AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Big Boi speaks on the possibility of an OutKast reunion and more (Video)

An OutKast reunion in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary? Hear what Big Boi had to say about that, the OutKast legacy, his friendship with Andre 3000 and more. Check out the video below. Related: OutKast: The Living Legends playlist (Audio)... Read more

Here’s a playlist celebrating the career of the legendary Method Man (Audio)

Clifford Smith. Johnny Blaze. Tical. No matter the moniker used, after nearly 20 years of shredding mics, Method Man is the epitome of a hip-hop Living Legend. He is the latest hip-hop icon we recognize in our series where we celebrate our legends while we still have them. Here's a... Read more

Here’s a playlist celebrating the legendary career of Mary J. Blige (Audio)

Mary J. Blige is not an MC...but she has been the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul for more than 20 years. She is the next artist we salute as part of our Living Legends series where we celebrate the careers of our hip-hop icons while we still have them. Here's a... Read more

Here are playlists celebrating the 20+ year career of Common (Audio & Video)

If Common had stopped rhyming in the NINETIES he'd still be a Living Legend. But, he didn't stop...Now, after more than 20 years in the game, he is a hip-hop titan and continues to release some of the best music of his career. Whether solo or collabo he has some... Read more

Here’s a playlist celebrating the 21+ year career of the legendary DJ Quik (Audio)

DJ Quik is in the muthaf*ckin house! And, he's been here for more than 21 years dropping joint after joint after joint. People often forget there's more than 1 legendary producer/MC from Compton. Not today. DJ Quik is the latest legend we pay tribute to in our Living Legends series.... Read more

Here’s a (mostly) video playlist of Redman joints to take you on a journey through his 20-year career (Video Playlist)

Redman. Reggie Noble. Whatever name you use for him, it's synonymous with dope MC. 2012 marks 20 years since the release of Redman's debut album Whut? Thee Album and his mind-bending verse on EPMD's Headbanger, and he has been blazing the mic ever since. Because of his undeniable contribution to... Read more

Here’s a playlist celebrating the career of the legendary blastmaster KRS-One (Audio)

KRS-One has been in the game for 25 years. Ever since Criminal Minded dropped in 1987, the Blastmaster has been teaching and repping hip-hop culture. We celebrate him and his music in this latest installment of our living legends series where we pay homage to our hip-hop greats while we... Read more

The Dogg Pound – What U Smokin’ On ft Snoop Dogg, E-40 & Kokane

Here's the video for What U Smokin' On, the OG West Coast collabo between Snoop Dogg, The Dogg Pound, E-40 and Kokane. Related: Living Legends - A playlist celebrating the career of the legendary Snoop Dogg (Audio)... Read more

Here’s a playlist celebrating the career of the legendary Snoop Dogg (Playlist)

It's easy to take Snoop Dogg for granted. You don't think so? Ask yourself. When is the last time you included the Boss Dogg in your list of Top 10 MCs or even put him in the discussion? There is no question he should be in the discussion but he... Read more

Donna Summer Tribute Playlist

Rest in peace to the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer. While she wasn't hip-hop, her musical influence was felt in hip-hop, most notably as the underpinning to Digital Underground's Freaks of the Industry. As seems to be the case with all of our musical legends, she was taken too soon... Read more

Scarface – Sway in the Morning Freestyle (Video)

Hearing Scarface on The Sway in the Morning Show last week is what inspired us to create our Living Legends series. Here's a video of Face kicking some rhymes truly off the dome (what used to be called a freestyle) as well as a pre-written verse from his upcoming album... Read more

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

Heavy D’s Impact On Hip-Hop Cannot Be Overstated

There have been a number of valiant attempts to highlight some of the most significant Hip-Hop moments, milestones and people of the last half century. The 2023 Grammy Awards dedicated nearly 15 minutes to an epic tribute featuring performances by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J,... Read more

Black Star & Westside Gunn Join Forces For A Song That’s On 10

Last month, Westside Gunn released 10. What began as a mixtape series a decade turned into a vehicle that delivered the Buffalo, New York MC and label founder to the mainstream. Griselda Records has become a movement to be reckoned with, and WSG has helped usher in a renaissance of... Read more

50 Cent Uses 2 Songs To Show How Differently Tupac & Eminem Saw The World

Nineteen years ago, 50 Cent joined Eminem as a top artist who made high-profile contributions to the soundtrack belonging to Tupac: Resurrection. The companion to Lauren Lazin's documentary presented Em and 50, two artists who found mainstream success after Tupac Shakur's 1996 death, spiritually aligning with an artist both admired.... Read more

What’s Real & What’s Not About The Wu-Tang TV Show

APRIL 9, 2023 UPDATE: Following Ambrosia For Heads' 2022 What's The Headline podcast episode (embedded below in video and audio) and article surrounding the facts and fiction surrounding Wu-Tang: An American Saga, this article will update in this section with other elements. As a note to viewers, this may contain spoilers for series viewers. Are Ghostface Killah’s... Read more

Dr. Dre Previews How Epic His Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Be

Dr. Dre and an esteemed cast of collaborators will host the Super Bowl Halftime Show in less than one month. On February 13, Dre will be joined by Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige for a concert at SoFi Stadium. The Inglewood, California venue is just a... Read more

Cordae’s Next Album Features Nas, Eminem & Freddie Gibbs. Here’s The Tracklist

Cordae emerged as one of Hip-Hop's breakout stars of the late 2010s. With an upbringing in Maryland and North Carolina, the MC made a name for himself as a thought-provoking lyricist within the YBN crew. However, 2019's The Lost Boy separated him from many peers with its range, depth, and... Read more

Nas, Jadakiss & Rick Ross Unite On A New Collabo

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 and listen... Read more

JAY-Z & LL Cool J Brought A President & $3 Billion To The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

On Saturday (October 30), LL Cool J and JAY-Z were formally inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. While Hip-Hop artists have been entering the Hall for over a decade now, 2021's celebration was truly a standout moment for the culture. As Dave Chappelle suggested while inducting... Read more

DMX’s New Album Is Coming This Summer & It’s Filled With Superstars

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

Diamond D Recruits Raekwon, Fat Joe & More For A Video About Being Built To Last

Last year, veteran Bronx, New York MC/producer/DJ Diamond D released his sixth studio album, The Diam Piece 2. The sequel follows 2014's first Diam Piece, a record that predominantly featured Diamond's musical talents behind the boards. The D.I.T.C. co-founder has already confirmed that a third installment is coming soon. With... Read more

Shad & The Creators Of Hip-Hop Evolution Detail Making A Truly Standout Docuseries

Less than a week ago, Hip-Hop Evolution premiered its fourth season of episodes to Netflix. The series, which came to the platform in late 2016, has been one of the most comprehensive, far-reaching Hip-Hop documentaries ever produced. What's more, it lives in a place that's accessible to the mainstream, shining... Read more

Rapsody & Latifah Unite As Two Generations Of Hip-Hop Queens (Audio)

Today (August 23), Rapsody released her Eve album. The North Carolina MC's first project since the 2017 Grammy-nominated Laila's Wisdom keeps the conceptual style going. Rap' titled each of the 16 songs after great Black women in history, ranging from "Afeni" to "Michelle" to "Maya." The Jamla/Roc Nation affair involves... Read more

KRS-One Speaks About The Power Of Hip-Hop To Change The World (Video)

Few Rap legends seem to have as much to say, especially beyond their lyrics, as KRS-One. However, in recent years, Blastmasta KRS has seemingly stepped away from the media spotlight. Equally, Kris Parker is sparse on social media. Last year he was said to be working with Dr. Dre, following... Read more

Questlove Gives The Inside Story Behind The Making Of Things Fall Apart

This weekend marks 20 years since The Roots released their fourth album, Things Fall Apart. In celebrating the album's 20th-anniversary, Questlove spoke with Urban Legends' Maxwell Dartey to break down Things Fall Apart, track-by-track. That oral history is a journey that takes place in Philly, New York City, and Detroit. The... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 3): Pusha-T vs. Westside Gunn

We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 15 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2018 List

It is that season where “best of” lists abound and, in a year that featured stellar music from artists young and old, 2018 kept Hip-Hop fans on the edge of our seats. Now is an excellent time to reflect on the best ones. Throughout December, Ambrosia For Heads will pit... Read more

Wu-Tang Puts The Clan In The Front For A Taste Of Their 25th Anniversary Party (Videos)

The Wu-Tang Clan are just weeks away from officially marking the 25th anniversary of their classic debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The living members of the Clan have come together for most of 2018, hitting the festival circuit and performing live in select cities for their 25th Anniversary... Read more

KRS-One Is Working On New Music & He’s In The Studio With Dr. Dre

Last year, KRS-One self-released an exceptional album. Thirty years after Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded, Tha Teacha' dropped The World Is MIND, a 15-track LP on his R.A.M.P. Entertainment. In recent years the Bronx, New York representative worked with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the DJ-Premier-produced "Buckshot," and reunited with... Read more

30 Years Ago, The Source Set A New Standard For Hip-Hop Journalism

This week, Hip-Hop culture is celebrating its 45th anniversary. The first documented South Bronx rec room party with DJ Kool Herc behind the wheels of steel was on August 11, 1973. Like the origins of the culture, that event's significance would live by word of mouth if Hip-Hop had no... Read more

Eric B. & Rakim Announce First Tour Dates In 25 Years

Last July, Eric B. & Rakim reunited on stage for the 30th anniversary of Paid In Full. At Harlem's Apollo Theater, the Hip-Hop legends added a new chapter in their history, performing a plethora of hits from their early catalog. Ambrosia For Heads filmed from the audience as more than... Read more

Scarface’s Life Story Is Told Against The Soundtrack Of His Latest Song (Video)

Plenty of Hip-Hop legends are living, but not nearly as many are releasing consistent, quality product. Scarface is approaching 30 years on wax, and his newest single, "Black Still," finds him spitting hard, political rhymes with fire in his belly. The just-released Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files contains six new... Read more

Blu & Exile Take The Meaning Of Soulful Hip-Hop To A New Place (Video)

One of the legends of twentieth-century music relates to the Delta Blues pioneer, Robert Johnson, who died at the age of 27 in 1938. According to the historic tale, the itinerant musician Johnson sold his soul to the devil down at the crossroads of Highway 49 and 61 in Clarksdale, Mississippi to... Read more

This Mix Salutes 1987’s Def Jam Tour With LL Cool J, P.E., Eric B. & Rakim and Whodini

By 1987 Def Jam Records had solidified a foothold in the Hip-Hop music landscape. While labels like Sugar Hill, Enjoy, Jive, and Profile Records had released some truly incredible singles, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin's three-year-old outfit was fast embracing the Rap album format. Moreover, they had a diverse roster—in... Read more

Grand Puba & Sadat X Rip Through Brand Nubian Classics With A Live Band (Video)

On Saturday, July 22, Grand Puba rocked the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City with a live band. For Heads who were unable to attend, there is some exclusive video footage of Puba and Brand Nubian group mate Sadat X, an unannounced guest, performing a couple of... Read more

Kool G Rap Details How He Helped Launch Nas’ Career & Releases New Cormega Collabo (Video)

In 1995, Kool G Rap released the highest-charting single of his career, "Fast Life." The song merged two Queens legends, as G Rap collaborated with the white-hot Nas, fresh on the heels of his Illmatic debut. While the world may not have known it at the time, the collaboration was... Read more

A Breakdown Of What Makes Big Daddy Kane A Superior MC (Video)

Big Daddy Kane has not released a solo album in nearly 20 years. However, when Antonio Hardy said "Nobody's Equal" in spelling out the acronym of K.A.N.E., the statement was (and remains) irrefutable to many. Big Daddy Kane is one of the greatest MCs to ever touch the microphone, and... Read more

Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

2016 is coming to a close. Years from now, how will we, the people, remember such an expansive year in Hip-Hop music, news, and culture? This year, some of the biggest MCs in the genre released new albums. Several of these efforts came in short notice, challenging new distribution platforms... Read more

How Organized Noize Created The Atlanta Hip-Hop Sound With Outkast & Goodie Mob

In looking at Rap superstars, their producers are never far behind in recognition. Rick Rubin was the musical architect that would have a hand in the success of Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and Beastie Boys. Dr. Dre's "Midas Touch" with N.W.A., Snoop Dogg (and to a lesser extent) Tupac cleared... Read more

Heavy D Tells Some Untold Stories About Cutting Classic Records & Self-Love (Video)

November will mark the fifth anniversary of Heavy D's death, a loss which continues to elicit pangs of grief throughout the Hip-Hop community. The money earnin' Mount Vernon native made his indelible mark as a Jamaican-born MC whose contributions in the late '80s and early '90s with Heavy D &... Read more

A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory vs. Eric B. & Rakim’s Follow The Leader. 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

Macklemore Releases “Buckshot” With KRS-One & DJ Premier. Is That “Real Hip-Hop” Enough? (Audio)

Ever since the blockbuster success of their album The Heist, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have been scapegoated as the poster children for the appropriation of Hip-Hop. To some, their catchy hooks and pop-influenced productions are anathema to the culture. The hate for the group was compounded by their win for... Read more

Ice Cube Promises N.W.A. On Stage Reunion In 2016 (Video)

In 2015, N.W.A.'s story was told through the F. Gary Gray-directed film, Straight Outta Compton. With that, the group that has been in factions since 1989 made steps towards reunion. Although the platinum group's founder, Eazy-E, died in 1995, the surviving four members appeared together through the film's summer '15... Read more

Ambrosia For Heads Present…Our Picks For The 15 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2015

2015 watched a lot change in the music industry. Streaming culture kept Heads on the edge of their seats, as Hip-Hop superstars "pushed the button" on a whim. Reclusive legends released new product, while patient veterans made massive breakthroughs. No matter large or small, burgeoning or veteran, all artists seemed... Read more

A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders vs. Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. 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

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

Capone, Noreaga & Tragedy Khadafi Celebrate The Stand Up Men in Their Lives (Audio)

Too often in life, we celebrate those who have passed away after it's too late for them to hear the praises. Capone, Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi seek to rectify that in the latest release from C-N-N's upcoming Lessons album. On "U.M.A.R." (Ur Man's All Real), the three MCs take time... Read more

Here’s the Story of How Mello Music Group Defiantly Built a Haven for Real Hip-Hop (Interview)

For the better part of the last decade, as independent label mainstays have been closing up their doors, going on hiatus, or reconfiguring their audience, Mello Music Group has secured a foundation. The Tucson, Arizona-based label has cultivated new voices, redeveloped lyrical legends, and built an industry model rooted in... Read more

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): LL Cool J vs. Run…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