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Uncle Ralph McDaniels Details 35 Years Of Making The Original Rap Video Show (Video)

Uncle Ralph McDaniels Details 35 Years Of Making The Original Rap Video Show (Video)

"Uncle" Ralph McDaniels is a pioneer in bringing video to Hip-Hop culture. The New York City native co-created and co-hosted Video Music Box, a show that would help bring some of the top names in Hip-Hop, and their music, to TV screens across the world. Subsequently, McDaniels would use his... Read more
August 13, 2018 Video
Nas Names 5 Of His Favorite Rap Songs In Celebration Of Hip-Hop’s 45th Birthday (Video)

Nas Names 5 Of His Favorite Rap Songs In Celebration Of Hip-Hop’s 45th Birthday (Video)

This past Saturday, Hip-Hop celebrated a significant milestone. August 11, 1973, marks the day that DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) rocked a benchmark party in the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. As a result, many Hip-Hop Heads, scholars, and even tech giants honor that day as the culture's... Read more
August 13, 2018 Video
Video Music Box Is Celebrating Its 35th Anniversary With A Concert Packed With Legends

Video Music Box Is Celebrating Its 35th Anniversary With A Concert Packed With Legends

It is an obligation for music historians and Heads alike to acknowledge the evolution of music video shows largely began with "Uncle" Ralph McDaniels and his pioneering TV show Video Music Box. The Queens, New York-born McDaniels is the founder and host of the show, which first aired on New York... Read more
June 27, 2018 Fresh
The Book of Ra. Rakim Confirms His Memoir Is Coming This Year. (Audio)

The Book of Ra. Rakim Confirms His Memoir Is Coming This Year. (Audio)

Many of Hip-Hop's best-known and greatest MCs have released autobiographies and memoirs. JAY-Z published Decoded. LL Cool J (I Make My Own Rules), Ice-T (The Ice Opinion), Snoop Dogg (Tha Doggfather), Prodigy (My Infamous Life), Eminem (The Way That I Am), Common (One Day It'll All Make Sense), 50 Cent... Read more
March 5, 2018 Audio, News
Watch 40 Years Of Hip-Hop History In 4 Minutes In A Mind-Blowing Mashup (Video)

Watch 40 Years Of Hip-Hop History In 4 Minutes In A Mind-Blowing Mashup (Video)

It ain't nothin' like Hip-Hop music...Over the last 40 years, there have been few forces in pop culture with more impact than Hip-Hop. Like Rock & Roll before it, the music and lifestyle shaped an entire generation and has had untold influence around the world. The Rub: The History of... Read more
June 5, 2017 Video
Impeach The President Got Top Billin’ From Audio Two (Video)

Impeach The President Got Top Billin’ From Audio Two (Video)

Turn on a lot of American newscasts right now, read the blogs, or encounter a "water-cooler" discussion, and one may likely hear the word "impeachment." Over the last 20 years, this word has re-entered the lexicon in a major way, through several US presidencies, quite obviously including the current. In... Read more
May 18, 2017 Do Remember
DJ Red Alert Offers Some Deep History About Why The Bridge Wars Really Started (Video)

DJ Red Alert Offers Some Deep History About Why The Bridge Wars Really Started (Video)

Hip-Hop's biggest story-line in March of 2017 is a Bronx MC apparently responding to an MC from Queens on the microphone in back-to-back disses. Thirty years ago today (March 3, 1987), that tactic was introduced by Boogie Down Productions' two-song arsenal on Criminal Minded used against MC Shan, producer Marley... Read more
March 3, 2017 Throwback, Video
Rare Video Reveals That B.D.P.’s Criminal Minded Was An Answer To Non-Believers

Rare Video Reveals That B.D.P.’s Criminal Minded Was An Answer To Non-Believers

Thirty years ago this week (March 3, 1987), the direction and style of Hip-Hop forever changed thanks to Boogie Down Productions' debut album, Criminal Minded. With only "South Bronx" in wide circulation prior to the release of the B-Boy Records album, KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock made a jaw-dropping... Read more
March 2, 2017 Food for Thought, Throwback, Video
Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

Skillz’s 2016 Rap Up Reminds Us Of The Year’s Highs, Lows & Reasons To Stay Woke (Audio)

2016 is coming to a close. Years from now, how will we, the people, remember such an expansive year in Hip-Hop music, news, and culture? This year, some of the biggest MCs in the genre released new albums. Several of these efforts came in short notice, challenging new distribution platforms... Read more
December 30, 2016 Food for Thought
Masta Ace Says To KRS-One & MC Shan About Their New Battle: “Please, No More” (Video)

Masta Ace Says To KRS-One & MC Shan About Their New Battle: “Please, No More” (Video)

Last month, in a surprising move, MC Shan launched a full-scale verbal attack against KRS-One, re-igniting their 30-year old "Bridge Wars" rivalry that most thought had long been settled. Shan and KRS put what was one of Hip-Hop's earliest and most high profile battles to rest years ago, and have... Read more
May 6, 2016 Video
KRS-One Explains Why Drake Is “Underrated” & Says Some The Best MCs Have Writers (Audio)

KRS-One Explains Why Drake Is “Underrated” & Says Some The Best MCs Have Writers (Audio)

KRS-One is the latest guest on N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN's Drink Champs Podcast. There, the iconic Boogie Down Productions MC sipped hand-crafted mai tai's and discussed a litany of topics, at incredible length. Known for lecturing at some of the most prestigious universities around the globe, publishing books, and educating... Read more
April 23, 2016 Audio
KRS-One Responds To MC Shan’s Battle Bars With A Brutal Diss Record (Audio)

KRS-One Responds To MC Shan’s Battle Bars With A Brutal Diss Record (Audio)

For one week now, MC Shan has asked for a proper battle with KRS-One. Thirty years removed from the genesis of "The Bridge Wars," Shan revealed some bars he had for Kris last week. This morning, the onetime Juice Crew MC released an acapella verse that pulled no punches in... Read more
April 8, 2016 Audio
MC Shan Spits 4 Minutes Of Battle Bars With Shots Aimed Directly At KRS-One’s Head (Audio)

MC Shan Spits 4 Minutes Of Battle Bars With Shots Aimed Directly At KRS-One’s Head (Audio)

One week ago (April 1), MC Shan appeared on the Murder Master Music Show. The Queens, New York MC veteran vehemently denied the history that he ever lost a battle to KRS-One. First referring to Kris as "my man," the Juice Crew MC explained why the "Bridge Wars" battles with... Read more
April 8, 2016 Audio
MC Shan Challenges KRS-One To Settle The Bridge Wars Once & For All…With A Battle (Audio)

MC Shan Challenges KRS-One To Settle The Bridge Wars Once & For All…With A Battle (Audio)

In the late 1980s, the Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions were involved in one of Hip-Hop's most legendary battles. KRS-One and Scott La Rock released records dissing Marley Marl, Mr. Magic, Roxanne Shante, and MC Shan, among others. However, nearly 30 years later, MC Shan refutes the history that... Read more
April 2, 2016 Audio, News
Tragedy Khadafi Provides A Hip-Hop Insider’s Tour Of “The Bridge” (Video)

Tragedy Khadafi Provides A Hip-Hop Insider’s Tour Of “The Bridge” (Video)

When MC Shan and Marley Marl made "The Bridge," they were not only talking about the history, talent, and surroundings of Queensbridge Houses, they were paying homage to the nearby parks where it all happened. The places Shan rhymed about is the same park that years later, Nas would admit... Read more
December 2, 2015 Video
Marley Marl Says KRS-One Asked To Be In The Juice Crew & “The Bridge” Leaked (Audio)

Marley Marl Says KRS-One Asked To Be In The Juice Crew & “The Bridge” Leaked (Audio)

Iconic Hip-Hop producer and DJ Marley Marl is the most recent guest on Ice-T's Final Level Podcast. The man largely responsible for introducing the music community to Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Biz Markie, and countless others sat in with Ice and Mick Benzo for nearly 90 minutes. As... Read more
October 29, 2015 Audio
Big Daddy Kane Reveals KRS-One Is The Battle He Really Wanted & Why It Never Happened (Video)

Big Daddy Kane Reveals KRS-One Is The Battle He Really Wanted & Why It Never Happened (Video)

Big Daddy Kane was a recent guest on Ed Lover's Sirius XM Backspin show. In addition to adding some context to his championing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' willingness to work with and support Hip-Hop pioneers, B.D.K. looked back at key career moments with the former "Yo! MTV Raps" co-host. Ed... Read more
October 23, 2015 Video
DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

Fresh off of DJ Kool Herc's groundbreaking interview with The Combat Jack Show, another Hip-Hop pioneer is profiled extensively. Kool DJ Red Alert is Combat's guest this week. The Harlem, New York native (not Bronx, as often reported) opens up about his career trajectory, the radio wars evolving into "The... Read more
May 13, 2015 Throwback
KRS-One Decodes His Most Classic Lines. You Must Learn… (Audio)

KRS-One Decodes His Most Classic Lines. You Must Learn… (Audio)

Shawn Setaro, former Editor-in-Chief of Rap Genius, has been opening up his vaults of classic interviews on his theciphershow.com site. One such gem is an amazing conversation with KRS-One. Kris breaks down the stories behind many of his most famous lyrics, and also provides colorful insights on never before discussed... Read more
January 10, 2015 Throwback
Mobb Deep & Big Noyd’s 1994 Version Update Of MC Shan’s Classic Is Liberated (Audio)

Mobb Deep & Big Noyd’s 1994 Version Update Of MC Shan’s Classic Is Liberated (Audio)

The Bridge Wars were very real. Most Heads know about the Juice Crew vs. Boogie Down Productions main event featuring MC Shan, Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante and more versus KRS-One, Scott La Rock, Just-Ice, DJ Kenny Parker and others. However, throughout the late '80s and early '90s, other artists were... Read more
March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback
The Juice Crew Masters The Ceremony & Orchestrates The Symphony On Stage (Video)

The Juice Crew Masters The Ceremony & Orchestrates The Symphony On Stage (Video)

The same night Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Geto Boys, The Pharcyde, Blackstreet, and Ma$e and Diddy reunited in Los Angeles, another seminal Hip-Hop crew came together in New York City. While they never released an album, Heads know the Juice Crew's impact as the sum of its parts, including Big Daddy Kane,... Read more
January 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback
A 1990 Freestyle Surfaces From The Juice Crew’s Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Tragedy Khadafi & Craig G (Audio)

A 1990 Freestyle Surfaces From The Juice Crew’s Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Tragedy Khadafi & Craig G (Audio)

Earlier this year, Tim Westwood lost his longtime post at BBC Radio. The London, England-based radio/video personality has been spoofed by Afion Crockett for his enthusiasm and friendly-fire with guests. However, Heads in the know recognize that Tim Westwood's work in Hip-Hop goes back to the '80s. Need proof? UnKut.com... Read more
December 23, 2013 Fresh, Throwback
MC Shan – Another One To Get Jealous Of (Lost Marley Marl Remix)

MC Shan – Another One To Get Jealous Of (Lost Marley Marl Remix)

MC Shan has one of the coolest Hip-Hop voices of all-time, in my opinion. Maybe that's why so many producers and DJs love to scratch his vocals. The person who helped set off "The Bridge" wars released an oft-overlooked 1987 LP, Down By Law. Within the Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records... Read more
September 12, 2013 Fresh, Throwback
The 13th most important hip-hop record label of all time would have been #1 in 1988. Cold Chillin’ Records featured hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap, Masta Ace and more. Check out more on Cold Chillin’ and a playlist featuring its key artists below.

The 13th most important hip-hop record label of all time would have been #1 in 1988. Cold Chillin’ Records featured hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap, Masta Ace and more. Check out more on Cold Chillin’ and a playlist featuring its key artists below.

#13 Cold Chillin' Records Many people say the golden age of hip-hop was in the late 80's and early 90's. If you fall into that category, there's no doubt Cold Chillin' Records featured some of your favorite artists of all time (in any genre). In fact, many would argue that... Read more
November 29, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback, Video