Kxng Crooked ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

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

November 3, 2023 Video

Just Blaze Has Released 2 Songs From Slaughterhouse’s Glass House Album

In 2009, four of Hip-Hop's sharpest lyricists joined forces to form one of the most beloved super group's of the last 15 years. Joe Budden, Royce 5'9, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked (then known as Crooked I) each had well-established careers, but Slaughterhouse propelled the collective to mythical heights. By... Read more

October 24, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Royce 5’9 Speaks About Ownership & How It Divided Slaughterhouse

Royce 5'9 has found success as a gold-selling major label artist as well as an independent stalwart. After 25 years in the professional Rap space, the Detroit, Michigan MC has been acquiring his catalog. Over the last seven years, Nickel Nine has also released some of the best music of... Read more

April 12, 2023 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Logic Has Made It Hard To Like Him & It’s Not Just Joe Budden

Among chart-topping Hip-Hop artists of the last decade, Logic is arguably the most polarizing. The Gaithersburg, Maryland native MC/producer who began as a DIY artist in the early 2010s Hip-Hop underground, has since gone on to achieve a wall full of platinum and gold plaques, was nominated for "Song Of... Read more

March 18, 2023 Video

Joe Budden & Royce 5’9 Review The Rise & Fall Of Slaughterhouse

Earlier this month, on March 11, Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz released their second collaborative album as a duo. While 2020's H.A.R.D. was recognized for two elite MCs representing one-half of Slaughterhouse coming together, 2022's LP was far more provocative. The Rise & Fall Of Slaughterhouse arrived with new information... Read more

March 24, 2022 Video

Benny’s Tana Talk 4 Is A Bold Reminder That The Butcher Is A Cut Above The Rest

This past Friday (March 11) kicked off one of the biggest weekends for Hip-Hop in quite some time. Benny The Butcher released his highly-anticipated Tana Talk 4 album. Released the same day, Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz's joint album chronicles the demise of their Slaughterhouse group, conveying frustration and laying... Read more

March 15, 2022 Video

A Timeline Of How Slaughterhouse Became A Broken Home

For a group that has not released a project in almost eight years, Slaughterhouse is currently making big waves in Hip-Hop news. The collective of Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Kxng Crooked, and Royce 5'9 is presently at odds, and the disagreement is playing out in real-time. This Friday (March 11),... Read more

March 8, 2022 Video

Joe Budden, Royce 5’9 And Joell Ortiz Argue About Slaughterhouse & It Ends Badly

In late February, Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz announced that they are releasing a March 11 collaboration project, The Rise and Fall of Slaughterhouse. The news came with a webisode series and new music—each addressing the demise of the group the pair formed with another two MCs: Royce 5'9 and... Read more

March 5, 2022 News, Video

Joell Ortiz & Kxng Crooked Rap About The Fall Of Slaughterhouse

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

February 26, 2022 Audio

Eminem Tells Kxng Crooked About His Deep Love For The Craft Of Rapping (Video)

"What I would say to any up-and-coming rapper? I would say that it is hard to get it, and it's even harder to maintain it." Eminem shares those words in the closing minutes of a one-hour-plus interview with Kxng Crooked on Crook's Corner. The video interview takes place in Dr.... Read more

February 21, 2020 Video

Lupe Fiasco Wants To Be The Next Member Of Slaughterhouse

Nearly two years ago, Slaughterhouse disbanded. The moment became official when Kxng Crooked (aka Crooked I) announced that he had withdrawn from the super-group. Days later, Royce 5'9 echoed Crook's point. The news came during a year where Joe Budden had proclaimed himself retired from music. Instead, Joe's primary focuses... Read more

January 23, 2020 Fresh

Joe Budden Responds To Eminem’s Latest Disses

On Friday morning, Eminem surprise-released a new album. His third LP since October of 2017 features an exciting guest list of MCs as well some ongoing jabs at rivals, including MGK, Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar, and Joe Budden. This weekend, Budden responded to Music To Be Murdered By lyrics on... Read more

January 19, 2020 Audio, News, Video

Royce 5’9’s Tracklist For “The Allegory” Features Griselda, Vince Staples & DJ Premier

Yesterday (January 17), Royce 5'9 released the second video single to his 2020 album, The Allegory. The follow-up to 2018's acclaimed The Book Of Ryan has thus far included "Black Savage" (featuring T.I., CyHi The Prynce, Sy Ari Da Kid, and White Gold) as well as "Overcomer" (featuring Westside Gunn).... Read more

January 18, 2020 Fresh

Royce 5’9 Explains How Griselda Has Avoided Some Of Slaughterhouse’s Mistakes

In the last month, Griselda released its first group album, WWCD ((What Would Chine Gunn Do) on Shady Records. The project unites Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher for their first full-length release as a trio. Since signing with Eminem in 2017, the collective has independently garnered tremendous... Read more

December 13, 2019 Audio, Fresh, Video

Joe Budden Says He Encouraged Slaughterhouse To Replace Him (Video)

Joe Budden sits down with Freddie Gibbs on the latest episode of Pull Up. On a New York City rooftop, the two men discuss a number of topics. The Gary, Indiana native stresses that he wants to be included on the Top MCs lists, which Budden is no stranger to,... Read more

October 14, 2019 Video

Kxng Crooked Explains Why Slaughterhouse Needs To Release One Last Album

It was nearly a year-and-a-half ago that Kxng Crooked suddenly announced his exit from Slaughterhouse. In April of 2018, the group's co-founder disbanded from the collective formed a decade earlier by Joe Budden, Royce 5'9, and Joell Ortiz. Although the Shady Records act had been relatively idle since 2014's House... Read more

October 7, 2019 Video

Snoop Dogg Previews His Upcoming LP For KXNG Crooked & Details Suge Knight Song

After more than 25 years in the game, Long Beach, California MC/producer/DJ Snoop Dogg is gearing up to release his 17th studio album, I Wanna Thank Me, later this year. A few weeks ago, Snoop released the single and a video to the title track of the album. In the... Read more

July 14, 2019 News, Video

Royce 5’9 & Kxng Crooked Discuss Who Was Better On Renegade: JAY-Z Or Eminem (Video)

Kxng Crooked is the latest respected Hip-Hop lyricist to segue into driving dialogue in the music media. Recently, the Long Beach, California lyricist also known as Crooked I launched Crook's Corner. Taking a concept from his hashtag of longstanding Hip-Hop discussions on social media with peers and fans, the MC... Read more

May 30, 2019 Video

Kxng Crooked Reworks An OutKast Song With A Message About Being Driven

Throughout his extensive career, KXNG Crooked may have seemed like a music industry outcast. The Long Beach, California native weathered the storm of "Ringtone Rap" while remaining deeply rooted in his ways of dazzling lyricism. During the 1990s, he was an artist on Death Row Records at a time that... Read more

April 26, 2019 Audio

Kxng Crooked Discusses The Times Hip-Hop Tried To Cancel Eminem & Defends Him

Kxng Crooked is having a very busy year. He has brought back his Hip Hop Weekly series and has vowed to feed his fans with at least one song per week for 2019. Additionally, the MC also known as Crooked I has rebranded a group including his younger brother. Involving some... Read more

April 5, 2019 Video

Xzibit Details How Dr. Dre Operated On His Career & Brought It To Life (Video)

Twenty years ago, Xzibit's career buckled up for a skyrocketing trajectory. Since the mid-'90s, the prodigy of King T had released two albums, worked closely with E-Swift and Tha Alkaholiks, and recorded some incredible freestyles. A California transplant, Mr. X-To-The-Z was a true school MC with major distribution. He was... Read more

March 18, 2019 Video

Kxng Crooked Is Brutally Honest About The Breakup Of Slaughterhouse (Video)

Today (March 15), Drink Champs released its episode with Xzibit. Notably, another Southern California-based lyricist also guested on the show. Kxng Crooked (aka Crooked I) joined N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN's round-table alongside Mr. X-To-The-Z. In a two-hour discussion, the show played host to some of Crook's most revealing thoughts surrounding... Read more

March 15, 2019 Video

Kxng Crooked Takes Nas’ Beat & Shows It’s His World

More than a decade after launching his online series "Hip-Hop Weekly," Long Beach, California MC KXNG Crooked (formerly known as Crooked I) is in the throes of its revival. The original series was pivotal in his gaining career traction, giving him that proverbial "buzz" during what many Hip-Hop heads remember... Read more

February 22, 2019 Audio

KXNG Crooked Puts His LBC Roots On Display & Tells The Story Of His Come-Up

KXNG Crooked is in the midst of reviving his "Hip-Hop Weekly" series. It is happening more than a decade after the online series was an inflection point in Crook's independent career. While many people associate the MC with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce 5'9, the artist formerly known as... Read more

January 25, 2019 Audio

Ain’t No Such Thing As Halfway KXNG Crooked Verses. He Goes All In With Mobb Inspiration

KXNG Crooked has always been nice on the mic, but he's not above paying respects to the greats who shaped his style. The Slaughterhouse MC formerly known as Crooked I just released a freestyle that would make Mobb Deep proud. Titled "Halfway Me," the song is an homage to the Queensbridge... Read more

January 11, 2019 Audio

Ghostface Killah’s “The Lost Tapes” Album Is Here. Listen Now (Audio)

Wu-Tang Clan has been bringing the ruckus lately. The surviving members of the legendary group appeared on Logic's song "Wu-Tang Forever" last week. Today (October 5), Ghostface Killah dropped his first project of 2018. On The Lost Tapes, Tony Starks enlists Big Daddy Kane, Snoop Dogg, E-40, Raekwon, Masta Killa,... Read more

October 5, 2018 Audio

CyHi The Prynce Challenges Joe Budden To A Rap Battle For $500,000 (Video)

In recent episodes of The Joe Budden Podcast, CyHi The Prynce has come up in conversation several times. Joe, along with co-hosts Rory, Mal, as well as Parks, have discussed CyHi's announcement of his Kanye West-produced seven-song follow-up to 2017's No Dope On Sundays. More recently, they addressed 'Ye reportedly gifting... Read more

September 29, 2018 News, Video

Ghostface Killah & Kxng Crooked Claim Rap Royalty In A New Video

Ghostface Killah recently announced that he's dropping a new album. With that news, came “Saigon Velour," a trademark Tony Starks-esque single that featured Snoop Dogg and E-40. October 5's The Lost Tapes appears to be an opportunity for Ghost Deini to reach back into his Ironman/Supreme Clientele bag and provide... Read more

September 20, 2018 Video

Slaughterhouse May Be Done But Joell Ortiz & Royce 5’9 Are Still Stomping Out MCs (Audio)

Even with the group apparently on ice, people are talking about Slaughterhouse right now, as much as ever. Eminem spoke about the group during part 2 of his week-long rollout of an interview with Sway. As recently as this weekend, Joe Budden is reflecting on the group dynamic on his... Read more

September 18, 2018 Audio

Ghostface Killah, KXNG Crooked & More Find Their Chemistry On A “Lost Tapes” Track (Audio)

In preparation for his upcoming Lost Tapes project, Ghostface Killah just dropped a new single. “Buckingham Palace,” which features Benny The Butcher, KXNG Crooked, and 38 Spesh. Previously, the Staten Island MC hinted at the release of the new project (not to be confused with Nas’ album of the same... Read more

September 5, 2018 Audio

Joe Budden Flips Out On Eminem. He Says He’s Been Better Than Em For A Decade (Video)

Friday (August 31) marked Joe Budden's 38th birthday. The Jersey City MC-turned-media host says he woke up to learn that Eminem addressed him on a sneak-attack album, Kamikaze. The news came after Budden was publicly critical of Eminem's 2017 work, (especially singles "Walk On Water" and "Untouchable") via his platforms, ... Read more

September 5, 2018 Audio, News, Video

Royce 5’9 Explains How Beef With Joe Budden Led To A Slaughterhouse (Video)

In the last five weeks, Slaughterhouse has publicly disbanded. Following KXNG Crooked's (aka Crooked I) announcement that he was stepping out of the group, Royce 5'9 and Joe Budden both responded in the media. The quartet, also including Joell Ortiz, has seemingly hung up its four mics after a run... Read more

May 25, 2018 Video

Royce 5’9 Explains In Detail What Went Wrong With Slaughterhouse (Video)

This month, Hip-Hop fans learned that Slaughterhouse has disbanded. One week ago, KXNG Crooked (aka Crooked I) announced his group exit on social media. Within days, Royce 5'9 explained how without Crook, that the group also including Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz would not continue as a unit. He added... Read more

April 29, 2018 Video

Royce 5’9 Reacts To KXNG Crooked’s Surprise Disbanding Of Slaughterhouse (Video)

Many Hip-Hop fans were shocked to learn of KXNG Crooked's exit from Slaughterhouse last weekend (April 20). The Long Beach, California MC once known as Crooked I released a video thanking his brothers, Eminem, and Shady Records, as well as fans. In the video, Crook' explained that the collective is... Read more

April 24, 2018 News, Video

Finding The GOAT Group: Slaughterhouse vs. Run The Jewels. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

April 23, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

KXNG Crooked Has Left Slaughterhouse. Here’s Why (Video)

For the last decade, Slaughterhouse helped set a trend of MCs raising their profiles through forming a super-group. The cross-country collective of Royce 5'9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and KXNG Crooked (fka Crooked I) released two albums, an EP, and two mixtapes between 2009 and 2014. Slaughterhouse's future appears to... Read more

April 22, 2018 News, Video

DMX, KXNG Crooked & Royce 5’9 Show King Kong Ain’t Got Nothin’ On Them (Audio Premiere)

For those who favor rugged, confrontational Rap, drenched in wordplay Forever M.C. knows how to assemble exciting lineups. The March 30 compilation-style album arrives on March 30, and involves some of the most aggressive lyricists of the last 20 years. Having previously showcased "Terminally Ill," (featuring Tech N9ne, Chino XL,... Read more

February 22, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

KXNG Crooked, Tech N9ne, Rittz & Chino XL Go Berserk On A Killer Collabo (Audio)

Nearly 20 years ago, Sway & King Tech released their major label debut compilation album, This Or That. With DJ Revolution behind the Technics 1200s, the album, which nearly broke the Top 100, was a crucial launch-pad in the careers of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Planet Asia, and a Long Beach... Read more

February 7, 2018 Audio

Kxng Crooked’s New Album Artwork Is Provocative & So Is His Latest Lyricism (Audio)

Spinning off the current political scene this year has been a wave of politically-charged Hip-Hop. Eminem’s BET cypher verse (now known as "The Storm") may have commanded the most attention. But 2017 also saw highly respected, veteran MCs such as Ras Kass, Scarface, Snoop Dogg and others putting out music... Read more

December 8, 2017 Audio

Irv Gotti Says He Stopped Suge Knight From Releasing A Jennifer Lopez Sex Tape (Video)

In 2002, Irv Gotti produced two #1 remix singles for Jennifer Lopez. As a supplement to the actress-singer's quadruple-platinum J.Lo LP, she took a page from Mary J. Blige by releasing J To Tha L-O!: The Remixes. Like it's companion, the Epic Records remix album went to #1, featuring Hip-Hop guests... Read more

November 9, 2017 Video

Page Kennedy, Elzhi, Kxng Crooked, Cassidy, King Los & Mickey Factz vs. EVERYBODY (Audio)

Earlier this month, Page Kennedy dropped jaws when he added an unofficial (but very compelling) new chapter to JAY-Z's "The Story Of O.J." The Detroit, Michigan actor/MC is clearly out to keep his profile buzzing and pushing this year's Torn Pages LP along. This time, he rallies up a crop... Read more

July 31, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Freestyles On Jeru The Damaja’s “Come Clean” And Does It Dirty (Video)

Kxng Crooked is a monster. There's no other way to say it. For more than 20 years, the MC formerly known as Crooked I has done things that are absolutely grisly to microphones. Whether as a Death Row records artist who never had the opportunity to release a project or... Read more

April 11, 2017 Video

KXNG Crooked, Elzhi, Rapsody, Nick Grant & More Will Take The AFH Stage At SXSW

On Wednesday, March 15, Ambrosia for Heads will be cohosting its first official showcase at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. The Ambrosia For Heads x My Executive Room Showcase will feature headlining appearances from Kxng Crooked, Elzhi, Rapsody, 9th Wonder and Nick Grant. The event will... Read more

March 6, 2017 News

Kxng Crooked Cuts Loose With Another Razor Sharp Freestyle (Audio)

Kxng Crooked is on a relentless streak of music. The Long Beach, California veteran fires up freestyles like he enjoys his stogies. This Friday (March 3), he revisits an early Slaughterhouse instrumental (the Mr. Porter-produced "Cut You Loose") for some detaching bars. He uses addresses alcoholism, hunger pains and poverty,... Read more

March 3, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Reps For J Dilla On A Freestyle That Breathes New Life Into Hip-Hop (Audio)

Half of Slaughterhouse has been heating up 2017 with a barrage of freestyle displays. As Royce 5'9 has smashed Mondays by tackling several popular Rap tracks du jour, Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) has been putting in work on more esoteric tracks. In a month that honors J Dilla's life... Read more

February 16, 2017 Audio

J.U.I.C.E. Defeated Eminem In One Of Rap’s Greatest Battles. He Offers A Rematch (Audio)

In 1997, at Cincinnati, Ohio's annual Scribble Jam Festival, Eminem and MC J.U.I.C.E. faced off in what is often considered one of Hip-Hop's greatest battles. At the time, the two Midwestern lyricists were both independent artists looking for a title, and some shine to boot. J.U.I.C.E., the Chicago, Illinois native... Read more

February 3, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Says Kellyanne Conway Should Rap Since She Lies Like Most MCs (Audio)

It's been a particularly unusual first week of a new president's tenure. Since being sworn in on January 20, Donald Trump and his staff have said and done things that have angered millions of Americans. Entertaining as some of it may be, under all of it lie serious implications, with... Read more

January 27, 2017 Audio

Kxng Crooked Is Coming After The #1 Spot. There Are No Friends In Rhyming (Audio)

In 2016, Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) released a stellar EP with Statik Selektah in the form of Statik Kxng. But that was last year. In his own words, the Long Beach, California MC is holding himself to a much higher standard in 2-0-1-7. Hopping on Kanye West's "Real Friends"... Read more

January 26, 2017 Audio

The 20 Best Freestyles Of 2016. Thought You KNEW (Video)

In Hip-Hop, there are few things more exciting than when an MC delivers a vicious verse that's never been heard before, on the spot. It is the equivalent 0f a monster dunk in an NBA game, a one-punch knockout in a fight or an end zone to end zone run in... Read more

December 28, 2016 Food for Thought

Termanology & Kxng Crooked Bring Out The Best In Each Other. Let’s Go! (Audio)

For lovers of lyrics, wordplay, and flow, one of 2016's must-listen-to Hip-Hop albums is Statik Kxng. Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) and Statik Selektah made a 10-song EP that is some of the finest work from either. Termanology, Statik's 1982 band-mate made the lone guest appearance on "Let's Go." Now,... Read more

November 16, 2016 Audio