Kanye West & Mos Def - Blue Note Jazz Club Freestyle

Kanye West & Mos Def - Blue Note Jazz Club Freestyle

No Freestyle Friday this past week. Sue me. Apparently, Kanye and Mos blessed the Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC on Saturday by crashing Lupe's show. The Robert Glasper Experiment backed them up with a soulful, acoustic Dilla beat. Kanye goes off the dome and speaks on why he hasn't begun touring yet, his ties to Illuminati and random vices that have held him back. Mos more just flexed his lyrical muscle and shouted out the crowd. All in all, that would've been a nice way to end any Saturday night. I really wish there was video footage of this, but the audio does the trick just fine. Check out some GOOD Music...

Freestyle Friday (2/18)

Happy Friday, people! Whoever and wherever you are, I'm sure some ciphers will start your day off right, and we've got a few good ones today. The first one is by the Ohio representer Stalley on Toca Tuesdays. After dropping his 'Intelligent Trunk Music' mixtape last week, he swung by Tony Touch's studio and did a quick 2-minute verse with some nice background vocals. The second one is from none other than the Money Making Jam Boys, also on Tony Toca's show. The cipher is over 8 minutes long, with all 5 of the Philly rap collective spitting some vicious writtens over Big L instrumentals in remembrance of Harlem's Problem Child. If you didn't get their mixtape, you've loafed in the worst way. The third freestyle is by Lupe over 'H.A.M.' on Tim Westwood's radio show. I'm not sold on the beat for H.A.M., but somehow Lupe does wonders with it, crafting the most intricate of rhymes off the dome. It wasn't nearly his best, but the fact that he did a true 'freestyle' makes it impressive. Check out all three ciphers and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (2/4)

Dear Dear Whoever readers, I apologize. There has been a dire lack of freestyles on the blog for a few weeks. Blame either my academic obligations or my incessant job search for graduation. Even so, we've got two freestyle verses this week for your listening pleasure. The first one is by Fabolous. As he prepares to drop a new mixtape, he released this freestyle to Kanye's 'Devil in a New Dress', and RIPPED it. Fab shows us here why he gets so much play: his wordplay. If only John Jackson could put that formula together for an ALBUM, there'd be little competition, as he'd be ACTUALLY killing them. Regardless, it's a nice verse. 'The SOUL Tape' is slated to drop this month. The second freestyle is by Jim Jones, and isn't completely a freestyle. After his near-death experience in a car crash last week, Jones quickly released a 'Crash' freestyle detailing the event. The video below is not only a trailer for the upcoming video for 'Crash', but an impromptu performance of his take on Kanye's 'Runaway' (so I'm guessing Ye's beats are the standard again?). Check out both freestyles and have a happy Friday people!

Raekwon - Sweep Week Freestyle

Someone tell me Rae doesn't have some of the meanest promo pics


Raekwon - Sweep Week Freestyle

When's the last time you've heard a straight shot of lyrics? No chorus, no bullshit 'swag' talking during the track, not even an intro... Just a stream of lyrical consciousness? That's right... It's been a minute. Never fear, though. Uncle Chef is here to save the day with a hefty helping of BARS over a smooth interpolation of Mary J's 'All Night Long'. In anticipation of some more new Wu on the horizon, this is exactly what my ears need: great production and lyrics to go. Rae makes a convincing case for one of the GOATs with a bunch of quotables, which I can't say about 99% of the game right now. Doesn't matter if you're an old head or just getting on the Wu. Check out what hip-hop greatness means...

Freestyle Friday (10/29)

Friday means freestyles. And that's just the long and short of it on Dear Whoever. Let's not mince words. Today we've got two very, very different ciphers on the schedule. The first one is with Big Sean, Cory Gunz and Mickey Factz. Let me tell you this before you even hit play: CORY GUNZ KILLS IT. I don't understand why this man is not one of the best in the game, though his signing to Young Money might have something to do with it. Mickey and Big Sean both spit okay verses, but it's clear who's shining in that video. The second one is an old freestyle (I'm guessing) circa 1995 featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, both draped in the finest of apparel from that time. And, as one would expect they spit bars about what else but things only people with Cuban Linx would be able to relate to. Regardless, the cipher is FIRE, and I know a few of you older hip-hop heads will dig it. Check out both the young and older eras of hip-hop for this Freestyle Friday and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday on Saturday (9/25)

What's up Dear Whoever faithful? Saturday would be the day for Freestyle Friday wouldn't it? Even though I've been missing with these the past two weeks I've got two for the killing today, albeit a day late. The first one is from Yelawolf, whose freestyles have been getting better and better as of late. The Alabama MC puts his unique spin on Snoop's 'I Wanna Rock', and he has me rocking my head to the way he uses inflections and his voice. Yelawolf definitely needs to get some more music out there, because I was sleeping on that man. The second cipher is with those good fellows from Yonkers, D- Block. Sheek Louch and Styles P bring Bully along to Funk Flex's show (I wish Jada was there) and go off on Drake's 'Light Up'. The result is almost 8 minutes of raw, unadulterated hip-hop. The third one is by the rapping half of Chiddy Bang. Chiddy spits a verse off the dome that trumps most dudes writtens, even though the man stumbled over some of his lyrics. I wasn't a fan before, but the duo is really opening my eyes to how vast the spectrum of hip-hop can be. Check out all three freestyles and have a safe, fun weekend, people!!!

Freestyle Friday (8/6)

People, how goes it? It's Friday, and Friday means freestyles. Today, we've got two freestyles that will have your ears wiggling and your fingers wanting to press rewind. The first cypher features Mickey Factz on a show called 'The Syndies'. Mickey does the term 'freestyle' a bit of justice and decides to go completely off the dome. His verse is damn near miraculous, considering most heads spit from a Blackberry nowadays. The fact that he can make coherent thoughts come across in rhyme form without writing it down is amazing. The improvisational aspect of freestyling is dying, but Mickey Factz is one of the people manning the respirator. The second freestyle is by J. Cole on Power 10 (wherever that is). Cole does his usual masterful job over the airwaves, so there's really nothing to say other than to just watch the video. The third cypher is by an oldie, but goodie, Pharoahe Monch. The Lyricist Lounge alumni dropped by Tony Touch's Tuesday Sirius radio show and does DAMAGE. I don't even want to talk about this one either because it's piff. Seriously, just listen and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (7/30)

Hey people, it's Friday and that means nothing other than freestyles. Today, I'm posting up a guy who I've seen floating around the blogosphere but never got a chance to listen either through my own disinterest or just because there are too many rappers out there. Either way, Rain, hailing from North Carolina, is nice with it. He visited Tony Touch's radio show this week and dropped off a long freestyle about where he's from and where he wants to go in this industry. The beat he goes over is really good too. Anyone got the title for me? The second freestyle is by Joell Ortiz, whose YAOWA movement is gaining steam by the day. This freestyle, over DJ Premier's 'Sing Like Bilal', is somewhat of a subliminal diss track, coming at all of the 'new' rappers on the scene now. Not that I agree completely with Joell's stance, but you've got to admit, the man does spit some truth about the way labels act towards them. Not to mention, Joell is actually a monster and could go toe to toe with most of the cats coming out now. Whether YAOWA will put the bullseye on some backs has yet to be seen, but with verses like this, it's looking like the summer's going to end on a high note for Joell. Check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (6/11)

Friday means freestyles and I've got two extra dope ones today for you guys to bump while taking a break from watching the World Cup. The first one is by XV on Tony Touch's radio show, and he. goes. IN. When I say that, I mean, the man has quotables for days in the freestyle. From referencing home & garden magazines to masterful asyndeton (look that shit up), he rips it. I'm still listening to this one, to tell you the truth. The second freestyle is from the homie Emilio Rojas over J. Cole's over. Cole is kind of pissed that the instrumental made its way onto the interwebs, but I suppose when you have cats like Emilio out there doing the beat justice, can you really be mad. Emilio makes his case with a flurry of quick-witted punchlines and ruminates about whether crack raps have gotten obsolete. I kind of agree with him on the latter point, so the freestyle hits home extra hard these days. Check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (6/4)

What's up people!! Been slacking on the Freestyle Fridays as of late, so this week I had to make sure to post one. The first up is Charles Hamilton dropping by Shade45's radio show to chop it up with Tony Touch and spit off the dome. Chuck's Multihamitonization Project is going to need more ciphers like this if he wants to get back on the scene in full force. I guess being the only rapper out right now who can rap off the top of his head helps. The second freestyle is by Young Chris, who's slowly becoming a really really good rapper. He sounds like he's seriously been hitting the books and expanding his vocab, which you can't be mad at. I still have to listen to The Network 2, especially if Chris is going to be doing it like this. Check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever!!!

Lyriciss - Who Dat Freestyle

Lyriciss - Who Dat Freestyle

Okay, I usually don't like it when rappers touch a beat that another rapper has destroyed, but I suppose I can make an exception for Lyriciss. Last week, I posted his freestyle, "Hot Music" which was over K-os' 'Superstar: Part 0". He murked that with the rapidfire flow. This week, he spit over J. Cole's 'Who Dat' and takes lyrical defecation on the beat. No chorus, no hook, no random chatter at the beginning or end, just lyrics. I guess it's only fitting that the man's moniker is Lyriciss. I was all ears after hearing his mixtape "The Practice", but now I consider myself a fan. Homie, please keep putting these out. As a matter of fact, just drop another mixtape. I know you have bars to spare with the way you're spitting now. Seriously, give this a listen and tell me he isn't dope...

Freestyle Friday (4/30)

If it's Friday, you know we've got freestyles. Both of these freestyles show that there's a changing of the guards going on in hip-hop. The first one is from Vado, and it's official: Vado is legit! That's by Jadakiss's standards though. The Harlem MC stopped by DJ Green Lantern's Sirius radio show with Cam'ron and got the chance to spit some freestyle bars in front of Mr. Al-Queada. By the time the beat was done, Vado had one of the meanest co-signs in hip-hop. The second freestyle is from Curren$y. The premise here is simple. He rolls in in the flyest of whips, lets his bass bump and drops off a verse that sounds like it was off the dome. The craziest part of the freestyle was the fact that Spitta was rocking the Roc-a-Fella chain and the Camaro he was riding had the BlackRoc (Dame Dash's new initiative) imprint on it. Dame x Spitta might damn well equal FIRE, especially with Curren$y's new album 'Pilot Talk' dropping soon. Whatever the case, check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (4/16)

What's up people?! Friday means freestyles and we got 2dope ones coming today. The first one is by LLoyd Banks at Hot 97's studios. Everyone knows Banks is a freestyle bully (and championship recycler) coming with punchlines. Hopefully Hunger for More 2 doesn't disappoint. One question: why doesn't anything but his mouth move? He looks like he's gotten some Botox done or something. The second freestyle is from Charles Hamilton during his show at SOB's. People wonder why Charles Hamilton has a following. It's because of things like this that I believe Chuck should get more love than he does. The man freestyles, literally off the top, for 8 minutes. Not many other rappers can say that they do that. Whatever the case, check out the freestyles and happy Friday!!

Freestyle Friday (1/29)

What's up people? I know I've been slacking on these, but you know since it's Friday, the freestyles must flow. The first one is from Big Sean. Normally I wouldn't bat an eyelash at the mention of Big Sean. Then I saw the beat he was going over, Gucci's 'Supa Dupa Lemonade' (guilty pleasure), and decided to give it a listen. No, Big Sean isn't the 2nd coming of lyricism, but he did the beat justice. He actually surprised me. The second cypher is from Juelz Santana and his Skull Gang crew. Un Kasa puts together some bars, and then a bunch of cronies friends put something on wax, before Juelz (4:10) spits a nice little verse about his conquests. I hate when songs and freestyles put a bunch of wack people between the good rappers. It's a waste of time. Regardless of the crew, Bandana Santana does his thing. Check the freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...