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Marlon Craft Says He’s Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Nas Combined In A Fiery Freestyle

Marlon Craft Says He’s Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Nas Combined In A Fiery Freestyle

Marlon Craft is out to uphold a rich tradition of New York City Hip-Hop. From Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, this MC put in work on last year's exceptional A Breukelen Story album from Masta Ace & Marco Polo—named one of Ambrosia For Heads' best of '18. Previously, Marlon has been behind... Read more
July 29, 2019 Video
Mistah F.A.B. May Be The Greatest Off The Top Freestyler EVER. This Will Sway You (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
Tory Lanez Delivers The Best Freestyle Of The Year, So Far (Video)

Tory Lanez Delivers The Best Freestyle Of The Year, So Far (Video)

Tory Lanez capped off 2017 with one of the most notable live, on-air freestyles of the year when he went off for eight minutes on Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 series. Now in early 2018, Lanez appears on Sway In The Morning and topped that showing—not only by spitting for one... Read more
February 28, 2018 Video
Stalley Has Left MMG & His Sway Freestyle Shows He’s Self-Made (Video)

Stalley Has Left MMG & His Sway Freestyle Shows He’s Self-Made (Video)

Ohio MC Stalley has spent much of his career attached to movements. Most notably, in his days with Rick Ross' MMG squad, he was part of three Top 5 Maybach Music Group Self-Made compilations in the early 2010s. The MC followed with his own Top 40 debut Ohio in 2014.... Read more
November 20, 2017 Video
Sway Makes His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Challenge Harder But Dee-1 Keeps The Faith (Video)

Sway Makes His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Challenge Harder But Dee-1 Keeps The Faith (Video)

Sway & King Tech's Wake Up Show made the freestyle a mandatory calling card for any MC who wanted to promote something. That tradition goes back to the '90s. In the 2010s, Sway In The Morning's 5 Fingers Of Death challenge is what keeps some MCs up at night. The stage has... Read more
November 14, 2017 Video
CyHi The Prynce Bodies 5 Fingers Of Death. Sway Says He “May Be The Best Rapper Out” (Video)

CyHi The Prynce Bodies 5 Fingers Of Death. Sway Says He “May Be The Best Rapper Out” (Video)

UPDATE: Hours after his exceptional Sway In The Morning "5 Fingers Of Death" freestyle (below), CyHi The Prynce's pre-album campaign continues. The Sony Records artist dropped second No Dope On Sundays single "I'm Fine." This one features fellow G.O.O.D. Music family member Travis Scott. The song features heavy organs, Scott handling... Read more
November 9, 2017 Video
Maseo’s New MC Makes 5 Fingers A Hard Fist To The Face Of Hip-Hop In A New Freestyle (Video)

Maseo’s New MC Makes 5 Fingers A Hard Fist To The Face Of Hip-Hop In A New Freestyle (Video)

Born and raised in Harlem, rapper Bill Ray is signed to Maseo (of De La Soul)'s indie label, Bear Mountain. Formerly a member of group Triple Beam, he's been pursuing a solo career for over a decade, earning thousands of fans by touring with De La Soul and performing his... Read more
March 29, 2017 Video
CyHi Says He’s Destroying The Rap Game Like Lil Yachty In A Devastating Freestyle (Video)

CyHi Says He’s Destroying The Rap Game Like Lil Yachty In A Devastating Freestyle (Video)

While CyHi The Prynce may not be a household name (yet), those who know of his work recognize that he has one of the strongest pen games in Hip-Hop. Even those who may be unfamiliar have heard his stellar lyricism on songs like Kanye West's "So Appalled," from My Beautiful... Read more
March 21, 2017 Video
Shia LaBeouf Transforms Into The “#1 MC In Hollywood,” With A Monster Freestyle (Video)

Shia LaBeouf Transforms Into The “#1 MC In Hollywood,” With A Monster Freestyle (Video)

Many things come to mind when the name Shia LaBeouf is mentioned. "MC" is not one of them. For years, LaBeouf has been a fixture in Hollywood as an actor and director, who has been involved in major film franchises such as Indiana Jones, Wall Street and, of course, Transformers.... Read more
November 12, 2016 Video
Daylyt Usually Rhymes A Cappella But He Wrecks 5 Beats With This Freestyle (Video)

Daylyt Usually Rhymes A Cappella But He Wrecks 5 Beats With This Freestyle (Video)

Last week, Watts, California MC Daylyt gave a wildly compelling interview on Sway In The Morning. There, the highly prominent, often controversial battle rapper spoke about the violence in his city, why his peers have two options in the industry, and his unique relationships with Eminem and Drake. While at... Read more
September 7, 2016 Video
Vic Mensa’s Freestyle Causes Sway To Destroy His Studio (Video)

Vic Mensa’s Freestyle Causes Sway To Destroy His Studio (Video)

For MCs looking to demonstrate their extemporaneous flow skills, there are few platforms as significant as Sway's "5 Fingers of Death." Much like the clout earned in the "Unsigned Hype" column in the Source a generation ago, this freestyle challenge is, for many Heads, a way to check for who... Read more
June 15, 2016 Video
Mistah F.A.B. Slam Dunks His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Like A Warrior (Video)

Mistah F.A.B. Slam Dunks His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Like A Warrior (Video)

Tonight (May 26), the Golden State Warriors aim to strike back against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 at home. The 9:00pm EST match-up prompted Bay area native Sway Calloway to bring some home-team turf talk into Sway In The Morning. Mistah F.A.B., who also has an album dropping... Read more
May 26, 2016 Video
On A Great Night For Cali, Planet Asia Is Another Agent Of State Pride (Video)

On A Great Night For Cali, Planet Asia Is Another Agent Of State Pride (Video)

Planet Asia's career benefited greatly from Sway & King Tech's The Wake Up Show. When P.A. (along with Jurassic 5) were Interscope Records label picks from the West Coast Hip-Hop Underground, they got massive spots on 1999's This Or That, the hallmark album from Sway, Tech, and DJ Revolution. In... Read more
April 13, 2016 Video
Joey Bada$$ Makes The 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Into A Fist & Puts It On Troy Ave (Video)

Joey Bada$$ Makes The 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Into A Fist & Puts It On Troy Ave (Video)

It has been a big month for Brooklyn, New York Hip-Hop. After 2015 saw albums by Joey Bada$$ (B4.Da.$$) and Troy Ave (Major Without A Deal), the men began a social media back-and-forth regarding sales versus status that soon escalated. Last month (February 29), Troy brought the late Capital STEEZ... Read more
March 29, 2016 Video
Andy Mineo Defeats the 5 Fingers of Death With a Biblical Freestyle (Video)

Andy Mineo Defeats the 5 Fingers of Death With a Biblical Freestyle (Video)

Andy Mineo returned to the Sway in the Morning show in promotion of his new album, Uncomfortable, which will be released on September 18. For many, Andy's profile grew exponentially, after his standout freestyle on Sway's RapFix Live in December of 2013. Mineo is a Reach Records artist and, like... Read more
August 21, 2015 Video
Meek Mill Pops A Wheelie & Rides Through His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Meek Mill Pops A Wheelie & Rides Through His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Meek Mill may be an acquired taste to some. However, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania veteran brings an impassioned delivery without failure, no matter what the track's vibe is. That's what makes the Maybach Music Group MC's appearance on Sway In The Morning so interesting. Meek Millie takes 5 Fingers Of Death... Read more
July 2, 2015 Video
King Los Rips What May Be the Best Freestyle of the Year…Off the Top (Video)

King Los Rips What May Be the Best Freestyle of the Year…Off the Top (Video)

King Los has been responsible for some of the best freestyle moments of the last several years. Just as Supernatural, J.U.I.C.E., Eminem, Crooked I, and Canibus helped certify The Wake Up Show in the 1990s, the Baltimore, Maryland MC legitimized Sway's latest platform with off-the-top bars that drove clicks, interest,... Read more
June 24, 2015 Video
Tish Is the First Woman MC to Do the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. She CRUSHES It (Video)

Tish Is the First Woman MC to Do the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. She CRUSHES It (Video)

Tish Hyman is a rare talent who is on the verge of exploding. The Bronx, NY artist is one of the select few who is equally and supremely gifted at both rapping and singing. Her single, "Subway Art," showcases the latter more heavily, but do not be fooled. As an... Read more
May 8, 2015 Video
Charles Hamilton Has Everything To Prove In A 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Charles Hamilton Has Everything To Prove In A 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Five years ago, Charles Hamilton was seemingly on top of the world. The Harlem, New York MC  who happens to be MC Lyte's cousin had inked a deal with the dominant Interscope Records. Hamilton was releasing spotlight-grabbing mixtapes at a breakneck speed. Along with peers Wale, B.o.B., and Asher Roth,... Read more
March 12, 2015 Video
Watch Wayne Brady SMASH This Sway Freestyle on the Craziest Topics (Video)

Watch Wayne Brady SMASH This Sway Freestyle on the Craziest Topics (Video)

Wayne Brady is an unbelievable talent. The comedian/actor/singer/host/MC returned to Sway in the Morning to promote his recent gig as host of BET Honors. Though he is not a full-time rapper, Brady is known for his ability to get busy on the mic, "off the top." In fact, Brady was... Read more
February 27, 2015 Video
How Does Johnny Gill Handle the 5 Fingers of Death? Like a G…(Video)

How Does Johnny Gill Handle the 5 Fingers of Death? Like a G…(Video)

Johnny Gill hit the Sway in the Morning show and became the first singer to tackle the 5 Fingers of Death challenge. When faced with five random beats, rather than freestyle as is customary for the MCs who step up to the test, Johnny did what he does best...He riffed... Read more
December 17, 2014 Video
Astro Handles the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle Like a Champion (Video)

Astro Handles the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle Like a Champion (Video)

Astro stopped by the Sway in the Morning show to discuss his new Computer Era album, Ferguson and more. After, he got on the mic and tackled Sway's 5 Fingers of Death MC challenge, off the top, and did not break a sweat. After, some said it was the best... Read more
December 3, 2014 Video
Your Old Droog Manhandles Sway’s 5 Fingers Of Death + Gives Rare Interview (Video)

Your Old Droog Manhandles Sway’s 5 Fingers Of Death + Gives Rare Interview (Video)

Your Old Droog is not just nice on records. The MC appeared this week on Sway In The Morning, and dazzled fans with charm, whether in a freestyle or simply telling his story. Sway Calloway, Heather B and team asked Droog about the Nas comparisons, his dues paid in the... Read more
November 26, 2014 Fresh, Video
Troy Ave & Young Lito Take on the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle While Counting Money (Video)

Troy Ave & Young Lito Take on the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle While Counting Money (Video)

BSB's Troy Ave and Young Lito were the latest to take on Sway's 5 Fingers of Death MC challenge where they rhymed over 5 random beats. With no shortage of swagger, the two traded off beat for beat while Troy counted stacks of money. When asked why, he told Sway... Read more
August 30, 2014 Video
Logic Destroys the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. Did He Even Take a Breath?? (Video)

Logic Destroys the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. Did He Even Take a Breath?? (Video)

Logic took on Sway's 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle challenge and did what real MC's do...BODIED IT. Not only did he deliver some crushing off the top lyrics, it almost seemed like he didn't even take a breath. True lyrics of fury. Check it out. Related: Logic Shows Off His... Read more
May 21, 2014 Video
Smoke DZA Flows Over Music from Dr. Dre, Aaliyah & 112 on The 5 Fingers of Death (Video)

Smoke DZA Flows Over Music from Dr. Dre, Aaliyah & 112 on The 5 Fingers of Death (Video)

Smoke DZA stopped by The Sway in the Morning show to tackle the 5 Fingers of Death freestyle challenge and passed with flying colors. The Harlem MC went off the top over 5 beats, including music from Dr. Dre, Aaliyah and 112. Riiiight...Check it out. Related: Did You Know Smoke... Read more
April 10, 2014 Video
Holy _____!! King Los Dropped 1 of the Best Freestyles in AGES (Video)

Holy _____!! King Los Dropped 1 of the Best Freestyles in AGES (Video)

You may remember King Los as having dropped one of the best of all the responses to Kendrick Lamar's Control verse. Well, he's back, and now he has done a freestyle that is 1 of the best in years. He tackled Sway's 5 Fingers of Death and just plain DESTROYED... Read more
March 19, 2014 Video
Wayne Brady Shamed 95% of MCs with His True Feestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

Wayne Brady Shamed 95% of MCs with His True Feestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

If you didn't know Wayne Brady was versatile before his legendary Chappelle Show appearance, it was clear after he destroyed all preconceived notions about him in one short ride with Dave. It's been clear he could sing, dance, host...but did you know he could freestylye? The BET Honors host dropped... Read more
February 23, 2014 Video
Mac Miller-5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle

Mac Miller-5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle

Mac Miller stopped by Sway In The Morning and decided to drop a few bars over this classic Big L track. Check out the session and tell us how he did. Related:Mac Miller Freestyles on the Funkmaster Flex Show (Video)... Read more
May 3, 2013 Fresh, Video
Whoa. Brother Ali turned in one of the best 5 Fingers of Death performances EVER on the Sway in the Morning show. Check out the video (Video)

Whoa. Brother Ali turned in one of the best 5 Fingers of Death performances EVER on the Sway in the Morning show. Check out the video (Video)

The reactions of Murs and Fashawn in the background are equally entertaining. Related: Brother Ali - Mourning in America (Video)... Read more
September 10, 2012 Video
Ryan Leslise does 5 Fingers of Death on the Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Ryan Leslise does 5 Fingers of Death on the Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Ryan Leslie doing Sway's 5 Fingers of Death? He just might surprise you. Check out the video. Related: Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul – 5 Fingers of Death (Video)... Read more
September 5, 2012 Video
We caught up with Stalley and chopped it up about his new mixtape Savage Journey to the American Dream, the meaning behind the title, his patriotism, what it was like working with Chad Hugo from the Neptunes and more (Video)

We caught up with Stalley and chopped it up about his new mixtape Savage Journey to the American Dream, the meaning behind the title, his patriotism, what it was like working with Chad Hugo from the Neptunes and more (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKFzSX2YlFM Also, check out Stalley's 5 Fingers of Death on the Sway in the Morning show, where he flowed over 5 different beats. Previously: Stalley - Savage Journey to the American Dream (Mixtape)... Read more
April 10, 2012 Video
Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul – 5 Fingers of Death + Druggys With H*es Again (Video)

Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul – 5 Fingers of Death + Druggys With H*es Again (Video)

5 Fingers of Death. You know how it goes down. Sway plays 5 random beats and let's MCs attack 'em. Half of Black Hippy, Schoolboy Q & Ab-Soul, got their chance yesterday and the lyrical wordplay was silly. Both Q and Ab-Soul blacked out on different beats. Check out the... Read more
February 28, 2012 Video
Big K.R.I.T. – 5 Fingers of Death

Big K.R.I.T. – 5 Fingers of Death

Big K.R.I.T. is the latest MC to participate in the 5 Fingers of Death series on the Sway in the Morning show on Shade 45.  Check out how he flows over 5 beats below. Click here to download.  Also, click here to check out Kendrick Lamar's 5 Fingers of Death.... Read more
December 5, 2011 Audio
Kendrick Lamar – 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle

Kendrick Lamar – 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle

Kendrick Lamar stopped by Sway and Devi Dev's show on Shade 45 last week and kicked freestyles (true freestyles off the dome) over 5 beats ranging from the theme song to Barney Miller to a track from Metallica.  Sway spontaneously dubbed the performance the 5 Fingers of Death.  Check out... Read more
October 24, 2011 Audio