1 00:00:01,165 --> 00:00:03,748 (film reeling) 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 4 00:00:08,491 --> 00:00:11,491 (record scratching) 5 00:00:14,667 --> 00:00:15,777 [Myka 9] ♪ Oh, it's a brave new world. ♪ 6 00:00:15,777 --> 00:00:17,622 Aldous Huxley all the way down to your jeans and chucks. 7 00:00:17,622 --> 00:00:18,455 Me, 8 00:00:18,455 --> 00:00:20,011 my loved ones Hollister, above none. 9 00:00:20,011 --> 00:00:22,742 Recognize it's these ballers that are done 10 00:00:22,742 --> 00:00:25,045 in the mortal words of the careless one. 11 00:00:25,045 --> 00:00:25,878 - [Interviewer] Dope. 12 00:00:25,878 --> 00:00:27,297 Hey, do me a favor, as long as.. 13 00:00:27,297 --> 00:00:28,130 - What's up? 14 00:00:28,130 --> 00:00:29,249 - [Interviewer] Can you just so that the, 15 00:00:29,249 --> 00:00:30,082 so it's in the background. 16 00:00:30,082 --> 00:00:31,777 Can you give us a quick freestyle about that? 17 00:00:31,777 --> 00:00:35,094 ♪ This vast display of marsh land ♪ 18 00:00:35,094 --> 00:00:36,321 ♪ Could never suffer from the ♪ 19 00:00:36,321 --> 00:00:38,337 ♪ Man in his harsh plan ♪ 20 00:00:38,337 --> 00:00:40,694 ♪ The estuary, the temporary over standing ♪ 21 00:00:40,694 --> 00:00:42,145 ♪ That it'd be a substance abuse ♪ 22 00:00:42,145 --> 00:00:43,777 ♪ Like Esso, he's the homie ♪ 23 00:00:43,777 --> 00:00:45,249 ♪ I'd breathe this open air ♪ 24 00:00:45,249 --> 00:00:47,144 ♪ No more mess so these are wholer ♪ 25 00:00:47,144 --> 00:00:48,243 ♪ How do you say that word ♪ 26 00:00:48,243 --> 00:00:49,128 ♪ It doesn't even matter what occurred ♪ 27 00:00:49,128 --> 00:00:51,880 ♪ It's like spinning words for the birds ♪ 28 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,325 ♪ the ducks the quails ♪ 29 00:00:55,325 --> 00:00:57,139 ♪ And that's where we dwell ♪ 30 00:00:57,139 --> 00:00:59,412 ♪ Open up my mindset beyond any spells of the cast ♪ 31 00:00:59,412 --> 00:01:02,546 ♪ I gotta go these brothers got a video to shoot right ♪ 32 00:01:02,546 --> 00:01:04,129 It's all love, peace 33 00:01:06,757 --> 00:01:08,656 (group chattering) 34 00:01:08,656 --> 00:01:09,489 - Hey guys, let's... 35 00:01:09,489 --> 00:01:10,802 - We need to hit that invincible music. 36 00:01:10,802 --> 00:01:11,635 - Here's a slate. Ready. 37 00:01:11,635 --> 00:01:14,135 (beat boxing) 38 00:01:16,554 --> 00:01:18,375 ♪ Y'all? ♪ 39 00:01:18,375 --> 00:01:22,166 ♪ Eck. ♪ 40 00:01:22,166 --> 00:01:23,591 ♪ Yo yeah ♪ 41 00:01:23,591 --> 00:01:24,647 ♪ Get that boys drink Get it ♪ 42 00:01:24,647 --> 00:01:25,532 ♪ Get in a rhyme ♪ 43 00:01:25,532 --> 00:01:27,910 ♪ Give them geared up at the denim supplier ♪ 44 00:01:27,910 --> 00:01:28,869 ♪ Ralph Lauren ♪ 45 00:01:28,869 --> 00:01:31,164 ♪ Then I go out touring and out scoring ♪ 46 00:01:31,164 --> 00:01:32,604 ♪ I'm chilling with the homie Alf ♪ 47 00:01:32,604 --> 00:01:33,511 ♪ We ain't boring ♪ 48 00:01:33,511 --> 00:01:35,516 ♪ Yeah, we keep it balls to the wall ♪ 49 00:01:35,516 --> 00:01:37,244 ♪ to the ceiling and the flooring ♪ 50 00:01:37,244 --> 00:01:38,077 ♪ God dammit ♪ 51 00:01:38,077 --> 00:01:39,900 ♪ My flow is so prehistoric ♪ 52 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:41,351 ♪ It's like a saber tooth ♪ 53 00:01:41,351 --> 00:01:42,578 ♪ I come straight bull ♪ 54 00:01:42,578 --> 00:01:44,455 ♪ Fries meteoric with vocalizations ♪ 55 00:01:44,455 --> 00:01:46,940 ♪ that dominate your Facebook notifications ♪ 56 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:47,773 ♪ Yeah ♪ 57 00:01:47,773 --> 00:01:49,231 ♪ That's me with a little bitty number ♪ 58 00:01:49,231 --> 00:01:50,383 ♪ On the mic showing my ass ♪ 59 00:01:50,383 --> 00:01:52,114 ♪ Like your average plumber ♪ 60 00:01:52,114 --> 00:01:54,684 ♪ That's how I do it 'cause they offer the ass crack ♪ 61 00:01:54,684 --> 00:01:56,807 ♪ Have 'em falling and need insurance from Aflac ♪ 62 00:01:56,807 --> 00:01:59,058 ♪ Just ask the duck 'cause they whack as fuck ♪ 63 00:01:59,058 --> 00:02:01,234 ♪ I hit 'em once with a truck then backed it up ♪ 64 00:02:01,234 --> 00:02:02,162 ♪ Yo (group laughing) ♪ 65 00:02:02,162 --> 00:02:04,028 ♪ Like my man said, it's the notification ♪ 66 00:02:04,028 --> 00:02:04,967 ♪ I know that they hate it ♪ 67 00:02:04,967 --> 00:02:06,546 ♪ 'cause I'm controlling the nation ♪ 68 00:02:06,546 --> 00:02:07,379 ♪ I spit so raw ♪ 69 00:02:07,379 --> 00:02:09,489 ♪ You spit what I spit you'd break your own jaw ♪ 70 00:02:09,489 --> 00:02:10,322 ♪ Kill your old paw ♪ 71 00:02:10,322 --> 00:02:11,239 ♪ Slap your old ma ♪ 72 00:02:11,239 --> 00:02:14,117 ♪ Maybe could even turn O-Dog to coleslaw ♪ 73 00:02:14,117 --> 00:02:15,939 ♪ And then I be out like so long ♪ 74 00:02:15,939 --> 00:02:17,776 ♪ I'm one of the great great great ones ♪ 75 00:02:17,776 --> 00:02:19,205 ♪ I spit like Frank in the cipher ♪ 76 00:02:19,205 --> 00:02:20,379 ♪ Eight eight eight eight ♪ 77 00:02:20,379 --> 00:02:21,212 ♪ Done ♪ 78 00:02:21,212 --> 00:02:22,692 (group cheering) 79 00:02:22,692 --> 00:02:25,031 ♪ Check it check it check it ♪ 80 00:02:25,031 --> 00:02:26,181 ♪ I whip so many niggas ♪ 81 00:02:26,181 --> 00:02:27,620 ♪ They swear I was in Django ♪ 82 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:28,453 ♪ Diva gets came through ♪ 83 00:02:28,453 --> 00:02:30,457 ♪ When I'm dancin' like tango ♪ 84 00:02:30,457 --> 00:02:31,406 ♪ No but I ♪ 85 00:02:31,406 --> 00:02:33,463 ♪ I ain't jiggy when I kick it with my people ♪ 86 00:02:33,463 --> 00:02:35,086 ♪ when I represent my city ♪ 87 00:02:35,086 --> 00:02:37,113 ♪ Leimert Park get it when the dark ♪ 88 00:02:37,113 --> 00:02:40,270 ♪ Everybody try to act hard no heart ♪ 89 00:02:40,270 --> 00:02:42,190 ♪ They want to blame it but they can't claim it ♪ 90 00:02:42,190 --> 00:02:43,854 ♪ Kick it with the homies on the front ♪ 91 00:02:43,854 --> 00:02:45,305 ♪ I'm slaying ♪ 92 00:02:45,305 --> 00:02:47,289 ♪ Yeah I be trying to make hot records ♪ 93 00:02:47,289 --> 00:02:50,168 ♪ So I'm kind of outta shape like I'm Brock Lesnar ♪ 94 00:02:50,168 --> 00:02:51,897 ♪ I spend the whole weekend drunk ♪ 95 00:02:51,897 --> 00:02:54,446 ♪ And I'm from Chicago like I'm seeing punk ♪ 96 00:02:54,446 --> 00:02:55,279 ♪ Yeah ♪ 97 00:02:55,279 --> 00:02:56,185 ♪ Heavyweight championship ♪ 98 00:02:56,185 --> 00:02:57,838 ♪ I be watching them seasons thirsting ♪ 99 00:02:57,838 --> 00:03:00,697 ♪ How they trying for spit boxing but not really with it ♪ 100 00:03:00,697 --> 00:03:03,107 ♪ I rip 'em like Wonka did that golden ticket ♪ 101 00:03:03,107 --> 00:03:05,059 ♪ So fuckin' terrific ♪ 102 00:03:05,059 --> 00:03:06,642 ♪ Shit I'm small just like a midget ♪ 103 00:03:06,642 --> 00:03:08,772 ♪ But nah that's the improper term ♪ 104 00:03:08,772 --> 00:03:10,756 ♪ MCs better watch it wait until it burns. ♪ 105 00:03:10,756 --> 00:03:12,590 ♪ I'm waiting until it turns to the left ♪ 106 00:03:12,590 --> 00:03:14,233 ♪ I inside to make that next check ♪ 107 00:03:14,233 --> 00:03:15,940 ♪ Old school like a text via telegram ♪ 108 00:03:15,940 --> 00:03:17,986 ♪ I don't gotta tell you that I'm nice ♪ 109 00:03:17,986 --> 00:03:18,873 ♪ You could tell I am ♪ 110 00:03:18,873 --> 00:03:20,605 ♪ So tell your girl and tell your man ♪ 111 00:03:20,605 --> 00:03:21,693 ♪ And write a telegram ♪ 112 00:03:21,693 --> 00:03:23,908 ♪ From jail home so you can tell your fam ♪ 113 00:03:23,908 --> 00:03:26,135 ♪ Now everybody that you know know that I'm the boss ♪ 114 00:03:26,135 --> 00:03:28,217 ♪ Like who go roll up in the two though ♪ 115 00:03:28,217 --> 00:03:29,380 ♪ But nah it ain't new yo ♪ 116 00:03:29,380 --> 00:03:31,395 ♪ The shits from like 72 yo ♪ 117 00:03:31,395 --> 00:03:33,390 ♪ 'cause I'm too broke and that's some honesty ♪ 118 00:03:33,390 --> 00:03:34,627 (group whooping) 119 00:03:34,627 --> 00:03:37,377 (group clapping) 120 00:03:39,534 --> 00:03:43,022 (deep hip hop beat) 121 00:03:43,022 --> 00:03:44,494 [P.E.A.C.E.] ♪ Yeah. ♪ 122 00:03:44,494 --> 00:03:46,425 ♪ I see words in my head ♪ 123 00:03:46,425 --> 00:03:49,145 ♪ I line 'em up a ranger man then I said ♪ 124 00:03:49,145 --> 00:03:51,748 ♪ Yeah I spit 'em and that's how lead ♪ 125 00:03:51,748 --> 00:03:54,528 Freddy's dead and his Pro Keds 126 00:03:54,528 --> 00:03:57,214 - [Ice-T] Freestylers have the ability to think on they feet 127 00:03:57,214 --> 00:03:58,837 and as they rhyme, 128 00:03:58,837 --> 00:04:01,875 they're making the rhyme up as they go along. 129 00:04:01,875 --> 00:04:04,203 ♪ Ain't nothing like it so nigga can answer ♪ 130 00:04:04,203 --> 00:04:05,205 ♪ Serious as cancer ♪ 131 00:04:05,205 --> 00:04:06,816 ♪ I was a dancer ♪ 132 00:04:06,816 --> 00:04:09,120 ♪ Then I turned into a lyrical romancer ♪ 133 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,483 - [Open Mike Eagle] I'm in a place in the business such where I travel around 134 00:04:13,483 --> 00:04:16,693 and am more and more gaining a footing in the 135 00:04:16,693 --> 00:04:20,075 independent aspects of rap music. 136 00:04:20,075 --> 00:04:21,621 ♪ He said word and I said word we out ♪ 137 00:04:21,621 --> 00:04:23,072 ♪ But I represent this shit right now ♪ 138 00:04:23,072 --> 00:04:24,512 ♪ KNPNBDK ♪ 139 00:04:24,512 --> 00:04:25,504 - [Del] You gonna mess up 140 00:04:25,504 --> 00:04:27,328 sometimes you going not rhyme. 141 00:04:27,328 --> 00:04:30,197 Sometimes you going to inadvertently diss yourself. 142 00:04:30,197 --> 00:04:31,627 ♪ Niggas on the bus it's okay ♪ 143 00:04:31,627 --> 00:04:33,067 ♪ I'ma stop it right now spin it 'round ♪ 144 00:04:33,067 --> 00:04:34,005 ♪ Freestyle like 101 ♪ 145 00:04:34,005 --> 00:04:35,465 - [Iron Solomon] A lot like a sport right now. 146 00:04:35,465 --> 00:04:36,907 It's most like boxing. 147 00:04:36,907 --> 00:04:39,178 ♪ Free-ee-Style 101 ♪ 148 00:04:39,178 --> 00:04:40,287 ♪ Off of the dome ♪ 149 00:04:40,287 --> 00:04:41,515 ♪ Spontaneous poems ♪ 150 00:04:41,515 --> 00:04:42,589 ♪ Get the word on town ♪ 151 00:04:42,589 --> 00:04:44,203 ♪ And jump on the gown ♪ 152 00:04:44,203 --> 00:04:45,566 ♪ Skate board slide grind ♪ 153 00:04:45,566 --> 00:04:46,688 ♪ And I kick real ♪ 154 00:04:46,688 --> 00:04:48,128 ♪ Come back with some gangster shit ♪ 155 00:04:48,128 --> 00:04:49,141 ♪ She walk on in ♪ 156 00:04:49,141 --> 00:04:51,637 ♪ Back on the board keep going around tho ♪ 157 00:04:51,637 --> 00:04:52,811 ♪ Kick push ♪ 158 00:04:52,811 --> 00:04:54,261 ♪ Do your fuckin' go ♪ 159 00:04:54,261 --> 00:04:56,725 ♪ Free style 101 ♪ 160 00:04:56,725 --> 00:04:59,219 ♪ Free style 101 ♪ 161 00:04:59,219 --> 00:05:01,813 ♪ Free style 101 ♪ 162 00:05:01,813 --> 00:05:04,330 ♪ They say it is nothing you know where I'm from ♪ 163 00:05:04,330 --> 00:05:05,163 ♪ From - From ♪ 164 00:05:05,163 --> 00:05:06,730 ♪ Free free style-yle 101 ♪ 165 00:05:06,730 --> 00:05:09,184 ♪ Free free Style-yle 101 ♪ 166 00:05:09,184 --> 00:05:11,531 ♪ Free free style-yle 101 ♪ 167 00:05:11,531 --> 00:05:14,507 ♪ Let me explain freestyle-yle 101 ♪ 168 00:05:14,507 --> 00:05:16,011 ♪ One one one one one ♪ 169 00:05:16,011 --> 00:05:19,230 - [Narrator Chuck D] New York, the mid 1970s. 170 00:05:19,230 --> 00:05:21,451 A handful of breakthrough artists combined 171 00:05:21,451 --> 00:05:23,249 a visual power of graffiti art 172 00:05:23,249 --> 00:05:25,937 and a fresh new craze called Break Dancing 173 00:05:25,937 --> 00:05:27,192 with a backbeat of a DJ 174 00:05:27,192 --> 00:05:30,669 and a hungry MC armed only with a microphone. 175 00:05:30,669 --> 00:05:32,792 Through this marriage of urban art styles, 176 00:05:32,792 --> 00:05:34,270 hip hop was born. 177 00:05:34,270 --> 00:05:35,539 Vocally, 178 00:05:35,539 --> 00:05:38,466 rapping took the sensibility of spoken word poetry 179 00:05:38,466 --> 00:05:40,124 and put it to a beat. 180 00:05:40,124 --> 00:05:41,883 Some wrote their rhymes down 181 00:05:41,883 --> 00:05:44,798 while others made their rhymes off the top of their head. 182 00:05:44,798 --> 00:05:47,548 A skill later called freestyling. 183 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:52,977 - [Grandmaster Caz] Hiphop started as hiphop in 1973. 184 00:05:53,820 --> 00:05:56,717 We date the birth of hiphop in 1973. 185 00:05:56,717 --> 00:06:01,438 The first documented hip hop party was given in a small 186 00:06:01,438 --> 00:06:03,841 apartment building on the west side of the Bronx 187 00:06:03,841 --> 00:06:05,174 by DJ Kool Herc. 188 00:06:06,472 --> 00:06:09,082 And so we marked that date as the birth of hip hop. 189 00:06:09,082 --> 00:06:12,595 We marked that place as the birth place of hip hop. 190 00:06:12,595 --> 00:06:14,869 And we marked that DJ as the father. 191 00:06:14,869 --> 00:06:19,568 - [R.A. the Rugged Man] Kool Herc, you know, started doing these shows 192 00:06:19,568 --> 00:06:21,521 and you know they're famous now, 193 00:06:21,521 --> 00:06:24,404 but it was a rec room on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. 194 00:06:24,404 --> 00:06:26,941 And Melle Mel used to bring people out 195 00:06:26,941 --> 00:06:29,018 and throw these little hip hop parties 196 00:06:29,018 --> 00:06:30,720 DJing then got to the point where 197 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,438 they'd throw a little MC to talk 198 00:06:32,438 --> 00:06:34,842 And you know, they say that was the birthplace. 199 00:06:34,842 --> 00:06:36,393 ♪ Sedgwick can see the Bronx ♪ 200 00:06:36,393 --> 00:06:37,829 ♪ New York birthplace ♪ 201 00:06:37,829 --> 00:06:39,172 ♪ Kool Herc Block Party ♪ 202 00:06:39,172 --> 00:06:41,336 ♪ Hip hop's first stage Zulu Nation ♪ 203 00:06:41,336 --> 00:06:43,563 ♪ The man looked at as the grandfather ♪ 204 00:06:43,563 --> 00:06:46,878 ♪ Kevin Donovan later known as Band by Love Bug ♪ 205 00:06:46,878 --> 00:06:47,834 ♪ Starsky ♪ 206 00:06:47,834 --> 00:06:48,667 ♪ Coke la Rock ♪ 207 00:06:48,667 --> 00:06:49,500 ♪ First MC cold Crush ♪ 208 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:50,671 ♪ Furious five ♪ 209 00:06:50,671 --> 00:06:51,567 ♪ Treach three Modieve ♪ 210 00:06:51,567 --> 00:06:54,434 ♪ First National TV spot was Kurtis Blow ♪ 211 00:06:54,434 --> 00:06:57,509 ♪ Mr. Magic had the first ever radio show ♪ 212 00:06:57,509 --> 00:07:00,124 ♪ UTFO Houdini Run DMC energy ♪ 213 00:07:00,124 --> 00:07:03,213 ♪ The God Rakim, KRS and Public Enemy ♪ 214 00:07:03,213 --> 00:07:04,828 ♪ The Plus 1 was Sha Rock ♪ 215 00:07:04,828 --> 00:07:06,232 ♪ Queensbridge had Shante ♪ 216 00:07:06,232 --> 00:07:07,065 ♪ MC lyte ♪ 217 00:07:07,065 --> 00:07:07,898 ♪ Salt and Pepper ♪ 218 00:07:07,898 --> 00:07:08,947 ♪ Fuck what any man say ♪ 219 00:07:08,947 --> 00:07:10,530 ♪ Schoolly D started gangsta rap ♪ 220 00:07:10,530 --> 00:07:11,712 ♪ Let me bring it back ♪ 221 00:07:11,712 --> 00:07:14,280 ♪ In the Ronald Reagan '80s epidemic slinging crack ♪ 222 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:15,505 ♪ Golden era kings ♪ 223 00:07:15,505 --> 00:07:17,267 ♪ In my opinion were The Juice Crew ♪ 224 00:07:17,267 --> 00:07:18,925 ♪ Native Tongue, Flava Unit, Hit Squad ♪ 225 00:07:18,925 --> 00:07:21,643 ♪ Breakthrough hip hop became more commercial ♪ 226 00:07:21,643 --> 00:07:22,972 ♪ But some stayed true. ♪ 227 00:07:22,972 --> 00:07:24,988 ♪ Fast forward to the '90s ♪ 228 00:07:24,988 --> 00:07:26,379 ♪ New crew named Wu ♪ 229 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:27,977 - [RZA] Freestyle is something that means 230 00:07:27,977 --> 00:07:29,649 to come off the top of your head 231 00:07:29,649 --> 00:07:32,335 and make a rhyme up, you know. 232 00:07:32,335 --> 00:07:34,815 But at one point freestyling meant, you know, 233 00:07:34,815 --> 00:07:37,161 just rhyming about no subject matters 234 00:07:37,161 --> 00:07:39,311 because a lot of MCs was making stories 235 00:07:39,311 --> 00:07:41,327 and lyrics with subjects. 236 00:07:41,327 --> 00:07:43,490 So freestyle kind of meant just braggadocious. 237 00:07:43,490 --> 00:07:45,807 But then it came to a point where freestyle artists 238 00:07:45,807 --> 00:07:48,748 basically means the let the lyrics flow freely through you 239 00:07:48,748 --> 00:07:50,825 and come off your head. 240 00:07:50,825 --> 00:07:53,856 And I didn't get good at that until around the age of 16 241 00:07:53,856 --> 00:07:55,394 where you gimme anything, 242 00:07:55,394 --> 00:07:56,574 you could see a mosquito 243 00:07:56,574 --> 00:07:59,188 and I come with a whole fuckin' two minute rap 244 00:07:59,188 --> 00:08:00,724 about a mosquito. 245 00:08:00,724 --> 00:08:02,336 You know what I mean? 246 00:08:02,336 --> 00:08:04,846 (hip hop beat) 247 00:08:04,846 --> 00:08:05,758 [Cappadonna] ♪ Yo ♪ 248 00:08:05,758 --> 00:08:06,591 ♪ Get it ♪ 249 00:08:06,591 --> 00:08:07,457 ♪ Well at the age of 18 ♪ 250 00:08:07,457 --> 00:08:08,476 ♪ I was an MC fiend ♪ 251 00:08:08,476 --> 00:08:10,507 ♪ Need a rehabilitate to release the steam. ♪ 252 00:08:10,507 --> 00:08:12,837 ♪ I've been rhymin' so long and now finally hooked ♪ 253 00:08:12,837 --> 00:08:14,179 ♪ And I ain't saying I'm the best ♪ 254 00:08:14,179 --> 00:08:15,345 ♪ but I've never been took ♪ 255 00:08:15,345 --> 00:08:16,660 ♪ Yo I'm a cool poet ♪ 256 00:08:16,660 --> 00:08:17,824 ♪ Rhyming alcoholic ♪ 257 00:08:17,824 --> 00:08:19,840 ♪ Rhymin' so correct it'll take a week to install it ♪ 258 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,513 ♪ Call my bluff and say I'm coppin' to plea ♪ 259 00:08:21,513 --> 00:08:22,572 ♪ For the vocalize music ♪ 260 00:08:22,572 --> 00:08:23,544 ♪ You're outta my league ♪ 261 00:08:23,544 --> 00:08:24,440 ♪ Yeah, time. ♪ 262 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:25,396 ♪ My name is Don ♪ 263 00:08:25,396 --> 00:08:26,229 ♪ I'm strung on the rhymes ♪ 264 00:08:26,229 --> 00:08:27,068 ♪ And it's getting to the point ♪ 265 00:08:27,068 --> 00:08:28,067 ♪ where you're just wasting my time ♪ 266 00:08:28,067 --> 00:08:29,248 ♪ But if you thinkin' that you want some ♪ 267 00:08:29,248 --> 00:08:30,144 ♪ Due for a taste ♪ 268 00:08:30,144 --> 00:08:31,742 ♪ See me with your mic and meet me face to face ♪ 269 00:08:31,742 --> 00:08:33,176 ♪ 'cause I'm a magic magician ♪ 270 00:08:33,176 --> 00:08:34,117 ♪ Keep on dissing ♪ 271 00:08:34,117 --> 00:08:36,133 ♪ When I rocking jam you know the crowd do listen ♪ 272 00:08:36,133 --> 00:08:37,745 ♪ I'm an explorier like a Tom Sawyier ♪ 273 00:08:37,745 --> 00:08:40,192 ♪ Got a rep for rapping in another bough of euphoria ♪ 274 00:08:40,192 --> 00:08:42,210 ♪ Girl Charmer Night with Shaskanama ♪ 275 00:08:42,210 --> 00:08:44,212 ♪ Of course I got more structure in the aircraft ♪ 276 00:08:44,212 --> 00:08:45,167 ♪ But I'm a Wu healer ♪ 277 00:08:45,167 --> 00:08:46,183 ♪ Drinking mad tequila ♪ 278 00:08:46,183 --> 00:08:48,199 ♪ And my girl is a secret so I never will reveal her ♪ 279 00:08:48,199 --> 00:08:49,095 ♪ I'm a night time thrilla ♪ 280 00:08:49,095 --> 00:08:50,244 ♪ From the Killer Hilla♪ 281 00:08:50,244 --> 00:08:51,200 ♪ Rock a block party ♪ 282 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,603 ♪ From any town you can tell I'm sentimental ♪ 283 00:08:52,603 --> 00:08:53,436 ♪ Not a oriental ♪ 284 00:08:53,436 --> 00:08:55,128 ♪ Rhyming so legit you think that I was mental ♪ 285 00:08:55,128 --> 00:08:56,233 ♪ Captain Crunch ♪ 286 00:08:56,233 --> 00:08:57,831 ♪ Crunch chunks blowing white dumps cru...♪ 287 00:08:57,831 --> 00:09:00,081 ♪ Br-r-rat ♪ 288 00:09:02,685 --> 00:09:06,104 - I mean it it just go way back to the Sugar Hill Gang. 289 00:09:06,104 --> 00:09:09,494 I think that was like one of the first songs that I really, 290 00:09:09,494 --> 00:09:11,793 really heard and really started getting into. 291 00:09:11,793 --> 00:09:12,779 You know what I'm saying? 292 00:09:12,779 --> 00:09:15,243 At my time back in like '77, 293 00:09:15,243 --> 00:09:16,393 you know what I mean? 294 00:09:16,393 --> 00:09:17,497 Earlier, 295 00:09:17,497 --> 00:09:19,514 Sugar Hill Gang with a pow pow boogie 296 00:09:19,514 --> 00:09:20,873 and the big bang bang. 297 00:09:20,873 --> 00:09:21,933 You know what I'm saying? 298 00:09:21,933 --> 00:09:23,606 That was one of my favorite joints 299 00:09:23,606 --> 00:09:25,652 when I went over a friend's house to eat. 300 00:09:25,652 --> 00:09:27,414 And the food just ain't no good. 301 00:09:27,414 --> 00:09:28,502 The macaroni salad, 302 00:09:28,502 --> 00:09:29,740 the pizza, know what I'm sayin' 303 00:09:29,740 --> 00:09:31,341 and chicken tastes like wood. 304 00:09:31,341 --> 00:09:32,372 You know what I'm saying? 305 00:09:32,372 --> 00:09:35,493 A lot of people they get into Rakim and all of them. 306 00:09:35,493 --> 00:09:38,770 Yeah. That's definitely the facts of life right there. 307 00:09:38,770 --> 00:09:40,388 But I go back to 308 00:09:40,388 --> 00:09:44,337 ♪ White lines, vivid dreams of passion. ♪ 309 00:09:44,337 --> 00:09:45,170 - You know what I'm saying? 310 00:09:45,170 --> 00:09:47,518 So it's like when I look up hip hop in a dictionary, man, 311 00:09:47,518 --> 00:09:49,435 I see, I just see like, 312 00:09:51,747 --> 00:09:54,247 you know, smart entrepreneurs, 313 00:09:55,269 --> 00:09:57,657 like a group of minorities 314 00:09:57,657 --> 00:10:00,436 that came up from nothing 315 00:10:00,436 --> 00:10:03,318 and had these harsh realities, 316 00:10:03,318 --> 00:10:04,302 you know, 317 00:10:04,302 --> 00:10:07,768 mixed with this soulfulness to express to the people. 318 00:10:07,768 --> 00:10:09,932 Man, and that's me too. 319 00:10:09,932 --> 00:10:10,765 - [Fat Joe] You know, 320 00:10:10,765 --> 00:10:12,113 it's unfair being from New York 321 00:10:12,113 --> 00:10:14,622 to be honest with you as an artist in hip hop 322 00:10:14,622 --> 00:10:17,430 because being that it was born here, 323 00:10:17,430 --> 00:10:19,476 they expect so much out of us. 324 00:10:19,476 --> 00:10:20,461 You know what I'm saying? 325 00:10:20,461 --> 00:10:21,475 So when we do a song, 326 00:10:21,475 --> 00:10:24,881 not only does it have to be a catchy hit record, 327 00:10:24,881 --> 00:10:28,644 but you have to lyrically rip it down crazy. 328 00:10:28,644 --> 00:10:30,183 You know what I'm saying? 329 00:10:30,183 --> 00:10:31,914 So that, you know what I'm saying? 330 00:10:31,914 --> 00:10:34,379 It could even be respected coming outta New York. 331 00:10:34,379 --> 00:10:37,320 You can't get away with just doing whatever, man. 332 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,322 - [Grandmaster Caz] Our rebellion against disco 333 00:10:39,322 --> 00:10:40,994 was the breeding ground for hip hop. 334 00:10:40,994 --> 00:10:41,935 You know what I mean? 335 00:10:41,935 --> 00:10:45,018 We try to create our own disco, okay? 336 00:10:46,311 --> 00:10:48,728 Our version of a disco, okay? 337 00:10:50,047 --> 00:10:52,078 You could wear your sneakers, your hats, 338 00:10:52,078 --> 00:10:53,363 whatever the fuck you want to wear, 339 00:10:53,363 --> 00:10:54,617 you come as you are. 340 00:10:54,617 --> 00:10:57,748 - [Pete Rock] You had Bambaata and you had Cold Crush 341 00:10:57,748 --> 00:10:59,903 and Grandmaster Flash and you know, 342 00:10:59,903 --> 00:11:01,919 that was the school I come from. 343 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:03,185 - [Masta Ace] And somebody would come through 344 00:11:03,185 --> 00:11:04,279 with the hot new tape. 345 00:11:04,279 --> 00:11:06,835 Y'all got Cold Crush performing at such and such club 346 00:11:06,835 --> 00:11:09,373 last night and let me get a copy 347 00:11:09,373 --> 00:11:11,718 and everybody bring their blanks out and duck copies. 348 00:11:11,718 --> 00:11:13,361 And then, you know, 349 00:11:13,361 --> 00:11:14,839 when you had that new routine 350 00:11:14,839 --> 00:11:16,034 that they were doing at the club, 351 00:11:16,034 --> 00:11:17,721 you were the hottest dude if you had that tape. 352 00:11:17,721 --> 00:11:20,049 - [Sheek Louch] These mix tapes back then with your freestyles 353 00:11:20,049 --> 00:11:22,933 and doing all that was street albums damn near. 354 00:11:22,933 --> 00:11:23,978 Like, you know what I'm saying? 355 00:11:23,978 --> 00:11:25,128 Like when you couldn't get a deal, 356 00:11:25,128 --> 00:11:26,890 this was an album on the street that came out. 357 00:11:26,890 --> 00:11:29,264 They was waiting for a mixtape to hit New York City. 358 00:11:29,264 --> 00:11:32,132 You know what I mean? So it's a little sweeter now. 359 00:11:32,132 --> 00:11:34,133 Like they, you know, you get the game right now, 360 00:11:34,133 --> 00:11:36,474 they just anything's on the mixtape 361 00:11:36,474 --> 00:11:38,806 and it's just so you don't even wanna listen 362 00:11:38,806 --> 00:11:40,180 to the old shit 'cause you like, 363 00:11:40,180 --> 00:11:41,226 who the hell is this? 364 00:11:41,226 --> 00:11:43,242 - [Sean Kingston] I freestyle before I even write a song 365 00:11:43,242 --> 00:11:44,883 like I just freestyle out words, 366 00:11:44,883 --> 00:11:45,716 you know what I'm saying? 367 00:11:45,716 --> 00:11:46,841 Just to get the words now packed. 368 00:11:46,841 --> 00:11:48,498 So if you can't really freestyle, 369 00:11:48,498 --> 00:11:50,293 you gotta be able to write. 370 00:11:50,293 --> 00:11:51,933 'cause you got people can't freestyle, 371 00:11:51,933 --> 00:11:54,009 but they write hella songs I'm saying. 372 00:11:54,009 --> 00:11:56,072 And they're hella good songwriters. 373 00:11:56,072 --> 00:11:58,387 But the only thing is it's even better when you can 374 00:11:58,387 --> 00:11:59,655 freestyle 'cause it's like, man, 375 00:11:59,655 --> 00:12:02,193 I'm saying and you just listening to the beat 376 00:12:02,193 --> 00:12:04,689 and you just freestyle like, you know what I'm saying? 377 00:12:04,689 --> 00:12:05,957 I'm a soldier or whatever it is. 378 00:12:05,957 --> 00:12:07,959 And it just comes out to you and you're like, 379 00:12:07,959 --> 00:12:08,792 yo wait, 380 00:12:08,792 --> 00:12:10,244 that's a hot hook that it stains in your brain 381 00:12:10,244 --> 00:12:11,159 and you just like, all right, 382 00:12:11,159 --> 00:12:12,168 I'm gonna write that down like Jay-Z, 383 00:12:12,168 --> 00:12:14,093 Jay-Z goes in the booth, no pen, no pad. 384 00:12:14,093 --> 00:12:14,962 I'm saying just go in, 385 00:12:14,962 --> 00:12:16,545 just freestyle and record it down 386 00:12:16,545 --> 00:12:18,695 and just you know what I mean memorize it back. 387 00:12:18,695 --> 00:12:19,591 And he has his verse. 388 00:12:19,591 --> 00:12:22,175 - [Open Mike Eagle] Where like when I came up you had to do at least two 389 00:12:22,175 --> 00:12:23,847 things or you couldn't even call yourself hip hop. 390 00:12:23,847 --> 00:12:24,788 When I came up. 391 00:12:24,788 --> 00:12:27,399 Like so all of us were break dancers, graffiti artists 392 00:12:27,399 --> 00:12:29,418 and rappers and if we could afford turntables, 393 00:12:29,418 --> 00:12:31,449 we were DJs too. 394 00:12:31,449 --> 00:12:32,805 You had to do everything. 395 00:12:32,805 --> 00:12:34,823 ♪ MDK Mortal Kombat ♪ 396 00:12:34,823 --> 00:12:36,150 ♪ Spread wings like wombat ♪ 397 00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:37,855 ♪ But species is way beyond that ♪ 398 00:12:37,855 --> 00:12:40,496 ♪ I tap on any MC like I was tap shoes ♪ 399 00:12:40,496 --> 00:12:43,425 ♪ MCs wanna rap but nobody wants to rap with you ♪ 400 00:12:43,425 --> 00:12:44,572 I don't like your attitudes ♪ 401 00:12:44,572 --> 00:12:46,305 So I battle you over a cup of apple juice ♪ 402 00:12:46,305 --> 00:12:48,418 ♪ And use algorhythms to battle midgets for raffle tickets ♪ 403 00:12:48,418 --> 00:12:49,496 ♪ It has to be me ♪ 404 00:12:49,496 --> 00:12:51,013 ♪ MC will never be below ♪ 405 00:12:51,013 --> 00:12:53,072 ♪ But I also come back but I represent The Blowed♪ 406 00:12:53,072 --> 00:12:55,732 [Dumbfoundead] ♪ Because yo, it's to me from the super body yo brother ♪ 407 00:12:55,732 --> 00:12:57,478 ♪ And you can't believe it ♪ 408 00:12:57,478 --> 00:12:58,823 ♪ Like this was Fabio's butter ♪ 409 00:12:58,823 --> 00:12:59,914 ♪ And I'm an audio lover ♪ 410 00:12:59,914 --> 00:13:01,392 ♪ I'm working things out ♪ 411 00:13:01,392 --> 00:13:02,661 ♪ Burning the cardio blubber ♪ 412 00:13:02,661 --> 00:13:04,914 ♪ So what sir you wanna battle me ♪ 413 00:13:04,914 --> 00:13:06,201 ♪ You can't count the strikes ♪ 414 00:13:06,201 --> 00:13:08,246 ♪ And counter strike that I've attacked with Half Life ♪ 415 00:13:08,246 --> 00:13:09,620 ♪ Not smoking on crack pipes ♪ 416 00:13:09,620 --> 00:13:10,769 ♪ 'cause that's life ♪ 417 00:13:10,769 --> 00:13:12,338 ♪ And that's how we rip it though ♪ 418 00:13:12,338 --> 00:13:14,031 ♪ Thirsty Fish we working this ♪ 419 00:13:14,031 --> 00:13:16,675 - Freestyling is not an east coast or a west coast thing. 420 00:13:16,675 --> 00:13:17,855 It's a hip hop thing. 421 00:13:17,855 --> 00:13:21,558 - Originally the term freestyle had nothing to do with it 422 00:13:21,558 --> 00:13:23,154 being off the top of the head. 423 00:13:23,154 --> 00:13:26,842 - Freestyling used to mean just using a rhyme that wasn't 424 00:13:26,842 --> 00:13:29,965 attached to something like a song, a routine 425 00:13:29,965 --> 00:13:32,609 or part of a group situation. 426 00:13:32,609 --> 00:13:35,655 It was just one of the rhymes that you had a random rhyme. 427 00:13:35,655 --> 00:13:37,701 - Freestyling in New York means something different 428 00:13:37,701 --> 00:13:38,866 than what it means in LA. 429 00:13:38,866 --> 00:13:41,284 In LA it means off the top of the dome in New York. 430 00:13:41,284 --> 00:13:43,376 I've heard rappers like Kurtis Blow even say 431 00:13:43,376 --> 00:13:45,795 freestyle is just a rap you haven't heard yet. 432 00:13:45,795 --> 00:13:47,884 - Nowadays freestyling just means off the head 433 00:13:47,884 --> 00:13:50,066 back in the day off the head, off the dome was like, 434 00:13:50,066 --> 00:13:52,426 you just wrapped off, you know, whatever came to your head. 435 00:13:52,426 --> 00:13:55,334 Like Roxanne Shante, she would just, you know, 436 00:13:55,334 --> 00:13:57,354 she didn't even write rhymes in the studio. 437 00:13:57,354 --> 00:13:58,712 Like if she wrote you'd be like, what? 438 00:13:58,712 --> 00:14:00,729 You know she just freestyled half of those classic, 439 00:14:00,729 --> 00:14:01,834 you know, have a nice day. 440 00:14:01,834 --> 00:14:03,131 She had all these classic records 441 00:14:03,131 --> 00:14:04,193 and they were off the head. 442 00:14:04,193 --> 00:14:05,026 - [Sheek Louch] When Roxanne Shante, 443 00:14:05,026 --> 00:14:06,224 you know what I'm saying? 444 00:14:06,224 --> 00:14:07,426 Roxanne, Roxanne. 445 00:14:07,426 --> 00:14:08,996 When they UTFO and all 'em and they was going at 446 00:14:08,996 --> 00:14:11,027 it, I'm like wow, I got a Mr Magic is playing, 447 00:14:11,027 --> 00:14:12,684 I put the tissue on the top of the TDK 448 00:14:12,684 --> 00:14:14,835 and was doing it like that. You know what I'm saying? 449 00:14:14,835 --> 00:14:16,313 And I was like, wow, this is crazy. 450 00:14:16,313 --> 00:14:18,613 Did you hear what she said back to them and all that? 451 00:14:18,613 --> 00:14:23,613 - So somewhere along the way the term freestyle started to 452 00:14:23,944 --> 00:14:25,960 connote, you know, 453 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:27,988 rhyming off the top and and that's what people 454 00:14:27,988 --> 00:14:30,007 now refer to it as. 455 00:14:30,007 --> 00:14:31,037 - [Iron Solomon] It's an evolution. 456 00:14:31,037 --> 00:14:33,259 And I think even in the '90s 457 00:14:33,259 --> 00:14:35,861 when like freestyle was like the catch word, 458 00:14:35,861 --> 00:14:39,803 I think the idea that you have certain lines that are your 459 00:14:39,803 --> 00:14:42,925 go-to lines and you have certain fallback stuff 460 00:14:42,925 --> 00:14:46,045 and the ability to be spontaneous 461 00:14:46,045 --> 00:14:48,417 and mix in stuff that you're thinking up on the spot. 462 00:14:48,417 --> 00:14:50,764 You know something about somebody's clothing 463 00:14:50,764 --> 00:14:51,884 or the club that you're in 464 00:14:51,884 --> 00:14:54,197 and then pull on those other lines 465 00:14:54,197 --> 00:14:55,692 and those other parts of your brain 466 00:14:55,692 --> 00:14:58,230 that you just have these different pieces stored. 467 00:14:58,230 --> 00:15:01,185 - [Ice-T] Freestylers have the ability to think on they feet 468 00:15:01,185 --> 00:15:04,607 and as they rhyme they're making the rhyme up 469 00:15:04,607 --> 00:15:05,727 as they go along. 470 00:15:05,727 --> 00:15:07,893 I'm coming off the dome right now coming off. 471 00:15:07,893 --> 00:15:09,924 I'm just making this stuff up as I go along. 472 00:15:09,924 --> 00:15:10,848 ♪ Special ops ♪ 473 00:15:10,848 --> 00:15:14,797 ♪ We going in ♪ 474 00:15:14,797 --> 00:15:16,342 ♪ Enough talk nigga's talk too much ♪ 475 00:15:16,342 --> 00:15:17,976 ♪ I set it tongue splash bitch niggas ♪ 476 00:15:17,976 --> 00:15:18,809 ♪ Gunfights ♪ 477 00:15:18,809 --> 00:15:20,709 ♪ Paramedics call my regimen up at midnight ♪ 478 00:15:20,709 --> 00:15:22,229 ♪ Tip on the flashlight you claim you want beef ♪ 479 00:15:22,229 --> 00:15:23,062 ♪ It's too tough. ♪ 480 00:15:23,062 --> 00:15:24,112 ♪ Called your bluff shot you close range ♪ 481 00:15:24,112 --> 00:15:25,428 ♪ Blew out your ear drums ♪ 482 00:15:25,428 --> 00:15:27,519 ♪ Hit you with the Mac blast your cage out your back. ♪ 483 00:15:27,519 --> 00:15:28,652 ♪ The other niggas stepped up ♪ 484 00:15:28,652 --> 00:15:29,906 ♪ And got bucked by my ninjas ♪ 485 00:15:29,906 --> 00:15:31,518 ♪ Casualty after casualty all up in you ♪ 486 00:15:31,518 --> 00:15:32,907 ♪ You're not a street vet yet ♪ 487 00:15:32,907 --> 00:15:34,014 ♪ Bitch you're a beginner ♪ 488 00:15:34,014 --> 00:15:36,195 ♪ My niggas eat punks like your crew for dinner ♪ 489 00:15:36,195 --> 00:15:38,315 ♪ Rock you in broad daylight to make the risk double ♪ 490 00:15:38,315 --> 00:15:39,824 ♪ Hit you in the lung with my gun ♪ 491 00:15:39,824 --> 00:15:41,392 ♪ Watch your chest bubble step on ♪ 492 00:15:41,392 --> 00:15:43,766 ♪ Feel the Teflon black talons rip through your vest ♪ 493 00:15:43,766 --> 00:15:44,599 ♪ Hit your chest ♪ 494 00:15:44,599 --> 00:15:45,439 ♪ Lose your balance. ♪ 495 00:15:45,439 --> 00:15:47,484 ♪ You never had no drama with the real now you want it ♪ 496 00:15:47,484 --> 00:15:48,317 ♪ My skill got you haunted ♪ 497 00:15:48,317 --> 00:15:49,393 ♪ The ski mask I don it ♪ 498 00:15:49,393 --> 00:15:50,709 ♪ Shoot bitch bust your gun ♪ 499 00:15:50,709 --> 00:15:52,726 ♪ catch your body Cuz not your muthafucka ♪ 500 00:15:52,726 --> 00:15:54,040 ♪ You don't know who your mommy was ♪ 501 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,683 ♪ Cock back let this shit fly and make me die ♪ 502 00:15:55,683 --> 00:15:57,998 ♪ The west coaster walk around daily with the toaster ♪ 503 00:15:57,998 --> 00:15:58,831 ♪ No escape. ♪ 504 00:15:58,831 --> 00:16:00,984 ♪ EMS roll out the yellow tape chalk off the sidewalks ♪ 505 00:16:00,984 --> 00:16:02,254 ♪ It's New York ♪ 506 00:16:02,254 --> 00:16:03,284 ♪ Come on ♪ 507 00:16:03,284 --> 00:16:04,628 ♪ It's the gamble on your life tonight ♪ 508 00:16:04,628 --> 00:16:06,196 ♪ Are you a G that makes your gun sing or a bitch ♪ 509 00:16:06,196 --> 00:16:07,346 ♪ With a tongue ring ♪ 510 00:16:07,346 --> 00:16:08,896 ♪ Flat out on what this shit's all about ♪ 511 00:16:08,896 --> 00:16:10,318 ♪ Nocturnal with the flame thrower ♪ 512 00:16:10,318 --> 00:16:11,390 ♪ USDEA know us ♪ 513 00:16:11,390 --> 00:16:13,125 ♪ Not no toy I'm cold in the camo ♪ 514 00:16:13,125 --> 00:16:15,499 ♪ Load up your ammo,I'll blow out your candles ♪ 515 00:16:15,499 --> 00:16:17,217 ♪ You could be a fly nigga die nigga ♪ 516 00:16:17,217 --> 00:16:19,320 ♪ you could catch your dick up in the day like ♪ 517 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:20,651 ♪ Fuck around with my niggas ♪ 518 00:16:20,651 --> 00:16:21,667 ♪ Come with your task force ♪ 519 00:16:21,667 --> 00:16:22,548 ♪ I blast with my mask off ♪ 520 00:16:22,548 --> 00:16:24,592 ♪ I don't give a fuck about you reppin' your hood ♪ 521 00:16:24,592 --> 00:16:26,098 ♪ You now fuckin' with your last nigga ♪ 522 00:16:26,098 --> 00:16:26,931 ♪ Quick to blast ♪ 523 00:16:26,931 --> 00:16:28,372 ♪ I don't give a fuck if it in the ass nigga ♪ 524 00:16:28,372 --> 00:16:30,567 ♪ You don't really want to try with the fly ♪ 525 00:16:30,567 --> 00:16:31,997 ♪ It's click bang you gone hustler ♪ 526 00:16:31,997 --> 00:16:33,106 ♪ I pull the trigger long ♪ 527 00:16:33,106 --> 00:16:34,166 ♪ I die get shot ♪ 528 00:16:34,166 --> 00:16:35,510 ♪ CE Big T reload ♪ 529 00:16:35,510 --> 00:16:36,720 ♪ Flip the clip ♪ 530 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,165 ♪ Come on nigga get me stuck in hell with the ♪ 531 00:16:38,165 --> 00:16:38,998 ♪ Splinter cell ♪ 532 00:16:38,998 --> 00:16:40,363 ♪ It don't get no harder than this ♪ 533 00:16:40,363 --> 00:16:41,588 ♪ Are you retarded as shit ♪ 534 00:16:41,588 --> 00:16:43,051 ♪ Fag dump with the black mag trunk ♪ 535 00:16:43,051 --> 00:16:44,216 ♪ With the double bag ♪ 536 00:16:44,216 --> 00:16:45,381 ♪ Blood on the ski mask ♪ 537 00:16:45,381 --> 00:16:46,498 ♪ Throw up the blue rag ♪ 538 00:16:46,498 --> 00:16:48,114 ♪ Looking at me like your ass didn't know ♪ 539 00:16:48,114 --> 00:16:50,201 ♪ See me in the apple 20 frozen in snow ♪ 540 00:16:50,201 --> 00:16:52,310 ♪ Hitting switches out in Cali in the hood you won't go ♪ 541 00:16:52,310 --> 00:16:54,416 ♪ My click cooks the crack in the pyrex ♪ 542 00:16:54,416 --> 00:16:56,832 ♪ Pimps with the finest decided who will die next ♪ 543 00:16:56,832 --> 00:16:58,851 ♪ Go on with your punk ass life and your wife ♪ 544 00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:01,934 ♪ Iceberg nigga what ♪ 545 00:17:03,973 --> 00:17:05,153 - [P.E.A.C.] It is an extreme sport. 546 00:17:05,153 --> 00:17:07,566 So when I see skateboarders, 547 00:17:07,566 --> 00:17:09,859 Skateboard freestyle off, 548 00:17:09,859 --> 00:17:12,544 snowboard freestyle off like okay I understand that. 549 00:17:12,544 --> 00:17:15,011 That is true 'cause out there on that board, 550 00:17:15,011 --> 00:17:17,473 yeah you have to really make up to as you're going along. 551 00:17:17,473 --> 00:17:20,835 'cause most of the time if you don't have nothing, 552 00:17:20,835 --> 00:17:24,315 you can't think of nothing to say 90% of the time that means 553 00:17:24,315 --> 00:17:26,232 rapping is not for you. 554 00:17:27,674 --> 00:17:28,809 You know what I'm saying? 555 00:17:28,809 --> 00:17:30,257 But if you have something to say 556 00:17:30,257 --> 00:17:32,602 or something hits you and you can come with like, 557 00:17:32,602 --> 00:17:34,691 ♪ I lost my girl the other day ♪ 558 00:17:34,691 --> 00:17:36,709 ♪ My grandmamma passed away ♪ 559 00:17:36,709 --> 00:17:37,873 ♪ my daddy all up in my ear ♪ 560 00:17:37,873 --> 00:17:39,516 ♪ I'm losing my place to stay ♪ 561 00:17:39,516 --> 00:17:41,054 ♪ Ain't got no rent to spend ♪ 562 00:17:41,054 --> 00:17:42,754 ♪ But my daughter wants some things ♪ 563 00:17:42,754 --> 00:17:44,713 ♪ So I'm back up on the street chopping rocks ♪ 564 00:17:44,713 --> 00:17:45,803 ♪ And selling chains ♪ 565 00:17:45,803 --> 00:17:47,147 ♪ Now I'm moving like a gangsta ♪ 566 00:17:47,147 --> 00:17:48,609 ♪ Got a gun that I should shoot ♪ 567 00:17:48,609 --> 00:17:51,207 ♪ Got is all up in my ear every Sunday with a suit ♪ 568 00:17:51,207 --> 00:17:54,255 ♪ With my book up in my hand and I'm crossing just to you ♪ 569 00:17:54,255 --> 00:17:55,689 ♪ Everybody ain't gonna live ♪ 570 00:17:55,689 --> 00:17:57,078 ♪ Some people gotta die too ♪ 571 00:17:57,078 --> 00:18:00,154 ♪ Only if you think about what you going to think about ♪ 572 00:18:00,154 --> 00:18:01,782 ♪ See I'm called thinking loud ♪ 573 00:18:01,782 --> 00:18:03,126 ♪ But I know what I'm talking 'bout ♪ 574 00:18:03,126 --> 00:18:04,466 ♪ But if you been talking to ♪ 575 00:18:04,466 --> 00:18:06,023 ♪ So I know you feel me though ♪ 576 00:18:06,023 --> 00:18:07,247 ♪ You can write this shit down ♪ 577 00:18:07,247 --> 00:18:09,293 ♪ Or just see it like I'm saying it though ♪ 578 00:18:09,293 --> 00:18:11,478 ♪ Same thing ♪ 579 00:18:11,478 --> 00:18:14,180 - [Guru] A jazz player that's gonna just you know, 580 00:18:14,180 --> 00:18:17,541 improvise and just play what he's feeling at the time. 581 00:18:17,541 --> 00:18:21,101 His emotions and so forth and his thoughts that 582 00:18:21,101 --> 00:18:23,857 express those musically is very similar to a rapper 583 00:18:23,857 --> 00:18:25,873 freestyling off the head. 584 00:18:25,873 --> 00:18:28,952 - To take it from the great jazz artists 585 00:18:28,952 --> 00:18:30,855 like Bird and Miles. 586 00:18:30,855 --> 00:18:32,736 What their brains was thinking 587 00:18:32,736 --> 00:18:34,823 and what their motor skills were doing, 588 00:18:34,823 --> 00:18:38,141 their creative side was doing with their thinking side 589 00:18:38,141 --> 00:18:39,755 was beautiful. 590 00:18:39,755 --> 00:18:42,487 And we call it freestyling. 591 00:18:42,487 --> 00:18:43,623 - Learning pattern control. 592 00:18:43,623 --> 00:18:45,323 Learning how to beat and rhyme 593 00:18:45,323 --> 00:18:46,953 and keep the subject and the pattern 594 00:18:46,953 --> 00:18:48,503 and what's cohesive and the elements 595 00:18:48,503 --> 00:18:50,208 and the atmosphere around you. 596 00:18:50,208 --> 00:18:52,150 That would come in handy when you recording. 597 00:18:52,150 --> 00:18:54,181 That would come in handy if you didn't memorize all your 598 00:18:54,181 --> 00:18:55,133 rhymes and said you know, 599 00:18:55,133 --> 00:18:56,901 battling back then they used to call it 600 00:18:56,901 --> 00:18:57,886 like come off the dome. 601 00:18:57,886 --> 00:19:00,709 They used to call it sky rap on this side. 602 00:19:00,709 --> 00:19:02,725 On the east coast they used to call it 603 00:19:02,725 --> 00:19:04,080 a wild style freestyle. 604 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,100 But a lot of the times they would call freestyle back then 605 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:09,848 just busting in the street, you know, free I guess. 606 00:19:09,848 --> 00:19:10,938 (deep hip hop beat) 607 00:19:10,938 --> 00:19:14,776 ♪ Oooom ♪ 608 00:19:14,776 --> 00:19:15,908 ♪ Namaste ♪ 609 00:19:15,908 --> 00:19:18,016 ♪ M-Y-K-A space 9 ♪ 610 00:19:18,016 --> 00:19:19,420 ♪ It's all love ♪ 611 00:19:19,420 --> 00:19:20,779 ♪ I redefine freestyle wine ♪ 612 00:19:20,779 --> 00:19:22,243 ♪ Myspace me ♪ 613 00:19:22,243 --> 00:19:23,242 ♪ Myka 9 ♪ 614 00:19:23,242 --> 00:19:24,214 ♪ Dot com ♪ 615 00:19:24,214 --> 00:19:25,214 ♪ I pop moms ♪ 616 00:19:25,214 --> 00:19:27,395 ♪ I'm an underground hip hop icon ♪ 617 00:19:27,395 --> 00:19:29,497 ♪ Jump through your sunroof ♪ 618 00:19:29,497 --> 00:19:30,859 ♪ Run through your funds dude ♪ 619 00:19:30,859 --> 00:19:31,845 ♪ I'm hundred proof ♪ 620 00:19:31,845 --> 00:19:33,485 ♪ Got too much spit for one booth ♪ 621 00:19:33,485 --> 00:19:34,488 ♪ I'm the truth ♪ 622 00:19:34,488 --> 00:19:35,877 ♪ You a damn liar ♪ 623 00:19:35,877 --> 00:19:37,490 ♪ If I'm not hotter than campfire ♪ 624 00:19:37,490 --> 00:19:39,700 ♪ These energy vampire sound like Sanjaya ♪ 625 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:41,719 ♪ They man-ginas ♪ 626 00:19:41,719 --> 00:19:43,896 ♪ Tucking they tail inside their vagina ♪ 627 00:19:43,896 --> 00:19:46,151 ♪ Old timer 49 old rhymers with Alzheimer ♪ 628 00:19:46,151 --> 00:19:47,599 ♪ When I'm blowing up most spots ♪ 629 00:19:47,599 --> 00:19:49,093 ♪ Than underground coal miners ♪ 630 00:19:49,093 --> 00:19:50,526 ♪ I'm the laughing hyena ♪ 631 00:19:50,526 --> 00:19:52,050 ♪ That's killing them with kindness ♪ 632 00:19:52,050 --> 00:19:53,618 ♪ Got more lines than sinus ♪ 633 00:19:53,618 --> 00:19:56,022 ♪ Get more peanuts than Linus ♪ 634 00:19:56,022 --> 00:19:59,382 ♪ You can call mine some nappy headed flows like Don Imus ♪ 635 00:19:59,382 --> 00:20:01,589 ♪ God have mercy on your soul ♪ 636 00:20:01,589 --> 00:20:02,622 ♪ This you must pray ♪ 637 00:20:02,622 --> 00:20:05,653 ♪ Because you fell off and got booed Just like Miss USA ♪ 638 00:20:05,653 --> 00:20:06,519 ♪ I'm timeless ♪ 639 00:20:06,519 --> 00:20:08,640 ♪ These cats a spineless little fur balls ♪ 640 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,328 ♪ and I don't have to quit inside decide ♪ 641 00:20:10,328 --> 00:20:12,359 ♪ Just because my girl calls ♪ 642 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:14,061 ♪ I'm so sick of I'm about to hurl y'all ♪ 643 00:20:14,061 --> 00:20:15,420 ♪ Freestyle fellowship ♪ 644 00:20:15,420 --> 00:20:18,309 ♪ Haiku d'Etat Project Blowed ♪ 645 00:20:18,309 --> 00:20:19,336 ♪ It's a whirlwind ♪ 646 00:20:19,336 --> 00:20:21,368 ♪ Snatching you up like your girlfriend ♪ 647 00:20:21,368 --> 00:20:22,201 ♪ Inside the limo ♪ 648 00:20:22,201 --> 00:20:23,444 ♪ I don't need to listen to your demo ♪ 649 00:20:23,444 --> 00:20:25,012 ♪ Or the instrumental I'm from South Central ♪ 650 00:20:25,012 --> 00:20:25,893 ♪ In my final intro ♪ 651 00:20:25,893 --> 00:20:27,909 ♪ It's to let your menstrual flow ♪ 652 00:20:27,909 --> 00:20:28,742 ♪ You period ♪ 653 00:20:28,742 --> 00:20:29,877 ♪ You're not taking me serious ♪ 654 00:20:29,877 --> 00:20:30,910 ♪ You're more curious ♪ 655 00:20:30,910 --> 00:20:31,743 ♪ I'm furious ♪ 656 00:20:31,743 --> 00:20:32,643 ♪ Dilapidated funk dies ♪ 657 00:20:32,643 --> 00:20:33,476 ♪ The raps die ♪ 658 00:20:33,476 --> 00:20:34,357 ♪ They capsize ♪ 659 00:20:34,357 --> 00:20:36,062 ♪ A lot of these cats in the bowl look around ♪ 660 00:20:36,062 --> 00:20:37,541 ♪ And with they face get baptized ♪ 661 00:20:37,541 --> 00:20:38,374 ♪ It's all love ♪ 662 00:20:38,374 --> 00:20:39,766 ♪ You could've played me if we were we ♪ 663 00:20:39,766 --> 00:20:41,647 ♪ And if I was an invisible MC ♪ 664 00:20:41,647 --> 00:20:43,628 ♪ And you try to strike me out on TV ♪ 665 00:20:43,628 --> 00:20:44,978 ♪ There's so much envy ♪ 666 00:20:44,978 --> 00:20:47,934 ♪ A lot of MCs never recognized the sacred geometry ♪ 667 00:20:47,934 --> 00:20:48,965 ♪ Gee I'm a G ♪ 668 00:20:48,965 --> 00:20:50,051 ♪ Look at me I'm a tree ♪ 669 00:20:50,051 --> 00:20:52,370 ♪ I grow beyond the flower of life ♪ 670 00:20:52,370 --> 00:20:55,072 ♪ I flow and I'll devour you on site ♪ 671 00:20:55,072 --> 00:20:56,043 ♪ Snatch your life ♪ 672 00:20:56,043 --> 00:20:59,448 ♪ Take the ultimate price of sacrifice ♪ 673 00:20:59,448 --> 00:21:01,863 ♪ Cook it up like a sack of rice ♪ 674 00:21:01,863 --> 00:21:02,868 ♪ These cats is pitiful ♪ 675 00:21:02,868 --> 00:21:04,062 ♪ I'm more critical ♪ 676 00:21:04,062 --> 00:21:06,093 ♪ And I'm spinning them with the centripetal force ♪ 677 00:21:06,093 --> 00:21:06,926 ♪ Giving them more inertia ♪ 678 00:21:06,926 --> 00:21:07,766 ♪ What's worse ♪ 679 00:21:07,766 --> 00:21:09,615 ♪ These dudes ain't critical ♪ 680 00:21:09,615 --> 00:21:11,498 ♪ I'm just serving these foods ♪ 681 00:21:11,498 --> 00:21:12,722 ♪ It's not even that difficult ♪ 682 00:21:12,722 --> 00:21:14,247 ♪ Observing the rules and on earth ♪ 683 00:21:14,247 --> 00:21:17,741 ♪ As I grow they see the worth and the pain of the woes ♪ 684 00:21:17,741 --> 00:21:20,098 ♪ Dudes don't even know how Myka 9 rose ♪ 685 00:21:20,098 --> 00:21:21,191 ♪ Like who to talk ♪ 686 00:21:21,191 --> 00:21:22,326 ♪ Freestyle fellowship ♪ 687 00:21:22,326 --> 00:21:24,494 ♪ Project Blowed y'all ♪ 688 00:21:24,494 --> 00:21:26,805 ♪ It's all love ♪ 689 00:21:26,805 --> 00:21:29,359 ♪ Yeah ♪ 690 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,017 ♪ It's all love ♪ 691 00:21:31,017 --> 00:21:32,376 ♪ And above and beyond the rest ♪ 692 00:21:32,376 --> 00:21:33,942 ♪ And a lot of these cats can't get it off their chest ♪ 693 00:21:33,942 --> 00:21:35,228 ♪ To open up their chest like sesame ♪ 694 00:21:35,228 --> 00:21:36,481 ♪ Breathing down their neck ♪ 695 00:21:36,481 --> 00:21:38,036 ♪ My foot up on they back ♪ 696 00:21:38,036 --> 00:21:40,631 ♪ These cats don't even know they're still disrespecting me ♪ 697 00:21:40,631 --> 00:21:42,649 ♪ Insect them seeds like ♪ 698 00:21:42,649 --> 00:21:44,666 ♪ Take off your wings and crush you ♪ 699 00:21:44,666 --> 00:21:45,995 ♪ But instead I'll let you go free ♪ 700 00:21:45,995 --> 00:21:47,593 ♪ Catch you in a jar with a little piece of paper on top ♪ 701 00:21:47,593 --> 00:21:51,162 ♪ My style rocks inside of a skyscraper ♪ 702 00:21:51,162 --> 00:21:53,758 ♪ Or I got a rock I like eating capers and salads a lot ♪ 703 00:21:53,758 --> 00:21:54,790 ♪ I've got the balance ♪ 704 00:21:54,790 --> 00:21:56,088 ♪ You's don't understand ♪ 705 00:21:56,088 --> 00:21:57,285 ♪ I rock the block ♪ 706 00:21:57,285 --> 00:21:58,852 ♪ And concocted little thingamabobs ♪ 707 00:21:58,852 --> 00:22:00,434 ♪ Highly sensitive circuitry ♪ 708 00:22:00,434 --> 00:22:02,588 ♪ I work in these with these different degrees ♪ 709 00:22:02,588 --> 00:22:03,424 ♪ I never could repeat ♪ 710 00:22:03,424 --> 00:22:05,485 ♪ I burry deep these thieves who don't know ♪ 711 00:22:05,485 --> 00:22:09,130 ♪ It's simply me myself and I and my loved ones fly ♪ 712 00:22:09,130 --> 00:22:10,697 ♪ They already know that Myka 9 ♪ 713 00:22:10,697 --> 00:22:13,116 ♪ Spy versus spy tactics can never kill them ♪ 714 00:22:13,116 --> 00:22:15,446 ♪ Fly away I utilize with skills of up the skillet ♪ 715 00:22:15,446 --> 00:22:17,477 ♪ Into the propane outlet ♪ 716 00:22:17,477 --> 00:22:18,866 ♪ Gas jet flame ♪ 717 00:22:18,866 --> 00:22:20,224 ♪ Cash checks any name ♪ 718 00:22:20,224 --> 00:22:22,969 ♪ So many different scientific theories ♪ 719 00:22:22,969 --> 00:22:25,091 ♪ Are given throughout the universe degrees ♪ 720 00:22:25,091 --> 00:22:26,631 ♪ The healers throughout the cosmosis ♪ 721 00:22:26,631 --> 00:22:29,125 ♪ My psychosis as the crowd is throwin' me roses ♪ 722 00:22:29,125 --> 00:22:30,197 ♪ And Bravos ♪ 723 00:22:30,197 --> 00:22:31,395 ♪ Who wants to oppose this ♪ 724 00:22:31,395 --> 00:22:34,665 ♪ I know a couple of cats who will finally out ♪ 725 00:22:34,665 --> 00:22:36,696 ♪ Like want to contest Myka 9's route ♪ 726 00:22:36,696 --> 00:22:38,294 ♪ Without getting tucked in they snout ♪ 727 00:22:38,294 --> 00:22:39,127 ♪ They albino ♪ 728 00:22:39,127 --> 00:22:40,160 ♪ Ready to cut this rap on Vinyl ♪ 729 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:40,993 ♪ Work on the demo ♪ 730 00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:41,908 ♪ Replay tape ♪ 731 00:22:41,908 --> 00:22:43,309 ♪ Shows these fools I go more than wild ♪ 732 00:22:43,309 --> 00:22:44,207 ♪ More than eight ♪ 733 00:22:44,207 --> 00:22:45,940 ♪ Crush them like the skin of grapes ♪ 734 00:22:45,940 --> 00:22:48,810 ♪ Cats don't even know it I've seen the fake ♪ 735 00:22:48,810 --> 00:22:50,885 ♪ Revenge the rake ♪ 736 00:22:50,885 --> 00:22:53,461 ♪ Yo keep digging in the crates ♪ 737 00:22:53,461 --> 00:22:54,669 ♪ Keep the love ♪ 738 00:22:54,669 --> 00:22:56,741 ♪ Myka 9'll set 'em straight ♪ 739 00:22:56,741 --> 00:22:58,159 ♪ Oh yeah ♪ 740 00:22:58,159 --> 00:22:59,653 ♪ Is that cool ♪ 741 00:22:59,653 --> 00:23:01,570 ♪ Cool ♪ 742 00:23:02,638 --> 00:23:05,138 - Got enough of cannon fodder? 743 00:23:06,029 --> 00:23:07,696 Enough for the kids? 744 00:23:09,479 --> 00:23:10,733 Can I go now? 745 00:23:10,733 --> 00:23:12,779 - [Gift Of Gab] Freestyle is like a lucid reality. 746 00:23:12,779 --> 00:23:15,497 You know like they say that life is just a dream that this 747 00:23:15,497 --> 00:23:17,558 is all a dream that lasts like a hundred years. 748 00:23:17,558 --> 00:23:20,709 But when you asleep, dreams are more lucid. 749 00:23:20,709 --> 00:23:23,188 You can be anywhere at any time. 750 00:23:23,188 --> 00:23:25,831 Only this reality is more structured. 751 00:23:25,831 --> 00:23:27,145 - [Ras Kass] Life is like freestyling. 752 00:23:27,145 --> 00:23:28,071 You know, 753 00:23:28,071 --> 00:23:31,878 you don't have a set goal, you don't have a set journey. 754 00:23:31,878 --> 00:23:32,879 And sometimes you do 755 00:23:32,879 --> 00:23:34,534 and you still get hit with a speed bump. 756 00:23:34,534 --> 00:23:35,941 You may stumble and it may change your whole trajectory, 757 00:23:35,941 --> 00:23:38,330 but your end goal is to win. 758 00:23:38,330 --> 00:23:40,424 - [Del] I mean you going to mess up. You know what I'm saying? 759 00:23:40,424 --> 00:23:41,558 You going mess up sometimes. 760 00:23:41,558 --> 00:23:43,619 Sometimes you going to not rhyme, 761 00:23:43,619 --> 00:23:46,053 sometimes you going to inadvertently diss yourself. 762 00:23:46,053 --> 00:23:47,114 You know what I'm saying? 763 00:23:47,114 --> 00:23:48,338 Like, you know what I'm saying? 764 00:23:48,338 --> 00:23:49,891 Like you gonna say something stupid. 765 00:23:49,891 --> 00:23:51,638 But if you could just bounce back 766 00:23:51,638 --> 00:23:53,849 and just keep it going, you know, 767 00:23:53,849 --> 00:23:55,880 that's where you kind of get your respect from. 768 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,373 And you gotta kind of have like a low amount of fear. 769 00:23:59,373 --> 00:24:01,456 - [Sean Price] Freestyle is a thought. 770 00:24:03,265 --> 00:24:06,721 So if it's a thought and you put it on paper. 771 00:24:06,721 --> 00:24:08,485 It ain't a freestyle no more. 772 00:24:08,485 --> 00:24:09,381 You know, simple. 773 00:24:09,381 --> 00:24:10,800 You know, simple as that. 774 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:11,756 You know, 775 00:24:11,756 --> 00:24:13,428 if I just choose to go willy-nilly with it 776 00:24:13,428 --> 00:24:14,741 and you know what I mean, 777 00:24:14,741 --> 00:24:15,574 then it's a freestyle. 778 00:24:15,574 --> 00:24:17,236 You know the thoughts you put on paper 779 00:24:17,236 --> 00:24:19,267 and the thoughts you just spit out sporadic. 780 00:24:19,267 --> 00:24:20,100 You know, 781 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:22,194 that's the difference between the song and the freestyle. 782 00:24:22,194 --> 00:24:23,027 - [B-Real] You know, 783 00:24:23,027 --> 00:24:24,927 there was cats that wrote their raps 784 00:24:24,927 --> 00:24:27,567 and dudes that did it off the top of the head. 785 00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:30,393 And with the guys did that were writing it, 786 00:24:30,393 --> 00:24:31,976 you could pretty much tell it was written. 787 00:24:31,976 --> 00:24:32,976 You know what I mean? 788 00:24:32,976 --> 00:24:34,096 ' cause it was, 789 00:24:34,096 --> 00:24:36,274 you could tell there was a lot of structure there where 790 00:24:36,274 --> 00:24:37,904 guys from off the top of the head, 791 00:24:37,904 --> 00:24:40,726 they were just spitting a lot of stuff that sounded cool, 792 00:24:40,726 --> 00:24:42,459 Really, some of it didn't make sense. 793 00:24:42,459 --> 00:24:44,520 It became one of those things where 794 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:46,252 you had to be good at both. 795 00:24:46,252 --> 00:24:48,701 You had to be good at writing and free styling. 796 00:24:48,701 --> 00:24:51,150 There are some dudes that do it better than others. 797 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:54,166 Like a guy like Supernatural, you know, 798 00:24:54,166 --> 00:24:57,808 which is probably one of the best at freestyling 799 00:24:57,808 --> 00:24:58,885 off the top of his head. 800 00:24:58,885 --> 00:25:02,021 - The best freestyler I've ever seen in my life is a rapper 801 00:25:02,021 --> 00:25:03,557 named Supernatural. 802 00:25:03,557 --> 00:25:06,603 And I've seen him like just pick people outta the audience 803 00:25:06,603 --> 00:25:09,309 and make intricate rhymes and not rhyme simple. 804 00:25:09,309 --> 00:25:12,773 Rhyme three syllable words together off the head. 805 00:25:12,773 --> 00:25:15,208 (up beat hip hop music) 806 00:25:15,208 --> 00:25:17,622 [Supernatural] ♪ Listen, listen. ♪ 807 00:25:17,622 --> 00:25:19,150 ♪ He is incredible ♪ 808 00:25:19,150 --> 00:25:20,195 ♪ Yo, I am a king ♪ 809 00:25:20,195 --> 00:25:21,315 ♪ When I'm on the mic ♪ 810 00:25:21,315 --> 00:25:22,704 ♪ I could spit about anything ♪ 811 00:25:22,704 --> 00:25:23,672 ♪ Under the sun ♪ 812 00:25:23,672 --> 00:25:24,944 ♪ Yo listen to me drop it ♪ 813 00:25:24,944 --> 00:25:27,393 ♪ Now this is the part where you dig into your pockets ♪ 814 00:25:27,393 --> 00:25:29,110 ♪ Okay very slick ♪ 815 00:25:29,110 --> 00:25:30,228 ♪ When I start to ride ♪ 816 00:25:30,228 --> 00:25:32,590 ♪ Yo my freestyles off the top is classified ♪ 817 00:25:32,590 --> 00:25:33,934 ♪ Everywhere I go ♪ 818 00:25:33,934 --> 00:25:35,292 ♪ You can never know ♪ 819 00:25:35,292 --> 00:25:37,861 ♪ I kill the microphone at any tempo ♪ 820 00:25:37,861 --> 00:25:39,204 ♪ This is part of the show ♪ 821 00:25:39,204 --> 00:25:40,490 ♪ It's very necessary ♪ 822 00:25:40,490 --> 00:25:41,953 ♪ And if you gotta find me ♪ 823 00:25:41,953 --> 00:25:43,193 ♪ Hit me on the Blackberry ♪ 824 00:25:43,193 --> 00:25:44,611 ♪ Yeah that's the way that I drop ♪ 825 00:25:44,611 --> 00:25:45,608 ♪ I speak me ♪ 826 00:25:45,608 --> 00:25:48,180 ♪ So dig it to your pocket right now and eat three ♪ 827 00:25:48,180 --> 00:25:49,315 ♪ And she's so cute ♪ 828 00:25:49,315 --> 00:25:51,853 ♪ Every time that she blasts quick a gap in the teeth ♪ 829 00:25:51,853 --> 00:25:53,900 ♪ And she gave me your Chapstick ♪ 830 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:54,733 ♪ Yeah tell you what ♪ 831 00:25:54,733 --> 00:25:55,841 ♪ And we like it like that ♪ 832 00:25:55,841 --> 00:25:58,429 ♪ Incredible memoirs of the cat named Supernat ♪ 833 00:25:58,429 --> 00:25:59,440 ♪ But you know it's so hot ♪ 834 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:00,904 ♪ And I blow it so hot ♪ 835 00:26:00,904 --> 00:26:02,606 ♪ Have you ever seen a white man take off ♪ 836 00:26:02,606 --> 00:26:03,890 ♪ Give a black man a watch ♪ 837 00:26:03,890 --> 00:26:06,026 ♪ Hey blow the spot and we could spit again ♪ 838 00:26:06,026 --> 00:26:07,383 ♪ And yo it's not a Rolex ♪ 839 00:26:07,383 --> 00:26:08,801 ♪ It's just a Citizen ♪ 840 00:26:08,801 --> 00:26:09,634 ♪ Ha ♪ 841 00:26:09,634 --> 00:26:11,581 ♪ Every time that I blow I blaze ♪ 842 00:26:11,581 --> 00:26:12,731 ♪ I could spit like this ♪ 843 00:26:12,731 --> 00:26:13,896 ♪ And we rhyme for days ♪ 844 00:26:13,896 --> 00:26:14,925 ♪ Couldn't you tell ♪ 845 00:26:14,925 --> 00:26:16,524 ♪ Grabbed a microphone on the drum ♪ 846 00:26:16,524 --> 00:26:18,941 ♪ He gave me a pack of watermelon gum ♪ 847 00:26:18,941 --> 00:26:21,750 ♪ Beats on the drum spit like a scanner ♪ 848 00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:23,151 ♪ Way that I could do it ♪ 849 00:26:23,151 --> 00:26:24,304 ♪ I used my bandana ♪ 850 00:26:24,304 --> 00:26:25,439 ♪ This is what I do ♪ 851 00:26:25,439 --> 00:26:26,693 ♪ I'm sick like the flu ♪ 852 00:26:26,693 --> 00:26:29,501 ♪ Freestyle so hard that he jumped out his shoe ♪ 853 00:26:29,501 --> 00:26:30,334 ♪ Pee-Ew ♪ 854 00:26:30,334 --> 00:26:31,427 ♪ You put it back on ♪ 855 00:26:31,427 --> 00:26:32,260 ♪ Transform ♪ 856 00:26:32,260 --> 00:26:33,309 ♪ When I'm on the mic ♪ 857 00:26:33,309 --> 00:26:34,384 ♪ I truly blast on ♪ 858 00:26:34,384 --> 00:26:37,147 ♪ Could you comprehend with the style that I send ♪ 859 00:26:37,147 --> 00:26:39,611 ♪ This is all off the dome so I don't need a pen ♪ 860 00:26:39,611 --> 00:26:40,444 ♪ Yo, ♪ 861 00:26:40,444 --> 00:26:42,388 ♪ I'm going in every time I'm flowing in ♪ 862 00:26:42,388 --> 00:26:44,539 ♪ Flavor so hard they could call me George ♪ 863 00:26:44,539 --> 00:26:47,167 ♪ A-K Yo we put it down like that ♪ 864 00:26:47,167 --> 00:26:49,986 ♪ His first name Jeremy and his last name Wrap ♪ 865 00:26:49,986 --> 00:26:51,393 ♪ Hey yeah brother. ♪ 866 00:26:51,393 --> 00:26:53,514 ♪ Three seconds flat off the top of the dome ♪ 867 00:26:53,514 --> 00:26:55,037 ♪ It's the cat Supernat ♪ 868 00:26:55,037 --> 00:26:56,036 ♪ And when I'm on the mic ♪ 869 00:26:56,036 --> 00:26:57,381 ♪ Yo they can never tip me ♪ 870 00:26:57,381 --> 00:26:59,950 ♪ Is the bottle half full or is it half empty ♪ 871 00:26:59,950 --> 00:27:01,682 - It's spontaneous. 872 00:27:01,682 --> 00:27:03,205 You gotta be quick on your feet. 873 00:27:03,205 --> 00:27:06,145 You have to think on the fly and always keep it moving. 874 00:27:06,145 --> 00:27:09,000 Then it is a game to me too when I'm on stage freestyling 875 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,493 to see how much I can come up with off the head. 876 00:27:11,493 --> 00:27:13,238 How much I can make on the spot. 877 00:27:13,238 --> 00:27:16,018 You know how many people I can move by my music. 878 00:27:16,018 --> 00:27:17,108 For those that don't know, 879 00:27:17,108 --> 00:27:20,304 I currently hold the world record for the longest freestyle 880 00:27:20,304 --> 00:27:21,615 rap off the dome. 881 00:27:21,615 --> 00:27:25,217 We did that at San Bernardino at the fairgrounds out there, 882 00:27:25,217 --> 00:27:26,396 the Orange show. 883 00:27:26,396 --> 00:27:29,846 And it was nine hours and 15 minutes off the head. 884 00:27:29,846 --> 00:27:32,264 And until you've attempted something like that, 885 00:27:32,264 --> 00:27:37,264 you can't possibly imagine the mental power that it takes to 886 00:27:37,313 --> 00:27:38,672 pull off something like that. 887 00:27:38,672 --> 00:27:40,972 Every hour in between hours, 888 00:27:40,972 --> 00:27:42,522 they would make us take a break 889 00:27:42,522 --> 00:27:43,929 so that I could catch my breath. 890 00:27:43,929 --> 00:27:46,019 It was only a five minute break you were allotted. 891 00:27:46,019 --> 00:27:48,107 But just to be on stage rhyming for that long, 892 00:27:48,107 --> 00:27:50,096 you go into like a euphoria almost. 893 00:27:50,096 --> 00:27:51,589 You go into a different world. 894 00:27:51,589 --> 00:27:52,422 - For me, 895 00:27:52,422 --> 00:27:55,099 when I was like rhyming every single day all the time, 896 00:27:55,099 --> 00:27:59,190 I could like feel several different trains of thought 897 00:27:59,190 --> 00:28:00,460 going on at the same time. 898 00:28:00,460 --> 00:28:01,654 So I could, you know, 899 00:28:01,654 --> 00:28:03,088 know what I was about to say. 900 00:28:03,088 --> 00:28:05,940 And then I would also be thinking about the next rhyme 901 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:07,985 while I was saying one. 902 00:28:07,985 --> 00:28:11,824 And then another part of me was almost outside of my body, 903 00:28:11,824 --> 00:28:15,498 like holy shit, am I really doing this right now? 904 00:28:15,498 --> 00:28:17,998 Like I'm killing it, you know? 905 00:28:19,769 --> 00:28:20,602 ♪ So incredible ♪ 906 00:28:20,602 --> 00:28:21,800 ♪ I quote just like the Hulks vocal ♪ 907 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:23,024 ♪ When he gets angry ♪ 908 00:28:23,024 --> 00:28:23,875 ♪ Don't try to bite it ♪ 909 00:28:23,875 --> 00:28:24,708 ♪ It's tangy ♪ 910 00:28:24,708 --> 00:28:26,668 ♪ Mcs get strangled at different angles ♪ 911 00:28:26,668 --> 00:28:28,803 ♪ Trigonometry or G-O with the free flow ♪ 912 00:28:28,803 --> 00:28:31,342 ♪ This shit is below zero and skill wise I killed that ♪ 913 00:28:31,342 --> 00:28:34,045 - [Narrator] So what does it actually take the rap? 914 00:28:34,045 --> 00:28:37,061 What is your brain doing when you are improvising 915 00:28:37,061 --> 00:28:39,675 as opposed to reading? 916 00:28:39,675 --> 00:28:42,348 What is behind the science of rapping? 917 00:28:42,348 --> 00:28:43,375 ♪ My flows is the wokest ♪ 918 00:28:43,375 --> 00:28:44,208 ♪ Hocus Pocus ♪ 919 00:28:44,208 --> 00:28:45,041 ♪ They disappear ♪ 920 00:28:45,041 --> 00:28:45,944 ♪ Check what I engineer ♪ 921 00:28:45,944 --> 00:28:47,274 ♪ They get filled with fear ♪ 922 00:28:47,274 --> 00:28:49,307 ♪ I'm a fuckin' billionaire ♪ 923 00:28:49,307 --> 00:28:51,323 ♪ Listening to Doom's Gazillionaire ♪ 924 00:28:51,323 --> 00:28:52,156 ♪ Yeah ♪ 925 00:28:52,156 --> 00:28:55,459 - I was invited out by the National Institutes of Health. 926 00:28:55,459 --> 00:29:00,072 They wanted to do a pilot program where they measured the 927 00:29:00,072 --> 00:29:04,180 brain activity in the different lobes while someone was 928 00:29:04,180 --> 00:29:06,211 engaging in freestyle rap. 929 00:29:06,211 --> 00:29:07,419 - [Dr. Charles Limb] My name is Charles Limb. 930 00:29:07,419 --> 00:29:08,748 I am an otolaryngologist, 931 00:29:08,748 --> 00:29:11,022 a head and neck surgeon here at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 932 00:29:11,022 --> 00:29:12,528 Baltimore, Maryland. 933 00:29:12,528 --> 00:29:13,505 In common terms, 934 00:29:13,505 --> 00:29:16,193 what that means is I study ear, nose, and throat medicine. 935 00:29:16,193 --> 00:29:19,239 I focus on how people hear complex things such as music. 936 00:29:19,239 --> 00:29:23,299 My clinical practice is all based on treatment of people 937 00:29:23,299 --> 00:29:25,691 with hearing loss or musicians or deafness. 938 00:29:25,691 --> 00:29:28,961 And then my research all centers around how it is that we're 939 00:29:28,961 --> 00:29:31,097 able to do this thing called music. 940 00:29:31,097 --> 00:29:31,948 So as a musician, 941 00:29:31,948 --> 00:29:33,740 I've been playing jazz my whole life 942 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:35,308 and one of the main things about jazz 943 00:29:35,308 --> 00:29:36,726 is that the music is improvised. 944 00:29:36,726 --> 00:29:38,727 And so this is something that as a listener 945 00:29:38,727 --> 00:29:39,833 and as an amateur player, 946 00:29:39,833 --> 00:29:41,593 I'd always thought, wow, this is kind of great. 947 00:29:41,593 --> 00:29:42,759 You know, I love improvising, 948 00:29:42,759 --> 00:29:44,507 I love listening to somebody improvise. 949 00:29:44,507 --> 00:29:46,819 The more I started listening to jazz 950 00:29:46,819 --> 00:29:48,449 and thinking about it at a higher level, 951 00:29:48,449 --> 00:29:49,718 I started thinking, oh, 952 00:29:49,718 --> 00:29:50,988 how are they doing this? 953 00:29:50,988 --> 00:29:53,362 How does John Coltrane do that when he's playing? 954 00:29:53,362 --> 00:29:55,094 How did Miles Davis do that? 955 00:29:55,094 --> 00:29:57,676 And at first it was really the kind of question that anybody 956 00:29:57,676 --> 00:29:59,694 who likes music or jazz would ask. 957 00:29:59,694 --> 00:30:00,527 You know, 958 00:30:00,527 --> 00:30:02,486 you'd kind of casually throw that question out there. 959 00:30:02,486 --> 00:30:04,501 But for me it became more than a casual question. 960 00:30:04,501 --> 00:30:05,334 I said, 961 00:30:05,334 --> 00:30:07,340 wow, you know, how does he do it? 962 00:30:07,340 --> 00:30:09,371 And then I thought to myself, well let's try to find out. 963 00:30:09,371 --> 00:30:12,279 I wanted to start directing my efforts towards music 964 00:30:12,279 --> 00:30:14,836 and I decided to study functional brain imaging. 965 00:30:14,836 --> 00:30:16,733 That's a method relatively recent, 966 00:30:16,733 --> 00:30:18,764 depending on your frame of mind, 967 00:30:18,764 --> 00:30:21,093 where you can take a person, 968 00:30:21,093 --> 00:30:25,095 put 'em in a MRI machine and look at their brain activity 969 00:30:25,095 --> 00:30:26,439 while they're doing something. 970 00:30:26,439 --> 00:30:27,272 So in my case, 971 00:30:27,272 --> 00:30:28,978 if I designed an experiment properly, 972 00:30:28,978 --> 00:30:31,577 I should be able to study how a jazz musician 973 00:30:31,577 --> 00:30:35,549 or a freestyle rapper improvises in real time. 974 00:30:35,549 --> 00:30:36,473 ♪ [Emmanuel Jackson] Top of the beat ♪ 975 00:30:36,473 --> 00:30:37,699 ♪ There's no repeat ♪ 976 00:30:37,699 --> 00:30:40,507 ♪ Rhythm and rhyme make me complete ♪ 977 00:30:40,507 --> 00:30:43,971 ♪ Climb is sublime when I'm on the mic spittin' rhymes ♪ 978 00:30:43,971 --> 00:30:45,987 ♪ Start to get you like stretch ♪ 979 00:30:45,987 --> 00:30:47,223 ♪ Search for the truth ♪ 980 00:30:47,223 --> 00:30:48,332 ♪ In it's eternal breath ♪ 981 00:30:48,332 --> 00:30:50,781 ♪ Asked how fast you can see our dress ♪ 982 00:30:50,781 --> 00:30:53,036 - When we did the functional brain scanning 983 00:30:53,036 --> 00:30:53,917 of jazz musicians, 984 00:30:53,917 --> 00:30:56,631 the results were pretty striking to me in the end. 985 00:30:56,631 --> 00:30:59,024 What we found though was that the whole brain is really 986 00:30:59,024 --> 00:31:01,100 engaged during a process of improvisation. 987 00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:01,933 It really, 988 00:31:01,933 --> 00:31:04,382 creativity engages the entire brain. 989 00:31:04,382 --> 00:31:06,774 And that in and of itself is a pretty remarkable finding. 990 00:31:06,774 --> 00:31:08,417 But very specifically, 991 00:31:08,417 --> 00:31:11,105 we also found that in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, 992 00:31:11,105 --> 00:31:13,868 that's this part of the brain up here that really separates 993 00:31:13,868 --> 00:31:15,016 humans from animals. 994 00:31:15,016 --> 00:31:17,661 We had a very interesting combination of things where a 995 00:31:17,661 --> 00:31:20,091 broad portion of this brain was turning off. 996 00:31:20,091 --> 00:31:23,306 And by turning off, I mean it was relatively deactivated. 997 00:31:23,306 --> 00:31:26,203 And these are areas that are thought to be involved in many 998 00:31:26,203 --> 00:31:29,682 things, including conscious self-monitoring, self-censoring, 999 00:31:29,682 --> 00:31:30,638 self inhibition, 1000 00:31:30,638 --> 00:31:33,296 a way to kind of put a context to what you're doing. 1001 00:31:33,296 --> 00:31:36,656 All the rule-based ways that we evaluate our own efforts 1002 00:31:36,656 --> 00:31:39,404 and goal-directed behaviors are all filtered 1003 00:31:39,404 --> 00:31:41,435 through this consciousness that we have. 1004 00:31:41,435 --> 00:31:43,734 And in improvisation that consciousness 1005 00:31:43,734 --> 00:31:45,484 was being turned off. 1006 00:31:46,414 --> 00:31:49,685 (funky hip hop beat) 1007 00:31:49,685 --> 00:31:52,379 - In LA the underground hip hop that was cracking 1008 00:31:52,379 --> 00:31:55,860 was due to the fact that gangsta rap was so big 1009 00:31:55,860 --> 00:31:59,748 and nobody knew that there were cats out here 1010 00:31:59,748 --> 00:32:01,464 that were doing, you know, 1011 00:32:01,464 --> 00:32:03,317 conscious rap or just rap. 1012 00:32:03,317 --> 00:32:04,721 That was the alternative to gangsta. 1013 00:32:04,721 --> 00:32:05,826 - Growing up in LA 1014 00:32:05,826 --> 00:32:06,946 you know, 1015 00:32:06,946 --> 00:32:09,141 we caught the hip hop 1016 00:32:09,141 --> 00:32:11,784 and the rap influence a little bit later. 1017 00:32:11,784 --> 00:32:12,617 You know, 1018 00:32:12,617 --> 00:32:13,681 New York had it first 1019 00:32:13,681 --> 00:32:16,324 and it started trickling down here to LA 1020 00:32:16,324 --> 00:32:19,279 on a station called K-D-A-Y. 1021 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:23,327 - As far as me taking notice of gangsta rap would be 1022 00:32:23,327 --> 00:32:24,244 Ice-T, NWA. 1023 00:32:25,122 --> 00:32:27,332 Obviously the next evolution after that is 1024 00:32:27,332 --> 00:32:28,999 Snoop Death Row, Pac 1025 00:32:31,130 --> 00:32:35,654 and their counterparts would be Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas. 1026 00:32:35,654 --> 00:32:37,715 - [The Game] As far as Los Angeles and California, man, 1027 00:32:37,715 --> 00:32:39,656 there was nothing like it. 1028 00:32:39,656 --> 00:32:41,702 Everything that was rapped about 1029 00:32:41,702 --> 00:32:43,883 you could walk out your front door and see and you know, 1030 00:32:43,883 --> 00:32:45,689 without even wanting to be a part of it, 1031 00:32:45,689 --> 00:32:46,974 you were a part of it, man. 1032 00:32:46,974 --> 00:32:48,497 So that's how I came up. 1033 00:32:48,497 --> 00:32:51,006 And you know, it was scary. 1034 00:32:51,006 --> 00:32:53,604 'cause you know, the music, the lifestyle, 1035 00:32:53,604 --> 00:32:57,427 Los Angeles in general, the riots when I was 11 years old, 1036 00:32:57,427 --> 00:32:58,693 like you could die. 1037 00:32:58,693 --> 00:33:02,012 You know, being a part of what it was transforming into. 1038 00:33:02,012 --> 00:33:04,371 - From the coexistence of, you know, 1039 00:33:04,371 --> 00:33:09,030 what we call gangsta rap NWAs to what became, you know, 1040 00:33:09,030 --> 00:33:12,002 considered the avant-garde West coast hip hop, which is, 1041 00:33:12,002 --> 00:33:14,361 you know, Pharsyde and Freestyle Fellowship. 1042 00:33:14,361 --> 00:33:15,705 Now we have, you know, 1043 00:33:15,705 --> 00:33:18,991 the up to date and the star of the show is Open Mike Eagle. 1044 00:33:18,991 --> 00:33:20,544 ♪ They say they looking for me ♪ 1045 00:33:20,544 --> 00:33:22,142 ♪ But I don't want to hear it ♪ 1046 00:33:22,142 --> 00:33:25,517 ♪ You can find me at the park district volunteering ♪ 1047 00:33:25,517 --> 00:33:27,127 ♪ With my head disheveled ♪ 1048 00:33:27,127 --> 00:33:29,429 ♪ And my sneakers scuffed ♪ 1049 00:33:29,429 --> 00:33:30,728 ♪ Or use your GPS ♪ 1050 00:33:30,728 --> 00:33:32,771 ♪ And get your celly features up ♪ 1051 00:33:32,771 --> 00:33:34,088 ♪ I went to Africa ♪ 1052 00:33:34,088 --> 00:33:35,851 ♪ They played me on the radio ♪ 1053 00:33:35,851 --> 00:33:38,016 ♪ And did I wear the people out ♪ 1054 00:33:38,016 --> 00:33:39,509 ♪ Yeah maybe so ♪ 1055 00:33:39,509 --> 00:33:41,167 ♪ 'cause all they knew was jive ♪ 1056 00:33:41,167 --> 00:33:42,765 ♪ And all I do was vibe ♪ 1057 00:33:42,765 --> 00:33:45,227 ♪ And bright green light made the program director ♪ 1058 00:33:45,227 --> 00:33:46,199 ♪ Loose his mind ♪ 1059 00:33:46,199 --> 00:33:48,275 ♪ He said what type of rapper is that ♪ 1060 00:33:48,275 --> 00:33:49,559 ♪ Ain't no bitches hoes ♪ 1061 00:33:49,559 --> 00:33:51,665 ♪ And I ain't even being funny ♪ 1062 00:33:51,665 --> 00:33:53,039 ♪ Homie didn't know ♪ 1063 00:33:53,039 --> 00:33:55,249 ♪ Check, check, check ♪ 1064 00:33:55,249 --> 00:33:57,325 ♪ You old middle of the road ass ♪ 1065 00:33:57,325 --> 00:33:58,549 ♪ Don't know the code ass ♪ 1066 00:33:58,549 --> 00:34:00,848 ♪ Mid Rain flat eq not even low Pass filter ♪ 1067 00:34:00,848 --> 00:34:03,655 ♪ You'll probably like gray better than silver ♪ 1068 00:34:03,655 --> 00:34:05,745 ♪ Closet full of short sleeve dress shirts ♪ 1069 00:34:05,745 --> 00:34:07,747 ♪ For work like Dagwood or Dilbert ♪ 1070 00:34:07,747 --> 00:34:09,763 ♪ And if you was a nut you'd be a filbert ♪ 1071 00:34:09,763 --> 00:34:11,794 ♪ About as edgy as Bob The Builder ♪ 1072 00:34:11,794 --> 00:34:12,911 ♪ Yeah ♪ 1073 00:34:12,911 --> 00:34:14,555 ♪ Your whole styles all butter knife ♪ 1074 00:34:14,555 --> 00:34:17,095 ♪ You make Jack McBryar look like a gutter snipe ♪ 1075 00:34:17,095 --> 00:34:19,738 ♪ You probably get 10 types of offended ♪ 1076 00:34:19,738 --> 00:34:22,352 ♪ At adult content and just a friend and do what you like ♪ 1077 00:34:22,352 --> 00:34:24,980 ♪ So do some helium sound of your voice ♪ 1078 00:34:24,980 --> 00:34:26,638 ♪ Is extra extra medium ♪ 1079 00:34:26,638 --> 00:34:30,520 ♪ Anything to dress up your mediocre presidium ♪ 1080 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,853 ♪ Get zesty at mexico karaoke nights and do kiss medleys ♪ 1081 00:34:33,853 --> 00:34:35,510 ♪ Yeah ♪ 1082 00:34:35,510 --> 00:34:37,631 - [Narrator] Introducing Open Mike Eagle 1083 00:34:37,631 --> 00:34:39,990 outta South Central LA's Freestyle collective. 1084 00:34:39,990 --> 00:34:41,240 Project Blowed. 1085 00:34:43,344 --> 00:34:45,172 - I've been rapping since I was 16. 1086 00:34:45,172 --> 00:34:47,143 I've been rapping since I was in high school. 1087 00:34:47,143 --> 00:34:49,562 I didn't start doing shows till I was in college 1088 00:34:49,562 --> 00:34:53,818 and I didn't write a song until I had to do my first show. 1089 00:34:53,818 --> 00:34:57,745 And so started writing and recording in college 1090 00:34:57,745 --> 00:35:02,717 and then put out my first EP shortly after I moved out here. 1091 00:35:02,717 --> 00:35:05,377 And just about every label I would want to deal with 1092 00:35:05,377 --> 00:35:06,751 and where it would make sense. 1093 00:35:06,751 --> 00:35:08,095 And these are all independent labels. 1094 00:35:08,095 --> 00:35:09,065 I'm on their radar. 1095 00:35:09,065 --> 00:35:10,230 We know each other. 1096 00:35:10,230 --> 00:35:13,904 There's professional networking and relationships happening. 1097 00:35:13,904 --> 00:35:18,025 So not only does it make more sense for me to deal with this 1098 00:35:18,025 --> 00:35:19,130 particular style of label, 1099 00:35:19,130 --> 00:35:23,192 it's easier because I'm already part of the machine 1100 00:35:23,192 --> 00:35:24,058 in a sense. 1101 00:35:24,058 --> 00:35:27,777 Whereas me trying to deal with a major label, 1102 00:35:27,777 --> 00:35:30,032 I'm literally cold calling 1103 00:35:30,032 --> 00:35:33,897 or cold emailing or trying to show up at somebody's office 1104 00:35:33,897 --> 00:35:37,722 and trying to somehow put myself into a context 1105 00:35:37,722 --> 00:35:39,948 to something that they understand 1106 00:35:39,948 --> 00:35:43,875 or to something that's similar to what they sell. 1107 00:35:43,875 --> 00:35:46,070 And what I do is really not like that. 1108 00:35:46,070 --> 00:35:48,176 - The majors recoup, you know, 1109 00:35:48,176 --> 00:35:50,637 they give you a whole bunch of money and take it back. 1110 00:35:50,637 --> 00:35:52,760 But India, it doesn't happen that way. 1111 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:53,865 You know what I'm saying? 1112 00:35:53,865 --> 00:35:56,225 You're out there, you making your own moves. 1113 00:35:56,225 --> 00:35:58,256 And what's cool about India is that 1114 00:35:58,256 --> 00:35:59,791 if you know what you're doing, 1115 00:35:59,791 --> 00:36:02,407 you know what I'm saying, you can go far, you know, 1116 00:36:02,407 --> 00:36:04,856 and you don't have to answer to anyone. 1117 00:36:04,856 --> 00:36:07,664 - You know, me being a person that's, 1118 00:36:07,664 --> 00:36:09,202 I mean just about completely independent. 1119 00:36:09,202 --> 00:36:12,129 I mean I book 85% of my own dates. 1120 00:36:12,129 --> 00:36:14,172 You know, I do, you know, 1121 00:36:14,172 --> 00:36:15,907 I do all my own recording. 1122 00:36:15,907 --> 00:36:18,252 I assemble a lot of my product on my own. 1123 00:36:18,252 --> 00:36:21,641 I don't have time to really pull teeth to put myself in a 1124 00:36:21,641 --> 00:36:25,375 situation that my momentum hasn't already carried me to. 1125 00:36:25,375 --> 00:36:27,779 It just takes too much of my energy and resources away. 1126 00:36:27,779 --> 00:36:31,005 Where at the end of the day I need to be trying to better my 1127 00:36:31,005 --> 00:36:32,483 product as much as I can. 1128 00:36:32,483 --> 00:36:34,185 I need to be trying to write a better song. 1129 00:36:34,185 --> 00:36:35,796 I need to be trying to record a better verse. 1130 00:36:35,796 --> 00:36:37,394 I need to be trying to find a better beat or make a better 1131 00:36:37,394 --> 00:36:38,395 beat all the time. 1132 00:36:38,395 --> 00:36:40,413 - [DJ Muggs] You can be creative as you want, 1133 00:36:40,413 --> 00:36:41,786 you can go to the left, 1134 00:36:41,786 --> 00:36:42,682 put your middle finger up, 1135 00:36:42,682 --> 00:36:44,161 it's still urban punk rock, 1136 00:36:44,161 --> 00:36:45,057 you know what I mean? 1137 00:36:45,057 --> 00:36:46,416 And be creative and do your own thing and still be 1138 00:36:46,416 --> 00:36:49,445 successful and be monetarily successful by doing your thing. 1139 00:36:49,445 --> 00:36:51,925 You don't gotta go fit into this mode. 1140 00:36:51,925 --> 00:36:54,151 Because I think if I was growing up today 1141 00:36:54,151 --> 00:36:55,122 and I seen what was going on, 1142 00:36:55,122 --> 00:36:56,466 I wouldn't even have been infatuated by it 1143 00:36:56,466 --> 00:36:57,362 and wanted to do this. 1144 00:36:57,362 --> 00:36:58,751 - [Planet Asia] I probably wouldn't even be rhyming 1145 00:36:58,751 --> 00:36:59,916 if I grew up in hip hop today, 1146 00:36:59,916 --> 00:37:02,320 I probably would not be into hip hop. 1147 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,081 I'd probably be probably in a martial arts or something. 1148 00:37:05,081 --> 00:37:06,083 - Because you gotta fit into 1149 00:37:06,083 --> 00:37:07,561 this cookie cutter category now. 1150 00:37:07,561 --> 00:37:09,055 And back then you didn't. 1151 00:37:09,055 --> 00:37:11,175 It was about going to the left as much as you can 1152 00:37:11,175 --> 00:37:12,159 to be accepted. 1153 00:37:12,159 --> 00:37:14,967 Now it's like you gotta come into this zone right here 1154 00:37:14,967 --> 00:37:18,310 where everybody's at to be accepted. 1155 00:37:18,310 --> 00:37:21,316 - I was about 12 years old. 1156 00:37:21,316 --> 00:37:24,421 There was this older cat that used to come to our building 1157 00:37:24,421 --> 00:37:28,289 and he used to come through and freestyle. 1158 00:37:28,289 --> 00:37:29,245 He was a rapper. 1159 00:37:29,245 --> 00:37:31,544 He was kind of like somebody everybody in the neighborhood 1160 00:37:31,544 --> 00:37:33,575 looked up to because he was a rapper. 1161 00:37:33,575 --> 00:37:35,293 So he would come through every day. 1162 00:37:35,293 --> 00:37:37,981 We were all younger than him so he would pick one person 1163 00:37:37,981 --> 00:37:41,236 every day and he would take off on him just what they were 1164 00:37:41,236 --> 00:37:43,267 wearing, whatever, you know, 1165 00:37:43,267 --> 00:37:45,432 bagging and capping, you know, 1166 00:37:45,432 --> 00:37:47,192 like you did when you were younger. 1167 00:37:47,192 --> 00:37:50,659 It was my turn and he basically, you know, 1168 00:37:50,659 --> 00:37:54,333 just flashed on me, just started freestyling about me. 1169 00:37:54,333 --> 00:37:57,468 You know, I went home, I was mad so I had to challenge him. 1170 00:37:57,468 --> 00:38:00,082 So before I started freestyling, I started writin'. 1171 00:38:00,082 --> 00:38:04,144 I would ride a rhyme every day and and go back to his crib. 1172 00:38:04,144 --> 00:38:05,757 Me and my friend would go to his crib, 1173 00:38:05,757 --> 00:38:06,996 ride our bikes to his crib, 1174 00:38:06,996 --> 00:38:09,146 knock on his door and start rhyming. 1175 00:38:09,146 --> 00:38:10,685 And of course he would kill us every day. 1176 00:38:10,685 --> 00:38:12,253 We was using written's 1177 00:38:12,253 --> 00:38:13,373 and he was using freestyles 1178 00:38:13,373 --> 00:38:14,911 and he would kill us every day, you know, 1179 00:38:14,911 --> 00:38:17,494 til I got older and I started building my skill up 1180 00:38:17,494 --> 00:38:20,747 and then I was finally able to beat him. 1181 00:38:20,747 --> 00:38:24,617 - Anything you've just made up is a freestyle. 1182 00:38:24,617 --> 00:38:28,470 And that means if you're kicking a written verse against 1183 00:38:28,470 --> 00:38:31,113 somebody and you pull some lines out of the sky to connect 1184 00:38:31,113 --> 00:38:33,159 the dots, well then that part is freestyle. 1185 00:38:33,159 --> 00:38:34,772 So it's what, 10-15% freestyle. 1186 00:38:34,772 --> 00:38:37,789 Whatever you know, percentage you want to give it. 1187 00:38:37,789 --> 00:38:41,913 Usually you can tell when somebody's not coming completely 1188 00:38:41,913 --> 00:38:46,181 off of the top because it's mostly terrible. 1189 00:38:46,181 --> 00:38:47,898 Especially if they're trying to stay on subject 1190 00:38:47,898 --> 00:38:50,079 and they didn't think of absolutely anything. 1191 00:38:50,079 --> 00:38:52,107 Then they're gonna be grabbing all over the place. 1192 00:38:52,107 --> 00:38:53,764 Occasionally they'll tug against something. 1193 00:38:53,764 --> 00:38:54,992 It sounds like it's relevant, 1194 00:38:54,992 --> 00:38:56,246 but for the most part, 1195 00:38:56,246 --> 00:38:58,352 and especially in battling, 1196 00:38:58,352 --> 00:39:00,112 you fool not to think of anything. 1197 00:39:00,112 --> 00:39:03,952 And even if you just thought of it in between rounds, 1198 00:39:03,952 --> 00:39:05,699 it's still premeditated. 1199 00:39:05,699 --> 00:39:08,148 Now premeditated doesn't necessarily mean written 1200 00:39:08,148 --> 00:39:10,836 but you know, you prepared a little bit. 1201 00:39:10,836 --> 00:39:12,867 You did something potent 1202 00:39:12,867 --> 00:39:14,973 because you're trying to win a competition 1203 00:39:14,973 --> 00:39:17,855 where you have to say better things than the other person. 1204 00:39:17,855 --> 00:39:20,483 - Without any further ado, 1205 00:39:20,483 --> 00:39:22,529 are y'all ready to make battle rap history? 1206 00:39:22,529 --> 00:39:24,723 (crowd cheering) 1207 00:39:24,723 --> 00:39:27,051 And on my left a battle rap legend. 1208 00:39:27,051 --> 00:39:28,786 Y'all have seen him over the years. 1209 00:39:28,786 --> 00:39:30,368 Annihilate mad opponents. 1210 00:39:30,368 --> 00:39:31,451 Iron Solomon. 1211 00:39:32,474 --> 00:39:35,267 (crowd cheers) 1212 00:39:35,267 --> 00:39:37,580 (triumphant music) 1213 00:39:37,580 --> 00:39:40,583 ♪ You a pissed off pipsqueak floating up shit's creek ♪ 1214 00:39:40,583 --> 00:39:44,406 ♪ The goals that you have for your life I reach this week ♪ 1215 00:39:44,406 --> 00:39:47,318 ♪ See my careers beginning to grow ♪ 1216 00:39:47,318 --> 00:39:49,348 ♪ Yours beginning on its decline ♪ 1217 00:39:49,348 --> 00:39:50,932 ♪ And here I sit on the throne ♪ 1218 00:39:50,932 --> 00:39:52,649 ♪ You sitting on the bidet ♪ 1219 00:39:52,649 --> 00:39:54,755 ♪ because you ain't stacking no more paper ♪ 1220 00:39:54,755 --> 00:39:57,309 ♪ Your crap just got flushed ♪ 1221 00:39:57,309 --> 00:39:58,936 ♪ You ain't dropping no new shit ♪ 1222 00:39:58,936 --> 00:40:01,648 ♪ Your ass is washed up ♪ 1223 00:40:01,648 --> 00:40:03,231 (crowd rumbles) 1224 00:40:03,231 --> 00:40:04,924 ♪ From Philly, Pennsylvania ♪ 1225 00:40:04,924 --> 00:40:06,134 - [Crowd Member] Word up. 1226 00:40:06,134 --> 00:40:07,257 ♪ The live at Grizzle mania ♪ 1227 00:40:07,257 --> 00:40:10,139 ♪ With a bag full of dust I bought all the way from Cambria ♪ 1228 00:40:10,139 --> 00:40:11,155 ♪ On fifth Street ♪ 1229 00:40:11,155 --> 00:40:12,290 ♪ Hotter then fish grease ♪ 1230 00:40:12,290 --> 00:40:13,395 ♪ So you fuck with DMC ♪ 1231 00:40:13,395 --> 00:40:14,694 ♪ Whose dick you on this week ♪ 1232 00:40:14,694 --> 00:40:16,023 ♪ More powerful than Solomon ♪ 1233 00:40:16,023 --> 00:40:17,367 ♪ Stronger then King Sampson ♪ 1234 00:40:17,367 --> 00:40:19,771 ♪ He got a follow and fuck I wouldn't chance it ♪ 1235 00:40:19,771 --> 00:40:21,437 ♪ I cut the music back up ♪ 1236 00:40:21,437 --> 00:40:24,386 ♪ I kept jamming like I ain't hear him talking about money ♪ 1237 00:40:24,386 --> 00:40:25,383 ♪ Them niggas scrambling ♪ 1238 00:40:25,383 --> 00:40:26,775 ♪ I got the word when I was in the spot gamin' ♪ 1239 00:40:26,775 --> 00:40:28,298 ♪ How they hype his little white ass up ♪ 1240 00:40:28,298 --> 00:40:29,329 ♪ Like he the champion ♪ 1241 00:40:29,329 --> 00:40:31,359 ♪ But what he really looking for is a companion ♪ 1242 00:40:31,359 --> 00:40:33,749 ♪ Somebody he can show how to fish and go camping ♪ 1243 00:40:33,749 --> 00:40:35,391 ♪ I can write out quickly ♪ 1244 00:40:35,391 --> 00:40:36,526 ♪ He's slow dancin' ♪ 1245 00:40:36,526 --> 00:40:37,751 ♪ Catch him with the right hand ♪ 1246 00:40:37,751 --> 00:40:38,692 ♪ and reprogram him ♪ - What! 1247 00:40:38,692 --> 00:40:40,332 ♪ To beat me you gotta worship the devil ♪ 1248 00:40:40,332 --> 00:40:42,141 ♪ I mean really know that nigga on the personal level ♪ 1249 00:40:42,141 --> 00:40:44,187 ♪ He can call me magneto ♪ 1250 00:40:44,187 --> 00:40:45,427 ♪ How I work with the metal ♪ 1251 00:40:45,427 --> 00:40:46,760 ♪ When we can settle while the court ♪ 1252 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:47,771 ♪ Pitch fork and the shovel ♪ 1253 00:40:47,771 --> 00:40:50,474 - Battling is like a cross between freestyling 1254 00:40:50,474 --> 00:40:52,307 and pre-written disses 1255 00:40:53,806 --> 00:40:55,935 that you weave into the particular character. 1256 00:40:55,935 --> 00:40:57,965 - When you rap battle face to face, 1257 00:40:57,965 --> 00:41:01,475 the guy who's able to freestyle better is the one 1258 00:41:01,475 --> 00:41:02,610 who will rip you down. 1259 00:41:02,610 --> 00:41:05,328 'cause he'll just get on you in front of everybody talking 1260 00:41:05,328 --> 00:41:08,404 about stuff that's right here and you could grab and touch 1261 00:41:08,404 --> 00:41:09,237 and be relevant. 1262 00:41:09,237 --> 00:41:12,376 So, you know, it's important to know that art. 1263 00:41:12,376 --> 00:41:13,586 - On the battle. 1264 00:41:13,586 --> 00:41:16,618 I think you come, you know guns cocked already. 1265 00:41:16,618 --> 00:41:19,604 You know, you know what you gonna say for the most part. 1266 00:41:19,604 --> 00:41:22,277 - I remember one guy I had a battle with and he beat me. 1267 00:41:22,277 --> 00:41:24,667 I was like 14 years old and I probably had about, 1268 00:41:24,667 --> 00:41:26,189 my record was maybe 15-0 1269 00:41:26,189 --> 00:41:29,490 and I meet this guy who was maybe about 18, 19 years old 1270 00:41:29,490 --> 00:41:30,953 and he's ready to battle me. 1271 00:41:30,953 --> 00:41:33,462 And my lyrics were so scientific I would always win 1272 00:41:33,462 --> 00:41:34,986 'cause of my vocabulary and lyrics 1273 00:41:34,986 --> 00:41:37,464 and I'm saying all these biochemist rhymes, 1274 00:41:37,464 --> 00:41:39,495 I come from your throat, I spit the egg, 1275 00:41:39,495 --> 00:41:41,540 the nucleus to the zygote. 1276 00:41:41,540 --> 00:41:43,557 And I'm going through all this thing, right? 1277 00:41:43,557 --> 00:41:47,007 He said, MC Rakim, you know you ain't shit. 1278 00:41:47,007 --> 00:41:51,321 I make you bow on your knees nigga and suck my dick. 1279 00:41:51,321 --> 00:41:52,756 Yo. 1280 00:41:52,756 --> 00:41:54,411 Everybody started laughing 1281 00:41:54,411 --> 00:41:56,235 and the battle I lost 1282 00:41:56,235 --> 00:41:58,383 'cause of that stupidness. 1283 00:41:58,383 --> 00:41:59,354 And I was like, 1284 00:41:59,354 --> 00:42:00,208 wow, okay, 1285 00:42:00,208 --> 00:42:03,658 let me go back and get and start making rhymes that's like 1286 00:42:03,658 --> 00:42:05,688 more funny and more battle type. 1287 00:42:05,688 --> 00:42:09,885 - [Tech N9ne] I would have like stuff like pieces of rhymes sometimes 1288 00:42:09,885 --> 00:42:11,524 mixed with freestylin', 1289 00:42:11,524 --> 00:42:12,737 you know what I'm saying? 1290 00:42:12,737 --> 00:42:14,036 Just, and a lot of MCs do it. 1291 00:42:14,036 --> 00:42:15,261 You probably don't ever know, 1292 00:42:15,261 --> 00:42:16,483 they won't tell you the truth, 1293 00:42:16,483 --> 00:42:18,919 but I'll have like pieces of rhymes, 1294 00:42:18,919 --> 00:42:19,860 you know what I mean? 1295 00:42:19,860 --> 00:42:21,279 And I'll mix it in with freestyles man 1296 00:42:21,279 --> 00:42:22,996 and then it'll just keep going one after another. 1297 00:42:22,996 --> 00:42:23,847 You know what I mean? 1298 00:42:23,847 --> 00:42:25,057 And that's how we did it man. 1299 00:42:25,057 --> 00:42:25,890 You know what I mean? 1300 00:42:25,890 --> 00:42:27,850 Like you'll start off with like four bars of a rhyme 1301 00:42:27,850 --> 00:42:29,044 and then go into a freestyle 1302 00:42:29,044 --> 00:42:31,060 and then another four bars or another two bars of a rhyme 1303 00:42:31,060 --> 00:42:31,893 blah blah blah. 1304 00:42:31,893 --> 00:42:33,599 And you'll say something about the person in front of you, 1305 00:42:33,599 --> 00:42:34,525 then you keep on going. 1306 00:42:34,525 --> 00:42:35,421 You know what I mean? 1307 00:42:35,421 --> 00:42:36,331 So that's how I did it. 1308 00:42:36,331 --> 00:42:40,259 - Because I think over time it has become such a big deal 1309 00:42:40,259 --> 00:42:44,562 to even exist in a freestyle or not to lose or have, 1310 00:42:44,562 --> 00:42:45,473 you know, 1311 00:42:45,473 --> 00:42:46,397 punchlines ready. 1312 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:48,905 I think that some freestyle artists just have certain 1313 00:42:48,905 --> 00:42:51,518 punchlines in their head that will go with pretty much 1314 00:42:51,518 --> 00:42:52,351 anything. 1315 00:42:52,351 --> 00:42:54,584 - You basically just wrote some shit 1316 00:42:54,584 --> 00:42:55,856 to battle against this cat 1317 00:42:55,856 --> 00:42:59,424 and you wrote it in a fashion that's like, 1318 00:42:59,424 --> 00:43:04,424 if I do forget something I can freestyle and patch it up. 1319 00:43:04,804 --> 00:43:06,554 So you still like it. 1320 00:43:07,451 --> 00:43:11,117 But I don't think going into any battle 1321 00:43:11,117 --> 00:43:12,284 unless you say 1322 00:43:14,341 --> 00:43:17,548 we battling on who got the hardest rhymes. 1323 00:43:17,548 --> 00:43:18,979 This is a freestyle battle. 1324 00:43:18,979 --> 00:43:22,341 You can't write a god damn thing, 1325 00:43:22,341 --> 00:43:24,641 you can't write your name on your hand in this battle. 1326 00:43:24,641 --> 00:43:25,612 You know what I'm saying? 1327 00:43:25,612 --> 00:43:27,343 No, no pens allowed, nothing. 1328 00:43:27,343 --> 00:43:31,406 - When it comes to freestylin' over a beat 1329 00:43:31,406 --> 00:43:34,167 or battling over a beat versus battling acapella. 1330 00:43:34,167 --> 00:43:37,586 Whereas you can see that when somebody doesn't have a beat, 1331 00:43:37,586 --> 00:43:41,394 they have more time to type to kind of set up each line 1332 00:43:41,394 --> 00:43:44,413 and deliver it and let the reaction happen. 1333 00:43:44,413 --> 00:43:48,143 But that's actually more difficult to do than it looks 1334 00:43:48,143 --> 00:43:50,670 to let each line breathe like that. 1335 00:43:50,670 --> 00:43:53,134 Especially if you're trying to remember a long thing 1336 00:43:53,134 --> 00:43:54,269 that you wrote. 1337 00:43:54,269 --> 00:43:55,102 You know, 1338 00:43:55,102 --> 00:43:57,061 some of these guys go for unlimited rounds 1339 00:43:57,061 --> 00:44:01,076 where they'll kick five minutes worth of bars 1340 00:44:01,076 --> 00:44:03,465 against this other person with no beat. 1341 00:44:03,465 --> 00:44:05,588 And for me personally, 1342 00:44:05,588 --> 00:44:07,978 it'd be easier to remember it all. 1343 00:44:07,978 --> 00:44:10,351 If it was on a metronome, 1344 00:44:10,351 --> 00:44:12,368 I could use the rhythm to carry me through 1345 00:44:12,368 --> 00:44:13,368 remembering everything. 1346 00:44:13,368 --> 00:44:15,026 But having taken that away, 1347 00:44:15,026 --> 00:44:17,759 there's kind of no safety net where like you could pause too 1348 00:44:17,759 --> 00:44:18,592 long, 1349 00:44:18,592 --> 00:44:20,014 forget what the next line is 1350 00:44:20,014 --> 00:44:21,791 and then where are you in your sequence 1351 00:44:21,791 --> 00:44:24,061 if that's the way that you're putting it all together. 1352 00:44:24,061 --> 00:44:25,746 - [Nocando] On the major stage of battle rap 1353 00:44:25,746 --> 00:44:30,587 like you better be your pen game and your freestyle game. 1354 00:44:30,587 --> 00:44:31,420 Whatever you, 1355 00:44:31,420 --> 00:44:33,379 you choose is your front leg 1356 00:44:33,379 --> 00:44:34,992 or the whatever you choose is your tool. 1357 00:44:34,992 --> 00:44:35,873 You better be good. 1358 00:44:35,873 --> 00:44:37,546 Like if there's a room full of 20 rappers, 1359 00:44:37,546 --> 00:44:39,289 all those 20 rappers don't suck. 1360 00:44:39,289 --> 00:44:41,025 - [Dumbfoundead] You know the big battlers 1361 00:44:41,025 --> 00:44:41,921 out on the east coast, 1362 00:44:41,921 --> 00:44:44,355 they're all part of like the Smack URL battle league. 1363 00:44:44,355 --> 00:44:47,790 The cats like DNA, Hollow Da Don, Loaded Lux, 1364 00:44:47,790 --> 00:44:48,775 Iron solomon, 1365 00:44:48,775 --> 00:44:50,194 ♪ And I was self-taught ♪ 1366 00:44:50,194 --> 00:44:51,658 ♪ My education was intuition ♪ 1367 00:44:51,658 --> 00:44:54,017 ♪ School of hard knocks paid my own dues and tuition ♪ 1368 00:44:54,017 --> 00:44:56,421 ♪ I used my aggressive disposition ♪ 1369 00:44:56,421 --> 00:44:57,524 ♪ To get to disposition ♪ 1370 00:44:57,524 --> 00:44:59,557 ♪ That L I took didn't end the mission ♪ 1371 00:44:59,557 --> 00:45:00,632 ♪ That was intermission ♪ 1372 00:45:00,632 --> 00:45:01,614 ♪ I'm still player ♪ 1373 00:45:01,614 --> 00:45:03,037 ♪ It made me a hell raiser ♪ 1374 00:45:03,037 --> 00:45:06,008 ♪ Plus I never been a grudge holder or an axe grinder ♪ 1375 00:45:06,008 --> 00:45:07,576 ♪ I never hey yo watch your mouth ♪ 1376 00:45:07,576 --> 00:45:10,085 ♪ When I never been a grudge holder or an axe grinder ♪ 1377 00:45:10,085 --> 00:45:11,519 ♪ I just passed by you ♪ 1378 00:45:11,519 --> 00:45:12,385 ♪ If you a roadblock ♪ 1379 00:45:12,385 --> 00:45:13,219 ♪ I'm a fast driver ♪ 1380 00:45:13,219 --> 00:45:15,252 ♪ Even without no gas or a flat tire ♪ 1381 00:45:15,252 --> 00:45:17,268 ♪ I'm that writer who could turn the whole map ♪ 1382 00:45:17,268 --> 00:45:18,687 ♪ in a flat liners on paper ♪ 1383 00:45:18,687 --> 00:45:20,583 ♪ I got pad after pad for you man-ginas ♪ 1384 00:45:20,583 --> 00:45:22,838 ♪ Hitting keys a giggities for you bitches ♪ 1385 00:45:22,838 --> 00:45:23,671 ♪ Like Quagmire ♪ 1386 00:45:23,671 --> 00:45:24,810 ♪ When I slack my la- ♪ 1387 00:45:24,810 --> 00:45:27,020 ♪ When I slap my last time on Smack White ♪ 1388 00:45:27,020 --> 00:45:28,080 ♪ It got crowd hyper ♪ 1389 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:30,499 ♪ Heard him talk like he had what it take to attack Iron ♪ 1390 00:45:30,499 --> 00:45:32,874 ♪ But you died soon as the contract was signed ♪ 1391 00:45:32,874 --> 00:45:33,814 ♪ And the bad wire ♪ 1392 00:45:33,814 --> 00:45:35,860 ♪ Guess it ain't work out how you planned ♪ 1393 00:45:35,860 --> 00:45:36,980 ♪ 'cause I'm backfired. ♪ 1394 00:45:36,980 --> 00:45:37,813 - Let's go. 1395 00:45:37,813 --> 00:45:39,757 (crowd clapping) 1396 00:45:39,757 --> 00:45:41,610 - Give it up for my man Iron Solomon yo. 1397 00:45:41,610 --> 00:45:44,013 (fun drum beat) 1398 00:45:44,013 --> 00:45:45,685 - [Narrator] Meet Iron Solomon, 1399 00:45:45,685 --> 00:45:47,015 a hungry young freestyler 1400 00:45:47,015 --> 00:45:49,253 who came up in the New York battle scene 1401 00:45:49,253 --> 00:45:53,016 and soon became its most infamous internet champion. 1402 00:45:53,016 --> 00:45:55,707 - I always wanted to be a rock star when I was a little kid, 1403 00:45:55,707 --> 00:45:56,573 you know, 1404 00:45:56,573 --> 00:45:59,425 I wanted to be Slash and then it became Biggie Smalls 1405 00:45:59,425 --> 00:46:00,258 and Jay-Z. 1406 00:46:00,258 --> 00:46:02,785 I was rapping since I was probably about nine years old 1407 00:46:02,785 --> 00:46:04,263 and playing guitar at the same time. 1408 00:46:04,263 --> 00:46:05,503 And you know, 1409 00:46:05,503 --> 00:46:07,892 writing rap songs and writing songs on guitar 1410 00:46:07,892 --> 00:46:10,640 and playing in band, you know, doing Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1411 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:12,656 cover songs and stuff like that. 1412 00:46:12,656 --> 00:46:16,509 And then when I was about I guess 10 or 11, 1413 00:46:16,509 --> 00:46:19,193 I switched to public school and you know, 1414 00:46:19,193 --> 00:46:20,854 kids were freestyling in class 1415 00:46:20,854 --> 00:46:22,318 and it was a different environment. 1416 00:46:22,318 --> 00:46:25,319 So that's when I started to not just write but freestyle. 1417 00:46:25,319 --> 00:46:26,887 It's a vicious world out there 1418 00:46:26,887 --> 00:46:29,038 where kids are always talking shit to each other. 1419 00:46:29,038 --> 00:46:31,097 So that was just part of the way we interacted. 1420 00:46:31,097 --> 00:46:33,186 It was normal everyday life to talk shit to each other. 1421 00:46:33,186 --> 00:46:34,712 So if we're freestyling, you know, 1422 00:46:34,712 --> 00:46:36,950 you're bragging that I fucked your girl, 1423 00:46:36,950 --> 00:46:38,161 I fucked your mom, you know, 1424 00:46:38,161 --> 00:46:40,208 I'm gonna smack the outta the teacher, whatever it is. 1425 00:46:40,208 --> 00:46:41,924 I wasn't that good at basketball. 1426 00:46:41,924 --> 00:46:45,300 Whatever it was just drew me to battling. 1427 00:46:45,300 --> 00:46:48,675 And once I started to get a little traction, you know, 1428 00:46:48,675 --> 00:46:51,050 I saw it as a way to get a fan base, 1429 00:46:51,050 --> 00:46:53,469 get my foot in the door and you know, 1430 00:46:53,469 --> 00:46:56,239 build myself towards a career in music. 1431 00:46:56,239 --> 00:47:00,860 - [Violent J] Today, having a bomb freestyle that can really, 1432 00:47:00,860 --> 00:47:01,952 you can be seen now. 1433 00:47:01,952 --> 00:47:02,833 You got the internet, 1434 00:47:02,833 --> 00:47:04,520 you can shine off that extra hard. 1435 00:47:04,520 --> 00:47:06,701 It ain't like being on the corner anymore. 1436 00:47:06,701 --> 00:47:08,732 You can become a star off that. 1437 00:47:08,732 --> 00:47:09,717 You know. 1438 00:47:09,717 --> 00:47:12,107 - [Prodigy] The game is oversaturated with a lot of people 1439 00:47:12,107 --> 00:47:14,196 just trying to rap, you know what I mean? 1440 00:47:14,196 --> 00:47:15,029 And that's cool. 1441 00:47:15,029 --> 00:47:15,862 'cause rap. 1442 00:47:15,862 --> 00:47:18,005 So that's where we took it, you know what I mean? 1443 00:47:18,005 --> 00:47:20,066 It's real popular now. It got big, it got huge. 1444 00:47:20,066 --> 00:47:22,411 That's how we wanted it, you know what I mean? 1445 00:47:22,411 --> 00:47:24,440 So it's all good. 1446 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:26,532 But at the same time we just got more, 1447 00:47:26,532 --> 00:47:29,922 you know what I mean, BS than the stuff that's good. 1448 00:47:29,922 --> 00:47:30,816 You know what I mean? 1449 00:47:30,816 --> 00:47:32,879 Like it's a lot of stuff that's just, 1450 00:47:32,879 --> 00:47:34,895 it sounds so corny, man. 1451 00:47:34,895 --> 00:47:35,806 You know what I mean? 1452 00:47:35,806 --> 00:47:37,954 It makes it bad for the people that's good. 1453 00:47:37,954 --> 00:47:40,749 'cause you gotta get through so much corny stuff in order to 1454 00:47:40,749 --> 00:47:43,916 get to the real, you know what I mean? 1455 00:47:45,382 --> 00:47:46,853 - [Narrator] To make it in show biz, 1456 00:47:46,853 --> 00:47:49,873 you need talent, drive and a solid support system. 1457 00:47:49,873 --> 00:47:53,456 Mike Eagle finds his support in his family. 1458 00:47:54,740 --> 00:47:56,981 - [Open Mike Eagle] I met my wife about six, eight months 1459 00:47:56,981 --> 00:47:57,982 after I moved out to LA. 1460 00:47:57,982 --> 00:48:00,315 We got married a year later. 1461 00:48:02,916 --> 00:48:07,916 Asa is probably the youngest art rap fan that there is. 1462 00:48:07,957 --> 00:48:12,405 And he's a serious fan in the sense of fanaticism. 1463 00:48:12,405 --> 00:48:17,007 His favorite rappers are Serengeti, MF Doom, Busdriver. 1464 00:48:17,007 --> 00:48:18,424 And sometimes me. 1465 00:48:22,189 --> 00:48:23,950 He enjoys beats. 1466 00:48:23,950 --> 00:48:26,878 He doesn't even know what he's doing yet 1467 00:48:26,878 --> 00:48:27,983 in really any sense, 1468 00:48:27,983 --> 00:48:30,387 but he really enjoys emulating 1469 00:48:30,387 --> 00:48:34,887 and trying to do what he can in terms of making music. 1470 00:48:38,533 --> 00:48:40,283 What's your rap name? 1471 00:48:42,142 --> 00:48:43,814 - [Asa Lanoix-Eagle] Open Mike Eagle. 1472 00:48:43,814 --> 00:48:47,637 - That's your rap name? What's my rap name? 1473 00:48:47,637 --> 00:48:49,504 - Open Mike Eagle. 1474 00:48:49,504 --> 00:48:50,449 - We got the same rap name? 1475 00:48:50,449 --> 00:48:51,282 - Yeah. 1476 00:48:51,282 --> 00:48:52,115 - Oh, okay. 1477 00:48:52,115 --> 00:48:52,948 We share it. 1478 00:48:52,948 --> 00:48:53,781 - Yeah. 1479 00:48:53,781 --> 00:48:54,614 - Cool. 1480 00:48:54,614 --> 00:48:59,332 - We should share it because that's a good idea. 1481 00:48:59,332 --> 00:49:00,165 - Okay. 1482 00:49:00,165 --> 00:49:02,155 You gonna, you gonna rap something real quick? 1483 00:49:02,155 --> 00:49:02,988 - Yeah. 1484 00:49:02,988 --> 00:49:04,077 - Go ahead. 1485 00:49:04,077 --> 00:49:04,910 - Here we go. 1486 00:49:04,910 --> 00:49:06,187 - [Open Mike Eagle] All right. 1487 00:49:06,187 --> 00:49:07,695 - I give you this mic so you can rap. 1488 00:49:07,695 --> 00:49:08,695 - [Open Mike Eagle] Okay. 1489 00:49:08,695 --> 00:49:13,695 ♪ Yeah Yo want somebody that y'all bad it very sweet. ♪ 1490 00:49:13,713 --> 00:49:16,386 ♪ But I, it was a pretty good day ♪ 1491 00:49:16,386 --> 00:49:18,087 ♪ Because I was drinking water ♪ 1492 00:49:18,087 --> 00:49:21,523 ♪ Because that's why I was being a good boy ♪ 1493 00:49:21,523 --> 00:49:24,449 ♪ Because I, I, I ate my food ♪ 1494 00:49:24,449 --> 00:49:27,108 ♪ Because I was being a little bit good boy ♪ 1495 00:49:27,108 --> 00:49:29,139 ♪ Because it was a good boy ♪ 1496 00:49:29,139 --> 00:49:32,497 ♪ Because I was very learn things around. ♪ 1497 00:49:32,497 --> 00:49:33,500 Here you go. 1498 00:49:33,500 --> 00:49:34,365 - Very good. 1499 00:49:34,365 --> 00:49:35,486 - You're turn to do rap. 1500 00:49:35,486 --> 00:49:37,502 - He's very observant 1501 00:49:37,502 --> 00:49:39,996 and he learns things really fast. 1502 00:49:39,996 --> 00:49:42,086 So him watching videos, 1503 00:49:42,086 --> 00:49:44,562 these things are really imprinting into his mind 1504 00:49:44,562 --> 00:49:46,566 and it's gonna be really interesting to see 1505 00:49:46,566 --> 00:49:48,284 how that affects his development. 1506 00:49:48,284 --> 00:49:50,534 As a little weirdo rap kid, 1507 00:49:52,146 --> 00:49:54,373 I would like him to do, you know, 1508 00:49:54,373 --> 00:49:55,421 whatever makes him happy. 1509 00:49:55,421 --> 00:49:56,796 I know it's a cliche answer, 1510 00:49:56,796 --> 00:49:58,827 but if music doesn't make him happy, 1511 00:49:58,827 --> 00:50:00,556 then I wouldn't want him to do music. 1512 00:50:00,556 --> 00:50:02,560 And I don't have any problem with him doing music 1513 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:03,893 if he wanted to. 1514 00:50:04,893 --> 00:50:07,593 The only thing in the world I really worry about him doing 1515 00:50:07,593 --> 00:50:08,426 is playing football. 1516 00:50:08,426 --> 00:50:09,743 That's the only thing. 1517 00:50:09,743 --> 00:50:11,923 'cause I like, I dunno, as a parent, 1518 00:50:11,923 --> 00:50:14,730 there's just certain things you can't even see the same way. 1519 00:50:14,730 --> 00:50:15,701 And you watch football, 1520 00:50:15,701 --> 00:50:18,494 it's guys look like they're getting hit by cars 1521 00:50:18,494 --> 00:50:19,658 and it's just other people. 1522 00:50:19,658 --> 00:50:20,491 Oh no. 1523 00:50:20,491 --> 00:50:24,227 So other than that, down whatever, whatever. 1524 00:50:24,227 --> 00:50:26,894 I'm down for it. Down, whatever. 1525 00:50:46,537 --> 00:50:48,301 - [Narrator] The God Rakim says, 1526 00:50:48,301 --> 00:50:49,540 it ain't where you come from. 1527 00:50:49,540 --> 00:50:50,705 It's where you're at. 1528 00:50:50,705 --> 00:50:53,005 But where you came from has a lot to do with 1529 00:50:53,005 --> 00:50:54,588 where you're going. 1530 00:50:57,164 --> 00:51:00,292 - For me, like my whole family is musicians. 1531 00:51:00,292 --> 00:51:02,010 I never really had a question 1532 00:51:02,010 --> 00:51:04,533 about whether or not I was gonna be a rockstar 1533 00:51:04,533 --> 00:51:08,522 or whether not I was gonna be a musician, you know, 1534 00:51:08,522 --> 00:51:10,208 I just saw it. I was around it. 1535 00:51:10,208 --> 00:51:13,759 I was, you know, on the studio floor as a little kid. 1536 00:51:13,759 --> 00:51:18,318 So it just seemed like the only option that made sense. 1537 00:51:18,318 --> 00:51:19,646 And you know, 1538 00:51:19,646 --> 00:51:22,020 here I am still chipping away at it, you know. 1539 00:51:22,020 --> 00:51:26,917 I don't know if it was like a specific moment that made me 1540 00:51:26,917 --> 00:51:29,082 realize how big the battling thing could be 1541 00:51:29,082 --> 00:51:31,126 and that that could be a ticket. 1542 00:51:31,126 --> 00:51:34,400 But it was like a time period when YouTube 1543 00:51:34,400 --> 00:51:35,443 had first come out. 1544 00:51:35,443 --> 00:51:38,716 And I wasn't doing any self-promotion beyond, 1545 00:51:38,716 --> 00:51:41,284 yo, let me battle, let me battle this guy, let me do this, 1546 00:51:41,284 --> 00:51:42,942 you know, at the same time making songs, 1547 00:51:42,942 --> 00:51:45,451 making beats and just trying to get my name out there. 1548 00:51:45,451 --> 00:51:47,482 And then all of a sudden, you know, 1549 00:51:47,482 --> 00:51:52,482 I got videos on YouTube that have, you know, 10,000, 20,000, 1550 00:51:52,668 --> 00:51:54,246 60,000, 80,000. 1551 00:51:54,246 --> 00:51:55,441 And then I, you know, 1552 00:51:55,441 --> 00:51:57,965 broke 100,000 views on some videos on YouTube 1553 00:51:57,965 --> 00:52:00,532 and like, you know, that was crazy. 1554 00:52:00,532 --> 00:52:01,978 And then people started recognizing me. 1555 00:52:01,978 --> 00:52:03,563 That was the moment, you know. 1556 00:52:03,563 --> 00:52:05,608 Just realizing the power of the internet 1557 00:52:05,608 --> 00:52:07,204 and the power of word of mouth. 1558 00:52:07,204 --> 00:52:10,806 And I didn't even do anything to promote it, 1559 00:52:10,806 --> 00:52:11,971 you know what I mean? 1560 00:52:11,971 --> 00:52:13,166 It just had a life of its own. 1561 00:52:13,166 --> 00:52:15,197 - You know, you're on a big stage, there's a lot of money. 1562 00:52:15,197 --> 00:52:16,152 It's stake like $10,000, $5,000. 1563 00:52:16,152 --> 00:52:20,258 You know. Also there's probably 600 to 1000 people 1564 00:52:20,258 --> 00:52:22,006 watching every single round. 1565 00:52:22,006 --> 00:52:26,483 You know, 32nd rounds probably about eight to 12 bars 1566 00:52:26,483 --> 00:52:27,890 depending on the speed of the beat. 1567 00:52:27,890 --> 00:52:31,190 So you would probably have four lines in there 1568 00:52:31,190 --> 00:52:33,789 in each round for every person. 1569 00:52:33,789 --> 00:52:37,032 And you knew because there was preliminaries 1570 00:52:37,032 --> 00:52:41,199 in every major city you knew who won those battles 1571 00:52:42,166 --> 00:52:42,999 in every city. 1572 00:52:42,999 --> 00:52:45,108 And you'd have a month to just get lines ready. 1573 00:52:45,108 --> 00:52:48,617 You get there that day and you see who you see. 1574 00:52:48,617 --> 00:52:50,779 It's a room like this. And you see, oh, I know that, 1575 00:52:50,779 --> 00:52:51,612 da da da da da da. 1576 00:52:51,612 --> 00:52:55,352 Sometimes there's like a random guy that no one knows. 1577 00:52:55,352 --> 00:52:57,843 But most of the times like, oh, I've seen him at a cipher. 1578 00:52:57,843 --> 00:53:00,370 I've seen him at a battle. I've seen him at a show. 1579 00:53:00,370 --> 00:53:01,203 Like, 1580 00:53:01,203 --> 00:53:03,133 you know who you're going up against and you immediately, 1581 00:53:03,133 --> 00:53:05,163 you know, think of stuff for that person. 1582 00:53:05,163 --> 00:53:07,537 So you have like a lead in or something like that. 1583 00:53:07,537 --> 00:53:08,777 Or you think of a punchline, 1584 00:53:08,777 --> 00:53:10,987 what we call a pre-med or a premeditated punchline. 1585 00:53:10,987 --> 00:53:13,479 And then you would just, you know, go no safety net. 1586 00:53:13,479 --> 00:53:15,497 Or sometimes if you felt really cocky, 1587 00:53:15,497 --> 00:53:16,513 if I felt really cocky, 1588 00:53:16,513 --> 00:53:17,842 it was just no safety net 1589 00:53:17,842 --> 00:53:19,858 and I would just rip the person apart on things 1590 00:53:19,858 --> 00:53:21,008 that I noticed at the moment 1591 00:53:21,008 --> 00:53:22,087 and just start playing with the crowd. 1592 00:53:22,087 --> 00:53:22,920 You know? 1593 00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:24,039 - [Crowd Member] Hell yeah. 1594 00:53:24,039 --> 00:53:25,518 ♪ Hey the fan saying I ain't ready for this legend play ♪ 1595 00:53:25,518 --> 00:53:26,578 - [Crowd Member] Talk. 1596 00:53:26,578 --> 00:53:27,638 ♪ But why hesitate ♪ 1597 00:53:27,638 --> 00:53:31,342 ♪ 'cause you'll miss a hundred percent of the shots ♪ 1598 00:53:31,342 --> 00:53:32,309 ♪ you never take ♪ 1599 00:53:32,309 --> 00:53:33,355 ♪ So I'm fuckin' up ♪ 1600 00:53:33,355 --> 00:53:34,418 - [Crowd Member] Facts. 1601 00:53:34,418 --> 00:53:35,374 ♪ No surprise really ♪ 1602 00:53:35,374 --> 00:53:36,477 ♪ I'm Lennox in Belly ♪ 1603 00:53:36,477 --> 00:53:38,239 ♪ Y'all knew how I was cut from the jump ♪ 1604 00:53:38,239 --> 00:53:39,346 ♪ I don't play with rappers ♪ 1605 00:53:39,346 --> 00:53:40,436 ♪ It's simple ♪ 1606 00:53:40,436 --> 00:53:41,870 ♪ If I draw from you lose, Iron ♪ 1607 00:53:41,870 --> 00:53:43,258 ♪ We donating plasma ♪ 1608 00:53:43,258 --> 00:53:44,423 ♪ Nigga get stretched ♪ 1609 00:53:44,423 --> 00:53:46,574 ♪ If this drum clap at your high hat ♪ 1610 00:53:46,574 --> 00:53:48,873 ♪ And through your tempo would be instrumental ♪ 1611 00:53:48,873 --> 00:53:49,706 ♪ To your death ♪ 1612 00:53:49,706 --> 00:53:50,707 ♪ You gonna beat who ♪ 1613 00:53:50,707 --> 00:53:52,069 ♪ You going to beat who ♪ 1614 00:53:52,069 --> 00:53:54,130 ♪ Who we not for play, spine shot ♪ 1615 00:53:54,130 --> 00:53:55,784 ♪ And a bullet from behind it ♪ 1616 00:53:55,784 --> 00:53:57,131 ♪ Called fuck up your holiday ♪ 1617 00:53:57,131 --> 00:54:00,879 ♪ I'm on my shit every time ♪ 1618 00:54:00,879 --> 00:54:02,373 ♪ You gotta pick better lines ♪ 1619 00:54:02,373 --> 00:54:03,732 ♪ Thought I was just finna die ♪ 1620 00:54:03,732 --> 00:54:04,703 ♪ They gassed you ♪ 1621 00:54:04,703 --> 00:54:07,433 ♪ And to be frank this bitch better hide ♪ 1622 00:54:07,433 --> 00:54:08,450 ♪ This how a nigga play ♪ 1623 00:54:08,450 --> 00:54:09,914 ♪ If I need something in my house ♪ 1624 00:54:09,914 --> 00:54:12,438 ♪ I'm run in errands I got bills to pay ♪ 1625 00:54:12,438 --> 00:54:15,021 (crowd cheers) 1626 00:54:18,051 --> 00:54:19,741 ♪ Hey I got bills to pay ♪ 1627 00:54:19,741 --> 00:54:21,247 ♪ Hey you hey chill ♪ 1628 00:54:21,247 --> 00:54:23,444 ♪ Hey you think these bars ain't finna beat you ♪ 1629 00:54:23,444 --> 00:54:25,818 ♪ Crazy how you calling niggas legends ♪ 1630 00:54:25,818 --> 00:54:27,327 ♪ When they just ordinary people ♪ 1631 00:54:27,327 --> 00:54:28,282 ♪ This absurd ♪ 1632 00:54:28,282 --> 00:54:30,313 ♪ Thinking he can see me he whiling ♪ 1633 00:54:30,313 --> 00:54:31,583 ♪ Bars ♪ 1634 00:54:31,583 --> 00:54:33,195 ♪ Check how I snap on the card ♪ 1635 00:54:33,195 --> 00:54:34,733 ♪ Like an EBT balance ♪ 1636 00:54:34,733 --> 00:54:35,913 ♪ You and I know ♪ 1637 00:54:35,913 --> 00:54:37,092 ♪ Ruger might blow ♪ 1638 00:54:37,092 --> 00:54:39,182 ♪ The letter come out right before you die ♪ 1639 00:54:39,182 --> 00:54:40,378 ♪ That's a suicide note ♪ 1640 00:54:40,378 --> 00:54:43,284 ♪ You can't keep it real yet ♪ 1641 00:54:43,284 --> 00:54:45,769 ♪ Kill yourself ♪ 1642 00:54:45,769 --> 00:54:46,932 (crowd cheers) 1643 00:54:46,932 --> 00:54:48,950 - There's so many kind of different scenes 1644 00:54:48,950 --> 00:54:51,235 or different like leagues or whatever you wanna call it 1645 00:54:51,235 --> 00:54:53,789 where people have battled over the years. 1646 00:54:53,789 --> 00:54:56,327 And I was always doing the bragging rights. 1647 00:54:56,327 --> 00:54:58,776 Scribble Jam, Fight Club, Brainstorm. 1648 00:54:58,776 --> 00:55:01,091 I was like flying myself all over the country 1649 00:55:01,091 --> 00:55:03,120 going to different battles. 1650 00:55:03,120 --> 00:55:04,167 - [Loaded Lux] When they first started, 1651 00:55:04,167 --> 00:55:06,198 they started shooting these little battles 1652 00:55:06,198 --> 00:55:08,229 and then it went way across the seams. 1653 00:55:08,229 --> 00:55:09,199 All over America. 1654 00:55:09,199 --> 00:55:12,679 Go to the internet got like probably a million hits. 1655 00:55:12,679 --> 00:55:15,307 - [Announcer] Let's see who has what it takes. 1656 00:55:15,307 --> 00:55:20,277 Who's built to survive in the world's most respected 1657 00:55:20,277 --> 00:55:21,610 MC battle arena? 1658 00:55:22,758 --> 00:55:25,656 The URL Ultimate Rap League. 1659 00:55:25,656 --> 00:55:26,522 ♪ You pitiful ♪ 1660 00:55:26,522 --> 00:55:29,897 ♪ Trying to shoot your shot while you lose the top ♪ 1661 00:55:29,897 --> 00:55:32,317 ♪ Now you thinking you could rock with the champ ♪ 1662 00:55:32,317 --> 00:55:33,613 ♪ Are you stupid ack ♪ 1663 00:55:33,613 --> 00:55:35,124 ♪ Smack set you up ♪ 1664 00:55:35,124 --> 00:55:36,914 ♪ This accosted sad maneuver op ♪ 1665 00:55:36,914 --> 00:55:39,930 ♪ He took the animal out the zoo box for the jew to drop ♪ 1666 00:55:39,930 --> 00:55:41,244 ♪ I said I'm strapped in ♪ 1667 00:55:41,244 --> 00:55:42,498 - [Crowd Member] Yeah 1668 00:55:42,498 --> 00:55:44,189 ♪ I crack you in a coma ♪ 1669 00:55:44,189 --> 00:55:45,279 ♪ Madness ♪ 1670 00:55:45,279 --> 00:55:48,056 ♪ I could snap it any moment and it once again I'm here ♪ 1671 00:55:48,056 --> 00:55:50,102 ♪ See them Solomon the cat ♪ 1672 00:55:50,102 --> 00:55:51,832 ♪ Like what's your life like whitey ♪ 1673 00:55:51,832 --> 00:55:53,313 ♪ Did your pockets get tapped? ♪ 1674 00:55:53,313 --> 00:55:54,146 - Yeah! 1675 00:55:56,267 --> 00:55:58,286 ♪ Yeah did his pockets get tapped ♪ 1676 00:55:58,286 --> 00:55:59,704 ♪ Did his pockets get tapped ♪ 1677 00:55:59,704 --> 00:56:01,302 ♪ Did his pockets get tapped ♪ 1678 00:56:01,302 --> 00:56:02,347 ♪ Fuck outta here ♪ 1679 00:56:02,347 --> 00:56:03,796 - Yo, chill, chill, chill, chill, 1680 00:56:03,796 --> 00:56:05,259 chill, chill, chill, chill. 1681 00:56:05,259 --> 00:56:06,092 We good? 1682 00:56:06,092 --> 00:56:08,306 ♪ You once was a breath of fresh air ♪ 1683 00:56:08,306 --> 00:56:10,426 ♪ When did this become a gag to you ♪ 1684 00:56:10,426 --> 00:56:12,129 ♪ Every time we see you choke ♪ 1685 00:56:12,129 --> 00:56:14,160 ♪ I just wanna strangle you ♪ 1686 00:56:14,160 --> 00:56:15,862 ♪ Let's not pretend your friends ♪ 1687 00:56:15,862 --> 00:56:17,535 ♪ Cutting them slack his noose ♪ 1688 00:56:17,535 --> 00:56:19,146 ♪ You've been given too much rope ♪ 1689 00:56:19,146 --> 00:56:20,671 ♪ By dopes that hang with you ♪ 1690 00:56:20,671 --> 00:56:22,179 ♪ O Red you were the worst ♪ 1691 00:56:22,179 --> 00:56:24,792 ♪ Sue surf the first now choking every other battle ♪ 1692 00:56:24,792 --> 00:56:26,330 ♪ Just how New Jersey twerk ♪ 1693 00:56:26,330 --> 00:56:27,701 ♪ You clowns hurt me ♪ 1694 00:56:27,701 --> 00:56:30,288 ♪ How's anyone from your town worthy ♪ 1695 00:56:30,288 --> 00:56:31,241 ♪ If now Jersey ♪ 1696 00:56:31,241 --> 00:56:33,931 ♪ Is basically slang for ending your round early ♪ 1697 00:56:33,931 --> 00:56:35,649 ♪ Now you should be well worried ♪ 1698 00:56:35,649 --> 00:56:37,187 ♪ You snap under less pressure ♪ 1699 00:56:37,187 --> 00:56:39,382 ♪ And choke through more rounds in them ♪ 1700 00:56:39,382 --> 00:56:40,681 ♪ African neck stretches ♪ 1701 00:56:40,681 --> 00:56:42,709 ♪ I mean forget being king if you can ♪ 1702 00:56:42,709 --> 00:56:44,987 (crowd humming) 1703 00:56:44,987 --> 00:56:46,532 ♪ I mean forget being king ♪ 1704 00:56:46,532 --> 00:56:48,686 ♪ If you can't write more memorable things ♪ 1705 00:56:48,686 --> 00:56:50,746 ♪ 'cause you struggle to hold your head up ♪ 1706 00:56:50,746 --> 00:56:52,807 ♪ when you stick out your neck in these rings ♪ 1707 00:56:52,807 --> 00:56:53,882 ♪ And if he don't choke ♪ 1708 00:56:53,882 --> 00:56:56,941 ♪ Is 'cause his admiration made him practice for me ♪ 1709 00:56:56,941 --> 00:56:58,629 ♪ Only reason Red capable ♪ 1710 00:56:58,629 --> 00:57:00,227 ♪ 'cause he mad adore me ♪ 1711 00:57:00,227 --> 00:57:01,213 ♪ Red cape a bull ♪ 1712 00:57:01,213 --> 00:57:02,365 ♪ Matador ♪ 1713 00:57:02,365 --> 00:57:04,784 ♪ This is no Spain but for charging me in the ring ♪ 1714 00:57:04,784 --> 00:57:06,516 ♪ This will be where oh wait ♪ 1715 00:57:06,516 --> 00:57:08,143 ♪ Six feet will be our deepest ♪ 1716 00:57:08,143 --> 00:57:10,697 ♪ Six feet could be our deepest continent ♪ 1717 00:57:10,697 --> 00:57:12,220 ♪ If he's gotten it black ♪ 1718 00:57:12,220 --> 00:57:13,803 ♪ Rewarding these accomplishments ♪ 1719 00:57:13,803 --> 00:57:15,609 ♪ There's gotta be some consequence ♪ 1720 00:57:15,609 --> 00:57:17,341 ♪ Y'all wanna see these thoughts of his ♪ 1721 00:57:17,341 --> 00:57:19,493 ♪ On screen for the people watching this ♪ 1722 00:57:19,493 --> 00:57:20,971 ♪ Y'all paid for the pay-per-view ♪ 1723 00:57:20,971 --> 00:57:21,912 ♪ Bow ♪ 1724 00:57:21,912 --> 00:57:23,943 ♪ Now you can stream his consciousness ♪ 1725 00:57:23,943 --> 00:57:25,464 - [Lil Fame] Oh right nowadays they threatening you. 1726 00:57:25,464 --> 00:57:26,690 Fuck your mother. I kill you. 1727 00:57:26,690 --> 00:57:27,852 My lyrics so odd. 1728 00:57:27,852 --> 00:57:28,991 Kidnap your kids. 1729 00:57:28,991 --> 00:57:31,216 You like I don't wanna rap after that. 1730 00:57:31,216 --> 00:57:33,769 I can't. I'm not tough as that sir. 1731 00:57:33,769 --> 00:57:35,500 But I can't go no harder than that. 1732 00:57:35,500 --> 00:57:36,696 You know what I mean? 1733 00:57:36,696 --> 00:57:39,472 ♪ You not even a eye in front of me you a croc ♪ 1734 00:57:39,472 --> 00:57:40,967 ♪ Food to feed to the croc ♪ 1735 00:57:40,967 --> 00:57:42,580 ♪ A pair of feet in a spot ♪ 1736 00:57:42,580 --> 00:57:44,148 ♪ You just the cheapest he got ♪ 1737 00:57:44,148 --> 00:57:45,477 ♪ When we needed to swap ♪ 1738 00:57:45,477 --> 00:57:46,687 ♪ Y'all know the story ♪ 1739 00:57:46,687 --> 00:57:48,822 ♪ A jew put JC in the plot ♪ 1740 00:57:48,822 --> 00:57:50,928 ♪ You trying to cross your author ♪ 1741 00:57:50,928 --> 00:57:52,703 ♪ I am not no martyr ♪ 1742 00:57:52,703 --> 00:57:54,151 ♪ But if surf was in my way ♪ 1743 00:57:54,151 --> 00:57:55,826 ♪ I would've walked on water ♪ 1744 00:57:55,826 --> 00:57:58,659 (crowd cheering) 1745 00:58:02,202 --> 00:58:03,681 ♪ You trying to cross your author ♪ 1746 00:58:03,681 --> 00:58:05,144 ♪ I am not no martyr, ♪ 1747 00:58:05,144 --> 00:58:06,741 ♪ But if surf was in my way ♪ 1748 00:58:06,741 --> 00:58:08,863 - [Whole Crowd] I would've walk on water. 1749 00:58:08,863 --> 00:58:10,744 ♪ The son of God can't sun a God ♪ 1750 00:58:10,744 --> 00:58:12,208 ♪ Boy I would wash your father ♪ 1751 00:58:12,208 --> 00:58:13,059 ♪ Hell, I bet, ♪ 1752 00:58:13,059 --> 00:58:16,090 ♪ I bet I'm the baddest white devil you ever dance with ♪ 1753 00:58:16,090 --> 00:58:19,167 ♪ Writing how I've been up in the antichrist ♪ 1754 00:58:19,167 --> 00:58:20,913 ♪ See I've written out this chapter ♪ 1755 00:58:20,913 --> 00:58:22,360 ♪ To bring about the rapture ♪ 1756 00:58:22,360 --> 00:58:25,407 ♪ Beginning with putting this shepherd out to pasture ♪ 1757 00:58:25,407 --> 00:58:28,500 ♪ I let the blind flock to the sheep in wolf's clothing ♪ 1758 00:58:28,500 --> 00:58:30,917 ♪ 'cause my stock ain't going nowhere ♪ 1759 00:58:30,917 --> 00:58:32,099 ♪ I got the G.O.A.T. pen ♪ 1760 00:58:32,099 --> 00:58:34,234 ♪ So fuck what you heard in scriptures ♪ 1761 00:58:34,234 --> 00:58:35,504 ♪ Other people have said ♪ 1762 00:58:35,504 --> 00:58:38,595 ♪ I know JC and these bible verses ♪ 1763 00:58:38,595 --> 00:58:40,088 ♪ Been getting beaten to death ♪ 1764 00:58:40,088 --> 00:58:42,672 ♪ But how I execute it is dexterous ♪ 1765 00:58:42,672 --> 00:58:44,729 ♪ Operations perform perfectly ♪ 1766 00:58:44,729 --> 00:58:46,465 ♪ These scrubs address me ♪ 1767 00:58:46,465 --> 00:58:49,407 ♪ Solomon does surgery to open minds ♪ 1768 00:58:49,407 --> 00:58:51,435 ♪ And a poltergeist takes over my soul ♪ 1769 00:58:51,435 --> 00:58:53,466 ♪ You see the demon's I channel ♪ 1770 00:58:53,466 --> 00:58:55,544 ♪ You can't remotely control ♪ 1771 00:58:55,544 --> 00:58:56,769 ♪ So push my buttons. ♪ 1772 00:58:56,769 --> 00:58:59,800 - [Smack Williams] Back in like, you know, 2005 1773 00:58:59,800 --> 00:59:01,875 technology caught up with time. 1774 00:59:01,875 --> 00:59:04,101 Websites came out like, you know what I'm saying? 1775 00:59:04,101 --> 00:59:05,445 YouTube, you know what I mean? 1776 00:59:05,445 --> 00:59:07,162 YouTube was like, you know what I mean, 1777 00:59:07,162 --> 00:59:09,865 a monster where it allowed people to upload videos 1778 00:59:09,865 --> 00:59:11,058 and everything like that. 1779 00:59:11,058 --> 00:59:13,760 When those platforms, the world stars, 1780 00:59:13,760 --> 00:59:15,421 the YouTubes came out, 1781 00:59:15,421 --> 00:59:17,063 it kind of depreciate the value 1782 00:59:17,063 --> 00:59:19,240 of just regular hip hop content. 1783 00:59:19,240 --> 00:59:20,662 Like you know what I mean? 1784 00:59:20,662 --> 00:59:23,066 Or on a physical format like you know, 1785 00:59:23,066 --> 00:59:25,396 because people used to basically take the DVDs 1786 00:59:25,396 --> 00:59:27,681 and upload it up to these platforms 1787 00:59:27,681 --> 00:59:31,892 and then everybody got access to this content for free. 1788 00:59:31,892 --> 00:59:35,790 So you know, we had to make a decision to basically, 1789 00:59:35,790 --> 00:59:36,684 you know, 1790 00:59:36,684 --> 00:59:40,061 create a new website where we could have people just come to 1791 00:59:40,061 --> 00:59:42,734 the actual central location where they can have access to 1792 00:59:42,734 --> 00:59:43,567 the content. 1793 00:59:43,567 --> 00:59:46,512 Basically we made the transition from physical distribution 1794 00:59:46,512 --> 00:59:48,543 to digital distribution. 1795 00:59:48,543 --> 00:59:50,932 - As far as independent artists are concerned to get your, 1796 00:59:50,932 --> 00:59:53,110 get your music out there to the masses. 1797 00:59:53,110 --> 00:59:54,830 It's a beautiful too. 1798 00:59:54,830 --> 00:59:56,159 (crowd cheering) 1799 00:59:56,159 --> 00:59:58,190 ♪ Talk to the folks about bars over jokes ♪ 1800 00:59:58,190 --> 01:00:00,669 ♪ To me real MCs who spit hard can do both ♪ 1801 01:00:00,669 --> 01:00:04,566 ♪ I got punchlines personals and rap with conviction ♪ 1802 01:00:04,566 --> 01:00:09,390 ♪ So the slogan I'm upholding is facts over fiction ♪ 1803 01:00:09,390 --> 01:00:10,625 (crowd cheers) 1804 01:00:10,625 --> 01:00:11,719 ♪ No reason of lie son ♪ 1805 01:00:11,719 --> 01:00:14,571 ♪ We both agreeing that I was just defending my title ♪ 1806 01:00:14,571 --> 01:00:16,184 ♪ The final season of Fight Club ♪ 1807 01:00:16,184 --> 01:00:18,706 ♪ You backed out like a prudish square ♪ 1808 01:00:18,706 --> 01:00:19,750 ♪ Playing truth or dare ♪ 1809 01:00:19,750 --> 01:00:21,784 ♪ Then you take a dive like a tourist ♪ 1810 01:00:21,784 --> 01:00:22,785 ♪ Wearing scuba gear ♪ 1811 01:00:22,785 --> 01:00:25,114 ♪ Gave a cheap excuse we aint buy like a souvenir ♪ 1812 01:00:25,114 --> 01:00:27,773 ♪ I end a battle in some random rapper who was there ♪ 1813 01:00:27,773 --> 01:00:29,401 ♪ Told the crowd I only battled this bitch ♪ 1814 01:00:29,401 --> 01:00:30,475 ♪ 'cause moot was scared, ♪ 1815 01:00:30,475 --> 01:00:31,984 ♪ Moot, didn't say shit or do shit ♪ 1816 01:00:31,984 --> 01:00:33,283 ♪ And you was there ♪ 1817 01:00:33,283 --> 01:00:36,507 (crowd cheers) 1818 01:00:36,507 --> 01:00:38,749 ♪ I wait a few more years while you prepare ♪ 1819 01:00:38,749 --> 01:00:40,795 ♪ And now you just pop up ♪ 1820 01:00:40,795 --> 01:00:43,524 ♪ Well I'm only battling this bitch ♪ 1821 01:00:43,524 --> 01:00:45,559 ♪ 'cause Hollow got locked up ♪ 1822 01:00:45,559 --> 01:00:47,589 (crowd cheers) 1823 01:00:47,589 --> 01:00:50,994 (horn blaring) 1824 01:00:50,994 --> 01:00:53,010 ♪ Did not see Murder Mook on Murder level ♪ 1825 01:00:53,010 --> 01:00:54,041 ♪ Murder gang and yet ♪ 1826 01:00:54,041 --> 01:00:55,623 ♪ I was certain he be strapped to serve ♪ 1827 01:00:55,623 --> 01:00:56,878 ♪ And crack the workup pack ♪ 1828 01:00:56,878 --> 01:00:57,907 ♪ I said, what's up Mook ♪ 1829 01:00:57,907 --> 01:00:59,521 ♪ I thought he said was cracking to go br-rat ♪ 1830 01:00:59,521 --> 01:01:00,444 ♪ But instead he said ♪ 1831 01:01:00,444 --> 01:01:02,059 ♪ I've been taking classes up at Platt ♪ 1832 01:01:02,059 --> 01:01:04,180 ♪ You was looking shook in Brooklyn ♪ 1833 01:01:04,180 --> 01:01:06,271 ♪ Want me rolling through the ghetto with him ♪ 1834 01:01:06,271 --> 01:01:10,452 ♪ He think Irons a copper so nobody will meddle with him ♪ 1835 01:01:10,452 --> 01:01:12,483 (crowd rumbles) 1836 01:01:12,483 --> 01:01:13,947 ♪ I said fuck protecting rappers ♪ 1837 01:01:13,947 --> 01:01:15,649 ♪ After what happened to Shawn Poe ♪ 1838 01:01:15,649 --> 01:01:16,978 ♪ Since you think I'm Poe nine ♪ 1839 01:01:16,978 --> 01:01:19,796 ♪ I'm gonna be on 5-0 ♪ 1840 01:01:19,796 --> 01:01:22,981 ♪ See even though I look the part I actually hate police ♪ 1841 01:01:22,981 --> 01:01:25,922 ♪ Get heated when I be around a pork like bacon grease ♪ 1842 01:01:25,922 --> 01:01:28,596 ♪ You wouldn't think a white Jew goes ham but I do ♪ 1843 01:01:28,596 --> 01:01:31,342 ♪ This guy's too sick to loose till pigs fly ♪ 1844 01:01:31,342 --> 01:01:32,897 ♪ Well swine flu ♪ 1845 01:01:32,897 --> 01:01:34,435 ♪ You are sheep in wolf's clothing ♪ 1846 01:01:34,435 --> 01:01:35,660 ♪ I'm a wolf in disguise ♪ 1847 01:01:35,660 --> 01:01:38,288 ♪ When my teeth is all showing I pull wool over eyes ♪ 1848 01:01:38,288 --> 01:01:40,737 ♪ I might look like the type to win a Pulitzer prize ♪ 1849 01:01:40,737 --> 01:01:41,887 ♪ Till I pull it surprise ♪ 1850 01:01:41,887 --> 01:01:43,380 ♪ And I bullet your eyes ♪ 1851 01:01:43,380 --> 01:01:45,199 (crowd cheers) 1852 01:01:45,199 --> 01:01:46,158 - If you're in a barbershop, 1853 01:01:46,158 --> 01:01:48,188 you know it's about those 20 people that are there. 1854 01:01:48,188 --> 01:01:50,309 And if you are in a 1500 person venue, 1855 01:01:50,309 --> 01:01:51,937 it's about the people that are there. 1856 01:01:51,937 --> 01:01:54,013 And then now it's about the people online, 1857 01:01:54,013 --> 01:01:56,432 you people that are gonna see the video 1858 01:01:56,432 --> 01:01:58,968 and you have to appeal to that crowd. 1859 01:01:58,968 --> 01:02:01,733 - If I was in high school right now and I know I can, 1860 01:02:01,733 --> 01:02:06,733 you know, get my talent visually heard and seen, you know, 1861 01:02:07,322 --> 01:02:08,887 I would be doing the same thing. 1862 01:02:08,887 --> 01:02:10,917 I would be battling cats on camera 1863 01:02:10,917 --> 01:02:12,695 and trying to get my name out there too. 1864 01:02:12,695 --> 01:02:13,528 You know what I mean? 1865 01:02:13,528 --> 01:02:14,457 Because a lot of dudes, 1866 01:02:14,457 --> 01:02:15,666 they don't even know the first steps 1867 01:02:15,666 --> 01:02:17,999 to even get into the studio. 1868 01:02:20,416 --> 01:02:23,328 - [Narrator] Just as New York redefined music as we know it, 1869 01:02:23,328 --> 01:02:24,161 with hip hop. 1870 01:02:24,161 --> 01:02:26,853 Los Angeles redefined the art of freestyling. 1871 01:02:26,853 --> 01:02:27,686 To mean, 1872 01:02:27,686 --> 01:02:30,673 not just kicking a rhyme but making it up on the spot. 1873 01:02:30,673 --> 01:02:32,736 Complete improvisation. 1874 01:02:32,736 --> 01:02:36,273 And it all started on Crenshaw Boulevard. 1875 01:02:36,273 --> 01:02:38,307 - Alright, right now we're right in the middle of 1876 01:02:38,307 --> 01:02:39,140 Leimert Park. 1877 01:02:39,140 --> 01:02:41,502 We're on the 43rd place in Leimert Boulevard. 1878 01:02:41,502 --> 01:02:43,160 And Leimert Park has been a place 1879 01:02:43,160 --> 01:02:45,952 where throughout LA's history, 1880 01:02:45,952 --> 01:02:48,909 Leimert Park has always kind of housed 1881 01:02:48,909 --> 01:02:49,839 all the black culture. 1882 01:02:49,839 --> 01:02:51,881 And it's been a place where people have been able to come 1883 01:02:51,881 --> 01:02:53,539 and jam on all different types of genres. 1884 01:02:53,539 --> 01:02:56,510 And right here in particular at this Building KAOS Network, 1885 01:02:56,510 --> 01:02:57,824 this is where that's happened. 1886 01:02:57,824 --> 01:02:59,392 On the rap side of things. 1887 01:02:59,392 --> 01:03:01,092 Well The Good Life is where it all began. 1888 01:03:01,092 --> 01:03:02,170 And that was, 1889 01:03:02,170 --> 01:03:04,559 you know, maybe a mile down the way from here. 1890 01:03:04,559 --> 01:03:06,770 - Right across the street is The Good Life 1891 01:03:06,770 --> 01:03:07,815 where it all started man. 1892 01:03:07,815 --> 01:03:09,099 - [Duane Earle] What's up you guys? 1893 01:03:09,099 --> 01:03:11,144 You're at my restaurant Earle's Grill. 1894 01:03:11,144 --> 01:03:13,161 We're on Crenshaw and Exposition. 1895 01:03:13,161 --> 01:03:16,890 Been in the community 27 years for those of you who know our 1896 01:03:16,890 --> 01:03:18,297 career and our history. 1897 01:03:18,297 --> 01:03:20,893 We started with a hot dog cart back in 86. 1898 01:03:20,893 --> 01:03:21,956 In the music industry, 1899 01:03:21,956 --> 01:03:24,374 I was fortunate to have been signed with Ice Cube. 1900 01:03:24,374 --> 01:03:27,750 I was very fortunate to have been do ghost writing 1901 01:03:27,750 --> 01:03:28,811 for Eazy-E. 1902 01:03:28,811 --> 01:03:31,484 And I was very one of the few fortunate artists to even 1903 01:03:31,484 --> 01:03:33,679 venture into a place called The Good Life. 1904 01:03:33,679 --> 01:03:36,621 It was one of the only few venues that even attempted to 1905 01:03:36,621 --> 01:03:39,532 showcase and highlight what was really going on in the 1906 01:03:39,532 --> 01:03:41,086 LA underground scene. 1907 01:03:41,086 --> 01:03:43,639 - It was already a health food store directly across the 1908 01:03:43,639 --> 01:03:46,731 street, but it was on B. Hall and her son. 1909 01:03:46,731 --> 01:03:50,076 Like this whole area has always been dedicated 1910 01:03:50,076 --> 01:03:52,107 to trying to keep the youth from all that. 1911 01:03:52,107 --> 01:03:53,824 The projects is right there, The Jungles. 1912 01:03:53,824 --> 01:03:55,347 It's right there up the way, 1913 01:03:55,347 --> 01:03:57,556 you know it's jungles like it's gang bangs here. 1914 01:03:57,556 --> 01:03:58,389 Like shit. 1915 01:03:58,389 --> 01:03:59,961 She gave us a spot to come 1916 01:03:59,961 --> 01:04:03,044 and say meet the other kids like you. 1917 01:04:03,918 --> 01:04:06,052 This is what, and she enforced. 1918 01:04:06,052 --> 01:04:09,217 No cursing, no battling on each other, no, none of that. 1919 01:04:09,217 --> 01:04:10,624 If you gotta beef handle that. 1920 01:04:10,624 --> 01:04:13,700 But no cursing, no cuss, no mamas, no nothing, no nothing. 1921 01:04:13,700 --> 01:04:15,761 No gangs, no nothing like, 1922 01:04:15,761 --> 01:04:18,928 and that's when this turned into like, 1923 01:04:20,212 --> 01:04:23,526 fuck a gang nigga I'm going to the Good Life. 1924 01:04:23,526 --> 01:04:27,170 - It was a place too where different hoods met up 1925 01:04:27,170 --> 01:04:28,141 where you know, 1926 01:04:28,141 --> 01:04:30,172 there could be some gang banging activity 1927 01:04:30,172 --> 01:04:31,366 and things of that nature. 1928 01:04:31,366 --> 01:04:32,558 I wondered myself, 1929 01:04:32,558 --> 01:04:36,085 what was the magnetism of Crenshaw in general around that 1930 01:04:36,085 --> 01:04:36,918 Crenshaw, King, 1931 01:04:36,918 --> 01:04:39,695 that Leimert Park area to where from the early jazz days of 1932 01:04:39,695 --> 01:04:41,743 world stage, Billy Higgins on through, 1933 01:04:41,743 --> 01:04:42,820 you know, 1934 01:04:42,820 --> 01:04:45,647 people that claim Leimert Park now, 1935 01:04:45,647 --> 01:04:47,166 Project Blowed, you know, 1936 01:04:47,166 --> 01:04:48,883 the Kendrick Lamar 1937 01:04:48,883 --> 01:04:52,853 Terrence Martin is just all these talented people that stem. 1938 01:04:52,853 --> 01:04:54,886 And I think it's because of the different artistry 1939 01:04:54,886 --> 01:04:57,992 and the culture that fed off each other. 1940 01:04:57,992 --> 01:05:01,248 Like I feel like I'm a better MC because of my jazz things, 1941 01:05:01,248 --> 01:05:03,637 the musicians and, and the theoretical approach. 1942 01:05:03,637 --> 01:05:06,114 - [Pigeon John] When I went there I realized, man, 1943 01:05:06,114 --> 01:05:08,236 there's everyone's great. 1944 01:05:08,236 --> 01:05:09,222 I need to step on my game. 1945 01:05:09,222 --> 01:05:12,000 So I went there every week and just dove in. 1946 01:05:12,000 --> 01:05:14,282 I got booed off the stage a lot of times, 1947 01:05:14,282 --> 01:05:17,182 but I just wanted to learn how to, you know, 1948 01:05:17,182 --> 01:05:20,646 rock a crowd to give a good show 1949 01:05:20,646 --> 01:05:22,244 to be my own personality, 1950 01:05:22,244 --> 01:05:24,499 but kind of please the people, 1951 01:05:24,499 --> 01:05:25,529 but kind of like, 1952 01:05:25,529 --> 01:05:26,709 oh man that dude is dope. 1953 01:05:26,709 --> 01:05:28,755 So it was, I just dove into it. 1954 01:05:28,755 --> 01:05:30,398 - [Crooked I] If you ever went to The Good Life, 1955 01:05:30,398 --> 01:05:31,906 if you ever went to Leimert Park, 1956 01:05:31,906 --> 01:05:35,042 all you've seen was people snapping on people battling 1957 01:05:35,042 --> 01:05:36,593 everybody's circles over here, 1958 01:05:36,593 --> 01:05:38,148 circles over there on stage, 1959 01:05:38,148 --> 01:05:39,343 people getting booed. 1960 01:05:39,343 --> 01:05:40,433 Please pass the mic. 1961 01:05:40,433 --> 01:05:42,673 Gangsta rappers that's really gang banging 1962 01:05:42,673 --> 01:05:43,838 with pistols on 'em. 1963 01:05:43,838 --> 01:05:46,765 Rapping on stage and people being scared to tell 'em to pass 1964 01:05:46,765 --> 01:05:48,855 the mic 'cause they think they gonna get shot or something. 1965 01:05:48,855 --> 01:05:51,021 Like that whole scene deserves a movie. 1966 01:05:51,021 --> 01:05:55,438 - This right here, this was The Good Life right here. 1967 01:05:57,415 --> 01:05:59,771 They done changed it. 1968 01:05:59,771 --> 01:06:02,041 It ain't even deep in there like it used to be. 1969 01:06:02,041 --> 01:06:04,655 It used to go all the way back to the back. 1970 01:06:04,655 --> 01:06:06,572 This was The Good Life. 1971 01:06:08,373 --> 01:06:10,790 This is where peace was born. 1972 01:06:11,733 --> 01:06:14,233 This is where my life changed. 1973 01:06:15,198 --> 01:06:18,115 This is where we changed your life. 1974 01:06:20,682 --> 01:06:22,754 - [Narrator] To make it in the current rap battle arena, 1975 01:06:22,754 --> 01:06:25,606 you need skills, punchlines and talent. 1976 01:06:25,606 --> 01:06:28,829 You also need to be willing to be humiliated in public. 1977 01:06:28,829 --> 01:06:32,386 Not everyone is cut out for the battle circuit. 1978 01:06:32,386 --> 01:06:34,790 - This is the legendary Pyramid Club. 1979 01:06:34,790 --> 01:06:37,493 This is the Lower East Side Manhattan, lower East Side. 1980 01:06:37,493 --> 01:06:39,106 A lot of history. 1981 01:06:39,106 --> 01:06:41,689 Classic New York Pyramid Club in particular. 1982 01:06:41,689 --> 01:06:44,360 You know, a lot of upcoming acts, 1983 01:06:44,360 --> 01:06:46,378 Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, 1984 01:06:46,378 --> 01:06:48,857 pretty much everybody in that scene coming up, 1985 01:06:48,857 --> 01:06:50,960 would perform here, you know what I mean? 1986 01:06:50,960 --> 01:06:53,995 And now it's the home of the longest running weekly open mic 1987 01:06:53,995 --> 01:06:57,429 in New York City end of the weak, End of the W-E-A-K, 1988 01:06:57,429 --> 01:07:00,386 which is also every Sunday night. 1989 01:07:00,386 --> 01:07:01,864 They do freestyle competitions. 1990 01:07:01,864 --> 01:07:06,075 They do, you know, showcases, perform a song. 1991 01:07:06,075 --> 01:07:07,360 You know, spit a verse. 1992 01:07:07,360 --> 01:07:12,004 The dj, they do a competition called the MC challenge 1993 01:07:12,004 --> 01:07:16,825 where the first round you spit like a written verse 1994 01:07:16,825 --> 01:07:17,753 with punchlines. 1995 01:07:17,753 --> 01:07:21,726 Second round you spit a acapella, you know, 1996 01:07:21,726 --> 01:07:25,721 something personal, something meaningful. 1997 01:07:25,721 --> 01:07:28,998 Maybe third round you spit is a freestyle 1998 01:07:28,998 --> 01:07:29,984 grab bag round. 1999 01:07:29,984 --> 01:07:32,582 You have a bag or a box of items that you reach in 2000 01:07:32,582 --> 01:07:34,837 and pull out items that have to be spontaneous 2001 01:07:34,837 --> 01:07:36,897 and put 'em together. 2002 01:07:36,897 --> 01:07:40,616 You know, fourth round is beat juggling. 2003 01:07:40,616 --> 01:07:43,857 So DJ will be playing some regular boombap hip hop shit 2004 01:07:43,857 --> 01:07:45,858 and then all of a sudden switch it up. 2005 01:07:45,858 --> 01:07:47,083 It'll be some double time, 2006 01:07:47,083 --> 01:07:51,010 southern, something crazy and it might be Britney Spears 2007 01:07:51,010 --> 01:07:53,041 or Michael Jackson and you gotta just keep rapping 2008 01:07:53,041 --> 01:07:54,175 and not miss a beat. 2009 01:07:54,175 --> 01:07:55,774 You know, stick with the flow. 2010 01:07:55,774 --> 01:07:58,940 And then the last round is the cipher skills where you gotta 2011 01:07:58,940 --> 01:08:00,956 play off of somebody else's energy 2012 01:08:00,956 --> 01:08:03,327 and show that you can count bars, you know, 2013 01:08:03,327 --> 01:08:05,630 and then go off the last thing they said. 2014 01:08:05,630 --> 01:08:07,228 So as opposed to a battle, 2015 01:08:07,228 --> 01:08:10,734 which shows your only shows your battle ability, you know, 2016 01:08:10,734 --> 01:08:13,425 as an MC, the MC challenge shows, you know, 2017 01:08:13,425 --> 01:08:16,128 a much more well-rounded picture of you as an MC. 2018 01:08:16,128 --> 01:08:18,949 Freestyle shit, written shit, punchline stuff. 2019 01:08:18,949 --> 01:08:20,070 More meaningful stuff. 2020 01:08:20,070 --> 01:08:25,070 So something that's a holdover from an era in New York where 2021 01:08:25,339 --> 01:08:27,656 this kind of event was important, you know what I mean? 2022 01:08:27,656 --> 01:08:29,687 And it still is important because this is one of the only 2023 01:08:29,687 --> 01:08:32,075 ones that really is doing it the way that it, 2024 01:08:32,075 --> 01:08:34,254 it was done in the way it's supposed to be done. 2025 01:08:34,254 --> 01:08:35,087 You know, 2026 01:08:35,087 --> 01:08:37,094 people rapping outside, people rapping inside, 2027 01:08:37,094 --> 01:08:38,005 you know what I mean? 2028 01:08:38,005 --> 01:08:39,922 It's hip hop, you know. 2029 01:08:41,872 --> 01:08:45,382 - The Good Life was more, let's just say for seniors, 2030 01:08:45,382 --> 01:08:47,398 let's just say seniors. 2031 01:08:47,398 --> 01:08:48,653 Well we started this here. 2032 01:08:48,653 --> 01:08:51,681 There was a whole nother kind of young MC 2033 01:08:51,681 --> 01:08:55,343 coming up right up under our feet. 2034 01:08:55,343 --> 01:08:56,176 We saw this, 2035 01:08:56,176 --> 01:08:59,270 we knew this like we gotta do something. 2036 01:08:59,270 --> 01:09:00,103 Acey said, 2037 01:09:00,103 --> 01:09:01,990 well you know what? 2038 01:09:01,990 --> 01:09:03,323 I want a battle. 2039 01:09:04,386 --> 01:09:06,765 I wanna be able to cuss this nigga the fuck out 2040 01:09:06,765 --> 01:09:07,630 if I want to. 2041 01:09:07,630 --> 01:09:09,051 We couldn't do that there. 2042 01:09:09,051 --> 01:09:09,963 That's Mecca. 2043 01:09:09,963 --> 01:09:10,796 That's epicenter. 2044 01:09:10,796 --> 01:09:11,629 No, 2045 01:09:11,629 --> 01:09:13,963 let's go down the street and still keep it in the hood. 2046 01:09:13,963 --> 01:09:16,036 And I get my own and I can cuss this fool out 2047 01:09:16,036 --> 01:09:17,039 the way I want to. 2048 01:09:17,039 --> 01:09:18,783 Now that's the difference between The Good Life 2049 01:09:18,783 --> 01:09:21,592 and Project Blowed, same theory, same ethics. 2050 01:09:21,592 --> 01:09:22,425 It's just, 2051 01:09:22,425 --> 01:09:23,759 I could whip your ass here 2052 01:09:23,759 --> 01:09:25,372 and I can't whip your right there. 2053 01:09:25,372 --> 01:09:26,851 - [Verbs] Lyric's Lounge had came out 2054 01:09:26,851 --> 01:09:28,493 when I was like in high school 2055 01:09:28,493 --> 01:09:30,791 back when I first started using the internet. 2056 01:09:30,791 --> 01:09:32,227 And I was like, man, 2057 01:09:32,227 --> 01:09:34,526 I wanna find something like that in the west coast. 2058 01:09:34,526 --> 01:09:36,587 And I just did Google searches 2059 01:09:36,587 --> 01:09:38,032 and then I heard of Project Blowed, 2060 01:09:38,032 --> 01:09:40,631 then my brother told me there was something in Leimert Park 2061 01:09:40,631 --> 01:09:42,680 that happens every Tuesday when I was 17, 2062 01:09:42,680 --> 01:09:43,890 I went for the first time. 2063 01:09:43,890 --> 01:09:46,264 Then when I graduated my graduation night, 2064 01:09:46,264 --> 01:09:47,518 I went there late at night. 2065 01:09:47,518 --> 01:09:48,920 There was only four people there. 2066 01:09:48,920 --> 01:09:50,937 But I ended up rapping the shows that Project Blowed 2067 01:09:50,937 --> 01:09:51,834 were in KAOS Network. 2068 01:09:51,834 --> 01:09:53,058 Like, you know, 4343. 2069 01:09:53,058 --> 01:09:55,418 It was like on the corner, these people rapping, 2070 01:09:55,418 --> 01:09:59,092 drinking forties, stress blunts, Crips, weirdos, 2071 01:09:59,092 --> 01:10:00,358 all in between. 2072 01:10:00,358 --> 01:10:01,191 You know. 2073 01:10:01,191 --> 01:10:05,244 - The interesting thing there was watching people's styles 2074 01:10:05,244 --> 01:10:07,395 develop while challenging those rules, 2075 01:10:07,395 --> 01:10:09,978 but remaining inside of that structure where once you got to 2076 01:10:09,978 --> 01:10:13,769 Project Blowed here in 96 when the AC alone and AB Rule 2077 01:10:13,769 --> 01:10:15,816 brought it here they brought it here 2078 01:10:15,816 --> 01:10:18,233 and collaborated with Ben Caldwell who owns the spot. 2079 01:10:18,233 --> 01:10:21,431 And one of the things that they wanted to do was create a 2080 01:10:21,431 --> 01:10:22,537 spot with no rules at all. 2081 01:10:22,537 --> 01:10:25,076 - [Ben Caldwell] I am the owner and director of this place called 2082 01:10:25,076 --> 01:10:26,243 KAOS Network. 2083 01:10:27,496 --> 01:10:32,139 We initially named this place KAOS Network because in 1984 2084 01:10:32,139 --> 01:10:35,126 I started this as a computer matrix, 2085 01:10:35,126 --> 01:10:36,603 kind of a thinking concept. 2086 01:10:36,603 --> 01:10:40,576 We were connecting five community centers together. 2087 01:10:40,576 --> 01:10:43,459 And then I started working with these youth trying to figure 2088 01:10:43,459 --> 01:10:47,371 out is there a free way to work with them by sitting up a 2089 01:10:47,371 --> 01:10:50,204 neutral zone where they can create 2090 01:10:52,015 --> 01:10:55,838 and nurture what I call the avant-garde. 2091 01:10:55,838 --> 01:10:58,270 - So any kind of language, any kind of rap styles, 2092 01:10:58,270 --> 01:10:59,466 really any kind of content. 2093 01:10:59,466 --> 01:11:01,976 And the only structure imposed was the crowd 2094 01:11:01,976 --> 01:11:04,589 being able to say, please pass the mic. 2095 01:11:04,589 --> 01:11:07,559 And that that to call somebody to have to get off stage like 2096 01:11:07,559 --> 01:11:09,741 Apollo style, you know? 2097 01:11:09,741 --> 01:11:14,741 And so it was the onus for creating the structure was all on 2098 01:11:14,759 --> 01:11:16,506 the crowd and happened to be a crowd 2099 01:11:16,506 --> 01:11:17,925 full of really awesome rappers. 2100 01:11:17,925 --> 01:11:19,896 So the bar, the quality was really high. 2101 01:11:19,896 --> 01:11:21,970 And that created this kind of atmosphere. 2102 01:11:21,970 --> 01:11:24,898 People challenging each other to try to take this thing as 2103 01:11:24,898 --> 01:11:26,959 far as they can go and really explore and push the 2104 01:11:26,959 --> 01:11:27,960 boundaries of rap. 2105 01:11:27,960 --> 01:11:30,627 - Leimerk is like Chocolate City 2106 01:11:31,530 --> 01:11:32,870 and to the center of LA 2107 01:11:32,870 --> 01:11:36,606 It's like if you an artist, if you into jazz, 2108 01:11:36,606 --> 01:11:38,981 if you are a musician, if you are a break dancer, 2109 01:11:38,981 --> 01:11:41,787 if you a B-boy, if you do Graffiti, any of that, 2110 01:11:41,787 --> 01:11:43,804 this is where you would go. 2111 01:11:43,804 --> 01:11:45,820 - You know how like in Greece they would 2112 01:11:45,820 --> 01:11:49,270 like throw people in the coliseum with wild animals 2113 01:11:49,270 --> 01:11:51,316 and like you'd have to like fight for your survival. 2114 01:11:51,316 --> 01:11:53,466 You have to like come back with the skull of the animal. 2115 01:11:53,466 --> 01:11:54,915 It's kind of one of those kinds of things. 2116 01:11:54,915 --> 01:11:57,795 Everybody is really dope and really aggressive, right? 2117 01:11:57,795 --> 01:12:01,261 So as soon as you step foot on that corner, 4343 Leimerk 2118 01:12:01,261 --> 01:12:02,725 people are coming at your head 2119 01:12:02,725 --> 01:12:05,413 and you have to get your skills up just to defend yourself. 2120 01:12:05,413 --> 01:12:06,249 You know what I mean? 2121 01:12:06,249 --> 01:12:08,293 And then we all come out of the Blowed Academy 2122 01:12:08,293 --> 01:12:09,579 like little monsters, you know. 2123 01:12:09,579 --> 01:12:11,595 - There's a lot of similar styles from Good Life. 2124 01:12:11,595 --> 01:12:13,865 But there was a generational thing that started to develop 2125 01:12:13,865 --> 01:12:17,031 too in Project Blowed where younger MCs hung out with each 2126 01:12:17,031 --> 01:12:19,256 other and those younger MCs, other than them like, 2127 01:12:19,256 --> 01:12:20,523 I don't know how many generations we have now. 2128 01:12:20,523 --> 01:12:24,256 I think it's like three, four different generations. 2129 01:12:24,256 --> 01:12:25,089 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2130 01:12:25,089 --> 01:12:25,922 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2131 01:12:25,922 --> 01:12:27,350 ♪ Watching ESPN ♪ 2132 01:12:27,350 --> 01:12:28,918 ♪ I think that was Hugh Douglas. ♪ 2133 01:12:28,918 --> 01:12:31,456 ♪ I like to said you can tell they got a huge budget ♪ 2134 01:12:31,456 --> 01:12:35,306 ♪ Who's dude running with the football about to get tackled ♪ 2135 01:12:35,306 --> 01:12:37,056 ♪ He needs to change his diet ♪ 2136 01:12:37,056 --> 01:12:38,624 ♪ Eat some apples or else ♪ 2137 01:12:38,624 --> 01:12:39,506 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2138 01:12:39,506 --> 01:12:41,536 ♪ Through some pitches on the wayside ♪ 2139 01:12:41,536 --> 01:12:42,579 ♪ So there's a waistline ♪ 2140 01:12:42,579 --> 01:12:45,001 ♪ That way he can face fine defenders ♪ 2141 01:12:45,001 --> 01:12:46,300 ♪ And move 'cause he's elusive ♪ 2142 01:12:46,300 --> 01:12:47,671 ♪ And they'll be playing sports ♪ 2143 01:12:47,671 --> 01:12:49,105 ♪ And we'll be here doing this music ♪ 2144 01:12:49,105 --> 01:12:50,750 ♪ Yeah great rhymes relentless ♪ 2145 01:12:50,750 --> 01:12:52,005 ♪ Man I'm in the trenches ♪ 2146 01:12:52,005 --> 01:12:53,588 ♪ Kind of like a D end ♪ 2147 01:12:53,588 --> 01:12:54,887 ♪ I'll never pretend ♪ 2148 01:12:54,887 --> 01:12:56,186 ♪ Met him on the deep end ♪ 2149 01:12:56,186 --> 01:12:57,500 ♪ Yeah man, ♪ 2150 01:12:57,500 --> 01:12:58,396 ♪ This is how I begin ♪ 2151 01:12:58,396 --> 01:13:00,427 ♪ To kick the freeze in any season ♪ 2152 01:13:00,427 --> 01:13:01,338 ♪ For any reason ♪ 2153 01:13:01,338 --> 01:13:03,339 ♪ Yo my whole life is like the ill news ♪ 2154 01:13:03,339 --> 01:13:05,445 ♪ From the real city blues ♪ 2155 01:13:05,445 --> 01:13:07,580 ♪ City shoes they scuffed up ♪ 2156 01:13:07,580 --> 01:13:08,413 ♪ Fucked up ♪ 2157 01:13:08,413 --> 01:13:09,507 ♪ Then your city loose ♪ 2158 01:13:09,507 --> 01:13:12,030 ♪ Take losses and bounce back like bosses ♪ 2159 01:13:12,030 --> 01:13:14,659 ♪ Flow like a faucet until I'm retarded ♪ 2160 01:13:14,659 --> 01:13:16,376 ♪ Retarded ♪ 2161 01:13:16,376 --> 01:13:18,630 ♪ Nah I don't get carded. ♪ 2162 01:13:18,630 --> 01:13:19,463 ♪ I look kind of old ♪ 2163 01:13:19,463 --> 01:13:20,296 ♪ But I'm bold ♪ 2164 01:13:20,296 --> 01:13:21,750 ♪ You choose to understand me from the floor ♪ 2165 01:13:21,750 --> 01:13:22,583 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2166 01:13:22,583 --> 01:13:26,166 - Project Blowed remains more of a mainstay 2167 01:13:27,353 --> 01:13:29,400 for LA West Coast sound, 2168 01:13:29,400 --> 01:13:31,655 underground hip hop sound, 2169 01:13:31,655 --> 01:13:34,328 which has definitely carried hip hop a lot through the years 2170 01:13:34,328 --> 01:13:35,926 period. 2171 01:13:35,926 --> 01:13:38,136 (hip hop beat) 2172 01:13:38,136 --> 01:13:42,225 - The Blowed was a thing for the 90s and early 2000s. 2173 01:13:42,225 --> 01:13:43,691 What's ended up happening though, 2174 01:13:43,691 --> 01:13:47,290 is this rapper Verbs from my crew to Swim Team. 2175 01:13:47,290 --> 01:13:49,321 He started this night called Bananas, 2176 01:13:49,321 --> 01:13:51,397 which is a monthly and it is created this kind of 2177 01:13:51,397 --> 01:13:53,756 eclectic mixed bag kind of feel. 2178 01:13:53,756 --> 01:13:55,787 It's a little bit more appropriate for the times. 2179 01:13:55,787 --> 01:13:57,818 - My name is Verbs. 2180 01:13:57,818 --> 01:13:59,207 We got DJ Tony smooth 2181 01:13:59,207 --> 01:14:00,387 DJ L Ray in the house. 2182 01:14:00,387 --> 01:14:01,698 This is Bananas 2183 01:14:01,698 --> 01:14:03,104 We do it every third Tuesday. 2184 01:14:03,104 --> 01:14:05,778 Yeah man, it's gonna get started real soon man. 2185 01:14:05,778 --> 01:14:08,182 Got a bunch of cool people performing and shit. 2186 01:14:08,182 --> 01:14:09,048 I was, 2187 01:14:09,048 --> 01:14:10,228 I had a girlfriend at the time 2188 01:14:10,228 --> 01:14:12,705 and she was taking me to places in other parts of the city, 2189 01:14:12,705 --> 01:14:14,066 like Echo Park with Silver Lake, 2190 01:14:14,066 --> 01:14:16,274 downtown house shows all sorts of shit. 2191 01:14:16,274 --> 01:14:17,913 And then she had the idea like, yo, 2192 01:14:17,913 --> 01:14:19,169 I wanna throw an event here. 2193 01:14:19,169 --> 01:14:20,267 She's like you show me book rappers 2194 01:14:20,267 --> 01:14:21,100 and I'll book bands. 2195 01:14:21,100 --> 01:14:22,588 And Project Blowed was still going on. 2196 01:14:22,588 --> 01:14:23,723 So, you know, I was like, yo, 2197 01:14:23,723 --> 01:14:24,556 we could do it in Leimert. 2198 01:14:24,556 --> 01:14:25,389 Like, 2199 01:14:25,389 --> 01:14:26,960 Ben's all about some pro black young people shit. 2200 01:14:26,960 --> 01:14:28,126 Let's do this. Whatever. 2201 01:14:28,126 --> 01:14:30,334 I tried to make it like a festival once a month, 2202 01:14:30,334 --> 01:14:31,795 every third Tuesday. 2203 01:14:31,795 --> 01:14:33,288 That's the vibe I would try to go for 2204 01:14:33,288 --> 01:14:35,110 because it is a big homie fest man. 2205 01:14:35,110 --> 01:14:36,511 And you know, yeah. 2206 01:14:36,511 --> 01:14:39,426 - I think the movement that they're doing now 2207 01:14:39,426 --> 01:14:40,515 hasn't been labeled. 2208 01:14:40,515 --> 01:14:42,562 You know, I don't think it has a name. 2209 01:14:42,562 --> 01:14:44,697 I don't think hipster explains it. 2210 01:14:44,697 --> 01:14:46,743 I don't think hip hop really explains it. 2211 01:14:46,743 --> 01:14:51,566 And so I think what we're seeing now with Bananas 2212 01:14:51,566 --> 01:14:53,747 is a hip hop broth 2213 01:14:53,747 --> 01:14:56,497 with the gumbo not described yet. 2214 01:14:57,361 --> 01:14:58,750 (laughs) 2215 01:14:58,750 --> 01:15:01,833 (funky hip hop beat) 2216 01:15:07,679 --> 01:15:09,738 - [Narrator] They say the key to success in any field 2217 01:15:09,738 --> 01:15:11,958 is 10,000 hours practice. 2218 01:15:11,958 --> 01:15:13,265 Yes. 2219 01:15:13,265 --> 01:15:14,923 It is only through intense hard work 2220 01:15:14,923 --> 01:15:19,698 and repetition that a person could truly achieve greatness. 2221 01:15:19,698 --> 01:15:22,281 - And now we're go to St. James 2222 01:15:23,169 --> 01:15:25,883 between Fulton and Gates where Biggie grew up. 2223 01:15:25,883 --> 01:15:28,633 I think my top rappers are Jay-Z, 2224 01:15:29,741 --> 01:15:32,527 Eminem, Tupac, and Biggie. 2225 01:15:32,527 --> 01:15:33,632 Definitely Biggie. 2226 01:15:33,632 --> 01:15:35,172 I like to go there sometimes. 2227 01:15:35,172 --> 01:15:36,365 Just, you know, 2228 01:15:36,365 --> 01:15:38,562 eat some McDonald's in front of Biggie's crib. 2229 01:15:38,562 --> 01:15:40,607 Yeah, this is the one right here. 2230 01:15:40,607 --> 01:15:42,280 226 St. James, 2231 01:15:42,280 --> 01:15:45,490 Clinton the Hill right next to Bed-Stuy 2232 01:15:45,490 --> 01:15:47,088 This is where Biggie Smalls, 2233 01:15:47,088 --> 01:15:49,940 Chris Wallace was born and raised. 2234 01:15:49,940 --> 01:15:50,911 This is the neighborhood. 2235 01:15:50,911 --> 01:15:52,117 All the stories that he's telling 2236 01:15:52,117 --> 01:15:55,361 and the situations he's describing. 2237 01:15:55,361 --> 01:15:56,269 It's here. 2238 01:15:56,269 --> 01:15:57,198 It all happened here. 2239 01:15:57,198 --> 01:15:59,302 You know, I think that Biggie was, 2240 01:15:59,302 --> 01:16:00,135 you know, 2241 01:16:00,135 --> 01:16:03,112 he brought like a level of honesty that you didn't always 2242 01:16:03,112 --> 01:16:05,158 see at that time. 2243 01:16:05,158 --> 01:16:10,158 You know, he obviously had the grandiose narratives and, 2244 01:16:10,278 --> 01:16:13,072 you know, just larger than life stuff going on. 2245 01:16:13,072 --> 01:16:16,609 But he was also being a hundred percent extremely honest 2246 01:16:16,609 --> 01:16:17,836 about the struggle 2247 01:16:17,836 --> 01:16:19,942 and the frustration or the pain 2248 01:16:19,942 --> 01:16:22,152 or whatever difficulties he was going through. 2249 01:16:22,152 --> 01:16:24,825 I think Biggie being here and the neighborhood changing 2250 01:16:24,825 --> 01:16:27,244 and evolving and certain elements stand the same. 2251 01:16:27,244 --> 01:16:28,095 You know, it, 2252 01:16:28,095 --> 01:16:30,812 it's that same dichotomy that he represented when he was 2253 01:16:30,812 --> 01:16:32,844 alive of the Every man, the struggle. 2254 01:16:32,844 --> 01:16:35,786 But something bigger and grandiose 2255 01:16:35,786 --> 01:16:37,875 and possibility and change, 2256 01:16:37,875 --> 01:16:40,039 but also a constant, you know, 2257 01:16:40,039 --> 01:16:42,070 Biggie's still here. 2258 01:16:42,070 --> 01:16:43,133 You know what I mean? 2259 01:16:43,133 --> 01:16:45,505 Projects are still here, funeral home's still here. 2260 01:16:45,505 --> 01:16:47,807 A lot of things change and a lot of things stay the same. 2261 01:16:47,807 --> 01:16:50,435 So you see, you see the past in the present, you know, 2262 01:16:50,435 --> 01:16:53,318 and Biggie's the past and the present right now, you know, 2263 01:16:53,318 --> 01:16:55,690 and the future because he's gonna continue to influence 2264 01:16:55,690 --> 01:16:57,708 and inspire younger generations. 2265 01:16:57,708 --> 01:17:00,678 And there's probably a kid in that project building 2266 01:17:00,678 --> 01:17:02,711 right now writing rhymes at his desk, 2267 01:17:02,711 --> 01:17:04,783 looking out the window at the Biggie mural 2268 01:17:04,783 --> 01:17:06,862 And this might be how he found out about Biggie was because 2269 01:17:06,862 --> 01:17:08,908 he saw his face on this wall. 2270 01:17:08,908 --> 01:17:11,790 And so now Big's the future again. 2271 01:17:11,790 --> 01:17:13,177 You know. 2272 01:17:13,177 --> 01:17:16,844 (funky hip hop music fades) 2273 01:17:18,429 --> 01:17:20,454 - [Narrator] Just like a freestyle 2274 01:17:20,454 --> 01:17:22,798 life could be a series of quick decisions 2275 01:17:22,798 --> 01:17:24,259 and spontaneous reactions. 2276 01:17:24,259 --> 01:17:27,024 When the MC miss steps, we call it falling off. 2277 01:17:27,024 --> 01:17:29,069 You could fall off in a rhyme. 2278 01:17:29,069 --> 01:17:30,504 You could fall off in life. 2279 01:17:30,504 --> 01:17:32,072 It's all about the decision 2280 01:17:32,072 --> 01:17:33,729 you're forced to make on the spot. 2281 01:17:33,729 --> 01:17:35,820 ♪ Got a lady get up on my way to meet her ♪ 2282 01:17:35,820 --> 01:17:38,209 ♪ Gonna form a union like a local group of teamsters ♪ 2283 01:17:38,209 --> 01:17:40,969 ♪ Get your tweesers doing by your research ♪ 2284 01:17:40,969 --> 01:17:43,675 ♪ Had enough to press a graphic image to a t-shirt ♪ 2285 01:17:43,675 --> 01:17:44,627 ♪ Party people ♪ 2286 01:17:44,627 --> 01:17:46,181 ♪ If you hungry get a spoon ♪ 2287 01:17:46,181 --> 01:17:48,797 ♪ I bend the same laws that put a monkey on the moon ♪ 2288 01:17:48,797 --> 01:17:51,336 ♪ Notice them the link between a human and baboon ♪ 2289 01:17:51,336 --> 01:17:52,842 ♪ You can watch the words flutter ♪ 2290 01:17:52,842 --> 01:17:54,173 ♪ Like they flew from cocoon ♪ 2291 01:17:54,173 --> 01:17:55,159 (record scratch) 2292 01:17:55,159 --> 01:17:58,326 - I am doing a massive merch mail out. 2293 01:17:59,694 --> 01:18:03,241 We had a little financial hardship at home 2294 01:18:03,241 --> 01:18:06,510 and so printed up a special edition 2295 01:18:06,510 --> 01:18:08,598 in one of my CDs that had never been 2296 01:18:08,598 --> 01:18:10,431 available in that way. 2297 01:18:11,916 --> 01:18:14,249 It was a EP I put out before 2298 01:18:16,424 --> 01:18:18,576 and put 'em in a cool little package, 2299 01:18:18,576 --> 01:18:20,320 little floppy disc cover for the cd. 2300 01:18:20,320 --> 01:18:24,172 I pressed up a hundred in this floppy disc case, 2301 01:18:24,172 --> 01:18:25,755 this particular EP. 2302 01:18:27,016 --> 01:18:31,611 And I've sold about 50 since I announced it last week. 2303 01:18:31,611 --> 01:18:33,611 This one's from Georgia. 2304 01:18:35,543 --> 01:18:39,043 Got an order from London, Ontario, Canada. 2305 01:18:41,456 --> 01:18:43,696 Got an order from England on here. 2306 01:18:43,696 --> 01:18:46,145 Lots of places all over California. 2307 01:18:46,145 --> 01:18:48,295 Got an order from Australia on here. 2308 01:18:48,295 --> 01:18:53,212 The Netherlands, East Coast, Baltimore, Madison, Wisconsin. 2309 01:18:56,236 --> 01:19:00,899 Got a pretty good, pretty good variety of locales. 2310 01:19:00,899 --> 01:19:03,226 I don't have a day job now. 2311 01:19:03,226 --> 01:19:05,302 I have a little hustle though, 2312 01:19:05,302 --> 01:19:09,889 like I do graphic design sometimes I can make a little money 2313 01:19:09,889 --> 01:19:11,099 on the side that way too. 2314 01:19:11,099 --> 01:19:14,130 But most of my income comes from music related stuff. 2315 01:19:14,130 --> 01:19:15,624 You know, 2316 01:19:15,624 --> 01:19:17,879 it's not too far out of the range of anything that I would 2317 01:19:17,879 --> 01:19:19,387 actually be doing. 2318 01:19:19,387 --> 01:19:22,956 Sometimes things get hard and, you know, 2319 01:19:22,956 --> 01:19:24,285 I end up looking on Craigslist 2320 01:19:24,285 --> 01:19:25,674 'cause I used to be a teacher. 2321 01:19:25,674 --> 01:19:28,586 So I got a lot of experience with kids. 2322 01:19:28,586 --> 01:19:30,841 I got like, you know, I got a college degree and all that. 2323 01:19:30,841 --> 01:19:32,872 So occasionally things get bad enough. 2324 01:19:32,872 --> 01:19:34,903 I'm on Craigslist looking to see what I can do. 2325 01:19:34,903 --> 01:19:37,236 But the realistic, you know, 2326 01:19:38,964 --> 01:19:41,309 when it comes down to the practicality of it, 2327 01:19:41,309 --> 01:19:44,490 I gotta get something that allows me to be able to travel. 2328 01:19:44,490 --> 01:19:46,939 'cause I make a good amount of money on the road. 2329 01:19:46,939 --> 01:19:51,090 So it's always tough for me to envision what a real job 2330 01:19:51,090 --> 01:19:54,167 would be like when it comes to budgeting. 2331 01:19:54,167 --> 01:19:57,407 Like I can pretty accurately say 2332 01:19:57,407 --> 01:19:59,763 what I'm gonna bring home from a tour. 2333 01:19:59,763 --> 01:20:04,430 And I can pretty confidently say I'll tour twice a year. 2334 01:20:05,717 --> 01:20:08,050 So that much I can count on. 2335 01:20:09,635 --> 01:20:11,594 Other than that, it's really difficult. 2336 01:20:11,594 --> 01:20:14,371 - Anybody that wants to be their own business, 2337 01:20:14,371 --> 01:20:17,926 you have to believe I'm the best and I can do it. 2338 01:20:17,926 --> 01:20:19,969 Because if you don't, I mean, 2339 01:20:19,969 --> 01:20:21,987 everybody else is getting a job, going to college 2340 01:20:21,987 --> 01:20:24,018 to work for somebody else. 2341 01:20:24,018 --> 01:20:26,811 So entrepreneurs have to believe I can do it. 2342 01:20:26,811 --> 01:20:27,794 I'm gonna make it. 2343 01:20:27,794 --> 01:20:29,350 If you think anything different, 2344 01:20:29,350 --> 01:20:32,931 you're not gonna give 110% and you probably will fail. 2345 01:20:32,931 --> 01:20:35,248 You give up when you're dead, you know? 2346 01:20:35,248 --> 01:20:37,667 And biting a bullet is you do what you can until, 2347 01:20:37,667 --> 01:20:40,878 but if it's your passion, I'm a firm believer, 2348 01:20:40,878 --> 01:20:43,787 some people aren't cut out for this. 2349 01:20:43,787 --> 01:20:45,239 So if it's not really your passion 2350 01:20:45,239 --> 01:20:46,732 and you think, yeah, I'm the rapper 2351 01:20:46,732 --> 01:20:47,565 and I deserve everything, 2352 01:20:47,565 --> 01:20:49,271 then you are in the wrong business. 2353 01:20:49,271 --> 01:20:51,540 - [Narrator] Building a reputation that precedes you 2354 01:20:51,540 --> 01:20:53,153 can be a blessing and a curse. 2355 01:20:53,153 --> 01:20:54,554 For Iron Solomon, 2356 01:20:54,554 --> 01:20:58,110 one wonders if his notoriety as a battle rapper has started 2357 01:20:58,110 --> 01:20:59,692 to restrain him as a artist. 2358 01:20:59,692 --> 01:21:02,692 (hard hip hop beat) 2359 01:21:03,676 --> 01:21:05,651 - The funny thing about 2360 01:21:05,651 --> 01:21:09,341 the whole battle scene is that they suffer from being stuck 2361 01:21:09,341 --> 01:21:12,072 in the comfort zone just as much as anybody else. 2362 01:21:12,072 --> 01:21:14,101 You know, like battling is awesome, 2363 01:21:14,101 --> 01:21:17,254 but it's definitely a step towards bigger things, you know. 2364 01:21:17,254 --> 01:21:19,553 There's only a few battle rappers I know that's like, 2365 01:21:19,553 --> 01:21:20,810 that's all they want to do. 2366 01:21:20,810 --> 01:21:23,227 Most of these guys want to sell millions of records 2367 01:21:23,227 --> 01:21:26,036 and be on TV, music videos, tons of things like that. 2368 01:21:26,036 --> 01:21:28,052 But they get pulled into the battle scene 2369 01:21:28,052 --> 01:21:30,845 because it's sustained itself to a point 2370 01:21:30,845 --> 01:21:32,906 where you can make some money, you know? 2371 01:21:32,906 --> 01:21:35,818 And it's kind of its own enemy, you know? 2372 01:21:35,818 --> 01:21:37,356 And a lot of these guys, 2373 01:21:37,356 --> 01:21:39,014 they're at the top at one point 2374 01:21:39,014 --> 01:21:41,358 and they continue to battle 2375 01:21:41,358 --> 01:21:43,404 and lose or get served. 2376 01:21:43,404 --> 01:21:45,431 And it's like, and it's a wrap. 2377 01:21:45,431 --> 01:21:46,839 - Being a great freestyler 2378 01:21:46,839 --> 01:21:50,438 and making a record is two absolutely different things. 2379 01:21:50,438 --> 01:21:52,737 A freestyling would be considered to a guy 2380 01:21:52,737 --> 01:21:54,977 that could solo on a guitar, 2381 01:21:54,977 --> 01:21:58,009 but if you sat him in and said make a melody, 2382 01:21:58,009 --> 01:22:00,040 make an arrangement, he couldn't do it. 2383 01:22:00,040 --> 01:22:01,757 He can solo his ass off, 2384 01:22:01,757 --> 01:22:04,774 but he can't think of a song. 2385 01:22:04,774 --> 01:22:07,208 - There's certain skills that if you develop that skill, 2386 01:22:07,208 --> 01:22:11,971 it doesn't translate developing that skill of delivering 2387 01:22:11,971 --> 01:22:14,566 those lines without the beat. 2388 01:22:14,566 --> 01:22:16,300 And it's, you know, 2389 01:22:16,300 --> 01:22:18,333 like you're tearing somebody down 2390 01:22:18,333 --> 01:22:21,245 and it's a very particular skill. 2391 01:22:21,245 --> 01:22:24,545 It doesn't translate well into other mediums. 2392 01:22:24,545 --> 01:22:26,588 - A lot of these battle rap freestyle rappers, 2393 01:22:26,588 --> 01:22:28,277 they can't make a album. 2394 01:22:28,277 --> 01:22:30,698 They don't know how to make an album. You know what I mean? 2395 01:22:30,698 --> 01:22:32,102 They could have a good battle. 2396 01:22:32,102 --> 01:22:34,118 And a lot of people watch it, 2397 01:22:34,118 --> 01:22:35,850 they'll get a lot of views if it's on the internet 2398 01:22:35,850 --> 01:22:36,761 and stuff like that. 2399 01:22:36,761 --> 01:22:38,356 But when it comes time to make an album, 2400 01:22:38,356 --> 01:22:40,103 it's like they can't deliver, you know what I mean? 2401 01:22:40,103 --> 01:22:42,391 It's like a different animal. 2402 01:22:42,391 --> 01:22:44,720 When you making an album, it gotta be a package. 2403 01:22:44,720 --> 01:22:46,826 It gotta be something different. You know what I mean? 2404 01:22:46,826 --> 01:22:47,841 - People can freestyle all day. 2405 01:22:47,841 --> 01:22:51,395 That don't mean that they're artists, you know what I mean? 2406 01:22:51,395 --> 01:22:52,963 You gotta be able to write songs. 2407 01:22:52,963 --> 01:22:54,994 You gotta know when to stop rhyming sometimes too much 2408 01:22:54,994 --> 01:22:57,039 rhymers, you know, we don't, 2409 01:22:57,039 --> 01:22:59,086 sometimes we don't want to hit too much rhymes, 2410 01:22:59,086 --> 01:23:01,132 like slow down, you know, slow that shit down. 2411 01:23:01,132 --> 01:23:02,610 I just wanna sing the song with you. 2412 01:23:02,610 --> 01:23:05,073 The reason why the skill sets are different. 2413 01:23:05,073 --> 01:23:07,225 - Between an individual that can write a good rap 2414 01:23:07,225 --> 01:23:10,883 or write a good song and someone that could freestyle well, 2415 01:23:10,883 --> 01:23:13,285 but maybe not be so adept at making good songs 2416 01:23:13,285 --> 01:23:16,975 is the mechanics of the creative process. 2417 01:23:16,975 --> 01:23:19,530 - Making records is a whole nother zone. 2418 01:23:19,530 --> 01:23:20,706 You gotta make hooks, 2419 01:23:20,706 --> 01:23:23,233 you gotta make things that are very catchy 2420 01:23:23,233 --> 01:23:27,624 and sometimes you have to dumb down your ability 2421 01:23:27,624 --> 01:23:28,639 to make records. 2422 01:23:28,639 --> 01:23:31,430 - I think there are times where, you know, 2423 01:23:31,430 --> 01:23:35,434 I definitely feel that people are appreciating me for one 2424 01:23:35,434 --> 01:23:39,241 thing that's just a piece of what I do. 2425 01:23:39,241 --> 01:23:43,617 And they want a very particular thing from you. 2426 01:23:43,617 --> 01:23:48,617 They don't wanna see Michael Jordan play baseball, you know? 2427 01:23:49,602 --> 01:23:50,800 And I might do a show 2428 01:23:50,800 --> 01:23:53,130 and the show's going great 2429 01:23:53,130 --> 01:23:55,415 and I do acapellas in between the songs 2430 01:23:55,415 --> 01:23:57,042 because I like to draw people in 2431 01:23:57,042 --> 01:23:58,506 and just switch up the pacing 2432 01:23:58,506 --> 01:23:59,981 and somebody might come up 2433 01:23:59,981 --> 01:24:01,463 and that could be their favorite part. 2434 01:24:01,463 --> 01:24:04,166 - Because see, once you're so far into the freestyling, 2435 01:24:04,166 --> 01:24:07,078 once you focus solely on freestyling, 2436 01:24:07,078 --> 01:24:08,451 then that's who you are. 2437 01:24:08,451 --> 01:24:12,812 And when you don't mix it up and practice it, 2438 01:24:12,812 --> 01:24:17,561 you kind of just pigeonhole yourself to stay in one person. 2439 01:24:17,561 --> 01:24:20,368 - I would love to be in a position where 2440 01:24:20,368 --> 01:24:21,891 I had the type of movement 2441 01:24:21,891 --> 01:24:25,042 and following where it made sense to partner with a 2442 01:24:25,042 --> 01:24:27,073 major label because they have muscle. 2443 01:24:27,073 --> 01:24:27,906 You know, 2444 01:24:27,906 --> 01:24:30,194 battle rap is just one piece of hip hop music 2445 01:24:30,194 --> 01:24:32,341 and hip hop music is just one piece of music. 2446 01:24:32,341 --> 01:24:35,436 And I'm first and foremost like a music lover. 2447 01:24:35,436 --> 01:24:39,020 And then hip hop is my main squeeze, you know? 2448 01:24:39,020 --> 01:24:41,693 And battle rap is just her titty, you know? 2449 01:24:41,693 --> 01:24:43,395 So I'm trying to milk the other one 2450 01:24:43,395 --> 01:24:45,710 and then I'm trying to work my way down, you know. 2451 01:24:45,710 --> 01:24:46,920 ♪ They know at level that they never attain ♪ 2452 01:24:46,920 --> 01:24:49,114 ♪ Never never could attain ♪ 2453 01:24:49,114 --> 01:24:50,519 ♪ So they mentionin' my name ♪ 2454 01:24:50,519 --> 01:24:51,967 ♪ Mamas babies living largly ♪ 2455 01:24:51,967 --> 01:24:53,446 ♪ They actin' crazy in the party ♪ 2456 01:24:53,446 --> 01:24:54,715 ♪ I go shopping on Rodeo ♪ 2457 01:24:54,715 --> 01:24:56,193 ♪ And them places never charge me ♪ 2458 01:24:56,193 --> 01:24:57,552 ♪ Being lazy show up tardy ♪ 2459 01:24:57,552 --> 01:24:58,911 ♪ Burnin' haze ans sippin' forties ♪ 2460 01:24:58,911 --> 01:25:00,255 ♪ Every night a different city ♪ 2461 01:25:00,255 --> 01:25:01,643 ♪ Every day a different shorty ♪ 2462 01:25:01,643 --> 01:25:03,750 (beat fades) 2463 01:25:03,750 --> 01:25:05,823 - A lot of those fans who watch these battle, 2464 01:25:05,823 --> 01:25:09,364 they don't wanna see a lot of those rappers doing songs 2465 01:25:09,364 --> 01:25:11,410 and like in a music video, 2466 01:25:11,410 --> 01:25:14,128 like if a battle rapper makes a song about love, 2467 01:25:14,128 --> 01:25:15,200 like, you know, 2468 01:25:15,200 --> 01:25:17,249 the battle rappers think they're soft now. 2469 01:25:17,249 --> 01:25:18,950 - I might have someone come up to me in the street 2470 01:25:18,950 --> 01:25:20,340 and say they're a huge fan. 2471 01:25:20,340 --> 01:25:24,283 And they ask me when am I dropping an album? 2472 01:25:24,283 --> 01:25:26,657 You know, when are you putting out a mixtape? 2473 01:25:26,657 --> 01:25:28,911 And they have never heard my mixtape or my album 2474 01:25:28,911 --> 01:25:32,091 and they're not aware that I have another one coming out. 2475 01:25:32,091 --> 01:25:32,924 ♪ Now ♪ 2476 01:25:32,924 --> 01:25:35,274 ♪ A bunch of clowns just jealous 'cause they want the crown ♪ 2477 01:25:35,274 --> 01:25:36,184 ♪ I want the belt ♪ 2478 01:25:36,184 --> 01:25:38,231 ♪ But now I gotta buckle down ♪ 2479 01:25:38,231 --> 01:25:39,560 ♪ Headed for the 12th ♪ 2480 01:25:39,560 --> 01:25:41,202 ♪ 'bout to be the the toughest round ♪ 2481 01:25:41,202 --> 01:25:43,980 ♪ Squaring off with the clock time's runnin' out ♪ 2482 01:25:43,980 --> 01:25:46,897 (heavy beat fades) 2483 01:25:50,177 --> 01:25:53,094 (fast guitar beat) 2484 01:25:55,718 --> 01:25:57,748 - So we're going on tour for 2485 01:25:57,748 --> 01:25:58,764 two and a half weeks. 2486 01:25:58,764 --> 01:26:00,511 We're starting in LA we're doing the bay, 2487 01:26:00,511 --> 01:26:03,946 we're going out through Phoenix and New Mexico all the way 2488 01:26:03,946 --> 01:26:05,660 through Texas to Louisiana. 2489 01:26:05,660 --> 01:26:08,530 And then we come back through like Oklahoma, 2490 01:26:08,530 --> 01:26:10,890 I think we come back through Arizona 2491 01:26:10,890 --> 01:26:13,680 and back through California and we end in Sacramento. 2492 01:26:13,680 --> 01:26:17,741 The west and the southwest has been like a fertile touring 2493 01:26:17,741 --> 01:26:19,238 ground for like indie cats 2494 01:26:19,238 --> 01:26:21,463 and underground cats from LA for a long time. 2495 01:26:21,463 --> 01:26:26,164 So this is kind of like a beaten path that started years ago 2496 01:26:26,164 --> 01:26:29,271 that, you know, the fandom has already kind of developed 2497 01:26:29,271 --> 01:26:31,826 and Busdriver's fandom in particular. 2498 01:26:31,826 --> 01:26:33,335 So he's, you know, 2499 01:26:33,335 --> 01:26:36,142 taking me and Nocando along an established route 2500 01:26:36,142 --> 01:26:39,114 so we can kind of all get on together 2501 01:26:39,114 --> 01:26:41,364 and make a splash that way. 2502 01:26:43,774 --> 01:26:45,369 ♪ Check y'all. ♪ 2503 01:26:45,369 --> 01:26:48,029 ♪ I've been following my creed since a teenager ♪ 2504 01:26:48,029 --> 01:26:50,090 ♪ Writing in more run on sentences ♪ 2505 01:26:50,090 --> 01:26:52,464 ♪ Then the dialogue up in speed racer ♪ 2506 01:26:52,464 --> 01:26:53,913 ♪ So we ain't new to this ♪ 2507 01:26:53,913 --> 01:26:57,108 ♪ And you can tell how we copy floppy computer discs ♪ 2508 01:26:57,108 --> 01:26:59,976 ♪ I'm a futurist so I don't rock a crucifix ♪ 2509 01:26:59,976 --> 01:27:02,933 ♪ I keep it deep in the dirt on some Rosa Crux shit ♪ 2510 01:27:02,933 --> 01:27:06,189 ♪ Yeah I'm on that free thinking double talk ♪ 2511 01:27:06,189 --> 01:27:09,265 ♪ My people's out there like NASA space shuttle walks ♪ 2512 01:27:09,265 --> 01:27:12,310 ♪ I cultivating epiphanies outta subtle thoughts ♪ 2513 01:27:12,310 --> 01:27:15,119 ♪ My people stay serving instead of crossing the line ♪ 2514 01:27:15,119 --> 01:27:17,150 ♪ To the judges called double fall ♪ 2515 01:27:17,150 --> 01:27:18,658 ♪ We got a secret though ♪ 2516 01:27:18,658 --> 01:27:20,181 ♪ We used to keep it low ♪ 2517 01:27:20,181 --> 01:27:22,212 ♪ Us and them same judges is tighter ♪ 2518 01:27:22,212 --> 01:27:23,736 ♪ Than some needle nose pliers ♪ 2519 01:27:23,736 --> 01:27:26,122 ♪ It's time to let the people know through the wires ♪ 2520 01:27:26,122 --> 01:27:28,141 ♪ The higher ups keep below the surface ♪ 2521 01:27:28,141 --> 01:27:30,499 ♪ I haven't seen them but I heard it ya ♪ 2522 01:27:30,499 --> 01:27:33,604 ♪ And who would mislead us on purpose ♪ 2523 01:27:33,604 --> 01:27:35,637 ♪ HellFire is the club ♪ 2524 01:27:35,637 --> 01:27:36,608 ♪ Swim is the team ♪ 2525 01:27:36,608 --> 01:27:39,804 ♪ Blowed is the project the free thinker scream ♪ 2526 01:27:39,804 --> 01:27:41,835 ♪ For whatever they want they feel free ♪ 2527 01:27:41,835 --> 01:27:43,907 ♪ So they can have whatever they want ♪ 2528 01:27:43,907 --> 01:27:45,179 ♪ Y'all feel free ♪ 2529 01:27:45,179 --> 01:27:46,449 ♪ It goes ♪ 2530 01:27:46,449 --> 01:27:49,135 ♪ HellFire is the club swim is the team ♪ 2531 01:27:49,135 --> 01:27:52,124 ♪ Blowed this the project the free thinkers scream ♪ 2532 01:27:52,124 --> 01:27:54,572 ♪ For whatever they want they feel free ♪ 2533 01:27:54,572 --> 01:27:56,947 ♪ So they can have whatever they want ♪ 2534 01:27:56,947 --> 01:27:59,785 ♪ They want, they want, they want ♪ 2535 01:27:59,785 --> 01:28:02,285 (music fades) 2536 01:28:03,173 --> 01:28:05,624 (crowd claps) 2537 01:28:05,624 --> 01:28:07,651 - If I'm to be honest with you right now, 2538 01:28:07,651 --> 01:28:09,734 I feel absolutely insane. 2539 01:28:10,920 --> 01:28:14,330 My emotional levels are outta control 2540 01:28:14,330 --> 01:28:17,854 and part of that is just the transition from being on stage 2541 01:28:17,854 --> 01:28:20,318 to going back to regular civilian life. 2542 01:28:20,318 --> 01:28:22,438 There's no manual for it. 2543 01:28:22,438 --> 01:28:25,216 I found it to be very difficult 2544 01:28:25,216 --> 01:28:27,292 because when you're on stage, 2545 01:28:27,292 --> 01:28:32,292 you get to enjoy the full benefits of supported egomania. 2546 01:28:32,324 --> 01:28:34,399 They all belong to you and they all know it. 2547 01:28:34,399 --> 01:28:37,222 And there's in accordance with that, 2548 01:28:37,222 --> 01:28:41,042 there's an experience of command and of center of attention. 2549 01:28:41,042 --> 01:28:43,435 And I actually enjoy it quite a bit. 2550 01:28:43,435 --> 01:28:46,435 (slow hip hop beat) 2551 01:28:50,155 --> 01:28:53,141 ♪ I went to bed at midnight ♪ 2552 01:28:53,141 --> 01:28:56,259 ♪ And then the clock said 1:23 ♪ 2553 01:28:56,259 --> 01:28:58,741 ♪ Go ahead and close your eye lids ♪ 2554 01:28:58,741 --> 01:29:02,856 ♪ And then tell me what you see ♪ 2555 01:29:02,856 --> 01:29:04,687 (music fades) 2556 01:29:04,687 --> 01:29:07,523 - So we did the Bootleg show last night. 2557 01:29:07,523 --> 01:29:09,748 It went pretty cool. 2558 01:29:09,748 --> 01:29:11,765 Not quite how I had planned. 2559 01:29:11,765 --> 01:29:14,975 I mean I wanted a little bit more homecoming rah rah. 2560 01:29:14,975 --> 01:29:17,604 I wanted the crowd to like gimme a little bit more 2561 01:29:17,604 --> 01:29:19,307 than they were giving me. 2562 01:29:19,307 --> 01:29:22,726 And it's kind of important that my stage show maintain a 2563 01:29:22,726 --> 01:29:24,772 certain level of energy. 2564 01:29:24,772 --> 01:29:26,796 'cause in this independent lane where nobody's really 2565 01:29:26,796 --> 01:29:28,952 selling records, nobody's selling albums, 2566 01:29:28,952 --> 01:29:32,313 the stage show is the only way that's gonna make some money. 2567 01:29:32,313 --> 01:29:36,239 And it's important for me and this guy 2568 01:29:36,239 --> 01:29:38,003 that I bring some income in. 2569 01:29:38,003 --> 01:29:39,721 - Mike I've known for years 2570 01:29:39,721 --> 01:29:42,229 and I've seen him transition from like the street freestyler 2571 01:29:42,229 --> 01:29:44,663 to okay, let me sell some CDs, 2572 01:29:44,663 --> 01:29:46,721 let me get a website together. 2573 01:29:46,721 --> 01:29:47,755 And throughout this, 2574 01:29:47,755 --> 01:29:50,547 all these years, his family was growing at the same time. 2575 01:29:50,547 --> 01:29:52,817 Not just his career. 2576 01:29:52,817 --> 01:29:54,251 - [Narrator] As he continues to expand 2577 01:29:54,251 --> 01:29:55,953 beyond his battle rap reputation, 2578 01:29:55,953 --> 01:29:59,044 Iron Solomon heads to Los Angeles for some networking 2579 01:29:59,044 --> 01:30:00,953 and industry opportunities. 2580 01:30:00,953 --> 01:30:03,620 But he's going to do it his way. 2581 01:30:05,481 --> 01:30:07,512 - I guess a lot of people come to LA 2582 01:30:07,512 --> 01:30:11,096 or are in New York trying to be on camera 2583 01:30:11,096 --> 01:30:13,440 as much as possible or you know, 2584 01:30:13,440 --> 01:30:14,694 promote themselves. 2585 01:30:14,694 --> 01:30:18,846 But I have kind of a funny relationship with fame. 2586 01:30:18,846 --> 01:30:19,679 You know, 2587 01:30:19,679 --> 01:30:22,176 I wouldn't have a MySpace page back in the day 2588 01:30:22,176 --> 01:30:24,834 or Facebook or Twitter if I wasn't an artist. 2589 01:30:24,834 --> 01:30:25,969 I'm not into it like that. 2590 01:30:25,969 --> 01:30:28,851 I'm hoping out here to make some connections that allow me 2591 01:30:28,851 --> 01:30:30,610 to do some things behind the scenes more. 2592 01:30:30,610 --> 01:30:33,658 'cause it's not always right for me to be on camera. 2593 01:30:33,658 --> 01:30:35,332 I don't always enjoy it. You know? 2594 01:30:35,332 --> 01:30:37,999 Now I'm out in LA making rounds, 2595 01:30:38,857 --> 01:30:40,156 taking meetings, 2596 01:30:40,156 --> 01:30:42,187 getting in the studio with some people, 2597 01:30:42,187 --> 01:30:46,306 doing some writing and seeing where it takes me. 2598 01:30:46,306 --> 01:30:49,741 I think most people want fame period 2599 01:30:49,741 --> 01:30:52,371 and take various routes to get to it. 2600 01:30:52,371 --> 01:30:53,954 I love making music 2601 01:30:56,783 --> 01:31:00,273 and I would love to be well known for making great music, 2602 01:31:00,273 --> 01:31:01,318 being a great rapper. 2603 01:31:01,318 --> 01:31:04,568 But I like being on a subway, you know, 2604 01:31:05,500 --> 01:31:08,321 and not having anybody know who I am. 2605 01:31:08,321 --> 01:31:09,321 So you know, 2606 01:31:10,353 --> 01:31:14,936 I need to find a balance between notoriety and privacy. 2607 01:31:17,025 --> 01:31:19,776 (somber hip hop beat) 2608 01:31:19,776 --> 01:31:20,983 - [Narrator] Back in Los Angeles, 2609 01:31:20,983 --> 01:31:22,494 Mike Eagle has returned from his tour 2610 01:31:22,494 --> 01:31:24,958 and booked a gig at his old stomping ground. 2611 01:31:24,958 --> 01:31:27,060 Bananas at Leimert Park. 2612 01:31:27,060 --> 01:31:30,648 The hometown hero returns to the scene of the rhyme. 2613 01:31:30,648 --> 01:31:33,231 (crowd chattering) 2614 01:31:33,231 --> 01:31:36,981 (music drowns out freestyle) 2615 01:31:38,906 --> 01:31:41,295 ♪ Make some noise. ♪ 2616 01:31:41,295 --> 01:31:42,251 (crowd cheering) 2617 01:31:42,251 --> 01:31:43,580 - [Verbs] All right. 2618 01:31:43,580 --> 01:31:48,080 50 grand 100,000 Open Mike Eagle is next so get ready. 2619 01:31:49,348 --> 01:31:51,032 - [Open Mike Eagle] Check, check, check 2620 01:31:51,032 --> 01:31:51,865 Yeah, yeah 2621 01:31:53,240 --> 01:31:55,823 Can we get the mic up a little. 2622 01:31:57,389 --> 01:31:58,618 KAOS Network. 2623 01:31:58,618 --> 01:32:01,171 Yo, This is the House of the Blowed, right? 2624 01:32:01,171 --> 01:32:03,499 So it's only right if I set it off with some freestyle shit, 2625 01:32:03,499 --> 01:32:04,471 right? 2626 01:32:04,471 --> 01:32:05,304 - Yeah. - Y'all ready? 2627 01:32:05,304 --> 01:32:08,280 Make some noise out there. 2628 01:32:08,280 --> 01:32:09,638 (crowd cheering) 2629 01:32:09,638 --> 01:32:11,266 ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah. ♪ 2630 01:32:11,266 --> 01:32:12,369 ♪ That's how we do it ♪ 2631 01:32:12,369 --> 01:32:14,417 ♪ It's improvisational music ♪ 2632 01:32:14,417 --> 01:32:16,448 ♪ They can't stick it because they translucent ♪ 2633 01:32:16,448 --> 01:32:18,150 ♪ They don't know how we do it ♪ 2634 01:32:18,150 --> 01:32:20,405 ♪ They grabbed the microphone and then they blew it ♪ 2635 01:32:20,405 --> 01:32:21,435 ♪ They host it ♪ 2636 01:32:21,435 --> 01:32:22,481 ♪ It's not a movement ♪ 2637 01:32:22,481 --> 01:32:23,676 ♪ It's at a standstill ♪ 2638 01:32:23,676 --> 01:32:26,528 ♪ Whole flow is garbage like the contents of a landfill ♪ 2639 01:32:26,528 --> 01:32:29,694 ♪ Open hit up off the top of their head like a anvil ♪ 2640 01:32:29,694 --> 01:32:31,381 ♪ They'll have a big ass headache ♪ 2641 01:32:31,381 --> 01:32:32,933 ♪ They need some Advil ♪ 2642 01:32:32,933 --> 01:32:35,100 ♪ MCs think they got rap skill ♪ 2643 01:32:35,100 --> 01:32:36,769 ♪ I'm laughing at their lack of skill ♪ 2644 01:32:36,769 --> 01:32:39,610 ♪ Because they fall off just like pedals on the daffodil ♪ 2645 01:32:39,610 --> 01:32:40,640 ♪ They vaginas ♪ 2646 01:32:40,640 --> 01:32:42,508 ♪ They need some Masingil ♪ 2647 01:32:42,508 --> 01:32:45,074 ♪ And that's a ddutch, watch my operation push ♪ 2648 01:32:45,074 --> 01:32:47,899 ♪ I concentrate and turn these MCs into juice ♪ 2649 01:32:47,899 --> 01:32:48,883 ♪ As I get loose ♪ 2650 01:32:48,883 --> 01:32:50,913 ♪ MCs I just turn up the turbo booster ♪ 2651 01:32:50,913 --> 01:32:51,916 ♪ Then gets cold ♪ 2652 01:32:51,916 --> 01:32:53,977 ♪ That's how I do it like I boost of gold ♪ 2653 01:32:53,977 --> 01:32:55,784 ♪ And I grab the microphone and get loud ♪ 2654 01:32:55,784 --> 01:32:57,039 ♪ Crowd lose control ♪ 2655 01:32:57,039 --> 01:32:58,293 ♪ It's just how we do it ♪ 2656 01:32:58,293 --> 01:32:59,126 ♪ Come on ♪ 2657 01:32:59,126 --> 01:33:01,279 ♪ Put your hands up unless you in beverage ♪ 2658 01:33:01,279 --> 01:33:03,367 ♪ 'cause your sweater got too much dandruff ♪ 2659 01:33:03,367 --> 01:33:04,326 ♪ It's all good yeah ♪ 2660 01:33:04,326 --> 01:33:06,700 ♪ They can be blindly and jack wound in this hood ♪ 2661 01:33:06,700 --> 01:33:07,791 ♪ And that hood ♪ 2662 01:33:07,791 --> 01:33:09,209 ♪ It don't even matter though ♪ 2663 01:33:09,209 --> 01:33:10,643 ♪ I hold it down MCs ♪ 2664 01:33:10,643 --> 01:33:12,674 ♪ 'cause I think they think like a band of Joes ♪ 2665 01:33:12,674 --> 01:33:15,569 ♪ MCs get put on reservations like the Navajo ♪ 2666 01:33:15,569 --> 01:33:18,587 ♪ Stabbing yours when you come through just on some bullshit ♪ 2667 01:33:18,587 --> 01:33:20,230 ♪ I'm right here at the Blowed. ♪ 2668 01:33:20,230 --> 01:33:21,723 ♪ This is my bully bull pit ♪ 2669 01:33:21,723 --> 01:33:23,052 ♪ Hopin' I'll be preaching ♪ 2670 01:33:23,052 --> 01:33:24,693 ♪ Watch your brains are a breaching ♪ 2671 01:33:24,693 --> 01:33:25,531 ♪ Piss on them ♪ 2672 01:33:25,531 --> 01:33:27,562 ♪ Give me my perspectives like Aretha ♪ 2673 01:33:27,562 --> 01:33:29,250 ♪ We do it because I'm a monster ♪ 2674 01:33:29,250 --> 01:33:30,549 ♪ See me like I'm Sasquatch ♪ 2675 01:33:30,549 --> 01:33:31,714 ♪ I'm rapping right now ♪ 2676 01:33:31,714 --> 01:33:34,833 ♪ Yo hold that shit up Rob shot ♪ 2677 01:33:34,833 --> 01:33:36,015 - Yo. How y'all feelin'? 2678 01:33:36,015 --> 01:33:37,344 My name is Open Mike Eagle. 2679 01:33:37,344 --> 01:33:38,281 Pick up the verse. 2680 01:33:38,281 --> 01:33:41,137 (crowd drowns out speaker) 2681 01:33:41,137 --> 01:33:43,362 - [Verbs] Thank a bunch to Open Mike Eagle everybody. 2682 01:33:43,362 --> 01:33:44,957 (crowd cheers) 2683 01:33:44,957 --> 01:33:47,782 Dude when I coming up, I was a young rap puppy. 2684 01:33:47,782 --> 01:33:48,738 (Verbs fades out) 2685 01:33:48,738 --> 01:33:49,932 - How goes it? - Chillin' man. 2686 01:33:49,932 --> 01:33:53,770 (crowd drowns out speakers) 2687 01:33:53,770 --> 01:33:56,309 (rapid beat box beat) 2688 01:33:56,309 --> 01:33:57,142 ♪ Oh oh ♪ 2689 01:33:57,142 --> 01:33:59,131 ♪ Yeah huh huh ♪ 2690 01:33:59,131 --> 01:34:00,069 ♪ Ah shit ♪ 2691 01:34:00,069 --> 01:34:03,865 ♪ Yeah oh check yeah oh huh ♪ 2692 01:34:03,865 --> 01:34:05,881 ♪ Chilling in Leimert ♪ 2693 01:34:05,881 --> 01:34:07,136 ♪ I'm about to put in work ♪ 2694 01:34:07,136 --> 01:34:08,539 ♪ Whilst I'm feeling on the skirt ♪ 2695 01:34:08,539 --> 01:34:09,794 ♪ I'm about to fuckin squirt ♪ 2696 01:34:09,794 --> 01:34:10,956 ♪ And I'm a gold cop a squirt ♪ 2697 01:34:10,956 --> 01:34:12,285 ♪ I'm from the liquor store ♪ 2698 01:34:12,285 --> 01:34:13,766 ♪ Yeah I'm from the West Coast ♪ 2699 01:34:13,766 --> 01:34:15,140 ♪ Best flows ♪ 2700 01:34:15,140 --> 01:34:16,275 ♪ Yeah man West coast ♪ 2701 01:34:16,275 --> 01:34:17,108 ♪ Yes old. ♪ 2702 01:34:17,108 --> 01:34:18,619 ♪ And I'm getting just like asbestos ♪ 2703 01:34:18,619 --> 01:34:20,008 ♪ Wrapped with my chest clothes ♪ 2704 01:34:20,008 --> 01:34:22,054 ♪ I have 'em fucked up just like XOs ♪ 2705 01:34:22,054 --> 01:34:23,084 ♪ At the end of a letter ♪ 2706 01:34:23,084 --> 01:34:24,949 ♪ Cold but better ♪ 2707 01:34:24,949 --> 01:34:27,251 ♪ MCs don't understand how we stretch these eletters yeah ♪ 2708 01:34:27,251 --> 01:34:29,741 ♪ Yeah we do that 'cause they don't acknowledge rapper shit ♪ 2709 01:34:29,741 --> 01:34:31,417 ♪ I come through with the ball all the way ♪ 2710 01:34:31,417 --> 01:34:32,701 ♪ Black Colin Kapernick ♪ 2711 01:34:32,701 --> 01:34:35,151 ♪ That's what I do the second man in the who's who ♪ 2712 01:34:35,151 --> 01:34:36,465 ♪ Rappin' I'm taking the power ♪ 2713 01:34:36,465 --> 01:34:37,704 ♪ Just like a fuse blew ♪ 2714 01:34:37,704 --> 01:34:39,138 ♪ Yeah like a fuse blew ♪ 2715 01:34:39,138 --> 01:34:41,452 ♪ It's like a who's who of talking that shit ♪ 2716 01:34:41,452 --> 01:34:43,050 ♪ Spitting, clipping, dropping dodo. ♪ 2717 01:34:43,050 --> 01:34:44,572 ♪ Committing voodoo ♪ 2718 01:34:44,572 --> 01:34:46,455 ♪ York to Inglewood and chill with hipsters ♪ 2719 01:34:46,455 --> 01:34:48,262 ♪ or white bitched who don't mingle good ♪ 2720 01:34:48,262 --> 01:34:49,681 ♪ Yeah I put 'em in ♪ 2721 01:34:49,681 --> 01:34:51,561 ♪ They want to lick the wood then I hid it good ♪ 2722 01:34:51,561 --> 01:34:53,175 ♪ I do the shit like you wish you could ♪ 2723 01:34:53,175 --> 01:34:54,698 ♪ Like I'm from a different hood ♪ 2724 01:34:54,698 --> 01:34:56,326 ♪ Nah Upper West the fuckin' best ♪ 2725 01:34:56,326 --> 01:34:57,894 ♪ You wanna come and test ♪ 2726 01:34:57,894 --> 01:34:59,089 ♪ I'm unimpressed I've done it best ♪ 2727 01:34:59,089 --> 01:35:00,194 ♪ I've done it east I've done it west ♪ 2728 01:35:00,194 --> 01:35:02,389 ♪ I've done you done him done her and I've done the rest ♪ 2729 01:35:02,389 --> 01:35:03,268 ♪ and I ♪ 2730 01:35:03,268 --> 01:35:05,629 ♪ If I had it got mad at it now I don't want it ♪ 2731 01:35:05,629 --> 01:35:07,720 ♪ That's why I don't always gotta go flaunt it ♪ 2732 01:35:07,720 --> 01:35:10,289 ♪ The most evil cats is always humble ♪ 2733 01:35:10,289 --> 01:35:11,498 ♪ That's why I'm in a jungle ♪ 2734 01:35:11,498 --> 01:35:12,738 ♪ I rumble when I mumble ♪ 2735 01:35:12,738 --> 01:35:14,037 ♪ All of them so all of them so ♪ 2736 01:35:14,037 --> 01:35:15,575 ♪ Iconic I Blowed it up like C4 ♪ 2737 01:35:15,575 --> 01:35:16,979 ♪ The pipe bombing ♪ 2738 01:35:16,979 --> 01:35:19,293 ♪ Yeah I go raw like I don't like condoms ♪ 2739 01:35:19,293 --> 01:35:22,283 ♪ God dammit I am fuckin' awesome ♪ 2740 01:35:22,283 --> 01:35:23,314 ♪ Fuckin' awesome ♪ 2741 01:35:23,314 --> 01:35:24,808 ♪ Two times used to watch fuckin' Blossom ♪ 2742 01:35:24,808 --> 01:35:26,165 ♪ And say whoa like Joey ♪ 2743 01:35:26,165 --> 01:35:27,284 ♪ I'm Project Blowy ♪ 2744 01:35:27,284 --> 01:35:28,866 ♪ That's why I learned how to flow it ♪ 2745 01:35:28,866 --> 01:35:29,927 ♪ My flow so stoic ♪ 2746 01:35:29,927 --> 01:35:31,541 ♪ It's black history I so historic ♪ 2747 01:35:31,541 --> 01:35:33,902 ♪ Historic and he's project blowy ♪ 2748 01:35:33,902 --> 01:35:37,290 ♪ I learned how to rap in the project boy ♪ 2749 01:35:37,290 --> 01:35:39,828 ♪ That's where it's pissin' in the projects all day ♪ 2750 01:35:39,828 --> 01:35:42,354 ♪ And running a rap was my project always ♪ 2751 01:35:42,354 --> 01:35:44,027 ♪ From the beginning ♪ 2752 01:35:44,027 --> 01:35:45,624 ♪ Like they need maxi pads ♪ 2753 01:35:45,624 --> 01:35:46,909 ♪ They're running away from the cipher ♪ 2754 01:35:46,909 --> 01:35:47,742 ♪ But the taxi cab ♪ 2755 01:35:47,742 --> 01:35:48,575 ♪ They can't take it ♪ 2756 01:35:48,575 --> 01:35:51,389 ♪ Poking a juice can full of alcohol until I hurt myself ♪ 2757 01:35:51,389 --> 01:35:52,733 ♪ Like I was Palbazar ♪ 2758 01:35:52,733 --> 01:35:54,779 ♪ Yeah that's what they do with the ankle ♪ 2759 01:35:54,779 --> 01:35:57,168 ♪ I cut them up and stretch and make them ligaments dangle ♪ 2760 01:35:57,168 --> 01:35:58,497 ♪ I strangle your metric ♪ 2761 01:35:58,497 --> 01:35:59,811 ♪ The different angles ♪ 2762 01:35:59,811 --> 01:36:02,153 ♪ Got the fishing line shit they can't disentangle ♪ 2763 01:36:02,153 --> 01:36:04,186 ♪ It's the dopest it's in they focus ♪ 2764 01:36:04,186 --> 01:36:05,441 ♪ And they the brokest ♪ 2765 01:36:05,441 --> 01:36:06,890 ♪ Engineered to make them disappear ♪ 2766 01:36:06,890 --> 01:36:07,723 ♪ Hocus pocus, ♪ 2767 01:36:07,723 --> 01:36:08,556 ♪ My flow is the locust ♪ 2768 01:36:08,556 --> 01:36:10,937 ♪ And it swarms with the humble beads and seeds ♪ 2769 01:36:10,937 --> 01:36:12,651 ♪ When they fall just like some tumble weeds ♪ 2770 01:36:12,651 --> 01:36:14,819 ♪ I'm really quite sharp. ♪ 2771 01:36:14,819 --> 01:36:17,343 ♪ My words be whistling through the air like darts ♪ 2772 01:36:17,343 --> 01:36:19,717 ♪ And I attack just like a great white shark ♪ 2773 01:36:19,717 --> 01:36:22,122 ♪ My written book is decorated with bite marks ♪ 2774 01:36:22,122 --> 01:36:23,866 ♪ In my styles are rare mix ♪ 2775 01:36:23,866 --> 01:36:24,913 ♪ Of horror flicks ♪ 2776 01:36:24,913 --> 01:36:26,061 ♪ Stephen Kings amiss ♪ 2777 01:36:26,061 --> 01:36:27,050 ♪ With a little Blair Witch ♪ 2778 01:36:27,050 --> 01:36:29,257 ♪ Projects my concepts is all fresh ♪ 2779 01:36:29,257 --> 01:36:31,664 ♪ Me and my niggas we about to conquest ♪ 2780 01:36:31,664 --> 01:36:34,023 ♪ My family tree branching like congress ♪ 2781 01:36:34,023 --> 01:36:36,965 ♪ So y'all rest 'cause there isn't any contests ♪ 2782 01:36:36,965 --> 01:36:39,370 ♪ I took your baby mom's out to buy a high fresh ♪ 2783 01:36:39,370 --> 01:36:41,864 ♪ I rock the tux her Lady Gaga dress ♪ 2784 01:36:41,864 --> 01:36:43,297 ♪ Aha yes ♪ 2785 01:36:43,297 --> 01:36:45,791 ♪ Your party ain't nothing but sausage fest ♪ 2786 01:36:45,791 --> 01:36:48,686 ♪ I'm trying to go to Austin Texas two massage breasts ♪ 2787 01:36:48,686 --> 01:36:51,776 ♪ He trying to disrespect the Sid the ex kid ♪ 2788 01:36:51,776 --> 01:36:52,660 ♪ Come on ♪ 2789 01:36:52,660 --> 01:36:54,288 ♪ Like and ostriches necklaces ♪ 2790 01:36:54,288 --> 01:36:56,707 ♪ And can't no other nigga get next to it ♪ 2791 01:36:56,707 --> 01:36:59,231 ♪ I rock it for any cat that's up in the circle ♪ 2792 01:36:59,231 --> 01:37:01,290 ♪ I'm from the side where people get shot ♪ 2793 01:37:01,290 --> 01:37:02,427 ♪ In they church clothes ♪ 2794 01:37:02,427 --> 01:37:04,010 ♪ That's how they do want ya'll to breathe ♪ 2795 01:37:04,010 --> 01:37:05,204 ♪ But my inhales fill me ♪ 2796 01:37:05,204 --> 01:37:07,235 ♪ Wonder why didn't see chem trails daily ♪ 2797 01:37:07,235 --> 01:37:08,158 ♪ The shit falls down ♪ 2798 01:37:08,158 --> 01:37:10,551 ♪ They try to bury them, soak 'em with barium ♪ 2799 01:37:10,551 --> 01:37:12,325 ♪ But that's just what they dropping though ♪ 2800 01:37:12,325 --> 01:37:13,881 ♪ Make them bend just like the muscles ♪ 2801 01:37:13,881 --> 01:37:14,926 ♪ And they have abdominals ♪ 2802 01:37:14,926 --> 01:37:16,019 ♪ They thought they flow was local ♪ 2803 01:37:16,019 --> 01:37:17,139 ♪ It's just fuckin' topical ♪ 2804 01:37:17,139 --> 01:37:19,887 ♪ Regrow like the hair grows my flow got naughty arrows ♪ 2805 01:37:19,887 --> 01:37:22,035 ♪ To make you stand stiff like a scarecrow yeah ♪ 2806 01:37:22,035 --> 01:37:23,259 ♪ That's how we do it ♪ 2807 01:37:23,259 --> 01:37:24,188 ♪ Mannequin ♪ 2808 01:37:24,188 --> 01:37:25,784 ♪ You stand stiff like a mannequin ♪ 2809 01:37:25,784 --> 01:37:27,548 ♪ It's like you going hand in hand with Anakin ♪ 2810 01:37:27,548 --> 01:37:29,250 ♪ Time for you to start fuckin' panickin ♪ 2811 01:37:29,250 --> 01:37:30,624 ♪ 'cause it's that mannequin ♪ 2812 01:37:30,624 --> 01:37:32,267 ♪ Can it be so uncannily ♪ 2813 01:37:32,267 --> 01:37:33,969 ♪ But I ain't nobody's X-men ♪ 2814 01:37:33,969 --> 01:37:35,268 ♪ 'cause them bitches is still mine ♪ 2815 01:37:35,268 --> 01:37:36,523 ♪ Especially if they real fine ♪ 2816 01:37:36,523 --> 01:37:37,879 ♪ So you should get in line ♪ 2817 01:37:37,879 --> 01:37:40,241 ♪ How I'm spitting like I'm in charge this time ♪ 2818 01:37:40,241 --> 01:37:41,973 ♪ Outside my crib is like the March of Dimes ♪ 2819 01:37:41,973 --> 01:37:43,691 ♪ 'cause them bitches all want to call ♪ 2820 01:37:43,691 --> 01:37:44,930 ♪ 'cause they on the balls ♪ 2821 01:37:44,930 --> 01:37:46,961 ♪ Somebody roll up some more marijuana ya'll ♪ 2822 01:37:46,961 --> 01:37:48,333 ♪ Get the liquor store on the call ♪ 2823 01:37:48,333 --> 01:37:49,619 ♪ And tell 'em to deliver here ♪ 2824 01:37:49,619 --> 01:37:51,187 ♪ Listen here this fiscal year ♪ 2825 01:37:51,187 --> 01:37:52,307 ♪ I'm like a pistol ear ♪ 2826 01:37:52,307 --> 01:37:54,351 ♪ I shoot him down the newest dude in town ♪ 2827 01:37:54,351 --> 01:37:56,638 ♪ I'll show you how to to rock and abuse the crown ♪ 2828 01:37:56,638 --> 01:37:57,592 ♪ I'll burn it down ♪ 2829 01:37:57,592 --> 01:37:59,203 ♪ You can have it and use it now ♪ 2830 01:37:59,203 --> 01:38:01,581 ♪ Uncle Luke dodo brown ♪ 2831 01:38:01,581 --> 01:38:04,164 (group cheers) 2832 01:38:11,287 --> 01:38:12,631 - How 'bout that beat boxing. 2833 01:38:12,631 --> 01:38:16,214 (group continues cheering) 2834 01:38:19,740 --> 01:38:21,786 - [Narrator] So where do these struggling artists 2835 01:38:21,786 --> 01:38:24,518 fit into the modern music industry? 2836 01:38:24,518 --> 01:38:27,731 And can you freestyle your way through life? 2837 01:38:27,731 --> 01:38:29,820 Damn right you can. 2838 01:38:29,820 --> 01:38:32,985 Just like music life is about taking chances 2839 01:38:32,985 --> 01:38:36,569 and if you fall off then you get right back up. 2840 01:38:36,569 --> 01:38:38,973 Grab the mic and rhyme again. 2841 01:38:38,973 --> 01:38:40,056 This is life. 2842 01:38:40,977 --> 01:38:42,364 This is hip hop. 2843 01:38:42,364 --> 01:38:44,409 This is freestyling. 2844 01:38:44,409 --> 01:38:45,492 End of story. 2845 01:38:47,559 --> 01:38:50,642 (slow hip hop music) 2846 01:39:11,525 --> 01:39:12,464 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2847 01:39:12,464 --> 01:39:14,155 ♪ Ha ha ha ♪ 2848 01:39:14,155 --> 01:39:14,988 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2849 01:39:14,988 --> 01:39:16,760 ♪ One time for your mind ♪ 2850 01:39:16,760 --> 01:39:17,751 ♪ Ugh ugh ♪ 2851 01:39:17,751 --> 01:39:18,584 ♪ Yeah ♪ 2852 01:39:18,584 --> 01:39:21,025 ♪ Gift of Gab Blackalicious QB ♪ 2853 01:39:21,025 --> 01:39:22,912 ♪ One time ♪ 2854 01:39:22,912 --> 01:39:24,914 ♪ Literal master coming back to blast ya ♪ 2855 01:39:24,914 --> 01:39:26,139 ♪ Your gift to gab rhyme ♪ 2856 01:39:26,139 --> 01:39:27,488 ♪ And yo chapter after chapter ♪ 2857 01:39:27,488 --> 01:39:28,334 ♪ After I'm done ♪ 2858 01:39:28,334 --> 01:39:29,527 ♪ There will be no more ♪ 2859 01:39:29,527 --> 01:39:31,968 ♪ I grabbed the microphone and began to sort ♪ 2860 01:39:31,968 --> 01:39:33,156 ♪ A poor literate jaw ♪ 2861 01:39:33,156 --> 01:39:34,593 ♪ Considerate your legitimate ♪ 2862 01:39:34,593 --> 01:39:35,942 ♪ Pure talent on the microphone ♪ 2863 01:39:35,942 --> 01:39:38,475 ♪ I callin I'm giving it all that I got ♪ 2864 01:39:38,475 --> 01:39:39,573 ♪ When I rock the spot ♪ 2865 01:39:39,573 --> 01:39:40,406 ♪ Gift of Gab ♪ 2866 01:39:40,406 --> 01:39:42,125 ♪ Yo take it from the bottom to the top ♪ 2867 01:39:42,125 --> 01:39:44,087 ♪ Check out the style I'm about to play ♪ 2868 01:39:44,087 --> 01:39:46,516 ♪ Just doing these lyrics here here in LA ♪ 2869 01:39:46,516 --> 01:39:47,951 ♪ Yo when it comes to lyrics ♪ 2870 01:39:47,951 --> 01:39:48,945 ♪ yo we don't play ♪ 2871 01:39:48,945 --> 01:39:51,374 ♪ Give the Gab on the mic making rappers decay ♪ 2872 01:39:51,374 --> 01:39:54,085 ♪ I ride the beat through the beat like a rollercoaster ♪ 2873 01:39:54,085 --> 01:39:55,373 ♪ When I'm on the microphone ♪ 2874 01:39:55,373 --> 01:39:57,615 ♪ You know that my soul will boast a little bit of style ♪ 2875 01:39:57,615 --> 01:40:00,475 ♪ You know that I had inside of my body playing in rappers ♪ 2876 01:40:00,475 --> 01:40:02,990 ♪ Just like Madden games rappers is tame ♪ 2877 01:40:02,990 --> 01:40:03,873 ♪ Rappers is playing ♪ 2878 01:40:03,873 --> 01:40:06,020 ♪ Every time I'm on the mic it'll never be the same ♪ 2879 01:40:06,020 --> 01:40:06,853 ♪ Again ♪ 2880 01:40:06,853 --> 01:40:08,069 ♪ I'm on another plane man ♪ 2881 01:40:08,069 --> 01:40:10,913 ♪ My brain is about to explode and I'm above to cause flames ♪ 2882 01:40:10,913 --> 01:40:11,896 ♪ To erupt ♪ 2883 01:40:11,896 --> 01:40:13,564 ♪ But I'm not going to burn down ♪ 2884 01:40:13,564 --> 01:40:15,919 ♪ Malibu on the microphone come back ♪ 2885 01:40:15,919 --> 01:40:17,796 ♪ Can you do what this rapper does ♪ 2886 01:40:17,796 --> 01:40:19,170 ♪ When he's on the microphone ♪ 2887 01:40:19,170 --> 01:40:20,544 ♪ Even if I'm sober or above ♪ 2888 01:40:20,544 --> 01:40:23,083 ♪ G-A lyrical all day every evening ♪ 2889 01:40:23,083 --> 01:40:24,896 ♪ On the microphone yo ♪ 2890 01:40:24,896 --> 01:40:25,729 ♪ I give you that feelin' ♪ 2891 01:40:25,729 --> 01:40:26,562 ♪ Reeling ♪ 2892 01:40:26,562 --> 01:40:27,395 ♪ Robbing ♪ 2893 01:40:27,395 --> 01:40:28,228 ♪ Moving ♪ 2894 01:40:28,228 --> 01:40:29,061 ♪ Weaving ♪ 2895 01:40:29,061 --> 01:40:30,465 ♪ Everybody on the microphone I'm so intriguing ♪ 2896 01:40:30,465 --> 01:40:31,753 ♪ Gift of Gab up on the microphone ♪ 2897 01:40:31,753 --> 01:40:33,974 ♪ I'll be the fame and when I step up on the microphone ♪ 2898 01:40:33,974 --> 01:40:35,384 ♪ And you know I'll be the verbal king ♪ 2899 01:40:35,384 --> 01:40:37,138 ♪ I step up on the microphone here in ♪ 2900 01:40:37,138 --> 01:40:38,818 ♪ LA on the microphone ♪ 2901 01:40:38,818 --> 01:40:40,178 ♪ I kick a rapper like Pele ♪ 2902 01:40:40,178 --> 01:40:41,334 ♪ Kicks the soccer ball ♪ 2903 01:40:41,334 --> 01:40:43,039 ♪ I used to kick it back in the days ♪ 2904 01:40:43,039 --> 01:40:44,670 ♪ When I'm ripping is accurate in our slate ♪ 2905 01:40:44,670 --> 01:40:47,369 ♪ And competition on a mission ♪ 2906 01:40:47,369 --> 01:40:48,681 ♪ Gift of Gab ♪ 2907 01:40:48,681 --> 01:40:51,096 ♪ I'm domination and I'm bombing men and ♪ 2908 01:40:51,096 --> 01:40:53,465 ♪ Women listen again and again ♪ 2909 01:40:53,465 --> 01:40:54,815 ♪ I leave ya'll trembling ♪ 2910 01:40:54,815 --> 01:40:57,845 ♪ Winning the tournament like I'm playing Wimbleton ♪ 2911 01:40:57,845 --> 01:40:58,824 ♪ I'm in again. ♪ 2912 01:40:58,824 --> 01:41:00,482 ♪ Gift of Gab it's infinite ♪ 2913 01:41:00,482 --> 01:41:01,893 ♪ When I get up on a mic I'm flying ♪ 2914 01:41:01,893 --> 01:41:05,082 ♪ Everybody know I from America all the way to Mount Zion ♪ 2915 01:41:05,082 --> 01:41:06,959 ♪ I'm flyin' up in the sky like a eagle ♪ 2916 01:41:06,959 --> 01:41:09,584 ♪ Never stop because my style is so regal ♪ 2917 01:41:09,584 --> 01:41:11,889 ♪ G-A-B up on a mic ♪ 2918 01:41:11,889 --> 01:41:13,705 ♪ Never stop please stay beat ♪ 2919 01:41:13,705 --> 01:41:14,807 ♪ Telling me take it to the top ♪ 2920 01:41:14,807 --> 01:41:16,192 ♪ And I do every single time ♪ 2921 01:41:16,192 --> 01:41:19,566 ♪ I just live here to rhyme and rhyme and rhyme and rhyme ♪ 2922 01:41:19,566 --> 01:41:20,399 ♪ All day ♪ 2923 01:41:20,399 --> 01:41:21,433 ♪ I gotta say yo ♪ 2924 01:41:21,433 --> 01:41:23,371 ♪ I used to do this way back in the day ♪ 2925 01:41:23,371 --> 01:41:25,174 ♪ And I'm going to good do this shit ♪ 2926 01:41:25,174 --> 01:41:26,976 ♪ Till I decay yo check it out ♪ 2927 01:41:26,976 --> 01:41:28,349 ♪ Every rapper I will slay ♪ 2928 01:41:28,349 --> 01:41:29,639 ♪ Gift of Gab up on the mic ♪ 2929 01:41:29,639 --> 01:41:31,663 ♪ And I do it because of the feeling ♪ 2930 01:41:31,663 --> 01:41:33,724 ♪ And the way that makes me feel the buzz ♪ 2931 01:41:33,724 --> 01:41:35,650 ♪ That I feel inside of my bones ♪ 2932 01:41:35,650 --> 01:41:38,029 ♪ The Gift of Gab here up upon the microphone ♪ 2933 01:41:38,029 --> 01:41:40,026 ♪ Just rocking it rocking it ♪ 2934 01:41:40,026 --> 01:41:40,924 ♪ Never going to stop it. ♪ 2935 01:41:40,924 --> 01:41:43,071 ♪ As topic after topic is so damn tropical ♪ 2936 01:41:43,071 --> 01:41:45,572 ♪ Third eye vision coming out of my optical ♪ 2937 01:41:45,572 --> 01:41:47,916 ♪ If a fool steps up you know I'm about to mop a fool ♪ 2938 01:41:47,916 --> 01:41:49,572 ♪ And for me to stop rapping ♪ 2939 01:41:49,572 --> 01:41:50,811 ♪ It's unprobable ♪ 2940 01:41:50,811 --> 01:41:52,847 ♪ When I'm on a microphone I got a job to do ♪ 2941 01:41:52,847 --> 01:41:53,988 ♪ Gift of Gab moppin' you ♪ 2942 01:41:53,988 --> 01:41:54,821 ♪ Stoppin' you ♪ 2943 01:41:54,821 --> 01:41:56,564 ♪ Choppin' you down to your fragments ♪ 2944 01:41:56,564 --> 01:41:58,613 ♪ Daggetts got to do damage ♪ 2945 01:41:58,613 --> 01:42:01,042 ♪ Peace G-A Lyrical miracle be wriggle the lyrical ♪ 2946 01:42:01,042 --> 01:42:02,697 ♪ While my mind is a miracle ♪ 2947 01:42:02,697 --> 01:42:03,826 ♪ Lot of us slaughter the rapper ♪ 2948 01:42:03,826 --> 01:42:04,659 ♪ Causin' a disaster thinkin' faster ♪ 2949 01:42:04,659 --> 01:42:05,492 ♪ Then the speed of light ♪ 2950 01:42:05,492 --> 01:42:06,475 ♪ Indeed I ride in the middle of the night ♪ 2951 01:42:06,475 --> 01:42:07,629 ♪ If your black I'll light it straight like linus ♪ 2952 01:42:07,629 --> 01:42:09,544 ♪ So enticing bright like Tyson ♪ 2953 01:42:09,544 --> 01:42:12,127 ♪ I am the one ♪