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Can You Feel It: Why 1984 Is Hip-Hop’s Watershed Moment (Food For Thought)

Can You Feel It: Why 1984 Is Hip-Hop’s Watershed Moment (Food For Thought)

Last year, Hip-Hop turned 40 years old—as far as we know. In truth, part of the culture’s beauty comes from the fact that there is no genesis moment. From the ancient cave-side hieroglyphics to the late ‘60s tags of TAKI 183, graffiti existed as a fascinating balance of expression and... Read more
August 27, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh, Throwback
Method Man & R.A. The Rugged Man Talk Music Industry Black-Balling (Video)

Method Man & R.A. The Rugged Man Talk Music Industry Black-Balling (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man, who's been a longtime label-mate of Masta Killa at Nature Sounds, predates a lot of Wu-Tang Clan members, as far as record contracts. The early 1990s Jive Records sensation known as Crustified Dibbs recently got up with Method Man backstage on the road, recalling their circa-1993... Read more
August 18, 2014 Fresh, Video
Def Jam is Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary with a Mega Concert of Artists Old and New

Def Jam is Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary with a Mega Concert of Artists Old and New

2014 marks the 30th anniversary of Def Jam Recordings, the record company many would argue was the most important in cementing Hip-Hop's legacy. Def Jam has been celebrating the landmark milestone throughout the year with re-releases, box sets and more. Today, they've announced they will be throwing a mega concert... Read more
August 14, 2014 Fresh
In The Lineage Of I Shot Ya & 4,3,2,1, LL Cool J Makes I’m Nice (Audio)

In The Lineage Of I Shot Ya & 4,3,2,1, LL Cool J Makes I’m Nice (Audio)

Every few years, LL Cool J really drops the gloves on 'em. The onetime Def Jam Records pioneer built his career on the kind of bravado that took on all challengers in the mid-1980s. As LL's base grew to truly celebrate the fact that "Ladies Love" Cool J something special,... Read more
August 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Discover The Origins Of ONYX Straight From The Source (Audio)

Discover The Origins Of ONYX Straight From The Source (Audio)

One of the first groups to show the East Coast exactly what wilin' out means was the fearsome foursome known as ONYX. Formed in 1988, Sticky Fingaz, Fredro Starr, Sonny Seeza, and Big DS would go on to create their critically acclaimed, Def Jam released, debut album, Bacdafucup in '93... Read more
July 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Joe Budden & Ransom Squash Differences, Reunite In The Vietnam Trenches (Audio)

Joe Budden & Ransom Squash Differences, Reunite In The Vietnam Trenches (Audio)

Two Garden State greats, Joe Budden and Ransom, came from the same circles in the mid-2000s. Ransom was poised to be one of "Jumpoff Joe's" early proteges, in between his Def Jam Records fallout and what would become his Slaughterhouse lead-in's. Around 2008, the two lyricists ran afoul and entered... Read more
July 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Black Sheep Dres Breaks Down Ageism In Hip-Hop, Delivers HOT 97 A Message From DJ Kool Herc (Audio)

Black Sheep Dres Breaks Down Ageism In Hip-Hop, Delivers HOT 97 A Message From DJ Kool Herc (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's true mainstays over the last 25 years has been Dres. Since his days building with Kool DJ Red Alert and former Black Sheep to his latest songs about marriage and flexing Bars In The Booth alongside DJ Premier, the Queens, New York-born MC has been a strong,... Read more
July 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
Jhene Aiko Recalls The Pressures Of A Relationship (Audio)

Jhene Aiko Recalls The Pressures Of A Relationship (Audio)

Jhene Aiko's debut full-length solo, Souled Out, is less than six weeks away. In advance of the August 25 date, the Los Angelino drops off "Pressure," a look at the stresses of a failing relationship. The production, care of The Fisticuffs, has a lot going on, beneath the surface. This... Read more
July 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Common & Big Sean Show Off Their Diamonds (Audio)

Common & Big Sean Show Off Their Diamonds (Audio)

Following the unveiling of "Speak My Piece" last week (June 30), Common's Nobody's Smiling campaign continues. Teaming with longtime collaborator and onetime G.O.O.D. Music brother (and now Def Jam brother), Big Sean, on "Diamonds," Common's perceived agenda of reaching a new, younger generation with his latest album feels successful, when... Read more
July 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh
The-Dream Shows Real, Active Change In His Powerful Visual For Black (Video)

The-Dream Shows Real, Active Change In His Powerful Visual For Black (Video)

After April's lyric video, The-Dream shows that he had some truly massive plans for "Black." The song, a message of Black empowerment, uses modern illustrations for racism (the violence in Chicago, materialistic stereotypes, Tommy Hilfiger's racist remarks) as well as iconic mentions of Marvin Gaye, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin... Read more
July 2, 2014 Fresh, Video
Common’s Speak My Piece Is A Beautiful Illustration Of His Vision On Nobody’s Smiling (Audio)

Common’s Speak My Piece Is A Beautiful Illustration Of His Vision On Nobody’s Smiling (Audio)

Common's sound has evolved over the last 22 years. From working with The Beatnuts to No I.D. and Dug Infinite to The Soulquarians to Kanye West to Pharrell and back... Comm's forever playing with his growth as an artist, surviving the times, and making each body of work stand apart... Read more
June 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Nobody’s Smiling On Common’s New Album Artwork, Now Get The Tracklist

Nobody’s Smiling On Common’s New Album Artwork, Now Get The Tracklist

Now arriving in less than one month, July 22's Nobody's Smiling from Common visually lives up to its name. Now at Def Jam Records, the 22-year veteran of releasing penetrating Hip-Hop albums mean-mugs on an LP for the first time since his October '92 debut, Can I Borrow A Dollar?.... Read more
June 28, 2014 Fresh
Pusha T Kicks His 40 Acres Verse To Silence, Deserving Closer Attention (Video)

Pusha T Kicks His 40 Acres Verse To Silence, Deserving Closer Attention (Video)

Pusha T is among Hip-Hop's most championed present-day lyricists. His solo studio debut, My Name Is My Name was regularly mentioned among 2013's best Rap albums. Strangely, the album has seemingly quieted down a bit since. Performing in studio for REVOLT TV, King Push left the beat behind to showcase... Read more
June 24, 2014 Fresh, Video
Rick Rubin’s 1-Hour Conversation With Zane Lowe Leaves No Question Unanswered (Video)

Rick Rubin’s 1-Hour Conversation With Zane Lowe Leaves No Question Unanswered (Video)

To some extent, Rick Rubin is something of Hip-Hop's Howard Hughes, and that's not just the beard. The music mogul went from starring (as a hybrid of himself) in Krush Groove to basically shunning press and spotlights throughout the '90s and 2000s. That started to change, especially as far as... Read more
June 23, 2014 Fresh, Video
Chris Lighty Speaks on How He Started Violator (Video)

Chris Lighty Speaks on How He Started Violator (Video)

As part of its Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, BET conducted the last ever televised interview with Chris Lighty, prior to his death in 2012. As part of that session, Lighty spoke on how he made the transition from working with Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen at Def Jam/Rush Management to... Read more
June 22, 2014 Video
Russell Simmons & Bill Adler Talk About Signing Public Enemy, The Logo & The Ramifications (Video)

Russell Simmons & Bill Adler Talk About Signing Public Enemy, The Logo & The Ramifications (Video)

Following LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys, Def Jam Records next breakthrough artist signing was Public Enemy. The Long Island, New York Hip-Hop collective including Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, The Bomb Squad, Johnny Juice and more would shake the earth with boisterous messages, social information,... Read more
June 12, 2014 Fresh, 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
Common Reunites With No ID At Def Jam Records, Nobody’s Smiling Release Date Announced!

Common Reunites With No ID At Def Jam Records, Nobody’s Smiling Release Date Announced!

With Nobody's Smiling announced in the first days of 2014, Heads weren't sure of any more details. The Chicago Hip-Hop pioneer had fulfilled his deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music years ago, before releasing 2011's The Dreamer/The Believer at Warner Bros. Records, an imprint which has since rolled into Atlantic.... Read more
June 4, 2014 Fresh
The Roots’ Never Gets A Live Choral Flip, With DJ A-Trak On The Cut (Video)

The Roots’ Never Gets A Live Choral Flip, With DJ A-Trak On The Cut (Video)

Released yesterday, The Roots' ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin steps further in the direction that the group has been heading since parting ways with MCA/Geffen Records a decade ago. Dark, thoughtful, and often veiled in the perspectives and voices of others, the Philadelphia group is making quite different music... Read more
May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video
Look Back To An Ill 1998 Future Flavas Freestyle From The Last Days Of A Tribe Called Quest (Audio)

Look Back To An Ill 1998 Future Flavas Freestyle From The Last Days Of A Tribe Called Quest (Audio)

Heads may remember the late '90s, early 2000s HOT 97 "Future Flavas" radio show hosted by Marley Marl and Pete Rock. In the glory days of underground Hip-Hop, this show bridged the gap between old school and emerging greats, with two legends on the boards, transmitting to the tri-state. This... Read more
May 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
Listen Up. Jeezy’s Got Some Things to Get Off His Chest (and Shoulder) (Audio)

Listen Up. Jeezy’s Got Some Things to Get Off His Chest (and Shoulder) (Audio)

Jeezy gets some things off his chest and dusts off his shoulder a bit on his latest release, Me OK. He talks about his journey from being a subject of XXL magazine to Forbes. He also addresses his next album release and suggests it might not be with his long... Read more
May 9, 2014 Audio
Want To Try Something Different? Roll Up Asher Roth’s Full RetroHash Album (Audio)

Want To Try Something Different? Roll Up Asher Roth’s Full RetroHash Album (Audio)

Asher Roth has released just two albums in nearly five years, and they could not be more different. The Pennsylvania MC who entered the scene in 2008 and 2009 had some rocket-fueled success when he dropped Asleep In The Bread Aisle back at the top of his career. After changing... Read more
April 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Asher Roth Reaches A New Plateau Of Social Commentary In His Career With The World Is Not Enough (Video)

Asher Roth Reaches A New Plateau Of Social Commentary In His Career With The World Is Not Enough (Video)

Back in 2008 and 2009, when Asher Roth was hot on the scene, he was being reportedly courted by everybody from Ludacris to Jay Z to the eventual deal he inked with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records. The Bucks County, Pennsylvania MC was tearing down freestyles, and winning over naysayers who... Read more
April 10, 2014 Fresh, Video
Method Man & Redman Play Tongue Twisters Game With Cotton-Mouth (Video)

Method Man & Redman Play Tongue Twisters Game With Cotton-Mouth (Video)

Montreality can seemingly get legendary rappers to do just about anything. Fresh off of getting Kool G Rap to recall delivering Chinese food, the Great North site got Redman & Method Man (Meth's not always the biggest fan of media either) to play Tongue Twisters. The Def Jam O.G.'s battle... Read more
April 9, 2014 Fresh, Video
Rick Ross Decries The Devil Alone In This Backstreet Visual (Video)

Rick Ross Decries The Devil Alone In This Backstreet Visual (Video)

As a father, husband, sports agent, multi-platinum recording artist and label head, Jay Z is a busy man. Rick Ross' former Def Jam boss missed out on the video for one of his most potent guest spots in some time in "The Devil Is A Lie." That did not phase... Read more
March 20, 2014 Fresh, Video
If You Aren’t Up On YG, This Kendrick Lamar-Assisted Track Will Put Your Attention In A Chokehold (Audio)

If You Aren’t Up On YG, This Kendrick Lamar-Assisted Track Will Put Your Attention In A Chokehold (Audio)

Although he's still a relatively new face in Hip-Hop, Kendrick Lamar has fast found the ability to knight other artists into the spotlight. While K.Dot has many pockets of fans, some Heads gravitate towards the Compton MC for his unpredictable flows, honesty, and eloquent wordplay that align him with the... Read more
March 12, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Are Method Man & Redman Still The Jewels Of Def Jam? Check Out Their South By Southwest Showcase (Video)

Are Method Man & Redman Still The Jewels Of Def Jam? Check Out Their South By Southwest Showcase (Video)

Redman released his first LP (Whut? Thee Album) on Def Jam Records 22 years ago. With Method Man's own Tical debut blessing "the house that Russell and Rick built" 20 years ago this November, the Def Squad/Wu-Tang Clan connection are the elder statesmen of the imprint no longer owned by... Read more
March 12, 2014 Fresh, Video
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
LL Cool J Makes A New Love Ballad Over Some Chipmunk Soul (Audio)

LL Cool J Makes A New Love Ballad Over Some Chipmunk Soul (Audio)

While Drake makes his way, can anybody in Hip-Hop ever really dethrone LL Cool J's status as the Rap-Ballad king? While he never sang, Ladies Love Cool James has been a master since he "needed love" just as much as he "needed a beat." Just about 30 years later, Uncle... Read more
March 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Big Boi, Ludacris & T.I.’s In The A Gets A Trippy Musical Facelift (Audio & Video)

Big Boi, Ludacris & T.I.’s In The A Gets A Trippy Musical Facelift (Audio & Video)

The Big Boi's Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors mash-up Mondays continue. This time, they took the aggressive 2012 Atlanta-posse cut "In The A" and meshed it with a tab of Kito & Reija Lee’s trippy "Run For Cover." Strangely, it works (it's called "King Shit", so it should)... with the... Read more
March 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh
Rick Ross’ Mastermind Album is His Finest Yet. Some May Say Classic (Food For Thought)

Rick Ross’ Mastermind Album is His Finest Yet. Some May Say Classic (Food For Thought)

Last night (February 11), Rick Ross hosted a Mastermind album release party at New World Stages in New York City and AFH was in the building. The event was a star-studded affair, with Ross and Meek Mill there from MMG, as well as DJ Khaled, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, Mack Wilds,... Read more
February 12, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh
‘Ye Speaks: Kanye West Remembers The College Dropout 10 Years Later

‘Ye Speaks: Kanye West Remembers The College Dropout 10 Years Later

Kanye West doesn't really seem like the type of artist who enjoys looking back at his past songs with reminiscent nostalgia. However, today he released a statement via Def Jam Records, honoring his debut album, which turns 10 years old today: "Ten years ago today we finally released what had... Read more
February 10, 2014 Fresh
Def Jam Records Started With A Smash. 30 Years Ago Today T La Rock Declared It’s Yours

Def Jam Records Started With A Smash. 30 Years Ago Today T La Rock Declared It’s Yours

The same week that LL Cool J hosted the Grammy Awards, there is another important memory milestone for Def Jam Records. Thirty years ago today (January 28), the label started by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin (in a New York University dorm room), released blockbuster single "It's Yours" by Manhattan/Bronx... Read more
January 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback
Kanye West’s Yeezus Reaches Platinum Status, He’s Now 7-For-7

Kanye West’s Yeezus Reaches Platinum Status, He’s Now 7-For-7

For the seventh time in his career, Kanye West has a platinum album. Yeezus, released in June of last year, has reached the benchmark milestone, according to the RIAA. With the announcement, Kanye West has a perfect track record for meeting the million mark. The Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records release included... Read more
January 16, 2014 Fresh
Did Rick Ross & Jay Z Make Their Best Collabo Yet? The Devil Is A Lie (Audio)

Did Rick Ross & Jay Z Make Their Best Collabo Yet? The Devil Is A Lie (Audio)

For seven years now, Jay Z and Rick Ross have been sharing the booth on various songs, remixes, and posse cuts. Just when 2013 seemed in shut-down mode, the full audio of "The Devil Is A Lie" comes forth. From Rick Ross's upcoming 2014 Mastermind album, he slams his bars... Read more
December 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh
Def Jam’s Bill Adler Remembers Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures… 25 Years Later

Def Jam’s Bill Adler Remembers Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures… 25 Years Later

You might know Bill Adler, and you might not. "Ill Badler," as his maroon Def Jam Records varsity jacket used to read, was the original (and the best) head of Publicity Def Jam ever had. Russell Simmons hired Bill, who would help acts like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, The... Read more
November 5, 2013 Fresh, Throwback
Kanye West – New Slaves (Video)

Kanye West – New Slaves (Video)

Mr. West has shaken up the industry, yet again. After sending out a tweet last night that read "NEW SONG AND VISUAL FROM MY NEW ALBUM BEING PROJECTED TONIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE ON 66 BUILDINGS, LOCATIONS @ http://KANYEWEST.COM" his team began to roll out the visuals for his "New Slaves".... Read more
May 18, 2013 Fresh, Video
Here’s a cool video of Russell Simmons talking about what led him to Rick Rubin.

Here’s a cool video of Russell Simmons talking about what led him to Rick Rubin.

Check out the video below and click here to listen to our playlist of Rick Rubin hip-hop productions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPodlw6YdJw&feature=player_embedded... Read more
July 25, 2011 Video
All the recent heat around The Beastie Boys has gotten me thinking about Def Jam of old. You can’t talk about the original Def Jam sound without mentioning Rick Rubin. He is the subject of our latest Producer Series playlist.

All the recent heat around The Beastie Boys has gotten me thinking about Def Jam of old. You can’t talk about the original Def Jam sound without mentioning Rick Rubin. He is the subject of our latest Producer Series playlist.

Rick Rubin was a purist. He liked BIG thumping 808 drums, hard snares, hard rhymes and not much else on his songs. At the time, when rap was still being recorded mostly over disco and R&B covers, his sound was revolutionary. He was among the first to capture the rawness... Read more
April 29, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback
I Love Rick Ross

I Love Rick Ross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPJtZLq07C8&feature=player_embedded Dude is just dope musically.  Regardless of what you think of his hood cred, his music has overcome it time and time again.  Think about it.  He is the first person to survive a full on attack by 50.  In fact, he might even be bigger than he was... Read more
June 23, 2010 Video
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