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Combat Jack’s Friend Details His Bravery & Dignity In His Final Days

Combat Jack’s Friend Details His Bravery & Dignity In His Final Days

Combat Jack, known to his closest friends and acquaintances as Reggie Ossé, passed away on December 20, 2017, after a battle with colon cancer. During the Redman episode of his Combat Jack Show podcast, Ossé revealed to the public that he had been diagnosed and was fighting for his life. Two months... Read more
February 15, 2018 Fresh
Hip-Hop Podcast Pioneer, Author & Attorney Combat Jack Has Passed Away

Hip-Hop Podcast Pioneer, Author & Attorney Combat Jack Has Passed Away

Reggie "Combat Jack" Ossé has died. This morning (December 20), the Hip-Hop community learns that we have lost a true champion of culture. Several sources close to the Brooklyn, New Yorker confirmed the news. In October, the father of four publicly revealed that he was diagnosed with colon cancer during... Read more
December 20, 2017 News
All Signs Say Eminem’s New Album Is Less Than 3 Weeks Away (Video)

All Signs Say Eminem’s New Album Is Less Than 3 Weeks Away (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the LAST 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the LAST... Read more
October 31, 2017 Exclusive, Last 7, Video
Redman Says Phife Dawg’s Final Album Is “RIDICULOUS” & He’s On One Of The Songs (Audio)

Redman Says Phife Dawg’s Final Album Is “RIDICULOUS” & He’s On One Of The Songs (Audio)

In 1998, Redman was among the guests on A Tribe Called Quest's The Love Movement album. He appeared alongside Busta Rhymes on The Ummah-produced "Steppin' It Up." For nearly 20 years, Heads perceived the gold-certified, Grammy-nomimated Jive Records LP would be the last from Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed... Read more
October 23, 2017 Audio, News
Hear How Warren G Saved Def Jam Records (Audio)

Hear How Warren G Saved Def Jam Records (Audio)

Warren Griffin, III is revered as a  Hip-Hop underdog. The MC/producer/DJ better known as Warren G came up as the shy half-brother of Dr. Dre. Raised in Long Beach, California Warren is the man many believe is responsible for the introduction of Snoop Dogg. Warren, keeping the music going at... Read more
May 5, 2017 Audio
DMX & The LOX To Headline 2017 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Video)

DMX & The LOX To Headline 2017 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Video)

Last night (April 21), the Ruff Ryders reunited on the stages of Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center. DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz and others celebrated nearly 20 years of guttural street music from the New York City collective that also spawned the careers of The LOX, Drag-On, Cassidy, and others. While the... Read more
April 22, 2017 Fresh, Video
Ice Cube Names Chuck D His Favorite Rapper & Bomb Squad His Favorite Producers (Audio)

Ice Cube Names Chuck D His Favorite Rapper & Bomb Squad His Favorite Producers (Audio)

February 21 UPDATE: The video interview of Ice Cube from The Combat Jack Show has been added below, along with the existing audio stream. Original Post: Starting in 1990's "Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)," Ice Cube made some of his most notable collaborations with Chuck D and the producers... Read more
February 14, 2017 Audio, Video
Eric B. & Rakim Affiliate, MC and Manager Ant Live Has Passed Away

Eric B. & Rakim Affiliate, MC and Manager Ant Live Has Passed Away

According to several sources, veteran Hip-Hop figure Ant Live (aka Anthony Barrier) has died. Stetsasonic co-founder Daddy-O and podcast host Combat Jack are among those who have confirmed the news on social media. While the details of Ant's passing are not clear at this time, Rakim spoke about Live's health... Read more
November 18, 2016 News
Bad Boy’s Hitmen Justify Taking Hits From The ‘80s & Making ‘Em Feel So Good (Audio)

Bad Boy’s Hitmen Justify Taking Hits From The ‘80s & Making ‘Em Feel So Good (Audio)

Since the earliest days of Bad Boy Records there has was a production team in place known as The Hitmen. Sometimes known as "Puffy's Hitmen," the collective included Puff Daddy as a figurehead with a decorated staff that has at times included Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Nashiem Myrick, Sean C &... Read more
October 12, 2016 Audio
AZ Vows “Doe Or Die 2” Will Be His Final Album & It’s Coming This Year (Audio)

AZ Vows “Doe Or Die 2” Will Be His Final Album & It’s Coming This Year (Audio)

It has been more than seven years since Brooklyn, New York MC AZ has released an official album. In 2010, the co-founder of The Firm dropped a special 15th anniversary homage to his debut Doe Or Die. In that time, the Quiet Money lyricist has vowed that like peers Nas,... Read more
September 19, 2016 Audio, News
Curren$y Reveals That He & Raekwon Have New Material Recorded

Curren$y Reveals That He & Raekwon Have New Material Recorded

Over the last decade, Curren$y has ascended from a flagship artist at Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment to a successful independent MC. In the years since, the onetime 504 Boyz member has released collaborative projects with Wiz Khalifa, producer Ski Beatz, and his own Jet Life squad. In a year... Read more
July 1, 2016 News
Stretch & Bobbito Recall Expectations Around Nas’ Illmatic Release (Audio)

Stretch & Bobbito Recall Expectations Around Nas’ Illmatic Release (Audio)

Last night (June 13), Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito The Barber returned to radio, in a new way. The legendary New York City duo conducted two hours of live radio via Samsung 837 approximately 26 years after the pair began with a historic eight-year run at Columbia University's WKCR 89.9FM radio... Read more
June 14, 2016 Audio, Throwback
Willie D Reveals The Origins Of Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” (Audio)

Willie D Reveals The Origins Of Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” (Audio)

In the last three years, Scarface has had at least two very memorable interview conversations with the Combat Jack Show. In his latest episode, Combat sits down with another high profile Geto Boys member in Willie D. The Houston, Texas native and onetime Rap-A-Lot Records star discusses his views on... Read more
April 27, 2016 Audio, Throwback
Prince Paul Recalls MF DOOM’s “Impostor” Idea & Wu-Tang’s Earliest Days (Audio)

Prince Paul Recalls MF DOOM’s “Impostor” Idea & Wu-Tang’s Earliest Days (Audio)

The "devastating" Prince Paul is a living Hip-Hop legend. Although he is a self-professed "shy guy," the Long Island, New Yorker would eventually find himself winning Grammy Awards for cracking jokes around Chris Rock and elite comedians. Listening to Paul is a joy in and of itself; an experience filled... Read more
February 10, 2016 Audio
Redman Gets Real About Def Squad, Leaving Def Jam & Staying True To Self (Audio)

Redman Gets Real About Def Squad, Leaving Def Jam & Staying True To Self (Audio)

Approaching this Friday's release of Mudface, Redman's media campaign rages on. The MC extraordinaire appeared on The Combat Jack Show with a one-hour interview that covers Red's career with the questions so many want to know. Reggie Noble goes in, from his support of Fetty Wap, to the break-up days... Read more
November 11, 2015 Audio
Norman Lear’s TV Shows Inspired the Hip-Hop Generation, But It Wasn’t Always “Good Times” (Audio)

Norman Lear’s TV Shows Inspired the Hip-Hop Generation, But It Wasn’t Always “Good Times” (Audio)

As television royalty goes, there are few whose pedigrees compare to that of Norman Lear. Quite literally a living piece of Americana, Lear is the 93-year-old creative zeitgeist whom we have to thank for All in the Family, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Sanford & Son. But that's... Read more
November 3, 2015 Audio
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
Black Rob Reveals Rolling With Bad Boy Before Biggie, Debilitating Stroke (Audio)

Black Rob Reveals Rolling With Bad Boy Before Biggie, Debilitating Stroke (Audio)

With a new album in stores (Genuine Article), Harlem, New York's Black Rob recently checked in at the Combat Jack Show. The former Bad Boy Records MC opened up about the struggles he's encountered during his career, which pinnacled with 1999 crossover, "Whoa!" B.R. had no problem speaking candidly about... Read more
April 29, 2015 Audio
DJ Kool Herc OPENS UP & His Top 5 MCs & DJs Will ASTONISH You (Audio)

DJ Kool Herc OPENS UP & His Top 5 MCs & DJs Will ASTONISH You (Audio)

DJ Kool Herc interviews, especially with much depth and room for conversation are a scarcity. It is astounding how Hip-Hop music's credited founder lives in the Bronx, New York today, with relatively low profile. The Kingston, Jamaica native known as Clive Campbell is not a public figure, despite his groundbreaking... Read more
April 13, 2015 Throwback
Want To Understand Lil Wayne’s $51 Million Lawsuit? Lawyer Combat Jack Breaks It Down… (Video)

Want To Understand Lil Wayne’s $51 Million Lawsuit? Lawyer Combat Jack Breaks It Down… (Video)

Lawsuits in the entertainment media can be pretty damn confusing sometimes. Fresh off of the multi-million dollar "Blurred Lines" ruling in favor of Marvin Gaye's family/estate against Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I., another high profile music case remains open. Currently, Lil Wayne is seeking $51 million from Cash Money... Read more
March 16, 2015 Video
J. Cole Talks 2014 Forest Hills Drive & Being The Voice Of A Generation On Combat Jack (Audio)

J. Cole Talks 2014 Forest Hills Drive & Being The Voice Of A Generation On Combat Jack (Audio)

Considered one of 2014's Men of The Year according to AFH, J. Cole hops into 2015 continuing promotion for his critically acclaimed project, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, on The Combat Jack Show. In between talks of his socially conscious album, the 29 year old MC dives deep into discussions of... Read more
January 27, 2015 Audio
LL Cool J Refutes Battling Jay Z, Talks 2 Types Of Album Styles & Some Amazing Rumors (Audio)

LL Cool J Refutes Battling Jay Z, Talks 2 Types Of Album Styles & Some Amazing Rumors (Audio)

The Combat Jack Show has left Hip-Hop journalism better than they found it in 2014. In the closing weeks of the year, the show invited LL Cool J for what immediately feels like one of the finest sit-downs. At nearly two hours, LL turns towards his devout Hip-Hop fans, his... Read more
December 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
9th Wonder Says Without Phonte, There Is No Drake (Audio)

9th Wonder Says Without Phonte, There Is No Drake (Audio)

During A3C week earlier this month, 9th Wonder served as Reggie Osse's latest guest for a live taping of The Combat Jack Show. Per usual, the conversation spanned the career of the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina producer/DJ/sometimes-MC. However, there are certainly some impromptu side discussions and points made that make this... Read more
October 20, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh
Chuck D Uses Acronyms & Wordplay To Talk About Race, Radio & Rosenberg (Audio)

Chuck D Uses Acronyms & Wordplay To Talk About Race, Radio & Rosenberg (Audio)

Last week, HOT 97 radio host, DJ, and member of the Low Budget Crew, Peter Rosenberg publicly apologized to Public Enemy front-man Chuck D. The words followed a month-long social media debate, which bled its way onto airwaves and interviews, following HOT 97's 2014 Summer Jam. After the Long Island,... Read more
July 15, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh
Common Talks Chicago Music, Culture, & The “Heat” That Inspired Him & Nobody’s Smiling (Audio)

Common Talks Chicago Music, Culture, & The “Heat” That Inspired Him & Nobody’s Smiling (Audio)

Days before the release of his 10th studio album, Nobody's Smiling, Common delivers an insightful interview with Combat Jack discussing the inspiration behind his upcoming album (2:45) and the significance of the cover (8:00), Chicago's musical "heat" (11:45), his first encounter with racism (27:30), his experiences with Rev. Jeremiah Wright... Read more
July 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Get The Story Of Lord Finesse Discovering Big L In A Record Store (Audio)

Get The Story Of Lord Finesse Discovering Big L In A Record Store (Audio)

D.I.T.C.'s history is the kind of tales that legends are made of. From Diamond D discovering a young Fat Joe in the Bronx, "in Forest, across from Morris," and putting him on Ultimate Force's demo, to Afrika Bambaataa's right-hand-man DJ Jazzy Jay taking Lord Finesse, Diamond, and Showbiz under his... Read more
May 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
Scarface Talks Weight Loss, Depression & Rick Ross Being Underrated With Combat Jack (Audio)

Scarface Talks Weight Loss, Depression & Rick Ross Being Underrated With Combat Jack (Audio)

Just like in his raps, Scarface tends to give it to you raw in an interview. The only catch is, you have to catch him first. Not always big (read: trusting) on interviews, the Houston, Texas Hip-Hop legend, and core member of The Geto Boys has never minced his words... Read more
April 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Russell Simmons Explains Success Through Meditation, Recalls Some Vivid & Never Before Heard Def Jam Memories (Audio)

Russell Simmons Explains Success Through Meditation, Recalls Some Vivid & Never Before Heard Def Jam Memories (Audio)

With his latest book hitting shelves (Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple), Russell Simmons stops by his former Def Jam Records employee, Combat Jack's show. Beginning at the 16-minute mark, Uncle Rush enters. In the lengthy and coherent interview, Russ speaks about his storied drug days and early era as... Read more
March 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback
Sauce Money Talks Jay Z’s “Disgusting” Flow, Ghostwriting & Why He Didn’t Sign To Roc-A-Fella (Audio)

Sauce Money Talks Jay Z’s “Disgusting” Flow, Ghostwriting & Why He Didn’t Sign To Roc-A-Fella (Audio)

It's easy to confuse Sauce Money as a Jay Z protege. After all, many Heads may have heard Sauce by way of Roc-A-Fella Records releases, as well as Jay's support of Middle Finger U. However, those who listened to Big Daddy Kane & DJ Premier's famed "Show & Prove" know... Read more
March 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Scarface Says the Powers That Be are Dumbing Down Hip-Hop. Here’s Why (Video)

Scarface Says the Powers That Be are Dumbing Down Hip-Hop. Here’s Why (Video)

Chuck D famously said "radio suckas never play me" over 2 decades ago in protest of a format he believed catered to the lowest common denominator. According to Hip-Hop OG Scarface, not much has changed. He sat down with Combat Jack and spoke on how he believes Hip-Hop is being... Read more
December 29, 2013 Video
Talib Kweli on The Combat Jack Show, Pt. 3 (Video)

Talib Kweli on The Combat Jack Show, Pt. 3 (Video)

Part 3 of Combat Jack's interview with Talib Kweli is pretty insightful. The teenage b-boy in me crams to understand—or picture Talib and Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) recording Black Star songs in MC Hammer's company. Including that nugget of candid information (Kweli admits to be a Hammer-hater in the early... Read more
August 1, 2013 Fresh, Video
Styles P Discusses his Twitter Etiquette and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Styles P Discusses his Twitter Etiquette and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Styles P explains why he doesn't use the "n" word on Twitter and more in part 2 of his interview on The Combat Jack Show. Check out the video. Related: Styles P Decodes Part of His Verse on DMX’s N*ggaz Done Started Something and More on The Combat Jack Show... Read more
July 10, 2013 Video
Styles P Decodes Part of His Verse on DMX’s N*ggaz Done Started Something and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Styles P Decodes Part of His Verse on DMX’s N*ggaz Done Started Something and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Styles P decodes part of his verse from DMX's N*ggaz Done Started Something on The Combat Jack Show. He gives details on an attack by a gang of people that changed his life. He also discusses the importance of MCs being authentic in their rhymes. Check out the video. Related:... Read more
July 8, 2013 Video
DJ Premier Discusses the Genesis of 10 Crack Commandments and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

DJ Premier Discusses the Genesis of 10 Crack Commandments and More on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Would you believe the Notorious B.I.G.'s classic 10 Crack Commandments was originally a radio promo spot featuring Jeru Tha Damaja on NYC's Hot 97? You can hear DJ Premier discuss that on The Combat Jack Show and listen to the original Jeru version below. Props: NahRight Related: DJ Finesse –... Read more
July 1, 2013 Video
Action Bronson on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Action Bronson on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Action Bronson is the latest guest on The Combat Jack Show. He discusses life after his major label deal, how he chose his rap name, his earliest hip-hop influences and more. He also spits a few bars. Check out the video. Related: Action Bronson – Seven Series Triplets ft Prodigy... Read more
June 20, 2013 Video
A Discussion of the Yeezus Album Between Combat Jack, Dallas Penn, Premium Pete and Me (Podcast)

A Discussion of the Yeezus Album Between Combat Jack, Dallas Penn, Premium Pete and Me (Podcast)

I had the pleasure of joining The Combat Jack Show as a guest this week to discuss Kanye West's Yeezus album. True to the provocative nature of the album, it was a lively discussion with many diverse opinions (starting at about the 1:50 mark). The show also features an in-depth... Read more
June 20, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage
Large Professor Gives the Inside Story on Jay-Z’s Takeover (Video)

Large Professor Gives the Inside Story on Jay-Z’s Takeover (Video)

You heard Large Professor give the behind the scenes story on Ether...Now, check out what he has to say about Jay-Z's Takeover. According to Extra P, Jay was not exaggerating about showing Nas that Tec-9. For real, for real...Check out the video. Related: Large Professor Discusses the Making of Ether... Read more
June 1, 2013 Video
Killer Mike & El-P on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Killer Mike & El-P on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Killer Mike & El-P are the latest guests on The Combat Jack Show. The 2 discussed Killer Mike's criminally slept on R.A.P. Music album, their problems with radio, the role of race in hip-hop and more. Check out the videos below. Related: Killer Mike & El-P (Run the Jewels) –... Read more
May 9, 2013 Video
Black Thought on The Combat Jack Show Pt. 3 (Video)

Black Thought on The Combat Jack Show Pt. 3 (Video)

Here's the final installment of Black Thought's interview on The Combat Jack show. In this segment, Thought talks about how both Nas and Supernatural changed his career. The strength of Illmatic and Supernatural's freestyle skills caused Black Thought to step up his MC game. That's saying something...Check out the video.... Read more
April 25, 2013 Video
Black Thought on The Combat Jack Show Pt. 2 (Video)

Black Thought on The Combat Jack Show Pt. 2 (Video)

Here's part 2 of Black Thought's interview on The Combat Jack Show. In this episode, he talks about the posse cuts he did back in the day with Questlove, getting props with Rakim, his Cypher with Mos Def and Eminem, and more. In the end, he drops a verse. Check... Read more
April 24, 2013 Video
Black Thought on The Comback Jack Show (Video)

Black Thought on The Comback Jack Show (Video)

Can you believe Black Thought was ready to scrap with Nas at one point? He talks about this, how he met Questlove and much more on The Combat Jack Show. Check out the interview. Related: Statik Selektah – Bird’s Eye View ft Raekwon, Joey Bada$$ & Black Thought (Audio)... Read more
April 22, 2013 Video
You will never have time to listen to this entire interview. But, if you do, you will learn a TON about hip-hop history and journalism. Two of hip-hop's finest minds, Combat Jack (aka former pioneering entertainment attorney Reggie Osse) and Elliott Wilson (the mind behind Rap Radar) chop it up for more than 2 hours.

You will never have time to listen to this entire interview. But, if you do, you will learn a TON about hip-hop history and journalism. Two of hip-hop's finest minds, Combat Jack (aka former pioneering entertainment attorney Reggie Osse) and Elliott Wilson (the mind behind Rap Radar) chop it up for more than 2 hours.

In the interview, Combat Jack takes Elliott on a 20-year "this is your life" journey through a career that touched The Source, XXL, Ego Trip, xxlmag.com, Vh1, Jay-Z, Eminem and finally Rap Radar.  Those are some pretty significant arbiters of hip-hop culture.  Take a listen to hear Elliott's role in... Read more
October 18, 2010 Food for Thought