Hip Hop News: Babyface Hosts A Tiny Desk Concert For The Ages (2024)

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 and listen to all of our favorites at the click of a button, but there is also a ton of great music still being made by artists, young and veteran alike…if you know where to look. To help with that task, we’ve created a playlist with recently released music. We update it regularly, so subscribe to follow us on Spotify if you like what you hear.

Statik Selektah just released his 10th solo album, Round Trip. The ShowOff/Mass Appeal Records collection features a Wu-Tang Clan reunion of sorts, a tribute song from Posdnuos to his De La Soul brother Dave, and much more. Among the other highlights is a collaboration between Statik, Cormega, and M.O.P. “It’s Different” is a testament to the kind of Hip-Hop Statik has stood on for two decades, and the type of music that has made his albums top-notch for fans of great beats and rhymes.

In 2000, M.O.P. Went Hunting For CD Bootleggers To Mash Out (Video)

Statik uses a 1970s riff from a cover of an Easy Listening classic and adds hard drums. It sets the stage for his longtime collaborator Lil Fame to make a supreme entrance. “I love being a great / It’s f__ed up how people get judged for bein’ real, and loved for bein’ fake / And no, I’m not a yes-man / ‘Cause if you knew how quick they forget the dead, you’d probably stop tryin’ to impress them / F__k a blue check, I’m somethin’ different, fam / I was verified and certified before Instagram,” spits Fizzy Womack. Billy Danze does the ad-libs as is the M.O.P. trademark. After some Statik scratches, Bill makes an entrance. Danzini talks about his Brownsville upbringing, and cautions others to make smarter moves. “You ain’t Big Meech; you ain’t Larry Hoover / We honor the memory of Tookie, what you out here provin’?” he asks, referring to famed street figures, before telling cornballs that they devalue the melanin.

Cormega closes with gravitas. “Bars I write are prolific in every sense of the word / As art aligns with rhythm and reminds the listener / I’m different, I ascended an era where many invested in substance / From Colombia was economic stimulus,” he raps, before seguing to talking about the community detriment. “Everything you been through / Is essential / To get to new heights, remember the lowest points that built you / What don’t k__l you makes you stronger / Even if takes you longer / Be patient: today is yesterday’s tomorrow / Pay it back to the Creator, every day is borrowed / Live in the moment; don’t limit yourself,” he says, before, “Time is money, that’s infinite wealth.”

M.O.P.’s Billy Danze Reveals His Mother Inspired The Theme For 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Hardest Anthems

In addition to “It’s Different,” the AFH playlist features six selections from Round Trip, as well as a highlight from Statik’s Nym Lo collaborative album, From The Horse’s Mouth and his Bun B joint LP, Trillstatik 2.

Last year, Cormega released The Realness II, named one of AFH‘s best albums of 2022. This spring, M.O.P. teamed with Teflon and DJ Premier for “The Thoro Side.” Mash Out Posse and Preemo are deeply involved in June 30’s 2 Sides To Every Story album. Mega and M.O.P. have collaborated for nearly 20 years, with “Let It Go” appearing on the Legal Hustle compilation, and The Firm MC guesting on Billy Danze’s “Worship The Ground” from The Listening Session.

Cormega Releases A Dream Team Remix With AZ, Redman & Styles P (Audio)

#BonusBeat: Cormega’s 2022 interview with AFH‘s What’s The Headline podcast:



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 and listen to all of our favorites at the click of a button, but there is also a ton of great music still being made by artists, young and veteran alike…if you know where to look. To help with that task, we’ve created a playlist with recently released music. We update it regularly, so subscribe to follow us on Spotify if you like what you hear.

Statik Selektah just released his 10th solo album, Round Trip. The ShowOff/Mass Appeal Records collection features a Wu-Tang Clan reunion of sorts, a tribute song from Posdnuos to his De La Soul brother Dave, and much more. Among the other highlights is a collaboration between Statik, Cormega, and M.O.P. “It’s Different” is a testament to the kind of Hip-Hop Statik has stood on for two decades, and the type of music that has made his albums top-notch for fans of great beats and rhymes.

In 2000, M.O.P. Went Hunting For CD Bootleggers To Mash Out (Video)

Statik uses a 1970s riff from a cover of an Easy Listening classic and adds hard drums. It sets the stage for his longtime collaborator Lil Fame to make a supreme entrance. “I love being a great / It’s f__ed up how people get judged for bein’ real, and loved for bein’ fake / And no, I’m not a yes-man / ‘Cause if you knew how quick they forget the dead, you’d probably stop tryin’ to impress them / F__k a blue check, I’m somethin’ different, fam / I was verified and certified before Instagram,” spits Fizzy Womack. Billy Danze does the ad-libs as is the M.O.P. trademark. After some Statik scratches, Bill makes an entrance. Danzini talks about his Brownsville upbringing, and cautions others to make smarter moves. “You ain’t Big Meech; you ain’t Larry Hoover / We honor the memory of Tookie, what you out here provin’?” he asks, referring to famed street figures, before telling cornballs that they devalue the melanin.

Cormega closes with gravitas. “Bars I write are prolific in every sense of the word / As art aligns with rhythm and reminds the listener / I’m different, I ascended an era where many invested in substance / From Colombia was economic stimulus,” he raps, before seguing to talking about the community detriment. “Everything you been through / Is essential / To get to new heights, remember the lowest points that built you / What don’t k__l you makes you stronger / Even if takes you longer / Be patient: today is yesterday’s tomorrow / Pay it back to the Creator, every day is borrowed / Live in the moment; don’t limit yourself,” he says, before, “Time is money, that’s infinite wealth.”

M.O.P.’s Billy Danze Reveals His Mother Inspired The Theme For 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Hardest Anthems

In addition to “It’s Different,” the AFH playlist features six selections from Round Trip, as well as a highlight from Statik’s Nym Lo collaborative album, From The Horse’s Mouth and his Bun B joint LP, Trillstatik 2.

Last year, Cormega released The Realness II, named one of AFH‘s best albums of 2022. This spring, M.O.P. teamed with Teflon and DJ Premier for “The Thoro Side.” Mash Out Posse and Preemo are deeply involved in June 30’s 2 Sides To Every Story album. Mega and M.O.P. have collaborated for nearly 20 years, with “Let It Go” appearing on the Legal Hustle compilation, and The Firm MC guesting on Billy Danze’s “Worship The Ground” from The Listening Session.

Cormega Releases A Dream Team Remix With AZ, Redman & Styles P (Audio)

#BonusBeat: Cormega’s 2022 interview with AFH‘s What’s The Headline podcast:



One of the greatest songwriters of all time, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, decided to flex his resumé for Black Music Month. The icon and co-founder of LaFace Records hosted an NPR Tiny Desk concert that stands among the best. In a special performance, the musician, singer, and creator laid out his pedigree in grand style—and he brought some high-profile friends along too.

Babyface begins the set with one of his earliest hits, The Deele’s “Two Occasions,” the group where ‘Face first linked with partner Antonio “L.A.” Reid. He then transitions into his own “Whip Appeal.” Next up, the Grammy-nominated Chanté Moore joined Babyface for the complicated ballad, “Superwoman” — as performed by Karyn White. Moore sings from the upright mic, while Kenny plays the keys with his band. Then, Babyface, Moore, and that band morph into a stellar rendition of Madonna’s “Take A Bow.”

Bobby Brown Reunites With Babyface & Teddy Riley For The Next Movement (Audio)

The ensemble moves into Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry,” a slowed-down and powerful rendition completed at one verse. From those 1990s, Babyface performs “Can We Talk” with a guitar in hand. Avery Wilson, who had performed the Tevin Campbell song in an online challenge, handles the vocals well. Tank, who also competed in the challenge, plays along with his counterpart. It’s Tank who then hops on lead for “Change The World,” Babyface’s hit alongside Eric Clapton. The four-time Grammy-nominated singer smashes his rendition. They then move to Fallout Boy’s “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” with Babyface freaking some electric guitar chops at the end.

The set continues with two Boyz II Men classics, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “End Of The Road.” The nearly 30-minute concert closes in style with Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).” “Whitney, she’s one of the greatest artists, ever,” he proclaims, while recalling the origins of the song—which he performs in his own, powerful way. The keys and vocals add so much emotion, given all that has transpired since the song released.

Ty Dolla $ign Is A Great Songwriter. He Joins Forces With Babyface, 1 Of The Best Ever, On “Solid” (Video)

Babyface recently released an extended edition of his 2022 album Girls Night Out. Last year, Tank released R&B Money. In 2020, Ambrosia For Heads‘ What’s The Headline podcast weighed in on ‘Face’s Verzuz battle with Teddy Riley.

#BonusBeat: Earlier this week, The Gap Band’s Charlie Wilson hosted a stellar Tiny Desk:

One of the greatest songwriters of all time, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, decided to flex his resumé for Black Music Month. The icon and co-founder of LaFace Records hosted an NPR Tiny Desk concert that stands among the best. In a special performance, the musician, singer, and creator laid out his pedigree in grand style—and he brought some high-profile friends along too.

Babyface begins the set with one of his earliest hits, The Deele’s “Two Occasions,” the group where ‘Face first linked with partner Antonio “L.A.” Reid. He then transitions into his own “Whip Appeal.” Next up, the Grammy-nominated Chanté Moore joined Babyface for the complicated ballad, “Superwoman” — as performed by Karyn White. Moore sings from the upright mic, while Kenny plays the keys with his band. Then, Babyface, Moore, and that band morph into a stellar rendition of Madonna’s “Take A Bow.”

Bobby Brown Reunites With Babyface & Teddy Riley For The Next Movement (Audio)

The ensemble moves into Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry,” a slowed-down and powerful rendition completed at one verse. From those 1990s, Babyface performs “Can We Talk” with a guitar in hand. Avery Wilson, who had performed the Tevin Campbell song in an online challenge, handles the vocals well. Tank, who also competed in the challenge, plays along with his counterpart. It’s Tank who then hops on lead for “Change The World,” Babyface’s hit alongside Eric Clapton. The four-time Grammy-nominated singer smashes his rendition. They then move to Fallout Boy’s “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” with Babyface freaking some electric guitar chops at the end.

The set continues with two Boyz II Men classics, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “End Of The Road.” The nearly 30-minute concert closes in style with Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).” “Whitney, she’s one of the greatest artists, ever,” he proclaims, while recalling the origins of the song—which he performs in his own, powerful way. The keys and vocals add so much emotion, given all that has transpired since the song released.

Ty Dolla $ign Is A Great Songwriter. He Joins Forces With Babyface, 1 Of The Best Ever, On “Solid” (Video)

Babyface recently released an extended edition of his 2022 album Girls Night Out. Last year, Tank released R&B Money. In 2020, Ambrosia For Heads‘ What’s The Headline podcast weighed in on ‘Face’s Verzuz battle with Teddy Riley.

#BonusBeat: Earlier this week, The Gap Band’s Charlie Wilson hosted a stellar Tiny Desk:

The post Babyface Hosts A Tiny Desk Concert For The Ages first appeared on Ambrosia For Heads.