freestyle Archives

Black Thought, Yasiin Bey, Pharoahe Monch & Tobe Nwigwe Make A New Live At The BBQ

Yesterday (June 1), The Roots hosted their 12th-annual picnic in the legendary group's hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event moved this year to the Mann Center, in the same West Philly that Questlove represents. With active three stages, the day was filled with incredible performances, including a 20th-anniversary rendition of... Read more

June 2, 2019 Exclusive, Video

Conway The Machine’s Freestyle Wrecks Shop Alongside Benny & Rick Hyde (Video)

Earlier this month, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher released "Headlines," a standalone single produced by the legendary DJ Premier. The Payday Records song stands as a benchmark intersection between the three self-made stars of Griselda Records and the Gang Starr O.G. According to Wes' recent interview... Read more

May 29, 2019 Video

4-IZE Is Dropping Daily Freestyles Better Than Most MCs Have Rapped In Years

Going on 20 years ago, more than 3 million people purchased an album with 4-IZE on it. He joined UGK, Foxy Brown, and Shawnna as a guest on Ludacris' triple-platinum debut, Back For The First Time. Following the path of his early 1990s Loudmouth Hooligans band-mate Luda', 4-IZE had relocated... Read more

May 18, 2019 Video

Tierra Whack Is Far From It With A Superior Freestyle

North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Tierra Whack made one of 2018's more original and unconventional albums in Whack World. While that independent release was 15 songs at approximately one minute apiece, this lyricist has a reputation for going off the rails with freestyles. Stopping by Tim Westwood's Capital XTRA studios, Tierra's clever... Read more

May 13, 2019 Video

JAY-Z Celebrates Nipsey Hussle With A Freestyle About Self-Empowerment (Video)

JAY-Z and Nipsey Hussle had a special bond. In many ways, the two men mirrored one another, albeit from different generations and different coasts. Both were entrepreneurs imbued with a hustler's spirit, who used the lessons they learned from the streets, both good and bad, as tools of motivation for... Read more

April 27, 2019 Video

Kxng Crooked Reworks An OutKast Song With A Message About Being Driven

Throughout his extensive career, KXNG Crooked may have seemed like a music industry outcast. The Long Beach, California native weathered the storm of "Ringtone Rap" while remaining deeply rooted in his ways of dazzling lyricism. During the 1990s, he was an artist on Death Row Records at a time that... Read more

April 26, 2019 Audio

Playtime Is OVER. Oswin Benjamin Has The Best Freestyle Of 2019

Oswin Benjamin has been on the grind in Hip-Hop for years. The New York City lyricist has made his appearances count, whether they were high-profile freestyles, Team Backpack cyphers, or features on Styles P, Anoyd, and Domingo albums. The close affiliate of Chris Rivers has just released his full-length debut,... Read more

April 12, 2019 Video

Reason Adopts J. Cole’s Middle Child And Makes It His Own (Audio)

If you are not familiar with the South Central-born and Carson, California raised rapper Reason, it is a great time to pay attention. Although the TDE artist only started rhyming less than half a decade ago, his 2017 debut album There You Have It caught the attention of TDE and... Read more

March 9, 2019 Audio

Kxng Crooked Takes Nas’ Beat & Shows It’s His World

More than a decade after launching his online series "Hip-Hop Weekly," Long Beach, California MC KXNG Crooked (formerly known as Crooked I) is in the throes of its revival. The original series was pivotal in his gaining career traction, giving him that proverbial "buzz" during what many Hip-Hop heads remember... Read more

February 22, 2019 Audio

Fashawn Freestyles A Powerful Message To Young MCs Who Are Acting Reckless

Fresno, California's Fashawn is currently on tour with his Mass Appeal Records label-mates. Approaching the tenth anniversary for his and Exile's stellar Boy Meets World debut, the MC delivers a clean and lyrically exploratory freestyle. Fresh off of his latest Nas collaboration (this month's "Apostles"), Fashawn hits Power 106's L.A. Leakers... Read more

February 14, 2019 Video

Yelawolf Calls Out White Rappers Who Are Not Really About Hip-Hop

Yelawolf's Trunk Muzik 3 gear-up continues. Since the top of 2019, the Alabama MC/singer has supplied fans with a constant rollout of freestyles to show that Catfish Billy is about his bars. "Billy Goat Freestyle" is the latest and perhaps the boldest illustrations of the Shady Records MC brandishing his... Read more

February 7, 2019 Audio

Ever See This ’91 Cypher With Leaders Of The New School, Biz Markie & More? (Video)

At the top of the 1990s, many Hip-Hop artists were coming together in the name of peace, unity, love, understanding, and having fun. Collectives like the Native Tongues and Diggin' In The Crates (which was not even minted yet) earned the respect of the pioneers by keeping alive the 1970s... Read more

January 28, 2019 Throwback

KXNG Crooked Puts His LBC Roots On Display & Tells The Story Of His Come-Up

KXNG Crooked is in the midst of reviving his "Hip-Hop Weekly" series. It is happening more than a decade after the online series was an inflection point in Crook's independent career. While many people associate the MC with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce 5'9, the artist formerly known as... Read more

January 25, 2019 Audio

Jamla Is The Squad & This Freestyle Shows Why Reuben Vincent Made The Team

Jamla Records is a brand that Hip-Hop Heads can trust. Since its earliest days, 9th Wonder's label has put its stamp on a host of talented artists that care about music. In 2018, Jamla Is The Squad II showed a plethora of talent on the imprint the includes Rapsody, Elzhi... Read more

January 22, 2019 Video

2 Chainz Wakes His New Year Up With A FLY Freestyle (Lyric Video)

2 Chainz is one of several high-profile artists did things different in 2018 than in years past. While many of the Atlanta, Georgia veteran's friends were recording out in Utah and Wyoming as part of a series of Def Jam albums with Kanye West at the helm, Titty Boi dropped... Read more

January 21, 2019 Video

Boogie Shows Why Eminem Signed Him With An Off The Top Freestyle (Video)

After years of resilience and balancing fatherhood with logging long hours at the studio, Compton, California's Boogie is gearing up to see his hard work pay off. Just a week and a half away from making his anticipated debut on Shady Records (Everything's For Sale), the 29-year-old rapper born Anthony... Read more

January 16, 2019 Video

What’s The Real Definition Of A Freestyle? The Great Debate Continues (Video)

Last month, Ambrosia For Heads revisited a 1997 conversation between LL Cool J, Redman, DMX, Method Man and MTV News' Abbie Kearse. The interview unpacked the varying definitions of a freestyle, pulling opinions of the MCs from some different eras and backgrounds. As can be seen and heard by the definitions... Read more

January 13, 2019 TBD, Video

Ain’t No Such Thing As Halfway KXNG Crooked Verses. He Goes All In With Mobb Inspiration

KXNG Crooked has always been nice on the mic, but he's not above paying respects to the greats who shaped his style. The Slaughterhouse MC formerly known as Crooked I just released a freestyle that would make Mobb Deep proud. Titled "Halfway Me," the song is an homage to the Queensbridge... Read more

January 11, 2019 Audio

Ever See JAY-Z, Busta Rhymes, Biz Markie & Jaz-O Freestyle On The Same Stage? (Video)

In 1993, the Mario Van Peebles film Posse hit theaters. At its release party, some of Brooklyn's finest showed up, along with Biz Markie. One of the film's stars, Big Daddy Kane, hosted the New York City event. He appeared in the Western alongside Van Peebles, Stephen Baldwin, Tone-Loc, Tiny... Read more

January 2, 2019 Throwback

Vic Mensa Says Biggie Knew Who Shot Pac & Suge Knew Who Shot Big In A Fiery Freestyle

As has been the case throughout the last five years, Vic Mensa had a busy 2018. The Chicagoan showed no signs of slowing down or taking a pause this year, both in terms of making music and staying in some headlines. Mensa released Hooligans on Roc Nation. The eight-song release... Read more

December 28, 2018 Video

Waka Flocka Flame Uses Classic DJ Premier To Show He Can Really RAP

Few artists can claim to have had as prolific of a mixtape career as Waka Flocka Flame. While the Atlanta, Georgia representative is often recognized for his Trap beat ear and boisterous delivery, he can sometimes unload a track that shows a deft lyricist who often downplays his talent or... Read more

December 27, 2018 Audio

Reason Shows He Stands With TDE’s Finest By Freestyling On Kendrick & Jay Rock Beats

Top Dawg Entertainment artist Reason has proven that he has bars, but he's also shown that he can use his lyrical ability to make great music as well. He showcased such ability on 2017's There You Have It, an independent project which was remastered and re-released earlier this year by... Read more

December 19, 2018 Video

Curren$y Pays Tribute To Grand Puba In Grand Style (Audio)

2018 has been a great year for New Orleans, Louisiana's Curren$y. The Jet Life pilot recently became a father. Meanwhile, musically, he released one of his best works to date care of the Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist collaboration Fetti. Spitta also dropped a standout guest verse on Cozz's wavy "Badu,"... Read more

December 12, 2018 Audio, The Bridge

Meek Mill Freestyles Over Drake’s Diss Track To Show He’s Truly Back

Last Friday (November 30), Meek Mill released Championships. The Maybach Music Group star symbolically hoisted a trophy over his head in the form of a stellar album with appearances by JAY-Z, Rick Ross, and Drake. The moment represented Meek's newfound freedom from prison, a return to Rap form, and a... Read more

December 4, 2018 Video

Reason Demands His Place In Rap With A New Video Freestyle

TDE's Reason formally introduced himself earlier this year with the re-release of his 2017 mixtape, There You Have It. Since its arrival through Top Dawg Entertainment, he's been on the road in support of label mate Jay Rock's Big Redemption Tour, earning himself the respect of some of Hip-Hop's most selective... Read more

November 21, 2018 Video

Last Week Jae Millz Took An L, But This Freestyle Shows He Bounced Back (Video)

Jae Millz was once considered one of the sharpest MCs on the streets of New York. That's why, approximately 15 years ago, Puff Daddy took his Making The Band hopeful E Ness to see Millz for a battle. In the years since Jae was signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money at... Read more

November 15, 2018 Video

Dr. Dre’s Artist Anderson .Paak Is A Bad Boy On This Biggie Freestyle (Video)

Anderson .Paak's ascension into the Hip-Hop limelight is well documented, as icons including Dr. Dre, not only co-sign his work, but have literally taken the Southern California singer, MC, drummer, and producer under his wing to executive produce his forthcoming album, Oxnard, set to release November 16. In preparation of... Read more

November 8, 2018 Video

Q-Unique Has Seen So Much Happen In Hip-Hop. He Explains In A Rap (Video)

The Arsonists are a five-member Hip-Hop group that made strong waves during the 1990s. The squad included Q-Unique, D-Stroy, Freestyle, Swel Boogie, and Jise One. They began as a Brooklyn-based Hip-Hop crew known as Bushwick Bomb Squad, but they took on their fire-starter moniker when their first 12” was released... Read more

October 23, 2018 Ready Or Not

Torae Freestyles His Responses In His Sway Interview. THIS Is A True MC (Video)

This morning (October 11), Brooklyn, New York MC Torae released his latest project, All Praises Due. Dropping on his Internal Affairs Ent., the rapper, radio host, podcaster, and actor teams with producer Praise for an eight-track effort that offers a pure Hip-Hop display. This week, the Barrel Brothers co-founder stopped... Read more

October 11, 2018 Video

Mac Miller’s 2013 Off The Top Freestyle Shows His True Love For Hip-Hop (Video)

The 26-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania MC/producer Mac Miller passed away on Friday (September 7), leaving a handful of essential albums behind, and the Hip-Hop community in total mourning. Born Malcolm James McCormick, Miller had recently released his fifth studio album, Swimming, and was about to kick off a national tour on... Read more

September 9, 2018 Video

Jay Rock’s Freestyle Shows What A Migos Beat Sounds Like With Some G-Funk (Video)

Jay Rock's sound seems to be evolving. In 2018, the Watts, California MC linked with producers Boi-1da, Vinylz, and CT for "Win." Working with some technicians known for a hand in Drake's discography (along with many other chart-toppers), the move showed some new range for an MC with a raspy... Read more

September 4, 2018 Video

Mistah F.A.B. May Be The Greatest Off The Top Freestyler EVER. This Will Sway You (Video)

Few MCs have bodied Sway In The Morning's "5 Fingers Of Death" challenge as many times as Mistah Fab. Given Sway's Oakland, California roots, it's only natural that he champions the former Mac Dre pupil. However, make no mistake — Fabby Davis earned his spot as a proven serial killer... Read more

August 28, 2018 Video

Young M.A. Puts Her Skills Where All Can See As She Busts Rhymes On A Hard Freestyle (Video)

Young M.A. is having a nice 2018. She heated up the summer with her "PettyWap" and "Car Confessions" singles, not to mention sparking the season off with a mean Funkmaster Flex freestyle. Following last year's seven-song Herstory, the Planet Brooklyn resident has been performing around the world, as well as seguing... Read more

August 21, 2018 Video

Mickey Factz Serves Up A Next Level Freestyle Over 1 Of DJ Premier’s Best Beats (Video)

Mickey Factz is renowned for his freestyle skills. The Bronx, New Yorker seems to just get better with these kind of bars with age—in addition to releasing some quality projects that show a different gift from the veteran MC. He battles beats like so many opponents left duffed out in... Read more

August 21, 2018 Video

J. Cole Says He Has The Best Flow Since Biggie On A Devastating New Freestyle (Video)

J. Cole is about to embark on his KOD Tour, hitting 36 cities across North America, and has been strategically building anticipation as the days get closer to the kickoff in Miami (August 9, 2018). Having previously tweeted out "Feed me beats. Everything gettin murdered.," Cole has now dropped a... Read more

August 7, 2018 Video

Russ Buries A Generation Of Lil SoundCloud Rappers With A Fiery Freestyle (Video)

Like many artists who will be sure to come into the fold of the music industry in a similar wake, Russ' career ultimately began on the Internet. Between 2011 and 2014, Russ released 11 albums for free on Soundcloud. In 2016, Russ' single, "What They Want," hit the Billboard Hot... Read more

August 2, 2018 Video

Mac Miller Rocks The Mic On The Spot To A Thundercat Beat (Video)

Mac Miller is set to release his fifth solo studio album Swimming tomorrow (August 3), but he's giving fans a little something extra and early. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native MC/producer dropped a video titled "Inertia," which shows him spitting some heat to a fast-paced beat that is produced by Thundercat... Read more

August 2, 2018 Video

One Of Biggie’s Final Radio Appearances Is A Moment That Can Never Be Tuned Out (Video)

In today’s Hip-Hop landscape, Sway Calloway is most synonymous with hosting both established and budding MCs at the Shade 45 studios in New York, providing them a globally esteemed platform to showcase their verbal readiness. A successful Sway In The Morning appearance has become somewhat of a seal of approval for... Read more

July 26, 2018 Do Remember

Mysonne Says He’s Today’s Tupac & Nas On The Best Freestyle Of The Year (Video)

Mysonne is far from a new artist. The Bronx, New York MC has made his impression felt for years, on major platforms like his show-stopping performance at last year's BET Hip Hop Awards cypher stage. However, awareness surrounding the MC who appeared on Ma$e's Double Up and Ruff Ryders' Ryde... Read more

July 25, 2018 Video

H-Town MCs Freestyle Their Way. Lil Keke’s Off The Top Rap Is Far From Screwed Up (Video)

Houston, Texas veteran Lil Keke recently appeared on Sway In The Morning. A onetime protege of DJ Screw, this Southside MC has more than 20 years of stock in the game. A member of the Screwed Up Click, Keke made many of his cult-lauded singles like "Pimp Tha Pen," DJ... Read more

July 12, 2018 Video

J.I.D. Makes J. Cole Proud By Demolishing This XXL Cypher (Video)

It has been a busy 2018 for Dreamville Records. J. Cole's K.O.D. set new streaming records upon release, in addition to garnering critical acclaim (including appearing on Ambrosia For Heads' midyear best-of list). Cozz released a strong sophomore in Effected, which features Kendrick Lamar, Curren$y, and Cole. Meanwhile, EarthGang released... Read more

July 10, 2018 Video

Big Daddy Kane Freestyles Raw, Uncut & With A Chip On His Legendary Shoulders (Video)

This Wednesday (June 20), Big Daddy Kane is performing a free concert in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. The living legend of the microphone is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Long Live The Kane. In an era when records are shorter and appear to be more... Read more

June 18, 2018 Video

Big Daddy Kane Details Recording This 1988 Mixtape Collabo With JAY-Z (Video)

Big Daddy Kane and DJ Mister Cee have been performing and recording together for more than 30 years. The two Brooklyn, New York natives appear together on Funkmaster Flex's I Got A Story To Tell series. For more than an hour, one of the greatest MCs of all time revisits... Read more

June 10, 2018 Throwback, Video

Black Thought Discusses His New Album, Epic Freestyle & Years Of Putting In Work (Video)

This past weekend (June 2), The Roots hosted their 11th annual picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sadly, just moments into their headlining jam session, hosted by Dave Chappelle, rain, flooding, and lightning storms halted a highly-anticipated affair. However, one day before (June 1), Black Thought showered Hip-Hop Heads with Streams Of... Read more

June 4, 2018 Video

Chris Rivers Snatches Royce & Eminem’s Beat And Rips It Just As Hard (Audio)

Chris Rivers may be the son of one of Hip-Hop’s all-time great lyricists, but with a string of solid releases over the last five years he has stepped out of Pops’ shadow to have his work judged on its own merits. At the same time, the younger Rios does not... Read more

May 17, 2018 Audio

Freeway’s New Freestyle Shows He Is 100% Back & At Peak Powers (Video)

Compared to his mid-2000s run, Freeway has been out of the spotlight lately. From health concerns to label shifts, he has his reasons. However, the Roc Nation MC snatched it right back the best way he knew how. The Philly spitter, accompanied by fellow Roc-A-Fell Records alum Pain In Da... Read more

April 18, 2018 Video

Saba Confronts His Demons & Mortality With A Bleak Certainty In Life (Video)

As listeners have learned with the unfolding of Saba’s new album Care For Me, beginning with the release of the project’s first video single (“Busy”) last month, it’s has been quite a disheartening and dreary recent stretch of life for the 23-year-old Chicago-based MC. The culmination of that bleakness coming... Read more

April 15, 2018 Video

Chris Rivers Is Man Enough To Take A Kanye Classic & Make It His Own (Audio)

Still in his early twenties, Chris Rivers often makes vivid and powerful records about growing into manhood and taking on responsibility. The Bronx, New Yorker who was just entering grade school when his famous father Big Pun passed away, had a lot of navigating to do on his own. He... Read more

April 13, 2018 Audio

Mickey Factz Teaches Financial Responsibility Through Taxing Bars (Video)

Bronx, New York native Mickey Factz is the latest guest on Funkmaster Flex's freestyle platform. With his barrage of bars, the veteran lyricist kicked knowledge about something often overlooked in Rap: financial responsibility. After warming up his chops and getting his metaphorical ducks in a row, Factz began spitting facts... Read more

April 5, 2018 Video

Nick Grant Spits A Freestyle That Confirms He’s 1 Of The Best MCs In His Generation (Video)

Even as a major label artist with an acclaimed album under his belt, South Carolina's Nick Grant is committed to building an audience the old fashioned way: through hustle. Over the last three years, the MC co-signed by André 3000, Nas, Bun B, and others made a name for himself... Read more

March 30, 2018 Video