kanye west Archives

This Week’s Best in Hip-Hop Video Featured Redman, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre & More (Video Playlist)

This was quite the week for Hip-Hop video. We got new videos from Redman, Rapsody, 50 Cent & Jadakiss, Eminem & more, got our first taste of the $5MM Wu-Tang Clan album, saw Kanye West give an aspiring rapper a chance, witnessed Dr. Dre celebrating potentially becoming Hip-Hop's first billionaire... Read more

May 12, 2014 Featured-homepage, Playlists, Video

Get A Closer Listen To The Sidewalk Rapper Kanye West Complimented (Audio)

Even Heads immune to daily paparazzi rundowns and celebrity gossip sites seemed to direct some interest to yesterday's (May 5) video footage of Kanye West listening to a street rapper deliver seemingly-endless bars while 'Ye walked the New York streets with spouse, Kim Kardashian. Headed home after a long night... Read more

May 6, 2014 Audio, Fresh

How Does Kanye West Treat An Aspiring Street-Rapper Who Runs Up On Him With Bars? (Video)

Legend has it that Kanye West signed Big Sean to G.O.O.D. Music after a chance meeting in an elevator at a Detroit, Michigan radio station. On the spot, Big Sean saw his chance to be "finally famous" and bombarded 'Ye with some signature bars that did the unthinkable. History was... Read more

May 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Hit-Boy Makes Another Dope Beat, Rapping About His Career Sacrifices (Audio)

Coming up under Kanye West, Hit-Boy routinely works with one of Hip-Hop's ultimate dues-payers. That "Spaceship" mentality has traveled with Kanye for a decade, nearly eight years after he began shopping beats under D-Dot. The Los Angeles native Hit-Boy, who like 'Ye, also raps, has a similar complex. And why... Read more

April 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Jon Connor Gest on Kanye West’s Black Skinhead Beat and Wrecks It (Video)

As he leads up to his Aftermath debut, Jon Connor is on a mission. He uses the phrase "best in the world" relentlessly, as if he is trying to speak it into existence. Connor has not earned that title yet...but, he is one of the hungriest MCs to hit the... Read more

April 22, 2014 Video

Common & Rhymefest Team With Urban League To Create Thousands Of Youth Jobs

Today's Chicago Sun-Times reports that two Hip-Hop stars from the city are collaborating with the Urban League to provide jobs for those in need of employment. The report suggests that currently "92% of young Black males are jobless" in the Windy City (not stating what the age range is). Rapper-turned-poilitician... Read more

April 17, 2014 Fresh

Jon Connor Releases a Video for His Lyrical Assault on Kanye West’s Bound 2 Track (Video)

Jon Connor released a hot mixtape last month filled with him spitting lyrical flames over Kanye West beats. Here's his video for his version of Bound 2. It's a love story but no one is topless on a motorcylce in this one...Check it out. Related: Jon Connor Sets His Sights... Read more

April 16, 2014 Video

Future Provides the Melody & Kanye West Brings the Verse on I Won (Audio)

Over the last few years, Future has become the featured guest du jour, having lent his vocals to seemingly everyone from Pusha T to Rihanna. As the release date for his new album draws near, the Dungeon Family progeny releases a track with a high-profile guest of his own: Kanye... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio

Rapsody Paints Her Numbers On The Boards With Some Attitude (Audio)

This month, Pusha T's "Numbers On The Boards" has its first birthday. That doesn't mean that the grimy instrumental created by DJ Don Cannon and Kanye West doesn't still attract MCs from elsewhere to mold it to them. Such is the case with Rapsody. She barely stops for air as... Read more

April 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

RIP Marvin Gaye: Here’s a Playlist Celebrating the Hip-Hop Legacy He Left (Video)

Rest in peace to Marvin Gaye who died 30 years ago today. He left the world with countless soul classics, but he also had an incredible impact on Hip-Hop. To celebrate that legacy, here's a video playlist of songs that sampled his music. You'll hear Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The... Read more

April 1, 2014 Playlists, Video

Kanye West, Macklemore & More Make Appearances on Ep. 1 of the New Hot 97 Reality Show (Video)

NYC's Hot 97 is a Hip-Hop institution, having played a key role in launching the careers of Biggie, Jay Z, Kanye West and just about anyone else who's come up through the ranks over the last 20 years. They've landed a new reality series and it's quite entertaining. Rather than... Read more

March 24, 2014 Video

Jon Connor Does Some Flint, Michigan Surgery On A Grip Of Kanye West Songs (Mixtape)

Even though he's in Dr. Dre's corner at Aftermath Entertainment, Jon Connor's playbook has not changed. The Flint, Michigan MC who paid tribute to MC Breed, got a cosign from Nas, and made the Hip-Hop/R&B charts with 2013's self-released Unconscious State is back to concept mixtapes. Two years removed from... Read more

March 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Jay Z, Kanye West & Daft Punk Shelved Track Surfaces From Each’s 2013 Sessions (Audio)

Daft Punk, Kanye West, and Jay Z all released albums in 2013. The French Electronic duo's Random Access Memories stole the show at last month's Grammy Awards, while Kanye's Yeezus snagged the consciousness and conversation of Popular music in June. A month later, Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail bogarted... Read more

March 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kanye West, Common & Madlib Discuss Stones Throw Records In Part 1 Of Documentary (Video)

Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw Records is a special imprint. The California-based indie label has been a release house for work ranging from acclaimed J Dilla Instrumental albums (Donuts), MF DOOM comeback collaborations (Madvillainy), debut LPs from NYC legends like Percee P (Perseverance), and a host of small one-offs ranging... Read more

March 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Arsenio Gets the First Performance of Sanctified From Rick Ross, Kanye West & Big Sean (Video)

Arsenio scored the first ever live performance of Sanctified from Rick Ross, Kanye West & Big Sean (and with a full band, no less). Now THAT'S boss...Check out the video. Related: Rick Ross Finally Speaks on Being a Correctional Officer (Video)... Read more

March 7, 2014 Video

Kanye West & Hype Williams Have Made a Film of the Yeezus Tour. Here’s the Trailer (Video)

Kanye West's Yeezus tour was one of the most visually-inspiring of all concerts (in any genre) in the last few years. If you didn't have an opportunity to see it live, not to worry. Kanye has teamed with acclaimed director Hype Williams to bring the tour to the screen. Check... Read more

February 27, 2014 Video

CyHi The Prynce’s Black Hystori Project Is Here & Executive Produced By Kanye West (Mixtape)

It's been over a year since CyHi The Prynce's last mixtape, Ivy League: Kick Back. However, the role-player on 2012's Cruel Summer is back in a major way with Black Hystori Project. While executive produced by Kanye West, Yeezus sat back on this one and let CyHi shine on his... Read more

February 24, 2014 Fresh, Mixes

Kanye West To Headline 2014 Bonnaroo, Joining Lauryn Hill, Frank Ocean & Chance The Rapper

If you're the type of Head to check out one festival each concert season, Hip-Hop is making it hard on you. Following OutKast's announcement of headlining both Coachella and OVO Fest, now it appears that Kanye West is throwing his movement into the festival mix. 'Ye has been announced to... Read more

February 20, 2014 Fresh

Kanye West Explains Why He Calls Himself a Genius…and It Makes Perfect Sense (Video)

Much has been made of Kanye West's infamous "rants" at his concerts but, as is often the case, his actions and words make much more sense in full context. Kanye played the Prudential Center in Newark on 2/15 and he had a lot to say. Yeezy spoke for 20 minutes... Read more

February 15, 2014 Featured-homepage, Video

Kanye West Has a 3-Some with The Carters on the Remix to Drunk in Love (Audio)

Kanye West has done a true remix of Beyonce's Drunk in Love. Not only has he added a verse, he's also put the track through the Yeezus filter, preserving its overall feel but distorting it and making it feel darker and more aggressive, like many of the tracks on his... Read more

February 15, 2014 Audio

Kanye West Tells Sway to Shut the “F” Up on Stage at His Latest Show (Video)

Just when you thought the Kanye West/Sway fiasco was dead and buried, Kanye lobs some napalm to reignite the controversy. Last night, during his latest concert, Ye took time out from his set to call out both Sway and Charlemagne the God by name, telling them to "shut the f*ck... Read more

February 14, 2014 Video

How Did Pharrell React To Watching Kanye West Rap Never Let Me Down For The First Time? Watch (Video)

With all the attention on Kanye West's College Dropout this month, one track that deserves special mention is "Never Let Me Down." The Jay Z-assisted moment, which closed with a powerful Spoken Word piece by J. Ivy was a stellar album cut on the 2004 Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records debut. But... Read more

February 13, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

‘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

Before the Madness: Here’s a Previously Unseen Look at “College Dropout-Era” Kanye West (Video)

Earlier this week, Billboard Associate Editor Erika Ramirez made a monster of a story, when she created The Oral History Of Kanye West's College Dropout. 'Ye's debut album, which turns 10 years old soon, featured involvement from Talib Kweli, Freeway, and Consequence, who contributed, as well as Jay Z, Mos... Read more

February 7, 2014 Video

Didn’t Understand Yeezus? Kanye’s Got the Answers.

Founded by art icon Andy Warhol, Interview magazine often delves into the conversations two artists can have. The New York-based publication is veering more into Hip-Hop, with Q-Tip, Jay Z, and now Kanye West hitting its extra large, matte-finished pages. Mr. West is the subject of February's cover story. Interviewed... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh

Today It All Makes Sense: A Retrospective on the Chicago Hip-Hop Sound (Food For Thought)

Published by: Bandini “This the city of Chicago, the state of confusion The style I'm using is free or at least it would be if my mind was…” – Malik Yusef, “My City” (One Day It’ll All Make Sense) Since the 1990s, Common Sense has always been among my favorite... Read more

January 19, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought

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

Watch Dipset’s Former Secret Weapon The Heatmakerz Make A Beat On The Spot (Video)

Ten years ago was the height of what's commonly called "Chipmunk Soul." Producers were adjusting the pitch on vocals to create a harmonious effect on samples that made songs sound bigger, bolder. While Jay Z's The Blueprint, released in late 2001, is often thought of as the archetype album for... Read more

January 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rick Ross Starts the Year With a Verse Over Kanye West’s Bound 2 (Audio)

Rick Ross drops a verse on Kanye West's soulful Bound 2 track. Related: Did Rick Ross & Jay Z Make Their Best Collabo Yet? The Devil Is A Lie (Audio)... Read more

January 1, 2014 Audio

Ambrosia For Head’s 13 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2013 (Food For Thought)

2013 was a different kind of year in music. Not only did Rick Rubin return to crafting Hip-Hop albums, but he had a hand in three of the genre's biggest releases from top artists like Jay Z, Eminem, and Kanye West. Meanwhile, as has been the case over the last... Read more

December 24, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Suge Knight & Snoop Hanging Out?? Yeah, 2013 Was a Crazy Year For Hip-Hop. Here’s a Photo Recap (Food For Thought)

The old adage, "a picture's worth a thousand words" often proves to be true. Let's hope so for 2013, which by way of Instagram, Twipic, and some inner-circle released photos, told Heads plenty of stories. From unlikely reunions to time-pieces, to first steps for Hip-Hop kind, what a year... Here... Read more

December 23, 2013 Food for Thought

Beyonce & Jay Z Send Kim & Kanye Over A Bottle In Drunk In Love (Video)

Perhaps intimate music videos with your significant other is the move in 2013? Less than a month after Kanye West's "Bound 2" video extensively featuring his companion and daughter's mother Kim Kardashian, Beyonce drops her own similar visual. "Drunk In Love" (deliberately following "Crazy In Love"?) features black and white... Read more

December 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West Stepped in It Again…This Time with Arsenio Hall (Video)

The vast majority of Kanye West coverage has gotten inane, but after Ye made some comments about Arsenio Hall, Arsenio decided to respond, OG style...His words were calm but direct and sage. In particular, he dropped some real jewels on what he sees as Ye's cavalier use of the word... Read more

December 11, 2013 Video

Flying Lotus Freaks The Funk On A Remix To Kanye West’s Black Skinhead (Audio)

Los Angeles' Flying Lotus is in and out of Hip-Hop. With his celebrated solo albums, the Electronic musician veers into Jazz, House, Disco, and elements all of his own. However, the respected producer can never seem to stay away—producing joints for Mac Miller, Killer Mike, Finale, and Blu. That said,... Read more

December 11, 2013 Audio, Fresh

50 Cent Speaks on the Differences Between Him and Kendrick Lamar…and Offers Some Advice to Kanye West (Video)

50 Cent spoke with XXL about his latest business venture, SMS headphones. During the conversation, he touched on Kanye West's recent frustrations and offered some wise words of advice. He also spoke about Kendrick Lamar and detailed some of their differing qualities. Check the video for 50's always unique perspective.... Read more

December 11, 2013 Video

Kendrick Lamar Gets an Album of the Year Nomination from the Grammy’s. Jay Z Gets 9 Noms. Here’s the List of All Nominees in Hip-Hop’s Strongest Showing Ever.

Though he released good kid, m.A.A.d. city in 2012, 2013 has belonged to Kendrick Lamar. In the Spring, he was named MTV's Hottest MC of the Year. By Summer, his Control verse became the biggest story in Hip-Hop in the last several years. In the Fall, he again shook up... Read more

December 8, 2013 Fresh

A Week After Their Heated Exchange, Sway Breaks His Silence on Kanye West…and He HAS THE ANSWERS Now (Video)

Kanye West's epic blow up on The Sway in the Morning Show last week nearly shut down the Internet. One week later, Sway broke his silence on the controversy and set the record straight. Check out what he had to say below. Related: You May Have Heard the Audio of... Read more

December 5, 2013 Video

Q-Tip & Rick Rubin Will Reportedly Produce Bulk Of Kanye West’s Yeezus Follow-Up

Kanye West has said next to nothing about the specifics regarding his seventh album, and will-be follow-up to Yeezus. There's been talk of Cruel Winter from G.O.O.D. Music's clique, as well as a possible Watch The Throne 2 as well, given Jay Z's propensity for series. Q-Tip dropped a bit... Read more

December 3, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bonita. Bonita. Bonita. Stephanie Santiago As A Tribe Called Quest’s Real Bonita Applebum (Video)

Decades before Sherane, there was Bonita. The apple of A Tribe Called Quest's eye had a suggestive name of more produce, and Heads fell in love the minute Q-Tip compared the buxom beauty to "a Hip-Hop song." The fictional character has become a lasting reference in Hip-Hop, and for a... Read more

December 2, 2013 Throwback

This Week in Video Was Dominated By Kanye West’s Epic Meltdown on Sway…But There Was So Much More. Here’s a Playlist of the Kanye Highlights and Anything Else Worth Watching from the Past Week (Video Playlist)

Kanye West shut down the web with his extremely heated exchange with Sway. In the midst of the furor, last week was one of the best of the year for Hip-Hop video programming--Eminem's Rap God video, Snoop talking TDE vs. Death Row, A Tribe Called Quest discussing their farewell shows,... Read more

November 30, 2013 Playlists, Video

Did Charlamagne Tha God Trigger Kanye West’s Explosion on The Sway in the Morning Show? Here’s the Interview That May Have Set if Off (Video)

After Kanye West's eruption on The Sway in the Morning show, he said to Sway "Charlamagne wanted this so bad. He wanted me to turn up so bad. I wouldn't even look at him." Kanye was referring to an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy earlier,... Read more

November 27, 2013 Video

You May Have Heard the Audio of Kanye West Going Nuclear on Sway Earlier…Here’s the Full Video (Video)

Kanye West and Sway are friends. That's why it was all the more surprising that Kanye flipped so hard on Sway today during their interview. So how does an interview starting with Sway introducing Kanye as "the most important artist of this generation" get so heated? Check out the video... Read more

November 26, 2013 Featured-homepage, Video

Kanye West Goes Ballistic on the Sway in the Morning Show & Sway Loses His Cool. This Felt Personal (Audio)

UPDATE: Here's the Full Video of the Interview I've resisted getting on the bandwagon of calling Kanye West's recent public statements about his frustrations with his inability to break into the fashion world as "rants" because I think the term is dismissive and makes it easier to ignore some of... Read more

November 26, 2013 Audio

Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip Bring Kanye West & Lil Wayne To Thank You Visual (Video)

One of the more exciting collaborations of the last month puts those pesky Young Money vs. G.O.O.D Music rumors to bed. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne join Q-Tip and Kanye West in this Disco-inspired cut that has all four artists doing what they do best. It's great how the beat... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Seth Rogen & James Franco Are Bound 2 Upset Kanye West In This Shot For Shot Parody (Video)

Since the days of "Freaks & Geeks," James Franco and Seth Rogen have been teaming up to make us laugh, while usually shining a little truth on the living condition. Only one of those things is true in this just-released video (which was already re-appropriated this morning after being pulled).... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West Explains New Slaves & Possible Sequels In New Interview (Video)

In addition to a lot of talk about fashion and brand products, Kanye West, who calls himself a "Christian Revolutionary Visionary" fields questions from Philly's Power 99 on air staff about Cruel Winter, Watch The Throne 2, and more. Like KRS-One, a Kanye interview seems to be compelling, regardless of... Read more

November 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

This Week in Hip-Hop Video Featured Snoop, Jay Z, N.O.R.E., Young Buck & Game, Alchemist & Evidence, Large Professor, Kanye West, Pharrell and Lots More Dope Footage (Video Playlist)

This week was active in Hip-Hop video. So much so that you might have missed an incredible mini-documentary on Jay-Z's Black Album, N.O.R.E. talking about his first ever rap battle, new music from Large Professor, new videos from Snoop and Fat Joe and more. Click below to catch up on... Read more

November 23, 2013 Playlists, Video

Kanye West Unveils Bound 2 Visual Extensively Featuring Kim Kardashian (Video)

The closing track to Yeezus is one of its most potent. Kanye West revisits his The College Dropout and Late Registration technique ever so slightly, with a song that's clearly a love ballad, as only 'Ye can do it. Kanye stopped by comedian/actress/television talk mogul Ellen Degeneres to air the... Read more

November 20, 2013 Fresh, Video

Kanye West Talks With Acclaimed Author Bret Easton Ellis In Podcast Debut (Audio)

If you're not up on author Bret Easton Ellis, you should be. This contemporary best-selling author is a gestalt of sex, drugs, and pop culture in his works like American Psycho, Less Than Zero, Rules Of Attraction and more. As seen in the resulting film adaptations, Eric B. & Rakim... Read more

November 18, 2013 Fresh

The “Ultimate” Exit That Was Jay Z’s Black Album (Food For Thought)

Hip-Hop celebrates a grand entrance. Since the days of receiving Bad Boy Records promo-packs of The Notorious B.I.G. & Craig Mack in a McDonald’s "Big Mac" container, the dog-and-pony show known as the music industry has embraced the infinite possibilities of the new over the challenges of re-purposing the old.... Read more

November 14, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh