AFH Ambrosia for Heads

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

KXNG Crooked Has Left Slaughterhouse. Here’s Why (Video)

For the last decade, Slaughterhouse helped set a trend of MCs raising their profiles through forming a super-group. The cross-country collective of Royce 5'9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and KXNG Crooked (fka Crooked I) released two albums, an EP, and two mixtapes between 2009 and 2014. Slaughterhouse's future appears to... Read more

J. Cole Gives A Verbal Beat Down With A Lesson. But Who Is The Target? (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH 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 go back... Read more

J. Cole Cashes In With One Of The Most Creative Videos Of The Year

Historically, April 20 is an unofficial holiday celebration for mental relaxation and controlled substances. J. Cole's just-released 4/20 album frames that conversation differently. Songs address deadly recreational drug use, such as pill-popping, without any glorification. Instead, on the LP reported to partly mean Kidz On Drugz and King Overdose (in... Read more

J. Cole Has Just Released His New Album. Listen To All Of KOD (Audio)

Mere moments ago, the five time Grammy award nominated-J. Cole dropped K.O.D., his fifth full-length album. Once again approaching his project roll-out in perplexing and unpredictable fashion, Cole shook the Hip-Hop community with an abrupt announcement just four days prior to K.O.D.’s unveiling. With 16 months between his last release (4 Your Eyez Only) and... Read more

J. Cole Is Dropping His Fifth Album Later This Week

J. Cole is one of Hip-Hop's biggest stars. He is also one of the genre's most unpredictable figures. Less than a year and a half after releasing #1 LP 4 Your Eyez Only, the Dreamville founder and Roc Nation artist has announced his fifth album—and it will release this week.... Read more

Drake Flips A Lauryn Hill Classic For A Hot New Song With That X Factor (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH 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 go back... 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. Parents who would like to secure their kids’ future should learn when to open a child’s ISA... 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

Quadir Lateef & Statik Selektah’s EP Aims To Get An Ugly Reaction (Audio)

Ruff Ryders MC Quadir Lateef has been hovering on the fringes of notoriety for years. This imposing wordsmith has caught the attention of everybody from DJ Green Lantern to Chuck D to Russell Simmons over the years. While he started as a Spoken Word poet, this artist has developed into... Read more

Turntablist & Producer DJ Devastate Has Passed Away At The Age Of 35

DJ Devastate, a turntablist and producer known for working with several well-known Hip-Hop MCs and DJs, has passed away at the age of 35, per his friend and musical collaborator Matt Diamond. Born Per Ronge, Devastate, passed a day after he returned home to his native Sweeden from a DJ... 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

Big Daddy Kane Rips A Freestyle At His Tiny Desk Concert (Video)

This June will mark 30 years since the release of Big Daddy Kane's solo debut album, Long Live the Kane. It's an apt title for an MC whose entire solo career is based on a discography that paused with 1998's Veteranz Day but who has never faded from prominence. Despite his not... Read more

Black Milk’s “True Lies” Tackles Systemic Blindness (Audio)

Black Milk has built a career as a producer/MC creating music marked by an adventurous mix of musical styles and subtle social critique. His latest single "True Lies" from his forthcoming FEVER (February 23) continues this path while moving his work forward in new directions. The former Slum Village sound... Read more

KXNG Crooked, Tech N9ne, Rittz & Chino XL Go Berserk On A Killer Collabo (Audio)

Nearly 20 years ago, Sway & King Tech released their major label debut compilation album, This Or That. With DJ Revolution behind the Technics 1200s, the album, which nearly broke the Top 100, was a crucial launch-pad in the careers of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Planet Asia, and a Long Beach... Read more

Scarface Rates The D.O.C.’s Rhymes Higher Than His Own (Video)

In the "Rate The Bars" series, guests on the video program are challenged when they are provided excerpts of verses from peers who often happen to be homies, band-mates, or nemeses. It is a test of objectivity set against the craft of MC'ing. This has led to some memorable appearances,... Read more

PRhyme 2 Is Coming Soon & The First Single Signals A New Era (Audio)

In late 2014, DJ Premier and Royce 5'9 released PRhyme, an album that challenged all others that year as one of the best. Preemo launched his first group since Gang Starr, and Nickel Nine extended his exceptional collaborative stride that began with Slaughterhouse and Bad Meets Evil. The tandem used... Read more

Action Bronson To Star Alongside Pacino, De Niro & Pesci In Upcoming Scorsese Film

Queens, New York's Action Bronson is definitely no stranger to the camera. In fact, some could argue that the onetime underground MC gained mainstream recognition as an entertainer, crafting a double life as a lyricist by day and charismatic celebrity icon by night. Bam Bam is currently the star of... Read more

Redman Rates The Bars & He’s Not Afraid To Hand Out Zeros (Video)

Last week, T.I. rated the bars. The Grand Hustle Records founder put some of his artists and close affiliates ahead of Tupac Shakur, leading to some interesting discourse from fans. This week, it is Redman who sits in the director chair and rates the MCs' bars handed to him on... Read more

Tech N9ne Seamlessly Merges Rap With Breaking To Recreate ’80s Electro-Funk (Video)

Dropping his first music video off of his upcoming solo album, Planet (March 2), Tech N9ne's "Don't Nobody Want None" has him paying homage to that early '80s era when break-dancing and DJing were at the forefront of Hip-Hop. Not only is he going back to Hip-Hop's foundation, but he's... Read more

Big Daddy Kane Details The Rich History Of How The Juice Crew Started (Video)

Big Daddy Kane is the latest guest on Drink Champs. The Brooklyn, New York lyrical legend is in a casual mood, often joking during the three-hour episode. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview the Juice Crew MC about a number of highlights from his life and career. There are probing questions... Read more

Black Milk Has A New Album Coming. The New Single Is No Joke (Video)

UPDATE: Black Milk has released the video to "Laugh Now, Cry Later." The visual plays on the social media concept of the song. The producer/MC also makes an appearance in the video he directed: JANUARY 17 STORY: In 2014, Detroit's Black Milk released If There's A Hell Below, arguably his... Read more

T.I. Rates The Bars. He Gives Iggy Azalea More Love Than Tupac (Video)

"Rate The Bars" is a fun series that can test a rapper's objectivity. MCs are often handed lyrics by artists in their crews, from their same cities, or even rivals and past enemies. Raekwon, Royce 5'9 and Rah Digga have all had potent things to say about excerpts that are... Read more

Your Old Droog & Conway Kick Rhymes That Are Hard Like Cement (Audio)

Brooklyn, New York's Your Old Droog has in the past labeled a lot of his songs as "Outsider Music," not Hip-Hop or Rap. However, his latest single, featuring Conway the Machine, is an exception: he has categorized “Cement 4's” as Metal. Music of this kind is often called “gritty" or... Read more

Joe Budden Says Eminem Did Not Diss Him & There Is No Beef (Video)

This week, a series of events have signaled one of 2018's first Rap conflicts. Eminem's "Chloraseptic (Remix)" verse was very clearly aimed at those who seem to be criticizing his latest direction and Revival album. Hours later, one of Em's former D12 band-mates, and onetime Shady Records artists, Bizarre, said... Read more

D12’s Bizarre Says Eminem Sent Shots At Joe Budden On His New Song (Video)

Yesterday (January 8) Eminem released the "Chloraseptic (Remix)." In a grabbing new verse alongside bars from 2 Chainz and Phresher, Marshall Mathers confronts critics, haters, and naysayers of his artistic direction, especially 2017 album, Revival. According to at least one Shady Records artist (and somebody with more than 20 years... Read more

DJ Premier Says He & Pete Rock May Be Exclusively Producing De La Soul’s Next Album (Video)

DJ Premier has had one of his busiest years in recent memory. The Gang Starr member released and produced albums by MC Eiht and Torii Wolf. He just followed those efforts with a video collaboration with A$AP Ferg, helping relaunch '90s Hip-Hop source Payday Records. Preemo is the latest guest... Read more

Kxng Crooked’s New Album Artwork Is Provocative & So Is His Latest Lyricism (Audio)

Spinning off the current political scene this year has been a wave of politically-charged Hip-Hop. Eminem’s BET cypher verse (now known as "The Storm") may have commanded the most attention. But 2017 also saw highly respected, veteran MCs such as Ras Kass, Scarface, Snoop Dogg and others putting out music... Read more

B-Real & Everlast Reunite On A New Song To Show They Can Still Shake ‘Em Up (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH 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 go back and listen... Read more

Eminem Details The Making Of His Raging Freestyle Storm Against Donald Trump

One of the most memorable televised Rap performances of the last 20 years came courtesy of Eminem and Elton John. Although Dido famously sang on "Stan" (it was her would-be hit "Thank You" that producer 45 King sampled), the diamond-certified John stepped in during 2001's Grammy Awards. Besides the great... Read more

U-God & DJ Green Lantern Release Full Bring Back God II Mixtape (Audio)

UPDATE: U-God and DJ Green Lantern have released Bring Back God II, available for full stream and free download. Additionally, the Wu-Tang Clan MC revealed his fifth solo album, Venom, will release March 6 through Babygrande Records.  Additionally, the Wu-Tang Clan member has announced a series of concerts for... Read more

Why Kendrick Lamar & JAY-Z May Destroy Each Others Chances At Winning Album Of The Year

With the 60th Grammy Award nominations being announced this week, and just a little under two months away from crowning the respective victors, the collective post-nomination conversation from those within the music industry and fans alike, has been incredibly rich in both impression and speculation. For the very first time... Read more

Why Eminem Is His Own Toughest Critic (Video)

After great anticipation, Eminem began his Revival yesterday (November 10). "Walk On Water" is a single with a fitting title. Until the song released, no one knew that Beyoncé would be on the track, or that its production would be unlike anything Marshall Mathers ever rocked from Dr. Dre, the... Read more

ScHoolboy Q Takes The Classic Symphony Beat & Makes It A Gangsta Party (Audio)

ScHoolboy Q is putting the finishing touches on his follow-up to the Grammy-nominated The Blank Face LP. In the meantime, Groovy Q makes a welcomed appearance care of longtime collaborator, Traffic. After the pair worked together on 2016 video single "Tookie Knows II," Q is featured on the just-released All... Read more

An Argument For Why Ghostwriting Is Good Starting With Exhibit D-R-E (Video)

The biggest MCs in Hip-Hop are talking about ghostwriting more than ever right now. Sixteen years after Puff Daddy proudly proclaimed, "Don't ask me if I write rhymes, I write checks," authorship in Rap verses is not something that anybody takes lightly. Since Meek Mill outed Drake's involvement of emerging... Read more

Meet Eminem’s Newest Signee In The Rawest BET Cypher Of 2017 (Video)

Last night (October 10) Eminem's BET Hip Hop Awards cypher shook the universe, in what stands to be the MC's most political moment in a career that's never shied away from dissing public figures of all kinds. The previous time Marshall Mathers blessed the BET cypher stage, he brought his... Read more

Eminem Destroys Donald Trump For 5 Minutes In A Devastating BET Cypher (Video)

Beginning in 2009, the MC cypher has taken center stage at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Exciting groupings of rappers, often tied by region and label affiliation or simply raw talent, freestyle on one of the mainstream Rap world's biggest platforms. Eminem is a cornerstone of the Hip Hop Awards... Read more

Rapsody Says Forget Best Female MC. She Wants The Top Spot (BET Hip Hop Cypher)

Cypher Season is upon us, as the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards is ahead. With one of the most lauded and overall talked about albums of the moment in Laila's Wisdom, Rapsody sets off a grouping of MCs who happen to be women—and DJ Premier resumes his post as cypher... Read more

A Video Traces The “Migos’ Flow” Back To Public Enemy, Bone Thugs & Biggie

Back in 2014, Snoop Dogg criticized what he said was the conformity of rappers in the contemporary scene. “Everybody’s trying to rap the same style, I don’t know who created it—if it was Future or Migos, but they all sound the same,” he said. Snoop then mocked the broken-up patter... Read more

Lloyd Banks Assists As Conway Campaigns To Prove That He’s The Grimiest, Ever (Audio)

That highly distinctive deep-atmosphere, kept so twitchy and tense, that defines the Griselda Records sound is on full display in “Bullet Club” – the first single taken from Conway The Machine’s upcoming G.O.A.T.  The track sees him paired up with G-Unit MC Lloyd Banks and fellow Griselda affiliate Benny. DOOM &... Read more

Vic Mensa’s Explosive Freestyle May Be Banned From TV Like Kaepernick (Video)

Vic Mensa is a gifted rarity. The Save Money star makes compelling, highly personal albums. That's evident in July's The Autobiography, Mensa's Roc Nation full-length debut. However, so many MCs who are conceptual and vulnerable on wax can be a bit restrained in the freestyle. That's never been the case... Read more

Large Professor & Craig G Put Hip-Hop On A Pedestal & Celebrate H.E.R. (Audio)

Belgian DJ and producer Koss has been linking with some of the most defiant MCs in the game for many years now. With inspiration from Soul, Funk, Jazz, and Psychedelic Rock from the 1960s and the '70s, he intertwines these musical genres with the infectious boom bap of Hip-Hop from... Read more

Trae Tha Truth Rescues Hurricane Harvey Evacuees By Boat (Video)

UPDATE: Trae Tha Truth has now launched a crowd-funding site for Hurricane Harvey victims. ORIGINAL AUGUST 29 STORY: Since the mid-2000s, Trae Tha Truth has become a figurehead of Houston's Hip-Hop scene. At a time of dire need, the Hustle Gang member (and label VP) has stepped up in a... Read more

DJ Premier & His Band Rock Funky Beats From Nas To Gang Starr To KRS (Video)

As Hip-Hop celebrates its 44th birthday this month, NPR "Tiny Desk" concert honors the DJ in a way that Heads can appreciate. DJ Premier is the first mix-master on the popular video series, but he did arrive alone. This summer, DJ Premier & The Badder Band toured the United States... Read more

Page Kennedy U-Turns & Dumps Fire With 11 Mixtape Tracks Of Straight Bars (Audio)

Earlier this year, Detroit, Michigan MC Page Kennedy released a strong debut album in Torn Pages. This 20-year rhyme veteran has made a living from acting, with such roles as "U-Turn" in Weeds, "Radon Randell" in Mountain State, and a film spot in S.W.A.T. In all of that time, his... Read more

Def Jam Records May Soon Be The Gold Standard For Rap Once Again (Video)

This week, it was announced that Eminem's manager and Shady Records partner Paul Rosenberg will be Def Jam's next CEO. Twenty years ago, the Detroit-based attorney started handling the career of Marshall Mathers when the rapper was self-marketing Infinite. One hundred million units sold later (through Shady Records), and Paul... Read more

Eminem’s Manager Paul Rosenberg To Be Def Jam’s New Leader

From the very beginning of Eminem's late 1990s meteoric rise, Paul Rosenberg became more than a manager. Even for those disinterested in industry figures, "Paul" is widely known through his skits on every Em' album dating back to 1999's The Slim Shady LP of that name. Variety reports that Rosenberg... Read more

The Roots Release A Song To Humanize The Pain, Confusion & Sadness Many Feel (Audio)

Six years ago, Bilal appeared on The Roots' 10th album, undun. That Philadelphia chemistry was also not done. In the time since 2011, Bilal has heavily contributed to important Hip-Hop albums from Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Common. Now, he re-crosses paths with The Roots for a precise take on... Read more

3D Na’Tee Might Have Outrapped JAY-Z On His Own Song & She Drops Knowledge Too (Audio)

"The Story of O.J." continues to prove to be a source of inspiration for artists. The JAY-Z record with some of 2017's most compelling visual accompaniment is one of 4:44's standout tracks, and has already inspired Detroit rapper Page Kennedy's pen. On the original version, the song is akin to Mos... Read more

Alchemist & Mobb Deep’s New Song Is A Reminder Of Prodigy’s Quiet Storm (Audio)

In 1999, Mobb Deep released Murda Muzik, the duo's fourth LP and one that featured production from The Alchemist. On the album's eponymous track as well as the Kool G Rap-assisted "The Realest," the producer with a Los Angeles provenance vibed perfectly with Havoc and Prodigy, two of Queensbridge's most notorious... Read more