freestyle Archives

To All The Strong Freestyles In 2014, Locksmith’s Latest May Take Your Seat (Video)

From E-40 to Tajai to Del to Brotha Lynch Hung, the Bay area has some amazing lyricists in Hip-Hop history. Locksmith hopes to further that trend. Once a protege of Spice 1/Ice Cube producer E-A-Ski, Locksmith has worked extensively with Ski Beatz and others in a cross-coast movement that puts... Read more

April 15, 2014 Fresh, 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

Watch ONYX’s Sticky Fingaz & Fredro Starr Brutally Body A Freestyle (Video)

HipHopDX & Team BackPack's Rooftop Freestyle series in Hollywood has included some buzzing names in Hip-Hop's come-up scene. Additionally, a host of veterans have rolled through and kicked some verses in the sunshine. However, can anybody ever say they came as hard as Fredro Starr and cousin Sticky Fingaz? The... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ & Kirk Knight Go Back & Forth In The Booth For 10 Minutes, Over Classic Instruments (Video)

Stopping in London recently, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight hit the recording studio for the "Fire In The Booth" series. Kirk gets a coming out party, noting that he doesn't even have a project available, while the pair play games with the BBC's Charlie Sloth, implementing some homegrown... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jon Connor’s Annihilation of Devil is a Lie Gets a Video. Connor Season is Open (Video)

Jon Connor took the Devil is a Lie beat from Rick Ross and Jay Z and made it his own. Now, he's released a video for em-pha-sis...Connor Season is open. MC's beware...Check it out. Related: Jon Connor Does Some Flint, Michigan Surgery On A Grip Of Kanye West Songs (Mixtape)... Read more

April 3, 2014 Video

REKS Wrecks The Backroom with Some Heavy Bars (Video)

"Old school like Tigger in the basement. Rap often changes like Lil Kim's facelift..." REKS dropped bars on bars on bars during the latest Backroom freestyle. Check out the video. Related: N.O.R.E. and REKS Speak Their Minds About the Hip-Hop Industry and the People Who Run it In Jesus Takes... Read more

March 28, 2014 Video

Prodigy Kicks A Funkmaster Flex Freestyle Over An Odd Future Gem (Video)

Mobb Deep's Prodigy has made millions off of his verses, for over 20 years. The Queens MC/author stopped by Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 show 19 years after both Mobb members appeared on the gold-certified 60 Minutes Of Funk, Vol. 1. The self-proclaimed H.N.I.C. appears to come off the dome, with... Read more

March 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

King Los Kicks Another Ridiculous Off the Top Freestyle. Who Wants It? (Video)

King Los is quickly establishing himself as 1 of the illest freestylers in the game right now. After completely snapping on Sway in the Morning's 5 Fingers of Death, he's back with another true off the top verse. And, just like last time, he just gets better as he goes.... Read more

March 25, 2014 Video

Jay Z & Jay Electronica Drop Jaws & The Gloves On We Made It Freestyle (Audio)

UPDATE: Several years back, Jay Electronica confirmed his signing with Jay Z's Roc Nation, after speculation surfaced that Jay would remain a Decon artist, sign with Just Blaze's Fort Knox, or even ride with Diddy's Bad Boy Records. While the proposed tracklist to Act II: Patents Of Nobility (The Turn)... Read more

March 23, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Who Can Reference Mary Poppins & Kill Bill in the Same Freestyle? Cyhi’s Got the Answers (Video)

Cyhi the Prynce is the latest to bless The Backroom on 106 & Park and he brought his A-game. Not too many MCs can credibly pull off references to Kill Bill and Mary Poppins in the same verse, but Cyhi makes it work. Check out the video. Related: CyHi The... Read more

March 19, 2014 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

Audio Push Do an Off the Top Freestyle and Loaded Lux Drops Bars (Video)

Audio Push and Loaded Lux visited the Sway in the Morning show at SXSW and dropped several verses. Audio Push did off the top freestyles back and forth effortlessly, Run-D.M.C. style, and Lux contributed his own ill flow. The sound quality is not great but it's worth it. Check out... Read more

March 18, 2014 Video

Here’s a Look at Slaughterhouse’s Bars with No Beats Freestyle (Video)

Last week, Slaughterhouse visited the Sway in the Morning show at SXSW for an extended interview and 8+ minute a capella freestyle. Here's a look at the video of their bars with no beats freestyle. Related: Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)... Read more

March 18, 2014 Video

Slaughterhouse Perform an 8-Minute Cypher on Sway in the Morning (Audio)

Slaughterhouse stopped by Sway in the Morning at SXSW and got into a spirited conversation about the importance of knowing and celebrating Hip-Hop history. At the end of the interview, they took it back to the essence, participating in an 8-minute cypher of a capella bars. Check it out. Part... Read more

March 15, 2014 Audio

Game Goes Into Battle Rap Mode on This Tim Westwood Freetyle (Video)

"Game ain't makin' amends with 50 Cent. Game still tryin' to find out where 50 went..." Game hit the Tim Westwood Show and dropped some greasy bars over the Threat beat that 9th Wonder crafted for Jay Z. He went at 50 Cent, Suge Knight and more. This is hardest... Read more

March 8, 2014 Video

Rockie Fresh Delivers 1 of the Best Backroom Freestyles Yet (Video)

Chicago's Rockie Fresh delivers one of the best Backroom freestyles yet. He matches a laid-back slick delivery with several clever couplets. Instead of lyrical gymnastics, he leaves you with food for your mental. Check out the video. Related: Rockie Fresh & Casey Veggies Celebrate Life (Video)... Read more

March 6, 2014 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

Vado, Schoolboy Q and Vic Mensa Freestyle on RapFix Live (Video)

Schoolboy Q, Vic Mensa and Vado stopped by RapFix Live and dropped some a capella verses. Check out the video of their cypher. Related: Here's the Full Version of ScHoolboy Q & Raekwon’s Blind Threats Collaboration (Audio)... Read more

February 20, 2014 Video

Big L Rest in Peace: 15 Classic Big L Freestyles (Audio)

Rest in Peace to Big L who passed away 15 years ago today. To celebrate his too short life but enduring legacy, NahRight & Up North Trips have assembled a compilation of 15 classic Big L Freestyles. Check out the legendary Big L/Jay Z freestyle below and a link to... Read more

February 15, 2014 Throwback

Common Has 3 Gold Albums, And He Still Freestyles Completely Off The Top (Video)

Common Sense has three Gold albums (Like Water For Chocolate, Be, and Finding Forever). Still, the major label artist and actor holds to the Hip-Hop fundamentals of freestyling. Many Comm concerts feature a freestyle where the Chicago, Illinois MC works in local street names, restaurants, and other landmarks. He brought... Read more

February 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

Nas’ 20th Anniversary Edition Of Illmatic, Includes Rare Q-Tip Remix, Freestyles & More

In April of 2014, one of Hip-Hop's true classics turns 20 years old. Nas' 1994 debut Illmatic will blow out its candles in style, as the Columbia/Ruffhouse Records release gets an expanded edition, confirmed today via iTunes, courtesy of 2DopeBoyz. Like the 10th anniversary version (which felt like it came... Read more

February 4, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Whoa. The Incomparable Shakespeare Sets A 2014 Standard With This Freestyle (Video)

Ambrosia For Heads has been down with Brooklyn's The Incomparable Shakespeare for a minute. After this stop on Statik Selektah's ShowOff Radio show, Heads can expect more. Over classics by The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Scarface, Shake' slams some bars that show his confidence in himself, while still paying... Read more

January 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Crooked I Has Been Beating Up Tracks Harder Than Ever. DJ Mustard’s Is the Latest Victim (Audio)

Crooked I has been on a tear the last 6 months. The Long Beach MC has always been nice on the mic, but he's stepped it up even by his standards. His latest release is a re-take on YG's DJ Mustard-produced My Ni**a. Check it out below. Related: Crooked I... Read more

January 21, 2014 Audio

Vic Mensa, Mibbs (of Pac Div) & Tokyo Shawn Take it Back to the Real with a True Freestyle Cypher (Video)

When's the last time you saw a good old-fashioned FREESTYLE cypher--not pre-written verses but MCs truly going off the top? Vic Mensa, Mibbs (of Pac Div) and Tokyo Shawn did just that and each had BARS. Check out this video and renew your faith in the art of freestyling. Related:... Read more

January 18, 2014 Video

Rick Ross Releases a Video for His Bound 2 Freestyle. No, He is Not Naked on a Motorcycle (Video)

At the top of the year, Rick Ross dropped a buttery freestyle over Kanye West's Bound 2. Now, he follows up with a video for the song and, no, he is not naked on a motorcycle...The video does bear some striking similarities to Childish Gambino's visuals for 3005 though. Check... Read more

January 16, 2014 Video

MC Serch Freestyles Off the Top of the Dome on the Arsenio Show. It’s Like 1990 all Over Again (in a Dope Way) (Video)

3rd Bass' MC Serch was on the Arsenio Hall Show to promote the launch of Serch's own talk show. At the end of the interview, Serch kick a true off the top freestyle, OG style. Check out the video. Related: 3rd Bass’ MC Serch Gets An Afternoon TV Talk Show.... Read more

January 8, 2014 Video

Lantana Returns to Do More Microphone Damage on The Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

A couple of months ago, Lantana dropped one of the hardest verses ever heard on The Sway in the Morning show. The MC literally left Sway gasping for breath and Heather B threatening to take her shirt off (you had to be there...). The Cincinnati MC recently returned to the... Read more

January 5, 2014 Video

Audio Push Kicks Ill Freestyles On Tony Touch’s Toca Tuesdays Show (Video)

Audio Push kicks a mean off-the-dome tandem set of verses over a classic Pacewon/Lootpack instrumental, provided by Tony Touch. The pair has way too much fun, as they enter a promising, and likely redefining 2014. The latest Inland Empire addition has been a pleasure to watch evolve. Related: Got BARS?... Read more

December 24, 2013 Fresh, Video

The Lox Jack Pusha T For a Couple of Beats and Make Them Their Own. Check out Nosetalgia & Sweet Serenade Freestyles (Audio)

The Lox gave the Hip-Hop world an early Christmas gift yesterday by releasing a surprise EP. The giving continues with a couple of freestyles from them over Pusha T's Nosestalgia and Sweet Serenade. Check out both below. Related: And Just Like That…Here’s a Brand New EP from The Lox (Audio)... Read more

December 19, 2013 Audio

Raekwon Freaks The Classic Gang Starr Funk On Lion’s Paw Freestyle (Audio)

Gang Starr and DJ Premier have longstanding ties to the Wu-Tang Clan, from the days of Premo lending equipment to RZA in the Tommy Boy Records days, to Inspectah Deck on "Above The Clouds," and Method Man's appearance on the "In Together Now" remix. Interestingly enough, Staten Island's Raekwon has... Read more

December 2, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Crooked I Continues His Lyrical Assault on Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia Intro Track (Audio)

Here's round 2 of Crooked I's Shady Dynasty Freestyle. Related: Crooked I - The Shady Dynasty Pt. 1 (Audio)... Read more

November 16, 2013 Audio

Crooked I Puts His Stamp on The Shady Dynasty (Audio)

Crooked I continues his monstrous run of the last few months (starting with the Hip-Hop Awards Cypher). This time, he jumps on Jay-Z’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia intro track. Crook is one of the few who could follow Hov and do it justice. Check it out. Related: Crooked I... Read more

November 14, 2013 Audio

Kendrick Lamar Freestyles for GQ as Their Rapper of the Year (Video)

GQ announced their Men of the Year last week and Kendrick Lamar was selected as Rapper of the Year. Here's a video where Kendrick spits a brief a capella verse and physically and lyrically changes his image. Related: Jhene Aiko & Kendrick Lamar Stay Ready On The Latest Link (Audio)... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Bun B Drops Knowledge and a True Freestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

The Trill OG Bun B hit the Sway in the Morning show and dropped knowledge. He spoke about the class he is currently teaching at Rice University, his new Trill OG: The Epilogue album (in stores now), how he sees the current state of Hip-Hop and more. After, he kicks... Read more

November 13, 2013 Video

Isaiah Rashad Freestyles For Tony Touch (Video)

Not all freestyles are crisp and buttery. In the TV era, many MCs kept unheard (and many times heard) writtens memorized for on-the-spot beckons for free's, whether Big Tigger or Sway & King Tech. Tony Touch has long been a DJ demanding dope content from MCs. With Top Dawg Entertainment's... Read more

November 12, 2013 Fresh, Video

Eminem & Slaughterhouse Revive Rap City With A Backroom Freestyle + Interview (Video)

Although "Rap City" has been largely defunct in the Slaughterhouse-era, the Shady Records super-group is a call-back to the latter years of BET's flagship Hip-Hop program. Individually, Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden, Crooked I were part of the Basement-era. Eminem was among Rap's biggest stars in the Big Tigger era... Read more

November 6, 2013 Fresh, Video

Lil Fame Get’s Busy on a New Freestyle (Video)

What is it about Lil Fame's voice that makes you want to tear ish up every time he spits? The M.O.P. marksman has released a video for a short (but not sweet) freestyle on a hard-hitting DJ Ronin track. Check out Get Busy. Related: M.O.P.’s Billy Danze, Sean Price &... Read more

November 2, 2013 Video

Vic Mensa Delivers One of the Best Backroom Freestyles Ever and the First Rap Genius Version (Video)

Vic Mensa is a microphone killer. He gave a taste of his freestyle capabilities last week on The Sway in the Morning Show and he's upped the ante with his Backroom freestyle. Mensa combines an unorthodox flow with complex metaphors to to deliver one mind-bending line after another. To give... Read more

October 30, 2013 Video

Lantana Spits an Adrenaline-Fueled Freestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

Few things in Hip-Hop get the heart beating like a killer verse...especially when it's unexpected. That's precisely why Kendrick's Control verse created an explosion for nearly 2 months in the Hip-Hop universe. We recently learned of a Cincinnati MC named Lantana. He spit a verse on Sway in the Morning... Read more

October 30, 2013 Video

Childish Gambino Smashes the Pound Cake Track with a Freestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

When Childish Gambino started this freestyle it sounded and looked like he was sleepy. He maintained a laid back demeanor throughout but trust and believe HE MURDERED THE MIC. Comparisons of him and Drake have been flying lately, so Sway put Mr. Glover on that Pound Cake track and let... Read more

October 23, 2013 Video

Schoolboy Q Discusses the TDE Cypher With Sway and Takes on the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle (Video)

Schoolboy Q chopped it up with Sway about the TDE Cypher, TDE's newest member Isaiah Rashad, Kendrick's Control verse and more. He and Sway also prank called Kendrick on the air. After, Q took a run at the Five Fingers of Death Freestyle. Check out the video. Related: TDE BET... Read more

October 17, 2013 Video

Vic Mensa Discusses His Innanet Mixtape and Spits a Blistering Freestyle (Video)

Vic Mensa sat down with Sway to discuss his Innanet mixtape, staying away from the violence in Chicago, his influences and more, and also dropped an incredible verse. His flow is so unorthodox yet so in the pocket it's CRAZY! Just watch Sway's face while Vic rhymes. It tells the... Read more

October 17, 2013 Video

Cam’ron Delivers A Cold Freestyle In BET’s Backroom (Video)

The production and fashions might change, but Cam'ron stays the same. Killa hits BET's Backroom to talk first-person to part-time lover about the protocol of a relationship with the Diplomats' breakout star. The flow, wordplay, and sense of humor is here—word to "You're in good hands, but I ain't All-State."... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Killer Mike, Large Professor and More Freestyle on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Here's a compilation of some of the best freestyles from The Combat Jack Show. Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Large Professor, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Killer Mike and Maino all drop verses. Check out the video. Related: Large Professor Discusses the Making of Ether on The Combat Jack Show (Video)... Read more

October 10, 2013 Video

Meek Mill – Pound Cake Freestyle

Fresh off the release of his Dreamchasers 3 mixtape, Meek Mill takes his turn with Drake's "Pound Cake" instrumental. The track also features Spade-O on the mic for a nice Philly collaboration. Although it's quite odd the track wasn't featured on latest edition of the Dreamchasers series, it's now available... Read more

October 8, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Slaughterhouse – Fire in the Booth Freestyle (Video)

The Slaughterhouse crew go to work on that Numbers on the Board beat. Check out the video of their Fire in the Booth freestyle. Related: Slaughterhouse – Slaughter Sessions (Audio)... Read more

September 22, 2013 Video

Loaded Lux Freestyles on Sway in the Morning Over Black Milk Beats (Video)

Loaded Lux freestyled off the top on Sway in the Morning and straight snapped. Even better, he went in over several Black Milk beats. Check out the video. Related: Loaded Lux – You Gon’ Get This Work (Mixtape)... Read more

September 10, 2013 Video

Rasheed Chappell – No Idea’s Original Radio Show Freestyle

An MC spitting ill flows over instrumentals at a radio station never gets old, and that’s exactly what went down when Rasheed Chappell stopped by the No Idea's Original radio show. In the audio below the New Jersey native flows for almost five minutes straight over some fresh beats. Rasheed... Read more

September 7, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Tech N9ne Backroom Freestyle (Video)

After years of being one of the most underrated in the game, Strange Music’s Tech N9ne appears to be having the best year of his 20-plus-year career. With his latest album Something Else cracking the Top 5 and his shows selling out all around the country amidst his relentless touring... Read more

August 29, 2013 Fresh, Video

Illa Ghee – Illa Price Express Freestyle ft Sean Price

I absolutely love this. Veteran Mobb Deep affiliate Illa Ghee continues his recent run with Sean Price—who, mind you, is one of the most ferocious freestylers left in Hip-Hop. Over-top of Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" (posted below, it's also the basis for Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock"),... Read more

August 28, 2013 Audio, Fresh