Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (FULL MOVIE)

Over 15 years in the making, the world of improvisational rap, is explosively explored in this award wining and critically acclaimed authentic look into the life, music and history of 1990's underground hip hop culture! Packed with rare and archival footage of some of the most amazing MC's ever to bless the mic, the film features the story of MC Supernatural and his quest to become a champion, battling many in his way including his arch nemesis Craig G of the famed Marley Marl Juice Crew. Made by a grass roots co-operative of independent local community filmmakers, b-boys, DJ's, and MC's, this documentary takes us on a journey through the previously unexamined dimensions of hip hop as a spiritual and community based art form. Combining the best of independent art house cinema within the hip hop mix tape format, the film features legendary battles from New York to LA, including The Lyricist Lounge, Project Blowed, and The Wake Up Show! The artists featured in the film, from Mos Def to Notorious BIG provide insight into one of the least seen faces present in the music: improvisation and creativity. Structured with insights from the Last Poet's esteemed Abioudun Oyweole and jazz & rap historians Freestyle connects the dots from the pain and love of yesterday's poets to today's hip hop inovators. Revealing the art forms stunningly emotional outlet, whether sharing energy in a street corner cipher for block cred or a stadium's commercial rap performance full of 1,000s of paying fans. Like the Griots of Africa or the wail of Coltrane's saxophone, today's hip hop MCs all have a similar purpose: to share their experience with others hungry for truth, community and healing.

[@ccwashington626]

42:28 "When you create from the anger you start to heal yourself." An hour and eleven minutes of the best lyrical poets on the planet. xo

[@cesarbaca]

I miss those days. Cyphers outside of a show. Cyphers at lunchtime. Drinking 40z and freestylin. I got some friends that keep it alive🤟🏽

[@ATLKing404]

Circled around someone symbolizing unity.

[@benedekhgabor]

Are cyphers still a thing? I was wonderin'

[@H2JEFFKO]

@@benedekhgabor hell yeah we still do it

[@aj-que9372]

We doing circle freestyles over here bro in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 mad love for hip hop

[@mfjosh6422]

@@aj-que9372 that’s sick dude, wish I could join a cipher in the highlands that’d be ill!

[@ATLbench]

Educational material for everyone who claims to be hip hop.

[@mugsyy]

THIS ^^^ so many ppl wanna be apart of hip hop without knowing the history... you think Tom Brady didn't spend his time studying Joe Montana & the other great Football players before him? It's the same for hip hop, you gotta know the culture to be apart of the culture 💯

[@ATLbench]

Mugsy Beats we still doin it in Georgia folks. Real Hip Hop LIVES YALL!

[@ynorb9573]

Can someone timestamp the part wherw mos def, black thought and common show up?

[@andrewsaintgeorge3526]

Facts

[@enso1hunned227]

Just had to put mad heads on this because of these kids who were born In 2000 who don't know about it.

[@Krem_82]

I remember watching this during Sundance Film Festival. They had open mics before and after the show and it was hosted by Wordsworth. They gave the best rapper a hoodie and I’d never rhymed in front of a big crowd and my friends forced me to grab the mic. I still have the hoodie stashed away. Watching this brings back some fond memories. Peace to anyone who’s invested time into getting open, wether alone or in ciphers. It’s all about tapping into the impulse of improv! What a beautiful art form

[@teresamiller8546]

Juice vs supernatural still one of the best battles of all time just incredible

[@supermcfly100]

I was just talking to someone about that cuz of this nick cannon vs eminem stuff. Juice vs supernat was a legendary battle for sure.

[@kermitgod7413]

@@supermcfly100 brother Ali vs supernatural wouldve been the goat if that happened

[@superdopehiphop]

Juice is actually a way better MC overall then Supernat he just had an off day but lyrically it’s not close.

[@rcarswell44]

@@superdopehiphop naw, I disagree. Supernatural way more creative, and can rock any flow

[@MastaInferno]

@@rcarswell44 creative yes, flow yes. But better bars or overall style? No! Objectively speaking

[@jvelez1998]

This documentary is a masterclass in a movement that revolutionized the world we know today... should be taught in every university...

[@qualitycontenteveryday6288]

Mos def is a beast

[@ynorb9573]

Does ghostface appear in this?

[@OracleTheRonin]

ay whattup me, mos def is a beast and aes is the living goat

[@ynorb9573]

@@OracleTheRonin ghostface>mos

[@OracleTheRonin]

@@ynorb9573 ghostface is better than mos in terms of depth of bars but mos rhymes better and has better flow

[@ynorb9573]

@@OracleTheRonin how would you rank Ghostface Mos def Andre Kool g rap Black thought and pharoahe monch rhyme wise?

[@dabeastkillah3260]

Me and my mate always put on a beat and jus freestyling thats when I got better at freestyling better than my writtens. And to keep me better at freestyling is when I look at a object for example a chair, then I would freestyle about it or i jus read a dictionary to get some words in my mind. Im 13 and when I grow up im gonna be a freestyle rapper! I’ve been freestylin for 6 years 🎤😀😊☺️ freestyle hip hop forever ♾ ❤️ but when ur eyes are closed whilst ur freestyling, it will be total insane

[@milanchaudhary3486]

Go boi

[@zeldstorias120]

keep it up man 😀

[@danimather2785]

Yo go lil' man! Stay empowered and hungry brother. D

[@wiillstar]

amazing. i hope you continued on your path.

[@aj-que9372]

On you go mate!! Reach your goals!!!!

[@noahjohnson2004]

Being born in 2000 in south Florida I never experienced this ever in my life and literally no one I know can actually do a flow right off the top completely.. like I totally understand you can get stuck but just keep going and don't stop it's a straight up freestyle spontaneous and when you go off bring it right back

[@gunique9700]

word ! born Y2K as well from Illinois! don’t ever stop creating ! bump the vibe, keep it alive so that other can understand.

[@jakesalazar7160]

Go check Harry Mack

[@danieljulbe2162]

Dam fr?!????Being a 95 baby from Brooklyn literally grew up freestyling there was like 20 of us I was blessed to be around this!LITERALLY IT WAS EVERYWHERE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER

[@LinuxHurts]

That part when Juice is the studio with sway freestylin' on that dope beat--I've never forgotten that!

[@beaudinetm1693]

I was 24 when this came out i think in my opinion it was the best hip hop documentary put together

[@lisamixx]

THE BEST DOCUMENTARY EVER!!!

[@Dahoodpostman]

I appreciate the invitation to your documentary flim. I love battle rap freestyle and authenticity

[@9087125498172345]

You’re awesome for uploading this. Huge respect to you. Absolutely love this documentary. Cheers!

[@superdopehiphop]

Juice one of the illest emcees ever! Written or off the top freestyle he’s still nice AF! Listen2ThaWerdz and Tip of the Iceberg both dope albums also!

[@Pasuhdina]

On of the greatest hiphop documentaries of all time. Inspired me and my group of friends way back in 03-04 to really go hard on the Emc’ing

[@drugstorecowboy2474]

Fantastic documentary. Freestyle Fellowship are legends. Shame Kool Keith wasn't featured on this documentary he was another legendary freestyle mc back in the day.

[@JSSBBB]

I went to elementary, middle(grades 5 through 8) and high school with Supernatural. When Supernat was in 7th/8th grade, he really was carrying around a rhyming dictionary with his other school books, This was 1983. Supernat is LEGIT.

[@Brianfilms]

This documentary changed my life I still Cary the hip hop philosophy till the day I die

[@compteprivefr]

What hurts is watching this documentary and feeling like it’s chronicling a lost civilization. Because this whole scene that’s shown in this video died out. It’s almost completely gone. I live in NYC and people battling in parks and stuff is pretty much dead. There’s. Group called legendary cyphers that hosts cyphers Friday nights at Union Square and they’re pretty much last man standing for this culture.

[@redizit]

The essence of Hip Hop

[@stacib1199]

Speech =expression=Rhyme= Street Poetry!!!!

[@oiBOYsaysFUKu]

Thank you very much it was very nice Of you to share this at such a wonderful price Free is how you styled it for me I didn’t know now I know and got my self a slice Of knowledge with out college or any bad advice I liked it so much I watched the whole thing twice Now I’m off to the mall food court for some sweet and sour boneless pork and a fat bowl of rice

[@mbp7060]

That first freestyle set the stage.

[@mugsyy]

This made me rewatch one of my favorite clips from Big Star's "2 Raw For The Streets" DVD of Slaughter Rico's "Five Dollar N***a" Freestyle. If ya'll haven't seen it yet you NEED to check it out

[@jameswilliams4142]

Yup I'm going to look now

[@ambivertical]

This is Gold for the new generation of kids

[@joeybaldwin4752]

I remember I borrowed the DVD 📀 from a friend of mine a while back ago.

[@KtotheG]

"Blow up like Pac and be the Mack of L.A. (Makaveli)" - Aceyalone... pure dopeness

[@Dahoodpostman]

We are natural people nothing in nature tree,animals,weather needs instructions. That is why we rhyme and freestyle to nature.

[@calibomber209]

del and kool keith i felt they were the pioneers of that underground abstract hiphop. i remember being a young guy in highschool with my big oversized headphones listening to underground while everyone else was on jayz , master p , big tymers, and commercial rap. i was listening to LL, pharcyde, stones throw, lyrics born laytrx, blackalicious , j5, isp beatjunkies. rawkus mixtapes etc. i miss those days.

[@teresamiller8546]

Freestyle session from the god supernat what!!!

[@CashportPrincess]

19:05 "I’m 360 with this whole thing we call music”

[@jvbueza]

this shit dont deserve any single dislike , because this is a master piece

[@azamo2584]

18:39-18:50. I haven’t made it past this point yet haha. I love his & her & the beat boxers energy at that part. Damn 😢

[@killerra]

It's such a pure moment, you'd swear it was setup up the way it fit together.

[@kxngdiablomusic5686]

Great documentary one of the best I've seen in a long time.

[@Adgeatic]

Wonderful documentary. Though a few of these clips were pushed as 'off-the-head' freestyles yet were written, it really touches on how freestyling shaped the culture and where freestyling lands in the realm of general rapping. One of the best parts is when Sway speaks on the 'bottom dollar' of the rap industry and why being a great freestyle artist doesn't necessarily equate to an artist being top-selling rapper (never mind artists having record deals). This pushes the now well-known agreement that these 'Rap Battle' contests that were held in the late 90's and early 2000's that awarded a record deal was a flawed idea.

[@xxxxxxxxx727]

gifted unlimited rhymes universal ✌️🍀🌞

[@petrektek1385]

So fucking important document. Stuff like this make KZbin a good place for everyone.. Anyway have you noticed how some of these guys seem to do freestyle even when they're just speaking?

[@kermitgod7413]

Can't find eyedea anywhere

[@joeybiets1989]

i am blessed that i can freestyle rap for days without saying nonsense and cussing! actually realising its a spiritual thing

[@omercan2366]

Do you see its benefits in daily life, in terms of intelligence, speech, etc.?

[@danieljulbe2162]

@@omercan2366for me it for sure made me a fast thinker and it builds hella confidence

[@michaelhunter4891]

Best Doco Ever. Very Inspiring

[@Thanasisman]

Harry Mack will continue the history of freestyle rap!

[@creathechiboi]

RIP to the other upload, let’s keep this alive.

[@thescah4168]

This is the best movie I've ever seen I'm from 2024

[@GravierRoc-mr6hh]

I was about to Say it

[@jared3370]

Amazing documentary

[@frankgatonga1903]

Niceone!! This is why i love hiphop ❤🎉

[@vesselportion575]

Ppl gotta understand how hard this is to master cause a skill like this ain't gonna be quick to master

[@DTB_Nori]

I remember watching this gone off of a box of triple CCCs jus completely into this dvd 📀... I’m convinced it made me a better MC overall to this day

[@mrem111]

Thank you

[@VECTeezy]

So much props & luv to everyone who put this super ill project together! This footage is truly epic & priceless‼️Give up freestyling never that’s never the endeavor keep it persistent & clever & all frauds get severed hip hop & 🆓styling forever 🗣🎤

[@siemprepalante773]

Awesome upload. Thanks a mil.

[@CVinyl]

I grew up with all these Hip Hop Artists 🎤

[@HomageForLosers]

47:39 tha myka 9 flow... ill!!

[@CesarHDonis-h8z]

Yo Happy Birthday, April 23 F:Dj: TESKEE:01: I'm Different.🦁

[@dasher-yk7br]

Beautiful stuff man..reminds me of my childhood only I'm 34 Noone knows what I'm talking about already...lol

[@mshak395]

Y'all used to do cyphers and freestyles back in the day?

[@salaciousness]

Rap and hip hop needs a space of its own. Because much the prejudice held against rap and hi hop stull lingers to this day.

[@damienfree6836]

Supernatural freestyle in the park is crazy u can call me master splintah

[@lukedavidknowles9946]

Baptist church to FS 4:24 ring shout 18:14 Anger management 42:00

[@juma__]

That ending got me on tears 1:03:58

[@akramulislam8895]

what's the name of that beautiful women song?

[@TheRealLPSC]

@@akramulislam8895 Minnie Riperton - "Les Fleurs"

[@kinadabambino6872]

Love this film

[@HumilityInTeaching]

I respect off the head so much. I am a written artist and cannot do off the dome. Both art forms beautiful but much respect to the MCs that can generate rhymes and flows off their brain. Insane

[@milakohen630]

"I'm so mean i make medicine sick" oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👏🏻🤣

[@awesomeasever8370]

Rap is music, Hip-Hop is a subculture. Rap started in the South, Hip-Hop started in New York. Rap is sometimes called Hip-Hop because it's the music of Hip-Hop.

[@lazeaylo.2718]

Like this I see it as we know a lot of things in general life etc just being creative and flowing helps me

[@EMMALEEMC]

2020 salute.* this film was so well put together, clearly by someone/people who really love this thing called hip hop. this is the soul, funk, grit, showmanship, roots and energy that make this thing powerful. especially appreciate seeing medusa, multiple women speaking and the highlight of the west coast who too often stereotyped out of the essence legacy. so many mf quotables yo. but ultimately, LOVE FIGHTS BACK.

[@bdrummond7102]

37:35 These guys were ahead of the times in terms of PPE

[@jayd.o.t]

very gooooooooood

[@okthen8329]

I'm loving this

[@vipcress]

This whole video is profound. Prophetic even. Pain-ting a picture. The oppression of gods children.

[@thabothapedi1147]

MC Juice will for ever been ignored.

[@strongdan1]

i start from nothing i have children now soon i well be gran pap.classic. old school ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hemanthrvn4661]

Gold

[@linusbach2164]

23:17 Only real Gs know this Day one of the best (recorded) freestyles took place

[@enso1hunned227]

I already know exact what you're talking about without actually clicking on the link

[@luxieluci]

@@enso1hunned227 bro read my mind and i havent even clicked it yet

[@superdopehiphop]

Dope documentary

[@laxmanthorat2514]

Respect ❤️ respect from India

[@xxxxxxxxx727]

thanxxx - a - lot ✌️🍀🌞

[@denisp8432]

7:12 isnt that "get it" sound sampled by Run the Jewels

[@Treyco]

I love it

[@xxxxxxxxx727]

divine styler ✌️🍀🌞

[@gmain1977]

Great doc

[@SashaFujiwara]

I wish Doom was in this film

[@noahjohnson2004]

Also being from the Baptist church I totally understand what he means now about freestyle.. white southern Baptist still dose that kinda thing it depends on which church but I remember my preacher at the time doing that kinda off the top rythemic type speaking

[@JaiOva]

Writer's take more pride in their words like "BOOKS" said.

[@web_devs]

26:30 Mos Def Freestyling

[@cesarbaca]

Planet Asia is so dope

[@Vandalio_Saez]

All his work is 🔥 especially last couple years

[@Wrcallofduty420]

Supernatural and Craig dope.

[@tikitaryan]

Whenever you are compiling ur all time lists and leave out some of this underground cats, I immediately take you as joker that doesn't know hip hop.

[@with_palo]

You should see the whole conversation and new blogs going on about battle rap legends and people like Tsu Surf being regarded as a legend 🤦🏾‍♂️ Makes me want to punch my screen.

[@teemoluciano2426]

I was a cypher with otherwise the 90’s 🔥

[@purplethang]

hell yeah fukkin right

[@HAsway07]

Does anybody know where that beat is from at 2:00?

[@AllWordsPassMargin]

22:20 absolute fire

[@cxrgaming923]

Someone needs to feed this to todays mumble rappers, real talk please.

[@laanormal94]

Sería bacán que tuviera subtitulos en español ayudaría muchol!!!

[@CYBERSKYvideos]

Is this the extended cut? Is there bonus footage in here?

[@bENOFFICIALMASSIVE]

I saw Super Nat tour Australia waaaaaayback. Saw him twice actually. At a festival in Sydney and then in Canberra at the ANU. I always like Craig G better though, had a more real street sound to him. Only heard a few tracks and always thought when is this guy gonna drop more stuff? So Craig, if your reading this, hook up with Griselda or Statik Selektah or 9th Wonder and get busaaaaaaaaay!!!

[@tumishomogano1574]

The art of freestyle 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@wcorowitz]

rap was way before toasting in Jamaica.

[@francisezekiel13]

hope this will not deleted.

[@tuanisthename]

why is youtube offering to rent out or sell this video when it's here for free...

[@defrost3294]

Need to be part of a cypher

[@njandrews4105]

This doc is almost 20 years old