phonte ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Black Thought Names 5 MCs Who Deserve More Props

In the last month, Black Thought published his memoir, The Upcycled Self. Appearing on the New York Times' "Best Sellers" list, the autobiography reveals aspects of Tariq Trotter's personal life, including suffering the losses of his father and mother, respectively. The Grammy Award-winning (and currently nominated) Roots MC examines his... Read more

December 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Watch Little Brother’s Documentary Now

Just moments ago, the documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story premiered for all to see. The film, produced by Little Brother, is directed by Holland Randolph Gallagher and written by esteemed Hip-Hop journalist "Yoh" Phillips (of documentary studio Rap Portraits). After years in the making, the documentary allows... Read more

November 24, 2023 Trending Stories, TV/Film, Video

Little Brother Have Released Their 1st New Music In 4 Years

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

September 19, 2023 Audio

Phonte Delivers 1 Of The Year’s Most Personal Verses

Yesterday (July 18), Black Milk released his latest album, Everybody Good?. The heralded Detroit, Michigan producer, MC, and musician involved the likes of Mick Jenkins, Karriem Riggins, and Quelle Chris on the 12-song LP. However, a highlight from the Everybody Good? release is "No Wish," a collaboration with Phonte and Raphael Saadiq. Black Milk... Read more

July 19, 2023 Audio

Rapper Big Pooh Explains Why Little Brother Is Only 2 Members Now

Last month, Rapper Big Pooh released one of the standout solo albums within his extensive career. To Dream In Color addresses personal growth, family, sacrifice, and dedication to music. The 10-song album was sequenced by Pooh's Little Brother partner Phonte. Three years removed from May The Lord Watch, the two... Read more

September 29, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Rapper Big Pooh Talks His New Album, Little Brother’s Status & More

Last month, Rapper Big Pooh released one of the most spirited works of his extensive 20-year career. The North Carolina-based Virginia native MC delivered To Dream In Color. The 10-song album features some powerful commentary on the pursuit of dreams, the value of family support and the will to succeed. Blakk Soul,... Read more

September 26, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, 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

Skyzoo Explains How Phonte Talked Him Out Of Retiring

Earlier this month, Skyzoo released his latest album, All The Brilliant Things. Already named as one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of 2021 so far, the Mello Music Group LP is reportedly three years in the making. In a run that includes the Pete Rock-produced Retropolitan and 2020's standout The... Read more

June 22, 2021 Exclusive, Interview, News, Video

Busta Rhymes Opens Up About His Near Death Experience

Less than three weeks since releasing the highly-acclaimed Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, Busta Rhymes continues to give fans greater context about a comeback album like no other. In speaking with Van Jones' The Messy Truth, the veteran MC/producer discussed how Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad mentored Leaders... Read more

November 16, 2020 Fresh

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 11): Little Brother vs. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

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 19, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 7): Little Brother vs. Diamond D

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 15, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Here Are Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 25 Rap Albums Of The Decade

In the final hours of a decade, Ambrosia For Heads presents our Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums. The 2010s were a wild ride, with an onslaught of important new voices, and incredible maturation from veteran MCs. It was a 10-year span where artists and songs were discovered new places (including the... Read more

December 30, 2019 Best Rap Album 2010s

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

Little Brother Take Lie Detector Tests & Fail Miserably (Video)

Little Brother shocked fans in 2019 with the 24-hour announcement and release of the duo's first album in nearly nine years. May The Lord Watch was a welcomed reunion of Phonte (who also gave fans an early '19 EP, Pacific Time) and Rapper Big Pooh. This followed a late 2018... Read more

December 10, 2019 Video

Little Brother Discuss Their New Album, Personal Growth, 9th Wonder & More

With less than 24 hours of notice to fans, Little Brother released its fifth album, May The Lord Watch two weeks ago. Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh reunited after nearly a decade to make a record that honors the group's legacy with skill and wit. Meanwhile, the body of work... Read more

September 3, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Little Brother’s 1st Music Video In Nearly A Decade Celebrates Their Magical Reunion

Little Brother delighted fans this week with a surprise album. Giving people less than 24 hours notice, Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh delivered May The Lord Watch on Tuesday (August 20). It marked the first L.B. project since 2010, and the group's fifth LP featured the blessing of founding third... Read more

August 23, 2019 Video

Little Brother Have Released Their New Album. Listen Here (Audio)

UPDATE: Little Brother have released their latest album. Take a listen below. Last September, the three founding members of Little Brother made an impromptu reunion on stage in Durham, North Carolina. Far beyond a photo opp, Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder did an entire set at The Art... Read more

August 19, 2019 Fresh

Watch A Video That Details The Events Leading Up To Little Brother’s 2018 Reunion

Less than a year ago, the three members of Little Brother performed together for the first time in more than a decade. Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, and 9th reunited at the home of the Durham Bulls in North Carolina for The Art Of Cool Festival. The setting was symbolic, as... Read more

August 12, 2019 TV/Film, Video

A New Documentary Tells The Story Behind Little Brother’s Debut Album (Video)

Little Brother is presently in the midst of a new chapter. After reuniting onstage less than a year ago in Durham, North Carolina, Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh are currently recording new music together as Little Brother. Although 9th Wonder is reportedly not producing the material, he has given his... Read more

July 12, 2019 TV/Film, Video

Rapsody Announces Her New Album & Shows Why She’s A Top Rated MC (Video)

Earlier today (June 27), Rapsody endorsed a video through his social platforms. The montage visual features a series of Black women appear, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Grace Jones, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, Maxine Waters, Aretha Franklin, and others. Available at Genesis320, the video features cryptic wording,... Read more

June 27, 2019 Fresh, Video

Murs & 9th Wonder Share The First 2 Songs From Their Final Collabo Album (Premiere)

On July 19, Murs and 9th Wonder will release the seventh and final installment of their collaborative union, The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over. The project, which was announced back in January, is entirely produced by The Soul Council, the collective of 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Nottz, Eric G,... Read more

May 29, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh Are Making New Little Brother Music

Last September, the three founding members of Little Brother performed a last-minute reunion concert in Durham, North Carolina. In the backdrop of the place where the collective formed, Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder got back together for The Art Of Cool Festival. It was the first show of... Read more

May 21, 2019 News

Phonte & Open Mike Eagle Go Verse For Verse With Jokes About Who’s More Woke (Video)

Open Mike Eagle's Comedy Central show with Baron Vaughn has produced a lot of unique visuals, most of which draw on Black Identity in present day America. Last week, Open Mike teamed up with MF DOOM for a visual about police brutality called "Police Myself," and this week, the Chicago,... Read more

May 3, 2019 Video

Rhymefest Reveals Black Thought’s Secret To Writing Those Monster Rhymes

Chicago, Illinois MC, songwriter, activist, and actor Rhymefest recently appeared on Ebro In The Morning. The Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe Award-winner spoke on several topics, including a recent appearance on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Following a public 2018 dispute surrounding the condition of Donda's House, a community and arts... Read more

April 4, 2019 Video

Phonte Has Just Released A Surprise EP. Listen Here.

With less than 24 hours notice, Phonte just released his second project since last March. 2018's No News Is Good News marked the North Carolina MC/singer/producer's first solo effort and Rap album in nearly seven years. It was subsequently named one of 2018's best efforts by Ambrosia For Heads. For 2019,... Read more

March 29, 2019 Audio

Open Mike Eagle’s New TV Show To Feature MF DOOM, Phonte & Method Man

Chicago, Illinois MC Open Mike Eagle has inserted wit and drama into his music for years. The artist behind such releases as 2016's Hella Personal Film Festival (with producer Paul White), 2017's Brick Body Kids Still Daydream, and last year's What Happens When I Try To Relax EP has partnered... Read more

March 22, 2019 News, TV, TV/Film, Video

Peanut Butter Wolf Speaks About Parting Ways With Madlib & Egon

Stones Throw Records founder Peanut Butter Wolf is the latest guest on Questlove Supreme. Taped in Los Angeles, California, the episode finds Questlove, Phonte, Boss Bill, Laiya, Suga Steve asking the San Jose native Chris Manak about his label and its incredible catalog. Highlights include specific discussion on Lootpack's Soundpieces:... Read more

March 21, 2019 Audio

Snoop Dogg Reveals The Original Beat For Nuthin But A G Thang & Raps To It

UPDATE: DJ Filthy Rich made a blend of the song, based on the Questlove Supreme conversation: ORIGINAL DECEMBER 19 STORY: The second song Snoop Dogg ever released to the public may be his most iconic. "One-two-three-and to the fo' / Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Dr. Dre is at the... Read more

December 19, 2018 Audio

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 4): J. Cole vs. Phonte

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

December 10, 2018 Best Rap Album 2018

Rapper Big Pooh Details How He, Phonte & 9th Wonder Re-Built Their Brotherhood

In September, Little Brother surprised fans with an unexpected reunion on stage at the Art Of Cool Festival in Durham, North Carolina. It was the first time all three members—9th Wonder, Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh—performed together in 13 years and a fitting location for the Tar Heel State natives.... Read more

December 6, 2018 Video

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

December 4, 2018 Best Rap Album 2018

Bobby Brown Reveals The Real Reason Mike Tyson Lost To Buster Douglas

On February 11, 1990 Mike Tyson fought Buster Douglas at The Tokyo Dome. In 10 rounds, the fight would go down in history as one of boxing's biggest upsets. The undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion lost to Douglas, an underdog with four losses and a draw to his name at the... Read more

November 8, 2018 Lifestyle, Throwback, Throwback

Rapper Big Pooh Makes Up For Lost Time With His New LP. Listen In. (Audio)

While Rapper Big Pooh has consistently dropped at least one album, EP, or mixtape every year since 2008, he seemingly sat last year out. The MC known for his role in the Little Brother trio dropped full albums with Nottz (Home Sweet Home) and Apollo Brown (Words Paint Pictures) in... Read more

November 3, 2018 Audio

All 3 Little Brother Members Perform Together For The 1st Time In Over A Decade (Video)

During a weekend that celebrated the 20th anniversaries of benchmark album releases from A Tribe Called Quest, Black Star, and OutKast, another legendary Hip-Hop group made a move that will forever be tied to their legacy. Yesterday (September 29), Phonte, 9th Wonder, and Rapper Big Pooh performed as Little Brother... Read more

September 30, 2018 News, Video

Black Thought, Phonte & Rhymefest Have Formed A Super-Group

Producer S1 (aka Symbolyc One) has worked with some of the biggest and brightest in Hip-Hop. He is one-third of Waco, Texas group the Strange Fruit Project. Outside of that, S1 co-produced Kanye West's "Power," Eminem's "Bad Guy," The Game's "Last Time You Seen," and Royce 5'9's recent hit, "Caterpillar."... Read more

September 6, 2018 News

Phonte Delivers Another Knockout Verse & Makes It Sound Effortless (Audio)

New Jersey veteran mix-master DJ K.O. is making a pretty significant return to the Hip-Hop scene and decided to call on an MC from a few areas beyond his Garden State to help him out. For those currently celebrating Phonte's standout No News Is Good News album (included in Ambrosia... Read more

July 24, 2018 Audio

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

Phonte Starts His Day With Some Brutal Breakfast Bars (Video)

At the top of the year, Phonte released his superb solo sophomore album, No News Is Good News. The record serves as a vignette of 'Te's 39-year-old life – a life shrouded in anxiety of mortality, a growing disconnect with significantly younger industry peers, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. But most... Read more

June 8, 2018 Video

Finding The GOAT Group: Atmosphere vs. Little Brother. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle 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, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

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

Phonte Showcases His Multiple Talents On Foreign Exchange’s New Single (Audio)

UPDATE: Foreign Exchange pointed out to Ambrosia For Heads that previously unreleased song "Shelter" appeared on last year's Seek&Destroy compilation, which F.E. curated. ORIGINAL STORY: Phonte Coleman already blessed Hip-Hop fans with one of the more celebrated albums of 2018. No News Is Good News followed up 2011's Charity Starts... Read more

June 4, 2018 Audio

Royce 5’9 Explains How Beef With Joe Budden Led To A Slaughterhouse (Video)

In the last five weeks, Slaughterhouse has publicly disbanded. Following KXNG Crooked's (aka Crooked I) announcement that he was stepping out of the group, Royce 5'9 and Joe Budden both responded in the media. The quartet, also including Joell Ortiz, has seemingly hung up its four mics after a run... Read more

May 25, 2018 Video

Scarface Explains Why He Is Done With The Geto Boys & Swears It’s For Good

The Geto Boys are a legendary 30-year Houston, Texas Hip-Hop group. While more than 13 years have passed without an album, the trio has toured in recent years. In 2015, the famous lineup of Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill asked fans to donate $100,000 to crowd-fund another project. A... Read more

April 11, 2018 News

Early In His Career, Drake Rhymed With Phonte & Elzhi And It Was All Good (Audio)

In 2007, three years before releasing his studio debut Thank Me Later, Drake was still a relatively new rapper with only one mixtape under his belt. That year he dropped his sophomore tape, Comeback Season, an under-appreciated offering from a future global superstar during his budding career. With guest spots from Dwele,... Read more

March 15, 2018 Do Remember

Phonte Has Made An Elite Album For The 99% Of Grown Hip-Hop Fans

It's been more than six years since Phonte released his solo debut. Late 2012's Charity Starts At Home was critically-acclaimed and seemed to indicate that Tigallo was on his way to creating a stellar solo catalog beyond his celebrated work with Little Brother and Foreign Exchange. It did not quite... Read more

March 8, 2018 Audio, Food for Thought

Phonte’s Second Solo LP Is Finally Here & It’s All Good News

Nearly seven years after the release of Phonte's last solo LP, Charity Starts at Home, Hip-Hop fans can rejoice: New Tigallo! New Tigallo! New Tigallo! Earlier today (March 1), the rapper and singer alerted Heads to what is actually great news. No News Is Good News, the much anticipated solo... Read more

March 2, 2018 Audio

Phonte Spits An MVP Verse For Domo Genesis’ “Shaq Carried Kobe” (Audio)

Sports analogies in Hip-Hop are nothing new. Such references can be the lifeblood of a musical genre that often likens itself to a "game” and thrives on competition. Phife Dawg, Chuck D, Kool Keith, and Ice Cube are just some of the masters of sports metaphor and simile. Domo Genesis'... Read more

January 23, 2018 Audio

Redman Rates The Bars & He’s Not Afraid To Hand Out Zeros (Video)

Last week, T.I. rated the bars. The Grand Hustle Records founder put some of his artists and close affiliates ahead of Tupac Shakur, leading to some interesting discourse from fans. This week, it is Redman who sits in the director chair and rates the MCs' bars handed to him on... Read more

January 22, 2018 Video

Phonte & Elzhi Reunite On A New Song & They Are Razor Sharp (Audio)

When Little Brother released The Minstrel Show, it was a huge moment for many Hip-Hop Heads. The North Carolina-based trio that won the hearts of fans with 2003's The Listening joined Atlantic Records and seemingly represented a real chance for putting a disenfranchised side of the genre back on radio,... Read more

December 8, 2017 Audio

Too Short vs. MC Hammer: 2 Of Oakland’s Finest Were Beefing Subliminally

In the year between September of 1990 and 1991, three Oakland, California Hip-Hop acts would have albums receive platinum certification. Digital Underground would be first, with Sex Packets. In January of the new year, Too Short secured a plaque with Short Dog's In The House. M.C. Hammer would follow two... Read more

September 17, 2017 Throwback

Biz Markie Details How He Made The Mazda MPV A Hip-Hop Symbol

Biz Markie sat down with Questlove for the most recent episode of Questlove Supreme. There, the acclaimed MC/DJ/producer and super-collector had a lengthy and lighthearted conversation about his 35-year-career. Throwback: Classic Audio of Rakim and Biz Markie Rhyming in High School (Audio) Quest', a fellow collector, presses Biz about his... Read more

August 16, 2017 Lifestyle, Throwback