spice 1 ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Spice 1 Has Released 1 Of His Best Songs In Years

Spice 1 has sustained a prominent Rap career for over 35 years. The Hayward, California MC who debuted with The Dangerous Crew during the late 1980s has made three gold albums, along with key collaborations with Tupac Shakur, MC Eiht, Method Man, and others. However, in 2024, Spice shows his... Read more

April 3, 2024 Audio, Trending Stories

The History Of Violence In Hip-Hop: 6 Years Changed Everything

In the last year, Hip-Hop has lost an alarming number of its artists to violence. Young Dolph, PnB Rock, Trouble, and Drakeo The Ruler are just some of the noteworthy examples, among several others. In the last week, Migos member Takeoff was killed in Houston, Texas on November 1—adding to... Read more

November 7, 2022 Video

Spice 1 Recalls Discussing Heaven’s Ghettos With Tupac (Video)

Less than a week ago, Spice 1 released his latest album, Platinum O.G. For this collection of songs, the East Bay lyricist works with Kurupt, MC Eiht, Devin The Dude, and his mentor, Too Short. Notably, the Elder Entertainment release also features some fallen comrades, including UGK's Pimp C, Outlawz... Read more

August 1, 2019 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Spice 1, Kurupt & Devin The Dude Are Proud To Be Hip-Hop OGs (Audio)

For more than 30 years, Spice 1 has been giving fans his brand of raw, uncut Hip-Hop. The Hayward, California representative released three gold-certified albums at the top of the 1990s, venting on the anxieties of staying strapped in the 'hood. Throughout that time, the onetime protege and label-mate of... Read more

June 10, 2019 Audio, Exclusive

Spice 1 Believes This Is The Last Song Tupac Recorded (Video)

In the 12 years since Tupac Shakur was murdered in September 1996, the rapper's discography has grown to include a slew of posthumous releases and compilations. Beginning with The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, the string of projects released after his death have made him one of the most... Read more

November 14, 2018 Throwback, Throwback, Video

Spice 1 Reveals He Was Considered For The Role Of O-Dog In “Menace II Society” (Video)

Spice 1 was a driving force in 1993's Menace II Society soundtrack. Released on Jive Records, the platinum-certified compilation opens with Spice's "Trigga Gots No Heart." The E-A-Ski and CMT-produced song became a single from the audio companion to Allen and Albert Hughes' film. Spice's longtime collaborator MC Eiht followed... Read more

October 25, 2018 TV/Film, Video

20 Years Later, Rhyme & Reason Remains Rap Music’s Ultimate Backstage Pass (Video)

During the late 1990s, Hip-Hop was a seismic force that garnered mainstream recognition as a billion-dollar industry. The culture had invalidated scores of critics who dismissed it as a fad during the previous two decades. Hip-Hop achieved this while rewriting the rules of the music business and redefining the American... Read more

December 7, 2017 Do Remember, TV/Film, Video

Tupac & E-40’s 1st Collabo Still Leaves Lesser MCs Dusted & Disgusted (Video)

E-40's 1995 sophomore solo LP In A Major Way might be remembered most for "Sprinkle Me" (featuring fellow The Click member Suga-T), but lesser-known single "Dusted 'N' Disgusted" also stands the test of time. Featuring Tupac - who dropped Me Against the World the very same week, that March - Mac... Read more

August 17, 2017 Do Remember

Treach Flies To L.A. & Wages War To Protect Tupac’s Legacy

UPDATE: Just over 48 hours after Hip-Hop Heads were questioning whether Naughty By Nature's Treach and The Game's manager Wack 100 made an online beef a physical altercation, that conflict has been declared resolved. Moments ago today (May 22), Treach publicly apologized the the veteran music executive tied to Ray... Read more

May 20, 2017 News, Video

Hear The Best Hip-Hop of March 2016 In One Playlist (Audio)

For Hip-Hop fans, March 2016 will forever be associated with the loss of Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest. Less than 2 weeks after his sudden passing, fans worldwide are still mourning. While March 22 undoubtedly will become an annual day of reflection and celebration for Hip-Hop, there were... Read more

April 3, 2016 Audio, Playlists

MC Eiht & Spice 1 Supply More West Coast Heat Over An Alchemist Beat (Audio)

While Spice 1 and MC Eiht have released multiple albums together, they had never worked as a unit with producer Alchemist. Earlier this week, Spice joined the stars of Compton's Most Wanted and Gangrene for "Any Means," a limited edition (500 pressings) 7" release. But like so many 45's, there... Read more

April 1, 2016 Audio

MC Eiht & Spice 1 Strike Gold On Alchemist Production (Audio)

MC Eiht and Spice 1 made two albums together in the 2000s. The Pioneers and Keep It Gangsta were unified fronts after years of the two Cali kings working together on one another's albums. While Eiht and Spice always spit with weathered wisdom and street conviction, production has not always... Read more

March 29, 2016 Audio

Spice 1 & MC Eiht Form a North/South West Coast Connection on a New Track (Audio)

"It's all good, from Diego to the Bay," rapped Dr. Dre famously on Tupac's "California Love." Nineteen years later, Oakland's Spice 1 and Compton's MC Eiht continue to make good on that promise. The two have linked on 1Mt's "Kill or B Killed," forming a West Coast connection that stretches... Read more

May 25, 2015 Audio

Ever Hear The Single From Dr. Dre & E-A-Ski’s Planned Collabo Album? (Audio)

To say things are "good" for Dr. Dre is a brutal understatement. The Compton, California impresario is breathing down the neck of being a billionaire (if he is not already there), he is the subject and producer of a major studio N.W.A. biopic, and he's got arguably Hip-Hop's best MCs... Read more

April 27, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT: Spice 1 vs. MJG…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 5, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Take a Trip Back to the G-Funk Era With This Video Playlist (Video)

Here's a video playlist to transport you back to the G-Funk era. You'll see vintage clips from Dr. Dre, Snoop, Tha Dogg Pound, Warren G, 2Pac, Spice 1, The Luniz, DJ Quik and more. Check it out. Related: Here’s a playlist celebrating the 21+ year career of the legendary DJ... Read more

May 17, 2014 Featured-homepage, Playlists, Throwback

RIP Marvin Gaye: Here’s a Playlist Celebrating the Hip-Hop Legacy He Left (Video)

Rest in peace to Marvin Gaye who died 30 years ago today. He left the world with countless soul classics, but he also had an incredible impact on Hip-Hop. To celebrate that legacy, here's a video playlist of songs that sampled his music. You'll hear Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The... Read more

April 1, 2014 Playlists, Video

Spice-1, Kokane, Young Bleed, C-Bo, JT Money & Gangsta Pat Reminisce on Hip-Hop (Audio)

From the South and the West, the '90s and 2000s delivered some excellent artists who thrived without relying on the support of mainstream radio or video. These artists, who may have had hits, cultivated loyal audiences and made albums for their core. Prezident Bejda, a longtime Murder Dog magazine contributor,... Read more

January 18, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Spice 1 – Ghetto Star (Video)

Here's a blast from the past for the back in the day Heads. Spice 1 is back with a new video for a song that tells the story of his career. Check out "Ghetto Star." Related: Back in the Day: West Coast Style--A mix dedicated to the G-Funk era.... Read more

April 2, 2013 Video

Today most people know Jive Records for Britney and Justin. Here’s why they’re the 11th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

Long before Clive Calder built Jive Records into the pop music juggernaut that featured Britney Spears, Nsync, The Backstreet Boys, R. Kelly and Justin Timberlake, the label was the home to some of the most important acts in hip-hop. These artists achieved both commercial and critical success and some went... Read more

December 1, 2011 Food for Thought, Throwback, Video

Back in the Day: West Coast Style. Here’s a mix dedicated to the G-Funk era.

You'll find music from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, The Luniz, The Lady of Rage, Sam Sneed, Spice 1, Ice Cube, Warren G, 2Pac, DJ Quik and more. Check it out. Ambrosia For Heads G-Funk Mix by Parfit... Read more

July 21, 2011 Audio

This week’s playlist is an ode to some of the G-Funk greats of the 90s. Some will be expected–Dre, Snoop, DJ Quik, Ice Cube–but there may be a couple of surprises that make your head nod a little harder.

I was catching up on some reading today and finally read the Wiz Khalifa article in the October 2010 issue of XXL magazine (the whole issue was incredible). There was a line in the Wiz article that struck me. It was something to the effect of Wiz having moved from... Read more

January 14, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback, Video

It's official. It's O.G. day. I'm generally not a fan of posthumous 2Pac music but damn this track with Spice 1 is hot!! Check out Can't Turn Back.

This is from Spice 1's upcoming album Notorious Bastards, Vol. 1, which drops next week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AfYKQUvhSc Click here to download.... Read more

December 16, 2010 Audio