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Warren G Details His Many Contributions To The Chronic

In late 1992, Dr. Dre released his solo debut The Chronic. The album launched Death Row Records, and the careers of Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, RBX, and others. It also marked the first full-length release from Dre and Suge Knight's Death Row Records imprint. In videos such... Read more

Warren G Reveals Who Introduced Him To G-Funk

For decades, Hip-Hop artists have spoken about the G-Funk musical style and its origins. While not often credited in the mainstream press, Pomona, California's Above The Law implemented the sound in their catalog, especially on 1993's Black Mafia Life and 1994's Uncle Sam's Curse. The first album reportedly began recording... Read more

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

Snoop Dogg Reveals The Record Deal He Nearly Took Before Dr. Dre Called

In 1992, Snoop Dogg made his debut alongside Dr. Dre on "Deep Cover," the title song from the soundtrack of the same name. The song arrived as Dr. Dre made a high-profile exit from N.W.A. and Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Dre would join manager Marion "Suge" Knight at Death Row, a... Read more

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

The Game Names His Top 5 L.A. Rap Albums & It’s Hard To Argue Against Him

Since the release of his debut album The Documentary in 2005, The Game has been a mainstay in the Los Angeles, California Hip-Hop scene. When the 50 Cent and Dr. Dre executive-produced project dropped, The Game almost single-handedly put L.A. back on the Rap map in the maintream. While legends... Read more

Snoop Dogg Confirms Details Of Upcoming Album With Dr. Dre

During the summer, one of Death Row Records' financiers, Michael "Harry-O" Harris revealed that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre are making an album together. The revelation came on Kevin Garnett's KG Certified talk show. The man who supplied funds for a label intended to be Godfather Entertainment, spoke about reconnecting... Read more

Death Row Records Investor Says Dr. Dre & Snoop Are Making An Album

In the early 1990s, Michael "Harry-O" Harris was as an alleged financier of Dr. Dre and Suge Knight's Death Row Records. An early iteration of the label was named Godfather Entertainment, in the incarcerated Harry-O's honor. Michael's then-wife, Lydia Harris, was to have a hand in the musical direction of... Read more

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop community reacted to the latest high-profile lists ranking the greatest Rap albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine and a team of journalists and writers ranked 200 Hip-Hop LPs, prompting plenty of reaction. It was not the first list of this kind, and it certainly will not... Read more

Former Death Row Records Singer Jewell Has Passed Away

Jewell is an R&B singer-songwriter who made hits with Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound, N.W.A., and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. According to collaborator and former label-mate Daz Dillinger, the former Death Row Records artist born Jewell Caples has passed away this morning (May 6). No cause of death has been made public.... Read more

Snoop Dogg Is The New Owner Of Death Row Records

As speculated on a recent episode of Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast (embedded below), Snoop Dogg is the new owner of Death Row Records. Today (February 9), it was confirmed that the Hip-Hop mogul acquired the famed imprint from MNRK Music Group, controlled by private equity funds managed by investment firm... Read more

Snoop Dogg Says He’s Back On Death Row

Almost 24 years ago, Snoop Dogg's recording contract changed hands between two power-house record labels. Snoop, who became Death Row Records' first home-grown star alongside mentor Dr. Dre during the early 1990s, suddenly joined Master P's No Limit Records in a cash deal reportedly worth $4 million. At the time,... Read more

Comedian Anthony “AJ” Johnson Has Passed Away At Age 55

Comedian and actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has died at 55 years old. Known for his roles in Friday, House Party, I Got The Hook Up, and Menace II Society, Johnson has been reported dead by TMZ. According to the publication, the Compton, California native was found unresponsive earlier this month... Read more

Snoop Dogg Teams Up With Swizz Beatz. It’s Nuthin’ But A G-Funk Thang (Video)

Snoop Dogg is gearing up for his 17th solo album amidst one of Rap's busiest and most extensive careers. Reportedly titled I Wanna Thank Me, the upcoming release is said to feature a song about one of Dogg's mentors, Suge Knight. While Snoop famously clapped back at verbal attacks and... Read more

Ever Hear Kurupt’s Debut? He Rapped With The S.O.S. Band Before The Chronic (Audio)

The S.O.S. Band bridged the gap between Disco and Electro Funk. Formed a few years earlier, the Atlanta, Georgia outfit made a splash with their debut 1980 single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)." The breakthrough hit for Clarence Avant's burgeoning Tabu Records topped the R&B and Dance charts on... Read more

Snoop Dogg Previews His Upcoming LP For KXNG Crooked & Details Suge Knight Song

After more than 25 years in the game, Long Beach, California MC/producer/DJ Snoop Dogg is gearing up to release his 17th studio album, I Wanna Thank Me, later this year. A few weeks ago, Snoop released the single and a video to the title track of the album. In the... Read more

Do Remember The Lady Of Rage Rocking The Mic Rough With Her Afro Puffs (Video)

It was a monumental year when Dr. Dre released The Chronic on his Death Row Records imprint in 1992. The multi-platinum album was a street sensation that marked a new era of Rap. It delivered G-Funk to the mainstream, with videos that displayed the laid back vibes, set against menacing... Read more

Snoop Dogg Reveals The Original Beat For Nuthin But A G Thang & Raps To It

UPDATE: DJ Filthy Rich made a blend of the song, based on the Questlove Supreme conversation:  ORIGINAL DECEMBER 19 STORY: The second song Snoop Dogg ever released to the public may be his most iconic. "One-two-three-and to the fo' / Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Dr. Dre is at the... Read more

Comedian AJ Johnson Explains How Spoofing Eazy-E Caused A Serious Problem (Video)

Actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has had memorable roles in films such as Friday, House Party, and Master P's I Got The Hook Up, among others. From Compton, California, the comedian who had appeared in the first and third House Party film was used in the early 1990s beef between Dr.... Read more

Daz Dillinger Says He Produced Some Of The Classics Credited To Dr. Dre & Names Them (Video)

In the mid-1990s, Daz Dillinger became an elite music producer. In addition to a heavy hand in his Dogg Pound group with Kurupt, the Long Beach, California representative laced high-profile tracks for Tupac Shakur's chart-topping All Eyez On Me, as well as tracks for Snoop Dogg, WC, C-Murder, and Nate... Read more

Snoop Dogg Tells Martin Lawrence How Much His Show Meant To Hip-Hop (Video)

Martin Lawrence is the latest guest on Snoop Dogg's GGN show. The two longtime friends enjoy a half-hour discussion about The Mack and the African American College Alliance clothing brand while revisiting some of Lawrence's films. A majority of the chat is devoted to Martin, Lawrence's 1990s FOX series. Notably, Snoop Dogg... Read more

The 1st Look At Death Row Series Shows Suge Strong-Arming Eazy-E To Get Dre (Video)

The Death Row Chronicles is an upcoming six-part series on one of music's most successful and most controversial record labels. Airing on BET February 20 (beginning with part one and two), a two-minute video trailer released, featuring commentary from some of the people closest to Death Row Records' former CEO... Read more

Lady Of Rage, RBX & Dogg Pound Locked It Down Again 20 Years After Death Row (Video)

In less than a month, it marks 25 years since Dr. Dre brought out The Chronic. Hip-Hop has been partying ever since to an album that put Snoop Dogg on center stage but made some breakthrough introductions by way of Tha Dogg Pound, RBX, and The Lady Of Rage. For... Read more

An Argument For Why Ghostwriting Is Good Starting With Exhibit D-R-E (Video)

The biggest MCs in Hip-Hop are talking about ghostwriting more than ever right now. Sixteen years after Puff Daddy proudly proclaimed, "Don't ask me if I write rhymes, I write checks," authorship in Rap verses is not something that anybody takes lightly. Since Meek Mill outed Drake's involvement of emerging... Read more

Daz Tells B-Real Who Supplied The Chronic For Dr. Dre’s Masterpiece (Video)

Dr. Dre named his 1992 solo debut album The Chronic and had millions of consumers aiming to catch a contact. The first LP released on Death Row Records took its name from a notoriously powerful strain of marijuana circulating around Southern California at the time. Combined with old Funk records... Read more

An Argument For Why Snoop Is The Greatest MC Of All-Time (Video)

Despite the fact that he is one of Rap music's most widely recognized faces, voices, and outright brands, somehow many overlook the lyrical merits of Snoop Dogg. For 25 years, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. has given Hip-Hop Heads different looks within one of the genre's most sprawling and versatile catalogs.... Read more

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. Ice Cube’s Death Certificate. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. Outkast’s Stankonia. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Ever Hear Dr. Dre’s Lost Song “My Life” From ’95? It’s One Of His Best (Audio)

Twenty years ago, Dr. Dre was gathering his things as he prepared to exit Death Row Records. As the legend has it, the label co-founder would relinquish his master recordings, and his stake in the multi-platinum dynasty. At the time, the label was overseen by Marion "Suge" Knight—Dre's manager and... Read more

Leon Haywood’s 1975 Freaky Funk Would Light The Chronic (Audio)

Leon Haywood's musical career extends more than 60 years. The Houston, Texas Soul singer and composer would spend part of the 1960s playing keyboards for Sam Cooke's band. On the side, Haywood would ink deals with Decca and Imperial Records, and start cutting his own sides. Right from the onslaught,... Read more

Dr. Dre’s “Compton” Is Remixed By One Of His Chronic Collaborators (Premiere)

Chris "The Glove" Taylor is the epitome of a West Coast Hip-Hop O.G. Taylor, who appeared alongside a young Ice-T in the film (and on the soundtrack) Breakin', has been creating sounds ever since. In addition to lots of work with King T, The Firm, and Xzibit, The Glove was... Read more

Ever See This 1992 Cypher With Bushwick Bill, Snoop, Scarface, RBX & Big Mike? (Video)

The connections between Death Row and Rap-A-Lop Records run deep, from the top down. Respective label heads Suge Knight and J. Prince have been tight for years and, the labels' artists have collaborated on a number of projects and, in the case of the Outlawz, even been signed to both... Read more

The D.O.C. Reveals Which Songs He Wrote For Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” Album (Video)

The D.O.C. is among Hip-Hop's most revered songwriters. The Dallas, Texas native worked extensively with N.W.A. and his Fila Fresh Crew before his heralded 1989 debut, No One Can Do It Better. Following the Dr. Dre-produced album, The D.O.C. would partner with then-manager Marion "Suge" Knight in helping launch the... Read more

Here Are The Top 10 Rap Albums of the 90s That You Determined. Get Ready For The 2000s…

Today (December 13) closes Round 2 of the 1990s bracket of Finding The GOAT Albums. With two battles coming down to a photo finish, this was the most dramatic march to the end thus far. You—the voter—definitively decided which 10 albums go forth to the final 32 albums across all... Read more

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

Two Decades Later, Dr. Dre & Kurupt Are Still Xxplosive Rhyme Partners (Audio)

Although Dr. Dre executive produced Tha Dogg Pound's multi-platinum debut Dogg Food in 1995, the N.W.A. alum was not as hands-on as he'd been with Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle. Kurupt was one of the star lyricists in the Death Row Records movement, and part of that famed off-shoot group. As... Read more

The Chronic & Efil4zaggin Would Not Sound The Same Without This Man…And It’s Not Dre

Dr. Dre's 30-plus-year career in Hip-Hop has many movements. Andre Young first gained national notoriety for his post-Disco work with World Class Wreckin' Cru, opening up dance-floors across the globe to the energy of Los Angeles' most musically cutting edge clubs. Next, he would co-launch N.W.A., forever changing Hip-Hop and... Read more

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic vs. DJ Quik’s Safe + Sound. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

What Makes A Hip-Hop Album A Classic? (Editorial)

In all genres of music, the term "classic" prompts debate. Cultural conservatives argue it is used too freely, and often stamped on works of art prematurely. On the other hand, liberally-minded art patrons maintain that placing restrictions on calling an item classic misses the point entirely. Especially with so much... Read more

25 Years After a Presumed Career-Ending Accident, The D.O.C.’s Voice Is Returning (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's most tragic "what if's" surrounds Dallas, Texas MC The D.O.C. A onetime Ruthless Records artist, the rapper born Tracy Curry came into the music industry as a protege of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and N.W.A. His 1989 album No One Can Do It Better is widely revered as... Read more

From 1988-1993, Skits Revolutionized Hip-Hop Albums. Here’s A Look At Some Of The Best (Audio)

Aye...did what's his name done get at you yesterday? That question, asked in a comedic interlude on Dr. Dre's seminal 1992 album The Chronic, will live in eternal infamy alongside the classic lyrics in between which it's sandwiched. That marriage, of Hip-Hop and comedy, was around before that and while... Read more

Snoop Says Dr. Dre “Hated” Deep Cover and Was Not Going to Release It (Video)

Michael Rapaport was the latest guest on Snoop's GGN web series and the conversation was like no other. For the first 7 minutes, the two went deep about the night they both met Tupac. They each attended a wrap party for the film Poetic Justice and Rapaport witnessed a tense... Read more

Not Stranded On Death Row…Dr. Dre Wins The Chronic’s Digital Rights

Nineteen years ago last month, Dr. Dre left Death Row Records. While artists such as RBX and The D.O.C. had already severed ties with the multi-platinum label, the news was confusing to many, as Dre helped co-found the label. However, due to reported creative differences with label CEO Marion "Suge"... Read more

Styles P Fires Up A Dr. Dre Chronic-Era Instrumental For A Freestyle (Audio)

Styles P's rapping rampage continues. A day earlier than usual, Holiday Styles attacks Dr. Dre's "Puffin' On Blunts & Drankin' Tanqueray" instrumental from The Chronic-era B-side, and puts in work like he was stranded on Death Row. This 1992 excursion known as "Ghost Blunts" is the farthest back Ghost has... Read more

22 Years Ago Today, Dr. Dre Fired Up The Chronic & We’ve Inhaled Ever Since

Twenty-two years ago today (December 15, 1992), Dr. Dre released The Chronic. Dre's solo debut, after parting ways with N.W.A., also marked the premiere release for Death Row Records, a would-be hundred-million-dollar label he founded with bodyguard-turned-manager Marion "Suge" Knight. Now boasting more than 3,000,000 copies sold, The Chronic may... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Seth Rogen’s Interests Overlap, Talking Origins Of “The Chronic” (Video)

Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen. One of the coolest figures of pop culture from the '90s and one of the coolest pop culture icons of the 2000s cross paths on D-O-Double G's GGN segment. The two men share a love of medicinals, as the joints burn slow. As Snoop calls... Read more

Almost 22 Years Since The Chronic, Hit-Boy & Nipsey Hussle Claim To Have The Answers (Video)

Like "New York is dead," one of Hip-Hop's armchair critic cliches is that "West Coast Hip-Hop is dead." With everything seemingly about faded trends and death, Heads know better. Two such Heads out to muffle any remaining skeptics (who possibly missed what's going on with Top Dawg Ent., Stones Throw,... Read more

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic Turns 20 Years Old (Video)

This past December 15th was the 20th Anniversary of Dr. Dre's The Chronic. Here's some vintage footage of Dre, Snoop, Tha Dogg Pound, The Lady of Rage and Warren G from shortly after the album was released. It features candid moments of Dre and DPG in the studio as well... Read more

The Kid Daytona shows some love to the West Coast by spitting on one of Dr. Dre’s classic Chronic beats.

And he brought Freddie Gibbs to keep it Gangsta.  Check out the video for Bang! Here's that Chronic intro track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uZxhtavYyw... Read more