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(film reeling)
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(record scratching)
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[Myka 9] ♪ Oh, it's a brave new world. ♪
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Aldous Huxley all the way
down to your jeans and chucks.
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Me,
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my loved ones Hollister, above none.
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Recognize it's these ballers that are done
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in the mortal words of the careless one.
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- [Interviewer] Dope.
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Hey, do me a favor, as long as..
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- What's up?
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- [Interviewer] Can you just so that the,
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so it's in the background.
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Can you give us a quick
freestyle about that?
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♪ This vast display of marsh land ♪
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♪ Could never suffer from the ♪
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♪ Man in his harsh plan ♪
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♪ The estuary, the
temporary over standing ♪
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♪ That it'd be a substance abuse ♪
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♪ Like Esso, he's the homie ♪
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♪ I'd breathe this open air ♪
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♪ No more mess so these are wholer ♪
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♪ How do you say that word ♪
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♪ It doesn't even matter what occurred ♪
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♪ It's like spinning words for the birds ♪
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♪ the ducks the quails ♪
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♪ And that's where we dwell ♪
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♪ Open up my mindset beyond
any spells of the cast ♪
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♪ I gotta go these brothers
got a video to shoot right ♪
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It's all love, peace
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(group chattering)
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- Hey guys, let's...
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- We need to hit that invincible music.
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- Here's a slate. Ready.
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(beat boxing)
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♪ Y'all? ♪
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♪ Eck. ♪
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♪ Yo yeah ♪
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♪ Get that boys drink Get it ♪
42
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♪ Get in a rhyme ♪
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♪ Give them geared up
at the denim supplier ♪
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♪ Ralph Lauren ♪
45
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♪ Then I go out touring and out scoring ♪
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♪ I'm chilling with the homie Alf ♪
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♪ We ain't boring ♪
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♪ Yeah, we keep it balls to the wall ♪
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♪ to the ceiling and the flooring ♪
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♪ God dammit ♪
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♪ My flow is so prehistoric ♪
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♪ It's like a saber tooth ♪
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♪ I come straight bull ♪
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♪ Fries meteoric with vocalizations ♪
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♪ that dominate your
Facebook notifications ♪
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♪ Yeah ♪
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♪ That's me with a little bitty number ♪
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♪ On the mic showing my ass ♪
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♪ Like your average plumber ♪
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♪ That's how I do it 'cause
they offer the ass crack ♪
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♪ Have 'em falling and
need insurance from Aflac ♪
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♪ Just ask the duck 'cause
they whack as fuck ♪
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♪ I hit 'em once with a
truck then backed it up ♪
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♪ Yo (group laughing) ♪
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♪ Like my man said,
it's the notification ♪
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♪ I know that they hate it ♪
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♪ 'cause I'm controlling the nation ♪
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♪ I spit so raw ♪
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♪ You spit what I spit
you'd break your own jaw ♪
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♪ Kill your old paw ♪
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♪ Slap your old ma ♪
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♪ Maybe could even turn
O-Dog to coleslaw ♪
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♪ And then I be out like so long ♪
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♪ I'm one of the great great great ones ♪
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♪ I spit like Frank in the cipher ♪
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♪ Eight eight eight eight ♪
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♪ Done ♪
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(group cheering)
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♪ Check it check it check it ♪
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♪ I whip so many niggas ♪
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♪ They swear I was in Django ♪
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♪ Diva gets came through ♪
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♪ When I'm dancin' like tango ♪
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♪ No but I ♪
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♪ I ain't jiggy when I
kick it with my people ♪
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♪ when I represent my city ♪
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♪ Leimert Park get it when the dark ♪
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♪ Everybody try to act hard no heart ♪
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♪ They want to blame it
but they can't claim it ♪
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♪ Kick it with the homies on the front ♪
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00:02:43,854 --> 00:02:45,305
♪ I'm slaying ♪
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♪ Yeah I be trying to make hot records ♪
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♪ So I'm kind of outta shape
like I'm Brock Lesnar ♪
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♪ I spend the whole weekend drunk ♪
95
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♪ And I'm from Chicago
like I'm seeing punk ♪
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00:02:54,446 --> 00:02:55,279
♪ Yeah ♪
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♪ Heavyweight championship ♪
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00:02:56,185 --> 00:02:57,838
♪ I be watching them seasons thirsting ♪
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♪ How they trying for spit
boxing but not really with it ♪
100
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♪ I rip 'em like Wonka
did that golden ticket ♪
101
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♪ 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
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♪ I inside to make that next check ♪
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♪ Old school like a text via telegram ♪
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♪ I don't gotta tell you that I'm nice ♪
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♪ You could tell I am ♪
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♪ So tell your girl and tell your man ♪
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00:03:20,605 --> 00:03:21,693
♪ And write a telegram ♪
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♪ From jail home so
you can tell your fam ♪
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00:03:23,908 --> 00:03:26,135
♪ Now everybody that you
know know that I'm the boss ♪
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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
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♪ The shits from like 72 yo ♪
117
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♪ 'cause I'm too broke
and that's some honesty ♪
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(group whooping)
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(group clapping)
120
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(deep hip hop beat)
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[P.E.A.C.E.] ♪ Yeah. ♪
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♪ I see words in my head ♪
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♪ I line 'em up a ranger man then I said ♪
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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
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and as they rhyme,
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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
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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
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00:05:25,937 --> 00:05:27,192
with a backbeat of a DJ
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00:05:27,192 --> 00:05:30,669
and a hungry MC armed
only with a microphone.
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00:05:30,669 --> 00:05:32,792
Through this marriage of urban art styles,
176
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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
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00:05:38,466 --> 00:05:40,124
and put it to a beat.
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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 ♪
216484
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