AFH Ambrosia for Heads

L.A. Gangs Have Called A Historic Truce To Honor Nipsey Hussle (Video)

Less than one week after the March 31 passing of Nipsey Hussle, many communities are still recovering from the sudden tragedy. In addition to mourning the slain artist, activist, and entrepeneur, many people are taking action too. Yesterday (April 5), a vigil and peace treaty was held by street leaders,... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Proved His Dedication Far Beyond His Music

Less than 24 hours ago (March 31), Nipsey Hussle was the victim of a fatal shooting in South Los Angeles, California. More specifically, 33-year-old Ermias Davidson Asghedom, a father of two, a family man, an entrepreneur, a community activist, and a beloved figure of unity in Hip-Hop lost his life.... Read more

Nas & Travis Scott Discuss The Power Of Hip-Hop & Why Its Messages Cannot Be Stopped

In 2017, Nas and Travis Scott worked together alongside DJ Khaled for video single "It's Secured" (embedded below). On paper, these artists may seem to represent different corners of Rap music, even while both have close collaborative ties to Kanye West. Nas burst on the scene in the early 1990s.... Read more

DJ Premier Discusses The Making Of Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years ago this month (March 8, 1994), Gang Starr released its fourth album, Hard To Earn. A rightful inclusion in one of the Rap genre's most celebrated calendar years, the work displays some of the finest chemistry between Guru and DJ Premier, who had already galvanized a creative and... Read more

dead prez Lead The Charge On A Song About Soldiering Through Hard Times

On March 15, California-born, Brooklyn, New York-based DJ/producer J. Period is set to release his LP, The RISE UP Project, co-executive produced by Young Guru, DJ Khalil, Jazzy Jeff along with J. Black Thought, Posdnuos, Pharoahe Monch, and Rhymefest are among the upcoming project's guests. In anticipation, the artist who... Read more

Blu’s Next LP Is Produced By Oh No. The 1st Single Is A Dedication To Cali’s Lost Angels

UPDATE: Blu & Oh No have released the music video for "The Lost Angels Anthem":  ORIGINAL FEBRUARY 4 STORY: 2018 proved to be a busy year for veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer Blu. The 35-year-old released two albums: Gods In The Spirit, Titans In The Flesh with Nottz, and... 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

Jussie Smollett Has Been Arrested & Faces Felony Charges

On January 29, actor/vocalist Jussie Smollett reported a disgusting crime in Chicago, Illinois. The Empire cast member alleged that two men verbally and physically assaulted him near the entrance of the city's Loews Hotel and made reference to his race, sexual orientation, and politics. Per Smollett's report, a rope was... Read more

Smif-n-Wessun & Rapsody Bring The Heat On A Song That Feels Like Summer (Premiere)

The gap between Smif-n-Wessun’s last album and their upcoming LP, The All has been their most extended hiatus since they dropped The Rude Awakening in 1998 (as Cocoa Brovaz) and did not follow-up with Smif-n-Wessun: Reloaded until 2005. And while Heads never like to wait for new material from one... Read more

Killer Mike & DJ Envy Have A Heated Exchange About Public vs. Private School

Killer Mike appeared on The Breakfast Club this week. The co-founder of Run The Jewels and veteran Atlanta, Georgia MC discussed his new Netflix series, Trigger Warning With Killer Mike. In addition to hosting, Mike co-created and produced the show. The first season's six episodes became available to the public... Read more

DJ Quik Says Suge Knight Had Diddy’s Child’s Mother In His Room After The Source Awards

On August 3, 1995, that year's Source Awards took place at Madison Square Gardens' Paramount Theater. The event is seismic in Rap music history, as it marks the shots heard 'round, disses from the podium at the magazine's event. In the aftermath of the situation, for those in attendance and... Read more

Missy Elliott Becomes The First Female MC To Enter The Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott has become the first female Hip-Hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. While JAY-Z became the first artist in Rap to join the prestigious circle two years ago, Missy follows a 2018 where Jermaine Dupri was admitted. Both appeared in New York City... Read more

Why Donald Glover Is 2018’s Hip-Hop Person Of The Year

As 2018 comes to a close, Donald Glover may not only be one of the most brilliant people in entertainment, he is among the most influential. In an era where quantity rules and quality rises, Glover is prolific in a way that rivals few. In three songs, two music videos,... Read more

Curren$y Pays Tribute To Grand Puba In Grand Style (Audio)

2018 has been a great year for New Orleans, Louisiana's Curren$y. The Jet Life pilot recently became a father. Meanwhile, musically, he released one of his best works to date care of the Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist collaboration Fetti. Spitta also dropped a standout guest verse on Cozz's wavy "Badu,"... 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

Questlove Curates Massive Soundtrack For Michelle Obama’s Book Tour. Listen Along.

Michelle Obama released her memoirs titled Becoming last week and now she's embarked on a 10-city tour to support the book. In a style befitting of a former First Lady of the United States, her string of speaking engagements has its own soundtrack titled The Michelle Obama Musiaqualogy. Not only that, but... Read more

In 1988, A Dozen Songs By Top Shelf MCs Went Missing. They’ve Been Found (Audio)

Back in 1988, there was a small studio and gathering place in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Top Shelf Studios was reportedly different than the usual places where Rap records were made. At a time when the culture was blossoming, MCs from across New York City liked the energy of the... Read more

Stan Lee, Co-Creator Of Marvel Comics, Has Passed Away At 95

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics' co-creator, former president and illustrator, has died at the age of 95. According to CNN, the comic giant was taken by ambulance from his home in Los Angeles to Cedar's Sinai Medical Center on Monday morning (November 12). He later passed away, although an exact cause... Read more

Teddy Riley Details Losing His Fortune & Moving Back To The Projects (Video)

In addition to his crucial role in Guy and Blackstreet, Teddy Riley may be best known for pioneering the "New Jack Swing" sound (a term coined by journalist/screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper). The 51-year-old Riley is a product of Harlem's St. Nicholas housing projects, a backdrop for the new-jack slang and... Read more

TDE Has Another Reason Why It’s The Most Dominant Hip-Hop Label Of The 2010s (Video)

Last week, Top Dawg Entertainment added another MC to its star-studded label. Reason comes from the same city of Carson, California that Ab-Soul reps. He quietly slid onto TDE's first #1 release of 2018, the Black Panther soundtrack ahead of his public welcome. However, if "Seasons" remained off your radar,... Read more

One Of The Most Sampled Songs In Hip-Hop Now Has A Sequel (Audio)

Since the early 1970s, pioneering Hip-Hop DJs played records with specific instrumental breakdown sections that could make B-boys and B-girls dance. As the culture grew, one of the artists who created breaks that DJs—and later, producers, gravitated towards was Bob James. The keyboardist, arranger, and record producer has since become... Read more

Will Smith Gives 1 Of His Realest Interviews. He Says He’s Finally Being Authentic (Video)

Will Smith is at a crossroads in his career. Throughout the last 33 years, the West Philadelphia native has balanced music, film, TV, philanthropy, and a celebrity family. In all of those fields, the 49-year-old has seemingly thrived on the highest level. Recently, two freestyles showed a fierce return to... Read more

Freeway Explains How One Cypher Changed His Career With Roc-A-Fella

On a scorching summer afternoon, Freeway is lounging in a cool recording studio in the Northern Liberties section in the City of Brotherly Love. The smoky lab is in the same high-rise building as accounting firms, law offices, and working folks pausing for a late afternoon snack in the ground... Read more

Kid Capri Explains Why He Has Beef With Funkmaster Flex (Video)

Two of the most recognized names in DJ'ing, especially for those in and around the New York City area, are currently beefing. For those following social media, mixtape legend Kid Capri has minced no words in his opinions of Funkmaster Flex. Both men, who each claim Bronx, New York as... Read more

When Stakes Were High For Hip-Hop, De La Soul, Common & Mos Def Got Down To Bizness (Video)

De La Soul has always stood for raising the musical bar. Celebrating its 22nd birthday this week (July 2), the trio's 1996 album Stakes Is High parlayed the group into its second era of prominence. Three years since their last LP, the work also proved that they were able to... Read more

Lauryn Hill Adds Nas, Chappelle, De La Soul & More To Miseducation 20th Anniversary Tour

As previously reported, L-Boogie is embarking on a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. Next month, the New Jersey songstress and MC is celebrating the milestone by touring her beloved solo debut work. However, she has sweetened the deal with a plethora of tour... Read more

Chance The Rapper Cautions Obama Over Presidential Library Plans

Chance The Rapper speaks his mind, even if the views may not always be popular with his fans, critics, or friends in very important places. "Lil Chano From 79th" is presently standing against his Presidential pal Barack Obama. Chance took to Twitter yesterday (May 23) to offer his opinion about... Read more

The NFL May Be Freezing Out Another Player For Protesting Police Violence

Colin Kaepernick has become a symbol of courage and protest. The former NFL quarterback knelt during the performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of each game in the 2016 season as a player for the San Francisco 49ers. His actions were a demonstration against oppression, especially the non-conviction and non-action... Read more

Spotify Has Made A Loud Statement By Muting R. Kelly, But It’s A Dangerous Precedent.

R. Kelly is today embroiled in what may prove to be the breaking point in the years-long backlash against him amidst allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, statutory rape and more. Though he's faced legal battles for decades—he was found guilty of battery in 1996, for starters—the award-winning, multi-platinum selling singer... Read more

TDE Has Made The Funniest Concert Promo Video Of All-Time

Top Dawg Entertainment is taking its whole show on the road the 2018 Championship Tour. In January, TDE announced cross-country US dates for May and June. At the time, Kendrick Lamar had not yet won a historic Pulitzer Prize for Musical Composition (the first ever going to an artist outside... Read more

50 Years Ago Today, James Brown Healed Hearts With Soul Power (Video)

There may have never been a Hip-Hop Generation if not for James Brown. His music serves as a blueprint for Funk as well as the building blocks of Hip-Hop. Beyond music, Brown proved that the Black community in America is not monolithic in its political affiliation. The timeline of Brown’s... Read more

Donald Glover’s Deadpool Script Takes Down Racism, Police Violence, Gossip & More

Donald Glover co-created the most-watched comedy on FX during its 23 years as a network. In addition to Atlanta, which is currently in the midst of broadcasting its second season, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Glover (and his TV partner/brother Stephen) were working on an animated Deadpool series for the... Read more

Q-Tip To Portray Miles Davis In A Play Written By Nelson George

Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest are often credited with bringing the genres of Hip-Hop and Jazz closer together through sampling, collaboration, and emphasizing different sounds in the music. Q-Tip will now portray one of the most iconic Jazz figures of all-time. The veteran MC, producer, DJ, and actor will... Read more

Erick Sermon Reveals The Real Reason Craig Mack Did Not Join The Bad Boy Reunion Tour

On March 12, MC Craig Mack died at the age of 47 (earlier reports listed his age as 46). The Bronx-born, Long Island-raised artist who used his real name on records deceased from what coroner's declared as natural causes at his home in Walterboro, South Carolina. Other sources close to... Read more

Common & Questlove Share Stories About Bargaining For Beats From J Dilla & D’Angelo

On January 25, Common was the guest for the first live audience recording of Questlove Supreme. At Manhattan's Gramercy Theater, Questlove, Laiya, Suga Steve, and Boss Bill interviewed Common for nearly two hours. Ambrosia For Heads was front and center for the event. Today (February 21), that interview is available... Read more

Common, Brandy, Robert Glasper & Karriem Riggins’ Video Breathes Hope Into Hard Times

Hip-Hop Heads learned about Common’s newest venture, a genre-defying collaboration with pianist/producer Robert Glasper and drummer/producer Karriem Riggins as the group, August Greene. The news came late last month with the drop of their single, "Optimistic" featuring Brandy. The record covers the Twin Cities’ R&B/Gospel group Sounds Of Blackness’ 1991 original... Read more

Jermaine Dupri Will Be The 2nd Hip-Hop Artist Inducted Into Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Last February, JAY-Z was announced as the first Hip-Hop artist headed to the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. In mid-June, when the New York City ceremony took place, former President Barack Obama was among those who affirmed and celebrated Jay's lyrical contributions to music. The major moment was followed by peer... Read more

15 Years Ago, 50 Cent Plotted A Pathway From Underdog To Superstar

Fifteen years ago today (February 6, 2003), Queens, New York's 50 Cent took the world by storm with his debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. When Curtis Jackson burst onto the mainstream scene with a survivalist story, vendetta vocals, and Eminem and Dr. Dre in his corner, the industry... Read more

Common, Brandy & Robert Glasper Re-Make Sounds Of Blackness’ Optimistic & It Soars (Audio)

Common is taking his inherently collaborative spirit onto its next journey. The Chicago MC, along with pianist/producer Robert Glasper and drummer/producer Karriem Riggins have formed a new group, August Greene. Wasting no time, the group announced that they will drop their first, self-titled album on March 9, via Amazon. The... Read more

Cam’ron Accuses Ma$e Of Lying & Doubles Down On His Disses (Video)

On Monday (November 27), Ma$e called into Ebro In The Morning to state his side of the latest chapter of beef with Cam'ron. The multi-platinum veteran accused his former Children Of The Corn band-mate of being "a bully," and compromising his income and his family's happiness by creating an allegedly... Read more

All Eyez On The Score: A Breakdown Of The Beef Between Tupac & The Fugees (Video)

On February 13, 1996, two of the biggest, and best-selling Hip-Hop albums of all time were released. That Tuesday, Tupac Shakur made his Death Row Records debut with double LP All Eyez On Me. The Fugees followed a tepid response to 1994's Blunted On Reality with a critical and commercial... 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

In 1992, Kool G Rap Teamed Up With Ice Cube & The Geto Boys On A Lethal Collabo (Audio)

One week after Ice Cube released The Predator, and three ahead of Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo released their third LP, Live And Let Die. Following 1990's Wanted: Dead Or Alive, the Juice Crew MC still had a grim, survivalist's outlook and a penchant for... Read more

Lyor Cohen Explains How Redman Led Def Jam’s Comeback (Video)

During the 1980s Def Jam Records reigned supreme. The label, which burgeoned in co-founder Rick Rubin's New York University dorm room, issued several classic albums from legendary artists. These include LL Cool J's Radio, Slick Rick's The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, Rock & Rock Hall of Fame inductees Beastie Boys and... Read more

Justin Timberlake Will Perform At The Super Bowl In The Worst Year He Could Have Chosen

On February 1, 2004, Justin Timberlake was part of arguably the most memorable, and certainly the most controversial Super Bowl halftime concert. In the middle of the halves of battle between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, the fledgling solo star (two years removed from NSYNC) shared the stage... Read more

Kid From Kid ‘N Play Apologizes For Mocking Colin Kaepernick In Costume

Earlier this month, MC and actor Christopher "Kid" Reid of veteran duo Kid 'N Play was featured on sports-talk show Speak For Yourself. However, many viewers did not realize it was the House Party co-star. Instead, appearing in an afro wig, a #7 San Francisco 49ers jersey, and a raised... Read more

JAY-Z Reveals He And Prodigy Made Peace Before His Death (Video)

While the JAY-Z vs. Nas battle of the early 2000s may be the one that gets the most ink in the history books, Hov's beef with late Mobb Deep MC Prodigy is one of legend too. From Summer Jam photo reveals to disses on both sides, these two artists had... Read more

Slaine & Termanology Band Up & Break Loose On Statik Selektah Production (Video)

Massachusetts' Termanology and Slaine team up to craft a project infused with diverse lyrics and perspectives that would mesh both of the fan bases into one. Once self-proclaimed rivals, Slaine and Term' began to work with each other over four yeas ago and decided to turn their friendly competition into... Read more

DJ Premier Says It’s Still Possible He Will Release The Final Gang Starr Album (Video)

In one of the busiest seasons in his career, DJ Premier appeared before a studio audience to discuss more than 30 years of music. Earlier this month, the member of Gang Starr, PRhyme, and The Badder Band sat with Genius' Rob Markman (and Letty Martinez) to discuss his truly marvelous... Read more

Dave Chappelle Has A Serious Conversation About Living A Happy Life (Video)

Dave Chappelle recently took over HOT 97's Ebro In The Morning show. For nearly one hour, the comedy superstar fielded questions from the show staff in what turned into an incredibly revealing conversation. During the course of the discussion, Dave announced two additional dates to August's Radio City Music Hall... Read more