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Black Sheep Has Lost Its $750 Million Lawsuit Against Universal Music

Earlier this year, respected Hip-Hop duo Black Sheep filed at $750 million class-action lawsuit against Universal Music Group. The duo of Andres “Dres” Vargas Titus and William “Mista Lawnge” McLean alleged that UMG agreed to a royalty agreement with Spotify in 2008 that violated compensation structures previously in place for... Read more

November 21, 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

Busta Rhymes Is Moved To Tears By His Lifetime Achievement Award

Moments ago tonight (June 25), Busta Rhymes received the BET Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award before delivering an emotional speech. B.R. was presented the prestigious award by Marlon Wayans and Swizz Beatz, who spoke before and after a video vignette featuring testimony from Diddy, Pharrell Williams, Mariah Carey (who praised M.O.P.'s... Read more

June 26, 2023 News, TV, TV/Film, Video

Posdnuos Celebrates Dave On A Beautiful Tribute Song

Today (June 9), Statik Selektah released his first solo album since 2020. Round Trip, arriving on ShowOff/Mass Appeal Records, maintains Statik's gift for assembling interesting groupings of MCs for thought-provoking concepts, over his acclaimed production. This particular collection, Statik's 10th, involves four members of Wu-Tang Clan together on a posse... Read more

June 9, 2023 Audio

LL Cool J Rocks A Q-Tip Beat With Force

In the closing days of 2019, Hip-Hop Heads learned that LL Cool J had returned to the label he helped make legendary. James Todd Smith was back on Def Jam Records. Moreover, the Queens, New York icon has teamed with another borough great to work on music, with Q-Tip producing... Read more

May 7, 2023 Audio

Maseo Reveals The Plans For De La Soul’s Next Album

It has been nearly two months since David Jolicoeur passed away. The founding MC/producer of De La Soul perhaps best known as Trugoy The Dove was 54 years old when he succumbed to ongoing health battles related to his heart. In March, as De La Soul's back catalog was made... Read more

April 7, 2023 News

Posdnuos & Maseo Remember Their De La Soul Brother Dave

Ten days after the music world lost a legend in the passing of David Jude Jolicoeur, his two De La Soul band-mates have used social media to honor their fallen brother—known to the Hip-Hop world by Dave, Trugoy The Dove, and Plug 2. The surviving two-thirds of the Grammy Award-winning... Read more

February 22, 2023 Fresh, News, Video

Dave From De La Soul Has Passed Away

The Hip-Hop community is devastated to learn that one of its legends has passed. In a developing story, David Jude Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy The Dove), from De La Soul, passed away at age 54. No exact cause of death has been provided. Peers and collaborators have confirmed the news on... Read more

February 12, 2023 News

LL Cool J Has A New Album Coming That Is Executive Produced By Q-Tip

In the closing days of 2019, LL Cool J revealed that he was working with Q-Tip on an album. The Rock The Bells founder was said to be back at Def Jam Records, the same label where his career launched in the mid-1980s, and working with the famed A Tribe Called... Read more

February 8, 2023 News

Black Sheep Dres Explains His $750 Million Lawsuit Against Universal Music

Earlier this month, it was reported that Hip-Hop duo Black Sheep is leading a $750 million class action lawsuit against Universal Music Group over artist royalties related to Spotify streams. Black Sheep Dres (as he is now known) and band-mate Mista Lawnge released two major label albums as Black Sheep... Read more

January 28, 2023 News, Video

Black Sheep’s $750 Million Lawsuit May Take Down The Music Business

One of the greatest Hip-Hop super crews is undoubtedly the Native Tongues. The New York City collective, reportedly masterminded by The Jungle Brothers' Baby Bam, would grow to include De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Leaders Of The New School, Black Sheep, Chi-Ali, The Beatnuts,... Read more

January 17, 2023 News, Video

De La Soul Reveals The Date To Stream Their Back Catalog

UPDATE: Hours after De La Soul revealed plans to release their first six albums on digital streaming platforms on March 3, 2023, more information released surrounding their recent work with Prince Paul. In speaking with William E. Ketchum III for Billboard, Posdnuos shared, "We definitely want to get something done... Read more

January 4, 2023 News

Prince Paul Confirms He Has Finished His De La Soul Project

In August of 2022, Prince Paul posted an Instagram photo with De La Soul's Posdnuos and Maseo, as well as Dres of Black Sheep, and music engineer Scotty Hard. The Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ wrote, "And then this happened..." prompting speculation that he had reunited with De La Soul.... Read more

December 10, 2022 Fresh, News

Busta Rhymes’ Video Shows What His Life Would Be If He Never Rapped

Over two years ago, Busta Rhymes released a hallmark album in his career. 2020's Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God arrived at a time following a near-death respiratory issue for the MC legend. Additionally, the Conglomerate release drew from various sides and career points from Trevor Smith, Jr.—including... Read more

November 9, 2022 Video

Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane & Conway Slap The Competition On A New Song

Busta Rhymes approached the 2020s with something to prove. Two years ago, the veteran co-founder of Leaders Of The New School and Flipmode Squad gave fans a classic-level album—arguably the best in his career. Extinction Level Event 2 showed the many sides of Busta Bus, including collaborations with Rakim, Kendrick... Read more

October 28, 2022 Audio, Video

Coast Contra’s Scenario Freestyle Is Scary Good

Coast Contra has been one of the most exciting breaking acts of 2022. The high-energy quartet has been around for several years—including an appearance on 2019’s acclaimed and charting Queen & Slim soundtrack. However, after a punctuating appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Apt. 505 album, alongside work... Read more

September 5, 2022 Video

De La Soul & Prince Paul Are Back In The Studio Together

Between the late 1980s and the 1990s, De La Soul made three acclaimed albums together along with a handful of loosies. The Long Island, New York producer/DJ mentored the trio of Posdnous, Dave, and Maseo while producing 1989's 3 Feet High And Rising, 1991's De La Soul Is Dead, and... Read more

August 12, 2022 Fresh

Ali Shaheed Muhammad Reveals The Hidden Meaning Of Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Ali Shaheed Muhammad recently released Katalyst JID013 on his Jazz Is Dead imprint. It's Ali's latest partnership with Jazz band Katalyst and producer/musician Adrian Younge. Shaheed spoke about the new LP while on The People's Party With Talib Kweli. The two Hip-Hop artists spoke about ATCQ's sophomore LP, The Low... Read more

July 26, 2022 Video

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

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop community reacted to the latest high-profile lists ranking the greatest Rap albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine and a team of journalists and writers ranked 200 Hip-Hop LPs, prompting plenty of reaction. It was not the first list of this kind, and it certainly will not... Read more

June 21, 2022 Video

Wu-Tang Clan & ATCQ’s Albums Will Be In The Library Of Congress

Two more classic Hip-Hop albums are headed to the Library Of Congress. On April 13, the National Recording Registry added Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest'sThe Low End Theory to its portion of The Library Of Congress. Every year 25 recordings are added, and... Read more

April 19, 2022 News

Big Daddy Kane Says Busta Rhymes Has The Best Flow In Hip-Hop

In late 2021, Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One held a Verzuz battle for the ages. Two of the most influential and respected MCs in Hip-Hop history squared off and made for an epic night that still prompts debate. However, in a recent event, Big Daddy Kane used the spotlight to... Read more

April 12, 2022 Video

Phife Dawg’s Final Album Releases. It Features Q-Tip, Little Brother & More

Today (March 22) marks six years since Phife Dawg tragically passed away at 45 years old due to kidney failure. At the time, the A Tribe Called Quest co-founder was secretly working on a reunion album with Q-Tip, Jarobi, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. That 2016 LP, We got it from... Read more

March 22, 2022 Audio

A Tribe Called Quest & Eminem Are Nominated For The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Following an incredible 2021 that saw LL Cool J and JAY-Z inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Hip-Hop stands to make an encore in '22. A Tribe Called Quest and Eminem are among the nominees for the induction—which will be confirmed in May. The legendary Queens,... Read more

February 2, 2022 News

Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots 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, is better than it's ever been. Not only can we go back and... Read more

June 26, 2021 Audio

Busta Rhymes Has Made A Classic Album 30 Years Into His Career

Busta Rhymes is one of Hip-Hop's most enduring stars. Named by Chuck D, a fixture within Native Tongues, a requested artist on Tupac's One Nation project, a member of the Aftermath/Shady/G-Unit reign as well as Cash Money/Young Money, and one of J Dilla's closest collaborators, Trevor Smith, Jr. has done... Read more

November 2, 2020 Audio, Fresh, Video

Consequence Takes A Tour Of Queens In The Video For His Last Phife Dawg Collaboration

In March, it will have been four years since Phife Dawg passed away. The MC/producer born Malik Taylor was not able to see the final album release from A Tribe Called Quest, 2016's We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. However, he worked on the LP that... Read more

February 14, 2020 Video

This Mix Tunes Through De La Soul’s 3 Feet High And Rising, Sample By Sample

More than 30 years ago, De La Soul released its debut album, 3 Feet High And Rising. Produced by then-Stetsasonic member Prince Paul, the Tommy Boy Records LP became a benchmark of Hip-Hop music. While Posdnuos (aka Plug 1) and Trugoy (aka Plug 2) waxed poetic about life in Long... Read more

January 2, 2020 Audio, Mixes, Video

Consequence Trades Rhymes With Phife On One Of His Last Songs (Audio)

The late Phife Dawg would have turned 49 years old tomorrow (November 20). Sadly, Malik Taylor passed away more than three-and-a-half years ago. The MC/producer was not able to see the final album from A Tribe Called Quest, 2016's We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. However,... Read more

November 19, 2019 Audio

Black On Both Sides Is Still Mos Def After 20 Years

Twenty years ago today (October 12, 1999), Mos Def released his solo debut, Black On Both Sides. After two decades of testing time, the Rawkus Records album remains a hallmark from the Underground Hip-Hop boom. On his own strict terms, Dante Smith crafted an LP driven by creativity, piercing commentary,... Read more

October 12, 2019 Food for Thought

Danny Brown’s Q-Tip Produced Song Yields 1 Of The Year’s Weirdest Videos

This month marks three years since Danny Brown's last album, Atrocity Exhibit. After four solo releases, celebrated mixtapes, and a collaborative catalog that includes Black Milk-assisted project, D.B. is embarking on an exciting close to 2019. The Detroit, Michigan MC's Uknowhatimsayin¿ is the name of his fifth album. As reported... Read more

September 6, 2019 Video

Kool Keith, B-Real & Joell Ortiz Show MCs How To Level Up (Audio Premiere)

Next month (July 12), veteran MC innovator Kool Keith will see the release of his latest album, simply titled KEITH. Produced entirely by The Beatnuts' Psycho Les, KEITH will feature appearances by Houston's Paul Wall, Cypress Hill front-man B-Real, and Crooklyn Dodger lyrical slugger, Jeru The Damaja. Following last month's... Read more

June 4, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Here’s The Story Behind The All-Star Cypher That Ended The Arsenio Hall Show

Twenty-five years ago this month, The Arsenio Hall Show dimmed the lights on a massive television platform, especially for Hip-Hop. Since early 1989, the actor/comedian/host planted his flag with a new kind of late-night talk-show with a penchant for the issues, people, and culture that inspired him. From M.C. Hammer... Read more

May 23, 2019 Throwback, Throwback, TV, TV/Film, Video

Oakland, California Declares May 17 To Be Phife Dawg Day

Phife Dawg was a product of Queens, New York who represented for his borough and St. Albans section throughout his 25-plus-year music career. However, the co-founder of A Tribe Called Quest also lived other places during his 45 years of life. One place Malik Taylor made his home was Oakland,... Read more

May 18, 2019 Fresh, News, Video

Kool Keith Has A New Album Coming. He Turns To B-Real For The 1st Single

In the last 20 years, Kool Keith has become one of Hip-Hop's most prolific MCs. The co-founder of the Ultramagnetic MC's has a career that spans more than 35 years in Rap. However, the Bronx, New Yorker has never slowed his roll. Instead, the advanced lyricist has created characters, groups,... Read more

May 14, 2019 Audio, News

The Jungle Brothers Are Back With A Song That Feels Like A Real Park Jam (Audio)

Throughout the last decade, the Jungle Brothers have been quite quiet when it has come to releasing music. Afrika Baby Bam, Mike Gee, and DJ Sammy B can still tear down a concert, evident in their 2016 New York City Roots Picnic display. However, these co-founders of the Native Tongues... Read more

April 30, 2019 Audio

De La Soul Recall The Origins Of The Native Tongues & The MC Who Started It (Video)

Earlier this month, De La Soul's episode of Drink Champs featured an extensive and newsworthy preview. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN released the part of the discussion where Posdnuos, Dave, and Maseo addressed their ongoing, and sometimes public negotiations with Tommy Boy Music surrounding the digital revenue and rights to the... Read more

March 29, 2019 Throwback, Throwback, Video

Q-Tip Explains The Changes In Hip-Hop That Led To ATCQ’s Breakup

Q-Tip and Elton John have worked together on music. Elton appeared on A Tribe Called Quest's final album, courtesy of the song "Solid Wall Of Sound." The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted British songwriter, singer, and pianist provided additional vocals to the track that sampled his "Bennie And The... Read more

March 21, 2019 Audio

De La Soul Are Fighting To Own The Music They Created (Video)

In the last two weeks, the three members of De La Soul have been at the center of a discussion surrounding ownership of catalog and the fairness of record label contracts. That discourse stems from the trio of Dave, Maseo, and Posdnuos notifying fans on social media that they are... Read more

March 11, 2019 News, Video

Ever See This ’91 Cypher With Leaders Of The New School, Biz Markie & More? (Video)

At the top of the 1990s, many Hip-Hop artists were coming together in the name of peace, unity, love, understanding, and having fun. Collectives like the Native Tongues and Diggin' In The Crates (which was not even minted yet) earned the respect of the pioneers by keeping alive the 1970s... Read more

January 28, 2019 Throwback

This Mix Of 13 De La Soul Videos Is The Plug For 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Groups

2018 marks the 30th-anniversary of De La Soul dropping their debut single “Plug Tunin,” as well as the 25 year anniversary of their third album Buhloone Mindstate. Before the year ends, the celebration of one of Hip-Hop's most groundbreaking groups is not quite over. Tommy Boy Records (De La's record... Read more

November 20, 2018 Mixes, Throwback, Throwback, Video

This Mash-Up Mix Takes A Midnight Maraud With 36 Chambers (Audio)

Yesterday (November 9), Hip-Hop Heads celebrated the 25th birthdays of two landmark albums: A Tribe Called Quest's third LP, Midnight Marauders and Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). On 11-9-93, many fans were eager to digest LPs that were likely shipped together from the same RCA Records distributor. Although... Read more

November 10, 2018 Audio, Mixes

The Perfect Day In Hip-Hop: When Wu-Tang & A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Classic Albums

November 9 may as well be a day of observance for Hip-Hop Heads. With A Tribe Called Quest’s third album Midnight Marauders and Wu-Tang Clan’s debut Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) both dropping on that day 25 years ago, it's a date that seems hard to imagine. While many release dates... Read more

November 8, 2018 Do Remember

Q-Tip Explains How His Renaissance Birthed A New Movement In Hip-Hop

November 4, 2008 was a day laced in change. Marking the Presidential election that led Barack Obama to Office, American politics and culture was in the midst of a transformation. Hip-Hop artists became increasingly vocal in the conversation of change in America. In addition to US politics, Rap music seemed... Read more

November 5, 2018 Throwback

The Black Eyed Peas New Song Reunites The Native Tongues’ Phife & Posdnuos (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight 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, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to go back... Read more

October 26, 2018 Audio

The Black Eyed Peas’ New Album Features Phife Dawg, Nas, Slick Rick & More

Next week, the Black Eyed Peas will release Masters Of The Sun, Volume 1 (October 26). The album arrives almost eight years to the month since the last B.E.P. full-length, The Beginning. Since then, much has changed. Like Dr. Dre, will.i.am, who is credited as a Beats By Dre co-founder,... Read more

October 20, 2018 Fresh

Finding The GOAT Group Championship: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Wu-Tang Clan. Who Is Best?

“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 25, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

There Are 2 Remaining In The Competition To Name Hip-Hop’s Best Group

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

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest 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 18, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Which One Of These 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 16, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT