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N.W.A. Will Receive The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

N.W.A. changed culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collective, launched by Eazy-E, included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, and helped bring the city of Compton, California to the mainstream entertainment lexicon. While superstar careers emerged out of the Gangsta Rap outfit,... Read more

Warren G Reveals Who Introduced Him To G-Funk

For decades, Hip-Hop artists have spoken about the G-Funk musical style and its origins. While not often credited in the mainstream press, Pomona, California's Above The Law implemented the sound in their catalog, especially on 1993's Black Mafia Life and 1994's Uncle Sam's Curse. The first album reportedly began recording... 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

The D.O.C.’s Documentary Shows His Next 10 Years

In 2022, The D.O.C. screened an autobiographical documentary at The Tribeca Film Festival. The self-titled doc features appearances by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too Short, Tha Dogg Pound, Xzibit, Tone-Loc, and late Death Row songstress Jewell, as well as The D.O.C. and Erykah's daughter, Puma. The artist,... Read more

The D.O.C. Is Performing Again For The First Time In 33 Years

Earlier this year, one of Hip-Hop's legendary songwriters, The D.O.C., gave fans his most comprehensive display of bars in 20 years. The MC closely associated with Dr. Dre, N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, and others, appeared on video single "Fast Ones" by The Codefendants. The track, later belonging to the This Is... Read more

Snoop Dogg Reveals The Record Deal He Nearly Took Before Dr. Dre Called

In 1992, Snoop Dogg made his debut alongside Dr. Dre on "Deep Cover," the title song from the soundtrack of the same name. The song arrived as Dr. Dre made a high-profile exit from N.W.A. and Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Dre would join manager Marion "Suge" Knight at Death Row, a... Read more

The D.O.C.’s 1st Verse In 19 Years Gets A Video

The D.O.C. remains one of Hip-Hop's great what-if stories. The Dallas, Texas native released just one solo album, 1989's No One Can Do It Better. With Dr. Dre and DJ Yella's production, the MC made a case for that title with elite lyricism, an incredible flow, and plenty of "high energy" and... Read more

N.W.A. & Tupac Affiliated Producer Laylaw Has Reportedly Passed Away

Laylaw, a pioneering West Coast Hip-Hop rapper, songwriter, and producer, has reportedly died. Born Larry Goodman, Laylaw was an affiliate of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. He made contributions to albums by Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Above The Law, Kausion, K-Dee, and Anotha Level. DJ Pooh, Da Lench Mob's J-Dee,... Read more

The D.O.C. Explains The Real Elements Of The Rap Formula

On his 1989 solo debut, No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C. had a highlight single with "The Formula." The Dr. Dre-produced Ruthless/Atlantic Records track begins with the lyrics, "High energy flowin' with the wisdom / Sense of a rich man, knowledge and the rhythm / This is what... Read more

Eminem’s Mind Is Blown As He Raps The D.O.C.’s Lyrics

This week, Hip-Hop veteran The D.O.C. has been in New York City promoting his eponymous documentary film, a debut feature from director David Caplan. The 94-minute doc' is currently screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. The piece covers The D.O.C.'s rise to Rap stardom, his tragic 1989 car accident, his... Read more

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Tha Dogg Pound Have Formed A Supergroup

Sometimes former foes can come together to make incredible music. Before Slaughterhouse, Joe Budden and Royce 5'9 had exchanged disses on wax. The 2007 conflict would come full circle within a year, as the two artists would achieve great success together and nearly top the charts with Slaughterhouse's sophomore album.... Read more

Comedian Anthony “AJ” Johnson Has Passed Away At Age 55

Comedian and actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has died at 55 years old. Known for his roles in Friday, House Party, I Got The Hook Up, and Menace II Society, Johnson has been reported dead by TMZ. According to the publication, the Compton, California native was found unresponsive earlier this month... Read more

The D.O.C. Recalls The Night Of His Car Accident With New Details (Video)

For many Hip-Hop Heads, The D.O.C. is widely regarded as one of the most skilled lyricists and songwriters. A native of Dallas, Texas, the artist born Tracy Curry linked with Dr. Dre in the late 1980s to make history. After assisting with the writing on N.W.A.'s Grammy Hall Of Fame-inducted Straight... Read more

In 1996, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Made An Anthem About Love & Survival (Video)

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony dominated the mid-1990s with a unique style of Rap music. Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, and Flesh-N-Bone put Ohio on the global Rap map with a harmonic sound that pulled from the church and the street alike. While 1994's Creepin' On Ah Come Up achieved gold-certification... Read more

Comedian AJ Johnson Explains How Spoofing Eazy-E Caused A Serious Problem (Video)

Actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has had memorable roles in films such as Friday, House Party, and Master P's I Got The Hook Up, among others. From Compton, California, the comedian who had appeared in the first and third House Party film was used in the early 1990s beef between Dr.... Read more

Apple Rejects Dr. Dre’s Television Show Due To Excessive Violence

Two and a half years ago, Dr. Dre announced plans to tell his life story through a series in partnership with Apple. The show, titled Vital Signs, began pre-production less than three years after Apple's 2014 acquisition of Beats By Dre for a reported $1 billion. In addition to producing, Vital... 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

The D.O.C. Sings Beautifully In A Video That Shows Anything Is Possible.

For decades, Hip-Hop Heads have known that The D.O.C. has a golden pen. The Dallas, Texas native MC is credited with writing songs and lyrics for Dr. Dre and other artists on Death Row and Ruthless Records. However, in the 1980s, the artist born Tracy Curry was a rapper with... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: OutKast vs. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. 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

The Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. GOAT Match-Up Is Too Close To Call. Decide Who Advances.

“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: Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. 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

John Singleton Reveals He Wanted N.W.A. To Star In Boyz N The Hood

Thirty years ago today, on August 8, 1988, the N.W.A. released its proper debut album, Straight Outta Compton. Bursting onto the scene with rawness and aggression fueled by the Reagan-era Compton climate and lifestyle, Ni**az Wit' Attitudes presented an LP that would shape the sound and narrative in Rap for... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony vs. The Fugees. 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: Geto Boys vs. N.W.A. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s 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

Finding The GOAT Group: N.W.A. vs. UGK. 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

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.’s The Godfather Ted Has Passed Away

The Godfather (aka Ted Devoux) was a founding member and band-leader of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. with his brothers. This weekend, the group confirmed that the artist also formerly known as Samoan Godfather has died. The details and cause of Godfather's death have not been made public at this time. He is... Read more

Finding The GOAT Group: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony vs. Three 6 Mafia. 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

The 1st Look At Death Row Series Shows Suge Strong-Arming Eazy-E To Get Dre (Video)

The Death Row Chronicles is an upcoming six-part series on one of music's most successful and most controversial record labels. Airing on BET February 20 (beginning with part one and two), a two-minute video trailer released, featuring commentary from some of the people closest to Death Row Records' former CEO... Read more

The D.O.C. Speaks About Idolizing Rakim & Making Plans To Work On New Music Together (Video)

On August 1, 1989, The D.O.C. released his debut album, No One Can Do It Better. The Ruthless/Atco/Atlantic Records album was the solo debut from the Dallas, Texas MC, formerly of the Fila Fresh Crew. Produced by N.W.A.'s Dr. Dre, it was not only an important mainstream representation of Southern... Read more

The D.O.C. Talks Accepting His Newfound Voice & Helping Others Find Theirs (Video)

The D.O.C. is one of the many Hip-Hop artists who appear in The Defiant Ones docu-series. From his days with the Fila Fresh Crew, the Dallas, Texas native MC is one of the few to have worked with Dr. Dre at Ruthless, at Death Row, and Aftermath. In the four-part... Read more

Cold 187um Claims Dr. Dre Jacked His G-Funk & Names Songs To Prove It (Audio)

This week, The Defiant Ones docu-series is telling Dr. Dre's story. Twenty-five years ago, the N.W.A. co-founder released his solo debut, The Chronic. The first album on Death Row Records is credited for galvanizing G-Funk, a type of sample-based sound in Gangsta Rap that propelled the sub-genre into the MTV/Top... Read more

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Deliberately Erased Eazy-E’s Verse From E. 1999 Eternal (Video)

Eazy-E was greatly involved in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony debut EP, Creepin' On Ah Come Up. He produced the intro, co-produced "Foe Tha Love Of $" with DJ Yella, and appeared on three songs. Thirteen months later, Bone followed up their half-hour debut with their first full-length, E. 1999 Eternal. Eazy, who... Read more

MC Ren Reveals That Dr. Dre Ghost-Wrote An Eazy-E Hit (Video)

Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Dr. Dre is one of the Rap superstars who has openly used other songwriters. Throughout the years, Eminem, Jay Z, Ice Cube, The D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, and others have written verses for Andre Young, which contributed to a legendary catalog with at least three storied labels.... Read more

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton Album Heads To The Library Of Congress

Approaching its 30th anniversary of release, N.W.A.'s album Straight Outta Compton continues to be rather suddenly treated as a classic album in the mainstream. The 1988 Ruthless Records LP by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella has always been a grassroots success. However, the album that... Read more

Learn 10 Mind-Blowing Facts About Dre, Tupac, & Eazy From The Definitive Book On L.A. Gangsta Rap

Perhaps even more than Hip-Hop's inception, or its commercial rise, the history of N.W.A. and the diaspora of West Coast Gangsta Rap is the culture's most intriguing story. There are heroes, villains, fights, triumphs, and a plethora of great music. Author Ben Westhoff's just-published Original Gangstas is as comprehensive a... Read more

Eazy-E’s Daughter Intends To Prove Her Father Was Murdered, In A Documentary (Video)

It has been more than 21 years since Gangsta Rap pioneer Eric "Eazy-E" Wright passed away. In March of 1995, the public learned that the founder of N.W.A. and Ruthless Records had AIDS. Three weeks later, on March 26, Eazy was dead. Close associates have recalled that the Compton, California mogul... Read more

Cold 187um Claims He Created G-Funk & Got Snoop Signed To Death Row (Video)

Last week, Above The Law's Cold 187um released his single "Legacy" featuring Ice Cube and The D.O.C. Premiering at Ambrosia For Heads, the track marked a full-circle reunion with the Pomona, California production and rapping icon with two of his former Ruthless Records label mates. Having just released his The... Read more

Dr. Dre Reportedly Threatens Legal Action To Prevent The Michel’le Biopic From Airing

On October 15, Lifetime is scheduled to air made-for-TV film Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le. The biographical film is centered around Michel'le, who was a late 1980s and early 1990s R&B star on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Later on, Michel'le moved with producer Dr. Dre, The D.O.C., and their manager... Read more

Ice Cube Publicly Responds To Jerry Heller’s Death (Video)

In the canon of artist vs. music executive beefs, Ice Cube's problems with Jerry Heller are perhaps the most significant. In 1990, N.W.A. soared to the top of the pack, meeting criticism for its profanity and lewdness with massive commercial success. During the quintet's first national tour, Cube—arguably the lead... Read more

Latino Rap Pioneer Kid Frost Details His Courageous Fight Against Cancer (Audio)

Kid Frost (a/k/a Frost) is renowned as one of the pioneering Mexican-American MCs. His 1990 hit "La Raza" would become a staple in the West Coast Hip-Hop boom, representing the Latino community. Five of Frost's album releases appeared on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. Around the time of Eazy-E's... Read more

Michel’le’s Relationships With Dr. Dre & Suge Knight The Subject Of Lifetime Biopic

In 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, the lives and careers of N.W.A. members were profiled to a box office record-breaking response. Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella's recording, touring, and the establishment of Ruthless Records made for much of the film's story. Michel'le was present for... Read more

N.W.A. Will Not Perform At Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

Tonight (April 8), N.W.A. will be inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Ice Cube has announced that they will not perform. "Nah, we’re not performing," Ice Cube told The New York Times. "I guess we really didn’t feel like we were supported enough to do the... Read more

N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton vs. Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. Which Is Better?

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

The D.O.C.’s No Can Do It Better vs. Ice Cube’s Death Certificate. Which Is Better?

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

Consequence Details A 1996 Brawl Between Ghostface Killah & Wish Bone (Video)

As Heads know, back in 1996, it was not all good between the East Coast and West Coast in Hip-Hop. Due in part to an ongoing feud between Bad Boy Entertainment and Death Row Records, and the media's part in escalating the drama, tensions were high. In September of that... Read more

Kendrick Lamar Confirmed To Induct N.W.A. Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

One week ago today (February 15), Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson, Jr. presented Kendrick Lamar with the Grammy Award for "Best Rap Album Of The Year." The honors went to To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick's latest work. In the speech that followed, the Compton, California MC thanked Ice Cube (along... Read more

Krayzie Bone’s Top 3 MCs Defy The Typical “Best Rapper” List (Video)

Krayzie Bone has been a professional Hip-Hop artist for nearly 25 years. The Cleveland, Ohio native and founding member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony recently did an interview with longtime group manager Steve Lobel for his new web series. Within, the multi-platinum MC broke down a few of his favorites, from songs... Read more

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Release Crossroads 20th Anniversary Tour Dates

On April 23, 1996, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony released double-platinum single "Tha Crossroads." The Ruthless Records quartet of Krayzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Layzie Bone, and Wish Bone paid tribute to fallen comrades including mentor Eazy-E as the third single from E. 1999 Eternal. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the DJ... Read more

The Ultimate N.W.A./Ruthless Records Posse Cut Belongs To The D.O.C. (Audio)

In the last year, N.W.A. and Ruthless Records have been in strong focus thanks to the film Straight Outta Compton. In the movie, the label launched by Eric "Eazy-E" Wright is seen from its beginnings around N.W.A., to the 1990s, where the Los Angeles, California-based imprint would develop some key... Read more

The D.O.C. Reveals Which Songs He Wrote For Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” Album (Video)

The D.O.C. is among Hip-Hop's most revered songwriters. The Dallas, Texas native worked extensively with N.W.A. and his Fila Fresh Crew before his heralded 1989 debut, No One Can Do It Better. Following the Dr. Dre-produced album, The D.O.C. would partner with then-manager Marion "Suge" Knight in helping launch the... Read more