AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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

4-IZE Is Dropping Daily Freestyles Better Than Most MCs Have Rapped In Years

Going on 20 years ago, more than 3 million people purchased an album with 4-IZE on it. He joined UGK, Foxy Brown, and Shawnna as a guest on Ludacris' triple-platinum debut, Back For The First Time. Following the path of his early 1990s Loudmouth Hooligans band-mate Luda', 4-IZE had relocated... Read more

Erick Sermon, Raekwon & N.O.R.E. Remind MCs They Fathered Their Styles (Audio)

After nearly 18 months of anticipation, Erick Sermon is releasing his eighth solo album later this week. On April 19, The Green-Eyed Bandit will drop Vernia, named after the legendary Brentwood, Long Island MC/producer's late grandmother. Following February's "That Girl," featuring Big K.R.I.T., Erick is unleashing a new single. This... Read more

Fashawn Freestyles A Powerful Message To Young MCs Who Are Acting Reckless

Fresno, California's Fashawn is currently on tour with his Mass Appeal Records label-mates. Approaching the tenth anniversary for his and Exile's stellar Boy Meets World debut, the MC delivers a clean and lyrically exploratory freestyle. Fresh off of his latest Nas collaboration (this month's "Apostles"), Fashawn hits Power 106's L.A. Leakers... Read more

AZ Releases A Mixtape Of Freestyles & Guest Appearances To Remind His Legacy Is Strong

It may seem like the nearly decade-long wait for AZ's Doe Or Die 2 has lasted forever. However, the East New York MC has been putting out some appetizers to hold fans over for the main course, and he has done so on a consistent basis. Earlier this month, Ambrosia... Read more

There Were Some Incredible Freestyles In 2018. Here Are The Year’s Best (Video)

For all the chatter about Mumble Rap taking over, there have been a number of MCs who put on incredible lyrical displays in 2018. Artists like Royce 5'9, Styles P, Pusha-T, Evidence, Benny The Butcher, Jay Rock, Logic and J. Cole released projects packed with punchlines and substantive verses, and... Read more

Meek Mill Freestyles Over Drake’s Diss Track To Show He’s Truly Back

Last Friday (November 30), Meek Mill released Championships. The Maybach Music Group star symbolically hoisted a trophy over his head in the form of a stellar album with appearances by JAY-Z, Rick Ross, and Drake. The moment represented Meek's newfound freedom from prison, a return to Rap form, and a... Read more

Torae Freestyles His Responses In His Sway Interview. THIS Is A True MC (Video)

This morning (October 11), Brooklyn, New York MC Torae released his latest project, All Praises Due. Dropping on his Internal Affairs Ent., the rapper, radio host, podcaster, and actor teams with producer Praise for an eight-track effort that offers a pure Hip-Hop display. This week, the Barrel Brothers co-founder stopped... Read more

Lute’s 2 New Freestyles Show J. Cole’s Ear For Talent Is Impeccable (Audio)

Lute made a strong impression with his debut album, West 1996 Pt. 2. The LP was released one year ago under J. Cole's Dreamville Records. Back in 2015 while scouting talent in North Carolina, Cole stumbled across Charlotte's Lute via YouTube. At the time, the MC was still employed at... Read more

Logic Freestyles Over Method Man’s Beat & Brings Even More Pain (Video)

These days, Logic may be known for his chart-topping projects and Grammy nominations, but it was his come-up in the mixtape scene that got the Maryland MC/producer to this plateau. With a dynamic flow that can be rapid fire one moment and subdued the next, his manic personality has always... Read more

Brockhampton Is Making Major Moves. They Blend Old Styles With New Methods (Video)

Lately, Brockhampton has been defying their conventional methods of releasing music. As opposed to collecting up their songs and releasing them at once, the versatile Los Angeles, California-based Hip-Hop collective is tuning up to release their new album, The Best Years Of Our Lives, but have been leaking a bunch... Read more

Havoc Releases 2 Mobb Deep Freestyles To Celebrate Prodigy 1 Year After His Passing (Audio)

One year ago today Prodigy unexpectedly passed away Hip-Hop has not been the same. It's all been helpful for those who were truly touched by his spirit and life's work. What's also great to help cope is anytime new music surfaces from the Mobb camp, and that's what happened Wednesday... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Freestyles Raw, Uncut & With A Chip On His Legendary Shoulders (Video)

This Wednesday (June 20), Big Daddy Kane is performing a free concert in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. The living legend of the microphone is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Long Live The Kane. In an era when records are shorter and appear to be more... Read more

RZA Wrecks A Party. He Freestyles Into Headphones & Scratches (Video)

In the last year, Wu-Tang Clan released an album whereby RZA handed the production reigns to DJ Mathematics. The Abbott executive produced, but the longtime leader of the Wu appears focused on his Hollywood career more than plugging out beats on the ASR-10 in his studios. However, do not get... Read more

Can You Hear Me Now? Lil Yachty Freestyles With Clear Intent (Video)

Lil Yachty has become one of the most recognized rappers under the legal drinking age. He has endorsement deals, a video approaching 120 million plays, a Top 5 charting album, a Grammy nomination, and platinum singles alongside D.R.A.M. and Kyle. The Quality Control/Capitol Records artist is not without his critics.... Read more

When Loaded Lux Freestyles, You Gon’ Get That Work! (Video)

While in the last few years he has begun to lay his rhymes to wax, Loaded Lux was forged in the art of freestyling and battle rap. After an unforgettable stint in the 2000s where he won 7 consecutive weeks on 106 & Park's "Freestyle Friday," Lux went on to... Read more

Fred The Godson Delivers One Of The Year’s Best Freestyles & Makes It Look Easy (Video)

Late last month, The Bronx, New York Rap veteran Fred The Godson released his Gordo album. Fat with features, the nickname-eponymous LP includes Joell Ortiz, Dave East, and Vado, among others. Part of what put Fred on the map is his voracious freestyle skills. Appearing alongside Funkmaster Flex (a longtime purveyor... Read more

King Los Has Made A Record That’s As Strong As His Best Freestyles (Audio)

King Los holds the mic as his scepter. On his new track "Without Me," the Baltimore, Maryland MC and onetime RCA Records artist outlines the importance of his presence in the Hip-Hop world. The veteran suggests that Rap music isn't nearly as colorful, clever, or exciting if his mic isn't... Read more

One Of Sean Price’s Last Ever Freestyles Was Powered By The Sounds Of Bogota (Video)

Over the years, DJ and producer Mr. Green has released a series of videos titled "Live From The Streets." The visuals feature Mr. Green traveling to various locations around the world, where he records sounds from the streets which he then uses to create beats. In past episodes, Green has... Read more

Lloyd Banks Rips Today’s Funny Dressing MCs In 1 Of The Year’s Best Freestyles (Video)

There’s something about the rolling bass, accented piano stabs and knockin’ boom bap drums of the beat for Nas' classic “N.Y. State of Mind” that brings out the best in MCs. In rare form, fellow Queens, New York representative Lloyd Banks stopped by HOT 97 to kick it with Funkmaster... Read more

Rob Markman Says He’s Better Than MCs He’s Interviewed & Freestyles To Prove It (Video)

Rob Markman and "freestyle" typically only appear in the same sentence when the veteran journalist is writing about a hot verse dropped by an established rapper. A longtime presence in Hip-Hop journalism, Markman is currently Head of Artist Relations at Genius, but he has many years of work putting pen... Read more

One MC Seamlessly Flips 27 Different Rap Styles In 8 Minutes (Video)

Mac Lethal makes the art of rapping seem quite fun. A onetime Rhymesayers member, the Kansas City, Missouri lyricist has worked with Tech N9ne, Chamillionaire, Cunninlynguists and others throughout a career that's nearly 20 years deep. Quite often, Mac finds the humor and challenge in Rap, without compromising his supreme... Read more

Murs Freestyles About America’s 1st Illegal Immigrants & They Weren’t Mexican (Video)

Los Angeles, California's Murs is one of the most respected voices in Hip-Hop, partly because of his penchant for truthseeking and social commentary. In March, he released his tenth solo LP, Captain California, which addresses topics like mental health in the Black community (on "God Bless Kanye West") and gentrification... Read more

Kxng Crooked Freestyles On Jeru The Damaja’s “Come Clean” And Does It Dirty (Video)

Kxng Crooked is a monster. There's no other way to say it. For more than 20 years, the MC formerly known as Crooked I has done things that are absolutely grisly to microphones. Whether as a Death Row records artist who never had the opportunity to release a project or... Read more

Wyclef Jean Freestyles While Playing Guitar In One Of The Illest 5 Fingers Of Death EVER (Video)

By all accounts, Wyclef Jean is one of the most unique voices in Hip-Hop. The Haitian-born, Brooklyn-raised MC, singer, musician, and songwriter helped elevate the influence of Caribbean music in American culture, and his multilingual heritage has always been a hallmark of his work. With all of that diversity, it's... Read more

Cassidy’s Initials Are B.A.R.S. & He Freestyles Into 2017 With Some Of His Best (Video)

Philly veteran MC Cassidy has been unusually quiet lately. Save for a Team Backpack Cypher alongside Ghostface Killah and Twista, the onetime Ruff Ryders member crept slow through 2016. That appears not to be the case for 2017. In the closing hours of the last year, the Brotherly Love lyricist... Read more

The 20 Best Freestyles Of 2016. Thought You KNEW (Video)

In Hip-Hop, there are few things more exciting than when an MC delivers a vicious verse that's never been heard before, on the spot. It is the equivalent 0f a monster dunk in an NBA game, a one-punch knockout in a fight or an end zone to end zone run in... Read more

Ab-Soul Freestyles & Breaks Down His Exceptional BARS For Ras Kass (Video)

Today (December 9), Ab-Soul released Do What Thou Wilt, his first solo album in two years. He stopped by Sway in the Morning to discuss the new LP, and the interview included a very special guest in the form of Ras Kass, who called in to hear a Soulo record... Read more

La Coka Nostra’s Slaine & Ill Bill Deal Dope Freestyles Right On “Ill Street” (Video)

Just over one month ago, super-group La Coka Nostra released their third album, To Thine Own Self Be True. The crew's feature MCs Slaine and Ill Bill stopped by Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio Show in the last week. Over Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's "Ill Street Blues" instrumental, the... Read more

Mickey Factz Readies His Nottz Collabo LP With 15 Styles In 15 Minutes (Audio)

Mickey Factz has a decorated music career to date. The New York MC has been featured as a XXL "Freshman" in the 2009 yearbook, in addition to making widely circulated songs with Drake, Yelawolf, and Kendrick Lamar, among others. Fresh off of the Nottz-produced video single "414 Words," Factz lays... Read more

Stro Runs Through 7 Minutes Of Classic Beats In 1 Of The Year’s Best Freestyles (Video)

Stro (f/k/a The Astronomical Kid) has had a quieter 2016 than other years. However, the Brooklyn, New Yorker is just ramping up, and showing that his skills have refined. Appearing on the most recent episode of Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio show, Stro asks if he can go off the top... Read more

Consequence Freestyles With Punchlines Like They’re Inconsequential (Video)

This past weekend (July 30), A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes & Life turned 20 years old. In addition to what that platinum #1 Jive Records LP meant for Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed, it was paramount to some fresh faces—including J Dilla (as The Ummah's Jay Dee) as... Read more

Stakes Is High: An MC Freestyles While Dangling 100s Of Feet In The Air From A Crane (Video)

It is a safe bet to assume that most of the Hip-Hop world is not presently familiar with James Lanning. However, this Brooklyn, New York-based MC does something that few—if any—of his peers can, he raps while hanging on for dear life. As many rappers metaphorically may do this, Lanning... Read more

Big K.R.I.T. Rocks The Spot & The Clock… With 12 Freestyles In 12 Hours (Audio)

Big K.R.I.T. is a product of the online era of Hip-Hop. The Meridian, Mississippi MC/producer has become a stalwart of the culture, and has built a career without reliance on mediums like radio and television. Instead, Krizzle gave away his music for free over the worldwide web, and never lost... Read more

The Sky Is The Limit For A-F-R-O As He Freestyles His Way To Fallon (Video)

A-F-R-O (All Flows Reach Out) may appear to be a purebred Underground Hip-Hop MC. The California native has surrounded himself with veterans like R.A. The Rugged Man and GZA—artists who always favored appeasing cult followings over pandering for mainstream attention. However, even before his acclaimed Tales From The Basement mixtape or... Read more

Jakk Frost Has 1 Of The Year’s Best Freestyles. This Is How It Should Be Done (Video)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania veteran MC Jakk Frost has worked extensively with guys like DJ Premier, Freeway, Sean Price, and Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz. While Frost has showered the mixtape game for more than a dozen years, the Beard Gang bully has not released a studio LP. For more than two... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Freestyles a Potent Call for Revolution (Video)

Less than a month after annihilating the infamous "5 Fingers of Death" freestyle exercise while visiting "Sway in the Morning," Brooklyn, New York's Joey Bada$$ has destroyed yet another early-morning radio show. This time around, he's in Los Angeles where he brought his distinctly East Coast sensibilities to the mic for... Read more

Elzhi Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head To A J Dilla Donut (Video)

With his sophomore studio album Lead Poison now released, Elzhi is the latest guest on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays radio show. There, the Detroit, Michigan MC veteran was not immune to the hot seat. He tackles two beats. Fans of Motown music will particularly enjoy El' buckling down on Dilla's... Read more

Token Gets His Big Shot & Freestyles Like His Life Depends On It (Video)

On Friday (April 1), Salem, Massachusetts' Token was a guest on the Sway In The Morning Show. There was no fooling when the 17 year-old MC introduced himself with a few words about his 12 years of rhyming. At the 7:00 mark, the MC stands up and quite literally, delivers:... Read more

Wyclef Jean Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head…In 5 Different Languages (Video)

As one third of The Fugees, Wyclef Jean is one of the most successful artists in Hip-Hop. In his solo career and with the group, Jean has sold tens of millions of albums and garnered numerous Grammy Awards. He is also among Hip-Hop's elite in talent, with his ability to... Read more

The Star Of Hamilton Freestyles For President Obama At The White House (Video)

From day 1, it has been clear that Barack Obama was the nation's first Hip-Hop President. That status had nothing to do with his biracial ancestry. Instead, it was the product of his coming of age at the same time that the most influential cultural force of the last 40... Read more

Wayne Brady Freestyles With Action Bronson & Steals The Show (Video)

This week, Action Bronson made an appearance at Shade 45 on a show hosted by Whoo Kid and DJ'd by Alchemist. Joined by Meyhem Lauren, Bronson was there to promote his VICE cooking web series. While there in the Shade 45 "fish bowl," Bronson spotted none other than the multi-faceted... Read more

It’s A Bad Boy/Junior M.A.F.I.A. Reunion on “Auction” With Puff, Kim, Styles & Los (Video)

With the shiny jackets, posse camera shots, and braggadocious lyrics, the Bad Boy family certainly left its imprint on the Rap video canon, and the Jiggy Era for many Heads will always symbolize a heyday of mainstream New York City Hip-Hop. A key player in that movement was, of course,... Read more

CyHi The Prynce Freestyles On Kanye’s “Real Friends” & Explains Why Ghostwriting Is Necessary (Video)

CyHi The Prynce is the latest to participate in Montreality's interview series where artists are asked everything from what their first jobs were to what their favorite cartoon characters are. The questions often catch participants off guard and lead to more revealing moments than usual. CyHi's installment yields several gold... Read more

In Y2K, DMX Freestyles Went Down Like Mike Tyson Victims. Here’s One. (Audio)

The barks, the growls, the yelling...DMX brought a totally different kind of anger to Rap music than peers like ONYX, M.O.P., or Tupac Shakur. The Ruff Ryders flagship MC was "rage in the cage," when he stepped in many studio booths. Tim Westwood was one DJ/Hip-Hop personality on the map... Read more

Ever Hear When Ghostface Killah, Jeru The Damaja & Cappadonna Blazed Freestyles Together? (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan and Gang Starr Foundation appeared to run in different circles in the late 1990s. While RZA and DJ Premier reportedly go back to the Prince Rakeem days, Gang Starr only worked with Inspectah Deck by Y2K (care of "Above The Clouds"). That does not mean, however, that two... Read more

The Best Freestyles of 2015 Left Heads Spinning and Microphones Smoking (Video)

In Hip-Hop, there are few things more exciting than watching an MC get on the mic and spit a freestyle. The definition of the word "freestyle" has been fluid over the years. Originally, the term was used to denote any rhyme, written or off the top, that was not about... Read more

Pusha T Calls Out The Fake Lifestyles Of Other Rappers on “M.F.T.R. (More Famous Than Rich)” (Audio)

For more than 15 years, Pusha T has drawn the parallels from the street hustle and the music hustle, and how each equates to status. Approaching his sophomore solo album, Darkest Before Dawn (December 18), the G.O.O.D. Music President has another comparison he wants to make: fame versus wealth. "M.F.T.R.... Read more

Your Old Droog Is A Throwback. It’s Only Right He Freestyles On Camcorder. (Video)

Your Old Droog is a brilliant time machine back to a place in Hip-Hop and New York City associated with the 1990s. The Brooklyn, New Yorker uses a slang, conjures images, and favors beats that very much align with a mid-1990s movement heard in Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Gang Starr... Read more

Relive The Game-Changing Moments & Freestyles Of Stretch & Bobbito’s Show (Audio)

Yesterday (October 25) marked an even 25 years since DJ Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito The Barber first took airwaves together. Beginning on that date in 1990, their Columbia University WKCR radio show would eventually change the sound and faces of Hip-Hop, thanks to major introductions of talent–including Nas, Big L... Read more