AFH Ambrosia for Heads

A 300+ Song Mix Gives The Definitive History Of Southern Hip-Hop (Audio)

For more than 30 years, Rap music from the South has stood out. Many cities have their own sound, slang, and influences. During the 1980s and 1990s, many Southern Hip-Hop artists had to assert that their communities "had something to say" in the Rap music conversation. However, by the late... Read more

Watch A Live Stream Of Bun B & Statik Selektah Making Their TrillStatik Album (Video)

In an era of increased access for fans, Bun B and Statik Selektah are taking things to a new plateau. The UGK co-founder and the esteemed producer/DJ for Joey Bada$$, Sean Price, Styles P, and so many others are making an album right now (April 17). First announced last week,... Read more

Rappers Might Start Going To Jail Because Of Their Lyrics

Rap music is often an art that imitates life. However, there appear to be new legal lines surrounding that freedom of expression. Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Jamal Knox v. Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. That case surrounds Cox, who is a Pittsburgh rapper also... Read more

Bun B & Statik Selektah Will Make An Album From Scratch For All To See

Last August, Bun B released his first album in five years. Return Of The Trill saw the UGK co-founder and Port Arthur, Texas legend team up with Run The Jewels, 8Ball & MJG, Lil Wayne, the late Pimp C, and others on an album that was musically overseen by executive... Read more

Tech N9ne Discusses His N9na Album & Being A B-Boy For Life

Tech N9ne is one of the most prolific Rap artists in his class. For 20 years, the Kansas City, Missouri MC has fed his devoted technicians with 20 albums, handfuls of collaborative projects, EPs, and group work. Notably, every release from Aaron Yates is a mapped out universe and part... Read more

Some Of Hip-Hop’s Top MCs Mourn Philadelphia Battle Rapper Tech 9

The Hip-Hop community is mourning the death of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Battle Rap veteran Tech 9 (aka Akeen Mickens). He is survived by a daughter. Details are still forthcoming in this developing story. “Sadly it’s true. We lost a Philadelphia and Battle Rap legend and pioneer,” fellow competitive MC Buttah Madison... Read more

Xzibit Details How Dr. Dre Operated On His Career & Brought It To Life (Video)

Twenty years ago, Xzibit's career buckled up for a skyrocketing trajectory. Since the mid-'90s, the prodigy of King T had released two albums, worked closely with E-Swift and Tha Alkaholiks, and recorded some incredible freestyles. A California transplant, Mr. X-To-The-Z was a true school MC with major distribution. He was... Read more

Statik Selektah Releases His 1st Instrumental Album. Stream It Here.

Since 2007, Massachusetts beat maker Statik Selektah has dropped eight studio albums with his last project, aptly titled, 8, releasing just two years ago. Along the way, Statik has made collaborative albums with Action Bronson, Kxng Crooked, Bumpy Knuckles, Saigon, and a handful of 1982 releases with right-hand-man Termanology. He... Read more

Jamla Is The Squad & This Freestyle Shows Why Reuben Vincent Made The Team

Jamla Records is a brand that Hip-Hop Heads can trust. Since its earliest days, 9th Wonder's label has put its stamp on a host of talented artists that care about music. In 2018, Jamla Is The Squad II showed a plethora of talent on the imprint the includes Rapsody, Elzhi... Read more

Royce 5’9 Follows His Best Album With One Of His Most Powerful Videos

Royce 5’9 released what many fans consider to be the best album of his career in 2018. Already solidified as one of Hip-Hop’s top-tier lyricists, the MC's seventh solo LP demonstrated tremendous growth both as a man and an artist. Book Of Ryan is widely recognized as one of the best... Read more

In 1999, Kurupt & KRS-One Got Live On The Mic And Went Round For Round

Two decades ago this year, Kurupt released his second solo album, Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native had long since established himself as not only a West Coast MC but also resident. After signing with Death Row Records in the 1990s and founding the Dogg Pound Gangstaz (DPG)... Read more

Royce 5’9 Is Ready To Do Bad Meets Evil 2 & Challenges Fans To Rally Eminem

A lot happened with two of Royce 5'9's groups in 2018. The Detroit, Michigan MC's partnership with DJ Premier, PRhyme, released its second album in the early part of the year. Meanwhile, Slaughterhouse—a quartet that Nickel Nine has been part of for the last decade, formally dissolved not long after... Read more

Tory Lanez Disses Royce 5’9 & Then Gets A Very Serious Warning

Over the last 24 hours, Royce 5'9 was dissed by Toronto, Ontario singer/rapper Tory Lanez on social media. The incident began after a fan asked Royce if he thought Lanez was the victor in last month's battle with Joyner Lucas. Nickel Nine responded "No." Hours later, Tory—who was not tagged... Read more

Joe Budden Had The Biggest Come Up In A Year He Was Supposed To Struggle

It was one year ago this week that Joe Budden exited the show Everyday Struggle. On December 18, 2017, DJ Whoo Kid unceremoniously took Budden's seat on the Complex weekday talk series alongside co-hosts Nadeska Alexis and DJ Akademiks. The guest known best as a G-Unit DJ and radio personality told... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 8): Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz vs. Royce 5’9

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

Joell Ortiz Examines How Growing Up Fast Shaped Him Over A Lush Apollo Brown Beat

Last month, Joell Ortiz and Apollo Brown partnered to release the Mona Lisa album. The Mello Music Group LP is a platform for Joell to look back at his upbringing, react to the dissolving of Slaughterhouse, and call for more MCs with heart, all while celebrating the beauty in the... Read more

Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz Discuss Their Album, Slaughterhouse & More (Video)

Apollo Brown and Joell Ortiz released their Mona Lisa album on Friday, October 26 (embedded below). These two stalwarts of the culture have put together 11 tracks of soulful, insightful, and competitive-spirited Hip-Hop. Having had a chance to digest this nuanced body of work, Ambrosia For Heads' Editor-in-Chief Jake Paine... Read more

Ghostface Killah’s “The Lost Tapes” Album Is Here. Listen Now (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan has been bringing the ruckus lately. The surviving members of the legendary group appeared on Logic's song "Wu-Tang Forever" last week. Today (October 5), Ghostface Killah dropped his first project of 2018. On The Lost Tapes, Tony Starks enlists Big Daddy Kane, Snoop Dogg, E-40, Raekwon, Masta Killa,... Read more

CyHi The Prynce Challenges Joe Budden To A Rap Battle For $500,000 (Video)

In recent episodes of The Joe Budden Podcast, CyHi The Prynce has come up in conversation several times. Joe, along with co-hosts Rory, Mal, as well as Parks, have discussed CyHi's announcement of his Kanye West-produced seven-song follow-up to 2017's No Dope On Sundays. More recently, they addressed 'Ye reportedly gifting... Read more

Ghostface & Big Daddy Kane Have United To Take Hip-Hop Back (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan swordsman Ghostface Killah has been open about his musical influences. The Staten Island, New Yorker grew up admiring Rap music from the likes of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Slick Rick, Divine Force, Ultramagnetic MC's, and others. Over the last 25 years, he has been able to... Read more

Slaughterhouse May Be Done But Joell Ortiz & Royce 5’9 Are Still Stomping Out MCs (Audio)

Even with the group apparently on ice, people are talking about Slaughterhouse right now, as much as ever. Eminem spoke about the group during part 2 of his week-long rollout of an interview with Sway. As recently as this weekend, Joe Budden is reflecting on the group dynamic on his... Read more

Eminem Says MGK Is An Enemy & He Wants To Destroy Him (Video)

Part 2 of Eminem's intense interview with Sway Calloway premiered moments ago (September 12). After describing the frustration from Revival criticism that fueled last month's Kamikaze album, Eminem got to the nuts and bolts of two of his biggest beefs: Joe Budden and MGK (aka Machine Gun Kelly) in another... Read more

Eminem’s Rage Against The Machine Has Overshadowed The Sad Demise Of D12 (Video)

In less than a week, Eminem's Kamikaze created a chain reaction of events in the Rap space. From one sneak-attack 13-track album, Marshall Mathers stirred the pot. On Labor Day, MGK responded to Em's verse on "Not Alike" with some blistering bars and personal attacks on "Rap Devil." Then, two... Read more

Tech N9ne & Krizz Kaliko Don’t Need Bells And Whistles To Annihilate A Set (Video)

NPR’s "Tiny Desk Concerts" have steadily forced musicians outside of their comfort zones for years. On paper, the series’ latest display, the oft-bigger than life Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko seem like outlandish candidates for the intimate show, but the Strange Music pair proved they don’t get uncomfortable. Over the... Read more

A Ghostface Killah Lost Tapes Album Filled With All-Stars Is Coming. Here Is The 1st Song & Tracklist

In 2002, Nas famously released The Lost Tapes. The album reportedly pulled from records not used during the sessions for I Am..., Nastradamus, and Stillmatic. Boasting production from Alchemist, Kanye West, and Illmatic alum L.E.S., the Ill Will/Columbia Records release with the catchy artwork snuck into the Top 10, despite... Read more

Page Kennedy, Elzhi & Nick Grant Hold A Master Class In Storytelling (Audio)

In 2017, Detroit's Page Kennedy released Torn Pages. Featuring Royce 5’9, KXNG Crooked, Elzhi, Mr. Porter, Kuniva, Marsha Ambrosious and others, it was an intimate breakthrough from an MC who openly tackled heavy topics like police violence, sex addiction and more. Since then, his independent releases have been robust and sometimes explosive.... Read more

Here Are The 32 Hip-Hop Groups Competing To Be Named Best Of All-Time

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure... 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

No More Struggle: Joe Budden Is Joining Forces With Diddy To Take His Talents To TV.

Joe Budden has landed his latest television venture. It has been announced that MC-turned-media personality has partnered with Puff Daddy's REVOLT for a summer 2018 talk show titled State Of The Culture. In addition to hosting, Budden co-created the series and will produce. The news and culture round-up is slated... Read more

Royce 5’9 Explains In Detail What Went Wrong With Slaughterhouse (Video)

This month, Hip-Hop fans learned that Slaughterhouse has disbanded. One week ago, KXNG Crooked (aka Crooked I) announced his group exit on social media. Within days, Royce 5'9 explained how without Crook, that the group also including Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz would not continue as a unit. He added... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Slaughterhouse vs. Run The Jewels. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Mickey Factz Teaches Financial Responsibility Through Taxing Bars (Video)

Bronx, New York native Mickey Factz is the latest guest on Funkmaster Flex's freestyle platform. With his barrage of bars, the veteran lyricist kicked knowledge about something often overlooked in Rap: financial responsibility. After warming up his chops and getting his metaphorical ducks in a row, Factz began spitting facts... Read more

Nick Grant Spits A Freestyle That Confirms He’s 1 Of The Best MCs In His Generation (Video)

Even as a major label artist with an acclaimed album under his belt, South Carolina's Nick Grant is committed to building an audience the old fashioned way: through hustle. Over the last three years, the MC co-signed by André 3000, Nas, Bun B, and others made a name for himself... Read more

DMX Plays “Slippin'” For Judge Ahead Of Receiving 1-Year Prison Sentence

DMX has a long history of courtroom appearances and legal battles. Today (March 28) likely set a precedent, even for the Yonkers, New York MC. Upon sentencing in a New York City courtroom, X's legal team wanted U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff to understand the life and times of defendant... Read more

Tech N9ne Knows The Plan To End Racism But Questions Whether We Can Follow It (Video)

Last Friday (March 2), Tech N9ne released his album, The Planet. It is a fitting title for the 46-year-old Kansas City, Missouri MC-turned-mogul. With platinum and gold singles now under his belt, Aaron Dontez Yates labored to create a bustling universe that existed beyond commercial radio, music video channels, and... Read more

Royce 5’9 & DJ Premier Considered Madlib For PRhyme. They Can Rock It Regardless (Video)

Last Sunday night (February 25), Royce 5'9 and DJ Premier unveiled the tracklist for March 16's PRhyme 2 album. The LP is confirmed to involve Rapsody, Big K.R.I.T., 2 Chainz, and Yelawolf. It is a cast (also including CeeLo Green) that seemingly favors southern voices. Already, PRhyme 2's first video... Read more

PRhyme Return To Rock It With One Of Their Best Tracks Yet (Audio)

For more than two years, listeners have been anticipating the return of PRhyme, the collective of DJ Premier and Royce 5'9. The duo's surprise formation in 2014 led to one of the year's best projects, bringing out the best in both Royce and Preemo, as they mined the sounds of... Read more

Tech N9ne Rates The Bars & He Punishes A Guest Verse From 1 Of His Songs (Video)

Tech N9ne is the latest guest on "Rate The Bars." The co-founder of Strange Music stresses that he wants to see some gangsta songwriting. The Kansas City, Missouri veteran, Indie Rap juggernaut, and member of The Regime hands out several perfect scores, praising bars that are especially rooted in street-life.... Read more

Mickey Factz & Royce 5’9 Serve Lyrics That Make Other MCs Say Their Prayers (Audio Premiere)

In 2016, Mickey Factz dropped The Achievement: circa '82, a collaborative album produced entirely by Nottz and featuring Styles P, Phonte, Blu, Smoke DZA and more. "The Sermon" didn't make it to the  Soulspazm/W.A.R.Media project's final track listing, but the Bronx-bred rapper is releasing a deluxe edition of the album... Read more

Lupe Fiasco vs. Kendrick Lamar: Why “Stealing” Is Not A Crime For Artists (Video)

Lupe Fiasco took umbrage with Marvel's upcoming Black Panther soundtrack on social media last week, arguing the cover artwork for the film's Kendrick Lamar and SZA-led soundtrack single, "All the Stars," bears a remarkable resemblance to the artwork for his forthcoming album Drogas Wave. Visual grievances aside, Lupe's and Kendrick's... Read more

MC Lyte, Bahamadia & Yo-Yo’s Pete Rock-Produced Cut Still Speaks Today (Audio)

It’s not all that uncommon for a soundtrack to outshine the movie it was created to accompany. Twenty-one years ago, when the Ice Cube flick, Dangerous Ground was released, the exclusively Rap soundtrack may have stood a bigger test of time than the film itself. Although Cube’s “The World Is... Read more

Cozz Reverses Roles And Arrests The Cops In His New Video

Only days after dropping his new single, “Questions,” the Dreamville MC, Cozz delivered the accompanying visuals. The simple premise doesn’t offer the usual imagery to a song. Instead, "Questions" weaves a loose story-line that will inspire fans to ask additional questions. In the video, Cozz turns his inquiries into an... Read more

Elzhi & Khrysis Announce Their Collabo Group With A Musical Preview (Audio)

In the hours leading up to 2018, some Hip-Hop news was announced that Heads might have missed. Jamla Records' founder 9th Wonder revealed that this new year promises an exciting collaborative group from two esteemed veterans of Rap music and verse. Detroit, Michigan MC Elzhi and North Carolina producer Khrysis... Read more

Phonte & Elzhi Reunite On A New Song & They Are Razor Sharp (Audio)

When Little Brother released The Minstrel Show, it was a huge moment for many Hip-Hop Heads. The North Carolina-based trio that won the hearts of fans with 2003's The Listening joined Atlantic Records and seemingly represented a real chance for putting a disenfranchised side of the genre back on radio,... Read more

Fabolous & Jadakiss’ Friday On Elm Street Album Is Filled With Razor Sharp Rhymes (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's most long-awaited projects releases today (November 24). Fabolous & Jadakiss partner for Friday On Elm Street, a collaborative album from the two New York City veteran lyricists (each signed to Def Jam Records) that has been teased for nearly three years. The project (once thought to be... 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

Talib Kweli & Jay Electronica Reunite. Times Are Hard & So Are Their Rhymes (Audio)

Less than one week ago, Talib Kweli released Radio Silence. Following April's The Seven collaborative EP with Styles P, Kwe' drops his first full-length solo effort in two years. This go-round features Anderson .Paak on latest video single "Traveling Light," along with Rick Ross and Freestyle Fellowship/Project Blowed member Myka... 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

Say It Ain’t So. DJ Cash Money Is Hanging Up His Turntables (Video)

DJ Cash Money is one of Hip-Hop's greatest innovators behind the wheels of steel. Today (November 7), after well over 30 years in the music and culture, the artist born Jerome Hewlett has announced that he has retired. "It's official...I'm out the game. Thank you guys for all of the... 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