n.w.a. ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

N.W.A. Will Receive The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

N.W.A. changed culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collective, launched by Eazy-E, included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, and helped bring the city of Compton, California to the mainstream entertainment lexicon. While superstar careers emerged out of the Gangsta Rap outfit,... Read more

January 5, 2024 News, Trending Stories

Eazy-E Put Compton On The Map & Now The City Is Returning The Favor

During the late 1980s, Eazy-E helped take the city of Compton, California, to the mainstream. The N.W.A. co-founder and Gangsta Rap solo star was famed for wearing Compton hats, titling game-changing albums and songs after his city, and recruiting talent from Hub City. Ruthless Records artists, including Dr. Dre, MC Ren,... Read more

November 14, 2023 News, Trending Stories

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

August 17, 2023 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Dr. Dre Names The 8 Artists He Would Most Like To Work With

Throughout his career, Dr. Dre has worked with some of the music greats that came before him. Dre made important music with George Clinton, The Dramatics, and Rick James, to name a few. However, the producer/artist known for his reclusive nature and hard-to-reach status, has also been selective about some... Read more

July 13, 2023 Fresh, TV, TV/Film

Ice Cube Details The Connection Between The Music Industry & Prisons

For over 35 years, Ice Cube has been an independent artist—from Ruthless Records to a lengthy tenure at Priority Records—to running his own Lench Mob imprint. In a new conversation with Bill Maher, Cube explains why he has avoided major labels despite his success. At 17:00 in The Club Random Podcast, Cube... Read more

July 3, 2023 Video

Death Row Family vs. N.W.A. & The Posse: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 15, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

The D.O.C.’s 1st Verse In 19 Years Gets A Video

The D.O.C. remains one of Hip-Hop's great what-if stories. The Dallas, Texas native released just one solo album, 1989's No One Can Do It Better. With Dr. Dre and DJ Yella's production, the MC made a case for that title with elite lyricism, an incredible flow, and plenty of "high energy" and... Read more

March 11, 2023 Video

Macklemore Ponders Hip-Hop’s Bad Influences On A Song With DJ Premier

It has been over a decade since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' mainstream breakthrough, The Heist. Promoted with impressive Backroom freestyles and more, the album dealt with industry triumphs, sexual equality, and more. The against-the-grain LP featuring ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul would eventually (and somewhat controversially) win "Best Rap Album" at the 2014... Read more

January 22, 2023 Video

N.W.A. & Tupac Affiliated Producer Laylaw Has Reportedly Passed Away

Laylaw, a pioneering West Coast Hip-Hop rapper, songwriter, and producer, has reportedly died. Born Larry Goodman, Laylaw was an affiliate of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. He made contributions to albums by Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Above The Law, Kausion, K-Dee, and Anotha Level. DJ Pooh, Da Lench Mob's J-Dee,... Read more

January 12, 2023 News

Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short & Snoop Are Giving Free Game

Over the last several years, one of the biggest super-groups in Hip-Hop history has been brewing. Mount Westmore is Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short. To date, the collective has released a handful of singles and performed together. However, now the California delegation from South Central Los Angeles,... Read more

November 25, 2022 Video

The History Of Violence In Hip-Hop: 6 Years Changed Everything

In the last year, Hip-Hop has lost an alarming number of its artists to violence. Young Dolph, PnB Rock, Trouble, and Drakeo The Ruler are just some of the noteworthy examples, among several others. In the last week, Migos member Takeoff was killed in Houston, Texas on November 1—adding to... Read more

November 7, 2022 Video

The Game Says Dr. Dre Has Never Produced A Song For Him

Last week, The Game appeared on Uproxx's Fresh Pair podcast to discuss a range of topics surrounding music and his nearly 20-year career. While the multi-platinum Compton, California promoted his new album, DRILLMATIC Heart Vs. Mind, he also opined on the five greatest Los Angeles Hip-Hop albums—with a list that... Read more

October 10, 2022 Video

Dr. Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar & Mary J. Blige Win Emmys For Halftime Show

Approaching seven months after this year's epic Superbowl Halftime Show, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige took home two Creative Arts Emmy Awards this weekend. Yesterday (September 3), the Television Academy awarded the collective for "Outstanding Variety Special (Live)" and "Outstanding Production Design" for the February 13... Read more

September 4, 2022 News, TV, TV/Film

Diamond D Names His Top 5 Hip-Hop Producers

Today (August 19), Diamond D released his latest album, THE REAR VIEW. The 15-song collection (embedded below) finds the veteran MC/producer flexing his MC chops while playing double duty behind the boards as producer. It features Westside Gunn, De La Soul's Posdnuos, and Diamond's latest protege, Ashtin Martin. The Bronx, New... Read more

August 19, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Eminem Has A Chance To Add An Emmy To His Grammy & Oscar

Eminem is having a banner 2022. The Detroit, Michigan MC/producer will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November. Marshall Mathers is also currently preparing a second collection of Curtain Call, a forthcoming volume of greatest hits that was announced with the arrival of his latest Snoop Dogg collaboration. He... Read more

July 12, 2022 Fresh, News

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

July 12, 2022 Video

Ice Cube Explains Why Lil Wayne Is The Best Rapper Of All-Time

Late last month, Ice Cube made a podcast appearance on On The Guest List. There, the legendary MC was asked about his opinion of other great MCs. Shortly after the 31:00 mark, the hosts ask the onetime member of N.W.A. and Westside Connection his opinion on the best rapper of... Read more

July 7, 2022 Fresh, Video

Former Death Row Records Singer Jewell Has Passed Away

Jewell is an R&B singer-songwriter who made hits with Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound, N.W.A., and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. According to collaborator and former label-mate Daz Dillinger, the former Death Row Records artist born Jewell Caples has passed away this morning (May 6). No cause of death has been made public.... Read more

May 6, 2022 News

The 10 Ways Dr. Dre Brought Compton To The Super Bowl

On Sunday night (February 13), Dr. Dre celebrated his career with an epic Super Bowl halftime show. The moment included appearances alongside Dre's star pupils and collaborators: Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak each made surprise appearances in a stage show filled... Read more

February 16, 2022 Video

Eminem Has Quietly Become 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Biggest Activists

On Sunday night (February 13), Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem put on a Super Bowl halftime show for the ages (embedded below). 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak also appeared as Dre's latest comeback campaign resulted in the biggest concert of his 35-plus-year-career. Although Dre... Read more

February 15, 2022 Video

Dr. Dre Previews How Epic His Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Be

Dr. Dre and an esteemed cast of collaborators will host the Super Bowl Halftime Show in less than one month. On February 13, Dre will be joined by Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige for a concert at SoFi Stadium. The Inglewood, California venue is just a... Read more

January 20, 2022 Video

Former Death Row Records Artist CPO Boss Hogg Has Passed Away

CPO Boss Hogg was at the epicenter of the 1990s West Coast Hip-Hop movement. The Compton, California native born Vince Edwards has died this week, as confirmed by friend, journalist, and past Ambrosia For Heads contributor Chad Kiser. Details were not made public. However, CPO had posted about his ongoing health... Read more

January 13, 2022 News

The 14 Best Rap Albums Of 2021…What Did We Miss

As 2021 comes to a close, it is appropriate to reflect on a remarkable year for Hip-Hop music and news. Although we did it slightly differently this year, Ambrosia For Heads shares our list of the best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2021. On episode #72 of the What's The Headline podcast—starting at 1:13:00—we list our... Read more

December 21, 2021 Best Rap Albums Of 2021, Video

Dr. Dre & Eminem’s New Song Is The Truth

Today (December 15), new Dr. Dre music appears in the online video game, Grand Theft Auto Online: The Contract. Dre plays himself in the GTA extension, with Anderson .Paak and other cohorts in the mix. Members of the Aftermath Entertainment family and Dre affiliates Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and others... Read more

December 15, 2021 Audio

JAY-Z & LL Cool J Brought A President & $3 Billion To The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

On Saturday (October 30), LL Cool J and JAY-Z were formally inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. While Hip-Hop artists have been entering the Hall for over a decade now, 2021's celebration was truly a standout moment for the culture. As Dave Chappelle suggested while inducting... Read more

November 2, 2021 Video

Dr. Dre Has Broken Pop Culture Barriers Once Again

Last week, it was revealed that Dr. Dre will be headlining the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. In doing so, Dre becomes the first Hip-Hop artist to headline, after nearly 25 years of various MCs appearing in the feature role. Dre will share the stage with some of his superstar... Read more

October 6, 2021 Video

Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem & Snoop Dogg To Perform Super Bowl Halftime Show

This year's Super Bowl halftime show will celebrate the musical universe of Dr. Dre. Today (September 30), it was confirmed that Super Bowl LVI's entertainment will include a concert from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. According to TMZ, JAY-Z was instrumental in finalizing the talent. Pepsi... Read more

September 30, 2021 Fresh

Scarface Would Battle Ice Cube In A New Verzuz Format

An upcoming Verzuz has recently been announced between The Diplomats and The LOX. That matchup is scheduled for August 3, before a live audience at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Room. However, this week saw a discussion of another proposed battle between Scarface and Ice Cube. However, this one would go... Read more

July 17, 2021 Fresh, Video

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

January 8, 2021 Fresh

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

Conway The Machine Collides With DJ Premier For Something That’s Nothin’ Less Than Dope

Last Friday (September 11), Conway The Machine released his third project of 2020. Following March's Alchemist-produced LULU and May's Ghost LTD-helmed No One Mourns The Wicked, the Buffalo, New Yorker steps forth with From A King To A God. In one of the busiest seasons in Hip-Hop history, Griselda continues the... Read more

September 14, 2020 Audio, Fresh

Ice Cube Explains Why Storytelling Is The Top Level Of MC’ing (Video)

Ice Cube is no stranger to storytelling with his lyrics. The legendary South Central, Los Angeles MC is responsible for one of Rap's most beloved tales: "It Was A Good Day," as well as penning Eazy-E's breakout anthem, "Boyz-n-the-Hood." Cube's albums, both solo and group, often have songs that follow... Read more

February 3, 2020 Video

The D.O.C. Recalls The Night Of His Car Accident With New Details (Video)

For many Hip-Hop Heads, The D.O.C. is widely regarded as one of the most skilled lyricists and songwriters. A native of Dallas, Texas, the artist born Tracy Curry linked with Dr. Dre in the late 1980s to make history. After assisting with the writing on N.W.A.'s Grammy Hall Of Fame-inducted Straight... Read more

January 7, 2020 Video

Dr. Dre & LL Cool J Have Recorded More Than 40 Songs Together (Audio)

Dr. Dre rarely grants interviews. He admits it, and adds that he does not enjoy talking about himself in public. Since 2017's The Defiant Ones documentary on HBO, Andre Young has participated little in the way of press, beyond product or album promotion. If there is one Rap peer who... Read more

April 23, 2019 Audio

MC Ren Is Making New Music & He Is Doing It On His Own Terms

Late last week, N.W.A member MC Ren dropped his latest single "King Villain." Produced by Hushdegod, the song marks the first solo track in nearly five years from the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted MC, an accolade that the artist born Lorenzo Patterson addresses in his lyrics. In speaking with Ambrosia... Read more

February 18, 2019 Audio, Exclusive, Interview

Dr. Dre Is Finishing Busta Rhymes’ 1st Album In 7 Years

It was more than a decade ago that Busta Rhymes was an artist on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The tenure yielded only one album, 2006's The Big Bang. That LP earned the veteran MC his only #1 album, and included an ensemble of guests that ranged between Stevie Wonder and... Read more

February 12, 2019 Fresh

N.W.A.’s Forgotten Member Explains Why He Was The First To Leave The Group

For those who watched 2015's Straight Outta Compton film, there was no mention or reference to Arabian Prince. The rapper/producer was a founding member of N.W.A., but left the group in 1988, the same year that the Straight Outta Compton album released. During an interview with Unique Access' Soren Baker, the... Read more

January 15, 2019 Throwback, Video

Ice Cube Returns To His Old Sound For His New Album & It’s Filled With Funk

Almost 25 years ago, Ice Cube was front-and-center for a Rap renaissance surrounding Parliament Funkadelic. In 1992, Cube's N.W.A. homie Dre brought G-Funk to the mainstream. However, even before that, Cube and his team produced Del The Funky Homosapien's 1991 debut, I Wish My Brother George Was Here. The title was... Read more

December 4, 2018 Audio

Ice Cube’s New Song Calls To Put The President In Handcuffs (Audio)

Ice Cube built his Rap career on saying what he feels and not caring about the consequences. For Hip-Hop fans, that's what millions upon millions of people love him, even before Hollywood gravitated towards his on-screen gifts. The founding member of N.W.A. and Westside Connection has not changed his ways.... Read more

November 10, 2018 Audio

Ice Cube Readies 1st Album In Nearly A Decade & He’s Coming Out Swinging (Video)

After years of preparation, Ice Cube's first album since 2010 is due in just over a month. Following his recent celebration of Death Certificate's 25th birthday, the N.W.A. and Westside Connection alum is keeping politically and socially-minded Rap on his agenda. Everythang's Corrupt is currently planned for a December 7... Read more

November 6, 2018 Fresh, Video

Do Remember When The Internet Figured Out The Exact Date Ice Cube Had A Good Day

Twenty-five years ago, Ice Cube released the highest-charting solo song of his three-plus-decade Rap career. Although "It Was A Good Day" made its debut in late 1992 on Cube's third LP, The Predator, the single took flight after the album's second single, "Wicked." The formula for "It Was A Good... Read more

October 18, 2018 Do Remember

Sir Jinx Reveals That His & Ice Cube’s First Song Plays In Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Video

N.W.A. was not Ice Cube's first Rap group. Years before O'Shea Jackson helped lead an independent Gangsta Rap charge in music, he and longtime producer/DJ Sir Jinx were already major label acts. Although Cube, Jinx, and K-Dee had C.I.A. (Criminals In Action) during the mid-1980s (a trio that worked with... Read more

October 7, 2018 Throwback

Comedian AJ Johnson Explains How Spoofing Eazy-E Caused A Serious Problem (Video)

Actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has had memorable roles in films such as Friday, House Party, and Master P's I Got The Hook Up, among others. From Compton, California, the comedian who had appeared in the first and third House Party film was used in the early 1990s beef between Dr.... Read more

October 1, 2018 Throwback, Video

Apple Rejects Dr. Dre’s Television Show Due To Excessive Violence

Two and a half years ago, Dr. Dre announced plans to tell his life story through a series in partnership with Apple. The show, titled Vital Signs, began pre-production less than three years after Apple's 2014 acquisition of Beats By Dre for a reported $1 billion. In addition to producing, Vital... Read more

September 24, 2018 News, TV, TV/Film

Anderson .Paak’s New Album Will Have A Beat By Madlib & Dr. Dre

On Anderson .Paak's Grammy-nominated 2016 Malibu album, the Oxnard, California singer, MC, producer, and drummer worked with a who's who of great Hip-Hop producers. 9th Wonder shared production billing on the debut double-single "The Season / Carry Me" with Callum Connor. "Room In Here" was handled by Pac Div's Like,... Read more

September 7, 2018 Fresh

Finding The GOAT Group: N.W.A. vs. Public Enemy. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

September 6, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Which One Of These 8 Hip-Hop Groups Will Be Named The Best Of All-Time?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot was reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no... Read more

September 2, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

The D.O.C. Sings Beautifully In A Video That Shows Anything Is Possible.

For decades, Hip-Hop Heads have known that The D.O.C. has a golden pen. The Dallas, Texas native MC is credited with writing songs and lyrics for Dr. Dre and other artists on Death Row and Ruthless Records. However, in the 1980s, the artist born Tracy Curry was a rapper with... Read more

August 28, 2018 Fresh, Video

KRS-One Is Working On New Music & He’s In The Studio With Dr. Dre

Last year, KRS-One self-released an exceptional album. Thirty years after Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded, Tha Teacha' dropped The World Is MIND, a 15-track LP on his R.A.M.P. Entertainment. In recent years the Bronx, New York representative worked with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the DJ-Premier-produced "Buckshot," and reunited with... Read more

August 17, 2018 News

The Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. GOAT Match-Up Is Too Close To Call. Decide Who Advances.

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition 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 (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

August 16, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT