Special Interest Archives

2 Years After PumpkinHead Passed, A New Video Highlights His Undying Wisdom

On June 9, 2015 Robert "PumpkinHead" Diaz died. The Brooklyn, New Yorker had risen the ranks as a battle MC and was well underway into a discography that showed personal depth and creativity. His Rawkus Records-involved Orange Moon Over Brooklyn album with producer Marco Polo was a tremendous late entry... Read more

June 10, 2017 Video

Ice Cube Shows 3 Decades Of Police Brutality & It’s Not Just White Cops (Video)

On June 9, Ice Cube released the 25th anniversary edition of Death Certificate. Featuring three freshly recorded songs, O'Shea Jackson adds to one of his most critically acclaimed bodies of work with some verses that truly fit his '91 message. That is never more true than on "Good Cop Bad... Read more

June 9, 2017 Video

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

June 9, 2017 Throwback, TV/Film, Video

Ice Cube Updates N.W.A.’s Message To Police. But Not Much Has Changed (Audio)

Ice Cube is preparing to release the 25th anniversary edition of Death Certificate this week. Cube's sophomore solo album (which actually dropped in 1991) featured Da Lench Mob MC calling out everything he believed was wrong: in his community, in government, and in the Rap industry--including his former group N.W.A. Since... Read more

June 6, 2017 Audio

Kevin Durant Has Inspired His Roc Nation Brother Jay Electronica To Release Music (Audio)

Jay Electronica certainly picks his spots. The MC/producer without an album to his name has used the last decade-plus to release verses that are forced to hold over fans. In that period, the affiliate of Just Blaze, Talib Kweli, and Nas has signed with Roc Nation, thrown high profile jabs... Read more

June 6, 2017 Audio

Ice-T Spits Punchy Bars On A Completely Different 6 ‘N The Mornin’ (Audio)

Although there are certainly other contenders, perhaps the verse of Ice-T's career is "6 'N The Mornin'." Thirty-one years ago the O.G. waxed an incredible tale about how his day begins for Techno Hop Records. The Unknown DJ (later of Compton's Most Wanted) laid down a beat that knocked as... Read more

June 5, 2017 Audio, The Bridge

will.i.am Clarifies Fergie’s Status Within The Black Eyed Peas

UPDATE: One day after a will.i.am interview suggested Fergie was no longer in the Black Eyed Peas, the MC/producer/singer now says otherwise. On social media, Will criticized reports stating Fergie left her group since 2003. Instead, the A&M Records superstar and investor in Beats Electronics simply stated that Fergie's absence... Read more

June 1, 2017 News

Kanye West Or Shakespeare: Who Is More Relevant Right Now? (Video)

One made Hamlet, and one made "H•A•M." William Shakespeare and Kanye West may appear to be very different kinds of artists. However, both creators (one an author and playwright, the other an MC, producer, and designer) greatly shaped the popular culture of their times. Across centuries, mediums, and more, both... Read more

May 31, 2017 Food for Thought, Video

On Big L’s 43rd Birthday, This Freestyle Shows Why His Rhymes Are Immortal (Video)

May 30 marks the birthday of Lamont "Big L" Coleman. The Harlem, New Yorker was born 43 years ago today. While he died more than 18 years ago, at a time when many believe his career was reaching its next level, the member of D.I.T.C. and Children Of The Corn... Read more

May 30, 2017 Throwback

Mr. Lif & Akrobatik Are Reuniting As The Perceptionists. A Short Film Shows Their Journey (Video)

El-P's Definitive Jux Records introduced a number of talented MCs and producers. While Mr. Lif had been on wax dating back to the mid-1990s, the Boston, Massachusetts-based MC released Def Jux's first expanded project, care of 2000's Enters The Colossus EP. Lif would remain a Jukie for much of the... Read more

May 30, 2017 Video

Hip-Hop Fought For Biggie & Won. His Mural Will NOT Be Destroyed.

Late last week, reports circulated that a Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn mural honoring rapper Biggie Smalls would be coming down. A property owner of the building holding the mural near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street reportedly intended to make improvements to the building exterior, including more windows on the... Read more

May 22, 2017 News

Skyzoo’s New Video Plays Out A Childhood Dream Of Performing On Stretch & Bobbito’s Show

Last month, Hip-Hop Heads rejoiced to learn that Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito The Barber are returning to radio, thanks to an NPR podcast. The move is the latest in a story that extends nearly 30 years, back to their post on Columbia University's WKCR airwaves. For New Yorkers and surrounding... Read more

May 22, 2017 Video

Logic Reveals He Would Not Be A Rapper If It Weren’t For J. Cole (Video)

Logic's Everybody is currently the #1 album in the country. This achievement by the Maryland MC puts him in an elite class of artists. Symbolically, "Young Sinatra" joins 2010s Rap peers such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, ScHoolboy Q, Future, Travi$ Scott, Meek Mill, Mac Miller, and... Read more

May 20, 2017 Video

Dead Wrong: A Bed-Stuy Mural Of Biggie Smalls Is Coming Down For Mo’ Money

Today (May 19), Faith Evans releases her collection of duet remixes with late husband Biggie Smalls. The King & I features Lil' Kim, as well as other figures from B.I.G.'s life including Snoop Dogg, The LOX, Lil' Cease, and Busta Rhymes. While the LP is a celebration of the married... Read more

May 19, 2017 Lifestyle, News

Tupac Shakur’s Formative Years: The Young Man Before The Myth (Video)

"I loved my childhood, even though it was bad. I love it. I feel like it's taught me so much. Nothing can faze me. Nothing in this world can surprise me. It might set me back, but only momentarily can it set me back. I think it's helped me to... Read more

May 18, 2017 Food for Thought

KRS-One Apologizes For Naming The Wrong Beastie Boy In A Tribute To Hip-Hop’s Fallen MCs

In the last week, lyrical legend KRS-One excited fans with the latest sneak attack release, The World Is Mind. Just over 30 years after Criminal Minded, this self-released album had many praising the latest body of work from the South Bronx representative. However, as fans delved into the album (available... Read more

May 13, 2017 News

Nas Makes Us Look At The Real Reasons Young Black Men Are Dying Too Young (Audio)

Since his days as a teenager, Nasir Jones has been gifted in telling the stories surrounding his experiences and the lives of others. On "One Love," he put the correspondence between friends—one free and one incarcerated into song. On "U.B.R.," Nas narrated, in verse, the journey and success of Rakim—one... Read more

May 11, 2017 Audio

Here’s The Musical Life Of Ghostface Killah Told In 2 Minutes (Video)

Today (May 9) is the 47th birthday of Ghostface Killah. For just over half of his life (dating back to 1993), the Staten Island, New Yorker has been widely revered as one of the most original, convention-defying lyricists in Hip-Hop. In that esteemed catalog are more than two handfuls of... Read more

May 9, 2017 Video

Black Thought, Logic & Chuck D Unite To Fight The Power In 2017 (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us 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

May 5, 2017 Audio, Playlists

Brother Ali Details How Our Pleasures Are Used By Those In Power To Control Us

After a nearly five-year break, Brother Ali will release All The Beauty In This Whole Life this Friday (May 5). The Rhymesayers Entertainment mainstay has crafted an album that confronts so many issues in the modern universe. Ali Newman has a lot to say on what's happening with the world, and while... Read more

May 3, 2017 Food for Thought

The Woman At The Center Of The JAY-Z & Nas Beef Speaks Up & Tells Truths (Video)

Carmen Bryan is not a household name. However, she was strongly referenced in one of the most famous feuds in music history. In 2001, Jay Z launched "The Takeover" as part of his Blueprint campaign. The opening song to the acclaimed album put a reportedly longstanding tension with Nas out... Read more

May 1, 2017 Video

“The Breaks” Is Returning For Another Season And Moving To A New Channel

This month, The Breaks aired its first season as an episodic show. Set at the top of the 1990s, the series follows the lives and movements of several young people trying to make it in the music industry. From DJ/producers, aspiring record execs, to radio, the show created by author... Read more

April 28, 2017 TV/Film

Hear The Song That Got Replaced By “The Beautiful Ones” On Prince’s Purple Rain (Audio)

Prince's career and mainstream recognition changed drastically with 1984's Purple Rain. While the Minneapolis, Minnesota musician had enjoyed two Top 10 hits with 1999, this album (and the film it accompanied) tipped the scale and cemented a living legend. Nine tracks and less than 44 minutes long, the #1 album... Read more

April 28, 2017 Audio

DJ Pooh Confirms “Last Friday” Is Happening. He Also Defends Chris Tucker’s Exit (Video)

DJ Pooh is a legendary Hip-Hop mix-master and producer who has made hits with Ice Cube, King T, LL Cool J, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop, plus Tupac Shakur. However, measuring success, the West Coast Hip-Hop pioneer may be best known for co-writing Friday. Also a highly-accomplished director and an... Read more

April 27, 2017 News, TV/Film, Video

Rob Swift Shows Why “The Breaks” Is The Most Authentic TV Show About Hip-Hop

On April 10, The Breaks completed the airing of its first season as a series. What began as a 2016 film for television extended for eight 2017 episodes. With actor, artist and director Mack Wilds portraying "Daryl 'DeeVee' Van Putten, Jr." in the Vh1 show, the cast also includes Hip-Hop figures such... Read more

April 26, 2017 Exclusive, Food for Thought

Disco Four MC & Rucker Park Basketball Pioneer Greg Marius Passes Away At Age 59

Greg Marius is deeply responsible for two Harlem institutions: Hip-Hop and street basketball. This past weekend (April 22), Marius passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 59 years old. In the early 1980s, Greg joined Kurtis Blow and Spoonie Gee as one of Uptown Manhattan's early Rap... Read more

April 24, 2017 Lifestyle, News

Kid Capri Details Exactly How B.D.P. Hijacked The Stage From P.M. Dawn (Video)

Kid Capri's vocals can be heard multiple times on the current #1 album in the country. The Bronx, New York DJ, producer, and onetime MC put his voice on multiple tracks belonging to Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. In a career that spans 30 years of mixtapes, Def Comedy Jam, production for... Read more

April 24, 2017 Video

Westside Connection: DJ Quik & MC Eiht Release Their First Ever Collaborations (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So...let us 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 and... Read more

April 22, 2017 Audio

Nicki Minaj Re-Asserts Her Claim As The Queen Of Rap In Her New Video

Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma's beef quieted down in the last five weeks. The two New York MCs went from throwing apparent subliminal jabs to throwing heavy verbal artillery this year. After Rem' appeared to throw some televised shade Nick's way this month on Hip Hop Squares, Barbie brings her... Read more

April 19, 2017 Video

Black Thought, Posdnuos & Pharoahe Monch Say It’s Time To Rise For Freedom (Audio)

In an increasingly complicated time in the world, The Roots' Black Thought, De La Soul's Posdnuos, and Pharoahe Monch stand up for oppressed people with a truly standout, topical collaboration. Orchestrated and produced by J. Period, "Rise Up!" is as grabbing a collaboration as any in some time. In the... Read more

April 18, 2017 Audio

J. Cole Keeps It 100% Real. He Shares Footage Of S.W.A.T. Raiding His Home (Video)

Last week, Kendrick Lamar released the song "DUCKWORTH." The 9th Wonder-produced DAMN. track recounts a story of K-Dot's musical mentor, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith plotting to rob his own father many years ago at a fast food restaurant in Los Angeles. In a twist of fate, Lamar's father was spared... Read more

April 17, 2017 Video

Taylor Bennett Makes A Birthday Song For Chance That Moves His Brother To Tears (Audio)

Today (April 16) is Chance The Rapper's 24th birthday. Presumably, "Lil Chano" may be celebrating his big day with family. The MC's younger brother, Taylor Bennett made some of the festivities public with his own song, "Only Brother (A Special Remix)." Reworking some of Chance's 2016 cut "D.R.A.M. Sings Special,"... Read more

April 16, 2017 Audio

Devin The Dude Recites The First Rhyme He Ever Wrote. He Hasn’t Changed A Bit (Video)

Last month, Devin The Dude and his Coughee Brothaz clique self-released Acoustic Levitation. The Texas-based MC/producer is up to his famous three W's: wine, weed, and women on an independent release that involves some lush harmonies from the MC who is a highly capable singer. Devin The Dude's career spans... Read more

April 13, 2017 Video

Lil Wayne Joins Roc Nation. The “Best Rapper Alive” May Soon Get His Cash Money.

Lil Wayne has been symbolically estranged from Cash Money Records for more than two years. While Weezy F. Baby has since been photographed with onetime adoptive guardian Birdman (the label's co-founder) during his $51 million lawsuit, the New Orleans, Louisiana MC has been unable to release projects, namely the long-awaited... Read more

April 12, 2017 News, Video

Talib Kweli’s 10 Favorite Albums Are An Eternal Reflection Of Great Music

Last month, Raekwon raised some eyebrows and even more discussion when he listed his Top 10 albums. While his own acclaimed purple tape and Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele were on the list, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) missed the cut. That prompted some discourse from fans, surrounding the classic LP upon... Read more

April 12, 2017 Fresh

Treach, Snoop & T.I. Bring Tupac Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame In Style (Video)

Friday night (April 7) at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center, Tupac Shakur was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. More than 20 years after the legendary rapper, actor, and revolutionary was killed in Las Vegas, Nevada, his name and music will live on forever, positioned alongside The... Read more

April 8, 2017 Video

Stetsasonic’s Bobby Simmons Argues They Are The Only Hip-Hop Band (Audio)

Author and filmmaker Bonz Malone previously published a coffee-table book, Hip Hop Immortals. Inside the 2002 text, there is a historic, panoramic photo of Stetsasonic and The Roots in a line with their hands up. Together, these two Northeast acts (one famous since the mid-1980s, and the other from the... Read more

April 6, 2017 Audio

Troy Ave Defends His Attacks On Capital STEEZ & Details His Shooting (Video)

Troy Ave's career has massively changed since his 2015 album, Major Without A Deal. The Brooklyn, New York MC independently rose through the ranks to reach the Top 200 charts, with an LP that included appearances by 50 Cent, Puff Daddy, Cam'ron, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ma$e, and Fabolous. At least... Read more

April 5, 2017 Video

Killer Mike Casts A Different Perspective On Kanye’s Meeting With Trump (Video)

Killer Mike and Kanye West are two early 2000s Hip-Hop contemporaries. While Mike came up under Outkast and the famed Dungeon Family in Atlanta, 'Ye was attached to Jay Z and the Roc-A-Fella Records boom. Both artists were introduced as different kinds of Rap stars as they transitioned from memorable... Read more

April 3, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Rikers Island Jail May Be Closing. Jay Z Supports The Plan.

For 85 years, New York City's Rikers Island jail complex has been one of the most notorious prisons on the planet. Lodged on an island in the East River, between Queens and The Bronx, the facility is often home to as many as 10,000 inmates and another 9,000 officers. It... Read more

April 2, 2017 Lifestyle

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

March 29, 2017 News

Nas Still Carries Rhymes In His Pockets. Greatness Is Never Done (Video)

In 2002, Nas released the Alchemist-produced song "Book Of Rhymes." Within, the Queens, New York MC rapped bits and pieces from stored composition books of verses. Whether or not that moment was staged or real, it appears that Nasir Jones still literally carries his rhymes with him. More than 25... Read more

March 27, 2017 Video

Tupac Shakur Will Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame By Snoop Dogg

UPDATE: The original March 26 story erroneously reported that Mopreme Shakur was recently deceased. We apologize for that mistake and any confusion it may have caused. In fact, Mopreme's Thug Life band-mate Big Syke is the artist whose obituary we linked to in that statement, and intended to report. In... Read more

March 26, 2017 News

Kendrick Lamar’s 4th Album May Be Coming Soon…Very Soon

Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment love the element of surprise. While the Internet has arguably compromised some of the excitement that was long attached to releasing music (going to the store, reading the credits and examining the artwork in your hands, no leaks), K-Dot and TDE have made their... Read more

March 23, 2017 Fresh

Celebrate DJ Premier’s Birthday With A 5 Minute Megamix Of His Greatest Hits (Audio)

Today marks the birthday of one of Hip-Hop's most beloved figures. DJ Premier turns 51 years old on March 21. For nearly 30 years, the Prairie View, Texas native-turned-bona fide New York musician has been making Heads nod, along with causing their faces to scrunch up, and air-scratch with their... Read more

March 21, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Slick Rick’s Children’s Story To Be Re-Released As Actual Children’s Book

In the ears of many, Slick Rick's biggest solo hit is 1988's "Children's Story." The video single from The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick is a mainstream-welcomed example of Ricky Walters' imagery, wit, and conversational style of rapping stories. The Def Jam Records single (produced by Rick himself) went to... Read more

March 21, 2017 Fresh

Fabolous Gets Ceremonial Key To Brooklyn & A Street Named After Him

In 2007, Fabolous released the song "Brooklyn" with Jay Z and Uncle Murda. That moment was one of many places where the Street Fam/Desert Storm/Def Jam Records artist pays homage to the borough that raised him. Throughout the 2000s, 'Loso has become one of BK's most successful musical sons. In... Read more

March 15, 2017 News

Julius Erving Signs On To Make Sure Ice Cube’s BIG3 Basketball League Is A Slam Dunk (Video)

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Julius Erving helped make NBA basketball have mass appeal. The man affectionately dubbed "Dr. J" made the slam dunk an institution, long before SportsCenter and other programs were there to celebrate its art. Aside from flare and pageantry, Erving was an incredible basketball player. He... Read more

March 15, 2017 Lifestyle

Redman Explains Why He & Method Man ALWAYS Put The People First (Video)

Between 2010 and 2015, Redman did not release an album. As he has done throughout his 25-plus-year career, the platinum Def Squad veteran maintained his post as one of Hip-Hop's most respected MCs largely through performance. Whether kicking bars on TV or to worldwide venues, Redman and his partner Method... Read more

March 14, 2017 Video

Action Bronson Is About To Be A Dating Matchmaker. Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

UPDATE: The official trailer for Action Bronson's Hungry Hearts: ORIGINAL MARCH 14 STORY: Action Bronson has been one of the most successful 2010s Hip-Hop stars to branch out in media beyond music. While the VICE/Atlantic Records MC is presumably working on his follow-up to 2015's Top 5 Mr. Wonderful, the... Read more

March 14, 2017 News, TV/Film