In 1993, California was the epicenter of Hip-Hop. Artists such as Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre were the faces of West Coast Gangsta Rap boom, which was winning in the mainstream. Plus, Cali’s prominent street gang culture and urban lifestyle had an emerging presence in Hollywood... Read more

Less than one week ago, Drake released his fifth official album, Scorpion. A double-dose signaling Drake's last release in his Young Money/Cash Money contract, the work involves JAY-Z, DJ Premier, Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Paul, and a posthumous vocal appearance from Michael Jackson. In several days, fans will learn if... Read more

Less than one week after JAY-Z released his 13th solo album, 4:44 is platinum. That Roc Nation LP was available June 30. As was the case with its 2013 predecessor Magna Carta...Holy Grail, the 10-track offering was accessible on a limited basis. In this case, only Tidal subscribers and Sprint... Read more

Since releasing his song "The Heart, Pt. 4" on March 23, Kendrick Lamar has been on an absolute tear. He achieved his first ever solo #1 single, with the release of "HUMBLE." He also secured his third consecutive #1 debut with his album DAMN. What's more, with an opening tally of... Read more

At the time of its release, J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive was an outlier to a trend in Hip-Hop. The late 2014 Roc Nation/Columbia Records release contained 13 tracks and no feature verses of any kind. At the time of release, the North Carolina MC/producer earned his third consecutive... Read more

Sixteen years and one month ago, St. Louis, Missouri MC Nelly released his debut album, Country Grammar. Backed by a string of hits beginning with a title single, the melodic Fo' Reel Records flagship artist (and St. Lunatics founder) created a style that arguably paved the way for Kanye West,... Read more

Two of 2015's most talked about Hip-Hop albums can now claim platinum status. Just weeks before the Grammy Awards, Kendrick Lamar's sophomore major label album To Pimp A Butterfly now has the same celebrated benchmark of its 2012 predecessor, good kid, m.A.A.d city. Additionally, Big Sean achieves his first platinum... Read more

On December 12, 2000, Los Angeles, California-based MC Xzibit dropped his third album, one that arrived at a curious juncture in his musical and professional careers. Already considered a West Coast favorite thanks to the grassroots and Underground support of his sophomore effort 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, the streets... Read more

GZA (f/k/a The Genius) has become only the third Wu-Tang Clan member to achieve a platinum solo album. The Brooklyn, New York MC and one of the group's onetime leaders joins Method Man (Tical, Tical 2000) and Ghostface Killah (Ironman) with last month's platinum certification of Liquid Swords, as confirmed... Read more

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Twenty years ago today (February 1, 1995), the Recording Industry Association of America certified A Tribe Called Quest's sophomore album, The Low End Theory as having reached platinum status (shipping 1 million units). Originally released in 1991, the album continues to reverberate, landing on countless Best Albums lists and remains... Read more

Over 18 years ago, 2Pac released his "out on bail, fresh outta jail, California-dreamin'" double-album, All Eyez On Me. Today, according to a spokesperson and e-mail from the RIAA, it has been reported that the Death Row/Interscope Records effort has now achieved diamond status, scanning over 10 million copies sold... Read more