freestyle Archives

Ever See This Cypher Between Tupac, Grand Puba and Treach? (Video)

Back in 1992, before the East Coast/West Coast beef was in full effect, Treach, Tupac and Grand Puba found themselves together backstage and decided to have an impromptu cipher. The moment was caught on tape and has made the rounds over the years, but it's still amazing to see the... Read more

February 21, 2015 Throwback

Talib Kweli Freestyles About Suge Knight. Too Soon? (Video)

Featured in the 2000 film, Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme, Talib Kweli has built his skills in the cyphers, and with the impromptu improvisation that is freestyling. These days, Kwe' is busy touring, making albums, and co-running a label conglomerate. The days in the parks may be few and far... Read more

February 19, 2015 Video

The Very First Time Jay Z Performed On TV, They Didn’t Even Say His Name (Video)

Before 1990, Jay Z was not on too many radars. The guest on The Jaz' "Hawaiian Sophie" was in the place that a lot of hopeful artists can relate to. He had a moment in the sun (of a whimsical EMI Records single of his then-rhyme mentor), and was trying... Read more

February 18, 2015 Throwback

Sadat X, General Steele & Channel Live’s Hakim Green Light Up A Roundtable Freestyle (Video)

With his Never Left album in stores (and available for snippet-stream), Sadat X is on an award tour. The Brand Nubian co-founder was a guest on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesday show. However, Derek was far from alone. Smif-n-Wessun's General Steele and Channel Live's Hakim Green were in on a roundtable... Read more

February 10, 2015 Video

Method Man Is In The Zone With The Ill Cadence In This 1995 Freestyle Relic (Audio)

Back in 1995, Method Man was having a banner year. His solo debut, Tical, grabbed a Top 3 debut, topping the Rap/R&B charts. The late 1994 Def Jam release made the Staten Island MC a premier grab into the following year, making guest appearances on single with Shaquille O'Neal, as... Read more

February 9, 2015 Throwback

Jarren Benton Sets 2015 Off With One Of The Better Freestyles You’re Gonna Hear (Video)

Funk Volume's pedigree for bigger than life lyricism is strong—especially on a label co-founded by Hopsin. One to watch though, is Georgia's Jarren Benton. A true Rap outcast/cool-guy hybrid, Jarren, in many ways, is a callback to early D12, R.A. The Rugged Man (who he's worked with), and Sticky Fingaz.... Read more

January 28, 2015 Video

Joey Bada$$ Is Taking A Big Step This Week. He’s Ready, With A Freestyle (Video)

Today (January 20) welcomes Joey Bada$$' debut, B4.Da.$$ to the marketplace and music shop shelves. Backed by Sony Red, the Cinematic/Pro Era release includes production contributions from DJ Premier, The Roots, and Statik Selektah, among others. The moment also capsules a five-year rise to prominence, since the Brooklyn, New Yorker... Read more

January 20, 2015 Video

Action Bronson Rips the Mic So Hard He Loses His Headphones on This Freestyle (Video)

"I'm gonna keep it official today. Yo, this boy Action Broson is the nicest in the game right now." That was Funkmaster Flex's response after Action Bronson ripped a freestyle so hard that he lost his headphones halfway through. Technical difficulties didn't stop the action man, though. He did the... Read more

January 15, 2015 Video

Remember This Rakim, KRS-One, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock & MC Serch Freestyle (Video)

As we gear up for Round 2 of our Battle for the GOAT, there is no doubt that Rakim and KRS-One will be atop many people's lists of the greatest MCs of all time. So, as a sneak preview, here's a look back at part of one of the legendary... Read more

December 27, 2014 Throwback

Bogeda BAMZ Is Gifted With Slick Gab, Freestyling Over A B.D.K. Classic (Video)

Bodega BAMZ has been movin' for more than a minute. Stopping at Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays show, the New York MC gets a chance to show what he's about. Rhyming over a classic Big Daddy Kane instrumental (that seems to suit BAMZ well), the MC shines politely with some stellar... Read more

December 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Detroit Che Follows Her Cypher with a Monster Backroom Freestyle (Video)

Detroit Che earned her way into the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher by winning the Hot 16 contest sponsored by Sprite. She was grouped with MCs like Logic, Lil Mama, Troy Ave and Dee-1. Undaunted, she stood toe to toe with each and came away with one of the... Read more

December 10, 2014 Video

Dee-1 Makes Thoughtful Bounce Music, Evident In This Backroom Freestyle (Video)

New Orleans, Louisiana MC Dee-1 has the respect and support of some of the Bayou City's masters of Bounce. Mannie Fresh and Juvenile both clamored to work with the RCA Records-backed artist. In his recent appearance in "106 & Park's" The Backroom, Dee delivers lyrics with substance and flare at... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, 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

Skillz Shuts Down The Competition With A Freestyle WHILE DJ’ing (Video)

Most Heads know that Skillz is a microphone monster. But did you know that the Virginia native is a sharp DJ too? After years of rolling with DJ Jazzy Jeff on the road, the onetime Rawkus Records artist returns to Sway In The Morning for a second straight day. After... Read more

December 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

A 1997 Eminem Freestyle Surfaces, With Some Slick Slim Shady Rawness (Audio)

Seventeen years ago this month, Eminem was not a diamond, platinum, or gold-selling artist. He was not down with Dr. Dre. Eminem did not have a gated home in Detroit, or a radio platform. Instead, Eminem was just Marshall Mathers, a fast-talking MC with quick wit, sticking similes, and a... Read more

December 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Skillz Is A Supafriendz Alum & Freestyle Legend, So Sway Had To Put Him On The Spot (Video)

Back in those days when he was From Where???, (Mad) Skillz belonged to the Supafriendz, a Virginia massive including Danja Mowf, Lonnie B, and Kalonji The Immortal. This posse got some of its biggest exposure thanks to the aforementioned 1996 album, and a few compilations and singles. However, freestyle enthusiasts... Read more

December 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ever See This Rough and Rugged Big Daddy Kane Freestyle? (Video)

In the discussion of GOATs, one name continually resurfaces: Big Daddy Kane. As one of the first purveyors of multi-syllabic rhyming, Kane is literally the father to a style that has endured for decades. Ain't nothing like the real thing though...Here's a look back at Kane in his purest element,... Read more

November 29, 2014 Throwback

Bishop Nehru Makes His Sway in the Morning Debut with a Strong Verse (Video)

Bishop Nehru is an old soul. Not only does he have 90's sensibilities with his flow, his knowledge of the music and life perspective also go well beyond his years. All of this was on full display as he made his Sway in the Morning debut. He came prepared with... Read more

November 28, 2014 Video

You KNOW Bumpy Knuckles Got Bars In DJ Premier’s Studio Booth (Video)

Still waters run deep. Bumpy Knuckles and DJ Premier crossed paths back in 1997, when they recorded a pair of songs with O.C. for Jewelz. The energy stuck, as Bumpy earned the coveted spot on appearing on Gang Starr's seminal LP, 1998's Moment Of Truth. On "The Militia," the artist also known... Read more

November 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Raekwon Slices Off A Piece Of The New Dej Loaf Single In A Freestyle (Audio)

Chef Raekwon is far from resigned in giving Heads some mid-week freestyle looks. While it was '70s, '80s, and '90s Pop-R&B earlier in the calendar, Rae' is now about the hot street records from new voices. After he and Ghostface Killah gave Troy Ave the nod, Shallah takes aim at... Read more

November 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

King Los Goes To TOWN, Freestyling Over Alchemist Beats For 15 Minutes (Video)

This is a cool, refreshing concept... Baltimore, Maryland's King Los has earned a reputation for being one of the longest winded, most durable freestylers in the game today. His Backroom appearance, his Sway In The Morning spot, and his Toca Tuesday stop remained three of the most talked about, most... Read more

November 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic May Be High On The Charts, But He’s Not Above A Lunch Table Freestyle (Audio)

While chilling with the L.A. Leakers, Logic was good for two different freestyles. With a Top 5 debut of Under Pressure, the Maryland MC is still just as open to showcasing his skills as he was before the success and the Def Jam deal. J Cruz and Justin Credible throw... Read more

November 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ras Kass’ Razor Sharp Freestyle Streak Continues… (Video)

Ras Kass is moving like its the '90s again. In the splashing wake of Blasphemy (with producer Apollo Brown), Rap's answer to Vincent Van Gogh throws some verbal paint on Toca Tuesdays, with a cocky freestyle. What else would you expect from the sharp-tongued vet? Related: Ras Kass Flips A... Read more

November 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Your Old Droog & DJ Skizz Took A Freestyle & Polished It Into A Song (Audio)

Your Old Droog and DJ Skizz may have been just freestyling around last week, but the pair was in the studio for a reason. "Just Rhymin' With Skizz" has evolved into "Where The Rhymes At?" Recorded again, with some new rhymes in there, this track comes as an offering from... Read more

November 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Your Old Droog is Not Nas But He’s Still Nasty. Here’s a New Freestyle (Video)

Now that the Nas controversy has been settled, Your Old Droog returns to what's really important to him: rhymin'. He releases part 2 of his "Rhymin' with Skizz" series which goes back to the basic with nothing but Droog on the mic and Skizz on the beat. Check out the... Read more

November 3, 2014 Video

Freeway & The Jacka Spit Some Fire in the Booth (Video)

BBC Radio 1 continues its freestyle series with some Fire in the Booth from Freeway & The Jacka. Both go off the top quite a bit in this one and Freeway rocks a live version of "What We Do." Check out the video. Related: AZ, Freeway, Havoc & Kids These... Read more

November 2, 2014 Video

Ras Kass Flips A Classic Jay Z Lyric On Its Head In A Masterful Freestyle (Video)

Mello Music Group has been around for almost a decade. After acclaimed involving O.C., Oddisee, and Planet Asia, the just-released Blasphemy by Ras Kass & Apollo Brown seems to be reaching the furthest into the industry, just days in. After stopping through the "106 & Park" Backroom, Ras Kass appears... Read more

October 30, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic Is “Just Havin’ A Good Time, Spittin’ This Rhyme” In A True Freestyle (Video)

Tomorrow (October 29), Heads can see if Logic's just-released Under Pressure is the #1 album in the country. For now though, the Gaithersburg, Maryland MC is just having fun. He rhymes about that light-hearted mood, just playing with words on Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays. Whimsical with his direction, Logic seems... Read more

October 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic Does an Off The Top Freestyle Over Seven Minutes of Funk (Video)

Logic hit the Sway in the Morning show to discuss his new album, Under Pressure (easily one of the best of the year). While the album had hit number 1 overall on iTunes that day, Logic said his concern was not with short term success but with creating an album... Read more

October 25, 2014 Video

Logic Rocks The Multi-Syllabic Rhyme Scheme In His Backroom Freestyle (Video)

Logic's Under Pressure release date (October 21) has been an all out blitz of content. From free album streams, camera crews meeting his parents in the livingroom, interviews, and everything between, it would not be complete without a freestyle from the proven star of the free-form approach. Hitting the "106... Read more

October 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

CyHi The Prynce, Rapsody & Caskey Light Up This Team Backpack Cypher (Video)

Team Backpack cyphers have become a staple in the Hip-Hop zeitgeist for several years now. The collective's videos have made stars out of fresh-faced artists, and cultivated talent in a format that Heads can respect: the free-form cypher. It's competitive, it's stripped-down, it's pure MC'ing. So how about this? T.B.P... Read more

October 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Funk Volume Turns Up With Fresh, Thoughtful Dizzy Wright & Hopsin Freestyles (Videos)

Funk Volume continues to dig in their foot-hold in the Hip-Hop game. While Hopsin and Dizzy Wright are polar opposites in many ways, they both uphold this time-tested truth: say somethin' when you touch the microphone. Stopping through Tim Westwood's London booth at the BBC, each MC blazes up with... Read more

October 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ever Catch This Rare Method Man & Redman Freestyle From 1998? (Audio)

Some things never get old...such as off the top verses (and a couple writtens) from Redman and Method Man. Here's a rare cypher from back in the day (circa 1998) featuring Tical, the Funk Doctor Spock and Mr. Loose (who's also quite nice) on WNYU. The verses start at the... Read more

October 18, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Lil Dicky Hits The Backroom With One Of The Smoothest, Fastest, Most Confident Raps Out (Video)

Out of thin air, Philadelphia's Lil Dicky swings through the "106 & Park" Backroom booth where he simply shakes apart the walls with a fast, highly-confident freestyle that is both original and humorous. Like his "No, I will not fix your computer shirt," L.D. (Larry David, as he explains) uses... Read more

October 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

Big K.R.I.T. Kicks A So-Sincere Verse From Cadillactica On Sway In The Morning (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. doesn't freestyle. He tells Sway Calloway as much during this week's stop on Sway In The Morning. However, when urged to take a minute to gather an upcoming collection of couplets, after a quick freestlye over "Mind Playing Tricks on Me," K.R.I.T. comes out of nowhere with a... Read more

October 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Big Sean Highlights His Clever Wordplay On Extended Freestyle (Video)

Big Sean hit Philadelphia's longtime DJ Cosmic Kev to drop off nearly six minutes of non-stop freestyle bars over a bevy of different beats. Along the way, Sean really locks in with the kind of bouncing, homonym-driven wordplay that made him a breakout star. Along the way, he even alludes... Read more

October 14, 2014 Fresh, Video

RZA Freestyles Out Of The Blue During An Interview, Talks Battling Inspectah Deck (Video)

So MTV News opted to ask RZA about reported battles during the Wu-Tang Clan studio sessions for next month's A Better Tomorrow. The Abbott revealed that in a particular moment with Inspectah Deck, both RZA and Rebel INS turned to their phone files to pull out some rhymes and verses... Read more

October 13, 2014 Fresh, Video

Sha Stimuli Works His Magic In The 106 & Park Backroom (Video)

Brooklyn, New York veteran Sha Stimuli made one of the biggest stops of his career at The Backroom in BET's "106 & Park." Lord Digga's brother, a onetime Jermaine Dupri protege at Virgin/EMI Records uses a fragmented style, hitting various themes (candy bars, '80s television, networks) to discuss the sugar-coated... Read more

October 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Logic Punctuates A Minute With Soul Assassins In The Form Of A True Freestyle (Video)

Logic hit Los Angeles, California recently and swung through DJ Muggs' Soul Assassins Radio. There, with a classic Wu-Tang Clan beat, Baltimore's young MC got to work with a "here and now" verse about his album, his name, his race, and how those Sway In The Morning-type freestyles weren't an... Read more

September 30, 2014 Fresh, Video

Vince Staples Spits an Off the Top Freestyle Better Than Most Writtens (Video)

Vince Staples is making a name for himself. After dropping one of the hotter mixtapes last year with Mac Miller and sharing the stage with Common and Jay Electronica last week, the talented young MC from Long Beach, CA has delivered one of the better freestyles of the year on... Read more

September 25, 2014 Video

Joey Bada$$ Goes to Work on A Tribe Called Quest’s Scenario Remix (Video)

Joey Bada$$ has been on a freestyle tear, as of late. After wrecking a Toca Tuesday freestyle last week, he shows off with Statik Selektah now. Statik cues up A Tribe Called Quest's Scenario Remix track and Joey goes to work. Check out the video. Related: Joey Bada$$ Says He’s... Read more

September 25, 2014 Video

Kendrick Lamar May Deliver His Finest Freestyle, But Does Big Boy Shine Harder? (Video)

One day after his "i" release, Kendrick Lamar isn't out to give the spotlight up. But if anybody's testing him for it, it's not who you'd expect. On Big Boy's Neighborhood, K-Dot goes truly off the dome through 25 years of instrumentals, ranging from Nas/James Brown, to State Property, to... Read more

September 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Murda Mook Drops a Killer Verse on Sway in the Morning (Video)

Murda Mook is most famous for chopping heads on stage during his hard-scrabble battles. But, rest assured, when he steps out of the arena and behind the mic, he still gets busy. Mook paid a visit to the Sway in the Morning show and delivered a blistering freestyle, all while... Read more

September 20, 2014 Video

Murs & ¡Mayday! Deliver Blistering Freestyles While Having Fun (Video)

Sometimes even the best content slips through the cracks...A little over 3 weeks ago, Murs and ¡Mayday! (¡Mursday!) burst into BET's Backroom and CRUSHED it with 3 killer verses. What's more? They had fun. You can see it in their delivery. If you missed this (like we did) it is... Read more

September 19, 2014 Video

Joey Bada$$ Says He’s Bringin’ Brooklyn Back In A Tony Touch Freestyle (Video)

Some things just make sense. If Joey Bada$$ was around, in the industry, in the late '90s, he would have sounded right and exact on Tony Touch cassette tapes. The Taino Turntable Terrorist and the Pro Era front-man linked on Toca Tuesdays. On a loop-based beat made famous by Lootpack... Read more

September 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Remy Ma Says All She Does Is Spazz Out, On A ‘Hot’ Freestyle (Audio)

Since her days rollin' with Billy Danze and Lil Fame, Remy Ma has a reputation for putting some of the hardest beats in a choke-hold. So wouldn't one of the biggest present-day stars of the Bronx hop on Bobby Schmurda's "Hot Nigga"? Exactly. Remy really lets her hair down on... Read more

September 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

After An Intermission, The Incomparable Shakespeare Makes A Grand Return (Audio)

It's been a quiet six-month stretch for Brooklyn's The Incomparable Shakespeare. That changed this morning (September 9) with "High Stakes Remainz," a three-pronged instrumental and freestyle. Here, T.I.S breaks into a trifecta of Ahmad Jamal, De La Soul and Gang Starr. Within, Shakespeare kicks some wisdom with confidence about some... Read more

September 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

4 Out Of 5 G-Unit Members Freestyle On One Of Dr. Dre’s Finest Beats (Audio)

It appears as though G-Unit is on a bit of a freestyle tour. After some East Coast stops last week, the veteran, onetime platinum crew stopped through with the L.A. Leakers. While 50 Cent opted out, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Kidd Kidd flexed their vocal muscles over... Read more

September 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Childish Gambino Drops a Scorching Freestyle on Hot 97 (Video)

Childish Gambino does not get enough credit as one of the illest lyricists out right now. Whether its the Cypher, on wax or on radio shows, Mr. Glover shreds mics. After shutting down the Internet last year with his Sway in the Morning Pound Cake freestyle, he's back at it.... Read more

September 8, 2014 Video

The Week in Video Brought New Redman, Camp Lo, Curren$y, Your Old Droog, M.O.P., Mac Miller & More (Video Playlist)

The week in video brought closure on the mystery of Your Old Droog, freestyles from Redman, G-Unit and Freddie Gibbs, and new music videos from M.O.P., Camp Lo, Mac Miller, Jhene Aiko, Lecrae and Curren$y. See it all and more in this video playlist. Related: Last Week in Video Featured... Read more

September 8, 2014 Playlists, Video