Universal Zulu Nation ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

A New Phife Dawg Album Is Coming In 2021

This week, Ambrosia For Heads recorded what is likely the final What's The Headline episode of the year. In the season 2 finale, we react to some of the LPs that our readers told us we missed after our "Best Albums List" for 2020. Additionally, we discuss next month's 63rd... Read more

December 22, 2020 Audio, Video

The LOX Break Down How To Make A Classic Album (Video)

Three weeks ago, The LOX released their fourth album, Living Off Xperience. The D-Block/Roc Nation release includes contributions from DMX, Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn, Large Professor, T-Pain, Oswin Benjamin, Nottz, Statik Selektah, and their artist, Dyce Payne. Less than a month since its release, the LP from one of... Read more

September 22, 2020 Exclusive, Fresh, Video

Finding The GOAT Group: Brand Nubian vs. Jungle Brothers. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

June 13, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Grandmaster Flash Calls Out Kool Herc’s DJ Skills In A Push For Peace (Video)

One week ago today, Hip-Hop celebrated its 44th birthday. That day is associated with an August 11 Bronx, New York party where DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) prolonged the dance section of a record by using two turntables with copies of the same disc. For the event, an incredible... Read more

August 18, 2017 News, Video

A Zulu Nation Veteran Details The Alleged Decades Of Corruption Under Afrika Bambaataa (Audio)

Following the shocking child molestation allegations surrounding Universal Zulu Nation's founder and longtime leader Afrika Bambaataa which surfaced in March of 2016, the Hip-Hop pioneer's fall from grace has left the organization's leadership and infrastructure in question without many viable answers. Recently, former high-ranking Zulu Nation member and DJ Mark... Read more

August 7, 2017 Audio, News

T.C. Izlam, Hipstep Founder & Former Zulu Nation Spokesperson, Has Died

The Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and "Hipstep" communities are today mourning the loss of T.C. Izlam, a former longtime member of the Universal Zulu Nation and a celebrated musical innovator in his own right. Born Tony Bell, the New York City representative (born in Connecticut) was a steady presence on... Read more

June 12, 2017 News

KRS-One Says Anyone Who Has A Problem With Afrika Bambaataa Should Quit Hip-Hop (Video)

KRS-One recently appeared in Birmingham, England, speaking before a live audience. In a video published July 15, the Boogie Down Productions co-founder and MC legend spoke about allegations of sexual abuse made against one of Hip-Hop's pioneers, Afrika Bambaataa. The longtime friend and collaborator of Bam' argued that major agencies... Read more

July 20, 2016 News

Afrika Bambaataa’s Leadership Of The Zulu Nation Has Ended Due To Abuse Allegations

In a move that demonstrates how seriously the United Zulu Nation (UZN) is taking allegations of sexual abuse against its co-founder and Hip-Hop pioneer, Afrika Bambaataa, the organization has announced Afrika Bambaataa and "ALL accused parties and those accused of covering up the current allegations of child molestation have been... Read more

May 6, 2016 News

Afrika Bambaataa Attorney Releases Statement Denying Accusations

UPDATE: Afrika Bambaataa's attorney, Vivian K. Tozaki, has released an April 8 statement on behalf of her client, the Hip-Hop pioneer born Kevin Donovan: "Recently, defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client's reputation so as to lower him in the estimation of the community while deterring others from... Read more

April 10, 2016 News

Afrika Bambaataa Accused Of Molestation By Bronx Politician

Afrika Bambaataa is one of Hip-Hop's pioneers. The 58 year-old Bronx, New Yorker born Kevin Donovan is credited with co-founding the Universal Zulu Nation in 1973. In the 43 years since, Afrika Bambaataa has made hit Hip-Hop records such as 1982's "Planet Rock" (with the Soulsonic Force), he has spoken... Read more

March 31, 2016 News

KRS-One & Ice-T Have 30 Years of Shared History. It Shows in This Talk Between OGs (Audio)

KRS-One and Crazy Legs are the latest guests on Ice-T's Final Level Podcast. The special Veterans Day edition of Ice and Mick Benzo's show takes a deep look at how Hip-Hop and the United States Military are in step in 2015, with many veterans (including Ice) and enlisted Heads. Additionally,... Read more

November 11, 2015 Audio

The Story Of Hip-Hop’s Creation Is Being Re-Examined By Some Of Its Most Respected Pioneers (Video)

Editor's Note: The first edition of this story credited Crazy Legs as Rock Steady Crew founder. It has been brought to Ambrosia For Heads' attention that Crazy Legs is in fact the president of the organization. The mistake has been corrected, in the story below: Last night (November 2), Crazy... Read more

November 3, 2015 News, Video

Hip-Hop’s DJ Pioneers Come Together For Universal Zulu Nation 42nd Anniversary

This November marks the 42nd anniversary of the Universal Zulu Nation. The organization, made famous by Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has upheld the tenants of the culture in five decades. Formed in the Bronx, New York, the group has grown globally to include the likes of Ice-T, 9th Wonder, and... Read more

September 29, 2015 News

KRS-One Says He Cannot Make Money In America, Discusses Hip-Hop’s Global Impact (Video)

KRS-One interviews are a bit scarce in 2015. The archetypal MC tours extensively, and gives limited audiences these days. However, the Boogie Down Productions co-founder recently opened up with VladTV on a number of current and historic issues, which are now unfolding through the video segments. In the latest, KRS... Read more

February 2, 2015 Video

Q-Tip Welcomes Lil Wayne To The Universal Zulu Nation

Throughout his lengthy career, Lil Wayne has claimed allegiance to the Hot Boys, the Cash Money Billionaires, and Rich Gang, but did you know that he is also down with the Universal Zulu Nation? According to Lil Wayne friend and collaborator Q-Tip, Weezy F. is down with the New York... Read more

November 29, 2014 Fresh

The Universal Zulu Nation’s 41st Anniversary Is In November & Your Favorite Artists Are Involved…

On November 6-9, New York City will play host to the Universal Zulu Nation's 41st anniversary. Over the course of seven planned events (with possibly more coming), those involved include Afrika Bambaataa, Black Moon, 9th Wonder, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Sadat X, Da Beatminerz, Psycho Les, DJ Jazzy Jay, Kool... Read more

October 27, 2014 Fresh

Cut Chemist Dusts Off Afrika Bambaataa’s Rarest ’70s & ’80s Personal Records (Audio)

With lots of recent attention devoted to Afrika Bambaataa's records (stored at Cornell University's archives), Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5, Ozomatli, and the film, Scratch) and DJ Shadow are currently taking these exact records on the road, creating shows with natural elements that helped make Hip-Hop. If you aren't able to... Read more

October 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Afrika Bambaataa’s Record Crates Helped Create The Hip-Hop Genre. Get A Look (Video)

Hip-Hop's three forefathers are often remembered as pioneers DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa. With all three men tied to the Bronx, New York of the 1970s, each brought a unique flare to the sound of the culture, with varying personal backgrounds. Herc, a native of Jamaica, had... Read more

August 7, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh, Throwback