uses Menace II Society In A Brilliant Video For These Walls

Kendrick Lamar has released several statement videos in his young career. However, today's (October 28) "These Walls" may just be his biggest. The To Pimp A Butterfly single that loves multiple entendres about boundaries, femininity, and sex in its most poetic portrayal, is conveyed in a totally different tone than... Read more

Game Over! Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q & Game Bang On Wax Like Their Lives Depend On It (Audio)

For the last few years, many have said there has been a resurgence in West Coast Hip-Hop. They have attributed the renaissance to artists like Y.G., Problem, Nipsey Hussle and the 4-man Black Hippy tandem of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock. While those artists have certainly been... Read more

Jay Rock Refuses To Compromise. Even His Freestyles Are Hard-Body (Audio)

Throughout the weekend, many Hip-Hop Heads are making visits to the 90059 zip code, listening to Jay Rock's sophomore solo album. The breakthrough Top Dawg Entertainment artist for nearly a decade swings through L.A. Leakers. Not often recognized as much as onetime pupil Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul in the freestyle... Read more

Jay Rock Flashes The Black Hippy Sign In The Booth For 90059 (Audio)

On TDE albums, Heads often flip over the digital covers in search of that coveted Black Hippy posse cut. On tomorrow's (September 11) 90059 album by Jay Rock, it does exist. "Vice City" is no video game homage, but rather a verbal sin-bin for Jay, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and... Read more

Jay Rock Gives 2 Very Different But Equally Compelling Interviews (Video)

Jay Rock made a trip to New York City yesterday (8/27) to play his imminently forthcoming 90059 album in its entirety for the first time on the East Coast. Prior to his jam-packed listening session last night at ALIFE, he made stops at both Hot 97 and Power 105 for... Read more

Jay Rock Releases the Artwork & Tracklist for His New Album 90059

After more than four years since his 2011 album Follow Me Home, Jay Rock is on the verge of releasing his new LP, 90059. Named after the zip code from Rock's hometown of Watts, CA, the songs he has shared thus far signal that the album is going to be... Read more

Jay Rock Releases the Visual For His Wu-Tang-esque 90059 Album Title Track (Video)

TDE continues its run of cinematic videos. After releasing the short films for Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" and Jay Rock's "Money Trees Deuce," among others, they follow up with another clip for the label's OG, with the title track to Rock's forthcoming 90059 album. The track sounds much more like vintage... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Just Released the Video of the Year. Alright Is Truly EPIC (Video)

Remember when music videos were artistic statements that could immediately shift the cultural zeitgeist? Kendrick Lamar has released just such a tour de force in his epic visual for "Alright." The nearly seven minute black and white short film is stunning both visually and in its symbolism. The video starts... Read more

Jay Rock Targets July For His Sophomore LP, ScHoolboy Q Hints At 2015 Album

In the conversations about TDE, Black Hippy, and the finer Hip-Hop of the last five years, sometimes Jay Rock can get lost in the discussion. The Watts, California MC (who signed to Warner Bros. Records in the late 2000s) was in fact the first Top Dawg Entertainment artist to have... Read more

Jay Rock Watches His Life Flash Before His Eyes in Money Trees Deuce (Video)

Earlier this month and seemingly out of nowhere, Jay Rock returned with "Money Trees Deuce," one of his finest songs in years. As the name suggests, the track picks up right where he left off on his stellar guest verse on Kendrick Lamar's "Money Trees" from good kid, m.A.A.d city,... Read more

Jay Rock Releases a Sequel to Money Trees. The TDE OG Is Back (Audio)

Before ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul or Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock paved the way for the Hip-Hop juggernaut that is now TDE. In fact, many first heard Kendrick on Rock's anthemic "Hood Gone Love It." Sadly, it's been four long years since Jay Rock's album Follow Me Home was released, and he... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): Kendrick Lamar vs. Big K.R.I.T.…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

Rapsody Discusses Being One of Only 2 Guest MCs On Kendrick Lamar’s New Album (Video)

Unlike many of today's Hip-Hop albums, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly LP did not feature a lot of guest contributions. There were no verses from previous collaborators like Drake, J. Cole and A$AP Rocky. None of Kendrick's TDE label mates such as Jay Rock, Ab-Soul or Schoolboy Q joined... Read more

Pete Rock Signals More Petestrumentals & Unleashes A 20 Year Old Groove (Audio)

It's hard to believe it's been nearly 14 years since Pete Rock released Petestrumentals. Following Jay Dee's (p/k/a J Dilla) Welcome To Detroit, Soul Brother Pete laced BBE (Barely Breaking Even) Records' Beat Generation series (Marley Marl and will.i.am were among those who would follow). Pete struck the Hip-Hop/R&B charts... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

Do Remember: When Charles Hamilton Passed The Mic To An Unknown Kendrick Lamar (Video)

Miss Lauryn Hill once eloquently rhymed, "Seasons change, mad things re-arrange." In life, love, and Hip-Hop, is this not a rugged truism? As the world shifts, there are some interesting cycles. This week in the culture, Kendrick Lamar took center-stage, giving Heads a name for his sophomore major label album,... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Full Biggie Freestyle Tribute is 7 Minutes of Madness Over 4 Biggie Classics (Video)

Yesterday (March 9th), iconic LA DJ Big Boy hosted Kendrick Lamar as his first guest on his new show on Real 92.3 FM. Given the anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s passing, Big Boy had Kendrick freestyle over some of Biggie's classic tracks and released a snippet. Now, the full interview... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Kendrick Lamar vs. Royce Da 5’9″…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Joe Budden vs. Jay Rock…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Nipsey Hussle vs. Jay Rock…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

Punch Makes A Potent Song About Living Past 25, With Kendrick Lamar On The Hook (Audio)

President Punch of Top Dawg Entertainment has begun transitioning from independent label executive to a thoughtful MC in 2014. No stranger to TDE's pre-Interscope releases of the early 2010s, Punch was part of the ensemble that made albums by Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and ScHoolboy Q so potent. His... Read more

Lecrae & Childish Gambino Join Drake, Eminem & Kendrick Lamar In 2015 Grammy Nominations

The flagship 57th annual Grammy Award nominations have been announced, in part, as they are being rolled out gradually this year. After 2014's controversial "Best Rap Performance" win by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, two more independent artists have been nominated for 2014. Reach Records star Lecrae has been nominated for... Read more

Was Kendrick Lamar’s SNL Performance a Tribute to Method Man & ODB? RZA Speaks (Video)

Last week, Kendrick Lamar took the stage on Saturday Night Live and gave an incredibly dynamic performance of his current single, "i." The rendition featured a live band and Kendrick showcasing some of the choreography from the song's video. Strikingly, K.Dot also wore black eye contacts and his hair in... Read more

Jay Rock Releases His First New Video in 2 Years. That’s Watts Up (Video)

Jay Rock is back. With a VENGEANCE. In the same week he released his new collabo with Kendrick Lamar, he unleashes the video for "Parental Advisory." The song, with its double Snoop Dogg nods, already oozed Cali. But, the video takes it to another level with a detailed look into... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Performs i After an Intro From Kevin Hart (Video)

If you've caught any of the NBA games this week, you've undoubtedly heard at least a snippet of Kendrick Lamar's single "i." Representing the theme song for the NBA's premiere week, Kendrick took the stage in Cleveland for the Cavs home opener to performer the Isley Brothers-powered single live, after... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Childish Gambino vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

Jay Rock Explains Where It All Began, And What A Journey… (Video)

TDE's rise began with Jay Rock, who ushered the independent label to major distribution through a Warner Bros. Records deal nearly a decade ago. The Watts MC who was the youngin' around the old heads brought that acquired knowledge, respect, and that wisdom to his music, uncut Gangsta Rap at... Read more

Tech N9ne Reveals Jay Rock Is Strictly TDE, Says His 1993 Material Deserved Guinness Records (Video)

Jay Rock famously signed with Tech N9ne and Strange Music to release his debut, Follow Me Home. The LP's single, "Hood Gone Love It" was an early mainstream introduction Kendrick Lamar. After reports that that Jay Rock, like Ab-Soul, would be going completely TDE, Tech N9ne confirms them. Saying that... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s New Single is One Of The Realest Records For The Streets (Audio)

After hinting at it last week, Kendrick Lamar has released what is perceived as the first single of his sophomore major label album. Although it was forecast by some to feature Black Hippy band-mate Jay Rock, "i" is a solo set, produced by Rahki ("Black Boy Fly"). Based around a... Read more

Punch & Jay Rock Reveal The State Of A Project Mentality (Audio)

It has already been an extremely huge year for T.D.E. and one that has included the release of brand new projects from everybody in the camp. Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, Ab-Soul, and SZA have already released their work while many are waiting in the wings for upcoming albums from Jay... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Complex Cover Story Breaks Down What A Guest Verse Will Cost Ya

To coincide with their new relaunch, Complex.com shared its August/September cover story, with Kendrick Lamar. The event follows a Monday morning that perhaps featured some GQ competition with a Kanye West cover story. Both efforts, with arguably two of the current Kings in Hip-Hop (in very different ways, with differing... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s Versatility Continues To Expand, Appearing Alongside Lil Wayne & Future On A Mike WiLL Made It Beat (Audio)

Heads may forget, but one of Kendrick Lamar's breakthrough performances was all the way back in 2009, alongside Black Hippy cohort/mentor Jay Rock, and Lil Wayne on "Colors." Five years later, and the self-proclaimed "The Best Rapper Alive" on that cut may be feeling some pressure from his Compton cohort... Read more

Here’s an Amazing Mini-Documentary on Illmatic, Featuring Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Tech N9ne & More (Video)

There have been several amazing pieces of content surrounding the 20th anniversary of Illmatic. This is one of the best of them. Google Play has put together a mini-documentary about Nas and his magnum opus, featuring insightful commentary from Kendrick Lamar, Tech N9ne, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Peter Rosenberg, among... Read more

Macklemore & Kendrick Lamar: How Hip-Hop (Not The Grammy’s) Turned Sunday Into a Fail (Food For Thought)

The day after the Grammy Awards, the conversation about Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ win for Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city (G.K.M.C) grew from a buzz to a roar. Social media platforms and the web, generally, were on fire. The frenzy was fueled in part by... Read more

Jay Z & Beyonce Late Addition To Rock The 2014 Grammy Awards Stages

The Grammy Awards this coming Sunday (January 26) already have an impressive lineup. Kendrick Lamar, Daft Punk, Lorde were already on the books to rock out—with LL Cool J hosting. It appears that husband and wife superstars Jay Z and Beyonce are a late announcement addition to CBS' primetime music... Read more

Does Kendrick Lamar Have a New Album Coming? TDE’s Top Dawg Announces 6 New Releases for 2014.

More than any other artist in Hip-Hop, 2013 was the year of Kendrick Lamar and, by proxy, TDE. Kendrick took the title of MTV's Hottest MC in the game and his Control verse reigned fire on an entire generation of MCs. Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q got some overdue love from... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Makes Breaks Away From Birdman & Detail On 100 Favors (Video)

Kendrick Lamar has been down with YMCMB family for almost three years, courtesy of recordings and touring with Drake. With Jay Rock's early collaborations with Lil Wayne, the whole TDE and Young Money team share some affinities. On Cash Money's first label compilation since 2000's Baller Blockin' Soundtrack, the greatly-expanded... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Gets an Album of the Year Nomination from the Grammy’s. Jay Z Gets 9 Noms. Here’s the List of All Nominees in Hip-Hop’s Strongest Showing Ever.

Though he released good kid, m.A.A.d. city in 2012, 2013 has belonged to Kendrick Lamar. In the Spring, he was named MTV's Hottest MC of the Year. By Summer, his Control verse became the biggest story in Hip-Hop in the last several years. In the Fall, he again shook up... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Boycotts GQ Party. Here’s Why TDE Believes the Article Was Disrespectful and Filled With Racial Overtones.

Kendrick Lamar received what should have been a tremendous honor by being selected as part of GQ's 2013 Men of the Year, but it has not ended well. TDE has gone on record as being unhappy with the angle that was taken in the article. Specifically, Top Dawg, TDE's owner,... Read more