erick sermon ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Erick Sermon Is Releasing A Dynamic Duos Album

This weekend, Erick Sermon released the first single of a long-anticipated album, Dynamic Duos. On Friday (February 9), E-Double released "Back 2 The Party." The song features a legendary duo, Salt-n-Pepa. Sermon orchestrates a song that is co-produced by his longtime Def Squad affiliate Rockwilder (with Erick). What's more, the... Read more

February 10, 2024 Fresh, News, Trending Stories

Big Daddy Kane Names His Top 3 Posse Cuts

Thirty-five years ago, Marley Marl released "The Symphony." In 1988, the Cold Chillin' Records single became a juggernaut for the Juice Crew's expansion. It included Marley on production, with ear-grabbing verses from Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Craig G, and Masta Ace. At a time when Roxanne Shanté, Biz... Read more

September 16, 2023 Video

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

August 17, 2023 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Redman, Erick Sermon & Keith Murray Show How Def Their Squad Is

The Def Squad has been going strong for over 30 years. As Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, the three-MC core of Erick Sermon, Redman, and Keith Murray showed up in style at the 2023 BET Awards. Erick Sermon kicked off the medley performing his 2001 solo song "Music" from his album of the same... Read more

June 25, 2023 TV, TV/Film, Video

Erick Sermon Reveals He’s Overcome An Opioid Addiction

One of Hip-Hop's most beloved multi-threats has opened up about his personal life. Erick Sermon revealed this weekend that he is seven months clean from opioid addiction. The EPMD and Def Squad co-founder has not previously shared that he was addicted to painkillers. On Instagram, E-Double shared the news, along... Read more

January 7, 2023 Lifestyle, News

Erick Sermon Confirms The Passing Of Hurricane G

UPDATE: On Monday, November 7, The New York Post reported that according to family members, Hurricane G had been battling cancer. “My mom has stage 4 lung cancer,” Gloria's daughter Lexus previously announced via social media. “I don’t know how many of you understand what that means but even after... Read more

November 7, 2022 News

Nas & Eminem Are Rapping Together For The 1st Time Ever

As many music fans have shifted focus on Friday, August 6 for Kanye West's Donda release—two weeks after initially planned—another artist has occupied the attention for the day. Last week, Nas announced that Kings Disease 2 will be arriving on Friday. Today (August 3), the tracklisting for the Mass Appeal... Read more

August 3, 2021 Fresh, News

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

April 21, 2021 Video

MC Eiht Details Lessons He Learned From EPMD, Rakim, Menace II Society & More

MC Eiht is the latest guest on Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast. In a 90-minute discussion, Eiht revisits highlights from his entire 30-plus-year-career. The Hub City O.G. details the formative years of Compton's Most Wanted and how he assumed the writing responsibilities for both MCs in the collective.... Read more

October 27, 2020 Exclusive, Video

Jadakiss Confirms That Styles P Once Dissed JAY-Z On His Own Song

Today, The LOX are in a partnership with JAY-Z's Roc Nation. There's more than 20 years of history between Hov' and The Warlocks. However, as fans are learning, not all of it is rooted in positivity. Back in 1998, JAY-Z dropped his third album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. Like... Read more

March 1, 2020 Video

RJ Payne Say He’s The New Def Squad As He Spits Heat Beside Erick Sermon (Video)

RJ Payne is one of the anticipated artists on Benny's Black Soprano Family imprint. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the onetime star of the Battle Rap circuit (then known as "Reignman") has fed the masses with an onslaught of releases in his If C*caine Could Talk series. Before formally inking with Benny... Read more

August 9, 2019 Video

EPMD Are Working On A New Album & It’s Big Business (Video)

Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith are back to work more than 30 years since the release of EPMD's debut album, Strictly Business. At Long Island, New York's Def Squad Studios, speaking to AFH TV, Erick and Parrish dropped some new information about the duo's upcoming eighth album, said to be titled... Read more

May 28, 2019 Interview, News, Video

Erick Sermon, Styles P & AZ Team Up To Save The Rap Game (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

April 28, 2019 Audio

B-Real Details How He Developed 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Most Distinctive Voices (Video)

Guru famously proclaimed "It's mostly the voice" on a Gang Starr song of the same name. Like the late, great Keith Elam, Cypress Hill and Prophets Of Rage member B-Real has one of the most recognizable voices in music. The Los Angeles, California veteran raps with clarity and a nasal... Read more

April 24, 2019 Video

Erick Sermon Has Released A New Album Filled With All-Stars. Listen Here (Audio)

Erick Sermon has just released his eighth solo album, Vernia. Earlier this month, at Long Island, New York's Def Squad Studios, the Green-Eyed Bandit extensively details his LP featuring Raekwon, N.O.R.E., Too Short, Devin The Dude, No Malice, Big K.R.I.T., Pharrell, Styles P, AZ, Shaquille O'Neal, Xzibit, Keith Murray, and... Read more

April 19, 2019 Interview, News, Video

Erick Sermon, Raekwon & N.O.R.E. Remind MCs They Fathered Their Styles (Audio)

After nearly 18 months of anticipation, Erick Sermon is releasing his eighth solo album later this week. On April 19, The Green-Eyed Bandit will drop Vernia, named after the legendary Brentwood, Long Island MC/producer's late grandmother. Following February's "That Girl," featuring Big K.R.I.T., Erick is unleashing a new single. This... Read more

April 15, 2019 Audio

Diamond D’s New Album Features Erick Sermon, Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli & More

It has been nearly five years since D.I.T.C. co-founder Diamond D released a solo album. The self-proclaimed "best producer on the mic" dropped one of his most exciting albums in the form of 2014's The Diam Piece. Producing all but one of the tracks (which was by DJ Scratch), the... Read more

March 16, 2019 Exclusive, Fresh

Erick Sermon & Big K.R.I.T. Join Forces To Celebrate Southern Women (Audio)

Erick Sermon's eighth solo studio album Vernia has been in the works for more than a year. The Hip-Hop legend drops off a new single to whet fans appetite on the LP that they pre-funded. "That Girl" is a strong release from the EPMD MC/producer and celebrates women of the... Read more

February 14, 2019 Audio

Mike Tyson Says He Had His Best Fight Ever When He Was High

Mike Tyson is the latest guest on B-Real's The Smokebox. Iron Mike is joined by former NFL offensive tackle and fellow Brooklyn, New Yorker, Eben Britton. Sitting in the smoky ride with Cypress Hill's front-man, Mike Tyson details his relationship with cannabis, which goes back to 1970s Brownsville, Brooklyn. Mike says... Read more

February 14, 2019 Lifestyle, Video

Erick Sermon Details EPMD’s Terrible 1st Contract & How They Got The Big Payback

EPMD is one of those groups that are always mentioned among Hip-Hop's legendary duos, however it always seems like they don't quite get their full due. That was especially true of a mid-1980s contract that the pair of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith signed. They later got the big payback... Read more

November 27, 2018 Audio

Do Remember When EPMD Teamed With Red & Meth For A Rap Symphony (Video)

Def Jam Records had made some of the most iconic Hip-Hop albums of all-time during the 1980s. After some sluggish years in the early 1990s, the label started by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin rebounded in a major way in 1998. That was the same year that the imprint forecast... Read more

November 15, 2018 Do Remember

K-Solo Discusses The Day He Says Redman Shot At Him Multiple Times (Video)

K-Solo was one of the first Hit-Squad MCs that Parrish Smith put down with EPMD. The Long Island, New York rapper has been quite forthcoming in recent years about the early days of Erick and Parrish's pioneering Hip-Hop crew. While he has not enjoyed nearly as fruitful a career as... Read more

September 13, 2018 Video

Erick Sermon Previews His Next Album With A Verse That’s As Hard As His Beats (Video)

In addition to new EPMD sneakers, Erick Sermon has been busy promoting his eighth solo album. Now titled Vernia (after being previously called Go), the fan-funded LP promises involvement from AZ, Big K.R.I.T., Xzibit, Too Short, Styles P, and others. At the top of the year, the Long Island legend... Read more

August 27, 2018 Video

Erick Sermon & Parrish Smith Are Still In Business. They Have An EPMD Sneaker (Video)

More than 30 years ago, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith formed EPMD. From dropping some of the most influential tracks in Hip-Hop history to surviving periods of breakup, the E and P are still together, still in business, and currently celebrating their 30-year anniversary in style. The Brentwood, Long Island... Read more

August 14, 2018 Fresh, Lifestyle, News, Video

PMD Discusses Yo! MTV Raps’ Ed Lover Being One Of The Best Freestylers On The Planet (Audio)

From its inception in 1988 to its final episode in 1995, Yo! MTV Raps was a top springboard for Hip-Hop artists. It was an opportunity to showcase skills and unique styles on one of the largest platforms available to the genre. In an interview with HipHopDX, Parrish "PMD" Smith spoke... Read more

May 24, 2018 Audio, Throwback, Throwback

New Def Squad Artist Elijah The Young Prophit Flips EPMD To Make It His Thing (Video)

Erick Sermon is not only a legendary producer and MC, but he’s also one of Hip-Hop's most gifted talent scouts. E-Double mentored Redman and Keith Murray while having early hands in the careers of Rick Ross, K-Solo, and Das-EFX. Def Squad Records and the Green-Eyed Bandit are once again ready... Read more

May 22, 2018 Ready Or Not

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

April 11, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Redman Helps Lift A Talented Up & Coming Rapper Above The Clouds (Video)

Cincinnati, Ohio's Cal Scruby has been at it for a while and is known to incorporate the right musicians into his creative work. Whether it be Chris Brown for a White Man Can't Jump-inspired video or Sevyn Streeter to showcase his crossover ability, Cal's wants to be known as a spitter as... Read more

April 11, 2018 Video

Erick Sermon Reveals The Real Reason Craig Mack Did Not Join The Bad Boy Reunion Tour

On March 12, MC Craig Mack died at the age of 47 (earlier reports listed his age as 46). The Bronx-born, Long Island-raised artist who used his real name on records deceased from what coroner's declared as natural causes at his home in Walterboro, South Carolina. Other sources close to... Read more

March 14, 2018 Food for Thought

Vince Staples’ CrowdFunding Campaign Is Doomed To Fail & That’s The Best Thing For Hip-Hop

The Hip-Hop industry is adapting to the times. A-list rappers release albums through cellphone carriers, cryptocurrency is accepted as a form of payment by artists, and the idea of a project being for sale is being challenged by some of the genre’s top earners. One of the tech trends that... Read more

March 7, 2018 Food for Thought, News, Video

Erick Sermon Is Executive Producing Redman’s “Muddy Waters Too” & Says It Will Be Classic (Audio)

Approaching 30 years since EPMD released Strictly Business, Erick Sermon is in the midst of a creative renaissance. Last month, the Green-Eyed Bandit secured more than $60,000 of crowd-funding for his upcoming ninth solo album (now titled Vernia). As E-Double gets underway on that release promised to feature Method Man,... Read more

March 7, 2018 Audio

Keith Murray Announces The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World Part 2 (Video)

Following EPMD's temporary breakup and dissolving of the Hit Squad in 1993, MC/producer Erick Sermon set forth on his solo career and formed his triumvirate Def Squad crew with Redman and then-upstart Keith Murray. The latter MC turned Heads made a strong first impression with his home run-hitting clean-up verse... Read more

February 24, 2018 News, Video

Erick Sermon Raises More Than $60,000 & Will Release His 8th Solo Album

FEBRUARY 22 UPDATE: Erick Sermon and Def Squad Records released the following statement to Ambrosia For Heads: "In today's music business, the climate is everything's based on streaming. We have seen drastic changes in the way consumers listen to content. There [are] all different genres of Hip-Hop now some with more commercial... Read more

February 21, 2018 Fresh, Video

Erick Sermon’s New Album Features Method Man, AZ, GFK & More. Here’s The 1st Song (Audio)

In 2017, EPMD announced that they were working on a concept album. Dynamic Duos: Big Business is slated to be the Long Island, New York duo's eighth album in a series that dates back more than 30 years. The first LP in almost a decade comes after a reported Roc... Read more

January 23, 2018 Audio, News

Erick Sermon Reveals The Source Of The Def Squad Album Samples To Prince Paul (Video)

Recently, Redman told New Jersey's Grass Routes Podcast that he hopes Def Squad can record a sophomore album. Next year marks 20 years since he, Keith Murray and mutual mentor Erick Sermon came together for El Niño. The album debuted at #2, following the group's covering of 1979 breakthrough Hip-Hop... Read more

October 30, 2017 Video

EPMD Are Working On An Album Only Featuring Classic Hip-Hop Duos (Video)

It has been almost nine years since legendary duo EPMD released an album. Late 2008's We Mean Business marked the seventh group effort for Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. The EP/RBC Records release was a departure from the six consecutive gold albums the Long Islanders released dating back to 1988's... Read more

October 1, 2017 News, Video

EPMD Detail The Night Their Beef With Eric B. & Rakim Almost Got Physical (Video)

Earlier this year, EPMD joined Flava Flav, Large Professor, Bumpy Knuckles and more than 20 MCs at the 30th anniversary concert for Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full. Rakim and Eric's first concert together in years, also marked a historic armistice in 1980s Hip-Hop folklore. On this week's episode... Read more

September 21, 2017 Video

Redman Wants Another Def Squad Album & He Explains The Muddy Waters 2 Delay (Audio)

2018 marks 20 years since Def Squad released its one and only album. El Niño debuted at #2 on the Top 200 and marked a long time coming for Erick Sermon and his star pupils, Redman and Keith Murray. A strong branch from the EPMD family tree, that LP featured... Read more

September 5, 2017 Audio, News

AZ, Redman, Erick Sermon & DJ Premier Make D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar Even Sweeter (Audio)

When D'Angelo's album Brown Sugar was released in 1995, it did not sound like anything out at the time. Hip-Hop was enjoying what many see as its golden age, with music by Nas, Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and more lighting up the charts. On the R&B front,... Read more

August 25, 2017 Audio

Parrish Smith Discusses LL Cool J Dissing EPMD ON THEIR OWN SONG (Video)

For decades, LL Cool J has been known as one of the most ferocious MCs ever to pick up a microphone...or ink one on his arm. Long before 50 Cent, LL Cool J was the bully from Queens, taking on all comers, old and new. LL's beefs with Kool Moe... Read more

August 24, 2017 Video

Redman, Erick Sermon & Keith Murray Freestyle To The Def Over “Who Shot Ya” (Audio)

1998 was arguably the strongest year of the East Coast's resurgence during the West Coast Gangsta Rap-dominated decade. Radio stations across the map, and music video channels BET and MTV, were putting a diverse mix of music from New York City representatives DMX, N.O.R.E., Nas, Big Pun, Cam'ron, Ma$e, Biggie... Read more

August 10, 2017 Throwback

25 Years Ago Das EFX Checked The Mic With Dead Serious Rhymes (Video)

1992 was a deeply transitional year for Hip-Hop. By the end of the calendar, The Chronic and Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop were heavy in the air. However, one of the first sparks of the hardcore flame came in the form of another debut. That album, Das EFX's Dead Serious,... Read more

April 6, 2017 Do Remember

Finding The GOAT Producer: DJ Quik vs. Dr. Dre. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Producer,” the third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and two slots will be reserved for wild-card entries, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more

February 23, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Producer: Erick Sermon vs. DJ Quik. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Producer,” the third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and two slots will be reserved for wild-card entries, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more

February 15, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Keith Murray Drops His Best Song in 10 Years With Help From Erick Sermon (Audio)

2/3 of the Def Squad have teamed up on a phenomenal new song, "No Exceptions." Produced by Erick Sermon, it's Keith Murray's first single in six years, and it shows the Long Island, New York MC is back in a major way. Following memorable appearances at A3C and the BET... Read more

February 13, 2017 Audio

EPMD Reveal Eric B. & Rakim Used The Rhythm To Hit Them With A Diss (Video)

Last Fall, Rakim spoke before a special live event with the Juan Epstein Podcast. There, the lyrical half of Eric B. & Rakim told Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds about a number of highlight moments surrounding his 30-plus-year career. To fans of 1980s Rap rivalries and supreme lyricism, one section... Read more

February 3, 2017 Video

Cypress Hill, Def Squad & MC Eiht Made Us All Throw Our Hands In The Air (Video)

For more than 25 years, Cypress Hill has bloomed from pure Hip-Hop to mainstream appeal. B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs created a sound that made Hip-Hop fans feel the daily angst of gang-controlled Los Angeles, California juxtaposed with the euphoria of medicinal relaxation. In 1996, after three albums (eventually... Read more

January 12, 2017 Do Remember

Finding The GOAT Producer: Organized Noize vs. Erick Sermon. Who Is Better?

UPDATE: The original vote was within 1%, so a tie-breaker was held to determine the winner. Erick Sermon won that vote by 6%. “Finding the GOAT Producer” begins. The third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were... Read more

January 11, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Rakim Opens Up About Rivalries With Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, EPMD & More

Although he is revered as one of, if not the greatest, MCs of all time–Rakim typically shuns the spotlight. Even as rumors (and anonymously reported denials) linger about an Eric B. & Rakim reunion and corresponding tour, the 30-year professional musician has not come forward to confirm or waive off reports.... Read more

November 3, 2016 Fresh, News

Redman & Keith Murray Bring The 90s To Atlanta & It’s So So Def (Video)

The annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival has been taking place in Atlanta since Wednesday (October 5) of this week. The yearly event has been the host to a number of panels and showcases and has been a veritable who's who in terms of talent and executives that drive the culture. One... Read more

October 8, 2016 Video