keith murray ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

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

Keith Murray Details His Alleged Affair With Foxy Brown While She Dated Kurupt

In late 1999, Kurupt released one of the most inflammatory diss songs of that period. "Calling Out Names," an unlisted bonus song from Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha, was a scathing diss by Tha Dogg Pound MC aimed at DMX, Ja Rule, and Irv Gotti—while making disparaging remarks about The... Read more

December 29, 2022 Video

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

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

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

Keith Murray & Mr. Cheeks Make New Squad Rules On A Lost Boyz Sequel

Over 20 years ago, South Jamaica Queens Rap ensemble, Lost Boyz, gained traction both in New York City and on the FM waves with their 1995 debut single, "Lifestyles Of The Rich & Shameless." After inking a deal with Uptown Records, the foursome found more acclaim as they made their... Read more

February 9, 2019 Audio

Queens, NY Has Named August 19 “Ralph McDaniels Day” (Videos)

Today (August 19) will forever be Ralph McDaniels Day in the borough of Queens, New York. The confirmation was made this evening, during Uncle Ralph's second 35th-anniversary celebration for Video Music Box. A free event took place at Jamaica, Queens' Roy Wilkins Park, and Ambrosia For Heads was on hand... Read more

August 19, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Keith Murray Takes The Beat He Lost To JAY-Z And Makes It His Own Def Jam (Audio)

Long Island, New York’s DJ Gumba has been bringing the best out of the Keith Murray lately. While the whole Def Squad seems reinvigorated in 2018, Murray has been consistently smashing classic beats nearly every month since January. It seems that Gumba picks crucial tracks he thinks Murray would kill,... Read more

August 18, 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

Keith Murray Kills This Freestyle Over A Classic Cypress Hill Instrumental (Audio)

Keith Murray seems to be up to something. The Def Squad MC has released a few freestyles in 2018. With DJ Gumba beside him, Keith did a rendition of Eric B. & Rakim's "I Ain't No Joke." After tackling one of Hip-Hop's most beloved 1980s records, Murray and Gumba go... Read more

January 24, 2018 Audio

Redman Rates The Bars & He’s Not Afraid To Hand Out Zeros (Video)

Last week, T.I. rated the bars. The Grand Hustle Records founder put some of his artists and close affiliates ahead of Tupac Shakur, leading to some interesting discourse from fans. This week, it is Redman who sits in the director chair and rates the MCs' bars handed to him on... Read more

January 22, 2018 Video

Keith Murray Pays Tribute To Rakim With His “I Ain’t No Joke” Freestyle (Audio)

Rappers often borrow productions popularized by other MCs, to put their own spin on the record. Sometimes they give credit. Sometimes they don't. What Keith Murray has done with Rakim's classic "I Ain't No Joke," however, is different. Rather than simply jack the classic beat, Murray makes his "I Ain't... Read more

January 9, 2018 Audio

20 Years Later, Rhyme & Reason Remains Rap Music’s Ultimate Backstage Pass (Video)

During the late 1990s, Hip-Hop was a seismic force that garnered mainstream recognition as a billion-dollar industry. The culture had invalidated scores of critics who dismissed it as a fad during the previous two decades. Hip-Hop achieved this while rewriting the rules of the music business and redefining the American... Read more

December 7, 2017 Do Remember, TV/Film, Video

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

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

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

Drake Releases His More Life Playlist & It’s A Return To More Hard Rapping (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us fight through it for you and only supply you with the good stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been before. Not only are we able to go... Read more

March 18, 2017 Audio

Before Mahershala Ali Had Gold Statues He Had Golden Bars (Audio)

Last night (February 26), Mahershala Ali made history as the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award to win an Oscar. He took home the gold as Best Supporting Actor for his work as Juan in Moonlight, but longtime fans know that his success did not happen overnight. He... Read more

February 27, 2017 Audio

Finding The GOAT Producer: J Dilla vs. A Tribe Called Quest. 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 22, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Cheers. There’s Still Great Hip-Hop Being Made. Here’s A Bunch (Audio Playlist)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us fight through it for you and only supply you with the good stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been before. Not only are we able to go... Read more

February 17, 2017 Audio

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

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

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

Redman Details The Violent Split of Hit Squad & The Origins of Def Squad (Video)

Redman's connection to Erick Sermon is deep. The two started working together more than 25 years ago, after Sermon met Red when Red was DJ'ing for Lords Of The Underground. "I knew there was something spectacular about him. Right off the bat. The next day, we talked. And within the... Read more

August 25, 2016 Video

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

Keith Murray Apologizes For His Poor Battle Against Fredro Starr & Says He Was on Meds (Video)

Earlier this week, Keith Murray and Fredro Starr battled at Brooklyn, New York’s Milk River. The battle was over a year in the making, having already been postponed once. When the event finally did take place, fans were incensed by what they viewed as a completely one-sided performance, in favor... Read more

October 11, 2015 Video

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

October 10, 2015 Fresh

Redman, Keith Murray & Erick Sermon Have a Hip Hop Awards Cypher

The BET Hip Hop Awards are taking place tonight (10/9) in Atlanta, and will air on Tuesday, October 13 at 8pm. This year's event is once again being hosted by Uncle Snoop Dogg, and Scarface will be presented the "I Am Hip Hop" Award, honoring his 25-year legacy. As always,... Read more

October 9, 2015 Video

Fredro Starr Dismantles Keith Murray In Their Battle & They Nearly Come To Blows (Video)

After more than a year of hype, promotion, and anticipation, Keith Murray and Fredro Starr finally battled. Yesterday, the October 4 battle at Brooklyn, New York's Milk River saw the two 1990s major label stars from their crews (Def Squad and ONYX, respectively) square off in a crowded boxing ring.... Read more

October 5, 2015 Video

Keith Murray & Fredro Starr’s MC Battle Is Back On The Books (Video)

UPDATE: In the summer of 2014, it was announced that veteran 1990s MCs Keith Murray (Def Squad/UnderGods) and Fredro Starr (ONYX) would face off in a competitive battle. After the event was promoted, it postponed. More than one year after it was first reported, the match-up is back on. Next... Read more

September 15, 2015 Video

Keith Murray, Joell Ortiz, Chris Rivers & SKAM2? Vow No Sleep Til’ Success (Audio)

It can be incredibly easy to set a goal for yourself, and rest once you've achieved it. However, the music industry does not sleep—nor can many of those we live in it. Joell Ortiz has a group personally handled by one of the biggest personalities in all of music. Keith... Read more

May 7, 2015 Audio

Did You Know Erick Sermon Could Have Signed Biggie? The Green Eyed Bandit Speaks (Video)

2015 is shaping up to be a big year for Erick Sermon. The Green Eyed bandit has launched a new collection of Hip-Hop rugs called Def Rugs, and is releasing ESP, his first album since 2004's Chilltown, New York, in June. E Double sat down with Sway and covered a... Read more

April 23, 2015 Video

Ever Hear Rick Ross’ First Appearance On Wax, Alongside Erick Sermon? (Audio)

A lot went into Rick Ross' career in the lead-up to 2006 platinum single, "Hustlin'." Many Heads know that the Miami, Florida-based MC was one of the strong developing acts at Slip-N-Slide Records (a system responsible for Plies, Pitbull, plus Trina and Trick Daddy). Other Heads know that Ross had... Read more

April 19, 2015 Throwback

Ever See This Classic Redman & Keith Murray Freestyle From the Mid-90s? (Video)

Back in the mid-90s, few crews were more formidable than Def Squad. The collective featured the fierce MC skills of Erick Sermon, Redman and Keith Murray and Sermon's signature thumping beats. After releasing solo albums in Murray's The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World, Sermon's Double or Nothing and Red's... Read more

March 14, 2015 Throwback

Finding the GOAT: Pick Another ’90s Great Wild Card For Round 2?

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

December 18, 2014 Fresh

Keith Murray Talks His Career, With Crooked I & Wale Joining Sway’s Party (Video)

Keith Murray can be a movie. Just like he is on his heralded Jive (and later, Def Jam) Records albums, the Central Islip MC is animated as ever. On a recent Sway In The Morning episode (also featuring Crooked I), the Def Squad MC opines on the greatest Rap record... Read more

October 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Keith Murray Is Trying Out A New Style While Still Reppin’ Def Squad. What Do You Think? (Audio)

Central Islip's finest, Keith Murray, is one versatile MC. Since the days of "Get Lifted" and "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World," the Def Squad MC had an edgy delivery that combined extensive vocabulary, unique cadence, and an unwavering flow. What's more, even though Keith Murray was tearin' the... Read more

February 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Almighty (Canibus, Cappadonna, Planet Asia, M-Eighty & Nino Graye) – Prelude to the 2nd Coming (Mixtape)

In all the hype over The Verse, this mixtape from The Almighty (Canibus, Cappadonna, Planet Asia, M-Eighty & Nino Graye) might have gotten lost in the shuffle. With tough beats and features from Styles P, Talib Kweli, Keith Murray, Raekwon, RZA and more, it is not to be overlooked. You... Read more

August 15, 2013 Mixes

Kool Keith – Impressions (Remix) ft Keith Murray

Here's a remix to the Kool Keith/Keith Murray collabo that was originally on Kool Keith's Love & Danger album. The remix is a bonus cut on the newly-released vinyl version of the album and is more atmospheric and melodic than the original. Check out Impressions (Remix) below. Related: Ultramagnetic MCs... Read more

July 10, 2013 Audio

Erick Sermon – Breath of Fresh Air (Mixtape)

Here's a brand new mixtape from Erick Sermon with features from Method Man, Redman, Keith Murray, KRS-One and more. Listen to the whole thing and download it below. Download Mixtape... Read more

February 16, 2012 Audio, Mixes

Today most people know Jive Records for Britney and Justin. Here’s why they’re the 11th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

Long before Clive Calder built Jive Records into the pop music juggernaut that featured Britney Spears, Nsync, The Backstreet Boys, R. Kelly and Justin Timberlake, the label was the home to some of the most important acts in hip-hop. These artists achieved both commercial and critical success and some went... Read more

December 1, 2011 Food for Thought, Throwback, Video

If you like hip-hop from the early 90's this Mick Boogie mixtape will blow your mind. Vintage and remixed classics from LL, Snoop, Pete Rock, Tribe, Gangstarr, De La, Pharcyde and that's just 7 songs out of 27…

Click here to download '93 Til Infinity. Need more Mick Boogie in your life? Click here to see over 100 of his mixtapes. Here's the tracklist for '93 Til Infinity. 1. Mick Boogie – Intro 2. Das Efx – Mic Checka (Remix) 3. Souls Of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity... Read more

November 13, 2010 Mixes

Never Too Much – Classic Soul and R&B Playlist

Classic joints never get old. They just get better. Click here or above to play. Trackist below: Never Too Much - Luther Vandross Rock With You - Michael Jackson Give Me the Night - George Benson Give it to Me Baby - Rick James September - Earth, Wind and Fire... Read more

June 12, 2010 Audio, Playlists, Video