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Common Uses A J Dilla Beat To Show His Love For HER Is Strong As Ever (Video)

At the beginning of this month, Common was a surprise guest at the 12th-annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Back in the late 1990s, the MC who was making Like Water For Chocolate at the same time his friends were making Things Fall Apart. The SoulQuarians worked on both albums, so... Read more

Common Premieres A J Dilla-Produced Song About The State Of Hip-Hop In 2019

Since the release of his 1994 song "I Used To Love H.E.R.," Common has had a complex and well-documented relationship with Hip-Hop. At first listen, the song played like Common Sense's ode to a woman with whom he'd had a life long affair, which was a love-hate relationship. At the... Read more

Pharoahe Monch Refuses To Be Boxed In. He Makes Soul-Jazz With Marcus Strickland (Audio)

Pharoahe Monch has been busy lately. Ambrosia For Heads recently caught up with the Queens MC last month during J. Period's "live mixtape" show that Monch did with a slew of Hip-Hop legends, including Rakim, Black Thought, Dres, and others. He's also wrapping up a new solo LP he describes... Read more

Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli & Anderson .Paak Rock The Stage With Robert Glasper (Videos)

Robert Glasper's ongoing Blue Note residency in New York City is bringing out some of the illest talent Hip-Hop, R&B, and Jazz has to offer. The two-time Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, songwriter, and producer showed that on Saturday night (October 13). Glasper had Black Star and Anderson .Paak as guests on... Read more

An New Video Shows The Rise Of The Soulquarians & Why Things Fell Apart

During the week of special engagements leading up to last Sunday's Grammy Awards, The Roots held a four-day residency at The Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan. During the day, the three-time Grammy-winners programmed events that included the first live taping of Questlove Supreme with guest Common, as well as a Black... Read more

The Roots’ Tiny Desk Concert Is BIG, Brassy And Beautiful (Video)

The Roots are the latest musicians to perform at NPR's Tiny Desk concert series. Questlove, Black Thought, and the rest of the legendary band brought Bilal along for a moving rendition of 2017 single, "It Ain't Fair." The performance of the song from the film Detroit is bold and brilliant.... Read more

The Roots & Bilal Give A Stunningly Powerful Performance With A Full Orchestra (Video)

Late last month, The Roots and Bilal released "It Ain't Fair." The Detroit soundtrack single is jarring, as it applies to racial and social injustice in 1967, as well as in 2017. The song and its message are not going away. This partial Soulquarians reunion is bigger than just one... 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

Big K.R.I.T. Makes His Most Experimental Song To Date. Will His Music Stay This Way? (Audio)

In what will likely be one of the most exciting chapters of Big K.R.I.T.'s music career, his recent departure from Def Jam may be encouraging him to explore and push musical boundaries in his own work. His recent feature on "Might Not Be O.K." (the work of Kenneth Whalum, a... Read more

Common’s Latest Video Envisions a World With Empty Prisons & A True End to Slavery

With his eleventh studio album, Common continued the conceptual theme he began with 2014's Nobody's Smiling, in which he addressed gun violence and other racially disproportionate issues plaguing his native Chicago. November's Black America Again takes a broader view of sociopolitical Hip-Hop, inspired in part by the gravity of 2016's... Read more

Common’s New Song Hits Home With A Strong Message Of Excellence & Empowerment (Audio)

Over the years, Common and Bilal have a strong working chemistry. Since Like Water For Chocolate's DJ Premier-produced "The 6th Sense," the MC and singer have together to make each other shine brightly. "Home" is one of three songs featuring Bilal on Black America Again (November 4). Within, Common raps... Read more

A New Documentary On The Making Of J Dilla’s “The Diary” Features The Man, Himself (Video)

While not his first posthumous album, J Dilla's The Diary stands apart from those of the past. The Mass Appeal and PayJay collaboration on the sixth J Dilla album since his 2006 death is comprised entirely of unissued material but what makes it more unique is its inclusion of the late... Read more

Robert Glasper & Bilal Re-Interpret Miles Davis’ “The Ghetto Walk” (Video)

Last month, Robert Glasper unveiled the first audio glimpse of his Everything’s Beautiful album (May 27). The Jazz musician is bridging the generations on an album inspired by and featuring some works by the late Miles Davis. In a season that looks at the trumpeter's life and times, courtesy of Don... Read more

Robert Glasper & Bilal Rhythmically Glide Over A Miles Davis Horn Sample (Audio)

Always creating, Robert Glasper's upcoming project connects his music to that of late Jazz icon, Miles Davis. Both men have injected a sense of soul, pain, and pride into the music—while reminding the world of Jazz' Black heritage and medium to express the culture. Everything's Beautiful (May 27), Glasper's seventh... Read more

Slum Village, J Dilla & Bilal Know What Love Is…It’s Hip-Hop (Video)

Slum Village's recently-released YES! album truly is an affirmation. T3 and Young RJ manifest the Villa destiny with nine tracks featuring the late J Dilla's (and group co-founder) handiwork. "Love Is" is one such highlight, including the unmistakable vocals of Bilal, as well as former full-time S.V. member, Illa J.... Read more

15 Years Later, Common’s “The Light” Remains a Shining Example of Hip-Hop Love

On July 18, 2000, Common released "The Light," and with it came one of Hip-Hop's greatest love songs. Along with Black Star's 1998 track "Brown Skin Lady" and The Roots' breakout 1999 single "You Got Me," "The Light" represented a focus on mutual respect, vulnerability, and a soulful approach to... Read more

Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge’s Twelve Reasons To Die II Has A Vendetta (Album Stream)

Five days before its release, Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge have shared Twelve Reasons To Die II. The follow-up album to the 2013 Top 40 Soul Temple release is available through The New York Times' "Press Play" early listen feature. The July 10 Linear Labs Records release boasts appearances by RZA, Raekwon, Vince Staples, Scarub,... Read more

Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Are Back To Back-And-Forth Character Raps (Audio)

Few MCs can break into character quite like Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef. The two Staten Islanders, and Wu-Tang Clan lyrical mercenaries have played the parts of a man battling his diamond-encrusted watch, a just-released convict home after three years up-state, or adding to their favorite Martin Scorsese or... Read more

The Robert Glasper Trio Has Got It Covered When It Comes To Jhene Aiko (Video)

Grammy Award-winning Jazz pianist and composer Robert Glasper has a long history of blending his own musical stylings with Hip-Hop, and his latest release embodies his appreciation for both. Covered: The Robert Glasper Trio Recorded Live at Capitol Studios features renditions of Jhené Aiko, Bilal, Kendrick Lamar, John Legend, Musiq... Read more

Bilal & Big K.R.I.T. Get Loose Over Some Retro Electro Funk (Audio)

Bilal has had an amazing renaissance over the last year. The Neo Soul singer burst onto the scene in 2001 with close ties to The Soulquarians, Dr. Dre and J. Dilla, delivering his critically-acclaimed 1st Born Second debut album. However, it would take nine years for him to release his... Read more

Bilal Portrays A Modern Day Healer In His Charged New Visual (Video)

Since the release of his debut 1st Born Second, Bilal garnered acclaim as a Soul singer. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native's compelling lyrics and beautifully crafted instrumentation, along with his infectious vocal range has made him a consistent crooner. Heads have seen the personal and societal themes of his 2010 LP, Airtight's Revenge.... Read more

Bilal’s Adrian Younge-Produced Satellites Will Send Your Day Into Orbit (Audio)

Bilal is having one incredible six months. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native assisted Kendrick Lamar on To Pimp A Butterfly, on multiple moments. Now returning to his own work, he teams with PRhyme's Adrian Younge for "Satellites." With hard drums, observational lyrics, and a pensive chorus, this is music that just... Read more

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly Tracklist Features Rapsody, Snoop Dogg & Bilal

Less than 10 days away from release, it appears that the tracklist to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly has been made public. iTunes posted the tracks to the March 23 sophomore major label album from the Compton, California star. While only five featured guests were included on 2012's good... Read more

Bilal is Back as Soulful as Ever. Sound the Sirens (Audio)

Bilal is back with a new song and it is oh so soulful. Adrian Younge and A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad provide the track for "Sirens II," an update on Younge's original "Sirens." Heads will recognize the music as the anchor for the sample Jay Z used on... Read more

Gary Clark, Jr. Releases a Mixtape ft Big K.R.I.T., Talib Kweli, Bilal & More (Mixtape)

Gary Clark, Jr. has released one of the more interesting projects of the year. The Grammy-winning blues guitarist put together a mixtape featuring Talib Kweli, Big K.R.I.T., Bilal, Robert Glasper and more. It features remixes to his 2012 album of the same name, and adds a few new cuts. You... Read more

Talib Kweli Performs Come Here with Bilal & The Roots (Video)

Talib Kweli performed his Bilal-assisted single, Come Here, with The Roots last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Check out the video. Related: Talib Kweli – High Life ft Rubix Cube & Bajah (Video)... Read more

Robert Glasper – Letter to Hermione ft Bilal & Black Milk + Afro Blue ft Erykah Badu & Phonte

Here are 2 more dope tracks from Robert Glasper's Black Radio Rediscovered EP. First is Letter to Hermione featuring Bilal and Black Milk. Next is Afro Blue featuring Erykah Badu and Phonte (Prod. 9th Wonder. Check out both below. Related: Robert Glasper - Black Radio (Remix) ft Yasiin Bey (Prod.... Read more

The Roots Perform My ft Big K.R.I.T. (Video)

The Roots performed with Big K.R.I.T. last night at New York City's Highline Ballroom. Check it out below. Also, click here to check out our playlist of music from The Roots spanning the last 2 decades. You can buy undun here. Make My ft Big K.R.I.T. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_Ir05jYMD7Y... Read more

Kendrick Lamar interview by LRG (Video)

Here's an interview of Kendrick Lamar where he discusses some of his current musical inspirations. He cites artists like Bilal, Floetry, D'Angelo and Erykah Badu as influences on his melody and general sound. That shows in the soulfulness that is heard throughout Section 80. Check out the interview below as... Read more

Pharoahe Monch’s Clap (One Day) sounds like it could have been produced by DJ Premier. The track has Primo’s signature boom bap.

The track is actually produced by M-Phazes and features Showtyme and DJ Boogie Blind. Click here to download.  Pharoahe's biggest track is Simon Says (Get the f*ck up), but like Clap, much of his material has had a political theme.  Here's one of my favorites, The Truth ft Common and... Read more

This new Naughty by Nature song caught me by surprise. It’s more proof there’s no expiration date on the age for making good hip-hop. Check out the video for FLAGS ft Jaheim and Bilal.

The video is a mini-movie that features Ice-T. It's a little heavy-handed but has a positive message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtJi8SE69E8&feature=player_embedded... Read more