kendrick lamar Archives

Here Are Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 25 Rap Albums Of The Decade

In the final hours of a decade, Ambrosia For Heads presents our Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums. The 2010s were a wild ride, with an onslaught of important new voices, and incredible maturation from veteran MCs. It was a 10-year span where artists and songs were discovered new places (including the... Read more

December 30, 2019 Best Rap Album 2010s

The Game Explains Why He Wants To Battle Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole (Video)

Less than a month ago, The Game released his Born 2 Rap album. What is currently being touted as the Compton, California's final LP features various homages to other songs. "The Light" (embedded below) flips the same Bobby Caldwell song as Common's J Dilla-produced 2000 track of the same name.... Read more

December 15, 2019 Video

DJ Premier Reveals All The MCs He Asked To Be On The Gang Starr Album & What Happened

At the top of the month, Gang Starr released One Of The Best Yet. The seventh album by Guru and DJ Premier features familiar collaborators such as Big Shug, Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, M.O.P., and Freddie Foxxx. Additionally, J. Cole, Talib Kweli, Royce 5'9, Q-Tip, and Nitty Scott, MC... Read more

November 24, 2019 Audio, Fresh

Rapsody Announces Her New Album & Shows Why She’s A Top Rated MC (Video)

Earlier today (June 27), Rapsody endorsed a video through his social platforms. The montage visual features a series of Black women appear, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Grace Jones, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, Maxine Waters, Aretha Franklin, and others. Available at Genesis320, the video features cryptic wording,... Read more

June 27, 2019 Fresh, Video

ScHoolboy Q Has A Very Real Conversation About Depression, Pressure & Loss (Video)

Last month, ScHoolboy Q released his fifth album, CrasH Talk. Q's third consecutive LP to debut in the Top 3 comes after a challenging period in the MC's personal life. He lost two friends in less than a year: Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle. Moreover, the Grammy-nominated rapper and father... Read more

May 9, 2019 Video

Scarface Says He Is The GOAT MC & Explains Why

Last month, Justin "The Company Man" Hunte published a special video breaking down his personal "Top 5, dead or alive MCs" list. In the visual essay, the prominent video personality, host, and member of the Ambrosia For Heads team explains his choices, which he asserts are purely music-based. "These five... Read more

March 20, 2019 TBD, Video

MC Eiht & Brady Watt Make A Westside Connection On A New Version Of m.A.A.d. City

Brady Watt is one of the most respected bass players in Hip-Hop. In addition to his role in DJ Premier's Badder Band, the New Hampshire native has played on albums by Joey Bada$$, Curren$y & Ski Beatz, Statik Selektah, as well as Styles P & Talib Kweli's collaborative effort. Apart... Read more

March 1, 2019 Video

Jay Rock & Anderson .Paak Win Their First Grammy Awards…In A Tied Race

Ahead of the 61st Grammy Awards television broadcast, some important winners have already announced in significant categories. For the second year in a row, Dave Chappelle took home "Best Comedy Album" honors for his third and fourth Netflix special of 2017. Meanwhile, in the"Best Rap Performance" category, there is a... Read more

February 10, 2019 News

Black Panther & Kendrick Lamar Receive Oscar Nominations

The nominations for next month's 91st Academy Awards just announced this morning (January 22). The televised event set to take place on February 24. For fans of Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman in particular, there may be good reasons to watch. Both Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman are nominated for the highest honor, "Best... Read more

January 22, 2019 News, TV/Film

Boogie Shows Why Eminem Signed Him With An Off The Top Freestyle (Video)

After years of resilience and balancing fatherhood with logging long hours at the studio, Compton, California's Boogie is gearing up to see his hard work pay off. Just a week and a half away from making his anticipated debut on Shady Records (Everything's For Sale), the 29-year-old rapper born Anthony... Read more

January 16, 2019 Video

Reason Shows He Stands With TDE’s Finest By Freestyling On Kendrick & Jay Rock Beats

Top Dawg Entertainment artist Reason has proven that he has bars, but he's also shown that he can use his lyrical ability to make great music as well. He showcased such ability on 2017's There You Have It, an independent project which was remastered and re-released earlier this year by... Read more

December 19, 2018 Video

Real Hip-Hop Finally Has Its Own Home On TV

“It's like that uh and it sounds so nice. Hip-hop, you the love of my life.” I’ve been on the same mission for 20 years. Having grown up in the 80s, the soundtrack to my coming of age was fueled by the sounds of Grandmaster Melle Mel, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool... Read more

December 11, 2018 News, Video

J. Cole’s KOD May Be The Year’s Best Album & It Was Snubbed By The Grammys

This morning (December 7), the 2019 Grammy Awards nominations were announced. For fans of Kendrick Lamar and the Top Dawg Entertainment family, it was another exciting development. Even in a year when K-Dot did not release a solo album, he received eight nominations. SZA and Jay Rock joined him with... Read more

December 7, 2018 News

Four Hip-Hop Artists Have Grammy Nominations For Album Of The Year

The 61st Grammy Awards nominations have been announced, and there is plenty to talk about for Rap and Hip-Hop fans. The affair will take place February 10, 2019, returning the event to Los Angeles, California's Staples Center after a New York City ceremony earlier this year. While Top Dawg and... Read more

December 7, 2018 News

Anderson .Paak & Kendrick Lamar Perform Tints Together For The 1st Time

This weekend, Anderson .Paak brought his hometown of Oxnard (also the title of his latest album) to New York City. He did it live, care of a role as the SNL musical guest. .Paak's Aftermath Entertainment debut released last month and features Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, and Pusha-T, among others. However,... Read more

December 2, 2018 TV, TV/Film, Video

J.I.D. Confirms That Dreamville’s Competition With TDE Is Real

2018 has been a monumental year for J. Cole's Dreamville label. In the last 12 months, Cole released one of the front-runners for the year's best in K.O.D. That was a few months after Los Angeles, California's Cozz dropped an impressive Effected. At the end of summer, Bas released Milky Way, an... Read more

November 26, 2018 Fresh, Popular, Video

Anderson .Paak’s New Video Shows An Unmasked World & It’s 1 Sick Puppy

There is great anticipation for Anderson .Paak's upcoming album Oxnard (November 16). It marks a major label debut for Andy, and his first record overseen by Dr. Dre. The Southern California singer, MC, drummer, and producer recently released his "Tints" single with Kendrick Lamar. Now comes the video, and it... Read more

October 29, 2018 Video

Anderson .Paak’s Oxnard Album Tracklist Features Dr. Dre, Q-Tip, J. Cole & More

Anderson .Paak is gearing up to release his highly-anticipated third solo studio album, Oxnard, on November 16. Earlier this month, the singer, MC, drummer, and producer dropped the single "Tints" with Kendrick Lamar. Now, fans get to find out all who are slated to be on the Cali native's Aftermath Entertainment... Read more

October 26, 2018 Fresh

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Go Back To Basics In Their “Wow Freestyle” Video

Jay Rock may have dropped his highly praised Redemption album at the top of the summer, but he is still working on the TDE project. The “Wow Freestyle” is the eighth video he has dropped off his third full-length project, which is 13 tracks long. Artists have been saying that... Read more

October 25, 2018 Video

Anderson .Paak & Kendrick Lamar’s Collabo Is For Ridin’ Around & Shinin’ (Audio)

One of West Coast Hip-Hop's hottest, yet rarest collaborations is giving the culture another banger. Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak are sharing their latest funky joint-effort with "Tints." Debuting on Zane Lowe's Beats1 radio show, the premiere also featured an interview with .Paak, who described what he's been up to... Read more

October 4, 2018 Audio

Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar Battle Over A Woman & Rap Supremacy On The Carter V (Audio)

After more than five years of anticipation, Lil Wayne has dropped Tha Carter V. He did so as part of his 36th birthday celebration. Released entirely through Young Money Records, this LP defies several trends of 2018. For starters, Wayne goes back in his bag with a project that is... Read more

September 28, 2018 Audio

Apple Rejects Dr. Dre’s Television Show Due To Excessive Violence

Two and a half years ago, Dr. Dre announced plans to tell his life story through a series in partnership with Apple. The show, titled Vital Signs, began pre-production less than three years after Apple's 2014 acquisition of Beats By Dre for a reported $1 billion. In addition to producing, Vital... Read more

September 24, 2018 News, TV, TV/Film

Logic Definitely Means It When He Says He’s The Greatest Rapper (Video)

Last year, Logic dropped his first #1 album with EVERYBODY, which was included in Ambrosia For Heads' Top 15 LPs of '17. This year, he hit the same mark on the charts with Bobby Tarantino II. However, the Def Jam Records star shows no signs of slowing down or waiting. Having recently... Read more

September 18, 2018 Video

Nas Has Made The Forbes Hip-Hop List For The First Time In His Career

Nas told his fans what he would do if he ruled the world. In the 22 years since his Lauryn Hill-assisted single, Nasir Jones has stacked paper in a way that has put him in a very powerful position. Like peers JAY-Z and Eminem, one of Hip-Hop's most respected MCs... Read more

September 12, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Kendrick Lamar Discusses His Upcoming Role On Power & How It Came To Be (Video)

Earlier this week, 50 Cent and Courtney A. Kemp, the producers of Starz's hit show Power, announced that Kendrick Lamar would be joining this week's episode. While Kendrick has starred in a number of increasingly cinematic music videos, this believed to be his first acting role in a TV series... Read more

July 28, 2018 Video

Kendrick Lamar Will Make His Acting Debut On Power

Some legendary Rap artists have launched acting careers while at the top of their music game. Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, DMX, Queen Latifah, Eminem, Ice-T, and Mos Def are just some of the examples. One of Hip-Hop's reigning kings is now taking that next step. Kendrick Lamar will make his... Read more

July 25, 2018 News, TV, TV/Film

Lupe Fiasco Explains In Detail Why JAY-Z Is The Greatest MC Of All-Time

Yesterday (July 2), Lupe Fiasco decided to shed some light on the MCs that he believes are the greatest rappers in history—including a definitive opinion on #1 in that category. Online, the conversation began after a fan asked Lupe straight up who he believes the greatest ever is. The 1st... Read more

July 3, 2018 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Speaks For The 1st Time About Why He Stopped A Fan From Using The N-Word

Kendrick Lamar made headlines earlier this year when he checked a fan at Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama for using the N-word while rapping along to his 2012 non-single hit "M.A.A.D. City." The fan, a white woman who introduced herself as Delaney, was pulled up on-stage to help rap... Read more

June 28, 2018 Fresh

Jay Rock’s Bloodiest Video Shows That Sometimes Nothing Is What It Seems

Jay Rock's just-released album, Redemption, has fans rejoicing. It's also a reminder why Top Dawg Entertainment built its foundation off his talents as an MC. The Watts, California native's latest LP has many real-life tales, but perhaps the grimiest and most vivid come from album opener, "The Bloodiest." Now, Heads... Read more

June 16, 2018 Video

Jay Rock Gets His Redemption Alongside J. Cole. Nothing Can Stop Him Now (Audio)

Jay Rock has just released his third album Redemption. In addition to his Black Hippy and TDE label-mates, the LP includes highly anticipated collaborative single, "OSOM (Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind)" featuring J. Cole. The song examines Johnny's rise to fame, which began a dozen years ago with a... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Top Dawg & Kendrick Lamar Challenged Spotify’s Censorship & Won

Last week, reports began to surface that major names in the music industry were taking Spotify to task for its "hateful conduct policy," which many viewed as a form of censorship. When it was first announced in early May, the policy was unveiled in conjunction with the news that the... Read more

June 1, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Jay Rock Put TDE On His Back. Now, They’ve Got His For The Win (Video)

After a strong start to the year with his highest-charting single to date ("King's Dead" from the Black Panther soundtrack), Jay Rock is back with another check mark in the "W" column. For those following the movement, Jay is the cornerstone on which the success of TDE was built. So,... Read more

May 31, 2018 Video

Kendrick Lamar Accepts His Historic Pulitzer Prize (Video)

Over the last few years, Kendrick Lamar has been on the kind of run enjoyed by few artists of any oeuvre. His album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was hailed as an instant classic and went on to be certified platinum, for over a million copies sold. To Pimp A Butterfly,... Read more

May 30, 2018 Fresh, News

Artists Strike Back At Spotify After Its Censorship Policy & The Streaming Service Is Backing Down

After pushback from several artists and powerful music industry insiders, allegedly including Kendrick Lamar and his TDE record label, Spotify has reportedly decided to scale back its policy of punishing artists for personal misconduct, to some degree. The streaming company has reportedly told record-label executives, managers, and artists that it... Read more

May 25, 2018 News

Kendrick Lamar Checks A Fan For Saying The N-Word While Rapping His Song (Video)

Biggie Smalls would have turned 46 years old today (May 21). Back in 1994, The Notorious B.I.G. released his first Ready To Die single, "Juicy." It eventually traveled to #27 on the charts. The gold-certified solo breakthrough record remains one of the most beloved, far-reaching Rap songs of the last... Read more

May 21, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

SZA & Donald Glover Heat Up The Screen In Their Secret Garden (Video)

Donald Glover is riding a massive wave. Fresh off his SNL appearance and momentous "This Is America" video release this month, the Atlanta co-creator is only mashing the gas pedal even more. Now, he's maneuvering to the more sensual side of things, joining SZA as a character for her new video,... Read more

May 18, 2018 Video

J. Cole Explains Why He Made His 1985 Diss Record Of Lil Rappers (Video)

When J. Cole speaks, it is not to be taken lightly. In recent years, the North Carolina superstar MC/producer and Dreamville label founder has shunned the public eye, or at least many of their questions. After decidedly not allowing interviews altogether for late 2016's 4 Your Eyez Only, Cole posted... Read more

May 16, 2018 Video

Royce 5’9 & Eminem Remind Hip-Hop That They Are Still The Best MCs In The World (Video)

Tomorrow, Royce 5'9 will release his anticipated Book Of Ryan album. Now, Nickel Nine and Eminem's "Caterpillar" music video is made available for the masses. The latest Bad Meets Evil link-up is a fierce reminder that if it is indeed "Detroit vs. Everybody," the odds are with them. The song... Read more

May 3, 2018 Exclusive, Video

TDE Has Made The Funniest Concert Promo Video Of All-Time

Top Dawg Entertainment is taking its whole show on the road the 2018 Championship Tour. In January, TDE announced cross-country US dates for May and June. At the time, Kendrick Lamar had not yet won a historic Pulitzer Prize for Musical Composition (the first ever going to an artist outside... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

Kendrick Lamar Receives A Historic Pulitzer Prize For His Last Album

The same week it celebrates its first birthday, Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. has just won a Pulitzer Prize. The album becomes the first piece of music that is not Classical or Jazz to take home the prestigious honor that started 101 years ago in the fields of literature, journalism, and music... Read more

April 16, 2018 News

SZA Takes Ctrl To Camp…But It Proves To Be No Retreat (Video)

SZA's Ctrl album was one of the most critically-acclaimed releases of 2017, and the parade of quality coming from that effort seems to continue marching. Today (March 30), TDE's First Lady dropped her visual for fourth single "Broken Clocks," and she's taking everyone to camp. Directed by TDE's regular go-to... Read more

March 30, 2018 Video

Kanye Once Said He Had 40 Songs With Kendrick. 2 Collabos Now Surface. (Audio)

Kanye West is reportedly recording an album in the mountains of Wyoming. According to various sources, Nas, Pusha T, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and producer/musician/engineer Mike Dean are among the artists who have been in his company for the studio sessions dating back to 2017. Some, including Nas and Cudi,... Read more

March 23, 2018 Audio, News

For The 1st Time Ever, The #1 & 2 Films In The Country Were Directed By Black Filmmakers

A series of historical firsts for the film industry took place this past weekend, thanks to Black Panther and A Wrinkle In Time. The films are directed by Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay, respectively. Black Panther continued its reign hovering atop of the rankings as #1 at the box office... Read more

March 12, 2018 News, TV/Film

Herbie Hancock Will Rock It With Kendrick, Snoop & Common On Next LP

Herbie Hancock is a 14-time Grammy Award recipient (as well as an Oscar winner) that many cite as a provider of their introduction to Hip-Hop and DJ'ing on television. Although the Jazz impresario's recording career began at the top of the '60s, Hip-Hop and Hancock helped each other achieve mainstream... Read more

March 5, 2018 News

Kendrick Lamar Is A Rap Superhero With Hopes To Portray A Villain On Film (Audio)

Records are still being broken as Black Panther continues to dominate the box office in its second week. However, the deep connection and response this film created already have many theater-goers calling for a sequel. Kendrick Lamar played a major role in co-executive producing the film's chart-topping soundtrack. If there... Read more

February 26, 2018 Audio, News, TV/Film

Mozzy Fits In Nicely With Rap’s Top Dawgs. He & Jay Rock Extend Their Chemistry (Audio)

California spitter Mozzy has been making quite a name for himself as of late. The Oak Park, Sacramento native appeared on Black Panther: The Album's cut "Seasons" (alongside Sjava and Reason) and has already received praise from members of Top Dawg Entertainment, including Kendrick Lamar and his Grammy award reception... Read more

February 22, 2018 Audio

Conscious Rap Is Back & Writing New Chapters In Black History

In honor of Black History Month 2018, Ambrosia For Heads is highlighting some of the most inspiring Black entertainers, athletes, and artists whose contributions to Black history extend far beyond their artistic talents. These Black heroes have dedicated their time, resources and platforms to uplift Black communities, inspire young people and create... Read more

February 21, 2018 Food for Thought

Nipsey Hussle & Kendrick Lamar Form A Westside Connection To Uplift Their People (Audio)

Nipsey Hussle and Kendrick Lamar have been steadfast voices of change from the streets of Los Angeles' under-served communities. From Slauson Avenue to Rosecrans Boulevard, these two artists' careers span more than a decade. Before there was major backing, these MCs hustled raps through powerful features, free projects, and seemingly... Read more

February 13, 2018 Audio

Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole Stand With Cozz On An Album That Shows He’s In Full Effect (Audio)

Top Dawg Entertainment and Dreamville Records are two of the most talent-packed rosters in Hip-Hop. Both labels have taken chances on lesser known MCs and provided them the resources to make cohesive, highly-conceptual albums with major label distribution, marketing, and touring. In an industry often chasing buzz, Top Dawg and... Read more

February 13, 2018 Audio

Ab-Soul Reminds His Pen Is Still Sharp Enough To Draw Blood (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH 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 go back and listen... Read more

February 12, 2018 Audio