soul council ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

The 14 Best Rap Albums Of 2021…What Did We Miss

As 2021 comes to a close, it is appropriate to reflect on a remarkable year for Hip-Hop music and news. Although we did it slightly differently this year, Ambrosia For Heads shares our list of the best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2021. On episode #72 of the What's The Headline podcast—starting at 1:13:00—we list our... Read more

December 21, 2021 Best Rap Albums Of 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

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 13): Rapsody vs. Gang Starr

Over the last couple of years, Ambrosia For Heads has asked our readers to help us determine the Best Rap Album for 2017 and 2018, respectively. In looking at the top music of 2019, we believe that instead of letting the Grammy Awards—a committee who does not know anything about... Read more

January 21, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 3): Gang Starr vs. Murs & 9th Wonder

Over the last couple of years, Ambrosia For Heads has asked our readers to help us determine the Best Rap Album for 2017 and 2018, respectively. In looking at the top music of 2019, we believe that instead of letting the Grammy Awards—a committee who does not know anything about... Read more

January 11, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2019 (Battle 1): Skyzoo & Pete Rock vs. Smif-N-Wessun

Over the last couple of years, Ambrosia For Heads has asked our readers to help us determine the Best Rap Album for 2017 and 2018, respectively. In looking at the top music of 2019, we believe that instead of letting the Grammy Awards—a committee who does not know anything about... Read more

January 9, 2020 Best Albums Of 2019

Rapsody’s Latest Freestyle Shows Why She Is Already In The Winner’s Circle (Video)

Yesterday (November 20), Rapsody expressed her disappointment following the announcement of the 2020 Grammy Award nominations. While late 2017's Laila's Wisdom earned two nominations, 2019's exceptional LP Eve was not included in Wednesday's list. In a social media post, the Jamla/Roc Nation MC admitted that she was "frustrated" and "disappointed."... Read more

November 21, 2019 Video

Rapsody’s Eve Is 1 Of The Year’s Best Albums In Any Category

In terms of receipts from paying dues, Rapsody possesses suitcases full of them. Her career dates back to an inconspicuous debut on 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant 2 interludes a dozen years ago. That look came after years of studying under the famed producer, long before she ever touched one of his beats... Read more

September 9, 2019 Food for Thought

Rapsody & Latifah Unite As Two Generations Of Hip-Hop Queens (Audio)

Today (August 23), Rapsody released her Eve album. The North Carolina MC's first project since the 2017 Grammy-nominated Laila's Wisdom keeps the conceptual style going. Rap' titled each of the 16 songs after great Black women in history, ranging from "Afeni" to "Michelle" to "Maya." The Jamla/Roc Nation affair involves... Read more

August 23, 2019 Audio

A New Documentary Tells The Story Behind Little Brother’s Debut Album (Video)

Little Brother is presently in the midst of a new chapter. After reuniting onstage less than a year ago in Durham, North Carolina, Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh are currently recording new music together as Little Brother. Although 9th Wonder is reportedly not producing the material, he has given his... Read more

July 12, 2019 TV/Film, Video

Murs & 9th Wonder Share The First 2 Songs From Their Final Collabo Album (Premiere)

On July 19, Murs and 9th Wonder will release the seventh and final installment of their collaborative union, The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over. The project, which was announced back in January, is entirely produced by The Soul Council, the collective of 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Nottz, Eric G,... Read more

May 29, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Rapsody Dedicates A Song To The Strong Women Who Make Life Possible (Audio)

Rapsody has let the first half of 2019 on an unusually quiet note when it comes to music. Apart from a standout appearance on Smif-n-Wessun's The All album alongside Musiq Soulchild (see: "Ocean Drive"), the North Carolina native has been working behind the scenes, presumably on work that follows up... Read more

May 13, 2019 Audio

Murs Shares The 1st Release From His New Collaboration With 9th Wonder

At the top of this year, it was announced that Murs & 9th Wonder were preparing to release the seventh album in their union. 2019's upcoming The Illiad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over marks the pair's first effort since 2015's Brighter Daze. This past weekend, the Los Angeles,... Read more

March 25, 2019 Video

Smif-N-Wessun Detail The Making Of The Album Where They Truly Gave Their All (Video)

In the mid-1990s, Smif-N-Wessun burst onto the scene brandishing two barrels locked-and-loaded with raw Rap talent. Following a breakthrough appearance on Black Moon's seminal Enta Da Stage, the skills of Tek and Steele shimmered on their 1995 debut, Dah Shinin'. Da Beatminerz-produced album balanced vigor, street-smarts, and just the right... Read more

March 5, 2019 Exclusive, Interview

Smif-n-Wessun’s 1st Album In 8 Years Is Coming. Playtime Is Over For Weak MCs

Following two 9th Wonder-produced records in 2018, Smif-n-Wessun is releasing their first album in nearly eight years. The All will arrive in just over one month, on February 22, 2019. The Duck Down Music release is produced entirely by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council. Last month, General Steele and... Read more

January 19, 2019 Video

9th Wonder Closes Out An Incredible Year With More Than 40 Beats & Songs

Grammy Award-winning producer and Jamla Records founder, 9th Wonder returns with his third-annual solo project, Zion III. The esteemed professor has had a productive 2018, having produced (with his Soul Council ensemble) the entirety of Black Thought's Streams of Thought, Vol. 1, as well as quarterbacking the marvelous Jamla Is... Read more

December 22, 2018 Audio

Smif-n-Wessun Show Bucktown Is Standing Strong In 2018 (Video)

Tek and General Steele make quintessential New York City Hip-Hop. The Smif-n-Wessun pair has been doing it for 25 years, since they made powerful impact on Black Moon's debut. Together, Tek and Steele are the genuine article, and they helped define an era that many MCs and groups wish to... Read more

December 11, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Black Thought & 9th Wonder Join Forces On Another Lethal Collaboration (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight 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 are we able to go back... Read more

November 9, 2018 Audio

All 3 Little Brother Members Perform Together For The 1st Time In Over A Decade (Video)

During a weekend that celebrated the 20th anniversaries of benchmark album releases from A Tribe Called Quest, Black Star, and OutKast, another legendary Hip-Hop group made a move that will forever be tied to their legacy. Yesterday (September 29), Phonte, 9th Wonder, and Rapper Big Pooh performed as Little Brother... Read more

September 30, 2018 News, Video

Smif-N-Wessun Show Boom Bap Sounds Amazing With Live Instruments (Video)

The group Smif-n-Wessun is preparing the release of their forthcoming album, The A.L.L., and they promise it will be soon. The Duck Down Music LP is produced by 9th Wonder and his North Carolina-based Soul Council collective (Khrysis, Eric G., Kash, Amp, E. Jones, Nottz, and others). Last Friday (September... Read more

September 17, 2018 Video

Smif-N-Wessun Put The Hammer Down On A 9th Wonder Production (Audio)

Smif-N-Wessun has put out some pretty high-quality collaborative projects over the past decade. In 2013, they dropped Born And Raised, an EP completely produced by Beatnick & K-Salaam, that embraced the Boot Camp Clik duo's Caribbean roots and relayed a heavy Reggae and Dancehall influence. In 2011, they teamed up... Read more

September 14, 2018 Audio

9th Wonder Has Been Working With Smif-N-Wessun & The Album Is Done

Thirteen years ago, Buckshot and his Duck Down Music released three albums that would ultimately change the label's course for years to come. Between June and September of 2005, Sean Price released Monkey Barz, Buckshot & 9th Wonder dropped Chemistry, and General Steele and Tek returned to their original stage... Read more

July 19, 2018 News

Black Thought Explains Why He Believes He’s Never Been Better (Video)

Less than one month since it was released, Black Thought's "Dostoyevsky" shines as a brilliant 2018 Hip-Hop song and the latest great Tariq Trotter and Rapsody collaboration. From The Roots MC's Streams Of Thought, Vol. 1 EP with 9th Wonder and The Soul Council, the work is on Ambrosia For Heads'... Read more

June 25, 2018 Video

The 14 Best Hip-Hop Releases So Far In 2018 (Audio & Video)

Approaching 2018’s midpoint, the year has been absolutely incredible for Hip-Hop and Rap music. For many artists, the album is now shorter than it has ever been. Releases are more concentrated and digestible than they have been been in decades. Moreover, the MC/producer double-threat is winning, as is the chemistry... Read more

June 21, 2018 Food for Thought

Elzhi & Khrysis’ 1st Collabo Single Shows What Jericho Jackson’s Got…FIRE (Audio)

In two weeks, 9th Wonder's Jamla Records is releasing the first collaborative project from Elzhi and Khrysis. The February 23 album takes its title from the Detroit, Michigan MC to Raleigh, North Carolina producer tandem's group name, Jericho Jackson. The name is a reference to Carl Weathers' character in 1988's... Read more

February 9, 2018 Audio

Elzhi & Khrysis Announce Their Collabo Group With A Musical Preview (Audio)

In the hours leading up to 2018, some Hip-Hop news was announced that Heads might have missed. Jamla Records' founder 9th Wonder revealed that this new year promises an exciting collaborative group from two esteemed veterans of Rap music and verse. Detroit, Michigan MC Elzhi and North Carolina producer Khrysis... Read more

January 2, 2018 Audio, News

9th Wonder Releases His Lost Tapes With Mr. Cheeks & They Are Found Jewels (Audio)

With their debut album, Legal Drug Money, The Lost Boyz were one of the most exciting groups in Hip-Hop, in the mid-90s. Songs like "Renee", "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" and "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless" had clubs, radios and car stereos on lock in 1996. Their run... Read more

May 9, 2017 Audio

Khrysis’ Rhythm Roulette Beats Are Soul Council Scorchers (Video)

Khrysis has been one of Hip-Hop's most consistent producers of the last decade. The Durham, North Carolina representative, and one-half of The Away Team, has put in critical production work on albums such as Little Brother's The Minstrel Show, KRS-One & Buckshot's Survival Skills, and Rapsody's The Idea Of Beautiful.... Read more

December 17, 2015 Video

Reflection Eternal’s Hi-Tek Joins 9th Wonder’s Soul Council

Cincinnati, Ohio's Hi-Tek has been a major player in some of the most influential Hip-Hop albums of the last 20 years. A onetime Rawkus Records artist, the producer/DJ worked extensively on Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, in addition to Common and Sadat X's "1-9-9-9," Big L's "Still... Read more

November 10, 2015 News

Add-2 & Rapsody Go Back & Forth In Lyrics, And In This Cool Visual (Video)

Add-2 released his Prey For The Poor two months ago. The Chicago, Illinois native and Jamla Records artist continues a streak of poignant Rap over soulful beats. "Stop Play Rewind" is one such track that maintains the strong chemistry established by he and Rapsody over recent compilations, and each other's... Read more

November 5, 2015 Video

Talib Kweli & 9th Wonder Recruit Problem & Bad Lucc For A Message Of Perseverance (Audio)

Almost a year ago, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and 9th Wonder announced an independent music conglomerate, Indie 500. All parties have been incredibly busy since, with an emphasis on activism—including a free concert in St. Louis, Missouri one year after Michael Brown's murder Ferguson. Today (September 22) Talib and 9th... Read more

September 22, 2015 Audio

Rapper Big Pooh Dusts Off Childhood Memories Over Evocative Nottz Chops (Audio)

Rapper Big Pooh is gifted in the ability to present raps that many Heads can relate to. With Nottz composing a reflective arrangement of vocals (by Novej) and drums, the Virginia native returns to his childhood and adolescence from fast food jobs to high school proms, trying to look cool... Read more

September 8, 2015 Audio

Set The Winter To Music, With An Intricate Batch Of Khrysis Instrumentals (Mixtape)

For more than a decade, Khrysis got joints. Whether with the Away Team, Soul Council, or just showin' out with his Jamla squad, Khry' supplies beats that are big on nod factor. Highlights span Add-2 & Khrysis' "Death Of Chicago," Sean Price's "Onion Head," and Little Brother's "After The Party,"... Read more

January 20, 2015 Mixes

Rapsody Drops An Insightful Illustration Of Injustice Today In 2 Songs (Audio)

Throughout the headlines of the last month, oppression appears to be at the root of the biggest stories of the day. Whether racism, sexism, police brutality, domestic abuse, social unrest, all of these topics trace down to people being oppressed by another—another person, a people, an institution, a governing body,... Read more

December 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Edo G & King Magnetic Visit The Zoo Over A 9th Wonder Groove (Video)

Edo G (f/k/a Ed O.G.) has been a guiding light to two generations of MCs for his ability to kick family-conscious tracks, as well as skillfully make traditional Hip-Hop. Additionally, like his contemporaries Kool G Rap and Tragedy Khadafi, Roxbury's finest has also been a beacon for hardcore, fact-filled Rap... Read more

October 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Add-2 Makes Perhaps The Realest Rap Commentary On The Violence In Chicago (Video)

Since long before he was a Jamla artist, Add-2 has been grinding, part of the independent renaissance coming from Chicago, Illinois since the mid-2000s and before. Now teaming with The Away Team/Soul Council's Khrysis, Add is reaching a higher plateau with an expanding audience. Hurt and disgusted by the violence... Read more

April 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Rapsody – The Drums ft Heather Victoria and The Soul Council (Video)

Rapsody delivers a simple but gorgeously shot video for her lush, 9th Wonder-produced song The Drums. Check it out below. Related: Rapsody rhymes in The Backroom (Video)... Read more

November 2, 2012 Video