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Chuck D & KRS-One Have Launched A Hip-Hop Union

At a time when labor unions are making a resurgence among companies like Starbucks and Amazon, Hip-Hop is proving no different. Some of the leaders in the culture have established The Hip Hop Alliance, dubbed "Hip-Hop's first official union." The organization, founded by Chuck D and Kurtis Blow, defines itself... Read more

DJ Scratch Explains The Tension At The Big Daddy Kane & KRS-One Verzuz

On Sunday night (October 17), Hip-Hop fans were treated to a Verzuz match up between 80s Hip-Hop legends, Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One. There were freestyles, surprise guests, and some noteworthy banter between the two participants and their DJs—Kid Capri and DJ Scratch, representing Kris and Kane, respectively. During AFH's recap... Read more

Redman & Method Man Are Making Blackout 3

Last night (April 20), Method Man and Redman proved to be the big dogs of Verzuz, with one of the most anticipated displays since the platform's creation. The performance was part concert, part competition. Two of Hip-Hop's closest figures made all who tuned in feel their chemistry as they ran... Read more

The LOX Break Down How To Make A Classic Album (Video)

Three weeks ago, The LOX released their fourth album, Living Off Xperience. The D-Block/Roc Nation release includes contributions from DMX, Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn, Large Professor, T-Pain, Oswin Benjamin, Nottz, Statik Selektah, and their artist, Dyce Payne. Less than a month since its release, the LP from one of... Read more

Swizz Beatz Got Nas’ Best Verse Of 2018 & He Treats It Like Fine Art

In a year where Nas released an album, many fans maintain that his greatest vocal display came in the form of a feature verse. Since his 1991 Main Source debut, Nas has never been too possessive to not splash another artist's track with some of his best rhymes. Over the... Read more

Large Professor Confirms That Main Source Is Making New Music

In 1991, Hip-Hop group Main Source released a landmark album in the form of Breaking Atoms. The Wild Pitch Records release from Large Professor, Sir Scratch, and K-Cut formally introduced the music-buying community to a teenage MC named Nas, as well as other wordsmiths Akinyele, and Joe Fatal. Apart from... Read more

Busta Rhymes Reunites Flipmode To Trade Bars With His New Squad (Audio)

In the 1990s and 2000s, Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad was a Rap force to be reckoned with. The collective grew to include names such as Rampage The Last Boy Scout, Rah Digga, DJ Scratch, Roc Marciano, Spliff Star, Baby Sham, and Lord Have Mercy, among others. At a time when... Read more

Rasheed Chappell’s Latest Kenny Dope-Produced LP Finds Him At Work With The Masters (Audio)

While New Jersey's Rasheed Chappell hasn’t dropped a proper album since his Kenny Dope-produced debut Future Before Nostalgia in 2011, he seems to pop up on dope albums regularly. Check his molten lava stanzas on recent projects by Recognize Ali (The Shining) and Napoleon Da Legend (Steal This Mixtape 4).... Read more

Video Music Box Is Celebrating Its 35th Anniversary With A Concert Packed With Legends

It is an obligation for music historians and Heads alike to acknowledge the evolution of music video shows largely began with "Uncle" Ralph McDaniels and his pioneering TV show Video Music Box. The Queens, New York-born McDaniels is the founder and host of the show, which first aired on New York... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: EPMD vs. Beastie Boys. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle 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, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan To Perform 36 Chambers At 2018 Soundset Festival

Rhymesayers Entertainment's 11th annual Soundset lineup is announced. For 2018, the Minneapolis, Minnesota Hip-Hop festival will feature some of RSE's founders and quite active artists. Event co-organizers Atmosphere will perform on the heels of reissuing their 1997 debut Overcast!. Slug, Ant, and company will be joined by Evidence, following last... Read more

Kendrick Lamar & Chance The Rapper’s Place On The Forbes List Shows Conscious Rap Pays Off (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

Rah Digga’s Lost Album Featuring J Dilla & No ID Production Has Been Released (Audio)

There were 10 long years between Rah Digga's celebrated 2000 debut Dirty Harriet and her follow-up collaboration with producer Nottz, Classic. In that time, Digga left her post as "the First Lady of Flipmode Squad" alongside Busta Rhymes and went fully independent, where she remains today. Rah Digga Rates Nicki... Read more

Das EFX Celebrate 25 Years Of Dead Serious Rhymes With Reunion Concert

Twenty five years ago next week (April 7), Das EFX released their debut album, Dead Serious. The duo of Dray and Skoob took a giant leap from under EPMD's Hit Squad umbrella when they released their first LP on EastWest Records. Produced almost entirely by Solid Scheme, this was a... Read more

In Observance Of National DJ Day, DJ Scratch Rocks The Bells With Body Tricks (Video)

DJ Scratch was recently knighted as "Grandmaster" by Kool Herc for a reason. The longtime DJ for EPMD and Flipmode Squad, who has become a highly accomplished producer has been at the peak of his craft for nearly 30 years. For a HOT 97 segment with DJ Enuff in honor... Read more

Kool Herc Knights DJ Scratch As A “Grandmaster” (Video)

DJ Kool Herc is credited with pioneering Hip-Hop music, through extending the break-beats during his early 1970s DJ sets. The Jamaican born man also known as Clive Campbell has made limited music over the 43 years since August 11, 1973 (the date honored in many circles as Hip-Hop's birthday). However,... Read more

Did Chris Rivers Have The Best Verse Of The 2016 BET Cyphers? (Video)

For many Heads, the handful of cyphers that take place during the BET Hip-Hop Awards telecast are some of the most exciting aspects of the event. This year, fans had plenty to look forward to, with State Property, Dead Prez, Biv & Devoe, and others using 2016 to showcase scorching... Read more

Black Thought, Redman, Doug E. Fresh & More Lead the 2015 Hip Hop Awards Cyphers

Last night (October 9), the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards were taped at Atlanta, Georgia's Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. Hosted by "Uncle" Snoop Dogg, the annual affair honored Scarface with the "I Am Hip Hop Award," and handed out trophies to Rap and R&B's brightest and best. For TV... Read more

Eric B. & Rakim’s Follow The Leader vs. EPMD’s Unfinished Business. What’s Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop's most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? "Finding The GOAT MC" lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Big Daddy Kane, Whodini & The eMC Headline 38th Rocksteady Anniversary

The 38th annual Rocksteady Anniversary concert has been announced. The free Sunday July 26 event at New York City's Central Park Summer Stage will be headlined by Hip-Hop legends Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, and The eMC (Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Stricklin). Additional performers include Your Old Droog, Queen Herawin (The Juggaknots)... Read more

Diamond D Gets Some Super Hero Theme Music From DJ Scratch (Video)

Diamond D is an iconic Hip-Hop producer. So who does he turn to when he needs a beat? Another legend, of course. DJ Scratch (EPMD, Jay Z, Method Man & Redman) laces Diamond with an anthemic track fit for a super hero on "Superman," from Diamond's The Diam Piece album.... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Busta Rhymes vs. Inspectah Deck…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

The Digital Stars Of 2014 Show Out In This BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher (Video)

The first of many 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cyphers has hit the web. Curated as a "Digital All-Star" grouping, this includes the Top 15-selling Andy Mineo, veteran Emilio Rojas, Common-cosigned Dreezy, De La Soul-cosigned Dillon Cooper, Retro Jace, and Conceited. With the exception of Mineo, who rang bells last year... Read more

Who’s Part Of The 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cyphers? See The List!

The 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards will air on October 14 at 8pm. Hosted by "Uncle" Snoop Dogg, the affair will reportedly include performances by Jay Electronica, Common, T.I., Mike WiLL Made It, and others. The annual music event will also continue the honored tradition of the annual cyphers. While specifics... Read more

The O.G. Turntablist/Producer DJ Scratch Remixes Nas’ It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Audio)

Back in 1994, DJ Scratch was relatively quiet. Transitioning from his run as EPMD's DJ, the New Yorker was gearing up to work closely with Busta Rhymes on establishing a sound for the Leaders Of The New School front-man's next wave, Flipmode Squad. Heads in '94 did hear Scratch however,... Read more

DJ Scratch Goes Into The Crates With An All-45 James Brown Mix (Mixtape)

In one of the cooler reveals in Hip-Hop as of late, it turns out that J. Period was not alone in honoring James Brown this week. As the True Elements DJ went in on #The Legend Of James Of Brown, EPMD/Flipmode Squad alum DJ Scratch offered up a companion mix,... Read more

DJ Cash Money & DJ Scratch Rock The Bells, With Some Biz Markie Hilarity (Video)

Although he made one classic Hip-Hop single, Philadelphia's DJ Cash Money is a turntable innovator to the highest degree. Along with DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinbad, and DJ Code Money, Cash ushered in a Philly dominance in the scratching and mixing in the mid-late 1980s that's still up there with... Read more

Jam Master Jay Would Be 49 Years Old This Week. See His Son & DJ Scratch Pay Tribute (Video)

Yesterday (January 21) was Jam Master Jay's birthday. The late DJ/founding member of Run-DMC would have been 49 years old—which is a reminder of just what kind of turntable prodigy he was. In memory of JMJ, his son TJ Mizell (who is a rising sensation behind the wheels of steel... Read more

DJ Scratch Lets Fuse Dig In The Crates (Video)

DJ Scratch is one of the more versatile, yet under-sung producers in Hip-Hop. A major DJ component in the late '80s-through-'90s iteration of EPMD, Scratch was a turntablism award-winner who learned under Jam Master Jay, before tackling production. In the 2000s, Scratch produced hits for Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and... Read more

EPMD’s DJ Scratch Speaks About His Friend and Mentor Jam Master Jay (Video)

Rest in Peace to Jam Master Jay who we lost 11 years ago today. Jay was a friend and mentor to EPMD's DJ Scratch while Run-D.M.C. and EPMD toured together. Scratch recently sat down to discuss their friendship and how Jay looked out for him in the beginning of Scratch's... Read more

Mobetta – Back At The Ranch ft Jean Grae (Video)

Following last week's release of the song, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Mobetta drops the video to "Back The Ranch." Jean Grae's talent in performing shines, despite a career without a plethora of music videos. DJ Scratch, who produced the track, also makes a cameo in front of the Big Apple-inspired green-sky... Read more

Mobetta – Back At The Ranch ft. Jean Grae

DJ Scratch (EPMD/Busta Rhymes) laces strong percussion for Jean Grae to accent a catchy chorus, with Maurice "Mobetta" Brown on the trumpet. This is a Grammy Award-winner hitting collaborations that take us back to Branford Marsalis, Buckshot Lefonque and Quincy Jones' Back On The Blockfor that Jazz/hip hop hybrid. Even... Read more

DJ Scratch in the Mix on the Sway in the Morning Show (Mix)

The legendary DJ Scratch (producer of countless EPMD classics and DJ extraordinaire) dropped an unbelievable mix on the Sway in the Morning show today. He dropped everything from Mantronix to LL Cool J to Art of Noise to EPMD to vintage Busta Rhymes and more break beats than you can... Read more