AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Black Thought & Raekwon Bring Out Each Other’s Best 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

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Are Suing Triller Over Verzuz

In 2020, Verzuz became a force to be reckoned with for music fans, especially in Hip-Hop. The platform, launched by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, produced battles between RZA and DJ Premier, Babyface and Teddy Riley, Fabolous and Jadakiss, DMX and Snoop Dogg, and Rick Ross and 2 Chainz. Millions of... Read more

Remy Ma & Rapsody Are Rap’s New Dynamic Duo

Last month (July 15), DJ Premier released an exceptional five-song collection. Hip-Hop 50, Vol. 1 kicks off Mass Appeal's series marching towards Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary in 2023. Today (August 11) marks the culture's 49th birthday as many Heads and historians celebrate it, honoring the day that DJ Kool Herc through a Saturday... Read more

Lil Wayne & Slick Rick Show Lyricism Is The Root Of Hip-Hop

Yesterday (July 15), DJ Premier released his five-song Hip Hop 50: Volume 1. The five songs feature Preemo beats with an array of MCs from different generations, regions, and styles. The last song on the Mass Appeal Records release unites Slick Rick and Lil Wayne. “The Root Of It All” bonds... 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

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

Redman Explains Why He Used To Keep A Tissue In His Nose

Redman is known for keeping it real. The New Jersey veteran MC/producer/DJ had a moment over 20 years with arguably the most memorable MTV Cribs episode. Reggie Noble invited audiences into his modest Staten Island, New York home—complete with a box of dollar bills, fish sticks in the freezer, and... Read more

The D.O.C. Explains The Real Elements Of The Rap Formula

On his 1989 solo debut, No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C. had a highlight single with "The Formula." The Dr. Dre-produced Ruthless/Atlantic Records track begins with the lyrics, "High energy flowin' with the wisdom / Sense of a rich man, knowledge and the rhythm / This is what... Read more

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop community reacted to the latest high-profile lists ranking the greatest Rap albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine and a team of journalists and writers ranked 200 Hip-Hop LPs, prompting plenty of reaction. It was not the first list of this kind, and it certainly will not... Read more

Method Man & Slick Rick Wreck A DJ Muggs 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

Explaining Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Albums

More than any other artist in Hip-Hop, and perhaps in all of music, Kendrick Lamar expresses himself through albums. Over the years, these albums have shown themselves to be dense bodies of work, filled with cryptic references and hidden meanings. Entire college courses and podcast series have been devoted to... Read more

DJ Kay Slay Has Passed Away At The Age Of 55

DJ Kay Slay has died. The man born Keith Grayson passed away yesterday (April 17) after a four-month-long battle with COVID-19. Kay Slay's Hip-Hop career stems back more than 40 years from his days as a graffiti icon into a leader in music, radio, and street publishing. The bold personality... Read more

JAY-Z Has Dissed More People Than Any Other MC

Earlier this month, JAY-Z appeared alongside Pharrell Williams on Pusha-T's latest single, "Neck & Wrist." While the G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam Records single initially prompted discourse regarding Jay's lyrics regarding his late friend and collaborator Biggie Smalls, the song also contains diss bars that some may have missed. Jay's guest verse... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Says Busta Rhymes Has The Best Flow In Hip-Hop

In late 2021, Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One held a Verzuz battle for the ages. Two of the most influential and respected MCs in Hip-Hop history squared off and made for an epic night that still prompts debate. However, in a recent event, Big Daddy Kane used the spotlight to... Read more

Black Star Release The Featured Artists On Their New Album

In less than a month, one of the most anticipated Hip-Hop albums of all time is set to release. On May 3, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli will wave the Black Star flag once more with the duo's second album in nearly 24 years. Late last week, the Brooklyn, New York... Read more

Phife Dawg’s Final Album Releases. It Features Q-Tip, Little Brother & More

Today (March 22) marks six years since Phife Dawg tragically passed away at 45 years old due to kidney failure. At the time, the A Tribe Called Quest co-founder was secretly working on a reunion album with Q-Tip, Jarobi, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. That 2016 LP, We got it from... Read more

Method Man Brings The Heat With Papoose & RJ Payne

Method Man will celebrate 30 years since making his professional music debut on wax in less than a year. However, the Wu-Tang Clan legend remains incredibly active with music and pursuit of perfection. Iron Lung released the latest look from his upcoming Meth Lab 3, "Butterfly Effect." This one features RJ Payne,... Read more

Cypress Hill Recruited Black Milk To Make Their Best Album In Years

This weekend (March 18), Cypress Hill released its tenth album, Back In Black (embedded below). The 10-track self-released LP is produced by a noteworthy guest in the mix, Black Milk. The Detroit, Michigan native producer/MC/musician steps in to assist a collective that dates back more than 30 years, having previously... Read more

Benny The Butcher Adds 10 Crack Commandments To Biggie’s List

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

The Top MCs Of The 80s & 90s Were Graded By Kool Moe Dee

Kool Moe Dee cemented a reputation during the 1980s as one of Hip-Hop's elite MCs who said what he felt without concern. After putting in work with The Treacherous Three group, Moe Doe pivoted to the scene as a feared battle rapper. He took on Busy Bee at the Harlem... Read more

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony & Three 6 Mafia Clash With Fight During Verzuz

Moments ago, tonight's (December 2) Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Verzuz Three 6 Mafia battle was abruptly halted for a period after an altercation took place between the two Midwest groups. After approximately three rounds of music, Bizzy Bone addressed his opponents. The on-again, off-again member told Juicy J, DJ Paul, Gangsta Boo,... 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

AZ Names The 7 MCs Who Influenced Him The Most

From his very first released verse, AZ declared "Others such as myself are trying to carry on tradition." Those illustrious guest bars from Nas' Illmatic apply to AZ's views on Hip-Hop. Weeks ago, the East New York, Brooklyn MC released Doe Or Die 2. While speaking in-depth about the long-anticipated... Read more

AZ Says He’s Down To Make Music For The Firm’s 25th Anniversary

Last month, AZ released one of the most anticipated albums of 2021. The East New York, Brooklyn veteran delivered Doe Or Die 2, a sequel to his lauded 1995 debut–and an album that AZ had been hyping since the early 2010s. Proudly independent, AZ self-released the LP on his Quiet... Read more

Dr. Dre Has Broken Pop Culture Barriers Once Again

Last week, it was revealed that Dr. Dre will be headlining the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. In doing so, Dre becomes the first Hip-Hop artist to headline, after nearly 25 years of various MCs appearing in the feature role. Dre will share the stage with some of his superstar... Read more

Rap City Is Back For One Night Only…For Now

BET's Rap City was a staple of Hip-Hop culture for nearly 20 years. The show evolved with Rap culture over a series of hosts, studios, and themes. Through it all, BET found a vehicle that was a rival to Yo! MTV Raps as a vessel of the music on television. From 1989 to late 2008,... Read more

Common Resurrects His Place As A Top MC With This Freestyle

Next month makes 30 years since Common received the coveted "Unsigned Hype" column in The Source magazine. As he would do with Biggie Smalls and Mobb Deep, journalist Matty C. found Common Sense a worthy inclusion for the highly-respected Hip-Hop publication. Unlike today, 1991 was a time when MCs from... Read more

Jack Harlow Almost Murdered Eminem On His Own Killer Remix

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads fight 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, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

Shock G Of Digital Underground Has Passed Away

According to sources, Shock G of Digital Underground has passed away at the age of 57. The news was announced by his fellow Digital Underground member, Jimi "Chopmanster J" Dright on Instagram, where he wrote "34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be... Read more

Pharoahe Monch Delivers The Long-Awaited Album Alongside His Band Th1rt3en

In the last week, 2021's Hip-Hop release calendar got an exciting jump-start. Pharoahe Monch treated fans with his first album in more than six-and-a-half years. Since that time, the Queens, New York lyricist and producer had described a dark, Hard Rock-influenced album. In 2021, that presumed material surfaced alongside Monch's... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Eminem Have Been Feuding For Months. Here’s Why

Two of Dr. Dre's greatest proteges are Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. He developed one esteemed lyricist at the top of the 1990s during the establishment of Death Row Records and the other at the tail-end of that decade, solidifying his Aftermath Entertainment imprint. Ever since, Snoop and Em partnered... Read more

Royce 5’9 Explains Why He’s A GOAT Rapper (Video)

Just over one week ago, Royce 5'9 released his eighth album, The Allegory. It marks a benchmark LP in a discography decorated with greatness. On one single, "I Don't Age," the Detroit, Michigan MC proclaims, "They say you are what you eat, but I never ate goat." Speaking with Ambrosia... Read more

Ice Cube Explains Why Storytelling Is The Top Level Of MC’ing (Video)

Ice Cube is no stranger to storytelling with his lyrics. The legendary South Central, Los Angeles MC is responsible for one of Rap's most beloved tales: "It Was A Good Day," as well as penning Eazy-E's breakout anthem, "Boyz-n-the-Hood." Cube's albums, both solo and group, often have songs that follow... 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

Supernatural Details How Losing A Battle To Craig G Prepared Him To Defeat J.U.I.C.E.

MC Supernatural is widely recognized as one of the greatest improvisational freestyle rappers ever to pick up a microphone. Since he came on the scene in the early 1990s, the Marion, Indiana native has won epic battles, made music with some of Hip-Hop’s elite while living on both coasts, and... Read more

The Roots Release Their 1st Song In 2 Years. Can You Feel It? (Audio)

In the last several years, The Roots have been busy. While the hardest working band in Hip-Hop is on television five nights a week, fans have not heard the music that they've been making behind the scenes. Producers, including 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and J. Period, have been previously attached... Read more

Locksmith Rips 2 Amazing Freestyles. Fat Joe Declares That He May Be The Best (Video)

Locksmith is regarded as one of the elite MCs in Hip-Hop, especially when it comes to freestyling. As an independent artist, the Richmond, California MC has relied on his keen storytelling abilities and deft wordplay to secure his growing fan base. In his early days, Locksmith's career began as a... Read more

Kanye West Claims He & Dr. Dre Are Making A Sequel To His New Album

Less than one month ago (October 25), Kanye West released his ninth solo album, JESUS IS KING. The Spiritual 11-song collection involved a Clipse reunion, appearances from Ty Dolla $ign, and Jazz artist Kenny G, as well as guest production from Timbaland. The G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam Records LP subsequently topped... Read more

Immortal Technique Lists His Top 5 MCs & Says A New Album Is Coming (Video)

Immortal Technique is recognized as an MC whose music is informational and at times, extreme. The Harlem lyricist emerged during the rise of independent Hip-Hop in the early 2000s, and his politically-charged brand of Hip-Hop quickly struck a chord with fans worldwide. Further, he is widely acknowledged for his activism... Read more

Rakim Raps His Unreleased Lyrics That Were Dissing Big Daddy Kane (Video)

Earlier this week, Rakim published his memoir, Sweat The Technique: Revelations On Creativity From The Lyrical Genius. The God MC's first text tells his life story as well as offers insight into songwriting and rhyming. In promotion of the book (which he wrote with author, activist, and former Source editor Bakari... Read more

DJ Premier Details Why He Chose J. Cole For Gang Starr’s New Song (Audio)

On Friday (September 20), Gang Starr released its first single in more than 16 years. "Family And Loyalty" features two verses from Guru (who passed away in 2010), a DJ Premier-produced track, and a guest appearance from J. Cole. Calling into Sway In The Morning, Premier explained some background on... Read more

Snoop & Slick Rick Join Forces On An Anthem About Self-Pride & Upliftment

Since the very beginning of his career, Snoop Dogg has cited Slick Rick as a top influence. On Snoop's hallmark debut album, the smooth-talking Long Beach, California MC covered one of MC Ricky D's best-known verses in the form of "Lodi Dodi." Crossing coasts, bridging generations, meshing styles, and putting... Read more

Rakim’s “Sweat The Technique” Memoir Will Arrive In Less Than A Month

For several years, Rakim has discussed plans to release a memoir. The text would place the legendary Long Island, New York MC born William Griffin, Jr. in the company of Hip-Hop peers including LL Cool J, KRS-One, Ice-T, Chuck D, Scarface, and the Beastie Boys. After initial plans to release... Read more

Ice Cube Explains Why He Does NOT Want To Be On The Forbes List (Video)

Ice Cube once co-wrote, produced, and starred in the film All About The Benjamins. However, the 50-year-old mogul seemingly does not live his life under that tenant. From a chart-topping music career, to becoming a power-player in film, to launching a professional three-on-three basketball league, O'Shea Jackson is at the... Read more

Mike Tyson Shares His Top 50 MCs List…And Joe Budden Is Not On It

At the top of this week, The Brew Podcast disseminated a ranked "Top 50 Greatest Rappers Of All-Time" list (embedded below) that has since captivated much of social media and the conversations around it. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based podcast dedicated to beer-making elicited some fans raising a glass, while other folks... Read more

New Jacks Take Heed…Ice-T Is Still Hustling O.G. Bars (Video)

Before he began his unprecedented 21-year run on Law Order: Special Victims Unit, Ice-T cemented a spot as a Gangsta Rap pioneer more than 30 years ago. Without question, Ice-T is an O.G. in the game. However, with longstanding TV roles, reality shows, and car insurance commercials, it can be... Read more

Here’s Some New Heat From Roc Marciano & His New EP (Audio)

Roc Marciano has dropped an EP of never before released rarities, through Marci Enterprises/Fat Beats Records. The Prequel, available exclusively on red vinyl, features production from Roc Marci as well as Just Blaze. New single, "Not One," sounds like New York in the Summertime, with the Hempstead Long Islander bringing... Read more

Warren G Turns Up The Bass To Show He’s Still Regulating 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years ago this month, Warren G unleashed an album that had a hand in saving Def Jam Records through a commercial drought season. The Long Beach, California MC/producer/DJ may have been wrongfully overlooked at Death Row Records, but the "G" in G-Child may have stood for "Golden" at Russell... Read more

O.C. Releases 3+ Hours Of ’90s Rarities, Demos & Freestyles. Dig In. (Audio)

For more than 25 years, O.C. has been a vicious MC. From JAY-Z to Big L, Pharoahe Monch to Murs, rappers across the Hip-Hop landscape have been eager to work with the Diggin' In The Crates member. O' has fed the masses, from the acclaimed Word...Life and Jewelz one-two punch,... Read more

Here’s The Story Behind The All-Star Cypher That Ended The Arsenio Hall Show

Twenty-five years ago this month, The Arsenio Hall Show dimmed the lights on a massive television platform, especially for Hip-Hop. Since early 1989, the actor/comedian/host planted his flag with a new kind of late-night talk-show with a penchant for the issues, people, and culture that inspired him. From M.C. Hammer... Read more