AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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

Nas Shows What Real Black Magic Is On A New Song

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

Nas & Hit-Boy Are Making More Magic Together

Nas and Hit-Boy have announced their fifth collaboration album since 2020. This week (July 21), the MC/producer tandem is slated to release Magic 2. It marks the follow-up to Magic, released in the closing days of 2021. That nine-song collection featured DJ Premier and A$AP Ferg. After speculation online, Hit-Boy... Read more

JAY-Z & Biggie Battled But It Wasn’t A Fair Fight

For more than 25 years, Hip-Hop fans have debated who is better between The Notorious B.I.G. and JAY-Z. Both men’s names are perennially heard in conversations about who is the greatest MC of all-time. For them, however, there was something bigger than Hip-Hop: Brooklyn. Fans have not been the only... Read more

Street Justice For Rap Artists Continues With Young Dolph

Last week (June 14), a man deemed a "person of interest" related to Young Dolph's 2021 murder was found dead in the Orange Mound section of Memphis, Tennessee. The body of Joshua Taylor was discovered Wednesday afternoon in an automobile at Spottswood Avenue near Buntyn Street. Responders say the victim... Read more

Jay Electronica Exhibits Great Lyricism To A Swizz Beat

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

Black Thought’s Streams Of Thought Vol. 4 Is Done & Packed With All-Stars

On Friday (April 14), Black Thought released his sixth solo project in the last five years. Since 2018, a time when The Roots have not been dropping albums, the co-founder of The Roots has enhanced his solo career with his first-ever projects of this kind. Thought launched the Streams Of... Read more

Maseo Reveals The Plans For De La Soul’s Next Album

It has been nearly two months since David Jolicoeur passed away. The founding MC/producer of De La Soul perhaps best known as Trugoy The Dove was 54 years old when he succumbed to ongoing health battles related to his heart. In March, as De La Soul's back catalog was made... Read more

DJ Quik Is Releasing His 10th Album. Here’s The First Song

For over 30 years, DJ Quik has enjoyed an incredible career. The Compton, California MC/producer/DJ has released great albums including Safe + Sound and Balance & Options, while producing for Tupac, JAY-Z, Suga Free, and Snoop Dogg. However, it has been nearly six years since Quik released a full-length project.... Read more

JAY-Z, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole & More Share Secrets For Greatness

J. Cole interviews are a rarity these days. Fresh off Dreamville's recent Creed III: The Soundtrack display, J. Cole sat down for a rare public conversation. However, it was not promoting the compilation that includes a new Cole solo song to a vintage, recycled Dr. Dre beat. Instead, Jermaine sat... Read more

Logic Has Made It Hard To Like Him & It’s Not Just Joe Budden

Among chart-topping Hip-Hop artists of the last decade, Logic is arguably the most polarizing. The Gaithersburg, Maryland native MC/producer who began as a DIY artist in the early 2010s Hip-Hop underground, has since gone on to achieve a wall full of platinum and gold plaques, was nominated for "Song Of... Read more

LL Cool J Gets His Bell Rocked On Hot Ones

"I'm damn near in crackhead mode right now. It's like some crackhead sh..." LL Cool J recently appeared on First We Feast's "Hot Ones," the show where celebrities take on the challenge of eating increasingly spicy wings. The legendary rapper and actor was clear from the start that he prefers... Read more

Prince Paul Confirms He Has Finished His De La Soul Project

In August of 2022, Prince Paul posted an Instagram photo with De La Soul's Posdnuos and Maseo, as well as Dres of Black Sheep, and music engineer Scotty Hard. The Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ wrote, "And then this happened..." prompting speculation that he had reunited with De La Soul.... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Celebrates His Grammy Noms By Showing He’s Already Won

Yesterday (November 15), the 2023 Grammy nominations were announced. Kendrick Lamar received eight nominations ahead of the 65th annual Grammys taking place February 5, 2023 on CBS. Only bested by Beyoncé's nine noms, K-Dot has received consideration in categories ranging from "Album Of The Year," "Song Of The Year," "Record... Read more

Nas Is In His Prime In His 40s

Last Friday (November 11), Nas and Hit-Boy released their fourth project since 2020. The King's Disease campaign, responsible for three of those albums, has taken Nas (and Hit-Boy) to new dimensions with their careers. In that time, Nas won his first Grammy, reunited with The Firm as well as Ms.... Read more

Nas Pays Tribute To Takeoff With Powerful Words About Self-PRESERVATION

Yesterday (November 11), Nas and Hit-Boy released their fourth collaborative album since 2020. King's Disease III finds the legendary MC and the acclaimed producing carry on a tradition that earned both men Grammy Awards in 2021. The new collection of songs, released through Nas' Mass Appeal Records imprint, is about... Read more

The Artifacts’ Tame One Has Passed Away At 52

NOVEMBER 7 UPDATE: Fans and friends of Tame One have learned some additional information surrounding his recent death. The artist born Rahem Brown was mourned by his mother and other family members online. “I can‘t express this any other way,” Tame's mother, Darlene Brown, Harris wrote in a Facebook post, as... Read more

Griselda Makes Its Case As Hip-Hop’s Best Crew With 7 MCs On 1 Song

For the last several years, one of Hip-Hop's greatest debates has been who is Rap's best crew, between TDE and Dreamville. Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) held the advantage in the early 2010s, with a roster which included Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, SZA and more. The... Read more

Raekwon, Ghostface, Busta Rhymes & More Put On A Clinic In Dropping Science

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

Mac Miller’s Incredible Talent Is On Full Display On A New Robert Glasper Song

It's been more than four years since the Hip-Hop world lost Mac Miller. The MC/producer/musician was an incredible talent whose artistic accomplishments were only growing, at the time of his passing, with his 2018 album Swimming subsequently being nominated for "Best Rap Album." Unlike with other artists, there have not... Read more

Method Man, Busta Rhymes & 18 Other MCs Perform A Medley Of Their Classics

Many would like to forget the events of 2020, with good reason. The year brought a lot of challenges. However, amidst the trials and tribulations, there were a number of culture-shifting events and personalities that arose. D-Nice captivated the world with an Instagram Live DJ set that entertained millions. The... Read more

Why 1996 Had The Perfect Storm To Split Hip-Hop In Two

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

Mos Def Explains How He Knew Kanye West Would Be Great

Yesterday (September 9), Drink Champs aired the audio version its long-awaited episode featuring Black Star and Dave Chappelle. One of the limited press spots that Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey have done surrounding their May album, the Madlib-produced No Fear Of Time featured talk about the LP, but it is... Read more

De La Soul & Prince Paul Are Back In The Studio Together

Between the late 1980s and the 1990s, De La Soul made three acclaimed albums together along with a handful of loosies. The Long Island, New York producer/DJ mentored the trio of Posdnous, Dave, and Maseo while producing 1989's 3 Feet High And Rising, 1991's De La Soul Is Dead, and... Read more

Irv Gotti Describes The Night Nas Stood Up JAY-Z

Irv Gotti has been a close associate of JAY-Z for decades. As a DJ, producer, and record executive, the New Yorker worked with Jay during his ascent to stardom. In 1995, DJ Irv produced "Time To Build" for his artist Mic Geronimo. The song from The Natural featured JAY-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule.... Read more

Death Row Records Investor Says Dr. Dre & Snoop Are Making An Album

In the early 1990s, Michael "Harry-O" Harris was as an alleged financier of Dr. Dre and Suge Knight's Death Row Records. An early iteration of the label was named Godfather Entertainment, in the incarcerated Harry-O's honor. Michael's then-wife, Lydia Harris, was to have a hand in the musical direction of... Read more

Pete Rock & Funkmaster Flex Are Battling Over The Future Of NY Hip-Hop

In the last week, a battle has been going on surrounding Hip-Hop radio in New York. The series of events began with an Instagram Live monologue from Conway The Machine, one of Rap's most promising and acclaimed MCs as of late. The Machine vented frustrations with media gatekeepers, especially on the radio.... Read more

Nas & DJ Premier’s New Song Takes Hip-Hop Back To Its Golden Era

It has been over a decade Hip-Hop Heads received a Nas song produced by DJ Premier. In late 2011, Nas connected with Premier and The Berklee Symphony Orchestra for "REgeneration." Four years prior, in 2007, Preemo supplied Nasir Jones, KRS-One, Rakim, and Kanye West with "Classic," a promotional video single for... Read more

Pete Rock Blasts Funkmaster Flex For Not Supporting Real Hip-Hop

At the top of this week, Conway The Machine spoke out against several gatekeepers of Hip-Hop at radio. In particular, the Buffalo, New York MC named Funkmaster Flex and DJ Suss One in an Instagram Live monologue venting frustrating with what gets played on radio. Funk Flex responded to Conway... Read more

R. Kelly Has Been Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

In a breaking story, singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years for various sex crimes. The Chicago, Illinois singer, songwriter, and producer faced nine federal charges, including human trafficking, racketeering, and more. TMZ is among those reporting Wednesday's (June 29) sentence, which took place in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout the trial,... Read more

Why Michael Jackson Refused To Be On Tupac’s Makaveli Album

In the final weeks of his life, Tupac Shakur prepared an album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Having already dropped a chart-topping double album earlier in 1996, Shakur was fast at work following up his Death Row Records debut. Don Killuminati was a pioneering idea, originally intended to... Read more

Eminem Raps About How He & Elvis Are Alike While Blasting His Haters

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

Black Thought’s Next Album Is Produced By Danger Mouse. Here’s The 1st Single

After a quarter-century of albums with The Roots, Black Thought expanded into a solo catalog in 2018. That year, he released not one but two projects. The first, Streams Of Thought, Vol. 1, was produced by 9th Wonder. The Grammy-winning Salaam Remi handled the beats on the second volume. In 2020,... Read more

Eminem Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame has confirmed its 2022 class. Eminem will be inducted into the Cleveland, Ohio hall as a first-time ballot nominee. Marshall Mathers joins a performer category class that includes Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, The Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, and Carly Simon. Jimmy Jam... Read more

Pusha-T Used His New Album As A Verzuz Between Kanye & Pharrell

In the last week, one of the year's biggest albums released. Pusha-T competes for his first #1 on the charts with the arrival of It's Almost Dry. The G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records collection follows up the veteran MC's 2018 Grammy-nominated campaign for DAYTONA. That LP, the first of a Kanye West-produced five-album summer series,... Read more

J. Cole Starts Dreamville’s Mixtape With Another Monster Verse

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

Benny’s Tana Talk 4 Is A Bold Reminder That The Butcher Is A Cut Above The Rest

This past Friday (March 11) kicked off one of the biggest weekends for Hip-Hop in quite some time. Benny The Butcher released his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4 album. Released the same day, Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz's joint album chronicles the demise of their Slaughterhouse group, conveying frustration and laying... Read more

Pusha-T Has Released The 1st Single To His New Album

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

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

Actor & Screenwriter Max Julien Has Passed Away

Following a 2021 marred by losses, 2022 began with news of another legend passing away. Actor Max Julien passed away at the age of 88 in Sherman Oaks, California, yesterday (January 1). No cause of death has been determined at this time. His wife of 30 years, Arabella, confirmed the... Read more

Dr. Dre Is Releasing New Music Next Week

"It's all about making that GTA," Eazy-E rapped on Gangsta Rap classic "Boyz-N-The Hood." Nearly 35 years later, that song's producer, Dr. Dre, proves the statement true. Dr. Dre has made and produced some of the most beloved albums in music. Now, he's dedicating himself to releasing songs through video... Read more

Diddy Challenges Jermaine Dupri To A Beat Battle & Shuts Him Down

Over the last 18 months, Verzuz has become one of the most important platforms in Hip-Hop and pop culture, generally. The battle/celebratory format pioneered by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland started as a healing salve to ease the stress of lockdown, and grew into a full blown phenomenon. Now that people... Read more

Kanye West Has Challenged Drake To Battle On Verzuz

Last night (September 14), Ja Rule and Fat Joe competed in the latest Verzuz. Together, the two artists who made "What's Luv" and "New York" showed friendly competition before a live hometown audience at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Room. Following August's high-powered LOX Verzuz Dipset, this match-up's biggest controversy happened between Ja Rule's producer and... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Declares War On Hip-Hop’s Top 5 MCs

One week ago Kendrick Lamar made a rare and bold statement about his upcoming album while providing some significant news. “As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly,... Read more

Where TDE Ranks Among Hip-Hop’s Greatest Record Labels

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

De La Soul Confirms Acquiring Catalog & Will Re-Release Albums On DSPs This Year

UPDATE: Just days after Talib Kweli announced that De La Soul had acquired its back catalog (story below), the group took to Instagram Live (embedded below) to confirm reports. After some technical difficulties, Dave, Posdnuos, and Maseo broadcast to over 3,000 fans in real-time. The audience included Common, DJ Drama, DJ... Read more

Nas Is In The Second Prime Of His Career

For the second time in less than a year, Nas has released an album. King's Disease II follows 2020's campaign, which landed Nas his first Grammy award, taking home "Best Rap Album" honors in early '21. Entirely produced by Hit-Boy, KD1 included reuniting the founding members of The Firm (along with the group's album... Read more

Kid Capri, Styles P, Clark Kent & Spinderella Discuss The Power Of ’90s Hip-Hop

This Sunday, July 18, Power Book III: Raising Kanan will premiere on STARZ and the STARZ App. Following six seasons of Power, this latest extension travels back to 1991 to focus on the origin story surrounding Kanan Stark. Following a performance by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in the original series,... Read more

Here Are Some Reasons Why 2000 May Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Year

At Ambrosia For Heads, we celebrate Hip-Hop throughout the ages. Earlier this year, our What's The Headline podcast launched a series examining the calendar years that made the music and culture reach its full potential. After taking a loving look back at 1984, the next episode drops in on Y2K.... Read more

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Are Giving Ownership In Verzuz To All Past Participants

It was an exciting week for Hip-Hop. Sunday culminated with a first-time Grammy win for Nas, a poignant second win for Anderson .Paak (as well as a show-stopping performance), and more. As many looked back at a year defined by the pandemic, the week also saw the acquisition of one... Read more