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Skillz Raps Up Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With A Tribute To H.E.R.

Skillz Raps Up Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With A Tribute To H.E.R.

For over 20 years, MC/DJ/academic Skillz helped Hip-Hop process its yearly legacy through his Rap Up verses, which typically arrive in late December or early January. In a milestone year, Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, the Richmond, Virginia veteran takes it a step further, with a song produced by The Roots. Skillz... Read more
September 23, 2023 Video
LL Cool J’s Freestyle Shows He Is Still A GOAT MC

LL Cool J’s Freestyle Shows He Is Still A GOAT MC

This weekend (August 5), LL Cool J is headlining the annual Rock The Bells Festival in his home borough of Queens, New York. L will be joined by The Roots and DJ Z-Trip as he shares the main event with the MC's longtime friends and peers Run-D.M.C. Other performers include... Read more
August 3, 2023 Video
LL Cool J Rocks A Q-Tip Beat With Force

LL Cool J Rocks A Q-Tip Beat With Force

In the closing days of 2019, Hip-Hop Heads learned that LL Cool J had returned to the label he helped make legendary. James Todd Smith was back on Def Jam Records. Moreover, the Queens, New York icon has teamed with another borough great to work on music, with Q-Tip producing... Read more
May 7, 2023 Audio
LL Cool J Has A New Album Coming That Is Executive Produced By Q-Tip

LL Cool J Has A New Album Coming That Is Executive Produced By Q-Tip

In the closing days of 2019, LL Cool J revealed that he was working with Q-Tip on an album. The Rock The Bells founder was said to be back at Def Jam Records, the same label where his career launched in the mid-1980s, and working with the famed A Tribe Called... Read more
February 8, 2023 News
Coast Contra’s Scenario Freestyle Is Scary Good

Coast Contra’s Scenario Freestyle Is Scary Good

Coast Contra has been one of the most exciting breaking acts of 2022. The high-energy quartet has been around for several years—including an appearance on 2019’s acclaimed and charting Queen & Slim soundtrack. However, after a punctuating appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Apt. 505 album, alongside work... Read more
September 5, 2022 Video
Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

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
July 12, 2022 Video
The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

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
June 21, 2022 Video
Experience Black Music Month Through These Documentaries

Experience Black Music Month Through These Documentaries

Black Music inspires, informs, and permeates each genre and every corner of the globe with an undeniable force. From complex rhythms and sweet melodies to lyrics versed in a unique experience, Black Music has given all music a blueprint—including Jazz, Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul, and Hip-Hop. In celebration of... Read more
June 10, 2022 Sponsored
Eminem Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Eminem Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame has confirmed its 2022 class. Eminem will be inducted into the Cleveland, Ohio hall as a first-time ballot nominee. Marshall Mathers joins a performer category class that includes Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, The Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, and Carly Simon. Jimmy Jam... Read more
May 4, 2022 News
Pusha-T Used His New Album As A Verzuz Between Kanye & Pharrell

Pusha-T Used His New Album As A Verzuz Between Kanye & Pharrell

In the last week, one of the year's biggest albums released. Pusha-T competes for his first #1 on the charts with the arrival of It's Almost Dry. The G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records collection follows up the veteran MC's 2018 Grammy-nominated campaign for DAYTONA. That LP, the first of a Kanye West-produced five-album summer series,... Read more
April 26, 2022 Video
Wu-Tang Clan & ATCQ’s Albums Will Be In The Library Of Congress

Wu-Tang Clan & ATCQ’s Albums Will Be In The Library Of Congress

Two more classic Hip-Hop albums are headed to the Library Of Congress. On April 13, the National Recording Registry added Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest'sThe Low End Theory to its portion of The Library Of Congress. Every year 25 recordings are added, and... Read more
April 19, 2022 News
Phife Dawg’s Final Album Releases. It Features Q-Tip, Little Brother & 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
March 22, 2022 Audio
J. Dilla’s Life Story Has Been Told Like Never Before

J. Dilla’s Life Story Has Been Told Like Never Before

February is widely celebrated among Hip-Hop Heads as a month dedicated to J Dilla. James Yancey was born February 7, 1974, and passed just after his 32nd birthday on February 10. Traditionally, there are concerts and events around the globe honoring the producer/MC who co-founded Slum Village, JayLib, J-88, The... Read more
February 2, 2022 Video
A Tribe Called Quest & Eminem Are Nominated For The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

A Tribe Called Quest & Eminem Are Nominated For The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Following an incredible 2021 that saw LL Cool J and JAY-Z inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Hip-Hop stands to make an encore in '22. A Tribe Called Quest and Eminem are among the nominees for the induction—which will be confirmed in May. The legendary Queens,... Read more
February 2, 2022 News
Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots Song

Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots 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, is better than it's ever been. Not only can we go back and... Read more
June 26, 2021 Audio
A New Phife Dawg Album Is Coming In 2021

A New Phife Dawg Album Is Coming In 2021

This week, Ambrosia For Heads recorded what is likely the final What's The Headline episode of the year. In the season 2 finale, we react to some of the LPs that our readers told us we missed after our "Best Albums List" for 2020. Additionally, we discuss next month's 63rd... Read more
December 22, 2020 Audio, Video
Consequence Takes A Tour Of Queens In The Video For His Last Phife Dawg Collaboration

Consequence Takes A Tour Of Queens In The Video For His Last Phife Dawg Collaboration

In March, it will have been four years since Phife Dawg passed away. The MC/producer born Malik Taylor was not able to see the final album release from A Tribe Called Quest, 2016's We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. However, he worked on the LP that... Read more
February 14, 2020 Video
Shad & The Creators Of Hip-Hop Evolution Detail Making A Truly Standout Docuseries

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
January 23, 2020 Interview
Eminem & Black Thought Release Their 1st Collabo. The Cypher Is Complete (Audio)

Eminem & Black Thought Release Their 1st Collabo. The Cypher Is Complete (Audio)

After appearing alongside each other in a 2009 BET Award Cypher with Mos Def, Eminem, and The Roots' frontman Black Thought have frequently been mentioned in the same conversation together as two of the best MCs of all time. Since that standout moment, both Em' and Black Thought have continued... Read more
January 17, 2020 Audio
LL Cool J Is Back On Def Jam & Q-Tip Is Producing His Music

LL Cool J Is Back On Def Jam & Q-Tip Is Producing His Music

Between 1984 and 2008, LL Cool J released 12 albums at Def Jam Records. James Todd Smith had been a flagship artist at the label launched by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. His discography, which also includes multiple greatest hits volumes, boasted platinum and gold accolades, as well as a... Read more
December 31, 2019 Fresh, News
Consequence Trades Rhymes With Phife On One Of His Last Songs (Audio)

Consequence Trades Rhymes With Phife On One Of His Last Songs (Audio)

The late Phife Dawg would have turned 49 years old tomorrow (November 20). Sadly, Malik Taylor passed away more than three-and-a-half years ago. The MC/producer was not able to see the final album from A Tribe Called Quest, 2016's We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. However,... Read more
November 19, 2019 Audio
Danny Brown Is Living His Best Life Rapping Over 1 Of Q-Tip’s Best Beats (Video)

Danny Brown Is Living His Best Life Rapping Over 1 Of Q-Tip’s Best Beats (Video)

Last month, Danny Brown delivered a strong addition to his respected discography. uknowhatimsayin¿ features Run The Jewels, Consequence, and JPEGMAFIA, among others. Q-Tip, who provides some vocals, executive produced the collection of songs. The Abstract, who began working on this LP with Danny years ago, also laced the Warp Records... Read more
November 11, 2019 Video
Gang Starr’s Album Is Here & It’s One Of The Best Yet (Audio)

Gang Starr’s Album Is Here & It’s One Of The Best Yet (Audio)

Less than six weeks ago, Hip-Hop Heads suddenly learned that a Gang Starr album was on its way. DJ Premier had spent more than a year producing songs around previously unreleased vocals from his longtime creative partner, Guru. The MC/producer had passed away in 2010, nearly seven years removed from... Read more
November 1, 2019 Audio
Gang Starr Has An Album Coming & Their New Song Is Classic Material (Audio)

Gang Starr Has An Album Coming & Their New Song Is Classic Material (Audio)

Gang Starr's legacy is everlasting. What Guru and DJ Premier assembled more than 30 years ago has influenced and informed Hip-Hop culture. In early 2010, the group's creator, Keith "Guru" Elam passed away from cancer in a New York City hospital. At the time, it had been more than six... Read more
October 18, 2019 Audio, News
Black On Both Sides Is Still Mos Def After 20 Years

Black On Both Sides Is Still Mos Def After 20 Years

Twenty years ago today (October 12, 1999), Mos Def released his solo debut, Black On Both Sides. After two decades of testing time, the Rawkus Records album remains a hallmark from the Underground Hip-Hop boom. On his own strict terms, Dante Smith crafted an LP driven by creativity, piercing commentary,... Read more
October 12, 2019 Food for Thought
Danny Brown Reminds He’s Got Lyrics To Go With A Beat & An Assist From Q-Tip

Danny Brown Reminds He’s Got Lyrics To Go With A Beat & An Assist From Q-Tip

Yesterday (October 4), Danny Brown released his highly anticipated fifth studio album, uknowhatimsayin¿. The Detroit, Michigan MC garnered some very strong acclaim after 2012's far-reaching X.X.X. mixtape presented his unique style as an inventive, profane, and boisterous rapper with an ear for spaced-out beats and abstract productions. Seven years removed... Read more
October 5, 2019 Audio
Danny Brown’s Q-Tip Produced Song Yields 1 Of The Year’s Weirdest Videos

Danny Brown’s Q-Tip Produced Song Yields 1 Of The Year’s Weirdest Videos

This month marks three years since Danny Brown's last album, Atrocity Exhibit. After four solo releases, celebrated mixtapes, and a collaborative catalog that includes Black Milk-assisted project, D.B. is embarking on an exciting close to 2019. The Detroit, Michigan MC's Uknowhatimsayin¿ is the name of his fifth album. As reported... Read more
September 6, 2019 Video
Here’s The Story Behind The All-Star Cypher That Ended The Arsenio Hall Show

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
May 23, 2019 Throwback, Throwback, TV, TV/Film, Video
Oakland, California Declares May 17 To Be Phife Dawg Day

Oakland, California Declares May 17 To Be Phife Dawg Day

Phife Dawg was a product of Queens, New York who represented for his borough and St. Albans section throughout his 25-plus-year music career. However, the co-founder of A Tribe Called Quest also lived other places during his 45 years of life. One place Malik Taylor made his home was Oakland,... Read more
May 18, 2019 Fresh, News, Video
Nas’ Illmatic Turns 25. This New Mix Reminds Why It Might Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Album

Nas’ Illmatic Turns 25. This New Mix Reminds Why It Might Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Album

Twenty-five years ago today (April 19), Nas released the album that future generations will likely use to measure Rap greatness. At the age of 20, Nasir Jones delivered Illmatic, a 10-track coming of age reflection that pulled images from Rotten Apple-era New York City, emphasized dreams of being a Rap... Read more
April 19, 2019 Audio, Mixes
De La Soul Recall The Origins Of The Native Tongues & The MC Who Started It (Video)

De La Soul Recall The Origins Of The Native Tongues & The MC Who Started It (Video)

Earlier this month, De La Soul's episode of Drink Champs featured an extensive and newsworthy preview. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN released the part of the discussion where Posdnuos, Dave, and Maseo addressed their ongoing, and sometimes public negotiations with Tommy Boy Music surrounding the digital revenue and rights to the... Read more
March 29, 2019 Throwback, Throwback, Video
Q-Tip Explains The Changes In Hip-Hop That Led To ATCQ’s Breakup

Q-Tip Explains The Changes In Hip-Hop That Led To ATCQ’s Breakup

Q-Tip and Elton John have worked together on music. Elton appeared on A Tribe Called Quest's final album, courtesy of the song "Solid Wall Of Sound." The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted British songwriter, singer, and pianist provided additional vocals to the track that sampled his "Bennie And The... Read more
March 21, 2019 Audio
Ever See This ’91 Cypher With Leaders Of The New School, Biz Markie & More? (Video)

Ever See This ’91 Cypher With Leaders Of The New School, Biz Markie & More? (Video)

At the top of the 1990s, many Hip-Hop artists were coming together in the name of peace, unity, love, understanding, and having fun. Collectives like the Native Tongues and Diggin' In The Crates (which was not even minted yet) earned the respect of the pioneers by keeping alive the 1970s... Read more
January 28, 2019 Throwback
The Black Eyed Peas Are On A New Vibration. They’ve Got The Jazz (Video)

The Black Eyed Peas Are On A New Vibration. They’ve Got The Jazz (Video)

The Black Eyed Peas released their Masters Of The Sun Vol. 1 album last October, and they continue to showcase visuals from the LP that features Nas, Phife Dawg, De La Soul's Plug 1, and Slick Rick. The California veterans just dropped their video for "VIBRATIONS, pt.1 pt.2," one of... Read more
January 25, 2019 Video
This Mash-Up Mix Takes A Midnight Maraud With 36 Chambers (Audio)

This Mash-Up Mix Takes A Midnight Maraud With 36 Chambers (Audio)

Yesterday (November 9), Hip-Hop Heads celebrated the 25th birthdays of two landmark albums: A Tribe Called Quest's third LP, Midnight Marauders and Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). On 11-9-93, many fans were eager to digest LPs that were likely shipped together from the same RCA Records distributor. Although... Read more
November 10, 2018 Audio, Mixes
The Perfect Day In Hip-Hop: When Wu-Tang & A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Classic Albums

The Perfect Day In Hip-Hop: When Wu-Tang & A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Classic Albums

November 9 may as well be a day of observance for Hip-Hop Heads. With A Tribe Called Quest’s third album Midnight Marauders and Wu-Tang Clan’s debut Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) both dropping on that day 25 years ago, it's a date that seems hard to imagine. While many release dates... Read more
November 8, 2018 Do Remember
Reef The Lost Cauze’s Video Shows What’s Golden About Hip-Hop Can Never Fade Away

Reef The Lost Cauze’s Video Shows What’s Golden About Hip-Hop Can Never Fade Away

Bearing a lengthy Hip-Hop resume, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based MC, Reef The Lost Cauze (born Sharif Lacey) is a certified authority when it comes to the genre. From the Army Of The Pharaohs (A.O.T.P.) member's  early days of battling, to his various mixtapes and albums, a current six-year window of podcasting, and... Read more
November 7, 2018 Ready Or Not
Q-Tip Explains How His Renaissance Birthed A New Movement In Hip-Hop

Q-Tip Explains How His Renaissance Birthed A New Movement In Hip-Hop

November 4, 2008 was a day laced in change. Marking the Presidential election that led Barack Obama to Office, American politics and culture was in the midst of a transformation. Hip-Hop artists became increasingly vocal in the conversation of change in America. In addition to US politics, Rap music seemed... Read more
November 5, 2018 Throwback
The Black Eyed Peas New Song Reunites The Native Tongues’ Phife & Posdnuos (Audio)

The Black Eyed Peas New Song Reunites The Native Tongues’ Phife & Posdnuos (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
October 26, 2018 Audio
The Black Eyed Peas’ New Album Features Phife Dawg, Nas, Slick Rick & More

The Black Eyed Peas’ New Album Features Phife Dawg, Nas, Slick Rick & More

Next week, the Black Eyed Peas will release Masters Of The Sun, Volume 1 (October 26). The album arrives almost eight years to the month since the last B.E.P. full-length, The Beginning. Since then, much has changed. Like Dr. Dre, will.i.am, who is credited as a Beats By Dre co-founder,... Read more
October 20, 2018 Fresh
Finding The GOAT Group Championship: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Wu-Tang Clan. Who Is Best?

Finding The GOAT Group Championship: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Wu-Tang Clan. Who Is Best?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more
September 25, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
There Are 2 Remaining In The Competition To Name Hip-Hop’s Best Group

There Are 2 Remaining In The Competition To Name Hip-Hop’s Best Group

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ 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 was reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more
September 23, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Public Enemy. Who Is Better?

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Public Enemy. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more
September 18, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Which One Of These Hip-Hop Groups Will Be Named The Best Of All-Time?

Which One Of These Hip-Hop Groups Will Be Named The Best Of All-Time?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ 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 was reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more
September 16, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Run-D.M.C. Who Is Better?

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Run-D.M.C. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more
September 11, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Which One Of These 8 Hip-Hop Groups Will Be Named The Best Of All-Time?

Which One Of These 8 Hip-Hop Groups Will Be Named The Best Of All-Time?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ 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 was reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more
September 2, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Finding The GOAT Group: De La Soul vs. A Tribe Called Quest. Who Is Better?

Finding The GOAT Group: De La Soul vs. A Tribe Called Quest. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more
August 7, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
Here Are The 16 Hip-Hop Groups Competing To Be Named The Best Of All-Time

Here Are The 16 Hip-Hop Groups Competing To Be Named The Best Of All-Time

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ 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 was reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more
August 5, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT
One Of The Most Sampled Songs In Hip-Hop Now Has A Sequel (Audio)

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
July 24, 2018 Audio
20 Years Ago, The Beastie Boys Reminded Rap Fans That 3 MCs & 1 DJ Is A Winning Formula

20 Years Ago, The Beastie Boys Reminded Rap Fans That 3 MCs & 1 DJ Is A Winning Formula

1998 was a changing time for Hip-Hop. The attitude of the period was recovering from the killings of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Groups like The Fugees and A Tribe Called Quest separated for solo pursuits. Meanwhile Black Star emerged. Master P's No Limit Records led a marketing battalion that... Read more
July 14, 2018 Food for Thought, Throwback, Throwback
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