ruff ryders ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

A Recap Of Who Won In Round 2 Of The Greatest Rap Crew Of All-Time Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all time, this is your opportunity to collectively... Read more

May 23, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Wu-Tang Clan vs. Ruff Ryders: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 23, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Ruff Ryders vs. G-Unit: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 9, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Bad Boy vs. Ruff Ryders: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 1, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Lil Wayne Shows Why He Is Still 1 Of The Best Rappers Alive

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

February 24, 2023 Audio

Raekwon, Ghostface, Busta Rhymes & More Put On A Clinic In Dropping Science

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

October 29, 2022 Audio

Griselda, Busta Rhymes & Method Man Perform A Tribute For DMX (Video)

Nearly three months after the unexpected passing of DMX, the music community continues to mourn Earl Simmons. That was clear with the tribute at the 2021 BET Awards. Broadcasting Sunday night (June 27), a handful of X's Rap peers honored the legend with a performance medley curated by Swizz Beatz.... Read more

June 28, 2021 Video

The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2021 So Far

As 2021 quickly approaches its midpoint, it is tradition to evaluate the year's best Hip-Hop albums—so far. So on the latest episode of Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, we did just that. As we did in deciding the best albums of 2020, the AFH team uses the platform to publicly discuss the best... Read more

June 15, 2021 Exclusive

Dame Grease Has 50 DMX Songs He Wants To Release

Late last month, Hip-Hop Heads received the album that DMX was working on during the final several years of his life. Overseen by Swizz Beatz, Exodus involves JAY-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, The LOX, Griselda, and others. The album also marked a reunion between X and Def Jam Records, where his career skyrocketed during... Read more

June 8, 2021 Video

Swizz Beatz Explains Why He Will Not Release His Vault Of DMX Music

Last Friday (May 28), DMX's final album, Exodus, was released. DMX's reunion with Def Jam Records album was made over years and overseen by Swizz Beatz. Beyond their mutual ties to the Ruff Ryders, X and Swizz shared a brotherhood. From the onset of DMX's late 1990s skyrocket to fame,... Read more

May 30, 2021 Video

DMX’s New Album Features Nas, JAY-Z, Griselda & More. Here’s The Tracklist

UPDATE: Swizz Beatz has released the full tracklist for DMX's Exodus album, which will be released on May 28, and it is even more star-studded than previously reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swizz Beatz (@therealswizzz) Here is the full tracklist: 1. “That’s My Dog” feat.... Read more

May 11, 2021 Video

DMX’s New Album Is Coming This Summer & It’s Filled With Superstars

Last Friday (April 9), family, friends, and millions of Hip-Hop fans mourned the loss of DMX. The 50-year-old rapper born Earl Simmons passed away at age 50. For the previous week, X had been on life support in White Plains, New York hospital, following a cardiac arrest. Decades into a... Read more

April 13, 2021 Video

DMX Has Passed Away At Age 50

A week after suffering a heart attack that left him hospitalized and on life support, DMX has passed away. The family of the man born Earl Simmons released a statement on Friday April 9, saying "We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of... Read more

April 9, 2021 News

Here Are Some Reasons Why 2000 May Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Year

At Ambrosia For Heads, we celebrate Hip-Hop throughout the ages. Earlier this year, our What's The Headline podcast launched a series examining the calendar years that made the music and culture reach its full potential. After taking a loving look back at 1984, the next episode drops in on Y2K.... Read more

April 6, 2021 Video

DMX Has Overdosed And Is In Critical Condition

On Friday (April 2), legendary rapper DMX reportedly overdosed at his home in White Plains, New York. TMZ reported that the man born Earl Simmons is currently hospitalized and in "grave condition." The publication reports that some sources have alleged that the Ruff Ryders artist suffered a heart attack. Some sources have told the... Read more

April 3, 2021 News

Jadakiss Teams Up With Rick Ross On A Song For His Special Someone (Video)

Jadakiss is releasing his long-awaited fifth solo album later this month. On February 28, The LOX co-founder will deliver Ignatius. Featuring Rick Ross and singer Emanny, the Gerard Victor-directed visual is also part of a short film project by the same name. Emmany belts out a beautifully smooth chorus, while... Read more

February 2, 2020 Video

Jadakiss Confirms An Unreleased Concept Song Where He & Big Pun Battled (Video)

Jadakiss has amassed an incredible discography over the last 25 years. Along that journey, the LOX and D-Block member has shared the mic with some of the greats, including JAY-Z, DMX, Nas, Royce 5'9, Eminem, and Scarface, to name a few. Recently, 'Kiss appeared on Bootleg Kev and DJ Hed's... Read more

November 9, 2019 Video

DMX Toasts To His Comeback Campaign In A Video With Rick Ross & Swizz Beatz

At the end of August, Swizz Beatz released "Just In Case," featuring DMX and Rick Ross. The song was a companion to Godfather Of Harlem series, with the hit-making producer curating the soundtrack. It also marked a milestone in a comeback year for X. The Yonkers, New York representative began... Read more

September 27, 2019 Video

DMX Explains Why He Did Not Want To Do Ruff Ryders Anthem (Video)

Twenty-one years ago, DMX carried his debut and sophomore albums to the top of the charts. By the end of 1998, the Yonkers, New York MC was a Hip-Hop superstar, giving Rap fans a plethora of hardcore anthems. One song, in particular, would help brand X's crew, The Ruff Ryders,... Read more

September 23, 2019 Video

DMX Is Back On Def Jam. It’s About To Get Hot Again

At the beginning of this year (January 25), DMX was released from a West Virginia prison after spending much of 2018 behind bars for a tax evasion conviction. Since then, the onetime superstar has been on a climb that feels distinct in a career filled with peaks and valleys. The... Read more

September 12, 2019 Fresh, News, Video

DMX Growls At Lying Rappers On A Collabo With Rick Ross & Swizz Beatz (Audio)

At the beginning of this year, DMX left a West Virginia prison after approximately a year behind bars. From there, the onetime superstar continued his campaign tour to celebrate 20 years of debut LP, It's Dark And Hell Is Hot. He rocked the Twin Cities' Soundset Festival, and is slated... Read more

August 30, 2019 Audio

Snoop Dogg Teams Up With Swizz Beatz. It’s Nuthin’ But A G-Funk Thang (Video)

Snoop Dogg is gearing up for his 17th solo album amidst one of Rap's busiest and most extensive careers. Reportedly titled I Wanna Thank Me, the upcoming release is said to feature a song about one of Dogg's mentors, Suge Knight. While Snoop famously clapped back at verbal attacks and... Read more

July 29, 2019 Video

Drag-On Rates Some Bars That Dissed Him. The Score & Response Are Surprising (Video)

Onetime Ruff Ryders rapper Drag-On is the latest guest on Rate The Bars. Seventeen years ago, the Bronx, New Yorker scored a gold album in his debut, The Opposite Of H20. However, by the mid-2000s, the "Spit These Bars" and "Down Bottom" creator faded from the spotlight as compared to... Read more

July 1, 2019 Video

DMX Announces It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot 20th Anniversary Tour Dates

Last May, DMX's debut album, It's Dark And Hell Is Hot turned 20 years old. Earl Simmons was behind bars for the anniversary, stemming from a violation of bail surrounding a tax evasion conviction. After leaving Gilmer Federal Correctional Institution in Glenville, West Virginia last month, Dark Man X is... Read more

February 4, 2019 Fresh

DMX Will Be Released From Prison Tomorrow

Last March, DMX was sentenced to one year in prison for tax fraud. The rapper born Earl Simmons was visibly emotional as he received the judge's order, which came after the former superstar played the courtroom his song, "Slippin'." He told the bench, “I never went to the level of... Read more

January 24, 2019 News

LL Cool J, DMX, Redman & Method Man Explain The Real Definition Of A Freestyle

Twenty-one years ago this month, LL Cool J released his "4, 3, 2, 1" single. Not unlike "I Shot Ya" two years prior, one of the most respected figures in Rap recruited a team of ferocious MCs to share the mic. In addition to Canibus, whose early career appearance and... Read more

December 16, 2018 Throwback, Throwback, Video

Swizz Beatz Explains Why The JAY-Z, Nas & DMX Collabo Has Not Come Out (Video)

Yesterday, Swizz Beatz released his POISON album. For the Bronx, New York representative, it is his third retail release over the last 16 years. Rather than bring attention to his catalog, the Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, DJ, and musician has spotlit so many moments for his peers in Rap, R&B,... Read more

November 3, 2018 Video

Swizz Beatz Has Lil Wayne Sounding Better Than He Has In Years (Video)

Lil Wayne is fast at work on Tha Carter 5. The New Orleans, Louisiana superstar is now independent and has the business cleared away to launch whenever he feels. According to a recent Billboard cover story by Dan Rys, fans can expect the C5 detonation to be sometime this fall.... Read more

September 14, 2018 Video

Nas Has Another Album Coming & RZA And Swizz Beatz Are Involved (Video)

Six weeks ago, Nas released his twelfth solo album, NASIR. Produced by Kanye West, the seven-track effort is part of the five albums recorded in Wyoming over the last year. Rolling with the G.O.O.D. Music team of producers marked a distinct creative moment for the Queens, New York legend. It... Read more

July 27, 2018 News, Video

Swizz Beatz Says He & Nas Made An Album Together In 2016 & A Taste Is Coming

It was in the summer of 2016 that DJ Khaled released "Nas Album Done." That video single, belonging to the Miami, Florida-based DJ/producer's #1 album Major Key signaled something that eventually came to fruition—in June 2018. Last month, Nas released Nasir, a project produced entirely by Kanye West. Debuting at... Read more

July 2, 2018 Fresh

Finding The GOAT Group: Mobb Deep vs. The LOX. 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

July 2, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Jadakiss Explains Why With The LOX It’s Never Been All About The Benjamins (Video)

Twenty years ago, on DMX's "Blackout," Jadakiss spit, "You pay 30 for the 'Kiss, a 100 for The LOX / And if we cool, then I write a hook for a drop." In 1998, Jada' was quoting prices to artists looking for those features to do, as he rapped, "boost... Read more

June 14, 2018 Video

Finding The GOAT Group: Clipse vs. The LOX. Who Is Better?

UPDATE: Ambrosia For Heads treats its "Finding The GOAT" battles with the utmost care for accuracy and authentic results. Over the weekend, we detected fraudulent voting in the results of our most recent battle. It was the only battle of the current tournament where voter fraud was identified. To prevent... Read more

April 16, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: Clipse vs. The LOX. Who Is Better?

UPDATE: Ambrosia For Heads identified fraud in this poll. A new, 24-hour ballot has been created for this battle using new voting tools. Voting ends Tuesday (April 17) at the new battle poll. “Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest... Read more

April 13, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

DMX Plays “Slippin'” For Judge Ahead Of Receiving 1-Year Prison Sentence

DMX has a long history of courtroom appearances and legal battles. Today (March 28) likely set a precedent, even for the Yonkers, New York MC. Upon sentencing in a New York City courtroom, X's legal team wanted U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff to understand the life and times of defendant... Read more

March 28, 2018 News

Quadir Lateef & Statik Selektah’s EP Aims To Get An Ugly Reaction (Audio)

Ruff Ryders MC Quadir Lateef has been hovering on the fringes of notoriety for years. This imposing wordsmith has caught the attention of everybody from DJ Green Lantern to Chuck D to Russell Simmons over the years. While he started as a Spoken Word poet, this artist has developed into... Read more

March 21, 2018 Audio

Fabolous & Jadakiss Get Dressed To Kill To Deliver More Lethal Rhymes (Video)

When Fabolous and Jadakiss announced they'd be putting out a collaboration album, fans were initially wondering how it would sound. Sure, the two MCs are about as New York as it can get, but their styles and flows are vastly different. Luckily, with the help of Swizz Beatz' production, what... Read more

February 12, 2018 Video

DMX Performs For The First Time Ever With A Live Band (Video)

Many of DMX's hits had a distinct sound. Especially in his work with Swizz Beatz, X had a synthetic sound that pulled Rap music away from the sample-covers of the late 1990s. While the Yonkers, New York superstar certainly tried his hand at that style too, tracks like "Ruff Ryders... Read more

December 1, 2017 Video

See The Full Historic Conversation & Cypher Between Mos Def, Big Pun, Canibus & DMX (Video)

Twenty years ago, Hip-Hop was in crosswinds. Microphones were grabbed by emerging voices from across the landscape, geographically, stylistically, and regarding content. As the genre collected itself following the sudden and tragic killings of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, it wanted new sounds, messages, and conversations. Mos Def & Dave... Read more

August 28, 2017 Throwback, Video

Long Before DMX, JAY-Z & Ja Rule Were Murdering MCs, They Had Time To Build (Audio)

In the late 1990s, DMX, JAY-Z, and Ja Rule came together for two incredible collaborations. On Jay's Streets Is Watching soundtrack from early 1998, "Murdergram" showed that these grimy, overly irritated MCs hit their marks when they were together. In pivoting to Ja Rule's 1999 debut Venni Vetti Vecci, "It's... Read more

August 10, 2017 Do Remember

DMX, Swizz Beatz, Eve, The LOX & More Are Ruff Rydin’ Across The USA

Two months after their reunion at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, the Ruff Ryders have announced that they're taking their show nationwide in September. DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz, The LOX and Drag-On will hit cities in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, California and Nevada. They will also... Read more

June 21, 2017 Fresh

DMX Punching Chris Lighty Drew Blood Money From His Album (Audio)

This spring, the life and death of acclaimed record executive Chris Lighty has been the subject of an investigative podcast series. Combat Jack has created and hosted Mogul, a weekly look at the evolution of the man who managed A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent,... Read more

May 19, 2017 Audio

DMX Reportedly Checks Into Rehab After Canceling Multiple Concerts

UPDATE: Days after a "medical emergency" was cited as the reason DMX canceled at least three concert appearances, the rapper has reportedly checked into a Southern California rehabilitation facility for substance abuse. TMZ has learned from sources close to the Yonkers, New York MC that after reaching California, the artist... Read more

April 26, 2017 News

DMX & The LOX To Headline 2017 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Video)

Last night (April 21), the Ruff Ryders reunited on the stages of Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center. DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz and others celebrated nearly 20 years of guttural street music from the New York City collective that also spawned the careers of The LOX, Drag-On, Cassidy, and others. While the... Read more

April 22, 2017 Fresh, Video

Drag-On Releases His 1st Project In 10 Years, As The Ruff Ryders Reunite (Audio)

Later this month (April 21), the Ruff Ryders are reuniting in their native of New York City. While DMX, Swizz Beatz, Eve, and The LOX have always been the flagship artists within the R.R. management and label, the Ryders have long boasted a deep roster of talent. At times, names... Read more

April 4, 2017 Audio, Mixes

DMX Gon’ Give It To Ya…But He Now Wants Trap Beats To Do It

For more than one year, DMX has reportedly been preparing his eighth album. In May of 2016, Swizz Beatz, one of X's longest collaborators, confirmed his deep involvement, as well as potential tracks from Dr. Dre and Kanye West. While Dre and X have never released work together, a pre-College... Read more

April 3, 2017 Fresh

As Eve, DMX, Swizz, Drag-On & The LOX Plan A Ruff Ryders Reunion, Here’s The Scenario (Audio)

This week, the Ruff Ryders announced their reunion homecoming, planned for April. The Hip-Hop collective (which began first as a party promotions company in the late 1980s) is largely responsible for the careers of DMX, Swizz Beatz, The LOX, Eve, Cassidy, and others. Approaching the turn of the millennium, the... Read more

March 2, 2017 Do Remember

The Original Ruff Ryders Are Reuniting For A Mega Celebration

Since they burst onto the scene in the 90s, members of the original Ruff Ryders crew have been ever-present in Hip-Hop. Consisting of DMX, The LOX, Eve and, leader, Swizz Beatz, they created a new sound for the era, built on thin synths and thunderous drums. Since those early days,... Read more

February 28, 2017 News

Swizz Beatz Premieres A New Song Featuring Nas, Jay Z, DMX & Jadakiss And It’s Unreal (Video)

Note: To hear the track, skip to 2:27:15 in the long video, or play the short clip just below. Although they have both reached G.O.A.T. status among Hip-Hop producers, with catalogs of hits rivaled by few, at their cores, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz are still DJs too. With nothing... Read more

February 25, 2017 Video

Just Blaze & Swizz Beatz Have A Beat Battle For The Ages. Watch The Masters Work (Video)

Note: To hear the track, skip to 2:27:15 of the video. Although they have both reached G.O.A.T. status among Hip-Hop producers, with catalogs of hits rivaled by few, at their cores, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz are still DJs too. With nothing left to prove behind the boards, each now... Read more

February 25, 2017 Video