freestyle Archives

Mac Miller – DJ Semtex Freestyle (Video)

Mac Miller kicks some verses, including some true freestyles, over classic beats produced by DJ Premier, Pete Rock and more. Check out the video below. Related: Mac Miller - Cold featuring Curren$y... Read more

May 26, 2012 Video

GhostWridah – 1995 (Video)

GhostWridah joins a growing list of talented MCs who have flowed over Milkbone's Keep It Real beat. Logic recently killed it and its probably most recognized as the song that Big L and Jay-Z rhymed over in their classic freestyle session. Check out GhostWridah's 1995 video and the Big L/Jay-Z... Read more

May 16, 2012 Audio, The Bridge, Video

Scarface – Sway in the Morning Freestyle (Video)

Hearing Scarface on The Sway in the Morning Show last week is what inspired us to create our Living Legends series. Here's a video of Face kicking some rhymes truly off the dome (what used to be called a freestyle) as well as a pre-written verse from his upcoming album... Read more

May 16, 2012 Video

Slaughterhouse spits some verses over Freeway’s What We Do track (prod. Just Blaze) on The Cosmic Kev Show. 7 and a half minutes of straight lyrics. Check out the video below.

Related: Shady 2.0 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher (Video)... Read more

May 8, 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)

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

Tito Lopez – Toca Tuesday Freestyle (Video)

With the Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre collabo that dropped earlier and these hot verses from Dre's protege Tito Lopez on Toca Tuesday Freestyles, it's a new kind of Dre day. Check out Tito in the video below as he blazes the mic with Tony Touch. Previously: Tito Lopez gets... Read more

April 2, 2012 Video

Yelawolf – Can It Be

Yelawolf goes in over RZA's classic Can It Be All So Simple beat for Wu-Tang Clan. Check out Can It Be. Props to Bootleg Kev.... Read more

March 14, 2012 Audio

J Dilla – Clap Your Hands Freestyle

Here's a previously unreleased freestyle from the great J Dilla on one of his patented tracks. Damn, I miss that KNOCK. Check out Clap Your Hands. If you need some more Dilla, check out our Dilla playlist here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KtY5L9G7mA&feature=player_embedded... Read more

February 3, 2012 Audio, Playlists, Video

Yelawolf goes in on Jeezy’s I Do track. ILL. Check out his I Do Freestyle.

Click here to download.... Read more

January 31, 2012 Audio

Slaughterhouse – Hot 97 Freestyle (Video)

The Slaughterhouse crew dropped by New York's Hot 97 and dropped bombs in the form of verses with Funkmaster Flex. Check out the video.... Read more

December 20, 2011 Video

Common – Hartford’s Hot 93.7 Freestyle (Video)

Remember when the word "freestyle" actually meant rhyming off the top? Common does. Check out his true freestyle from a couple of days ago in Hartford. If you're home chilling, you can also check out the movie Freestyle here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epg-cnodvbk&feature=player_embedded... Read more

December 10, 2011 Video

Wale – Mass Appeal Freestyle (Video)

Wale kicks some verses over DJ Premier's classic track. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM4GHzYstGA&feature=player_embedded... Read more

November 8, 2011 Video

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

Common – Funkmaster Flex Freestyle

Common hit the Funkmaster Flex show at Hot 97 in NYC yesterday. While he was there, he dropped some a capella verses/knowledge. Check out his words below. Click here to download. Also, if you missed this freestyle battle between Common and a then unsigned Kanye West from 1996, take a... Read more

October 20, 2011 Audio

Pusha T goes in on the Dreams Money Can Buy beat. Check out Don’t F*ck Wit Me.

Click here to download.... Read more

September 26, 2011 Audio

Back in the Day: Eminem, Dilated Peoples & Aristotle Wake Up Show Freestyle

Here's a vintage freestyle from the classic Wake Up Show featuring Eminem, Dilated Peoples and Aristotle. Eminem has that Bad Meets Evil (the song not the group) flow, so it sounds like this one is from the late 90's. This is a gem courtesy of Ruby Hornet. It's 11 minutes... Read more

September 15, 2011 Audio

J. Cole absolutely MURDERED that Meek Mill I’m A Boss beat in a freestyle on the Cosmic Kev radio show. He also goes in on the Otis track (with some bars from his cut Heavy). This is THAT J. Cole you remember. Warm Up. Friday Night Lights. Cole World is comin’…check out the video.

And, click here to download Heavy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfBTMZ1tyCA&feature=player_embedded... Read more

September 12, 2011 Video

Evidence & Fashawn – Hip-Hop Nation Freestyle (Video)

Evidence has been going IN on DJ Premier beats lately. Most recently was his new single You (click here for the video) and now he and Fashawn trade hot verse after hot verse over 2 Primo classics (A Million & One Questions and Kick in the Door) on Sirius' Hip-Hop... Read more

September 9, 2011 Video

The Game – Cosmic Kev Freestyle (Video)

The Game sounds hungry again. He went all the way in on this freestyle on the Cosmic Kev Show. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFprLmFbBTI&feature=player_embedded... Read more

August 25, 2011 Video

Kendrick Lamar – Hail Mary Freestyle & Interview (Video)

Kendrick Lamar paid a visit to the Bootleg Kev show, recently. He did an interview and dropped some verses over Makaveli's Hail Mary track. Check out the video below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tc1PH6_69c&feature=player_embedded And, in case you need to hear the original... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iaQrh4YtuQ... Read more

August 22, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Jeezy & Freddie Gibbs – Cosmic Kev Show Freestyle (Video)

Jeezy & Freddy Gibbs traded verses on the Cosmic Kev Show (Gangsta Gibbs killed it). The audio surfaced last week. Here's the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WdGn2ccJ6A&feature=player_embedded Click here to download.... Read more

August 15, 2011 Audio, Video

There have been a lot of Kendrick Lamar freestyles floating around lately. This one is a little different.

First and foremost, he is truly going off the top of the head instead of kicking a pre-written verse. Secondly, he's rhyming with a live violin player. Check it out. Also, click here if you need more Kendrick Lamar freestyles in your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVT9YiWUR1k&feature=player_embedded... Read more

July 24, 2011 Video

Freeway kicks a true freestyle. 3+ minutes of ill lyrics straight off the dome.

The rhymes aren't perfect but the passion in the delivery and the fact that he is truly going off the top of the head more than make up for it. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0pHnDhsy7k&feature=player_embedded If you're in the mood for more freestyles, click here to watch the documentary Freestyle.... Read more

July 16, 2011 Video

Dr. Dre has said for many years that he prefers working with new talent rather than the hottest established artists. Check out the good Doctor as he listens to newcomer Tito Lopez spit over a blistering hot unreleased track that sounds a lot like it was produced by Dre.

Tito BRINGS IT and gets some much deserved props from Dre. Here's the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouddIytkW_M&feature=player_embedded... Read more

July 15, 2011 Video

It’s been 15 years since Jay-Z’s timeless Reasonable Doubt album was released.

To commemorate the anniversary, Philadelphia's DJ Colby Colb just released this rare Jay-Z interview and Criminology freestyle from '95, 10 months before he dropped Reasonable Doubt. Check it out. Also, if you missed it, check out this article discussing what might have been if Reasonable Doubt was a mixtape instead... Read more

June 29, 2011 Audio

Black Thought deservedly gets the most shine of all the Money Making Jam Boys, but STS is NICE.

Check out his new joint called Only One. Here's another burner from STS called Pimpin' and Preachin'.... Read more

June 23, 2011 Audio

Method Man dropped some ill verses on the Tim Westwood show with U-God and Masta Killa.

Now, it's Bun B's turn...Check out the Trill O.G. doing his thing in the UK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=udMPsgJ0NUQ If you missed the Wu-Tang Freestyle, check it out here.... Read more

June 17, 2011 Video

Wu-Tang fans get ready. Here’s an 11 and a half minute freestyle from Method Man, U-God and Masta Killa.

Oh yeah, it's serious. This comes courtesy of the Tim Westwood Show. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS7sZ1qUqnA&feature=player_embedded... Read more

June 15, 2011 Video

Curren$y cruises the streets and spits 16 hot bars a capella in this slickly shot video. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG64VU_x_Zw... Read more

June 9, 2011 Video

Diz Gibran has been dropping some burners lately.

His last joint, The Return, was so tight, it was the lead off on our latest mix. This latest song is called Slick. Diz's flow on the track is reminiscent of the late, great Big L. Check it out. Click here to download. Peep the Big L comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHnT1WSfVf0... Read more

May 17, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Pharrell hasn’t spit like this since…well…maybe ever. Check out his verses over a Daft Punk track from Tron: Legacy.

He's always been much stronger behind the boards but this one is respectable. There are minimal drums and bass lines but it works for Pharrell's flow. It's called The Game Has Changed and is courtesy of Funkmaster Flex. Click here to download.... Read more

April 1, 2011 Audio

2 days, 2 dope freestyles. First up is Young Chris and then Pusha T.

Young Chris laced Toca Tuesdays and Pusha T dropped bombs with Funk Flex. Check 'em out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxFoKuC5Phw&feature=player_embedded Click here to download.... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio, Video

Here’s another solid XXL Freshman Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Big K.R.I.T.

K.R.I.T. continues to spit about the everyday struggle. Click here more of the best of these XXL Freshman Freestyles.... Read more

March 16, 2011 Video

CyHi Da Prynce dropped one of the 3 strongest XXL freestyles so far…

The other 2 belonged to Kendrick Lamar and Yelawolf. The XXL one still doesn't hold a candle to this one, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg... Read more

March 15, 2011 Video

Kendrick Lamar got his XXL Freshman shine on yesterday. Today, it’s Yelawolf’s turn.

Check out his a capella flow on celluloid.... Read more

March 3, 2011 Video

Mos Def and Kanye West freestyling over Dilla beats?! Does it get any better?

This happened at a Lupe Fiasco show at Blue Note. Dudes just kicking real ish and rocking a party, taking hip-hop back to its essence. 7 min of dopeness. Click here to download. I wasn't there but I imagine the energy was something like this (without the bboys): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOzd5THVKk4 Click... Read more

February 28, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

It’s official. Toca Tuesdays Freestyles is the best “freestyle” series in hip-hop. The latest is from Black Thought’s Money Making Jam Boys.

And...this is true freestyling off the dome. The rhymes aren't as complex as they would be if written but hearing the genius associated with spontaneous rhymes makes them much doper. At almost 9 minutes of pure cypher, this is an instant classic. Check it out: Click here to download. Click... Read more

February 17, 2011 Audio

Ever see the movie Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme? It explores the art of truly coming off the top of the dome with clever lyrics.

Nowadays, anytime someone spits a verse that's not on wax or in concert it's considered a "freestyle." It wasn't always like that though. It used to be that a true freestyle was a complete impromptu rap that was often inspired in the heat of battle with another MC. If you... Read more

February 13, 2011 TV/Film, Video

Are there any better “freestyle” sessions than the one’s on Shade 45’s Toca Tuesdays? Saigon is the latest to drop a verse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF95HoNUmFc&feature=player_embedded And this one from Cyhi Da Prynce is still one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg... Read more

January 19, 2011 Video

CyHi the Prynce is fcking ridiculous. First he kicked the best verse on Kanye's So Appalled (yeah, I said it) and now this rhyme in the studio of Shade 45?! The sht is…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg&feature=player_embedded... Read more

December 2, 2010 Video

Diggy Simmons is reppin' Queens HARD. This time he does it with a freestyle over Mobb Deep's classic Shook Ones.

This kid is about to blow. Diggy Simmons- {Shook Ones Freestyle} from philthegod. on Vimeo. The Bridge is on a whole different level with this one. Here's Shook Ones by one of Queensbridge's finest, Mobb Deep: And, of course Diggy made his debut rhyming over this classic Nas track.... Read more

November 19, 2010 The Bridge, Video

Speaking of freestyles, guest writer BIG MITCH recently sent some jewels our way. Check out these vintage DMX clips and imagine what could have been…

I think its time we remember the old school heads who if they could get their sh*t together would still rule the hip hop world. I think we have all forgotten how special DMX was. Let this freestyle remind us: Also, watch how he murders the greatest rapper of all-time,... Read more

November 6, 2010 Video

There's been a lot of chatter about the "freestyles" that Kanye West and Pusha T dropped when they visited Hot 97 in NYC earlier in the week. Check out the video and see for yourself.

November 6, 2010 Video

The latest installment of PREEM-EAR is here. This week Omar Akil drops a jewel with Joell Ortiz.

PREEM-EAR: Joell Ortiz "Project Boy" Got another one! Or should I say Joell got ONE!!! I'm hoping that, at this point, there is no need to familiarize you all with the rhyme animal that is Joell Ortiz. Forget repeat, Flex (Funkmaster) has had Joell's HOT97 (NY) freestyle on continuous loop... Read more

October 18, 2010 Audio

Ever heard of OUN? You will soon. He sounds like a hungry Jadakiss…but maybe even nicer….

Check out this freestyle, starting at 2:22. Even if he wrote it and rehearsed it 100 times, it's ill...if he is coming off the top, MCs beware. Vado looks like his feelings were hurt. ExternalVideo.971259&w=425&h=350&fv= ... Read more

October 13, 2010 Video

Whatever happened to the art of freestyling?

For most MCs, freestyling means kicking a verse that they've written and nobody's heard...but true freestyling is the art of rhyming straight off the top of the dome. Newcomer Donnis recently reminded us of the true art of freestyling with this rhyme that he spit on Sirius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBOeY6C6W4M That inspired... Read more

October 1, 2010 Video

Freddie Gibbs is nice. Really nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn_q-kZLieU... Read more

July 7, 2010 Audio, Video