ymcmb Archives

Drake Is The First Hip-Hop Artist Since Lil Wayne To Sell A Million Albums In A Week

The same week Drake enters the top 5 of the Forbes top-earning Hip-Hop artists list, he can count on even more income. The OVO Sound/Young Money/Cash Money/BBK/Universal Republic Records artist released Views less than one week ago (April 29). In that time since, he has sold a staggering 1.2 million... Read more

May 5, 2016 News

Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne Reunite. Juvenile Joins In On A Totally New Sound (Audio)

After years of speculation, the hit-making team of Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, and Juvenile finally showcases their new music. Mannie mentored both Weezy and Juvy at Cash Money Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before the Big Tymers member and label producer would exit to sign with Def... Read more

February 25, 2016 Audio

Kanye West’s The College Dropout vs. Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday. 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

January 19, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Mannie Fresh & Juvenile Say That A Reunion Album With Lil Wayne Is Underway (Video)

Juvenile and Lil Wayne made up one half of the Hot Boys (with B.G. and Turk). Also on the 1990s Cash Money Records roster were the Big Tymers, featuring Mannie Fresh and Baby (n/k/a Birdman). In 2016, three star forces from those two entities appear to be coming together. In... Read more

January 12, 2016 Video

Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter II vs. Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music 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

January 5, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Former Young Thug Road Manager Sentenced For Lil Wayne Tour Bus Shooting

In late April of this year, Lil Wayne's tour bus was fired upon while in Atlanta, Georgia. While no parties were injured, the incident came at a time when Wayne was in a heated personal and financial dispute with label Cash Money Records, with whom he has recorded since the... Read more

November 20, 2015 News

Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late Is First 2015 Hip-Hop Project To Reach Platinum

Just weeks following his social media ambush from collaborator-turned-foe Meek Mill, Drake adds another accolade to his resume. Drake's February, 2015 release, If You're Reading This It's Too Late has been certified platinum, according to respected source, Chart News. Drake also confirmed the news: Platinum off the tape. Views up... Read more

August 10, 2015 News

Meek Mill Responds, At Last. Is It Drake’s Nightmare Or Is Meek Dreamin’? (Audio)

Tonight (July 30), Meek Mill was expected to formally reply to Drake by verse. More than one week since the Maybach Music Group MC began a social media attack on his recurring collaborator, he has yet to record a record—that even he has promised the public. In that span, Drake... Read more

July 30, 2015 Audio, News

Drake Accuses Meek Mill Of Riding On Nicki Minaj’s Coattails In New Diss Record (Audio)

One week later, Drake and Meek Mill are still at it. Meek may have started things, with a social media rant that called out his collaborator for relying on writers as well as an inferred line regarding Nicki Minaj. However, Drake is still the only half of the sides at... Read more

July 29, 2015 Audio

If Drake Is Responding To Meek Mill, It’s In This Charged Up Song (Audio)

In a week that has been anything but conventional, Drake has remained un-phased. The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning MC/singer was accused of using writers by onetime friend/collaborator Meek Mill in a late-night social media barrage on July 21. In the days that followed, Funkmaster Flex released a "10 Bandz" reference track... Read more

July 26, 2015 Audio

Quentin Miller Breaks Silence, Refuting Drake Ghostwriter Allegations

Quentin Miller has transcended from an aspiring Atlanta, Georgia MC to quite arguably, Hip-Hop's most talked about new artist in just days. Following a Meek Mill diatribe on social media, Drake had been accused of employing ghostwriters. Notably, Meek called out his associate of several years, apparently alleging that recent... Read more

July 25, 2015 News

Meek Mill Reveals the Ghost Writer He Claims Wrote Drake’s R.I.C.O. Verse (Video)

From The D.O.C. to Royce Da 5'9", Skillz to Ice Cube, Hip-Hop has a long line of famous ghostwriters. High profile albums such as Dr. Dre's 2001, Salt-n-Pepa's Very Necessary, and Kanye West's Yeezus are assembled around raps written by artists besides those who voiced the words. Drake, who has... Read more

July 23, 2015 Video

Cory Gunz Shows That Funky Flows Thrive In Any Style & Era (Video)

27-year-old Cory Gunz may still be a relative newcomer, but the Bronx, New York rapper is no stranger to those who came before him. As the son of Peter Gunz (best known for his 1997 single "Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)" with Lord Tariq), there is little doubt that his upbringing... Read more

June 15, 2015 Video

Mystikal & Mark Ronson’s New Visual is Kinda Wrong…But It Feels Right (Video)

In the days when networks were still havens for the music video, it took a lot to command rotation. These days, visuals live online—where they also live forever. In that school of thought, artists often tend to favor quantity over quality, knowing that a view is a view. Mark Ronson,... Read more

May 11, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): Eminem vs. Busta Rhymes…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

April 28, 2015 Fresh

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

March 20, 2015 Fresh

Bounce To This Comprehensive Cash Money Records Mix, Featuring Lots Of Early Mannie Fresh Tracks (Mix)

Cash Money Records goes back a lot farther than even well-versed Hip-Hop Heads may realize. Names like Kilo G, U.N.L.V., (the late) Magnolia Shorty, and Ms. Tee span back to the early 1990s on the label started by Bryan "Birdman" Williams, and brother Ronald "Slim." Prior to the storied Universal... Read more

March 19, 2015 Throwback

Kendrick Lamar’s Butterfly Soars, Breaking Spotify’s Record

The same day that The Beastie Boys' Licensed To Ill is announced as a diamond certification, selling 10 million confirmed copies, Kendrick Lamar reaches a numerically similar benchmark. The Compton, California native's sophomore major label LP, To Pimp A Butterfly has been confirmed to have streamed 9.6 million times in... Read more

March 17, 2015 News

Want To Understand Lil Wayne’s $51 Million Lawsuit? Lawyer Combat Jack Breaks It Down… (Video)

Lawsuits in the entertainment media can be pretty damn confusing sometimes. Fresh off of the multi-million dollar "Blurred Lines" ruling in favor of Marvin Gaye's family/estate against Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I., another high profile music case remains open. Currently, Lil Wayne is seeking $51 million from Cash Money... Read more

March 16, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): Busta Rhymes vs. Jadakiss…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

March 10, 2015 Fresh

Juvenile Says He’ll Retire A Cash Money Soldier, Talks No Limit Rivalry (Video)

In all honesty, Juvenile is not an MC whose hit records have equated to compelling interviews. Like his breakthrough hit "Ha," the Hot Boy-turned-Rich Gang member is not a man of many words when the music stops. Appearing on The Breakfast Club Thursday (March 5), that was not the case.... Read more

March 6, 2015 Video

dead prez, Juvenile & Trick Daddy May Seem Like An Unlikely Team, But They Are Survivalists (Audio)

DJ EFN's been bringing all sorts of worlds together on his Another Time album, which releases tomorrow (March 3). The Miami, Florida-based DJ is fusing generations, styles, and coasts on his Empire-distributed studio LP. "Survival" is no exception. EFN orchestrates a team of Juvenile and Dade County's own Trick Daddy,... Read more

March 2, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Bun B vs. Mystikal…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

February 18, 2015 Fresh

If You’re Reading This Its Not Too Late To Stream Drake’s Newest Mixtape (Audio)

In addition to last night's (February 12) iTunes release of Drake's If You're Reading This Its Too Late mixtape, October's Very Own has now offered a stream of the project. Although there are no features, the Cash Money Records-backed work includes production from Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, Partynextdoor, Travi$ Scott,... Read more

February 13, 2015 Audio

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Drake vs. Big Sean…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

January 20, 2015 Fresh

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Lil Wayne vs. Game…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

January 14, 2015 Fresh

Lil Wayne Apologizes For The Wait With A Song To Appease All Of His Fans (Audio)

Lil Wayne is out for 2015. Only brandishing the Young Money flag for the year ahead, Mr. Carter will crack open the calendar with his upcoming mixtape, Sorry 4 The Wait 2. After a slow last year, Weezy F. goes to his YM site and takes Future's hit "Sh!t," and... Read more

January 12, 2015 Audio

Lil Wayne to Release a Song With…Master P. Catch the Snippet (Video)

In the same two-week span that saw LL Cool J and Canibus set aside more than 17 years of differences, another Hip-Hop beef may be coming to an end. Lil Wayne and Master P have never exactly been nemeses, New Orleans, Louisiana has played host to a longstanding rivalry between... Read more

January 2, 2015 Fresh, Video

Puff Daddy & Drake Got Physical Over The 0 to 100 Beat. Cameras Don’t Lie (Video)

Reports flooded the Internet Monday morning (December 8) that the unlikely pair of Drake and Puff Daddy came to a physical altercation over the weekend. Diddy, as he was then known, brought Drizzy on board for his Last Train To Paris album (single "Loving You No More") with Diddy Dirty... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Finding The GOAT: Wiz Khalifa vs. Drake…Who You Got? (Video)

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

December 5, 2014 Fresh, 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

If James Brown Were A Rapper In 2014, He’d Sound Like Mystikal On This Funky Number (Audio)

With his own YMCMB debut, Original, on seeming delay, Mystikal has been a bit mysterious since leaving prison. While he's been at work with Mannie Fresh, and made some Rich Gang appearances, the 1990s star and onetime No Limit free agent acquisition is certainly quiet, relatively speaking. Mark Ronson, the... Read more

November 13, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Juvenile Fits 2014’s YMCMB Sound & He Says Some Real Things Alongside Drake’s Chorus (Audio)

Juvenile is Cash Money for the second time in his career, after a lot of on-again, off-again status with his former label, as well as his (still estranged) producer, Mannie Fresh. Back in the paperwork, Juvy made his debut on "Sho Me Love." With a very simple, straightforward Drake chorus,... Read more

November 12, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding The GOAT: Juvenile vs. Mystikal…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 10, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Finding The GOAT: Nicki Minaj vs. Big Sean…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Lil Wayne Puts The LOX In The Spotlight With His Carter 5 Latest Listen (Audio)

In the first 10 years of the current millennium, few artists kept the streets fed like Lil Wayne and The LOX (t/k/a D-Block). All '90s alums, Weezy, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch all got better, sharper, and more ferocious on the microphone. Along the way, while they ran in... Read more

October 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Did Kanye West Give Tyga The Ultimate Banger In 40 Mill? (Audio)

With his new family, Kanye West's fallen back from a prolific production output the last year and a half. However, the G.O.O.D. Music founder still has heat behind the boards, and continues to evolve with his sound and style. Heads may be surprised to see that Mr. West really locked... Read more

October 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Referencing House Of Pain, Busta Rhymes Calms Down With Everlast (Audio)

When Busta Rhymes & Eminem released "Calm Down" this summer, the Bob & Earl sample to set off the record reminded many Heads of House Of Pain. That famous riff from "Harlem Shuffle" helped set the pace for one of the ultimate party Rap records, "Jump Around." Bussa Bus knows... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Lil’ Kim Goes At Nicki Minaj Yet Again… Is This The Best Look For Her? (Audio)

Two days removed from her August 4 reigniting of the war of words with Nicki Minaj ("Flawless Remix"), Lil' Kim comes in for a second charge. The onetime Junior M.A.F.I.A. breakout platinum superstar released "Identity Thief," a song that may or may not take a backseat to its artwork in... Read more

August 6, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Cam’ron & Nicki Minaj Show Why Movin’ On Up Ain’t So Bad (Video)

Less than 24 hours after the audio premiere of "So Bad," featuring Nicki Minaj and Yummy, Killa Cam'ron hits Heads off with the video. Featuring some real estate exchanges between Nicki and Cam, this song shows how both mainstream-embraced lyricists may've started at the bottom, but they're now living large... Read more

July 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Drake Announces His Fourth Studio Album Title…

Kool G Rap's first album sans DJ Polo was notably titled 4,5,6, while Jennifer Lopez's 1999 debut was titled On The 6. Both native New Yorkers, the albums were allusions to MTA Subway system (with G Rap also being a double-meaning for a dice-game). Now Drake, who spent his youth... Read more

July 15, 2014 Fresh

U Better Recognize OVO, When PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake Come Together (Audio)

This week, October's Very Own PARTYNEXTDOOR announced PARTYNEXTDOOR Two. With the pre-release, the OVO singer offered up two cuts, with one being "Recognize." Teaming once again with Drake, this slow and teased out simple song, which spans over five minutes. Like a vocal jam session, this record employs a few... Read more

July 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Usher & Nicki Minaj Interpolate A S.O.S. Band Classic On Another Pharrell Time Machine (Audio)

Pharrell's production over the last 18 months has been interesting. The N*E*R*D front-man drew very close to Marvin Gaye's 1977 wallflower-directed "Got To Give It Up" on Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," causing Thicke—who added a stylized delivery, to get some criticism from some purists. Now, Pharrell cooks up Usher's latest... Read more

July 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Game Means Everything He Said In Bigger Than Me, Cause He Filmed It (Video)

What could've been dismissed as yet another "feeling myself in the booth" moment, Game's "Bigger Than Me" is bigger than that. The Compton star visioned the song as a single, with a Matt Alonzo-directed visual as deliberate and dramatic as the bars themselves. Themed in Horror-style, Game chainsaws his way... Read more

June 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joell Ortiz Joins In On Nicki Minaj’s Pills N’ Potions With Heartfelt Realness (Audio)

The same morning Joell Ortiz drops off the visual to a status-checking single in "House Slippers" with Penalty Records, the Bushwick, Brooklyn MC's other label, Shady Records, lets go of an unofficial remix to Nicki Minaj's "Pills N' Potions." On Barbz' single that's re-centering her abilities and direction, the former... Read more

June 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Game Calls Out XXL Freshmen Covers, Soft Lyrics & States What Class He’s In (Audio)

For the last decade, few artists are as outspoken as The Game. Between the storied beefs, DVD antics, the public squabbles, and mic-checking (and some subsequent truces with) everybody along the way from Joe Budden to Lil B to Ras Kass to Jay Z to Suge Knight, it's been an... Read more

June 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Kendrick Lamar’s Versatility Continues To Expand, Appearing Alongside Lil Wayne & Future On A Mike WiLL Made It Beat (Audio)

Heads may forget, but one of Kendrick Lamar's breakthrough performances was all the way back in 2009, alongside Black Hippy cohort/mentor Jay Rock, and Lil Wayne on "Colors." Five years later, and the self-proclaimed "The Best Rapper Alive" on that cut may be feeling some pressure from his Compton cohort... Read more

June 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

24 Hours After Draft Day, Drake’s Got A Slowed Down, Melodic Days In The East (Audio)

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday Drake let some bars off with the talk of the proverbial town in "Draft Day." Drizzy drops two songs in as many days now with "Days In The East." The song explores cross-town love, and its affect on perspective. PartyNextDoor produced this sung track, with some thumping... Read more

April 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Shots Fired!!! Drake Strikes Back At Jay Z AND Chance the Rapper (Audio)

Two Sundays ago, Jay Z shook things up in the Rap hemisphere with a Jay Electronica collaboration where Hov seemingly addressed Drake's Rolling Stone magazine comments, criticizing the art and fashion contents of his Magna Carta...Holy Grail raps. So Jay sarcastically apologized in the song, apparently addressing Drake as "Miss... Read more

April 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Drake’s Done Talking. To Magazines Anyway.

On "F*ckin' Problems," Drake reminded listeners that he's not "for the long-talking." Communication will be at a premium with all formats it seems, for Drizzy. After there was a media hailstorm yesterday, surrounding Drake's Rolling Stone magazine comments about Macklemore's "wack as fuck" decision to text message Kendrick Lamar after... Read more

February 13, 2014 Fresh