freestyle Archives

Raury Almost Whispers a Freestyle BUT IT BOOMS (Video)

Raury is an up and coming MC from Atlanta. Like fellow Atliens OutKast, Goodie M.O.B., T.I. and Cyhi, he is a SPITTER. He recently dropped a verse on the Sway in the Morning show unlike any you may have heard in a while. Barely speaking above a whisper, he proceeded... Read more

September 6, 2014 Video

G-Unit With A Live Band? Watch ‘Em. Plus, Check Out A 13-Minute Freestyle (Videos)

Following the G-Unit group's first retail release since 2008 (The Beauty Of Independence), the quintet is hard at work. For "Watch Me," the Queens-to-Nashville-to-New Orleans troop hits a warehouse to join a live building. The group continues to charm cameras, delivering bars with precision: If that's not enough, the clique... Read more

September 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

Your Old Droog Steals The Show On Stage & With This Freestyle (Video)

Less than 15 hours after Your Old Droog's Webster Hall coming out party, DJ Eclipse unveiled this video of the Coney Island, Brooklyn MC freestyling on The Rap Is Outta Control Show. What's the best sonic canvas for Droog to throw verbal paint? The timeless instrumental from Mad Lion's "Take... Read more

September 4, 2014 Fresh, Video

Redman Freestyles From The Streets Of Amsterdam At Midnight (Video)

Some things just make sense. For instance: Redman wandering the streets of Amsterdam in the middle of the night, kickin' raps, after he takes some rips. The master of the Gilla House throws high fives and meanders traffic circles as he kicks a pepped-up flow ["Outspoken"] freestyle reppin' his crew,... Read more

September 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Freddie Gibbs Freestyles Over Believe Me & 0 to 100 on Tim Westwood TV (Video)

Freddie Gibbs touched down in the UK and paid a visit to the Tim Westwood Show. While there, he laid down a blistering verse over "0 to 100" and "Believe Me." Signed or independent, Gibbs is still Gangsta. Check out the video. Related: Statik Selektah, Joey Bada$$ & Freddie Gibbs... Read more

September 3, 2014 Video

Timeless Truth Chop Up Pete Rock’s Strange Fruit (Audio)

If you're going to get on a Pete Rock track that first featured Tragedy Khadafi, Cappadonna & Sticky Fingaz, you better bring it. That's exactly what Timeless Truth did. The Queens duo of Oprime39 and Solace went to work on the track like they should have been on it in... Read more

August 30, 2014 Audio

Travi$ Scott Kicks a True Off the Top Freestyle on Sway in the Morning (Video)

Many MCs claim to go "off the top" when they freestyle...few actually do it. It takes a different level of courage and skill to let the words flow without guarantee of what will come. Travi$ Scott did just that on Sway in the Morning and you can see the infectious... Read more

August 30, 2014 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

Stalley Goes Off The Top, Over Jazze Pha’s Rooted Instrumental (Video)

With a lot of content this week, Stalley hits Sway In The Morning. Before switching seats with The Notorious B.I.G & 2Pac's mutual producer, Easy Mo Bee, the Massillon, Ohio falls right into the pocket over the Nappy Roots' "Aw Naw" instrumental. There, Stalley says he comes truly off-the-top in... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Yelawolf Freestyles Over A Primus Beat, Really Well (Audio)

Yelawolf likes Rock & Roll just as much as he enjoys Hip-Hop. Heads who heard Catfish Billy's breakthrough 2008 mixtape Stereo know that it's nothing for the Gadsden, Alabama MC to tear apart Rock breaks. Rapping over Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pink Floyd tracks, the fast-rapping MC went to work in... Read more

August 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

What Do Remy Ma & Biggie Smalls’ Sway Freestyles Have In Common? (Video)

In Remy Ma's first post-prison freestyle, the former First Lady Of The Terror Squad hits Sway In The Morning with a verse. As Sway Calloway points out, Remy joins The Notorious B.I.G. as the only 2 artists on his show to seamlessly edit her curses on the fly. With Sway... Read more

August 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Watch Never Before Released Footage of Talib Kweli Freestyling in 1998 (Video)

Wow. DJ Eclipse's Throwback Thursday treats just keep getting better and better. After releasing dope late 90's freestyles from Kanye West and Common Sense, he now lets loose never before seen footage of Talib Kweli ripping the mic at an in-store appearance at NYC's Fat Beats in 1998. Kweli is... Read more

August 14, 2014 Throwback

Dilated Peoples Freestyle Off the Top on Toca Tuesdays (Video)

Rakaa and Evidence from Dilated Peoples dropped by DJ Tony Touch's Toca Tuesday show and kicked a mean freestyle, off the top. Their new album Director's of Photography is available for sale today. Check out the video. Related: You Thought That They Were Gone For Good, But Dilated Peoples Are... Read more

August 12, 2014 Video

Joell Ortiz Puts Down 16 Bars With Fervor (Video)

In AOL Boombox's 16 Bars series, Joell Ortiz steps in. The Brooklyn, New York veteran has built a reputation and his career foundation on confident, thoughtful bars that may or may not always belong to a song. So 16 is no problem for the Slaughterhouse MC. Here, he does as... Read more

August 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here’s a Clip of Common (Sense) in 1997 STRAIGHT RIPPING THE MIC at Fat Beats (Video)

DJ Eclipse continues his weekly treat of digging into the vault and pulling out extremely rare footage of some of today's most vaunted MCs freestyling early in their careers. After showcasing, a spirited Kanye West rapping in 1996, here's a clip of Common (then Common Sense) OBLITERATING the mic, off... Read more

August 8, 2014 Throwback

Action Bronson Begins A Freestyle Over Rick Ross’ The Devil is a Lie Then Goes Acapella (Video)

Action Bronson appeared on HOT 97's morning show. After fielding some personal questions regarding his family and discussing his new psychedelic single, "Easy Rider," Bam Bam eventually stands on the horizon of being beckoned for bars. Asked to freestyle, Bronson is fed Rick Ross' instrumental to "The Devil Is A... Read more

August 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Dilated Peoples & J5’s Chali 2na Freestyle 15 Years Ago This Week (Video)

Right now, Dilated Peoples and Jurassic 5 are on the Word Of Mouth Tour. The two veteran Los Angeles, California underground Hip-Hop collectives are joined by The Beat Junkies' DJ Rhettmatic and MC Supernatural, all entities who weathered the storm of major label deals and opportunities, shifted to a diverted... Read more

August 4, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Vic Mensa Raps About How He & Chief Keef Are Of The Same Water, Jay Z Meetings In SBTV Freestyle (Video)

After last week's 10-minute freestyle, Vic Mensa keeps things a bit more simple and concentrated for SBTV's Warm Up Sessions. While in the United Kingdom, the Save Money standout uses his cue to rap about Chicago's violent epidemic, and reminds Heads that just 'cause he might not talk about the... Read more

July 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

HuffPost Mashes Up Their Freestyles from Snoop, Black Thought & Wayne Brady (Video)

Oddly, Huffington Post has started collecting freestyles from various guests. You may have caught some, such as Black Thought rhyming over Questlove's pic and table-driven beat, and now they've done a video mashup of freestyles from Snoop, Black Thought and Wayne Brady. The only requirement of each is that he... Read more

July 23, 2014 Video

Lecrae Smashes The Five Fingers of Death MC Challenge with Style & Grace (Video)

When's the last time you heard a rapper smash the mic, without cursing? When's the last time you heard an MC body a Kirk Franklin track?? Lecrae is the latest artist to take on Sway's Five Fingers of Death challenge (flowing over 5 random beats) and he tore it down.... Read more

July 22, 2014 Video

Vic Mensa Kicks Freestyle Fire In The Booth For More Than 10 Minutes (Video)

Joining DJ/host Charlie Sloth on the BBC 1Xtra show, Vic Mensa ignites Fire In The Booth. The show's series finds MCs kicking bars over some impromptu instrumentals. It's unclear how much of it is off the dome (sure seems like most of it), but the Save Money front-man and his... Read more

July 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

GQ Represents 9th Wonder’s Jamla Army in The Backroom (Video)

GQ, the Oakland MC and member of 9th Wonder's Jamla Army, is the latest to drop a verse in The Backroom. With 9th on the wheels, GQ steps up and blesses the blue mic. Check it out. Related: GQ Gets A Star-Studded Record With Nipsey Hussle & A Rapper Big... Read more

July 16, 2014 Video

Sway Tests Mistah FAB With The 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Challenge, How’s He Stand? (Video)

Mistah FAB is one of the meanest freestyle MCs in Hip-Hop. Appearing recently on "Sway In The Morning," it's abundantly clear that fellow Bay Area alum Sway is well aware of Fabby Davis' lyrical capability. Running through some of the stellar guests as of late on the Shade 45 program,... Read more

July 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Loaded Lux Joins DJ Premier For Bars In The Booth (Video)

Throughout the last 25 years, DJ Premier has thrived when working with battle-tested MCs, ranging from Rah Digga ("Lessons Of Today") to Craig G ("Ready Set Begin") to Canibus ("Golden Terra Of Rap"). So with Battle Rap at arguably its pinnacle since the 1990s, why not go to one of... Read more

July 15, 2014 Fresh, Video

Elzhi Drops a Hot Verse in The Backroom. Prepare to Press Rewind (Video)

For more than a decade, in a storied Hip-Hop and 'dolo, Elzhi has been a lyrical force to be reckoned with. Almost exclusively an independent artist, the Detroit, Michigan MC was a welcomed guest to "106 & Park's" Backroom for a freestyle. Kicking those verbal smart-bombs that Elz' has been... Read more

July 13, 2014 Video

Chris Rivers (aka Baby Pun) Goes 0 to 100 on a Tony Touch Freestyle (Video)

Chris Rivers got his shot at a Toca Tuesday Freestyle, and Tony Touch hit him with the 0 to 100 track. Baby Pun got busy, flexing his flow that is oh so reminiscent of his Pops. Check out the video. Related: Styles P & Chris Rivers Have Trust Issues, But... Read more

July 2, 2014 Video

Joell Ortiz Raps About What He’s Been Up To In An Ill Sway In The Morning Freestyle (Video)

Heads never really got to hear Joell Ortiz on a Dr. Dre beat from that mid-2000s Aftermath Entertainment deal that never produced album fruit. Now working with Eminem and Shady Records—and in turn, Dre—Joell is gearing up for another solo LP. Stopping by Sway In The Morning, Ortiz was asked... Read more

June 30, 2014 Fresh, Video

G-Eazy Shows Out On A BET 106 & Park Backroom Freestyle (Video)

In part of Oakland, California's latest wave in Hip-Hop comes MC/producer G-Eazy. Having worked with E-40 and A$AP Ant, this week's These Things Happen is a barn-stormer of a debut from the latest Rap innovator from the Pacific Northwest. Hitting BET's "106 & Park" Backroom Freestyle. The stylish MC showcases... Read more

June 26, 2014 Fresh, Video

Emilio Rojas States What He’s ‘Bout In A Tony Touch Toca Tuesday Freestyle (Video)

With yet another self-released street project, care of Zero Fucks Given, Rochester, New York's Emilio Rojas is counting on a hot Summer. After a recent ShowOff Radio freestyle with Statik Selektah, Ro' joins another highly-respected DJ/producer at satellite radio, care of Tony Touch. Rockin' for Toca Tuesdays (after the "Taino... Read more

June 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Torae & Skyzoo Are The Next To Light Up Sway In The Morning Freestyles (Video)

With their first collaborative LP, Barrel Brothers, now in stores, Skyzoo and Torae stopped by Sway In The Morning. Insisting that true freestyles are all that they know, Sky' and Tor' (who is no stranger to satellite radio) kick cypher-style, back-and-forth bars very much in step with their styles and... Read more

June 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Futuristic Stamps One Out For Arizona In His Sway In The Morning Freestyle (Video)

Sway In The Morning has become a destination for artists to make severe noise with amazing freestyles. This should come as no surprise to anybody who ever listed to Sway & King Tech's The Wake Up Show, or heard Crooked I, Tech N9ne, and Eminem on an early gold-certified album... Read more

June 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Lupe Fiasco’s Freestyle Fearlessness Continues Alongside Tony Touch (Video)

Last week, Lupe Fiasco lit up Sway Up The Morning with a 100% free, freestyle. In that moment, Lu' was in the zone and combined humor, deep thought, and an unwavering flow. This week, Fiasco appeared on Tony Touch's Toca Radio on Shade 45, and also went off the dome.... Read more

June 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

Locksmith Might Have 2014’s Strongest Freestyle, But Does He Also Have Best Cypher?

Locksmith is out for titles. Richmond, California's own has a great (but slept-on) album out in A Thousand Cuts. He has one of the year's most jaw-droppingly great freestyles, care of DJ Kay Slay's Streetsweeper Radio spot, and now, care of Team Backpack, Lock' is bidding for top cypher. With... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Emilio Rojas Shows A Strong Confidence On A ShowOff Freestyle (Video)

Although he deems it "light work," Rochester, New York's Emilio Rojas' stunts on a ShowOff Radio freestyle alongside collaborator, Statik Selektah. Combining his challenging upbringing with some bravado surrounding women and skills, one of Hip-Hop's most championed unsigned artists continues his recent run of strong material. Related: Emilio Rojas –... Read more

June 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jon Connor, Troy Ave, Jarren Benton & Lil Bibby Close Down The 2014 XXL Cyphers (Video)

Jon Connor has so much energy. The Flint, Michigan MC sets it off with DJ Drama on the turns, as the tireless Aftermath Entertainment sensation ramps up the final of three 2014 XXL freestyles. Then Jarren Benton is true to form, with his odd-ball humor, and vivid references. Lil Bibby... Read more

June 6, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul Kicks A ShowOff Freestyle Along with Dame Dash’s Family, Da$h (Video)

ShowOff Radio freestyles continue to impress, in this Carson, California-to-New Jersey link. Damon Dash's latest family member foray into the music industry is Da$h, who came up appearing on some of Curren$y/Jet Life's get-down with BluRoc/DD172. Now solidifying his own lane, Da$h gets on the mic with Ab-Soul... both of... Read more

June 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

Watch Big L & Big Pun in a Never Before Released Cypher (Video)

Yesterday (5/30) would have been Big L's 40th birthday. To celebrate the fallen MC's life and legacy, Complex premiered never before released footage of Big L in the studio dropping a verse AND a previously unreleased cypher that included L, Charlie Hustle and Big Pun. Check out both videos below.... Read more

May 31, 2014 Throwback

Brother Ali Goes On The Attack In A Freestyle. But Who’s The Target? (Video)

Brother Ali kicked a dope a capella verse on the Sway in the Morning show as part of a sound check. What seemed like a casual rhyme at first turned into a blistering story about an MC who made it based on lies and biting. The target could be an... Read more

May 29, 2014 Video

Get To Know Jarren Benton Through His 2014 XXL Freestyle (Video)

Although he's hardly a new MC, Heads are just getting to know Jarren Benton. The Atlanta, Georgia-based MC is down with Funk Volume (Hopsin, Dizzy Wright), as well as R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, and other bully-mouth MCs from the Northeast. He's already got a Top 200 debut album... Read more

May 27, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here Are Some of the Best Freestyles of 2014 (So Far) (Video Playlist)

UPDATED to include fiery verses from Lupe Fiasco, Lecrae, Remy Ma, Vic Mensa, Elzhi and more. The last few weeks have brought some killer freestyles. Here's a video playlist of some of the MCs dropping the heaviest bars so far in 2014. You'll see Logic, Papoose, King Los, Prevail and... Read more

May 25, 2014 Playlists, Video

Ready for Another Ill Freestyle? eMC Abuse Some DJ Premier Tracks (Video)

Here's another ill freestyle session courtesy of Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio. Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth & Strick (aka eMC) bless the mic over some DJ Premier goodness, off the top...Check out the video.... Read more

May 22, 2014 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

Logic Shows Off His Lyrical Skills Over a DJ Premier Beat (Video)

Still sleeping on Logic's skills? Watch how he blisters the mic over this DJ Premier track on Statik Selektah's Show Off Radio. Part written. Part off the top. All dope. Related: Logic Re-Interprets a Common Classic In Finding Forever (Audio)... Read more

May 20, 2014 Video

Look Back To An Ill 1998 Future Flavas Freestyle From The Last Days Of A Tribe Called Quest (Audio)

Heads may remember the late '90s, early 2000s HOT 97 "Future Flavas" radio show hosted by Marley Marl and Pete Rock. In the glory days of underground Hip-Hop, this show bridged the gap between old school and emerging greats, with two legends on the boards, transmitting to the tri-state. This... Read more

May 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Here is One of the Best Freestyles You’ve Heard in Weeks. GUARANTEED (Video)

Time and time again, Sway's Five Fingers of Death has been the vehicle that separates the MC's from the wannabes. Prevail, from Swollen Members, has firmly established himself as the former. The elite MC tackled 5 random tracks, of different BPMs and genres, and destroyed them...OFF THE TOP. Many are... Read more

May 16, 2014 Video

Questlove Provides the Beat; Black Thought Supplies the BLAZING HOT Lyrics (Video)

The Roots' Questlove and Black Thought joined Sway on Shade 45 and STRAIGHT CAUGHT WRECK. The dynamic duo took it back to the basics, with Quest on the turntable with nothing but a drumbeat and Black Thought spitting that hot fire off the top. This is Hip-Hop. Plain and simple.... Read more

May 14, 2014 Video

Isaiah Rashad Speaks About Life’s Struggles in His XXL Freestyle (Video)

Isaiah Rashad's songs have had a common mixture of pleasure and pain. He consistently demonstrates the ability to honestly address life's ups and downs. His XXL Freshman embodies those characteristics as he touches on the daily struggles and his desire to overcome them for himself and his son. Check out... Read more

May 13, 2014 Video

Chance The Rapper Shows That He’s A Senior Freshman In This XXL Freestyle (Video)

Although Miley Cyrus claimed it, it was actually Chance The Rapper who came into 2013 like a wrecking ball. Chicago's melodic native son countered the city's epidemic violence with proof that youth there are insightful, disenfranchised, and longing for the same acceptance and promise that American youth have always sought,... Read more

May 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

N.O.R.E. Puts His Spin on Believe Me (Audio)

"Where the real Queens at? Shout out Capone-N-Noreaga." Lil Wayne shouted out N.O.R.E. on, Believe Me, his new duet with Drake. N.O.R.E. heard it and ran with it, creating his own version of the Vinylz & Boi-1da track. Check it out. Related: Capone-N-Noreaga Are Back In Business. They Recorded An... Read more

May 9, 2014 Audio

Papoose Drops Bars and Bars and Bars on His Backroom Freestyle, After Serving Donald Sterling (Video)

Papoose delivered bars on bars on bars during his Backroom freestyle. He spit 4 straight minutes of choice similes and metaphors and even managed to serve Donald Sterling. Check out the video. Related: DJ Kay Slay Brings It Back To His Graffiti Roots With Termanology, Chris Rivers, Papoose & More... Read more

May 8, 2014 Video