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Redman Remakes A Slick Rick Classic For A New Adventure

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

Dancer For Many Classic Hip-Hop Videos, Voodoo Ray, Has Passed Away At Age 50

Throughout the decades, Voodoo Ray (born Raymond Ultarte) brought the dance moves he displayed in New York City clubs in the 1980s to some of Hip-Hop culture's more memorable late 1990s videos. Formerly known as Boogie Ray, Ultarte's dancing eventually went on to appear in visuals such as Run-D.M.C. &... Read more

Fat Joe, MC Lyte, DJ Premier & MC Eiht To Headline Final Rocksteady Anniversary Weekend

Next weekend, the Rocksteady Crew will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The yearly New York City event was announced by Crazy Legs to be the organization's final concert event of this kind. While the R.S.C. lives on, Crazy Legs suggested there would be new platforms put in place to show its... Read more

J. Cole’s New Artist Combines Cole’s Lyricism With Devin The Dude’s Swag (Video)

Tony Touch is a DJ known for breaking some important artists. For almost 25 years, the Brooklyn, New York DJ/producer/radio personality handed microphones to MCs without albums out, and let them shine through freestyle. Members of Boot Camp Clik, D.I.T.C., Royce 5'9, Bumpy Knuckles, Wu-Tang Clan, Hurricane G, and others... Read more

Tony Touch Shows Where The New Boom Bap Lives In His Latest Mix (Audio)

Twenty years ago, Brooklyn, New York's Tony Touch was one of the most prominent mixtape DJs. One of the original promoters of the MC freestyle, Tony Touch played records he liked, featured great signed and underground talent, and kept the culture organic. In 2016, Tony is one of the only... Read more

Tony Touch Makes A Moving Tribute Mix Dedicated To The Artists We Lost In 2016 (Audio)

2016 has been something else. While there has definitely been good in the year that's finishing out this weekend, there has been a lot of shock and awe in between. In the art world, music lovers lost more than a few icons. None of these deaths seemed to come as... Read more

Consequence Freestyles With Punchlines Like They’re Inconsequential (Video)

This past weekend (July 30), A Tribe Called Quest's Beats, Rhymes & Life turned 20 years old. In addition to what that platinum #1 Jive Records LP meant for Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed, it was paramount to some fresh faces—including J Dilla (as The Ummah's Jay Dee) as... Read more

Doug E. Fresh, Nice & Smooth, Bahamadia Headline 39th Annual Rocksteady Anniversary

For the 39th year, New York City and neighboring Hip-Hop fans will be treated to a free concert—headlined by legends. Sunday (July 31) Central Park's Summer Stage will play host to the Rocksteady Crew Anniversary concert. This year's event will be headlined by Doug E. Fresh, Nice & Smooth, and... Read more

From Kanye To Pete Rock, Get The Story On J Dilla’s “Diary” Over 15 Years (Audio)

Today (April 15), J Dilla's The Diary releases. The album featuring contributions from Nas, Snoop Dogg, Pete Rock, and many others has come a long way since its early 2000s plans to be an MCA Records release. Sadly, that never happened as planned. In 2016, it has been more than... Read more

Elzhi Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head To A J Dilla Donut (Video)

With his sophomore studio album Lead Poison now released, Elzhi is the latest guest on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays radio show. There, the Detroit, Michigan MC veteran was not immune to the hot seat. He tackles two beats. Fans of Motown music will particularly enjoy El' buckling down on Dilla's... Read more

Sean Price & Rah Digga Join Koolade for a Tall Glass of Hip-Hop Heat (Audio)

Croatian producer Koolade has crossed Heads' radars for 15 or so years, with a CV of veritable who's-who in indie and underground Rap. Having worked with Craig G, Diamond D, Ghostface Killah, Masta Ace, Sadat X, and many others, he is the deliverer of a new release featuring Rah Digga... Read more

Joell Ortiz Wrecks A DJ Premier Beat Like A Supa Star (Video)

Joell Ortiz's new collaboration album with producer Domingo will be released tomorrow (March 15). The project, titled That's Hip-Hop, is an ode to music that puts a premium on top-notch lyricism, and Ortiz is happy to oblige. The Slaughterhouse spitter also invited several other respected wordsmiths to join him in... Read more

Tony Touch’s Latest Tape Compiles Hot Raps From KRS, J. Cole, Nas & More

One year to the week after Tony Touch released the popular Hip Hop 101 mixtape, Toca returns with Hip Hop 102. This mix (available for free download as well) features many, many reasons to believe the music of the people is going on strong. Tony's needles glide over the latest... Read more

Def Diggin’ It. Redman & Lord Finesse Kick A Freestyle Together (Audio)

Following last month's BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, so many people are talking about Redman's freestyle skills. Tech N9ne told AFH this past week that Reggie Noble "murdered everything" in regards to the Beanie Sigel instrumental track, alongside Def Squad comrades Erick Sermon and Keith Murray, as well as DJ... Read more

Watch Scarface Perform A Different Verse Over His Classic Gang Starr Collaboration (Video)

One of the standouts on Gang Starr's classic album Moment of Truth was "Betrayal." The song featured a dark and moody track that evoked poignant performances from both Guru and featured guest MC, Scarface. The 1998 song would be the first time Face worked with Preemo. Seventeen years later, when... Read more

Ever Hear The 5 Deadly Venoms Of Brooklyn? It’s Widely Considered To Be Rap’s Greatest Tape (Mixtape)

1997 was an interesting year for Hip-Hop, especially as far as New York City was concerned. Tragically, The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered just months into the new year, throwing a dark cloud and massive vacancy in the hearts, souls, and earphones of many. Additionally, the part of Biggie's music that... Read more

Sadat X, General Steele & Channel Live’s Hakim Green Light Up A Roundtable Freestyle (Video)

With his Never Left album in stores (and available for snippet-stream), Sadat X is on an award tour. The Brand Nubian co-founder was a guest on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesday show. However, Derek was far from alone. Smif-n-Wessun's General Steele and Channel Live's Hakim Green were in on a roundtable... Read more

Tony Touch Reaches Hip-Hop Tape #101 & Takes Naysayers To School (Mixtape)

Since the colored cassette tape shell days, Tony Touch has been servin' up the latest and the greatest Hip-Hop under his turntable style. The "Taino Turntable Terrorist" put early and everlasting emphasis on the freestyle, and made tapes, and later albums, that kept the color, originality, and improvisation of Hip-Hop... Read more

DJ Premier’s HeadQCourterz / D&D Studios To Become Luxury Apartments?

For 30 years, D&D Studios has been a destination recording studio in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Encased above 320 37th Street, the lab has been a longtime home to Gang Starr's DJ Premier, who co-owns the studio today, re-named HeadQCourterz in honor of Gang Starr's slain friend. A report... Read more

Ras Kass’ Razor Sharp Freestyle Streak Continues… (Video)

Ras Kass is moving like its the '90s again. In the splashing wake of Blasphemy (with producer Apollo Brown), Rap's answer to Vincent Van Gogh throws some verbal paint on Toca Tuesdays, with a cocky freestyle. What else would you expect from the sharp-tongued vet? Related: Ras Kass Flips A... Read more

Logic Is “Just Havin’ A Good Time, Spittin’ This Rhyme” In A True Freestyle (Video)

Tomorrow (October 29), Heads can see if Logic's just-released Under Pressure is the #1 album in the country. For now though, the Gaithersburg, Maryland MC is just having fun. He rhymes about that light-hearted mood, just playing with words on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays. Whimsical with his direction, Logic seems... Read more

Joey Bada$$ Says He’s Bringin’ Brooklyn Back In A Tony Touch Freestyle (Video)

Some things just make sense. If Joey Bada$$ was around, in the industry, in the late '90s, he would have sounded right and exact on Tony Touch cassette tapes. The Taino Turntable Terrorist and the Pro Era front-man linked on Toca Tuesdays. On a loop-based beat made famous by Lootpack... Read more

Dilated Peoples Freestyle Off the Top on Toca Tuesdays (Video)

Rakaa and Evidence from Dilated Peoples dropped by DJ Tony Touch's Toca Tuesday show and kicked a mean freestyle, off the top. Their new album Director's of Photography is available for sale today. Check out the video. Related: You Thought That They Were Gone For Good, But Dilated Peoples Are... Read more

Doo Wop Features A New DJ Premier & Tony Touch Joint, Freestyles From Cory Gunz, Termanology & Planet Asia (Mixtape)

Legendary game-changing DJ, Doo Wop has always been vocal. The New Yorker, who boasts being a longtime member of both Bounce Squad and Flip Squad DJ's has rapped alongside Tony Touch (Diaz Brothers), toured the world with the late Guru, and made a host of certified classic mixtapes in the... Read more

Chris Rivers (aka Baby Pun) Goes 0 to 100 on a Tony Touch Freestyle (Video)

Chris Rivers got his shot at a Toca Tuesday Freestyle, and Tony Touch hit him with the 0 to 100 track. Baby Pun got busy, flexing his flow that is oh so reminiscent of his Pops. Check out the video. Related: Styles P & Chris Rivers Have Trust Issues, But... Read more

Emilio Rojas States What He’s ‘Bout In A Tony Touch Toca Tuesday Freestyle (Video)

With yet another self-released street project, care of Zero Fucks Given, Rochester, New York's Emilio Rojas is counting on a hot Summer. After a recent ShowOff Radio freestyle with Statik Selektah, Ro' joins another highly-respected DJ/producer at satellite radio, care of Tony Touch. Rockin' for Toca Tuesdays (after the "Taino... Read more

Lupe Fiasco’s Freestyle Fearlessness Continues Alongside Tony Touch (Video)

Last week, Lupe Fiasco lit up Sway Up The Morning with a 100% free, freestyle. In that moment, Lu' was in the zone and combined humor, deep thought, and an unwavering flow. This week, Fiasco appeared on Tony Touch's Toca Radio on Shade 45, and also went off the dome.... Read more

Audio Push Kicks Ill Freestyles On Tony Touch’s Toca Tuesdays Show (Video)

Audio Push kicks a mean off-the-dome tandem set of verses over a classic Pacewon/Lootpack instrumental, provided by Tony Touch. The pair has way too much fun, as they enter a promising, and likely redefining 2014. The latest Inland Empire addition has been a pleasure to watch evolve. Related: Got BARS?... Read more

Isaiah Rashad Freestyles For Tony Touch (Video)

Not all freestyles are crisp and buttery. In the TV era, many MCs kept unheard (and many times heard) writtens memorized for on-the-spot beckons for free's, whether Big Tigger or Sway & King Tech. Tony Touch has long been a DJ demanding dope content from MCs. With Top Dawg Entertainment's... Read more

AFH: The Week in Video (8/11/13) (Video Playlist)

This week's video wrap up features a groovy new video by Schoolboy Q featuring Kendrick Lamar, freestyles from Lord Finess and Camp Lo, Tony Touch showing off his vinyl collection and Jean Grae putting it down with Mobetta. Check it out below. Related: AFH: The Week in Video (8/3/13) (Video... Read more

Crate Diggers: Tony Touch

Forever and always, Tony Touch is my favorite 1990s NYC mixtape DJ. We used to buy his tapes (usually colored plastic cassettes) that would ship in from Tapekingz. The freestyle-format was so fresh, and Tony Toca would always make your money count with sounds you couldn't hear anywhere else. Plus,... Read more

Tony Touch Power Cypher FT A.G., Black Thought, M1, Lil Fame, Sean Price & Illa Ghee (Video)

In honor of his just-released The Piece Maker 3 (Return Of The 50 MC's), Tony Toca brought some albums guests and friends to his Shade 45 show to kick some off the dome bars. This really calls back to the great cassettes Touch used to make in the '90s. Delegates... Read more

Tony Touch – Symphony in H ft Eminem

Tony Touch gets a new track from Shade 45 boss man, Eminem (though it's short coming in at 1:30). Check out Symphony in H. Related: Eminem & D12 Freestyle on the Tim Westwood Show in 2001 (Video)... Read more

Tony Touch – V.I.P. ft Too Short, Xzibit & Kurupt

Tony Touch links with Too Short, Xzibit and Kurupt on his latest. Check out V.I.P. Related: Tony Touch – It’s a Queens Thing ft Action Bronson & Kool G. Rap (Audio)... Read more

Tony Touch – Unorthodox ft Raekwon, JD Era, Ghostface Killah & The RZA

Here's a little Wu magic for you. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and The RZA team up with JD Era on a track from Tony Touch's upcoming Piecemaker 3: Return of the 50 MC's. Check out Unorthodox. Related: Wu-Tang Clan Performs at the Fever Club in 1993 (Video) Unorthodox by Tony Touch... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan Performs at the Fever Club in 1993 (Video)

Here's some vintage footage of Wu-Tang Clan performing in 1993, courtesy of DJ Tony Touch. The performance footage kicks in at about the 4 minute mark. Check it out below. Related: The Beatnuts & Big Pun Perform Off The Books in 1997 (Video)... Read more

The Beatnuts & Big Pun Perform Off The Books in 1997 (Video)

Here's another unbelievable gem from the vault of Tony Touch as part of his #50daysto50MCs series. This episode is a video of The Beatnuts and Big Pun performing Off the Books at the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Rocksteady Crew back in 1997. It also features some footage of the... Read more

Busta Rhymes and Ol Dirty Bastard Freestyle in 1994 (Video)

Tony Touch is releasing a project called 50 MCs reunion. As a lead up to the release, he is releasing webisodes of rare footage for the next 50 days. First up is a freestyle session between Busta Rhymes and Ol Dirty Bastard. Crazy. It kicks in around the 2:50 mark.... Read more

Tito Lopez – Toca Tuesday Freestyle (Video)

With the Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre collabo that dropped earlier and these hot verses from Dre's protege Tito Lopez on Toca Tuesday Freestyles, it's a new kind of Dre day. Check out Tito in the video below as he blazes the mic with Tony Touch. Previously: Tito Lopez gets... Read more

Toca Tuesdays Freestyles – Jon Connor (Video)

Jon Connor dropped a true "off the dome" freestyle on Toca Tuesdays Freestyles. Check the video below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOUI4U9uymg... Read more

D12 – Toca Tuesdays Freestyle (Video)

You know the drill. D12 joined Tony Touch in the Shade 45 studio and spit some verses. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMBeRL3NYE8&feature=player_embedded... Read more

You know how Black Hippy gets down. You know how Toca Tuesday Freestyles go down. Here’s the combo of the 2.

Check out Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q kicking verses (some true freestyles, some not...but all good) with Tony Touch.  10 minutes strong... Click here to download.  And, if you need more Toca Tuesday Freestyles in your life, click here. Update: Here's another freestyle from Kendrick Lamar and... Read more

Here’s another quality Toca Tuesday Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Yelawolf.

It still doesn't top when Cyhi Da Prynce straight blacked during his Toca Tuesday Freestyle, but Yelawolf more than holds his own.  Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-katDdakY&feature=player_embedded... Read more

T-Weaponz call their song Put Soul In It throwback…and they’re right. It’s got a early 90’s soulful jazz feel to it.

Check out the video which also features Tony Touch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jt058prsOY&feature=player_embedded#... Read more