the roots ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Black Thought Names 5 MCs Who Deserve More Props

In the last month, Black Thought published his memoir, The Upcycled Self. Appearing on the New York Times' "Best Sellers" list, the autobiography reveals aspects of Tariq Trotter's personal life, including suffering the losses of his father and mother, respectively. The Grammy Award-winning (and currently nominated) Roots MC examines his... Read more

December 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

The 10 Best Rap Albums Of 2023

As 2023 comes to its close, it is time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. For 2023, we present a tight list of 10—celebrating the best of the best in the Rap genre.... Read more

December 19, 2023 Best Rap Albums Of 2023, Trending Stories

Black Thought, Benny & DZA Link For A Song That’s 3x Dope

In 2019, Benny The Butcher and Black Thought teamed for "Crowns For Kings," one of the hardest-hitting collaborations of the last five years. The Plugs I Met look was produced by Benny's mentor, DJ Shay, who has since passed away—and remains one of The Butcher's biggest songs. During the summer... Read more

December 9, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Black Thought’s Epic Freestyle Is Nominated For A Grammy

The nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards were announced Friday (November 10). As the symbolic 50th year for Hip-Hop marches towards its close, there are several nominated albums and songs that exemplify the benchmark year and the culture. In the "Best Rap Performance" category, Black Thought's "Love Letter" is nominated.... Read more

November 10, 2023 News, Trending Stories

Skillz Raps Up Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With A Tribute To H.E.R.

For over 20 years, MC/DJ/academic Skillz helped Hip-Hop process its yearly legacy through his Rap Up verses, which typically arrive in late December or early January. In a milestone year, Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, the Richmond, Virginia veteran takes it a step further, with a song produced by The Roots. Skillz... Read more

September 23, 2023 Video

Questlove Names His Top 4 Rap Albums Of All-Time

This morning, ahead of their The F.O.R.C.E. Live Tour, LL Cool J, Questlove, and Black Thought appeared on The Breakfast Club for an 80-plus-minute conversation. After discussing Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, their collaboration Rock The Bells performance with The Roots and DJ Z-Trip, and the earliest days of LL's career, the... Read more

August 9, 2023 Video

LL Cool J & Black Thought Go On A Rampage

This past weekend (August 5), the 2023 Rock The Bells Festival took place in Queens, New York. Performers at the all-day event included Run-D.M.C., Slick Rick, Redman & Method Man, Queen Latifah, Naughty By Nature, Rapsody, Brand Nubian, Boot Camp Clik, and many more. LL Cool J, who produced the... Read more

August 6, 2023 Video

Black Thought & Black Rob Black Out On A New Song

Two years ago, the talented Black Rob passed away from various reported health complications, including a heart attack, multiple strokes, diabetes, and kidney failure. It happened in the same one month period where Hip-Hop mourned the passings of (onetime Black Rob collaborator) DMX and Digital Underground's Shock G. The former... Read more

June 16, 2023 Audio

The Fugees Reunite For What May Be Their Last Show

Lauryn Hill surprised fans tonight (June 3) with a special Fugees reunion concert during the 2023 Roots Picnic. Taking place at West Philadelphia's The Mann Center, Saturday headliner Ms. Lauryn Hill brought out her former band-mates Wyclef Jean and Pras. Backed by The Roots, the Grammy Award-winning trio performed classics,... Read more

June 4, 2023 News, Video

Soulquarians vs. Hypnotize Minds: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 10, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Black Thought’s New Album Is Filled With Glorious Game

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

April 14, 2023 Audio

De La Soul & The Roots Perform Stakes Is High In Spectacular Fashion

Last night (March 17) on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, De La Soul performed their iconic track "Stakes Is High" with The Roots, in what was a poignant and emotional moment. The performance was made all the more significant by the absence of Dave, De La Soul's founding member... Read more

March 18, 2023 Video

Black Thought Recaps 50 Years Of Hip-Hop History In An Epic Freestyle

Earlier this month, The Roots' Black Thought rocked the Grammy stage as part of a massive Hip-Hop 50th-anniversary tribute. The set was curated by Thought's band-mate Questlove (who played along from the drums) and featured Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Rakim, Big Boi, Posdnuos, Busta... Read more

February 21, 2023 Video

Black Thought & Rakim Light Up The Stage With Talib Kweli

Last week, Bob James held a concert residence at New York City's Blue Note alongside Talib Kweli and a live band for the second consecutive year. An esteemed panel of guests joined the Grammy-winning Jazz keyboardist and famed producer during 2023's three-night residency. D.M.C. joined on February 7, Slick Rick... Read more

February 12, 2023 Video

Hip-Hop Legends From The Last 50 Years Gave The Most Iconic Tribute Ever

Last night (February 5), the Grammy Awards celebrated Hip Hop's upcoming 50th birthday. LL Cool J, one of the culture's first superstars, introduced the special concert, in which he also performed. During the presentation, LL pointed to August 11, 1973, and the Bronx back-to-school jam at a rec center, made... Read more

February 6, 2023 Video

Black Thought Is Continuing His Run With A New Joint Album

In 2022, Black Thought of The Roots teamed with fellow Grammy Award-winner Danger Mouse to release Cheat Codes. The album, named one of the year's best by Ambrosia For Heads, featured Raekwon, MF DOOM, Run The Jewels, A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$, and many more. The LP marked the fourth album... Read more

January 11, 2023 Audio, News

Black Thought Blends Hip-Hop With Afrobeat On A New EP

Black Thought has had a strong showing this 2022. In the summer, The Roots MC partnered with fellow Grammy Award-winner Danger Mouse for Cheat Codes. The album involved Raekon, Joey Bada$$, Run The Jewels, as well as a verse from the late MF DOOM. Ambrosia For Heads recently pointed out... Read more

December 15, 2022 Audio

Why 1996 Had The Perfect Storm To Split Hip-Hop In Two

On the most recent episode of Drink Champs, co-host N.O.R.E. told guests Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey, and Dave Chappelle about the moment he felt Hip-Hop became divided. The co-founder of Capone-N-Noreaga opined to Black Star that he feels The Roots' 1996 "What They Do" music video was a dividing line... Read more

September 12, 2022 Video

N.O.R.E. Discusses The Music Video That Divided Hip-Hop

Today (September 9), Drink Champs released its long-awaited interview with Black Star and Dave Chappelle. Recorded at Dave Chappelle's Yellow Springs, Ohio garage space, the interview covers the release of Black Star's 2022 album No Fear Of Time, and more. In the last 15 minutes, N.O.R.E. brings up a November... Read more

September 9, 2022 Audio

Black Thought & Raekwon Bring Out Each Other’s Best On A New Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

August 18, 2022 Audio

Black Thought Raps With MF DOOM On An Instant Classic

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

August 12, 2022 Audio

Will Smith Finally Makes The Real Apology He Owes Chris Rock

This March's Academy Awards became one of the most talked about events of the year. During "Best Documentary Feature," Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock over a remark about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett. The consequences of that stage-rushing and ensuing slap have been grave to one of Hollywood's most respected... Read more

July 29, 2022 News, Video

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

July 12, 2022 Video

Black Thought Freestyles Over Benny’s Beat & Butchers It

Earlier this month, West Philadelphia played host to the 20th Roots Picnic. There, The Roots crew shared the stage with Mary J. Blige and welcomed artists including DJ Jazzy Jeff & Rakim, Freddie Gibbs, Masego, Babyface Ray, and others to their two-day event. On Saturday (June 4), Black Thought and... Read more

June 14, 2022 Video

Black Thought & Joey Bada$$’s Song Is A Hip-Hop Cheat Code

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

June 10, 2022 Audio

Black Thought’s Next Album Is Produced By Danger Mouse. Here’s The 1st Single

After a quarter-century of albums with The Roots, Black Thought expanded into a solo catalog in 2018. That year, he released not one but two projects. The first, Streams Of Thought, Vol. 1, was produced by 9th Wonder. The Grammy-winning Salaam Remi handled the beats on the second volume. In 2020,... Read more

May 11, 2022 Video

Black Star Release The Featured Artists On Their New Album

In less than a month, one of the most anticipated Hip-Hop albums of all time is set to release. On May 3, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli will wave the Black Star flag once more with the duo's second album in nearly 24 years. Late last week, the Brooklyn, New York... Read more

April 12, 2022 Video

Will Smith Is Barred From The Oscars For 10 Years After Slapping Chris Rock

Will Smith won his first Oscar Award last month. Now, he must wait another decade to attend the Academy Awards again. The 53-year-old actor learned today of the Recording Academy's punishment for stepping on stage from the audience to deliver a blow to presenter Chris Rock on March 27. The... Read more

April 8, 2022 News, TV/Film

Chris Rock Makes His 1st Comments Since The Oscars

Following Sunday night's (March 27) Oscar fiasco, Will Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his stage-rushing smack to Chris Rock and his language. Smith also wrote directly to his peer: "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line... Read more

March 31, 2022 Video

Will Smith & Questlove Win At The Craziest Oscars Ever

UPDATE: Will Smith has issued an apology to Chris Rock and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In a letter shared on social media Monday (March 28), the actor wrote: Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was... Read more

March 29, 2022 News, TV/Film, Video

Former Roots Bassist Leonard “Hub” Hubbard Passes Away

Former member of The Roots, Grammy Award-winning bassist and songwriter Leonard "Hub" Hubbard has died after complications from multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Hub's wife told Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's ABC 6, “It happened quickly. He didn’t suffer a lot.” Hub played with the group from the mid-1990s until the... Read more

December 16, 2021 News

Questlove Is Bringing The Greatest Soul Festival Never Seen To Screens

In the summer of 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, Jimi Hendrix rocked Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival lit up Sunday afternoons in New York City with a six-week-long explosion of Afrocentric sights, sounds and soul. Unfamiliar with the latter? Well, more than 300,000 attendees grooved in a... Read more

June 29, 2021 Sponsored

Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift 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 can we go back and... Read more

June 26, 2021 Audio

T Dot Eric Recalls Documenting The 1995 Source Awards Clash From The Front Row

Photographer T Dot Eric has taken some of the pictures that have defined how Hip-Hop thinks of its heroes. His work includes legendary flicks of Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Gang Starr, De La Soul, and Black Star—only to name a few. T.... Read more

March 30, 2021 Video

Here Are Our 20 Best Rap Albums Of 2020

We can all agree that 2020 has been something else. But we can also agree music has been a godsend—especially Hip-Hop music. It has been a pivotal year for Ambrosia For Heads, after a decade of dedication to the culture. However—as we like to do about this time, AFH offers our annual list of... Read more

December 15, 2020 Best Rap Albums Of 2020

Scarface Is Sick & He’s Asking Hip-Hop For Help

Rapper Scarface has had a challenging 2020. He is a Hip-Hop legend who was infected by the COVID-19 virus back in late March. In the weeks that followed, the Houston, Texas-based icon's fight was so strong that it led to pneumonia in both of his lungs, kidney failure, a 103-degree... Read more

October 13, 2020 Audio, Fresh, News

Black Thought Pops Up At Rapsody’s Show To Rip Another Incredible Freestyle (Video)

Last night (February 6), Rapsody performed at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, New York. After touring with Big K.R.I.T. in late 2019, the Jamla Records MC is headlining the A Black Woman Created This Tour (dates below), which also features Sa-Roc. Black Thought, who has worked with Rap' several times, appeared on... Read more

February 7, 2020 Fresh, Video

Questlove Discusses The Time He Changed The Roots’ Entire Show To Impress D’Angelo

D'Angelo is known to be one of the greatest producers, writers, and singers of the last 25 years. He has maintained that status, even with over half of that time spent between albums. His breakthrough soul album Brown Sugar came out in 1995, but it would take the singer five... Read more

February 5, 2020 Audio, Throwback

Black Thought & The Roots Amplify Gary Clark Jr.’s Protest Anthem With A Remix

Everything seems to sound better when Black Thought, Questlove, and The Roots are involved. In 2019, The Roots, who serve as the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performed a remixed version of "This Land" alongside Gary Clark Jr. The Austin, Texas native has created a defiant,... Read more

January 25, 2020 Audio

Eminem Has Just Dropped An Album Featuring Black Thought & Royce 5’9. Listen Here.

Eminem has done it again. Following 2018’s Kamikaze campaign, Marshall Mathers dropped another sneak-attack for fans. Like the last affair, this one comes out of nowhere. Titled Music To Be Murdered By, Em's eleventh album features Black Thought, Royce 5'9, Q-Tip, and Anderson .Paak, among others. It also has production... Read more

January 17, 2020 Audio, News

Here Are Ambrosia For Heads’ Top 25 Rap Albums Of The Decade

In the final hours of a decade, Ambrosia For Heads presents our Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums. The 2010s were a wild ride, with an onslaught of important new voices, and incredible maturation from veteran MCs. It was a 10-year span where artists and songs were discovered new places (including the... Read more

December 30, 2019 Best Rap Album 2010s

The Roots Release Their 1st Song In 2 Years. Can You Feel It? (Audio)

In the last several years, The Roots have been busy. While the hardest working band in Hip-Hop is on television five nights a week, fans have not heard the music that they've been making behind the scenes. Producers, including 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and J. Period, have been previously attached... Read more

December 10, 2019 Audio

This 1998 Black Thought & Common Freestyle Is An Incredible Hip-Hop Moment In Time

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's own DJ Cosmo Baker is known worldwide for his connection to Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul, frequently creating classic party series such as The Rub and The Remedy. The latter, which he hosted alongside DJ Rich Medina, helped to spotlight artists such as The Roots, J Dilla, Jill Scott, and... Read more

November 23, 2019 Audio, Throwback, Throwback

Black Thought Is Teaching A Free Master Class On How To Be An MC

Black Thought is revered as one of Hip-Hop's great MCs. For years, the South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania representative shied from the spotlight, apart from his music and some acting. However, now Tariq Trotter is educating others how to excel at the craft. The Roots' front-man is leading Carnegie Hall's first-ever Master... Read more

November 14, 2019 Fresh

Rapsody Says She’s The GOAT In A Verse That Proves She’s 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Best MCs

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads 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... Read more

October 5, 2019 Audio

Black Thought Details Making The Roots’ “New Years @ Jay Dee’s” Collaboration With Dilla

The Roots have released an expanded edition of Things Fall Apart in honor of the album's 20th-anniversary. The 1999 LP that connected the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania band with their first taste of Grammy gold was recently performed at this year's Roots Picnic. Album collaborators such as Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey),... Read more

September 27, 2019 Throwback, 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

Common Takes An MC From The Streets To The Tonight Show For A True Cypher

Anybody who has ever attended a Common concert knows that the Chicago, Illinois veteran is one of the best improvisers with the mic. For years, Comm' has impressed audiences with his knowledge of local landmarks, street names, and fun facts, no matter in what city he was performing. Meanwhile, even... Read more

August 13, 2019 TV, TV/Film, Video

Bahamadia Makes A Statement For Gender Equality & She Will Not Be Ignored (Video)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rap veteran Bahamadia has been busy making music since her Gang Starr co-signed 1996 debut album, Kollage. Since then, she has been featured alongside the likes of The Roots, Jedi Mind Tricks, and Erykah Badu. Two years ago, Bahamdaia produced an entire EP, Dialed Up 2, strictly through... Read more

July 13, 2019 Video

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