Freestyle rapping is generally believed to have originated in the East Coast sometime during t the late 1970s. DJs used turntables for Rappers to rap over. Often, the MCs would not have any lyrics prepared, but would come in and "Freestyle" off-the-head. The earliest MCs would spit freestyled lyrics at parties to pump up the crowd. It was cool to have pre-written lyrics, but if you couldn’t rock the spot at the spur of the moment you would lose respect.
Freestyling, especially in MC battles, require quick wit and the slick ability to cut down your opponent. This style of rhyming has taken place in important historical contexts in terms of the hip-hop/b-boy culture. Even though freestyles are a foundation for modern day hip-hop, lots of rappers along the way didn't acknowledge the importance of this art form and consequently suffered commercially.
The hip-hop culture encompasses many different aspects of society. Graffiti art, DJing and "turntablism", breakdancing, MCing and "freestyling are just a few that ecompasses the hip hop culture. Some important people in the industry have been quoted saying "Anyone who claims they're an MC and don't freestyle is not a real mc.
The exact definition of freestyling is not known. Freestyle rap is a medium of expression in which the artist attempts to create verbal poetry at the spur of the moment in the style of modern “hip hop” music. Freestyle rapping forces an individual to think on the spot, describe his or her surroundings, and, to a certain degree, rap uncensored from what is inside. Some rappers consider it just rhyming a written verse over any given beat. Others define it as having general ideas planned ahead of time, but the lyrics themselves being created on the spot. The most likely reason is that the talent it takes to make lyrics up on the spot requires more "mental stamina" (originality) and shows how much a true MC lives and breathes the music.
Hip-hop evolved in the early-80's, but before every kid and his cousin was a rapper with a record deal, rappers gained their fame through live battles with other rappers. While having pre-written lyrics was OK, if a rapper couldn't make up a rhyme on the spot about his opponent, he wasn't going to win the respect of a crowd.
Live freestyles began to die out in the mid-to-late 80's as many more artists were getting record contracts, and they recorded their songs with hi-tech production and a goal of heavy airplay. However, the artists that did freestyle at the time are the ones that went on to continue making records up to this day. Other artists, especially some of those in the late-80's to early-90's, actually proudly stated that they did not freestyle and made their songs in the studio for home audiences. Artists that did this neglected not only the art of live hip-hop performance, but also insulted the intelligence of the hip-hop crowd by claiming that an important part of hip-hop culture wasn't really all that essential.
About 1993, freestyling came back into popularity because of radio shows throughout the country allowing for rappers, MTV-frequents and underground artists alike, to "flex their skills" (show their talent) by coming off-the-dome in a live radio setting. It's no coincidence that the resurgence of freestyle popularity came about in 1993 -- the momentum was with underground hip-hop radio shows, popping up all over the country, from New Jersey to New York to California to Texas to Iowa, and local artists and nationally known artists coming through the area were invited to showcase their talent and verbal prowess to a live listening audience.
The idea of freestyling is to present a rhyme about a particular subject. It's not easy to do when you have a beat in the background that you have to keep time with and many ears hanging on your every word. MCs today still battle frequently. Sometimes, they are done with no personal vendettas, such as on web sites like (http://www.lyricists.com/) where individuals simply battle verbally. Other times, though, freestyle battles are used as a way to settle "beef," or personal arguments, between artists.
While no one can do a perfect freestyle, there are devices that help save time and give the rapper time to think. For instance:
Think three to four lines ahead of where your are in the freestyle.
- Base your set on the situation and mental state at hand
- Have a ready supply of prepared lyrics and rhyme patterns as a filler
- Build your set around prepared lyrics and rhyme patterns
- Prepare versus in your head as opponent in the battle take their turn.
Due to the improvised nature of freestyle, rules for meter and rhythm are usually more relaxed than in conventional rap. Many other freestyles stumble on and off beat, which is normal, but it is especially impressive when someone can improve their lyrics and structure their sound to make it sound like it could have been written. Freestyling is also often used by many rappers when beginning to write a song, in order to get a feel for the beat and to brainstorm lyrical ideas.
Freestyling is similar to other modern improvised street art forms because it takes the quick wit with insults required when playing the dozens (aka "snaps") and combines it with the improvised style of rapping, rhythmic adherence of toasts, and spontaneous outburst of poetry slams. The sharp mental concentration and creativity have helped to show who is "true" or "real" in hip-hop and who can be disregarded as a strictly-studio rapper.
This hip-hop culture has been around for almost 25 years. It has proven to be absolutely instrumental to the survival of hip-hop as a music and a way of life. The art of freestyling is essential to the life of hip-hop music and culture.
Some artists that are in the mainstream today were discovered when they were in a freestyle battle at a club or bar. This type of rapping also proves useful when beef arises between two rappers. A diss can include attacks on credibility, threats of violence, or simply bragging that one is better than the other. Disses can also be recorded over the rival rapper's beat to add further disrespect. Allegations of sleeping with the another rapper's significant other have become increasingly popular in disses (such as 2Pac claiming to have slept with Biggie's wife, or Jay-Z claiming to have slept with Nas' baby mama).
Many times the audience wants to hear an immediate response from the two people involved in the beef. This makes way for so-called freestyle records. One artist takes a beat that is already out in the mainstream and spits over it so that they can quickly put something out to diss the other rapper involved.
When rappers freestyle most of the time all attention shifts to them because it is so intense, which is why some artist are believed to start beef to boost sales.
The fact that rap and hip hop are based on things like, showing out and making sure every one knows how you feel, makes freestyling the perfect tool to bring rap out of people. A freestyle battle is a contest in which two or more rappers compete or battle each other using freestyle rap. Freestyle battles can take place anywhere, street corners, on stage at a concert, or even in a school.
A live audience is critical to a freestyle battle. Each MC must use skill and lyrical ability to not only break down his or her opponent, but to convince the audience that they are the better rapper. Appointed judges have been used in formal contests, but even when no winner is announced, the rapper who receives the best audience response is viewed as the victor.
Rappers often deliver standalone written verses on radio shows that are referred to or labelled on records or on filesharing programs as freestyles, which has somewhat distorted the meaning of the term. There is often confusion as to whether or not "freestyle verses" are in fact freestyled, with many rappers' written lyrics being simple enough to seem freestyled and many of the best freestylers' improvised lyrics being complex and confident enough to seem written.
What is THE secret to freestyle rapping?
The secret to freestyle rap is writing your rhymes before you supposedly make them up. This way, people will think that the flow you’ve been working on for weeks just came to you off the top of your head. If you spend a great amount of time sculpting an intricate rap and then pretend to make it up as you go along, people will begin to think you’re a lyrical genius.
" Freestyling is like a fad that kids attach onto,"
“It’s a very expressive way to speak your mind."
“Freestyling is a way to fully express yourself,"
“You don’t have to think about what you say; you can just talk from the heart."
For many aspiring artists who wish to get their name recognized, freestyling is also an effective way to get heard. Many famous rap artists on the radio—including Eminem and the Notorious B.I.G.—started their careers by freestyling. Freestyling lets people voice their opinions about others by “battling," in which two or more people engage in a verbal war. Battling is often where people’s real skills are expressed. It is much more focused than just freestyling, which is often too general to make a point.
How should I get started freestyling?
I’ve found the best way to begin your career as a freestyle rapper is to inject rhyme into everyday conversation.
Step 1. Do your homework.
Watch videos online of battles (smack DVD is a good one), or try to go to rap battles near your hometown. The movie 8 mile (plot and story line aside) is a good representation of what a freestyle rap battle is really like.
Step 2.Start Slow.
No need to start off rhyming with complex rhyme patterns and schemes. You don't really have to rhyme just flow. The rhythm can be simple, the words might be 2nd grade level, but you're still freestyling as long as you make it up.
Step 3. Listen to Major Artist
Try and get your ears on some freestyle raps done by accomplished artists who are well known for their battle raps. Rappers like Nas, Jin, Jay-Z, Cassidy, Jada Kiss, Big L, Eminem, and any other artist known for battling.
Step 4. Keep Flowing.
You will make mistakes and sound funny at first. But no matter what happens just keep flowing. Your words aren't rhyming? Keep flowing! Forgot what you was going to say? Keep flowing. At some point some of your lines won't rhyme, won't make sense, but If you make a mistake, do your best to incorporate your mistake into your next lines.
Step 5. Pay Attention
Pay careful attention to the techniques those artists use to battle, and try to mirror them which will help you enhance your own techniques.
Step 6. Rhyme
Eventhough most of your lines will rhyme you dont necesarrily have to rhyme each and every line. Words that rhyme form the foundation of rapping.
Step 7. Start writing.
Write down anything that comes to mind and try to rhyme it. The ability to write an effective battle rhyme will aid you when it comes to the battle.
Step 8. Rap over beats, rap over anything.
Flow over instrumentals or pop in one of your favorite hip-hop cd's and drown out the 'real' rappers. You can rap over classical music, jazz, rock, techno or whatever you want. Rap in the shower, on the bus, before you go to school, during your lunch break, and after dates. Freestyle rap while you're out on a jog, rocking out your iPod. Yeah, people will think you're crazy, but they won't think you're crazy when you go Platinum!
Step 9. Practice
Practice freestyling (rapping without pre-written lyrics on the spot or impromptu) -- anytime, anywhere, as much as you can. Even if you run out of things to freestyle about, just keep going, the longer you force yourself to rap without giving up the stronger you'll become mentally. It's like a mental workout.
Step 10. Rap about things around you.
This is definitely the best way to prove to the crowd that you're really freestyling and not just spitting something you wrote in your room the night before. It's also a huge crowd-pleaser, 'cause its impressive and it makes everyone real glad that they're hanging out with you. Rap about things you see. Incorporate objects, actions, people, clothing, situations, and sounds into your rap. Or at a battle competition, this is crucial. You've got to spit things specific about your opponent. These are the hardest-hitting punches.
Step 11. Rehearse.
Once you get freestyling down, try freestyling battle rhymes. Take a picture of someone, look at your dog do what ever you can to picture an opponent you are about to rap against and try and come up with clever ways to insult the opponent with rap lyrics.
Step 12. Include Metaphors.
Metaphors and similes are an advanced but important part of freestyle rapping. They are often found in a rapper's funniest and cleverest lines, and they really differentiate beginners from skilled emcees.
Today, metaphors and similes are really the backbone of an advanced freestyle rapper. Learn how to use metaphors correctly, and your rhymes will not only be funnier and smarter, but they'll sound better too.
Other than amazing in-rhyming and dope metaphors, the most impressive thing a freestyle rapper can do is make timely references to culture and current events.
Step 13. Start Batteling.
Start freestyle battling. The best way to start battling is to find opponents that are just for fun and don't care if you insult them or mess up for that matter. Constantly battle like that with people, especially if you can find a friend who is actually good at battling so they can teach how to improve what you lack. Again, continue to practice this until other friends you know (especially those into hip-hop music) think you're pretty good. House parties, and rap concerts are also good places to practice your battle rap techniques before actually entering a staged freestyle rap battle.
Step 14. Pass the mic like it's contagious.
Rap in ciphers - groups of two or more rappers playing off of reach other, trading verses. This is a great way to improve. One of your friends can beat box, you can throw a beat on the stereo, or just freestyle over nothing. Take turns, cutting in whenever you want or when someone "passes you the mic" (you probably won't have an actual mic).
Work off of others rhymes. If they throw in something about the bible, pick up that theme and run with it. Try to stick to similar topics, or riff off of topics in creative ways.
Step 15. Dont Trip.
Don't worry if you lose your first few real battles, the point is to constantly practice freestyling and writing. As with anything, the longer you do it the better you'll become. Continue practicing until you've got it down. There are many techniques to battling, but these are just the basics.
Step 16. Listen to great hip hop and learn.
The best rappers know how to freestyle rap. Listen to your favorites and copy (not permanently) their styles to see how they do it. Listen and learn.
Step 17. Practice.
That's all there is to it. Rap all the time, practice all night and day.
Step 18. Enter a Rap Battle.
First things first; battling is the basis for all rap music. The battle is the truest essence of rap and where rap music started. The object of a rap battle is to come up with insulting rap lyrics on the spot (not pre-written or pre-meditated) and rap them towards an opponent. The rapper with the best delivery, lyrics, and crowd response usually wins. This manual will outline the basic steps of how to begin battling, and some tips that will make you better.
Steps
Tips
When in a rap battle, your verse should include three major things.
- Metaphors - Making comparisons with your opponent to something that insults them.
- Disses - (a diss is an insult)You want to diss your opponent on broad topics like: how they dress, speak, spit, look, walk, talk, act, or their personality; or personally: the way they live, their past, their lifestyle, or any other weaknesses about them.
- Humor - Make the crowd and judges and even your opponent laugh. Sometimes that will win the battle for you.
Battle raps are made up of two parts.
- Set up-The set up is a line that is an opener or rhyme line that your punch-line (where the insult is) will follow.
- Punch line-a Punch-Line is basically a line that incorporates a Metaphor, Dis, and/or anything else to enhance the flow directed at your opponent.
If someone beats you in a battle and it gets to you, practice more until you think you're really ready. Then challenge them again: if you win, you will earn a lot of respect back. It's a great feeling, and chicks or dudes will dig your system and flair. The more you write the better your freestyle will become.
When you think you lost it, don't worry - just relax. The worst thing to do is freak out. Just relax and keep going. There is always value in overcoming a mess up.
While your opponent is rapping, you should be figuring out what you are going to say in your next verse. But be careful not to tune your opponent out, because sometimes the insults they say to you can be flipped (re-directed as an insult towards the person who said it) and used to your advantage.
Use humor in your rhymes, especially if your opponent is dead serious, that will make them mess up and possibly crack up. If you can get your opponent to agree with you during your battle verse, you are making great strides towards a win.
For your own safety's sake, what goes on the battle, stays there. It's very likely that things get really heated, so be careful. Make sure that you know all of the rules of your battle. Some battles do not allow the use of swear words or racial slurs. (This is a good thing to practice in the case that you cannot swear in a rap battle) Be on the lookout for certain individuals you balance against. Some people take offence to the rhymes you use and will try to start a fight if your killing them.
Well good luck in your freestyle endeavors. I wish you nothing but the best success.
Thank You
