living legends ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Del The Funky Homosapien & Living Legends Shine On A New Song

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

October 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Zion I MC Zumbi Has Passed Away At Age 49

Hip-Hop has suffered another loss. Zion I co-founder Zumbi, aka Steve Gaines, has died at age 49 on Friday (August 13). The veteran Oakland, California MC's family confirmed the news yesterday. "It is with utter disbelief and great sadness that the Gaines family shares the news of the passing of... Read more

August 14, 2021 News

Is Ice Cube Still True To The Game?

Less than three weeks before the upcoming election, Ice Cube made his way into the news through politics. On October 13, one of Donald Trump's advisors, Katrina Pierson, revealed online that Cube was working with the current administration's "platinum plan." She praised the MC-turned-mogul's actions and cooperation: Shoutout to @icecube... Read more

October 20, 2020 Audio, Fresh, News

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 3): Gang Starr vs. Murs & 9th Wonder

Over the last couple of years, Ambrosia For Heads has asked our readers to help us determine the Best Rap Album for 2017 and 2018, respectively. In looking at the top music of 2019, we believe that instead of letting the Grammy Awards—a committee who does not know anything about... Read more

January 11, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 15 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2019 List

It is that season when “best of” lists abound and, in a year that featured some remarkable music from artists across the landscape, 2019 kept Hip-Hop fans on the edge of our seats. There were reunions, surprise collaborations, and show-stopping debut albums. The year also featured innovative label compilations, unexpected... Read more

December 18, 2019 Best Albums Of 2019

Murs, Grouch & Brady Watt Jam On The Street And Show The Meaning Of Gratitude (Video)

Living Legends co-founders Murs and The Grouch recently graced Heads with a collaborative effort titled Thees Handz, which is also the name this California duo are going by. Further, their lead single and video for the project was also entitled “Thees Handz.” Having given fans a few weeks to digest... Read more

November 27, 2019 Video

Murs Is A Super Hero. A Short Film Shows Lyricism Is Just 1 Of His Powers.

After 15 long years together, Murs & 9th Wonder are reportedly taking their final ride. If that's the case, it's a truly great and memorable trip into the sunset. One week ago (August 9) saw the release of what appears to be Murs, 9th Wonder, and The Soul Council's latest... Read more

August 16, 2019 TV/Film, Video

Murs Details Making The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over With 9th Wonder (Video)

Over the past 15 years, Murs and 9th Wonder have made some of the best collaboration albums between an MC and a producer. These works have become standouts in their respected catalogs. In the mix of both men's careers and personal lives, they carved out time to make The Iliad... Read more

August 10, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Murs’ Next LP With 9th Wonder & The Soul Council Has A New Video & Release Date

Less than a month ago, Murs & 9th Wonder premiered two singles from the upcoming The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over at Ambrosia For Heads. "Ga$ Station Gucci Belt" (which Heads got a small taste of in late March) and "Night Shift" showed two different sides from... Read more

June 19, 2019 Video

Murs Shares The 1st Release From His New Collaboration With 9th Wonder

At the top of this year, it was announced that Murs & 9th Wonder were preparing to release the seventh album in their union. 2019's upcoming The Illiad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over marks the pair's first effort since 2015's Brighter Daze. This past weekend, the Los Angeles,... Read more

March 25, 2019 Video

In 2011, Murs & Tabi Bonney Made A Proper Song Celebrating Love For Hip-Hop

Whether or not it always seems it, love is at the core of Hip-Hop. Whodini made "One Love." Common looked back at the challenges of his affair with "I Used To Love H.E.R." Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth reminded Heads that "Lots Of Lovin'" was necessary to make any good... Read more

February 14, 2019 Do Remember

Murs & 9th Wonder Have Recorded Their 7th Collabo Album. It’s Coming Soon

This March makes it 15 years since Murs and 9th Wonder partnered for Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition. Released on El-P's Definitive Jux label, the album united the Los Angeles, California lyricist from the Living Legends crew with the North Carolina producer/DJ known for Little Brother's exceptional introduction. For both... Read more

January 24, 2019 News

The 14 Best Hip-Hop Releases So Far In 2018 (Audio & Video)

Approaching 2018’s midpoint, the year has been absolutely incredible for Hip-Hop and Rap music. For many artists, the album is now shorter than it has ever been. Releases are more concentrated and digestible than they have been been in decades. Moreover, the MC/producer double-threat is winning, as is the chemistry... Read more

June 21, 2018 Food for Thought

Eligh, R.A. The Rugged Man & Eamon Chase The High Of Self-Love (Audio Premiere)

Eligh is one of the busiest members of the ultra-prolific Living Legends crew. This MC/producer has released more than 20 solo and collaborative albums since 1996. After a hiatus from 2006-2009, the Los Angelino came back reinvigorated and with a new perspective—thanks in large part, to sobriety. While he didn’t... Read more

June 6, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

Murs Drops One Of The Realest & Most Personal Songs Of 2018 (Video)

Less than one week ago, Murs and producer Michael "Seven" Summer released A Strange Journey Into The Unimaginable. The Los Angeles, California native has unloaded several singles and visuals from one of his best albums in a sprawling, dynamic, and highly-impressive catalog. One of the most striking moments of the... Read more

March 21, 2018 Video

Murs Says Hip-Hop Can’t Be Dead If Wu-Tang Is Forever & He’s Still Rapping (Video)

In celebration of his 40th birthday (March 16), Murs drops his latest solo album, A Strange Journey Into The Unimaginable with Strange Music. The project is exclusively produced by longtime Tech N9ne producer Michael "Seven" Summers. Leading up to today, ("Murs 3/16"), the Los Angeles, California veteran MC has leaked... Read more

March 16, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Murs Is Starting A Residency At Duke University (Video)

The long-term partnership between Los Angeles, California MC Murs and producer 9th Wonder is taking a new turn, as the self-described "Captain California" heads to Duke University to start a week-long residency as part of its African and African American Studies program. Finding himself in a college setting is not... Read more

February 6, 2018 News, Video

Murs & 9th Wonder’s 3:16 Album Set An Everlasting Trend In Hip-Hop (Video)

Collaboration albums between Hip-Hop artists across style, geography, and subject matter have become more commonplace than ever. Creators from aesthetically different sub-genres who have joined forces in the recent past include Madlib and Freddie Gibbs, Vince Staples and No I.D., and Killer Mike and El-P's 2010s formation of Run The... Read more

December 21, 2017 Do Remember

A Near 500-Song Mix Showcases The Magnificent History Of West Coast Hip-Hop (Audio)

West Coast Hip-Hop is incredible. So many of its pioneers are still making albums, doing shows, and adding to their legacy. As a tribute to the Left Coast immense contributions to Hip-Hop, Take It Personal Radio has compiled a four-part episode dedicated to gangsta and underground Rap classics from the... Read more

November 4, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Murs Revives Paid Dues. Raekwon, Ghostface, PRhyme & More To Perform

Starting in 2006, Murs created and curated the Paid Dues Music Festival in and around Los Angeles, California. The Living Legends MC made a stage for many of his independent peers, friends, and acts whose music he liked. By 2007, Paid Dues teamed with Guerilla Union to do a full-on... Read more

July 12, 2017 Fresh

Murs & Curtiss King Turn The Dating Game Into A Player Haters Ball (Video)

Earlier this month, Murs released his Captain California album. The L.A. veteran has showcased several moments from his latest Strange Music work, but none as sour-sweet as "Lemon Juice." The Curtiss King-assisted single now comes to visual with a Dating Game-theme. Both MCs appear dressed to impressed, as two bachelors... Read more

March 22, 2017 Video

Murs Details Watching Biggie Smalls Lose A Rap Battle To An Unsigned MC (Video)

Many Heads have seen the footage of a pre-deal Biggie Smalls ripping into an opponent in his own neighborhood, outside a Brooklyn storefront (posted below). The Notorious B.I.G. was clearly a battle-tested MC who brought his confidence, wit, and commanding delivery to a decorated career that includes a diamond-certified double... Read more

March 21, 2017 Video

Murs & Curtiss King Player Hate On Each Other. The Music Wins In The End (Audio)

At the end of the week, Murs will release his Captain California album. Now an integral part of the Strange Music family, the Los Angeles veteran released a video single to an empathetic look at the role of stress in all of our lives. He follows that up with an... Read more

March 7, 2017 Audio

Murs Uses Kanye West As A Metaphor For The Stress We’re All Facing (Video)

Murs is just days away from his second Strange Music solo album, Captain California. The veteran, with histories tied to Def Jux, Rhymesayers and his own Living Legends squad moves towards a March 10 LP with a powerful single. "God Bless Kanye West" may sound like its simply about 'Ye,... Read more

March 1, 2017 Video

Bars For Days…Murs Aims For Guinness World Record For Longest Freestyle

UPDATE: In speaking with Ambrosia For Heads, Murs has clarified that he will not be freestyling. Instead, he will be undertaking a "Rap marathon," where he raps his own songs and other classics. In 2008, Los Angeles, California MC Murs campaigned with his Warner Bros. album, Murs For President. Eight... Read more

July 14, 2016 News

Black Thought, Del, Murs & Fashawn Make An All-Star Collabo About The Fight Within (Video)

One of 2016's most exciting collaborations crosses the coastline. The Roots' Black Thought, Hieroglyphics' Del The Funky Homosapien, Felt's Murs, and Fashawn all come together for "Rise Up." The song is for Street Fighter V, the game, but it is by no means a simple marketing ploy. Instead, this visual—which... Read more

February 16, 2016 Video

Stream Murs & 9th Wonder’s Brighter Daze Album (Audio)

Just hours ago, it was announced that Murs & 9th Wonder's sixth album would release today (December 31). Heads can now dive right into Brighter Daze, the first in the duo's catalog, since 2012. Rapsody, Problem, Mac Miller, Bad Lucc are the guests among the Jamla Records LP's 12 tracks.... Read more

December 31, 2015 Audio

Murs & 9th Wonder Announce 6th Collaborative Album…Coming Today

In late 2012, Murs & 9th Wonder released The Final Adventure. The Jamla Records album was the fifth, and said to be final release from the pair—a Los Angeles, California MC and a North Carolina producer. The tandem's work stemmed back to early 2004, with the acclaimed Definitive Jux release,... Read more

December 31, 2015 News

Eligh Attacks 808 Drums With Dazzling Lyricism In A Creative Uprising (Video Premiere)

Today (August 14), Eligh released 80 HRTZ, his latest album in an extensive solo and collaborative catalog. The Los Angeles, California native MC/producer and founding member of the Living Legends, G&E (The Grouch & Eligh), and 3 Melancholy Gypsies. Since the mid-1990s tape culture, Eligh has risen the ranks to... Read more

August 14, 2015 Video

Murs Evocatively Honors The Life Of A Late, Fellow Rhymesayer (Video)

With the release of Have A Nice A Life, Murs took a moment to remember Eyedea. While they were not frequent collaborators, Murray and Eyedea were label-mates throughout much of the 2000s at Rhymesayers Entertainment. While it's been almost five years since the man born Michael Larsen passed away, Murray uses... Read more

May 18, 2015 Video

Murs & King Fantastic Make That Gangsta Rap For Your Mental (Audio)

Murs' ninth studio solo album, Have A Nice Life is in stores next week (May 18). The Living Legends alum furthers his relationship with Tech N9ne and Strange Music, following collaborative works with ¡Mayday! in the last several years. Now a father, husband, and a label leader (Label 316), Murs... Read more

May 13, 2015 Audio

Murs’ Strange Music Arrival Feels Like He’s Been Here Before (Audio)

Wherever Murs go, geographically, creatively, or label-wise, he always takes his core sound with him. The Los Angeles, California native has dabbled extensively in the last 15-plus years, from where he's lived, who he's worked with, and where he's gotten his proverbial Rap checks. Now at Strange Music, the Living... Read more

February 25, 2015 Audio

Zion I Announce They Are Splitting, But Make Final Project Available (EP Stream)

Oakland, California duo Zion I has nearly 20 years in the books, dating back to 1998's "Inner Light." However, Zumbi (a/k/a MC Zion) and Amp Live have announced that they are officially, and amicably splitting. The news comes with the group living in different cities for several years now, and... Read more

February 4, 2015 Audio, News

Murs Is Feelin’ Himself On A Groovy Track From Company Flow’s Mr. Len (Audio)

Murs and Mr. Len have long run in adjacent circles. When Murs started to make his ascent to being one of the premier MCs in Hip-Hop, it was through his Def Jux work (End Of The Beginning, Murs 3:16). Definitive Jux was launched by El-P, the former musical partner of... Read more

January 17, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT: Murs vs. Ras Kass…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

December 9, 2014 Fresh

Murs & Fashawn Beast Up For DJ JS-1, Telling It Like It Is (Audio)

While they've connected in recent years, Murs & Fashawn go back in the bag for the Rocksteady Crew's DJ JS-1. Murs gets back in that Varsity Blues mindstate, chronicling his days selling herb in the gang-infested streets of early 1990s Los Angeles. Fashawn does the same, reviewing how he was... Read more

October 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Boaz Travels The West Coast With Murs, Crooked I & Fashawn To Remix Like This (Audio)

Boaz's !llmind-produced "Like This" is the Pittsburgh MC's door opener to afar. The Rostrum Records artist hits the West Coast for the first remix to find a diverse trio of highly-talented, street-respected MCs in Mid City, Los Angeles' Murs, Fresno's Fashawn, and Long Beach's Crooked I. The three MCs team... Read more

October 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Murs & ¡Mayday! Get Into That Zone For The Skaters (Video)

For more than 20 years, skateboard culture and Hip-Hop have been closely related, yet always understated. Heads know that since Murs' 2003 joint, "Transitions az a Ridah," that the Los Angelino has brought his board with him for the Rap journey. On Mursday's "Zones," that's also the focus. For the... Read more

September 30, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murs Joins Apollo Brown’s Ugly Heroes Asking Why Good Things Die (Audio)

Both Mello Music Group and Murs are based in the deserts of Tucson, Arizona. The former Warner Bros. Records artist and the thriving indie are working more together. Thereby, Murray joined Ugly Heroes, the trio of Michigan's Apollo Brown and Red Pill and Chicago vet Verbal Kent. "Good Things Die"... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Think You Know A Hard Rap Verse? Tech N9ne & Murs Raise The Ante (Video)

With Strangeulation making its round, Tech N9ne unleashed a rough-edged exterior video to his Murs-assisted "Hard." Strange Music's co-founder and the label's most recent signee link for this skills-forward single. Tech puts on his paint for this video, letting Heads know it's real, while Murs goes back to some of... Read more

May 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Tech N9ne & Murs Come Together For The First Time as Label Mates on Hard (Audio)

Through Paid Dues, Murs and Tech N9ne go back. Two independent Hip-Hop titans who manage to succeed in a changing music industry after botched major label deals, Murray and Tech have plenty in common. Following Murs joining Strange Music for a Strange deal, the two lyricists with incredibly high opinions... Read more

March 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Black Star Isn’t The Only Squad Busting Raps In Vans. Murs & Jabee Keep It Moving (Video)

Remember the Black Star "Definition" video? Everybody from Common to El-P to Pharoahe Monch hopped in the van driven by DJ Hi-Tek while Talib Kweli and the Mighty Mos Def kicked rhymes influenced by Boogie Down Productions as well as Hip-Hop perceived threats in 1998. Over 15 years later, Murs... Read more

March 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

The Indie Rap Titans Form Like Voltron. Murs Signs With Tech N9ne’s Strange Music (Video)

This afternoon (February 7th), Murs announced that he's inked a new deal with Tech N9ne's Strange Music imprint. It makes sense in a lot of ways, as both of these artists rock the sales charts and fill out venues, despite limited (read: scarce video and radio support). Highly respected among... Read more

February 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murs Shows You A Day In His New Life As A Family Man In Owner$hip (Video)

Murs videos have long been narrative. The Los Angeles MC has many sides to his life and music, and these come out in his videos. From the just-released, conceptual $hut Your Trap mixtape, Murray welcomes his fans to Tucson, Arizona, where you meet his wife and children, and get a... Read more

January 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murs Makes A Soulful Song With Apollo Brown About Getting Over Pain (Audio)

Almost a decade after making "The Pain" on Murs 3:16 with 9th Wonder, Murray now says "The Pain Is Gone." The Tucson, Arizona-based MC teams with Tucson, Arizona-based label Mello Music Group to release a single with the imprint's producer, Apollo Brown. As Murs has carved a niche for, Murray... Read more

January 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Murs Makes A Christmas Rap Song That May Get You In The Spirit (Audio)

When Murs loves something, he shares it: from the Jacksonville Jaguars, to old cars, to Hip-Hop records from the G-Funk era. A father and husband, Murray also loves Christmas. The MC made a new song, "Christmas Rules Everything Around Me," and it's not a Wu-Tang Clan cover. If you need... Read more

December 14, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Dilated Peoples’ Rakaa, Zion I’s Zumbi & Living Legends’ Sunspot Jonz Kick Chess Raps (Audio)

Hip-Hop and chess go hand-in-hand, word to DJ Quik. A lot of your favorite MCs, DJs, and producers love to apply lessons learned of the 64 squares to life and competitive art. Dilated Peoples' Rakaa Iriscience, Zion I's Zumbi, and Living Legends' Sunspot Jonz link with the Hip-Hop Chess Federation... Read more

October 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Murs – The Questions Interview (Video)

Murs is up there with any current Hip-Hop artist in giving captivating interviews. Musically, Murray's got incredible stories of his work with everybody ranging from Lucky.i.am and Slug, to Dame Dash and DJ Quik, to 9th Wonder and Ab-Soul. Off the mic, Murs has strong opinions on global outreach, parenting,... Read more

September 27, 2013 Fresh, Video

Living Legends: Big Daddy Kane (Audio/Video Playlist)

"The name Kane is superior to many people. It means King Asiatic Nobody's Equal." No truer words were ever spoken, even though they were from the man, himself. Along with Rakim, Kane has had one of the most enduring influences on Hip-Hop as we know it today, having been one... Read more

September 13, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists, Throwback

Living Legends: Missy Elliott

"Me, I'm supa fly!" With those 4 words, Missy Elliott changed the landscape of Hip-Hop, particularly its depiction of women, forever. In 1997, Missy burst onto the scene with her single The Rain and brought a new sing-songy flow, effortlessly shifting from singing to rhyming then back again, as well... Read more

August 16, 2013 Playlists, Throwback