ski beatz ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

In 2011, Murs & Tabi Bonney Made A Proper Song Celebrating Love For Hip-Hop

Whether or not it always seems it, love is at the core of Hip-Hop. Whodini made "One Love." Common looked back at the challenges of his affair with "I Used To Love H.E.R." Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth reminded Heads that "Lots Of Lovin'" was necessary to make any good... Read more

February 14, 2019 Do Remember

Curren$y Pays Tribute To Grand Puba In Grand Style (Audio)

2018 has been a great year for New Orleans, Louisiana's Curren$y. The Jet Life pilot recently became a father. Meanwhile, musically, he released one of his best works to date care of the Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist collaboration Fetti. Spitta also dropped a standout guest verse on Cozz's wavy "Badu,"... Read more

December 12, 2018 Audio, The Bridge

Ski Beatz Admits To Throwing Away An Entire Pre-Reasonable Doubt JAY-Z Album & Big L Music

Hip-Hop lore often provides Heads with stories of triumph, classic moments, and past situations that, at the time, those involved didn't know how legendary they'd be. Sometimes though, disheartening news will emerge when the greats do recall their musical past. RZA's studio was flooded multiple times, which caused the creation... Read more

August 14, 2018 News, Throwback, Throwback

Apollo Brown & Locksmith’s New EP Combines Lyricism With Personal Reflection (Audio)

Richmond, California native Locksmith has a knack for mixing witty lyrics with a flow that delivers his message with a punch. It serves him well as a battle rapper, but perhaps it's even better when he's constructing a body of music. These attributes are heavily on display in his newest... Read more

June 14, 2018 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Turns His Amerikkkan Idol Into A 2017 Version Of JAY-Z’s Dead Presidents (Video)

Joey Bada$$ is fast at work promoting his 2017 sophomore album. All AmeriKKKan Bada$$ is the Brooklyn, New Yorker's second consecutive #5 debut. While stopping by the BBC, the Pro Era front man performed LP closer "AMERIKKKAN IDOL." The DJ Khalil (of Self Scientific) cut features such strong lyrics as "Now you tryna... Read more

October 26, 2017 Video

Camp Lo’s Debut Album Turns 20 Today. Hear The Demo That Got Them Uptown (Audio)

Today (January 28) marks the twentieth anniversary of Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night debut. The Profile Records LP was a carryover from the 1996 success of retro-flare single "Luchini (This Is It)." That track, produced by Ski Beatz (coming off his Jay Z Reasonable Doubt and Original Flavor waves) made... Read more

January 28, 2017 Throwback

This Is It. Hear Camp Lo’s Original “Luchini” Demo. They Have New Grooves Too. (Audio)

After a very busy 2016, Camp Lo recently released some pre-Uptown Saturday Night demo recordings, On The Way Uptown. It features this demo version of "This Is It (Luchini)." Presumably recorded in 1995-1996, this is the Ski Beatz-produced material that would catch Profile Records' attention, and make Sonny Cheeba and... Read more

January 6, 2017 Audio, Throwback, Video

Camp Lo Make Timeless Hip-Hop. With 2 Great Tracks, This Video Doubles Down

In the twentieth year as an act with an album out, Camp Lo has only ramped it up in 2016. They've released a few unique items, including appearing on an incredible song (and music video) with The Avalanches, and started building out solo work. If that's not enough, Sonny Cheeba... Read more

November 16, 2016 Video

DJ Clark Kent Details How In Awe Biggie Was Of Jay Z When They Met (Video)

DJ Clark Kent is one of the people who was incredibly close to The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay Z at the same time. In the mid-1990s, Clark was working tightly with Jay on Reasonable Doubt. Years after the former Dana Dane DJ and longtime radio personality first heard Jay lyrics... Read more

October 18, 2016 Video

This 20th Anniversary Jay Z Mix Leaves No Doubt His Debut Was A Classic (Audio)

This Saturday (June 25) marks the 20th anniversary of Jay Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The 1996 Roc-A-Fella/Priority Records LP would launch a career trajectory that has arguably been one of Hip-Hop's biggest, transcending from the Marcy Houses to the top of Hip-Hop, as well as streaming platforms, fashion, liquor,... Read more

June 21, 2016 Mixes, Throwback

Bahamadia’s “Uknowhowwedu” Remains an Undeniably Groovy Jam, More Than 20 Years Later (Video)

Nearly twenty years ago - on April 2, 1996 - Philadelphia MC Bahamadia dropped her debut album Kollage, an oft-overlooked classic by a uniquely feminine artist whose lyrical style and tonality were unlike anything else her contemporaries were releasing. With DJ Premier production credits on five of its tracks, Her... Read more

January 7, 2016 Do Remember

Curren$y Fires Up A 15-Year Old Ski Beatz Hit For Nas & Nature & Exhales Dope. (Audio)

One can argue that Curren$y's best music has been that which he made with Ski Beatz. While at the Def Jam-distributed DD172 (Dame Dash's label), the New Orleans, Louisiana MC and the Original Flavor co-founder made two volumes of Pilot Talk, and revamped Spitta's sound in the "Michael Knight" era,... Read more

December 17, 2015 Audio, Video

Ski Beatz Takes Responsibility for the Mos Def/Yasiin Bey Confusion (Video)

Last week, a track was released, titled "Sensei on the Block," that was credited to Mos Def & Ski Beatz. As the track appeared to be new and came with no explanation, many (including AFH) saw the song as a return by the MC and activist now known as Yasiin... Read more

September 2, 2015 Video

Yasiin Bey Says Reports That He Has Returned to the Name “Mos Def” Are False (Video)

August has been a complex month for Yasiin Bey. Earlier in the month, a video surfaced where he issued a challenge to the entire Rap universe, saying that he, Black Thought and King Los could defeat anyone in a battle. Shortly after the video was released, Bey issued a statement... Read more

August 31, 2015 Video

Yasiin Bey Dices Up a Beat on Sensei on the Block (Audio)

With all of the recent news of Yasiin Bey making headlines, the Brooklyn MC's return to music was a topic of conversation for many, and with the release of a video for "Basquiat Ghostwriter" earlier this week, it seemed his return was inevitable. Now he's back with more new work,... Read more

August 28, 2015 Audio

Camp Lo’s Fashion & Luxury Transportation Suits Their Style (Video)

Sonny Cheeba and Geechie Suede are masters of nostalgia. The veteran Hip-Hop duo Camp Lo, joined by longtime mentor/producer Ski Beatz has a knack for channeling '70s slang, '60s film, and '80s New York City. From their 2015 Nature Sounds LP, Ragtime Hightimes, the duo delivers the video for "Life... Read more

July 22, 2015 Video

Chris Rivers & Denzil Porter Hold A Lyrical Stick-Up, So Run Your Bars (Video)

It's prime season for "Lootchini." Chris Rivers and Denzil Porter took their Camp Lo-borrowing update, and produce a visual. Perhaps a small nod to Point Break, the pair of lethal MCs flaunt presidential masks as they hold a heist for the dead presidents, at a city building. They take their... Read more

May 25, 2015 The Bridge, Video

Camp Lo Wear Their Sunglasses While Shining 20 Years In (Audio)

The dynamic Bronx, New York duo Camp Lo share their track "Sunglasses" off their newly-released album Ragtime Hightimes. Sonny Cheeba and Geechie Suede have joined forces with their longtime producer/mentor Ski Beatz on their newest track, who entirely produced The Lo's latest LP. "Sunglasses" has that "Luchini AKA This Is It" groovy vibe, which was the... Read more

May 19, 2015 Audio

Camp Lo Present The Ups & Downs Of A Relationship In Their Latest Ski Beatz Collaboration (Video)

Camp Lo and Ski Beatz have been collaborating for almost 20 years. We first heard Sonny Cheeba, Geechie Suede and Ski combine forces on the groovy 1997 album, Uptown Saturday Night. They subsequently went on to make three more projects together, before venturing in a new direction with 2009's Stone... Read more

May 18, 2015 Video

Camp Lo Re-Team With Luchini Producer Ski Beatz on Black Jesus (Audio)

Camp Lo is in tact with their original mentor/producer Ski Beatz. However, the upcoming Ragtime Hightimes (May 19) is not a regurgitation of that Uptown Saturday Night sound. Instead, "Black Jesus" is just the latest example of Sonny Cheeba and Geechie Suede's ability to flex new styles. The 20-plus-year pair... Read more

May 4, 2015 Audio

Curren$y Picks Up the Pace on Sidewalk Show. It’s Still Soulful Though…(Video)

Curren$y has a penchant for laid-back, soulful beats. Few can ride a track with the flexibility and ease of Spitta. Ski Beatz also has a taste for these dark and melodic sonic textures, which makes the two a formidable match. As collaborators for more than five years, Curren$y and Ski... Read more

April 12, 2015 Video

Take Off With A Full Listen To Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 (Album Stream)

Curren$y's Pilot Talk 3 is a self-released break from Spitta's DD172-backed, Def Jam-distributed first two flights. The third is packaged fan-friendly style, with USB drives, and an assortment of goodies. However, to access the collector's item-style release, it takes $125 and up on the Jet Life Apparel site. Before CDs... Read more

April 6, 2015 Audio

Camp Lo’s Futuristic Flows Get A Visual Treatment To Match (Video)

Since the Profile Records, Uptown Saturday Night days, Camp Lo has created this world intersecting the future with the past. Geechie Suede and Sonny Cheeba, as their names have always suggested, are inspired by the 1970s New York City. From slang to album covers to strong cinematic references, these guys... Read more

April 1, 2015 Video

Curren$y Drops Some More Audio Dope From His Pilot Talk 3 Re-Up (Video)

Curren$y and Ski Beatz have a special chemistry. Spitta has a penchant for dark, soulful beats, and Ski, as one of the architects of Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt and Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night, has what seems like an endless supply. To many, Ski Beatz brought out the best in Curren$y... Read more

March 5, 2015 Video

Curren$y’s Pilot Talk 3 Approaches The Runway, With Styles P On Board (Audio)

Still without a release date, Pilot Talk 3 must be getting close. Curren$y & Ski Beatz's latest tandem has several tracks which have surfaced online. "Alert," with The LOX's Styles P is a collaboration that's a bit out of the norm for the guest, but floats nicely into the weed-induced... Read more

March 2, 2015 Audio

Do Remember: Original Flavor & JAY-Z’s Can I Get Open? (Video)

In the story of Roc-A-Fella Records, there is often an under-played element in the story: Ski Beatz. A Greensboro, North Carolina native, Ski (as he was known for more than a decade) hailed from the group Original Flavor. Previously, he was in The Bizzie Boys. Joined by Suave Lover, the... Read more

September 11, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Camp Lo Uses Some Classic Hip-Hop Iconography To Host X Seminar (Video)

Camp Lo are veteran masters of back-to-the-future Hip-Hop. Whether it was 1970s street slang decorating the raps of Sonny and Geechie, or it was the artwork, the album themes, or Ski Beatz' illustrious samples, this duo has always had a portal to the past. However, along the way, it was... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

Camp Lo’s Ski Beatz Reunion Has Some Back To The Future Feel To It (Audio)

While they publicly previewed some samplings previously, Camp Lo's reunion with producer Ski Beatz is underway. Today, the Nature Sounds Records artists unveiled the first full, finished glimpse of their upcoming album. "Cold Retarded" features an antiquated expression that Biz Markie and Roxanne Shante helped make famous. However, the sound... Read more

July 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Camp Lo & Ski Beatz Confirm A Reunion Album, Preview Some Joints From The Studio (Video)

For over three albums, Bronx duo Camp Lo closely worked with Ski Beatz. Ski, who hailed from Original Flavor, was also working closely with Jay Z and Roc-A-Fella Records at the time of 1996's Uptown Saturday Night album. Ski, Geechie Suede, and Sonny Cheeba have worked together again, into the... Read more

May 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

Discover The Art Of Chill With Nitty Scott, MC (Mixtape)

Nitty Scott, MC unleashes her latest mixtape, The Art Of Chill. From the smooth, Electronic samples of "Apex" to the powerful, horn laden cut, "U.F.O.," this 15 track project is great way to kick off the long weekend. The Brooklyn, New York-based artist is definitely well on her way to... Read more

May 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Ski Beatz Plays Rhythm Roulette & Comes Out With A Head-Banger (Video)

Ski Beatz has cooked up some major production heaters for Jay Z ("Dead Presidents"), The Outsidaz ("Rah Rah"), and Curren$y ("Michael Knight"). The North Carolina producer (who also rhymed back in his Original Flavor days), and producer for Camp Lo is the next contestant in Rhythm Roulette. The versatile musical... Read more

April 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Nitty Scott, MC’s Second Art Of Chill Single Is Produced By Ski Beatz. The Hip-Hop Hippie Plants Some Flowers In Your Brain (Audio)

Nitty Scott, MC is releasing her hallmark project to date, The Art Of Chill, on May 23rd. The Brooklyn-by way of-Florida native is building buzz on the project. Nitty teamed with Ski Beatz, who's made a few breakthrough joints for artists (Camp Lo, Jay Z, Outsidaz), for "Feng Shui." Slow... Read more

April 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ski Beatz interview with Montreality (Video)

As Jay-Z's live stream from the Barclays Center draws closer (9:30 EST), here's an engaging interview with Ski Beatz, architect of early Jay-Z classics like Dead Presidents and Feelin' It, as well as tracks for Camp Lo, Curren$y, Murs, Stalley and many of today's underground kings. He talks about working... Read more

October 6, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Ski Beatz – Thank God ft Rugz D. Bewler (Video)

Here's a really dope song from Ski Beatz's 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight. Check out the video for Thank God featuring Rugz D. Bewler, which was inspired in part by Spike Lee's classic Do The Right Thing. http://vimeo.com/38487935... Read more

March 15, 2012 Video

Stalley – Cash & My Cutty

Here's another dope Stalley cut produced by Ski Beatz. Check out Cash & My Cutty.... Read more

January 27, 2012 Audio

Ski Beatz – Fly By ft Curren$y (Video)

Ski Beatz produced most of Curren$y's Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk 2. Here's another hot collabo between the two. Check out the video for Fly By, off Ski Beatz's upcoming 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight album. Also, click here to check out our playlist of music produced by Ski... Read more

January 19, 2012 Video

Ski Beatz & Freddie Gibbs – Illegal (Video)

Ski Beatz dropped his song Illegal featuring Freddie Gibbs a few weeks ago. Here's the video. Also, check out what Freddie Gibbs had to say about his first favorite rapper and what Ski Beatz had to say about who introduced him to hip-hop. Here's what Gangsta Gibbs had to say... Read more

January 10, 2012 Video

Ski Beatz – Gentleman’s Quarterly ft Stalley (Video)

Stalley sounds incredible on this soulful new Ski Beatz track. Check out the video for Gentlemen's Quarterly. The song is from the upcoming next installment of Ski Beatz's 24 Hour Karate School project. If you missed Ski Beatz talking about the first music he ever bought, click here. Also, click... Read more

December 14, 2011 Video

Every journey has a beginning. Our new documentary, Where It All Began, takes a look at the musical journey of many hip-hop luminaries. In part 1 (of 5), we asked them who first introduced them to hip-hop. You’ll hear from DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kendrick Lamar, Termanology, Ski Beatz, The Kid Daytona, Chuuwee, Serius Jones, Skyzoo, and Stic Man (from Dead Prez). Check it out below.

In upcoming installments, you'll hear about other important moments in their journey to hip-hop. In addition to the above personalities, you'll also hear from Big Daddy Kane, Murs, Freddie Gibbs, XV, 9th Wonder, J-Live, Skillz, tabi Bonney, Statik Selektah, Fashawn and Rapsody in parts 2 -5. Stay tuned each week... Read more

December 6, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

Murs – S-K-I-B-E-A-T-Z ft Locksmith (Video)

Here's another red hot joint of Murs' Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation album, one of my favorite albums of the year. Love and Rockets was produced entirely by the legendary Ski Beatz (click here for our playlist of Ski Beatz-produced tracks), and here's the video for the track... Read more

November 8, 2011 Video

Murs – 316 Ways (Video)

Here's a new video from Murs for 316 Ways. The song is from his Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation album, which is in stores now. It is produced in full by Ski Beatz and is one of the best albums to drop this year. Click here to buy... Read more

October 11, 2011 Video

Stalley – Larry Bird (Video)

Stalley gets it in on a rocked out Ski Beatz' track. Check out the video for Larry Bird. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osJdi2KiIOU&feature=player_embedded... Read more

October 10, 2011 Video

Ski Beatz Interview (Video)

Ski Beatz has been in the game for a minute as a producer. He is best known for his work with Jay-Z (Dead Presidents) and Camp Lo (Luchini) but he is still doing damage today (produced all of Curren$y's Pilot Talk tracks and has an album with Murs coming soon).... Read more

October 7, 2011 Video

Murs & Ski Beatz – Love & Rockets v. 1 Ep. 4 (Video)

Murs & Ski Beatz have collaborated on an entire album and shot a web video series as a lead up to the release of the album. Here's the 4th installment of the series, Love & Rockets v. 1, which features behind the scenes footage and new music from the album.... Read more

September 7, 2011 Video

CyHi Da Prynce – Feelin’ It + Mahd – Where I Live

Here are a couple of other new takes on classic 90's tracks. First up, is one from CyHi Da Prynce who flows on Jay-Z's Feelin' It (produced by Ski Beatz--click here for our Ski Beatz playlist). Check it out (with tags from Funkmaster Flex). Click here to download. And, here's... Read more

August 17, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Murs – Love & Rockets Pt. 1 (Video)

Murs has a new project called Love & Rockets coming out on October 11th. Here's a sneak preview of what's to come, set to the soundtrack of a hot new Murs joint produced by Ski Beatz. Also, if you missed our Ski Beatz playlist, click here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SSZ_WkJIUc&feature=player_embedded... Read more

August 17, 2011 Video

Ski Beatz – Illegal ft Freddie Gibbs

Gangsta Gibbs blacks out over an ill guitar sample courtesy of Ski Beatz. Check out Illegal. Ski Beatz's 24 Hour Karate School Pt 2 album drops on 8/9. Click here to download.... Read more

August 7, 2011 Audio

Ski Beatz – 24 Hour Karate School Part 2 Lesson 3: Cotton Candy feat. Mikey Rocks (Video)

Ski Beatz is on the verge of releasing the second installment of his slept on 24 Hour Karate School compilation series. Here's a sneak preview of what to expect which features some behind the scenes with Ski and Sir Michael Rocks from Cool Kids. Check it out. And, if you're... Read more

August 3, 2011 Video

Jay-Z has helped put on a LOT of producers. Very few can say they helped put him on. Ski Beatz is one of them…

The latest installment of our Producer Series is dedicated to the music of the legendary Ski Beatz. If you like Reasonable Doubt-era Jay-Z and Curren$y's Pilot Talk series, this one is for you. Ski Beatz was one of the primary sonic architects of all those projects. He also did one... Read more

June 3, 2011 Audio, Playlists

Here’s the latest Creative Control collabo with Curren$y.

The video is typically cinematic and the track is reminiscent of something off a soundtrack from a 70's blaxploitation film. It's appropriately called Soundbombing. Check it out. http://vimeo.com/19774088... Read more

February 11, 2011 Video