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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

Nipsey Hussle’s Killer Receives A 60 Years To Life Sentence

Next month marks the fourth anniversary of Nipsey Hussle's death. Approaching that March 31 milestone, the man deemed responsible for killing the famed artist and entrepreneur has received a sentence for the action. Today (February 22), a jury decided that Eric Ronald Holder, Jr. will spend 60 years to life... Read more

See Portraits Of Biggie, J. Dilla, Phife & More If They’d Lived To Grow Old

More than with any other genre, Rap artists seem to perish far too young. While that has disproportionately been driven by altercations that could have been resolved differently, there have also been a number of MCs who have succumbed to other fates. Phife Dawg, from A Tribe Called Quest, succumbed... Read more

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

The Game’s Manager Caused Him To Lose A Song With Nipsey Hussle

Last Friday (August 12), The Game released his 11th studio album, TRILLMATIC Heart vs. Mind. The sprawling 31-track affair features Kanye West, Cam'ron, Pusha-T, Ice-T, and others along a journey that finds Jayceon Taylor revisiting classic songs by Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Mobb Deep, and others. One guest that was supposed... Read more

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

Nipsey Hussle’s Killer Has Been Found Guilty

The man long suspected of killing Nipsey Hussle was found guilty in a court of law this afternoon (July 6). Today in a Los Angeles, California courtroom, Eric R. Holder, Jr. was convicted of murder in the first degree surrounding the tragic March 31, 2019 incident. The fatal crime took... Read more

Nipsey Hussle & Dr. Dre Drop Jewels On A New Song

Nipsey Hussle was a student of Dr. Dre. In 2009, the South Central Los Angeles, California MC modeled his album-making plans after the N.W.A. co-founder. "I remember Rap when 2001 came out how people reacted—especially from [my] generation," Nipsey told XXL in 2009, celebrating a decade since Dre's comeback campaign album.... Read more

Hear New Music From Busta, De La, Pharoahe & More Courtesy Of Khrysis

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads 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... Read more

Ava DuVernay Is Making A Documentary On The Life Of Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle's life story is being told in the form of a documentary film by a fellow hometown visionary. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay is confirmed to produce and direct an upcoming film on the slain Los Angeles, California MC, entrepreneur, and activist. It will be a collaboration between Ava's ARRAY... Read more

Meek Mill Explains How Nipsey Hussle Taught Him To Stay Away From The Hood (Video)

Meek Mill and Charlamagne Tha God recently sat down in the Bahamas for an in-depth, unfiltered, no-holds-barred conversation. While Meek admits that he often shuns interviews (and vehemently dislikes wearing recording devices on his person), he gives C.T.G. a revealing look at his career, sobriety from pills, and maturity. After... Read more

J Roc Punches Wack 100 In Defense Of Nipsey Hussle’s Legacy (Video)

Wack 100 is a music industry veteran. A onetime street enforcer, the Los Angeles, California native made inroads to entertainment as part of The Game's management team. More recently, Wack staked Blueface, another City Of Angels product who has signed with Cash Money Records. Although Wack 100 spent much of... Read more

From Dreams To Reality…J. Cole’s Squad Has Been Nominated For A Grammy

The nominations for the 2020 Grammy Awards have been announced. The upcoming year's contenders celebrate a host of potential first-time winners, especially in Rap and Hip-Hop. In the "Best Rap Album" category, there are several key contenders. Notably, J. Cole (who has never previously won a Grammy) earned that distinction... Read more

The Game & Anderson .Paak’s Collaboration Is A New Westside Story (Video)

At the top of this month, The Game released a new single from what is billed to be his final album. Jayceon Taylor maintains the longstanding, bubbling chemistry with Anderson .Paak on "Stainless," which arrives ahead of November 29's Born 2 Rap. The lyrics to "Stainless" celebrate Game's career as... Read more

The Game Saves 1 Of His Best Songs For His Last Album

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads 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 its ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

ANoyd’s Freestyle Shows Why He’s A Top MC Who Belongs On Everybody’s Radar (Video)

Earlier this summer, Connecticut MC ANoyd linked up with Statik Selektah and ShowOff Records to release his album Yuck!, featuring Nick Grant, Ufo Fev, and Termanology. A' and Statik later dropped visuals for one of the album's standout singles, "The Mood." Despite ANoyd's recent ventures in flexing his album-mode muscles,... Read more

Boogie’s Freestyle Questions Whether Buying Back The Block Is The Right Thing (Video)

Boogie made one of 2019's better albums in Everything's For Sale. The Long Beach, California native who was later raised in the streets of Compton, confronts the issues of our time with wisdom and witty cynicism. A young father who spent years grinding on Soundcloud on a path that's ultimately... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Freestyles Holding His Baby & Crowns Himself The Best Rapper Alive

Freddie Gibbs is not playing. Just under one month after releasing Bandana with Madlib, the veteran MC from Gary, Indiana is in a very confident stride. After more than a dozen years on the grind, the lyricist appears on The L.A. Leakers' show to freestyle, with his baby on his... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Was Being Celebrated AND Investigated By LAPD

A new report reveals Nipsey Hussle was under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department at the time of his untimely passing. According to the New York Times, authorities at the LAPD and the city attorney's office opened an investigation into the Slauson rapper and his The Marathon Clothing store... Read more

Nipsey Hussle & DJ Khaled Continue The Marathon In A Higher Place (Video)

Many in the Hip-Hop community have been vibrating on a higher frequency since Nipsey Hussle's March 31 death. The Los Angeles rapper, business man and blossoming mogul left behind a monumental legacy and, as mournful as the mood has been in the wake of his murder, Nip left behind motivational... Read more

DJ Khaled Releases 1 Of Nipsey Hussle’s Last Songs (Audio)

On March 31, the day of Nipsey Hussle's tragic and untimely passing, Ermias Asghedom had given the music world his grandest statement. The month prior, 2018's Victory Lap was nominated for a Grammy Award. While he did not get the trophy for "Best Rap Album," Nip' attended the ceremony in... Read more

JAY-Z Celebrates Nipsey Hussle With A Freestyle About Self-Empowerment (Video)

JAY-Z and Nipsey Hussle had a special bond. In many ways, the two men mirrored one another, albeit from different generations and different coasts. Both were entrepreneurs imbued with a hustler's spirit, who used the lessons they learned from the streets, both good and bad, as tools of motivation for... Read more

Watch The Livestream Of The Nipsey Hussle Celebration Of Life Memorial

Today (April 11), Nipsey Hussle will be laid to rest in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. Less than two weeks ago, on March 31 the 33-year-old born Ermias Davidson Asghedom was fatally shot outside of his Crenshaw District store, The Marathon. Now thousands of family, friends, fans, and other... Read more

Los Angeles Will Name The Intersection Of Crenshaw & Slauson Nipsey Hussle Square

Today (April 9), a little over a week after the death of artist and activist Nipsey Hussle, Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson has announced that the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and West Slauson Avenue in South L.A. will be named after Hussle. The area is home to Hussle's The... Read more

L.A. Gangs Have Called A Historic Truce To Honor Nipsey Hussle (Video)

Less than one week after the March 31 passing of Nipsey Hussle, many communities are still recovering from the sudden tragedy. In addition to mourning the slain artist, activist, and entrepeneur, many people are taking action too. Yesterday (April 5), a vigil and peace treaty was held by street leaders,... Read more

Russell Westbrook Fills The Stat Sheet With 60 In Dedication To Nipsey Hussle

Last night (April 2), Russell Westbrook mourned the death of his friend Nipsey Hussle the best way that he knows how, with a historic performance on the basketball court. The 30-year-old Point Guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder finished his team's defeat of the Los Angeles Lakers with a stat... Read more

Eric Holder Is Charged With The Murder Of Nipsey Hussle

APRIL 4 UPDATE: Approximately 100 hours after Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot on Sunday afternoon (March 31), suspect Eric Holder is charged with his murder. Holder, who was apprehended by law enforcement Tuesday (April 2) was formally charged with murder in addition to two counts of attempted murder. Police allege... Read more

The Police Have Captured The Man Suspected Of Killing Nipsey Hussle

UPDATE: The same day that the Los Angeles Police Department publicly announced the suspect for the March 31 murder of Nipsey Hussle (and shooting two other men), authorities have captured the fugitive that investigators believe to be the killer. Twenty-nine-year-old Eric Holder was apprehended in Bellflower, California. The local CBS... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Proved His Dedication Far Beyond His Music

Less than 24 hours ago (March 31), Nipsey Hussle was the victim of a fatal shooting in South Los Angeles, California. More specifically, 33-year-old Ermias Davidson Asghedom, a father of two, a family man, an entrepreneur, a community activist, and a beloved figure of unity in Hip-Hop lost his life.... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Has Been Shot And Killed

UPDATE: Approximately one hour after news broke of this afternoon's shooting, TMZ has now reported that Nipsey Hussle is dead, at 33 years old. While details continue to release, the artist born Ermias Asghedom was at the pinnacle of his career which included music, acting, his Marathon Agency and store, along... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Won Big In 2018. He Takes One Final Victory Lap (Video)

Next month, Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap turns one. That same week, Nip's major label debut in a discography filled with elite mixtapes will compete for "Best Rap Album" at the Grammy Awards (February 10). If it gets the win, Nip' will have come a long way from his decade as... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Waited A Dozen Years For An Album. His New Song Sees It As Perfect Timing

Thirteen years ago this week, Nipsey Hussle released his debut mixtape, Slauson Boy. Shortly thereafter, the MC's buzz started permeating the West Coast, and then the global Rap industry. The artist from the Crenshaw section of Los Angeles, California rapped with a sense of angst, awareness, and authority that stood... Read more

J. Cole’s KOD May Be The Year’s Best Album & It Was Snubbed By The Grammys

This morning (December 7), the 2019 Grammy Awards nominations were announced. For fans of Kendrick Lamar and the Top Dawg Entertainment family, it was another exciting development. Even in a year when K-Dot did not release a solo album, he received eight nominations. SZA and Jay Rock joined him with... Read more

Four Hip-Hop Artists Have Grammy Nominations For Album Of The Year

The 61st Grammy Awards nominations have been announced, and there is plenty to talk about for Rap and Hip-Hop fans. The affair will take place February 10, 2019, returning the event to Los Angeles, California's Staples Center after a New York City ceremony earlier this year. While Top Dawg and... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 2): Jay Rock vs. Nipsey Hussle

We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 15 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2018 List

It is that season where “best of” lists abound and, in a year that featured stellar music from artists young and old, 2018 kept Hip-Hop fans on the edge of our seats. Now is an excellent time to reflect on the best ones. Throughout December, Ambrosia For Heads will pit... Read more

Freddie Gibbs & Nick Grant Team Up On A Track That’s R&B But Gangsta (Audio)

IAMNOBODI has been concocting some really impressive production for Soulection over the years. The German-born and Los Angeles, California-based Soul-and-Bass producer has the skills to create a big record, but heavy hitters hopping on songs always help. He may have that though with his latest song release "Heaven." Featuring Freddie... Read more

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

ODB’s Estate To Launch “Dirty Coin” Cryptocurrency & It’s For The Children (Video)

Late Wu-Tang Clan member O.D.B. will be among the growing list of Hip-Hop artists to have their own cryptocurrency. The money will be appropriately called Dirty Coin and used to purchase his music and officially authorized merchandise. The announcement was made by O.D.B.'s son and aspiring rapper Young Dirty during... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Rages Against The Machine With A Motivational Music Video

Since the release of his highly-anticipated Victory Lap last week, Nipsey Hussle has been living up to his moniker and then some. Fully immersed in the promotional swing of the well-received project, Nipsey’s concentrated media hustle has seen both his visual releases and recent radio/TV appearances being praised by Heads alike.... Read more

Nipsey Hussle & Kendrick Lamar Form A Westside Connection To Uplift Their People (Audio)

Nipsey Hussle and Kendrick Lamar have been steadfast voices of change from the streets of Los Angeles' under-served communities. From Slauson Avenue to Rosecrans Boulevard, these two artists' careers span more than a decade. Before there was major backing, these MCs hustled raps through powerful features, free projects, and seemingly... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Explains Why He’s Joining Forces With A Major Label (Video)

Nipsey Hussle, who has created his success independently, is on the verge of dropping his first album backed by a major label. Victory Lap is poised to release on February 16, 2018, via All Money In No Money Out/Atlantic Records, and many Heads have wondered why someone who has time... Read more

Nipsey Hussle & Swizz Beatz’s New Anthem Says The Sky Is The Limit (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

Nipsey Hussle Is Releasing His 1st Major Label Album & It’s On His Terms (Video)

For more than a decade, Nipsey Hussle has had a unique relationship with record labels. From a peer class that seemed to covet contracts, "Neighborhood Nip" was among the first rappers to prove he did not need company backing. Like his musical content, the MC shows his intelligence and grit... Read more

Nipsey Hussle Has Been On The Grind Relentlessly & It’s Paying Off (Audio)

Artists like Chance The Rapper and Kanye West have challenged the old music industry model through making award-winning, critically-acclaimed albums without seeking a sales transaction. In his own lane, Nipsey Hussle has done something similar. The L.A. rapper has stayed relevant without ever dropping an official LP. He made paying... Read more

Rick Ross, E-40, Fat Joe, Slim Thug & Nipsey Hussle Buy Back The Block (Audio)

Late last year, Rick Ross released "Buy Back The Block," a thunderous street anthem about MCs from the hood looking to re-invest in the communities that raised them. The original song featured 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane, alongside the MMG leader. Pusha T & Rick Ross Join Forces For a... Read more

Donald Trump Is Just the Start. YG Is Ready To Take On the System.

With the Democratic National Convention well underway, the November arrival of America's presidential election is nearing closer, and things are reaching a fever pitch. Many artists within the Hip-Hop community are taking to the studio and stage to record political messages for posterity, helping raise awareness and inspire entire movements.... Read more

President Obama “Raps” A Blunt Message To Donald Trump (Video)

For years, BaracksDubs have made a number of videos which expertly edit clips of President Obama together to make it look like he is singing or rapping songs in the cultural Zeitgeist. Their latest video, no doubt intentionally timed to coincide with the Democratic National Convention, is by far their... Read more

Nipsey Hussle & Dave East Go Back To Their Rugged Roots, With Clarity (Audio)

Nipsey Hussle's Marathon Mondays push on—with no finish line in sight. The Los Angeles, California veteran joins another highly-prolific MC in Dave East for "Clarity." This song finds these two street-wise men (along with Bino Rideaux) going back to the tense, high-stakes environments that raised them. For Nip', those were... Read more

June Was Full Of Great Hip-Hop. Here’s The Best Of The Month In 1 Playlist (Audio)

The month of June was the epitome of quality over quantity, when it came to Hip-Hop. There were fewer noteworthy releases than in any month of the year, so far, but those that penetrated were high-powered. Drake set the month on fire with one of his hardest rhymes in years,... Read more