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200 MCs Celebrate DJ Kay Slay On The Ultimate Posse Cut

Last year, Hip-Hop lost DJ Kay Slay. The Harlem legend passed away on April 17, 2022. His 40+ year legacy began with graffiti and evolved into him becoming one of the biggest mixtape DJs in the world. The self-proclaimed "Drama King" ultimately used his tastemaking skills as a record executive... Read more

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

Chuck D & KRS-One Have Launched A Hip-Hop Union

At a time when labor unions are making a resurgence among companies like Starbucks and Amazon, Hip-Hop is proving no different. Some of the leaders in the culture have established The Hip Hop Alliance, dubbed "Hip-Hop's first official union." The organization, founded by Chuck D and Kurtis Blow, defines itself... Read more

1984 Was The Year That Changed Everything For Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop Heads regularly debate the culture and music's greatest years. There are usual and deserving suspects, of course. However, Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast is launching a series where we make a case for those years—and some others too. As we currently live in what some consider Orwellian times, 1984... Read more

Dr. Dre Is Hospitalized After Suffering A Brain Aneurysm

Hip-Hop lost another legend in 2020. In the closing hours of the year, MF DOOM's wife and onetime record label, Rhymesayers Entertainment, confirmed that the man born Daniel Dumile passed away on October 31. No cause of death has been made public at this time. However, news of DOOM's death... Read more

A Video Explains Why Larry Smith Remains 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Most Important Producers

For every household name producer, such as Rick Rubin or Dr. Dre, there are multiple innovators who languish in obscurity. Larry Smith is one of those musicians, and he does not deserve this place in history, especially for Hip-Hop. While Smith played instruments on as well as produced huge hits... Read more

ANoyd May Rule The World Better Than Nas & Lauryn Did With This Freestyle (Video)

ANoyd might not be a household name yet, but he is one to watch. Closely. The Connecticut-based MC is quickly establishing himself as among the most talented in his generation. Like Kendrick, Cole, Logic and Joey Bada$$, the up and coming artist flexes a more lyrical style than many of... Read more

The Kennedy Center Is Celebrating Rap’s Pioneers With A Concert Series

The John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center has gradually created a bona fide space for Hip-Hop within its gates over the past year. It has appointed A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip as its First Artistic Director of Hip-Hop Culture in 2016 and is awarding LL Cool J as the first ever... Read more

A New List Declares Who’s Been The Best MC Every Year From 1979 to 2016

2017 is still too young to have its best MC crowned, but a new list has named the best MC in each year, since 1979. From Grandmaster Caz to Chance the Rapper, MCs of all generations have found themselves mentioned in the comprehensive list generated by a team of writers... Read more

Rap Pioneer Kurtis Blow Survives Heart Attack That He Says Nearly Killed Him

Kurtis Blow is credited as the first Hip-Hop artist with a gold-certified single. The Harlem, New York native released "The Breaks" in 1980 through Mercury Records as one of the first Rap artists signed to a major label. Throughout the height of his career, Kurtis Blow toured with Bob Marley,... Read more

EPMD, Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Naughty By Nature & More Announce Tour

In 2015, Ice-T launched the Art Of Rap Tour. Taking its name from Ice's acclaimed Hip-Hop documentary, the summer tour featured Rakim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, and a number of other acts. For 2016, the O.G. is keeping The Art Of Rap Tour strong. Several '15... Read more

Here’s An Oral History Of The Making Of The Fat Boys’ “All You Can Eat”

More than 30 years after its release, Krush Groove remains an all-time favorite Hip-Hop film for many. The movie, which was loosely based on the rise of Def Jam Recordings, starred Blair Underwood, Sheila E., Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow and more, and featured appearances by several acts, including Beastie Boys, LL... Read more

Finding The GOAT Album: Whodini’s Escape vs. The Fat Boys’ The Fat Boys. 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

LL Cool J’s Radio vs. Kurtis Blow’s Ego Trip. 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

Kurtis Blow Recalls Opening For Bob Marley In Reggae Star’s Last Concerts (Audio)

Although the Sugarhill Gang had one of Hip-Hop's first massive hits in 1979's "Rapper's Delight," Kurtis Blow was among the genre's first stars. The Harlem, New York MC had Rap's first gold album, and was a critical messenger of the music from the 1970s into the mid-1980s. Afforded early star... Read more

Rest In Peace To Hip-Hop Pioneer & Kurtis Blow Affiliate Kool DJ AJ

On Kurtis Blow's seminal 1984 album Ego Trip, he made a cult-favored jam in "AJ Scratch." Featuring his crisp scratches and personal story, that song's namesake, Kool DJ AJ, has passed away. In addition to his longtime role as Blow's DJ, Kool DJ AJ is known for his work behind... Read more

Emilio Rojas Nods To Nas & Kurtis Blow, Imagining If He Ruled The World (Audio)

"If I Ruled The World" is a powerful idea. That is precisely why Kurtis Blow made a hit out of it. Nas followed, honoring Kurtis and the America single 11 years later, on 1996's It Was Written. Now, 19 years later, Emilio Rojas takes the underlying makings of both songs,... Read more

Travel Back To 1983, The Exact Moment Hip-Hop Was Played On Daytime NYC Radio (Audio)

Thirty-two years ago, Hip-Hop was emerging on a host of record labels large and small. However, while these 12" singles and pioneering albums may have been party highlights, and closely examined in the clubs, the bedrooms, and the subsequent tapes made, they were not often heard on radio—especially at daytime.... Read more

Late Producer of Run-D.M.C., Whodini & The Fat Boys Honored by DJ Eclipse Mix (Audio)

Over the Christmas holiday, Non-Phixion member and Halftime Radio Show DJ/host DJ Eclipse paid homage to Larry Smith, the iconic bassist and Hip-Hop producer who died earlier this month (December 18). Smith is remembered for helping cultivate the sound of the mid-1980s, through work with Whodini, Run-DMC, The Fat Boys,... Read more

Rest In Peace Larry Smith, Run-DMC & Whodini’s Iconic Producer

Hip-Hop has lost another pioneer. Yesterday (December 18), iconic producer and songwriter Larry Smith has been confirmed dead. Smith, who was 63 at the time of his death, produced early records for the likes of Run-DMC, Whodini, Jimmy Spicer, and Kurtis Blow. Smith's death comes more than six years following... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Kurtis Blow vs. Kool Moe Dee…Who You Got?

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

Kurtis Blow Reacts To Nas’ Sampling, Asserts Profanity-Free Rap (Video)

Kurtis Blow is among Hip-Hop's true messengers. The Harlem World MC carried the precious medal that is Hip-Hop's first gold-certified single, care of "The Breaks." Additionally, Blow's career was highly pivotal for acts like Run-DMC (Run being one of Blow's DJs), LL Cool J (Krush Groove), and a producer in... Read more

Can You Feel It: Why 1984 Is Hip-Hop’s Watershed Moment (Food For Thought)

Last year, Hip-Hop turned 40 years old—as far as we know. In truth, part of the culture’s beauty comes from the fact that there is no genesis moment. From the ancient cave-side hieroglyphics to the late ‘60s tags of TAKI 183, graffiti existed as a fascinating balance of expression and... Read more

AFH Salutes the Father’s of Hip-Hop (Video Playlist)

In celebration of Father's Day, we salute some of the Fathers of Hip-Hop. Here's a video playlist with some key moments in time from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Kurtis Blow and more. Check it out. Related: Episode 1... Read more

Nas, RZA & More Discuss The Earliest Days of Hip-Hop in The Message Hip-Hop Documentary (Video)

BET's 4-part Hip-Hop documentary, The Message, premieres tonight at 10pm. Part 1 focuses on the early days of Hip-Hop and features Doug E Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Ice Cube, DJ Premier, Grand Wizard Theodore, Nas, MC Lyte, Questlove, Russell Simmons, Snoop, RZA, Sway, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, Eve, Swizz Beatz... Read more

Russell Simmons Explains Success Through Meditation, Recalls Some Vivid & Never Before Heard Def Jam Memories (Audio)

With his latest book hitting shelves (Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple), Russell Simmons stops by his former Def Jam Records employee, Combat Jack's show. Beginning at the 16-minute mark, Uncle Rush enters. In the lengthy and coherent interview, Russ speaks about his storied drug days and early era as... Read more

Celebrate Father’s Day With A Tribute To Some Of The Men Who Raised Hip-Hop

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there from AFH. Here's an old school playlist from some of the fathers of hip-hop. You'll hear music from artists like Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Whodini, LL Cool J, The Fat Boys, Doug E. Fresh & Slick... Read more

AFH: The Presidential Playlist (Audio)

Here's a Presidential Playlist through the lens of hip-hop. You'll hear music about dead presidents (Biggie, Rakim, Nas, Joey Bada$$), presidential impact (NWA, dead prez, Crooklyn Dodgers), presidential dreams (2Pac, Jay-Z, Gang Starr, Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C.) and more. You can listen to the entire playlist here and a shortened version... Read more

Here’s a back in the day playlist of 80’s hip-hop classics from Melle Mel, Rakim, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Kurtis Blow, Whodini and more (Playlist)

This back in the day playlist was inspired by hearing Nas talk about his love for 80's hip-hop legends like Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, KRS-One, Slick Rick, Rakim and others. In addition to those MCs, you'll hear tracks from The Fat Boys, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, LL... Read more

Hip-Hop Christmas Playlist

Here's a Hip-Hop Christmas playlist. Merry Christmas from AFH.... Read more

Naughty By Nature, Doug E. Fresh, Goodie M.O.B., Big Daddy Kane & Kurtis Blow – Soul Train Awards All Star Tribute to Heavy D (Video)

The legends came out at the 2011 Soul Train Awards to pay tribute to Heavy D. Big Daddy Kane, Naughty By Nature, Goodie M.O.B. and Kurtis Blow performed some of Mr. Big Stuff's classics. Check out the video. Click here for our Heavy D tribute video playlist.... Read more

New EPMD??? Yeah, that’s right…and it’s to the beat of The Breaks.

Check out Don't Get Clapped. Click here to download.  And here's Kurtis Blow's The Breaks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMrPDiw8PQ... Read more

Ever see Rhyme & Reason? After nearly 15 years it still stands as one of the best films ever on hip-hop. Watch the whole movie here.

It takes a comprehensive look at hip-hop THE CULTURE through the words of some of the best rappers to advance it: Nas, Biggie, Pac, KRS-One, Q-Tip, RZA, Ice-T, MC Eiht, Pharcyde, Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre...It doesn't stop.... Read more