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Chuck Freeze Of Early 1980s Rap Group Jazzy 5 Has Passed Away At Age 54

Chuck Freeze Of Early 1980s Rap Group Jazzy 5 Has Passed Away At Age 54

Bronx, New York native MC Chuck Freeze has died. Born Charles Foushee, the founding member of the Jazzy 5 was found unconscious and unresponsive Sunday (April 1) in his Hollis, Queens residence. According to The New York Daily News, he was pronounced dead by emergency responders shortly after arrival. Freeze... Read more
April 5, 2018 News
Melle Mel Explains Why He Didn’t Think “The Message” Would Be Successful (Video)

Melle Mel Explains Why He Didn’t Think “The Message” Would Be Successful (Video)

Grandmaster Melle Mel is regarded as one of Hip-Hop's first generation MC icons. The lyrical front-man of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five helped move the fledgling genre of Rap from the party to a reflection of street reality. In his staggering discography, Melvin Glover was successful in both realms.... Read more
January 18, 2018 Exclusive, Video
Grandmaster Flash Calls Out Kool Herc’s DJ Skills In A Push For Peace (Video)

Grandmaster Flash Calls Out Kool Herc’s DJ Skills In A Push For Peace (Video)

One week ago today, Hip-Hop celebrated its 44th birthday. That day is associated with an August 11 Bronx, New York party where DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) prolonged the dance section of a record by using two turntables with copies of the same disc. For the event, an incredible... Read more
August 18, 2017 News, Video
A Zulu Nation Veteran Details The Alleged Decades Of Corruption Under Afrika Bambaataa (Audio)

A Zulu Nation Veteran Details The Alleged Decades Of Corruption Under Afrika Bambaataa (Audio)

Following the shocking child molestation allegations surrounding Universal Zulu Nation's founder and longtime leader Afrika Bambaataa which surfaced in March of 2016, the Hip-Hop pioneer's fall from grace has left the organization's leadership and infrastructure in question without many viable answers. Recently, former high-ranking Zulu Nation member and DJ Mark... Read more
August 7, 2017 Audio, News
T.C. Izlam, Hipstep Founder & Former Zulu Nation Spokesperson, Has Died

T.C. Izlam, Hipstep Founder & Former Zulu Nation Spokesperson, Has Died

The Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and "Hipstep" communities are today mourning the loss of T.C. Izlam, a former longtime member of the Universal Zulu Nation and a celebrated musical innovator in his own right. Born Tony Bell, the New York City representative (born in Connecticut) was a steady presence on... Read more
June 12, 2017 News
Watch 40 Years Of Hip-Hop History In 4 Minutes In A Mind-Blowing Mashup (Video)

Watch 40 Years Of Hip-Hop History In 4 Minutes In A Mind-Blowing Mashup (Video)

It ain't nothin' like Hip-Hop music...Over the last 40 years, there have been few forces in pop culture with more impact than Hip-Hop. Like Rock & Roll before it, the music and lifestyle shaped an entire generation and has had untold influence around the world. The Rub: The History of... Read more
June 5, 2017 Video
Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

2016 is coming to a close. Years from now, how will we, the people, remember such an expansive year in Hip-Hop music, news, and culture? This year, some of the biggest MCs in the genre released new albums. Several of these efforts came in short notice, challenging new distribution platforms... Read more
December 30, 2016 Food for Thought
The Story Of Hip-Hop’s Earliest Days Is Told By Its Pioneers (Video)

The Story Of Hip-Hop’s Earliest Days Is Told By Its Pioneers (Video)

Fifteen years after the onset of Hip-Hop culture (August of 1973 is credited by many historians), Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full album took the elements of skillful rapping and DJ'ing and applied them to a materialistic, ambition-driven lifestyle that featured fashion, jewelry, and luxury cars. Even in that... Read more
September 8, 2016 Video
KRS-One Says Anyone Who Has A Problem With Afrika Bambaataa Should Quit Hip-Hop (Video)

KRS-One Says Anyone Who Has A Problem With Afrika Bambaataa Should Quit Hip-Hop (Video)

KRS-One recently appeared in Birmingham, England, speaking before a live audience. In a video published July 15, the Boogie Down Productions co-founder and MC legend spoke about allegations of sexual abuse made against one of Hip-Hop's pioneers, Afrika Bambaataa. The longtime friend and collaborator of Bam' argued that major agencies... Read more
July 20, 2016 News
Afrika Bambaataa’s Leadership Of The Zulu Nation Has Ended Due To Abuse Allegations

Afrika Bambaataa’s Leadership Of The Zulu Nation Has Ended Due To Abuse Allegations

In a move that demonstrates how seriously the United Zulu Nation (UZN) is taking allegations of sexual abuse against its co-founder and Hip-Hop pioneer, Afrika Bambaataa, the organization has announced Afrika Bambaataa and "ALL accused parties and those accused of covering up the current allegations of child molestation have been... Read more
May 6, 2016 News
KRS-One Explains Why Drake Is “Underrated” & Says Some The Best MCs Have Writers (Audio)

KRS-One Explains Why Drake Is “Underrated” & Says Some The Best MCs Have Writers (Audio)

KRS-One is the latest guest on N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN's Drink Champs Podcast. There, the iconic Boogie Down Productions MC sipped hand-crafted mai tai's and discussed a litany of topics, at incredible length. Known for lecturing at some of the most prestigious universities around the globe, publishing books, and educating... Read more
April 23, 2016 Audio
Afrika Bambaataa Denies All Allegations Of Molestation & Calls Claims Baseless

Afrika Bambaataa Denies All Allegations Of Molestation & Calls Claims Baseless

For the first time since Bronx judicial delegate, and former New York State Democratic Committeeman, Ronald Savage accused Hip-Hop pioneer and co-founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, Afrika Bambaataa, of sexually molesting him in the 1970s, as a teenage boy, Bambaataa has spoken out against the claims. In a statement... Read more
April 12, 2016 News
Afrika Bambaataa Attorney Releases Statement Denying Accusations

Afrika Bambaataa Attorney Releases Statement Denying Accusations

UPDATE: Afrika Bambaataa's attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, has released an April 8 statement on behalf of her client, the Hip-Hop pioneer born Kevin Donovan: "Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client's reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from... Read more
April 10, 2016 News
Afrika Bambaataa Accused Of Molestation By Bronx Politician

Afrika Bambaataa Accused Of Molestation By Bronx Politician

Afrika Bambaataa is one of Hip-Hop's pioneers. The 58 year-old Bronx, New Yorker born Kevin Donovan is credited with co-founding the Universal Zulu Nation in 1973. In the 43 years since, Afrika Bambaataa has made hit Hip-Hop records such as 1982's "Planet Rock" (with the Soulsonic Force), he has spoken... Read more
March 31, 2016 News
This Journalist Who Was Encouraged By Eazy-E Releases A Book Comparing Hip-Hop & Chess

This Journalist Who Was Encouraged By Eazy-E Releases A Book Comparing Hip-Hop & Chess

From the Wu-Tang Clan to Wale, Fresh to Dilated Peoples, Hip-Hop's music, film, and lifestyle maintain strong ties to chess. The 64 squares relate to many aspects of life. Northern California veteran author, speaker, scholar, and music journalist Adisa "The Bishop" Banjoko has made a career out tying Hip-Hop, chess,... Read more
March 25, 2016 Food for Thought, Lifestyle
The Story Of Hip-Hop’s Creation Is Being Re-Examined By Some Of Its Most Respected Pioneers (Video)

The Story Of Hip-Hop’s Creation Is Being Re-Examined By Some Of Its Most Respected Pioneers (Video)

Editor's Note: The first edition of this story credited Crazy Legs as Rock Steady Crew founder. It has been brought to Ambrosia For Heads' attention that Crazy Legs is in fact the president of the organization. The mistake has been corrected, in the story below: Last night (November 2), Crazy... Read more
November 3, 2015 News, Video
Afrika Bambaataa Will Receive a Lifetime Achievement Award For Helping to Birth Hip-Hop

Afrika Bambaataa Will Receive a Lifetime Achievement Award For Helping to Birth Hip-Hop

Considered to be the Godfather of the culture, Afrika Bambaataa blazed a trail through the New York city club scene during a time when the city's youth culture was experimenting with what would become Hip-Hop (a term credited to Bambaataa). His contributions to that landscape are being recognized by the... Read more
October 27, 2015 Lifestyle
Hip-Hop’s DJ Pioneers Come Together For Universal Zulu Nation 42nd Anniversary

Hip-Hop’s DJ Pioneers Come Together For Universal Zulu Nation 42nd Anniversary

This November marks the 42nd anniversary of the Universal Zulu Nation. The organization, made famous by Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has upheld the tenants of the culture in five decades. Formed in the Bronx, New York, the group has grown globally to include the likes of Ice-T, 9th Wonder, and... Read more
September 29, 2015 News
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Toured Playing Afrika Bambaataa’s Actual Records. Here’s One Show (Video)

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Toured Playing Afrika Bambaataa’s Actual Records. Here’s One Show (Video)

Throughout the last year, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist toured the world with Afrika Bambaataa's records. Not just copies of records that the Universal Zulu Nation founder made or carried, but the actual "sacred crates" of Hip-Hop from one of its foremost pioneers. Together, Cut and Shadow called the act... Read more
July 30, 2015 Video
Want To See How Hip-Hop Started? Two New Shows Document Its Beginnings (Video)

Want To See How Hip-Hop Started? Two New Shows Document Its Beginnings (Video)

It's New York City in the late '60s and early '70s, and there is an underbelly of criminal and gang activity plaguing the Big Apple's neighborhoods, a combination of socioeconomic and political environments that, years later, will help birth what is today the world's most influential culture. This particularly dangerous... Read more
June 17, 2015 Lifestyle
DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

Fresh off of DJ Kool Herc's groundbreaking interview with The Combat Jack Show, another Hip-Hop pioneer is profiled extensively. Kool DJ Red Alert is Combat's guest this week. The Harlem, New York native (not Bronx, as often reported) opens up about his career trajectory, the radio wars evolving into "The... Read more
May 13, 2015 Throwback
Crazy Legs Says That The Credit For Hip-Hop’s Creation Needs To Be Shared (Video)

Crazy Legs Says That The Credit For Hip-Hop’s Creation Needs To Be Shared (Video)

One of the pioneers of Hip-Hop in on the ground floor of the culture is Crazy Legs. The President of the Rock Steady Crew, Richard Colón has been am ambassador of breakin', fashion, and the Hip-Hop attitude for more than 35 years. Crazy Legs appeared in Wild Style, Style Wars,... Read more
March 4, 2015 Video
KRS-One Says He Cannot Make Money In America, Discusses Hip-Hop’s Global Impact (Video)

KRS-One Says He Cannot Make Money In America, Discusses Hip-Hop’s Global Impact (Video)

KRS-One interviews are a bit scarce in 2015. The archetypal MC tours extensively, and gives limited audiences these days. However, the Boogie Down Productions co-founder recently opened up with VladTV on a number of current and historic issues, which are now unfolding through the video segments. In the latest, KRS... Read more
February 2, 2015 Video
Q-Tip Welcomes Lil Wayne To The Universal Zulu Nation

Q-Tip Welcomes Lil Wayne To The Universal Zulu Nation

Throughout his lengthy career, Lil Wayne has claimed allegiance to the Hot Boys, the Cash Money Billionaires, and Rich Gang, but did you know that he is also down with the Universal Zulu Nation? According to Lil Wayne friend and collaborator Q-Tip, Weezy F. is down with the New York... Read more
November 29, 2014 Fresh
Afrika Bambaataa Gives an Incredible Lesson on the Early History of Hip-Hop (Video)

Afrika Bambaataa Gives an Incredible Lesson on the Early History of Hip-Hop (Video)

Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, stopped by Sway in the Morning to promote the 41st anniversary of his Zulu Nation. For 20+ minutes, Bam gave one of the most fascinating tutorials on the earliest days of Hip-Hop you will hear. He discussed the creation of Electro Funk, why Rap artists wore... Read more
November 9, 2014 Throwback
The Universal Zulu Nation’s 41st Anniversary Is In November & Your Favorite Artists Are Involved…

The Universal Zulu Nation’s 41st Anniversary Is In November & Your Favorite Artists Are Involved…

On November 6-9, New York City will play host to the Universal Zulu Nation's 41st anniversary. Over the course of seven planned events (with possibly more coming), those involved include Afrika Bambaataa, Black Moon, 9th Wonder, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Sadat X, Da Beatminerz, Psycho Les, DJ Jazzy Jay, Kool... Read more
October 27, 2014 Fresh
Cut Chemist Dusts Off Afrika Bambaataa’s Rarest ’70s & ’80s Personal Records (Audio)

Cut Chemist Dusts Off Afrika Bambaataa’s Rarest ’70s & ’80s Personal Records (Audio)

With lots of recent attention devoted to Afrika Bambaataa's records (stored at Cornell University's archives), Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5, Ozomatli, and the film, Scratch) and DJ Shadow are currently taking these exact records on the road, creating shows with natural elements that helped make Hip-Hop. If you aren't able to... Read more
October 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
Afrika Bambaataa’s Record Crates Helped Create The Hip-Hop Genre. Get A Look (Video)

Afrika Bambaataa’s Record Crates Helped Create The Hip-Hop Genre. Get A Look (Video)

Hip-Hop's three forefathers are often remembered as pioneers DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa. With all three men tied to the Bronx, New York of the 1970s, each brought a unique flare to the sound of the culture, with varying personal backgrounds. Herc, a native of Jamaica, had... Read more
August 7, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh, Throwback
AFH Salutes the Father’s of Hip-Hop (Video Playlist)

AFH Salutes the Father’s of Hip-Hop (Video Playlist)

In celebration of Father's Day, we salute some of the Fathers of Hip-Hop. Here's a video playlist with some key moments in time from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Kurtis Blow and more. Check it out. Related: Episode 1... Read more
June 15, 2014 Throwback
Episode 1 of The Message Documentary Speaks on Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., LL Coo J & Much More (Full Video)

Episode 1 of The Message Documentary Speaks on Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., LL Coo J & Much More (Full Video)

Episode 1 of BET's Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, covers roughly the first decade of Hip-Hop. It addresses pioneers like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Cold Crush Brothers and more. It also features several luminaries including Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier,... Read more
June 11, 2014 Throwback
Nas, RZA & More Discuss The Earliest Days of Hip-Hop in The Message Hip-Hop Documentary (Video)

Nas, RZA & More Discuss The Earliest Days of Hip-Hop in The Message Hip-Hop Documentary (Video)

BET's 4-part Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, premieres tonight at 10pm. Part 1 focuses on the early days of Hip-Hop and features Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier, Grand Wizard Theodore, Nas, MC Lyte, Questlove, Russell Simmons, Snoop, RZA, Sway, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, Eve, Swizz Beatz... Read more
June 4, 2014 Throwback
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force’s Producers Are Forever Looking For The Perfect (Video)

Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force’s Producers Are Forever Looking For The Perfect (Video)

With DJ Kool Herc credited as founder, Hip-Hop music is often credited with three godfathers. In addition to the Jamaican-born Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash are honored as the two other mixmasters known for bringing the funk to the people. By the '80s, while Kool Herc still played parties,... Read more
May 20, 2014 Fresh, Throwback
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (Full Video)

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (Full Video)

We've posted a lot of content over the last few months from Ice-T's documentary Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap. Now, you can watch the whole film which features extensive interviews with Redman, Eminem, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Nas, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, Chuck D, Afrika Bambaataa, KRS-One and... Read more
September 14, 2012 Food for Thought, Video
Tommy Boy kicks off the Top 5 as the 5th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

Tommy Boy kicks off the Top 5 as the 5th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

#5 Tommy Boy Records More than any other hip-hop record label on this countdown, Tommy Boy Records is noteworthy not for impressive stats or significant accomplishments of individual artists, but for the overall breadth and impact of its entire catalog. For more than 20 years, the label released hip-hop records... Read more
December 13, 2011 Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback, Video
Electro Funk was a key element of early Hip-Hop. It was an essential part of break dancing, particularly on the West Coast. Here’s a playlist of some of the music that used to get the poppers, lockers and breakers going back in the day.

Electro Funk was a key element of early Hip-Hop. It was an essential part of break dancing, particularly on the West Coast. Here’s a playlist of some of the music that used to get the poppers, lockers and breakers going back in the day.

Electro Funk has had a resurgence over the years with groups like Chromeo and games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, but there is nothing like the original joints.  And, if you missed Breakin' N Enterin' click here.... Read more
April 5, 2011 Audio, Playlists