sway ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Locksmith Has Already Delivered The Freestyle Of The Year

Richmond, California's Locksmith is a decorated veteran MC who makes music with substance. He has made songs with Xzibit, KXNG Crooked, Ras Kass, Apathy, and others along the way. However, the East Bay lyricist is also known for being the source of incredible freestyles. Over the last decade and a... Read more

January 19, 2024 Trending Stories, Video

Vic Mensa Kicks The Year’s Two Best Freestyles Back To Back

Over the last decade, Vic Mensa has cemented himself as one of the most exciting freestylers of his generation. The Chicago, Illinois MC often uses the free-form opportunities to provide substantial commentary—whether notes about ugly Hip-Hop history, his personal conflicts, or systemic oppression. Just days after a fellow Roc Nation... Read more

May 28, 2023 Video

Alchemist’s Freestyle Shows He’s Magic On The Mic Too

This Friday (March 31), Larry June and Alchemist are teaming up for The Great Escape. After four singles ahead of Friday's Escape and a documentary video (embedded below), fans are anticipating the LP, which is slated to feature Joey Bada$$, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Curren$y, Action Bronson, Ty Dolla $ign, Slum Village, Boldy James, Evidence... Read more

March 28, 2023 Video

Kanye West & Sway’s Legendary Fight Is Mashed Up With Kendrick Lamar

On November 26, 2013, Kanye West appeared on Sway In The Morning for one of the show's most memorable episodes. While promoting that year's Yeezus album, Kanye got into an argument with host Sway Calloway that led to yelling, trembling, interruption, flared tempers, and an enduring catch-phrase, "How, Sway? You ain't got the answers!" The... Read more

June 28, 2022 Fresh, Video

CyHi The Prynce Disses Joe Budden On A Blistering Freestyle

For three and a half years, there has been tension brewing between Joe Budden and CyHi The Prynce. The MC-turned-media mogul has been critical of the former G.O.O.D. Music artist. In 2018, Budden criticized CyHi's relationship with Kanye West. “CyHi just tweeted yesterday, ‘Uh oh, masta’ said, I’m gettin’ seven... Read more

May 31, 2022 Video

Nas Releases His King’s Disease Album. Where Does It Rank In His Catalog?

Last Friday (August 21), Nas released his 13th solo album, King’s Disease. Produced entirely by the Inland Empire native Hit-Boy, the project features appearances by Anderson .Paak, Charlie Wilson, Big Sean, and Dr. Dre, among others. The Mass Appeal Records release also marks a surprise reunion of The Firm. The... Read more

August 24, 2020 Fresh

Jaz-O Discusses The Record That He & JAY-Z Released In 1986 (Video)

Veteran Brooklyn, New York MC/producer Jaz-O released a new project, The Warmup. In a career that spans work with Rakim, M.O.P., DJ Premier, and others, Jaz-O is best known as the early mentor and rhyme partner of JAY-Z. The two artists with similar names appeared on several songs dating back... Read more

February 8, 2020 Video

Wayne Brady Rips 2020’s 1st 5 Fingers Freestyle & It’s Completely Off The Top (Video)

Wayne Brady may be known for hosting shows, improv comedy, and legendary Chappelle's Show cameo, but he's nice on the mic. The 47-year-old Columbus, Georgia native has rocked Sway In The Morning (and DJ Whoo Kid's Shade 45 radio show) with freestyles before. But he's back, with the first "Five Fingers Of... Read more

January 31, 2020 Video

Kanye West Finally Admits That Sway Had The Answers (Video)

In late 2013, Kanye West gave Sway In The Morning a watershed moment. Host Sway Calloway suggested West empower himself, and in turn, others when he seemed to be at his highest. At a time when Kanye's later-revealed financial woes were making their way into the public, West erupted, "How,... Read more

October 29, 2019 Video

Boogie’s Freestyle Questions Whether Buying Back The Block Is The Right Thing (Video)

Boogie made one of 2019's better albums in Everything's For Sale. The Long Beach, California native who was later raised in the streets of Compton, confronts the issues of our time with wisdom and witty cynicism. A young father who spent years grinding on Soundcloud on a path that's ultimately... Read more

September 4, 2019 Video

Tobe Nwigwe Is 1 Of The Best MCs To Emerge In A Long, Long Time. Here’s Proof (Video)

Tobe Nwigwe's Nigerian roots and Houston, Texas upbringing have been central in his years-long ascent in Hip-Hop. Harnessing the power of social media, striking visuals and his gift as a lyricist, he's carved a niche for himself which sits at the crossroads of African and African-American culture. Those who've followed... Read more

August 19, 2019 Video

Marlon Craft Says He’s Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Nas Combined In A Fiery Freestyle

Marlon Craft is out to uphold a rich tradition of New York City Hip-Hop. From Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, this MC put in work on last year's exceptional A Breukelen Story album from Masta Ace & Marco Polo—named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of '18. Previously, Marlon has been behind... Read more

July 29, 2019 Video

Lil Dicky Kicks A Freestyle With Comedy Without Sacrificing The Bars (Video)

This year, Lil Dicky took an Earth Day-themed song about saving the planet to the top of the charts. Even though the corresponding music video to "Earth" features Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ariana Grande, and a host of others, the Greater Philadelphia native is still very in touch with his... Read more

June 27, 2019 Video

Playtime Is OVER. Oswin Benjamin Has The Best Freestyle Of 2019

Oswin Benjamin has been on the grind in Hip-Hop for years. The New York City lyricist has made his appearances count, whether they were high-profile freestyles, Team Backpack cyphers, or features on Styles P, Anoyd, and Domingo albums. The close affiliate of Chris Rivers has just released his full-length debut,... Read more

April 12, 2019 Video

D.L. Hughley Calls Out Those Who Hate R. Kelly But Excuse Michael Jackson

This week, D.L. Hughley was a guest on both The Breakfast Club and Sway In The Morning. The 56-year-old Los Angeles, California native is returning to television with Uncensored. Premiering on TV One next week, the talk show will confront the issues of the day head-on, and reportedly without compromise.... Read more

March 8, 2019 Lifestyle, Video

De La Soul Speak In Detail About What Went Wrong With Their Record Company

This week, the legendary group De La Soul announced to the public that they are currently unhappy with their former record label, Tommy Boy. These revelations came with good news for music fans, as De La's first six albums are reportedly soon to made available to digital retailers and streaming... Read more

February 27, 2019 News, Video

Eminem Will Show The Real 8 Mile In His Virtual Reality Documentary

Even as a musical superstar, Eminem has remained rooted in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. His home is there, and his recording studio is there, where many of the artists on his label record. Although historically out of the traditional celebrity lifestyle, Eminem is regularly in attendance at the city's... Read more

January 23, 2019 TV/Film, Video

Kevin Hart Speaks About Why We Find Joy In The Unhappiness Of Others

Kevin Hart is a recent guest on Sway In The Morning. He addresses the recent controversy surrounding his stepping down from hosting this year's Academy Awards. While there were some suggestions that Kevin might return to the post for next month's 91st Oscar event, he puts those notions to bed.... Read more

January 10, 2019 Video

Torae Freestyles His Responses In His Sway Interview. THIS Is A True MC (Video)

This morning (October 11), Brooklyn, New York MC Torae released his latest project, All Praises Due. Dropping on his Internal Affairs Ent., the rapper, radio host, podcaster, and actor teams with producer Praise for an eight-track effort that offers a pure Hip-Hop display. This week, the Barrel Brothers co-founder stopped... Read more

October 11, 2018 Video

Despite Their Name, Brothas Unda Madness Were No Hip-Hop B.U.M.S. (Video)

Although G-Funk was ruling the West Coast in the mid-1990s, there was still a small but strong contingent of Heads that were practice more traditional Rap. These artists tended to show love to all four elements of Hip-Hop culture, rather than just MCing. Collectives like Hieroglyphics and The Likwit Crew,... Read more

October 4, 2018 Do Remember

Eminem Says MGK Is An Enemy & He Wants To Destroy Him (Video)

Part 2 of Eminem's intense interview with Sway Calloway premiered moments ago (September 12). After describing the frustration from Revival criticism that fueled last month's Kamikaze album, Eminem got to the nuts and bolts of two of his biggest beefs: Joe Budden and MGK (aka Machine Gun Kelly) in another... Read more

September 12, 2018 News, Video

Eminem Admits He’s Made Mistakes With Albums & They’ve Made Him Better (Video)

Eminem appeared in a multi-part interview with Sway Calloway. Tonight (September 11), that conversation's first part released to the public. It marks the first time that the Rap superstar has spoken about his Kamikaze album, which recently debuted at #1 on the charts. After handing his interviewer an early Sway... Read more

September 11, 2018 Video

Mistah F.A.B. May Be The Greatest Off The Top Freestyler EVER. This Will Sway You (Video)

Few MCs have bodied Sway In The Morning's "5 Fingers Of Death" challenge as many times as Mistah Fab. Given Sway's Oakland, California roots, it's only natural that he champions the former Mac Dre pupil. However, make no mistake — Fabby Davis earned his spot as a proven serial killer... Read more

August 28, 2018 Video

One Of Biggie’s Final Radio Appearances Is A Moment That Can Never Be Tuned Out (Video)

In today’s Hip-Hop landscape, Sway Calloway is most synonymous with hosting both established and budding MCs at the Shade 45 studios in New York, providing them a globally esteemed platform to showcase their verbal readiness. A successful Sway In The Morning appearance has become somewhat of a seal of approval for... Read more

July 26, 2018 Do Remember

J. Prince Says Drake Had A Diss Response That Would Have Ended Pusha-T’s Career (Video)

J. Prince has officially intervened in the ongoing beef between Pusha-T and Drake. The owner of Rap-A-Lot Records has served as an advisor to Drake for nearly a decade. As a multi-millionaire 30-year-exec with a reputation for no-nonsense "Geto Boy" tactics and street wisdom, the man also known as Lil... Read more

June 4, 2018 Fresh, News, Video

Saba Confronts His Demons & Mortality With A Bleak Certainty In Life (Video)

As listeners have learned with the unfolding of Saba’s new album Care For Me, beginning with the release of the project’s first video single (“Busy”) last month, it’s has been quite a disheartening and dreary recent stretch of life for the 23-year-old Chicago-based MC. The culmination of that bleakness coming... Read more

April 15, 2018 Video

Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Consequence Explain Why ATCQ Was Angry About The Grammys (Video)

To most, the 2018 Grammys represented a strong field of what Hip-Hop music had to offer in the previous year, but many believed that a few were snubbed in the nominees for Best Rap Album. The decision not to select A Tribe Called Quest was a particular sore spot for... Read more

March 13, 2018 News, Video

Talib Kweli Recalls A Great Story Involving Freestyle Fellowship, Neo-Soul & Rent Money (Video)

There have been several memorable Hip-Hop roommates. During the early 1990s, Gang Starr members Guru and DJ Premier lived together at several New York City residences (one was a Brooklyn home owned by Branford Marsalis). RZA and Ghostface Killah were under the same roof in the days before Enter The... Read more

December 6, 2017 Video

Stalley Has Left MMG & His Sway Freestyle Shows He’s Self-Made (Video)

Ohio MC Stalley has spent much of his career attached to movements. Most notably, in his days with Rick Ross' MMG squad, he was part of three Top 5 Maybach Music Group Self-Made compilations in the early 2010s. The MC followed with his own Top 40 debut Ohio in 2014.... Read more

November 20, 2017 Video

Sway Makes His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Challenge Harder But Dee-1 Keeps The Faith (Video)

Sway & King Tech's Wake Up Show made the freestyle a mandatory calling card for any MC who wanted to promote something. That tradition goes back to the '90s. In the 2010s, Sway In The Morning's 5 Fingers Of Death challenge is what keeps some MCs up at night. The stage has... Read more

November 14, 2017 Video

CyHi The Prynce Bodies 5 Fingers Of Death. Sway Says He “May Be The Best Rapper Out” (Video)

UPDATE: Hours after his exceptional Sway In The Morning "5 Fingers Of Death" freestyle (below), CyHi The Prynce's pre-album campaign continues. The Sony Records artist dropped second No Dope On Sundays single "I'm Fine." This one features fellow G.O.O.D. Music family member Travis Scott. The song features heavy organs, Scott handling... Read more

November 9, 2017 Video

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

October 23, 2017 Video

South Central’s Quincey White Gives New Meaning To Chasing Hollywood Dreams (Video)

Quincey White is an emerging voice within the Los Angeles scene, and he has a lot to say. His latest video single “HOLLYWOOD” is a “metaphor for success.” It is all about achieving status. White, the MC formerly known as DUBB, dropped his EP, The 7, on Sway Calloway &... Read more

October 19, 2017 Ready Or Not

Sadat X Drops A Freestyle Filled With The Grown Man Rap He’s Made For Years (Video)

Debates about a so-called "generation gap" in Rap music will likely be a perennial characteristic of the genre. As recently as the June release of JAY-Z's 4:44, vociferous fans and critics engaged in discussions about "grown-man Rap" and how a 47-year-old MC was able to drop one of the best albums... Read more

August 14, 2017 Video

Bun B Previews The Vulnerability That Will Make His “Bernard” Album Truly Real (Video)

For 25 years plus, Bun B has made music that's been a reality check. Songs like "One Day" coped with short life expectancy and constant loss. "I Left It Wet For You" was a cruel account of creepin' on the low. "Pocket Full Of Stones" was not a story of... Read more

August 11, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Queen Latifah & Jada Pinkett Smith Set It Off Again At The Box Office With “Girls Trip”

Films by Black directors, screenwriters, and casts continue to prove that diverse voices are Hollywood gold. With Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures, Moonlight, and Get Out still fresh in our memories, Girls Trip is continuing the recent streak of Black cinema breaking records, winning awards, and driving the conversation about diversity in film. Starring Queen Latifah, Jada... Read more

July 24, 2017 TV/Film

Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals She Left The Thug Life Right As Tupac Entered (Video)

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith met Tupac Shakur at Baltimore School For The Arts in the mid-1980s. While Pinkett would graduate in 1989, Pac and his family relocated to Marin City, California in 1988. While Shakur paid his dues as a roadie, dancer, and eventual MC with Digital Underground, Jada made... Read more

July 19, 2017 Video

Rob Markman Says He’s Better Than MCs He’s Interviewed & Freestyles To Prove It (Video)

Rob Markman and "freestyle" typically only appear in the same sentence when the veteran journalist is writing about a hot verse dropped by an established rapper. A longtime presence in Hip-Hop journalism, Markman is currently Head of Artist Relations at Genius, but he has many years of work putting pen... Read more

July 13, 2017 Video

A Harvard Student Made A Rap Album Thesis. Sway Puts Him To The Test (Video)

Last month, Obasi Shaw graduated from Harvard University. For his thesis, the English major submitted a 10-track Hip-Hop album, Liminal Minds. He wrote and recorded the album for more than a year. Shaw's resulting work tackled the issue of what it means for a young man to be Black in... Read more

June 19, 2017 Video

Jermaine Dupri Penned Hits For Many. He Explains Why Using Writers Ain’t A Thang (Video)

In recent years, Hip-Hop has called into question the use of additional writers on songs. In 2015, Meek Mill created a beef when he publicized Drake's working with Atlanta, Georgia MC Quentin Miller on #1 album If You're Reading This It's Too Late. In turn, Meek and Drake's relationship disintegrated,... Read more

May 6, 2017 Video

Marsha Ambrosius Explains Why She Will Never Say Yes To Another Floetry Reunion (Video)

In the first half of the 2000s, Floetry was an exciting addition to the Soul genre and Philly's booming scene. Marsha Ambrosious and Natalie Stewart made two Top 20 albums, with 2005's Flo'Ology sophomore peaking at #7. The five-time Grammy-nominated duo made their fans "Say Yes" right along with them,... Read more

May 3, 2017 Video

Murs Freestyles About America’s 1st Illegal Immigrants & They Weren’t Mexican (Video)

Los Angeles, California's Murs is one of the most respected voices in Hip-Hop, partly because of his penchant for truthseeking and social commentary. In March, he released his tenth solo LP, Captain California, which addresses topics like mental health in the Black community (on "God Bless Kanye West") and gentrification... Read more

April 18, 2017 Video

Brother Ali’s New Song Tackles Prejudice At Home & Abroad As An American Muslim (Video)

Brother Ali, the Minneapolis MC revered for his truth-telling and lifelong pursuit of knowledge, today (March 30) debuted a timely and powerful new single at Sway in the Morning. As a practitioner of Islam since his teenage years, Ali has always placed his faith front-and-center in his music, and he... Read more

March 30, 2017 Video

Maseo’s New MC Makes 5 Fingers A Hard Fist To The Face Of Hip-Hop In A New Freestyle (Video)

Born and raised in Harlem, rapper Bill Ray is signed to Maseo (of De La Soul)'s indie label, Bear Mountain. Formerly a member of group Triple Beam, he's been pursuing a solo career for over a decade, earning thousands of fans by touring with De La Soul and performing his... Read more

March 29, 2017 Video

CyHi Says He’s Destroying The Rap Game Like Lil Yachty In A Devastating Freestyle (Video)

While CyHi The Prynce may not be a household name (yet), those who know of his work recognize that he has one of the strongest pen games in Hip-Hop. Even those who may be unfamiliar have heard his stellar lyricism on songs like Kanye West's "So Appalled," from My Beautiful... Read more

March 21, 2017 Video

O.C. Tells The Heartbreaking Story Of How He Learned Of Big L’s Death (Video)

O.C. recently released his album Same Moon Same Sun. Available without cost for download, the D.I.T.C. Entertainment LP is the latest in a career that spans back more than 25 years. The Brooklyn, New York representative has been a key MC within Diggin' In The Crates, and made important records... Read more

February 24, 2017 Video

Louie Anderson Details How An Act Of Kindness Landed His Role In Coming To America (Video)

Twenty nine years ago, Eddie Murphy struck gold when he made Coming To America. The romantic comedy has endured as a classic, thanks to a number of roles taken on by Murphy. One of Hollywood's top earners and top draws of the day, Eddie was surrounded by a cast of... Read more

January 19, 2017 TV/Film, Video

D.L. Hughley Uses Comedy & Intelligence To Show How Hypocritical We’ve Become (Video)

D.L. Hughley has built a career on making light of current events. The creator of The Hughleys has been active for more than 25 years, using his family, personal life, and world at large to illustrate powerful points, sprinkled with humor. Recently, the Los Angeles, California native stopped by Sway... Read more

January 9, 2017 Lifestyle, Video

Ab-Soul Freestyles & Breaks Down His Exceptional BARS For Ras Kass (Video)

Today (December 9), Ab-Soul released Do What Thou Wilt, his first solo album in two years. He stopped by Sway in the Morning to discuss the new LP, and the interview included a very special guest in the form of Ras Kass, who called in to hear a Soulo record... Read more

December 9, 2016 Video

Tech N9ne & Smoke DZA Ignite A Cypher On A Fresh Pete Rock Beat (Video)

In less than two weeks, the unit of Smoke DZA & Pete Rock, as well as Tech N9ne will release albums, respectively. As Smoke has become a force to be reckoned with in 2010s independent Hip-Hop, Tech may be the standing giant of that field—given his commercial success and cult... Read more

November 29, 2016 Video