Jeff's Joint

The Art of Hip Hop

By Jeff Krugel , On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, October 1, 1998

With the recent releases of Funkmaster Flex's third mix tape, and the Wake-Up Show's "Freestyles Volume 4," one of the biggest fallacies in underground hip hop is brought back into the forefront. The freestyle.

In its truest hip-hop definition, a freestyle is "off the top of the head," meaning that it is conjured up right there - on the spot.

However, countless numbers of quality emcees have been known to recite lyrics that have already been assembled on paper, and try to pawn them off as freestyles. These rappers typically say the reason for this is that they want their lyrics to come out perfect.

I say fine, but do not call it a freestyle. Do not call it a freestyle when KRS-One says that he will challenge anyone on earth to a freestyle competition.

Do not call it a freestyle when Guru, Common, Kurupt or Serch can rhyme for five minutes straight, with nothing more to talk about than what clothes you have on.

The freestyle is hip hop in its purest form. The impromptu challenge of bridging the gap between abstract thought and distinguishable word - before the beat breaks. That is why the freestyle is the true mark of an emcee.

For those rappers out there who do not think lyrics can sound nice off the top of the head, please refer to Juice, Ahmad or Eminem on the aforementioned Wake-Up Show LP.

Peace.