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Chuck D Details How He’s Kept The BASS In His Voice For 35 Years

Along with penning some of the most impactful Hip-Hop songs, Chuck D has displayed an incredible voice. The Long Island, New Yorker has demonstrated a commanding delivery on Public Enemy songs for over 35 years and more recently worked with Prophets Of Rage. Mistachuck’s vocals are distinct, precise, and treated... Read more

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

Questlove Names His Top 4 Rap Albums Of All-Time

This morning, ahead of their The F.O.R.C.E. Live Tour, LL Cool J, Questlove, and Black Thought appeared on The Breakfast Club for an 80-plus-minute conversation. After discussing Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, their collaboration Rock The Bells performance with The Roots and DJ Z-Trip, and the earliest days of LL's career, the... Read more

Flavor Flav Shows Off His Piano & Drum Skills

In his role in Public Enemy, Flavor Flav is often considered one of Hip-Hop's greatest hype-men. On several songs throughout the P.E. catalog, the Bronx-born, Long Island, New York-bred artist flexed his MC chops. He also was an accomplished DJ and radio personality 30 years ago. However, some may not... Read more

KRS-One Explains Why Kool Herc Is THE Founder Of Hip-Hop

Throughout 2023, Hip-Hop culture is celebrating its most significant anniversary to date. At the top of the year, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman appeared at the Universal Hip Hop Museum construction site in New York's Bronx borough. There, attending with KRS-One, Roxanne Shanté, Grandmaster Flash,... Read more

Hip-Hop Legends From The Last 50 Years Gave The Most Iconic Tribute Ever

Last night (February 5), the Grammy Awards celebrated Hip Hop's upcoming 50th birthday. LL Cool J, one of the culture's first superstars, introduced the special concert, in which he also performed. During the presentation, LL pointed to August 11, 1973, and the Bronx back-to-school jam at a rec center, made... Read more

Flavor Flav Explains Why Rap Music Is Much More Dangerous Now

Thirty-five years ago, Public Enemy released a classic album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. The Def Jam Records LP contained the video single "Night Of The Living Baseheads," which was a stylish and clever indictment on drug use, particularly crack cocaine—which was an epidemic during that decade. Chuck... Read more

The LOX Use A Public Enemy Beat To Terminate The Competition

In addition to a respected group album catalog, The LOX collective is known for devastating loosies. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P kept the L-O-X brand strong for a 15-year-period between We Are The Streets and the Roc Nation return Filthy America...It's Beautiful. Since then, the Yonkers, New York trio has been in overdrive, evident... Read more

Chuck D & KRS-One Have Launched A Hip-Hop Union

At a time when labor unions are making a resurgence among companies like Starbucks and Amazon, Hip-Hop is proving no different. Some of the leaders in the culture have established The Hip Hop Alliance, dubbed "Hip-Hop's first official union." The organization, founded by Chuck D and Kurtis Blow, defines itself... 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

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

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

Will DMX’s Reunion With Def Jam Return Both To Glory?

This month DMX appeared on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN's Drink Champs for a second time. Since the Hip-Hop show's inception, X has been a top draw for Drink Champs, sitting at the table and giving a real and raw interview to his past collaborator Noreaga back in episode 3. Great conversations with Puff... Read more

Joe Budden Has Made 1 Of The Biggest Moves In Podcasting (Again)

The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Mal (and Parks) is officially off of Spotify. While many listeners and Hip-Hop fans speculated that the former MC would take his show to a high-profile competitor, the Jersey City representative and cohorts have opted to go DIY instead. While taking a breather... Read more

Diddy Blasts The Grammys For Not Respecting Hip-Hop & Calls For A Boycott (Video)

Last night (January 25) Sean "Diddy" Combs received the annual Icon Award in Beverly Hills, California. There, just ahead of the 62nd Grammy Awards and at an official Pre-Grammy Gala, the three-time winner blasted the Recording Academy for the areas which they need to improve—especially in how they treat Black... Read more

Public Enemy Will Receive A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

For more than 30 years, Public Enemy has been serving hard truth to the people with inspiring, powerful, and evocative music. Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, and DJ Lord are Hip-Hop legends. While the group's music has never won a Grammy (prompting some lyrics on "Terminator X... Read more

Doctor Dré Reveals He Has Lost Eyesight To His Ongoing Battle With Diabetes (Video)

Doctor Dré and Ed Lover are behind many fans' fondest memories of Hip-Hop on television. The former Yo! MTV Rap hosts added comedy, swagger, and lots of authenticity to the show between 1989 and 1995. Those TV talents extended to making music, 1993 film Who's The Man?, and radio. For... Read more

Flavor Flav Tells The Origin Story Behind Wearing Clocks (Video)

For Slick Rick, it has been the eye-patch and truck jewelry. LL Cool J has his Kangol cap. Run-D.M.C. is forever associated with three-stripe Adidas shell-toes. Raider hats, bandanas, Clark's Wallabees. Many rappers and groups have iconic props to go with their incredible music. For more than 30 years, Flavor... Read more

Flavor Flav Speaks Candidly About His Addiction & Why It Was Time For Change

From Public Enemy to reality television, Flavor Flav has been a star within music and culture. While his legendary Hip-Hop group condemned drug addiction, Flav publicly battled substance abuse. Since the group's success in the early 1990s, Flav had several high-profile arrests, including several with drug charges. If you or... Read more

Reef The Lost Cauze’s Video Shows What’s Golden About Hip-Hop Can Never Fade Away

Bearing a lengthy Hip-Hop resume, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based MC, Reef The Lost Cauze (born Sharif Lacey) is a certified authority when it comes to the genre. From the Army Of The Pharaohs (A.O.T.P.) member's  early days of battling, to his various mixtapes and albums, a current six-year window of podcasting, and... Read more

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

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

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

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

Finding The GOAT Group: Public Enemy vs. Boogie Down Productions. 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 for... Read more

Nas Names 5 Of His Favorite Rap Songs In Celebration Of Hip-Hop’s 45th Birthday (Video)

This past Saturday, Hip-Hop celebrated a significant milestone. August 11, 1973, marks the day that DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) rocked a benchmark party in the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. As a result, many Hip-Hop Heads, scholars, and even tech giants honor that day as the culture's... Read more

Here Are The 16 Hip-Hop Groups Competing To 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

Finding The GOAT Group: Public Enemy vs. Brand Nubian. 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 for... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Public Enemy vs. Stetsasonic. 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

Chuck D Is Still Fighting The Power With One Of His Best Verses In Years (Audio)

Today (April 10) marks the 28th anniversary of Public Enemy releasing its third album, Fear Of A Black Planet. The platinum-certified Def Jam Records LP that housed "Fight The Power," "Welcome To The Terrordome," and "911 Is A Joke" contains messages and music that are relevant today. As Public Enemy... Read more

Public Enemy Are Being Inducted Into The Grammy Hall Of Fame Because They Fought The Power

Public Enemy is a legendary Hip-Hop act that never received a Grammy Award. The Long Island, New York-based collective joins icons such as Eric B. & Rakim, Scarface, Nas, and Snoop Dogg with that distinction. Ahead of this month's 60th Grammy Awards (January 28), it has been announced that Public... Read more

Ambrosia For Heads Presents: G.O.A.T. Producers – The Pete Rock Edition (Playlist)

Ambrosia For Heads' G.O.A.T. Producers series takes in-depth looks at the production discographies of some of Hip-Hop and R&B's greatest of all-time producers. As part of an exclusive partnership with Pandora, each installment explores the hits, the deep cuts, the rarities, the remixes and more. This edition showcases the production catalog... Read more

Scarface’s Life Story Is Told Against The Soundtrack Of His Latest Song (Video)

Plenty of Hip-Hop legends are living, but not nearly as many are releasing consistent, quality product. Scarface is approaching 30 years on wax, and his newest single, "Black Still," finds him spitting hard, political rhymes with fire in his belly. The just-released Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files contains six new... Read more

Scarface Updates A Powerful Public Enemy Classic For The Chaos Of 2017 (Video)

Back in August, Scarface previewed some new music for Ambrosia For Heads and TBD. Backstage at his concert with upcoming EP collaborator DJ Quik, the Houston, Texas Hip-Hop legend played a new song from his phone that showed the Geto Boys O.G. reworking Public Enemy’s 1988 video single “Black Steel... Read more

9th Wonder Explains Why Soundbombing & Rawkus Kept His Hip-Hop Dreams Alive (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the LAST 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the LAST... Read more

The Smithsonian Will Tell The History Of Hip-Hop In A 120-Song Anthology Led By Chuck D & MC Lyte

“#Make Hip-Hop History” is the slogan for the campaign launched today by The Smithsonian Museum, with the help of Chuck D and MC Lyte, to fund a nine-CD, 300-page anthology devoted to exploring the history of Hip-Hop and Rap music. This would be the third such Smithsonian Folkways anthology focused... Read more

A Video Traces The “Migos’ Flow” Back To Public Enemy, Bone Thugs & Biggie

Back in 2014, Snoop Dogg criticized what he said was the conformity of rappers in the contemporary scene. “Everybody’s trying to rap the same style, I don’t know who created it—if it was Future or Migos, but they all sound the same,” he said. Snoop then mocked the broken-up patter... Read more

Ball So Hard: LaMelo Is The Youngest Athlete Ever With His Own Shoe (Video)

Hip-Hop news and culture move fast, and it’s easy to miss significant developments. Every week, Ambrosia For Heads takes a look back at the Last 7 days. This video series, hosted by Justin “The Company Man” Hunte examines the current issues with a colorful rundown of the what, where, and why. While the Last... Read more

Chuck D Speaks On The Flavor Flav Lawsuit. He Lovingly Checks His P.E. Partner

This past week, Flavor Flav sued Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D. That suit also accused P.E. management and longtime producer Gary "G-Wiz" in holding back royalties. In the suit, the Bronx, New York-born MC and reality TV star claims to have penned more than 50 Public Enemy songs and claimed... Read more

Flavor Flav Brings The Noise To Chuck D In A Lawsuit Over Public Enemy Royalties

Groups from Wu-Tang Clan to the Cash Money Millionaires have experienced internal lawsuits. In a year otherwise dedicated to their 30th anniversary of releasing Yo! Bum The Rush The Show, Public Enemy now experiences legal woes. According to TMZ, Flavor Flav is suing P.E. co-founder Chuck D, longtime producer (and... Read more

Public Enemy Still Got Game & Chuck D Wants The Ball (Video)

Public Enemy already blessed fans with a free new album this summer. Nothing Is Quick In The Desert (Except Death) is still making its rounds. Meanwhile, in addition to Chuck D and DJ Lord's ramping up with Prophets Of Rage towards a full-length album, P.E. stays moving. Public Enemy Release Its... Read more

Scarface Has A New Album Coming & He Shares Exclusive New Music (Video)

It's been a busy month for Scarface. The Houston, Texas legend closed July with footage of himself and longtime producer N.O. Joe in the studio. The MC/beat-maker pair responsible for “The Diary,” “Seen A Man Die,” “Smile,” and “Mary Jane” (co-productions) is at work on what appears to be 'Face's... Read more

Chuck D, B-Real & Rage Against The Machine Get Radical For Freedom (Audio)

Approaching their self-titled full-length debut, Prophets Of Rage are armed with new music and plenty going on in the world, for material. "Radical Eyes" is the latest. With a funky nod similar to 1991 Public Enemy classic "By The Time I Get To Arizona," Chuck and company call for action. B-Real... Read more

Chuck D, B-Real & Rage Against The Machine Stand Up For Those In Poverty (Video)

Rap/Rock supergroup Prophets of Rage, a revolutionary assembly of Public Enemy, Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine members, just released the second video single to their self-titled debut, dropping in September. "Living On The 110," a poignant piece about homelessness, follows the Michael Moore directed video for "Unf*ck The... Read more

Respect The Sole: A New Collection Of Hip-Hop Sneakers Is Genius (Video)

Sneakers and Hip-Hop have been hand-in-hand for more than 30 years. In 1986 Run-D.M.C. screamed "My Adidas" so loud that the German apparel brand responded with a check. That relationship has evolved to JAY-Z, 50 Cent, and Kanye West signing off on shoe lines, and some equally great Rap lines... Read more

Public Enemy Release Their Free Album 5 Days Early. Listen Now. (Audio)

AUGUST 16 UPDATE: The YouTube post of the album has been added below. ORIGINAL JUNE 29 STORY: Earlier this week, it announced that Public Enemy's 14th album Nothing Is Quick In The Desert (Except Death) would be releasing on July 4. Perhaps basking in the day of their own independence,... Read more

Chuck D Confirms Public Enemy’s 14th Album Is 1 Week Away & It’s Free.

Public Enemy is both legendary and active. Thirty years after their debut Yo! Bum Rush The Show hit record store shelves, the Long Island, New York group is still putting in studio work. P.E. front-man Chuck D has confirmed that the group's 14th album will be arriving one week from... Read more

How Prison Transformed Tupac But Could Not Save Him From Death Row

On Valentines Day 1995, Tupac Amaru Shakur was processed into general population at Clinton Correctional Facility. Approximately eight months later, Pac left the maximum security prison in Dannemora, New York. And nothing was the same. From his cell, Tupac counted his time. Unless he had visitors, Pac was in isolation... Read more

Chuck D Tells Kool Moe Dee That Spike Lee Did For Public Enemy What Radio Wouldn’t (Video)

Kool Moe Dee is one of the first Hip-Hop solo stars. As Public Enemy's Chuck D points out, Kool Moe Dee went from one third of the Treacherous 3 MCs to a Jive Records soloist, complete with hits, battle beefs, and a career that went from the 1970s into the... Read more

Watch 40 Years Of Hip-Hop History In 4 Minutes In A Mind-Blowing Mashup (Video)

It ain't nothin' like Hip-Hop music...Over the last 40 years, there have been few forces in pop culture with more impact than Hip-Hop. Like Rock & Roll before it, the music and lifestyle shaped an entire generation and has had untold influence around the world. The Rub: The History of... Read more