kendrick lamar Archives

Rapsody Had One Of The Best 2015’s Imaginable. From Kendrick To Dre, She Reflects…

"My year was awesome," Rapsody states in her latest interview. The Wilson, North Carolina MC born Marlanna Evans has garnered lots of acclaim in recent years. Her 2012 debut studio album, The Idea Of Beautiful made strong waves in a tipping point year for new Hip-Hop talent. 2013's She Got... Read more

December 22, 2015 News

Hip-Hop’s Shining Moments of 2015: The Big, The Small, & The Revolutionary

Each and every year, there is no shortage of moments in time which crystallize the development of Hip-Hop's growth, and 2015 is no different. Over the course of the previous 12 months, the culture played larger-than-life roles in film, health, politics, television, and of course, music history. Here are just... Read more

December 21, 2015 Food for Thought

J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive vs. Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80. Which Is 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

December 15, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Terrace Martin’s Latest Kendrick Lamar Remix Is More Than Alright (Audio)

Terrace Martin has been down with Kendrick Lamar and TDE since way back. So the Locke High horn player and producer takes a liberty, and throws his spin on what may very well be 2015's most meaningful song. Martin takes To Pimp A Butterfly single "Alright" and runs it through... Read more

December 15, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Pens Letter Expressing Why He Feels Chosen To Lead

As 2015 comes to a close, Kendrick Lamar has been one of the leading voices in not only Hip-Hop, but all of music. K-Dot's #1 album, To Pimp A Butterfly was a monumental album long before its 11 Grammy nominations, or year-end lists laud it. In looking back at the... Read more

December 14, 2015 Fresh

How The Grammy Nomination of a Diss Song May Be Their Greatest Hip-Hop Misstep, Yet

This week began with the 2016 Grammy Award nominations. For Hip-Hop fans, this year's noms included 11 in the direction of Kendrick Lamar, thanks to his March, 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. Two years removed from controversial wins by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in the 2014 "Best Rap Song,"... Read more

December 8, 2015 Food for Thought

Kendrick Lamar Leads 2016 Grammy Nominees With 11 Nominations. Will They Get It Right Now?

The 2015 Grammy nominees have been announced, and Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with 11 nominations related to his critically acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly album. His nominations include Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year ("Alright"), Best Rap Album, Best Music Video ("Alright") and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance... Read more

December 7, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar Was Making Great Music Long Before “Section.80.” Remember “Vanity Slaves” (Audio)

By now, Kendrick Lamar is a household name. Considered by many to be one of today's most talented Hip-Hop stars, his appeal has extended beyond the realm of Rap into pop culture and politics, thanks in part to his work with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and his... Read more

December 3, 2015 Do Remember

Kendrick Lamar Brings the Revolution to Austin With An Unbelievable Performance (Video)

Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" is on many Heads' lists for song of the year, and its influence has been obvious in life outside of music charts. Having performed the song at this year's BET Awards with an uproarious response, thanks to the politically driven set design and matching lyrical content, Lamar... Read more

December 3, 2015 Video

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of November 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)

As the year winds to a close, the good music shows no signs of slowing down. November brought great Hip-Hop from start to finish. Here's a playlist that features the best the month had to offer. You'll hear tracks featuring Nas, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, KRS-One, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Logic,... Read more

December 1, 2015 Mixes

J. Cole Takes Kendrick’s Beat For A Black Friday Freestyle And It’s More Than Alright (Audio)

While many are out spending on the day after Thanksgiving, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar are still giving. The two have coordinated a "Black Friday" double barrel attack, with Kendrick taking over Cole's "A Tale of Two Citiez" track and Jermaine commandeering K. Dot's "Alright." On Cole's version of "Black... Read more

November 27, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Sends A Black Friday Message To All Who Doubt He’s Still A Lyrical Monster (Audio)

Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar released his critically-acclaimed follow up to good kid, m.A.A.d. city. That album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was a departure from the narratives and music of his major label debut, layering in dense funk powered by musicians like Thundercat, Terrace Martin and, the original funkateer, George... Read more

November 27, 2015 Audio

Jay Rock & Kendrick Put Easy Bake Back In The Oven & Turn Up The Heat (Audio)

In August, Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar heat up the oven with a 90059 entry called "Easy Bake." Fresh out the oven at the time, the song was the perfect promotional appetizer for the TDE album to follow. More than three months later, Top Dawg Entertainment unveils the sequel, in... Read more

November 25, 2015 Audio

Talib Kweli Reveals What He Thinks Is Missing From Today’s Hip-Hop & Journalism

In a recent interview for Cultured Vultures, rapper Talib Kweli opened up to a young writer about the topical and philosophical, ranging from his thoughts on Indie 500, Hip-Hop's global appeal, the state of music journalism, and much more. Kweli's pedigrees as both an accomplished activist and writer are repeatedly... Read more

November 23, 2015 Fresh

Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of October 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)

When the year is tallied, October 2015 likely will be remembered as the month where The Game released not one, but two heralded sequels to his The Documentary album. And, while the accolades will be well deserved, there were a number of other strong releases in the first full month... Read more

November 10, 2015 Audio, Playlists

Kendrick Lamar Uses Menace II Society In A Brilliant Video For These Walls

Kendrick Lamar has released several statement videos in his young career. However, today's (October 28) "These Walls" may just be his biggest. The To Pimp A Butterfly single that loves multiple entendres about boundaries, femininity, and sex in its most poetic portrayal, is conveyed in a totally different tone than... Read more

October 28, 2015 Video

Are Paid Streaming Services Relevant In A YouTube, SoundCloud, DatPiff-Dominated Hip-Hop World?

Some of the biggest Hip-Hop albums of 2015 were released without much advanced notice. In August, Dr. Dre released Compton, his first studio album of the millennium, and the third in an illustrious lineage that includes The Chronic and 2001, just a couple weeks after it was announced. However, at... Read more

October 24, 2015 Food for Thought

Kendrick Lamar Is Performing Several Dates With Jay Rock and a Full Band (Video)

Over the last few years, Kendrick Lamar has been on the road performing as much as any artist in Hip-Hop. In 2013, alone, the Compton MC did well over 100 tour dates. Generally, K. Dot has toured with a DJ and occasionally a small accompaniment, saving his performances with a... Read more

October 9, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar Says He Would Not Be Here Today If It Was Not For Eazy-E

Over the years, much has been made of Kendrick Lamar's affinity for Tupac Shakur. The Compton MC often has discussed the impact seeing Dr. Dre and Pac filming the video for "California Love" had on him as a young child, and he even constructed an intricate "conversation" between Tupac and... Read more

October 6, 2015 News

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of September 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

As the Fall set in, the hot Hip-Hop continued to flow. September brought not one, but two songs from the elusive DOOM, one of LL Cool J's strongest verses in years, a power collabo between Nas and Scarface, an unreleased track from Jay Electronica, Redman's release from his forthcoming album... Read more

October 5, 2015 Mixes

The Game & Kendrick Lamar Put In Work Over a Flip of an Erykah Badu Classic (Audio)

As the October 9 release of The Game's The Documentary 2 album approaches, the excitement for the project is mounting. The Compton MC has released several songs showcasing the forthcoming double album's diversity, including tracks with Skrillex, Diddy, Drake, DJ Quik and more. One of the most anticipated songs from... Read more

October 1, 2015 Audio

A Violinist & Violist Covered Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Alright,’ & It Is Awe-Inspiring (Video)

Earlier this month, Classical duo Black Violin released Stereotypes, an album featuring their signature Classical music training with elements of more contemporary stylings mixed in. Comprised of Violinist Kevin Sylvester and Violist Wilner Baptiste, Black Violin (who once performed at the legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater) worked with... Read more

September 28, 2015 Video

Funkadelic & Kendrick Lamar Release the Funk Jam of the Year. Just Try Not to Move (Audio)

Besides his appearance on "Wesley's Theory," it is clear that George Clinton (and Parliament, Funkadelic) are major inspirations in To Pimp A Butterfly. The New Jersey native's ability to balance heavy subject matter with the need to groove is something that the Compton, California MC is out to do. Previously,... Read more

September 25, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Pretends to Be a Female Admirer on a Prank Call to Jay Rock (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar is a man of many voices. He can go from a high-pitched whisper to a fierce growl in an instant, as showcased on a number of songs. Recently, he put this talent to use in playing a prank on his label-mate and friend, Jay Rock. During one of... Read more

September 15, 2015 Audio

Quincy Jones Passes His Torch of Knowledge & Wisdom About Music & Life to Kendrick Lamar (Video)

"Music can never be more or less than what you are as a human being...You get back what you give." As a student of music, 2015 has been an advanced PhD curriculum for Kendrick Lamar. Earlier in the year, he interviewed all of the remaining members of N.W.A., as he... Read more

September 15, 2015 Video

Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & ScHoolboy Q List Their Vices With No Shame (Video)

A lot can change in 4 years. When Jay Rock released his debut album, Follow Me Home, in 2011, Top Dawg Entertainment was a fledgling imprint trying to establish itself. Though its core 4 artists--Rock, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar--had amassed a healthy following amongst Heads, they were nowhere... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Jay Rock Flashes The Black Hippy Sign In The Booth For 90059 (Audio)

On TDE albums, Heads often flip over the digital covers in search of that coveted Black Hippy posse cut. On tomorrow's (September 11) 90059 album by Jay Rock, it does exist. "Vice City" is no video game homage, but rather a verbal sin-bin for Jay, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and... Read more

September 10, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Gives the First Ever Performance on Colbert’s Late Show & Tears It Down With FUNK (Video)

As the new talk television season kicks into gear this week, morning, daytime, and evening shows are booking the elite guests in culture. As Stephen Colbert eases into the seat of "The Late Show," one of the higher profile moves in media, he called upon Kendrick Lamar to stop by.... Read more

September 10, 2015 Video

Melle Mel & Big Daddy Kane Vouch For Macklemore & Say Other Rappers Should “Hang Their Heads”

Throughout the last 10 days, a lot of attention has fallen upon Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Downtown." Already a video single from the Seattle, Washington, Grammy Award-winning, platinum act, the pair performed the song to open the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards two Sundays ago (August 30). Perhaps most pertinently,... Read more

September 9, 2015 News

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of August 2015 in 1 Playlist (Audio)

August 2015 was an incredibly complex month for Hip-Hop. On the one hand, it was filled with tragedy and will forever be remembered as the month when we lost the great Sean Price. On the other hand, the month also brought a new album from Method Man, the first album... Read more

September 8, 2015 Mixes

Jay Rock & Kendrick Lamar Heat Up Another Collaboration In Easy Bake (Audio)

Jay Rock's sophomore studio album, 90059, is allegedly planned to release in the next 10 days. Top Dawg Entertainment's restless 2015 continues. Unlike so many crews and movements, often times, TDE releases' most exciting collaborations are in-house. While J.R. and Kendrick Lamar have worked together a number of times, the... Read more

August 27, 2015 Audio

A New Kendrick Lamar-Inspired Scholarship Hopes to Send Kids to College with Your Help (Video)

Kendrick Lamar has been in the news frequently as of late, but not just for his successful and popular music. This year, it seems, there has been much attention paid to his impact on social justice issues, and now that impact is spilling over into the world of college scholarships.... Read more

August 20, 2015 News

Jay Rock Releases the Artwork & Tracklist for His New Album 90059

After more than four years since his 2011 album Follow Me Home, Jay Rock is on the verge of releasing his new LP, 90059. Named after the zip code from Rock's hometown of Watts, CA, the songs he has shared thus far signal that the album is going to be... Read more

August 19, 2015 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Interviews N.W.A. & Asks All The Right Questions (Video)

It is fitting that N.W.A.'s first full-length interview in conjunction with Straight Outta Compton be conducted by none other than Kendrick Lamar. On behalf of Billboard, Lamar sits down for an intimate conversation with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Nearly 30 minutes, this interview transcends a... Read more

August 13, 2015 Video

Dr. Dre Put Compton On The Map. Now He’s Immortalizing Its Legacy (Album Stream)

Announced just days ago, Dr. Dre's third studio album, Compton, has released as planned. The N.W.A. co-founder named his first LP in nearly 16 years after the Hub City that he hails from. Now, the Beats By Dre namesake drops off the deeply-anticipated work to Apple Music for an exclusive... Read more

August 6, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Glasses Malone Brings Together Killer Mike, Kendrick Lamar & Tupac on A Bone Thugs Track (Lyric Video)

In April, Glasses Malone released "Thuggin'," with Kendrick Lamar. Rather than a celebration of criminality or misguided behavior, the song explored the themes of Tupac's T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. philosophy, an acronym which stood for "The Hate U Gave Little Infants F**ks Everybody." Each MC took turns articulating the complexities of the... Read more

August 4, 2015 Video

It’s Official. Dr. Dre’s First Album in 16 Years Will Be Released Friday.

As we reported earlier today, Dr. Dre announced the release of his first album since 1999's 2001 today on his The Pharmacy show on Apple Music. The album is titled Compton: The Soundtrack and will hit stores on August 7. He confirmed the album is completely different than the infamous... Read more

August 1, 2015 News

Dr. Dre’s New Album Will Not Be Released Today…But It’s Coming Soon (Audio)

Earlier this week, Ice Cube set the web on fire when he stated during an interview that Dr. Dre had created an album inspired by the forthcoming motion picture Straight Outta Compton (8/14), and that it would be released on August 1. However, new information suggests the album will not... Read more

August 1, 2015 Audio

Uncle Sam Wants Kendrick Lamar, But It’s Going to Cost Him…A Lot (Video)

Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album continues to reveal itself as one of the most complex musical works in years. Nearly every song on the LP seems to function as several metaphors, at once. Perhaps none are more intricate than the two minute interlude, "For Free?" At first listen,... Read more

July 31, 2015 Video

Here’s a 50-Song Playlist to Get the Weekend Started (Audio)

2015 has been an exciting year in music. Emerging voices have transmitted powerful messages against times of change. Veterans have stepped in to further solidify legendary legacies with Hip-Hop culture. Whether for thought-provoking purposes, or much-needed escape, the music has been loud, proud, and colorful. Ambrosia For Heads is proud... Read more

July 31, 2015 Fresh, Playlists

Can You Hear JAY-Z’s Influence in This Previously Unreleased Early Kendrick Lamar Song? (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar often has cited JAY-Z as one of his biggest influences. In a 2013 piece with Interview magazine, his response to interviewer Erykah Badu's question about whether there was an MC who influenced him or whose level he could never attain, Kendrick stated "That I feel I'll never reach?... Read more

July 30, 2015 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Joins Jidenna in the Video for the Fiery Remix to Classic Man (Video)

Three weeks ago, Kendrick Lamar set the web on fire with the addition of some scorching verses to Jidenna's infectious song, "Classic Man." Now, the remix gets the visual treatment and K. Dot joins Jidenna on screen. The video features vintage cars, lots of California love and a cameo from... Read more

July 15, 2015 Video

Eminem & Kendrick Lamar Are Confirmed Artists For ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Soundtrack

Since March, a lot of speculation has surrounded the likelihood of a soundtrack for the Straight Outta Compton N.W.A. biopic. With just a month until the Universal film, produced by Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E's widow (Tomica Woods-Wright), it appears that a soundtrack is indeed coming. In March, Dre... Read more

July 11, 2015 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Says He Knew He Arrived When He Recorded With Snoop (Video)

For fans who have listened to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album more than once since its release, the album has the rare quality of revealing new elements with each touch of the "play" button. Like a fine meal, the complexities of the LP's offerings take time to be... Read more

July 9, 2015 Video

We’re All In The Same Gang…When Wearing Kendrick Lamar Sneakers

Compton, California star Kendrick Lamar has spoken frequently in lyrics about gang tensions. Whether the MC Eiht-assisted "m.A.A.d city" or the recent single, "i," the TDE/Aftermath MC aims to unify Crips, Bloods, and multiple neighborhoods in the interest of life, love, and survival. Lamar's Reebok collaboration, the Ventilators, are an... Read more

July 7, 2015 Lifestyle

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of June 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

June brought a number of welcomed surprises in Hip-Hop. Method Man announced he would be releasing a new album in August and dropped three new songs. Jay Rock also revealed his new album was coming this Summer, and returned with some of the best music of his career. Chris Rivers... Read more

July 7, 2015 Audio, Playlists

Kendrick Lamar Just Released the Video of the Year. Alright Is Truly EPIC (Video)

Remember when music videos were artistic statements that could immediately shift the cultural zeitgeist? Kendrick Lamar has released just such a tour de force in his epic visual for "Alright." The nearly seven minute black and white short film is stunning both visually and in its symbolism. The video starts... Read more

June 30, 2015 Video

Jay Rock Targets July For His Sophomore LP, ScHoolboy Q Hints At 2015 Album

In the conversations about TDE, Black Hippy, and the finer Hip-Hop of the last five years, sometimes Jay Rock can get lost in the discussion. The Watts, California MC (who signed to Warner Bros. Records in the late 2000s) was in fact the first Top Dawg Entertainment artist to have... Read more

June 29, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar & Nicki Minaj Continue to Dominate the BET Awards

Last night's (June 28) BET Awards were equal parts nostalgic and forward-leaning. A Bad Boy Records reunion featuring Lil' Kim, Diddy, Ma$e, and The LOX as well as appearances from Janet Jackson and Smokey Robinson sparked reflection around the web, with viewers expressing delight at seeing some of their favorite... Read more

June 29, 2015 News

Kendrick Lamar Strikes Heartfelt Chords Performing A Symbolic “Alright” (Video)

Hope can be hard to find in 2015. There are mass-shootings, continuous fatalities attached to incidents of police brutality, and a quest for justice that can seem elusive. Kendrick Lamar used the BET Awards stage wisely this weekend. The Top Dawg Entertainment star did not make his 2015 standout televised... Read more

June 29, 2015 Video