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Freestyle 101 Nabs Webby

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:03:00 GMT

G4's own web-series, Freestyle 101, has won the 2008 Webby Award for music! That's right, of the tens of thousands of pieces submitted to the Oscars of the Internets, Freestyle 101 is the greatest. There can be only one...and it's us, baby. Check it out!

“It’s truly an honor to win this award,” Frank told TheFeed. “This proves that videogames, nerds and hip hop have much more in common than people think. There are so many people at G4tv that helped make Freestyle 101 what it is, so congratulations, all y’all!"

"But it’s the artists who make the show so special with their incredible freestyles, insightful interviews, and passion for hip hop," Meyer said. "Freestyle 101 would be nothing without the rappers and their talents, so thank you to everyone that has contributed to or supported Freestyle 101. This is an amazing moment for hip hop on the web!”

To see what all the Freestyle buzz is about, click-on every Tuesday at 9 AM, when the hottest and hardest of hip-hop rhyme off-the-top about videogaming, tech and all the things you care about, or check the Freestyle 101 archives and the video below:

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Freestyle 101: Sav Killz

Tue, 06 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Up and coming Brooklyn rapper Sav Killz is making a lot of noise on the East Coast hip hop scene and for good reason. The dude has skills, personality, presence and dope lyrics. He also has the backing J-Ronin, a hot mixtape DJ who has been guiding his career and overseeing his mixtapes. Their recent collaboration, Success is Inevitable, is part of J-Ronin’s All Elements series and is a banger and finds him teaming with heavyweights such as Sean Price, Teflon and Smif-n-Wessun. You can head to Youtube and watch the video for "Champion Rap" with Planet Asia or hit him on MySpace to score his Determination Thru Time mixtape to get an overview of his past work.

He honed his skills among the Wu Tang Clan, Sunz of Man and Brooklyn Zu having spent many a night rhyming in 36 Chambers studio and Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn which was run by Clan elder Popa Wu. Sav also performed at many open mic events, where he gained a rap as one of the illest in the scene. Since then he has shared the stage with the likes of Killah Priest, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Shabazz the Disciple, Cormega, Slum Village, AZ, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Jeru the Damaja, Saigon and more.

So Freestyle 101 was stoked to get Sav in the booth (thanks J-Ronin!) at Play Studios in New York to spit some street rhymes and chat about the current underground scene in New York. Bustin’ hard over a sick R.N.S. beat, Sav proved why he is one of the hottest out there right now, no doubt.

Webby Award winning (yes, you read that right! Thanks everybody!) Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you Mobb Deep affiliate Big Noyd, followed by Ali Vegas, the Smooth da Hustler/Trigger da Gambler/DV Alias Kryst reunion , Lil’ Fame of M.O.P., Immortal Technique, Kool Keith and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig Sav Killz watch more Freestyle 101s with other New York rappers, such as Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Papoose, Cormega and Prodigy.

Freestyle 101: Tha Alkaholiks

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Tha Alkaholiks are legends on the West Coast, point blank. Over the course of their five classic albums they brought booze and beer to the otherwise smoke-heavy scene of hip hop via tracks like “Hip Hop Drunkies,” “Only When I’m Drunk,” and “All Night.” They were one of the first hip hop acts to jump on the rock-centric Warped Tour and hold their own amongst the headbangin’ and moshin’ sect. Their live shows will go down in history as some of the most rowdy, fun-filled and wet concerts fans have ever witnessed. And if you saw Tash solo on Freestyle 101 last year then you know he’s a beast on the mic on the improv tip.

So we were beyond excited when Tha Liks stepped into The Engine Room in Hollywood for their first performance in front of the camera in nearly three years to kick off their reunion tour (wrapping up this week, so check here for tour dates). Ya see, after 2006’s Firewater, rapper J-Ro moved to Sweden, so the group has been on hiatus for a minute. But J-Ro has continued his grindin’ with his Rare Earth B-Boy Funk mixtapes, while Tash issued his solo effort Rap Life and is about ready to drop his long-awaited followup, Control Freek.

Bustin’ hard over a Messiaz A-Team-style military beat, Tha Liks truly go of the top, as you can see when J-Ro starts rappin’ about livin’ in Sweden and pulling items out of his pocket to rhyme about, and Tash tries to work in his girlfriend’s name in his rap moments after she paged him. DJ E-Swift just laughs along at his rowdy bandmates as they rock the mic and bounce off the walls …literally! This was easily one of the most high-energy Freestyle 101s yet, so enjoy.

Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you newcomer Sav Killz, followed by Big Noyd, Immortal Technique, Kool Keith, M.O.P. and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig this watch more Freestyle 101s from West Coast rappers such as Ice-T, B-Real, Ras Kass, Gift of Gab, Planet Asia, and Del.

Freestyle 101 is nominated for Best Music Series in The Webbys, so please vote for us today here: http://pv.webbyawards.com/account/pv_login

Freestyle 101: Buckshot

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Ever since Buckshot made his hip hop debut as a teen in 1992 with Black Moon on the hits “Who Got The Props?” and "I Got Cha Opin," the BDI Thug has been known as a MCs MC. He was one of Tupac’s favorite rappers, he was picked by super-producer 9th Wonder to be his lead MC on 2006’s Chemistry and the brand new The Formula, and is currently recording a collaboration album with legendary hip hop icon KRS-One. How’s that for credibility?

Buckshot is also the leader of the supergroup Boot Camp Clik and one of the principal’s behind their long time label Duck Down Records, which is having a major renaissance with artists like Kidz In The Hall, Sean Price and Buckshot himself. Throw in the newly rejuvenated Heltah Skeltah (on the show later this summer) and Smif-N-Wessun and you have yourself a monster roster of heayhitters. He’s released one solo album, two with 9th Wonder, three albums with Black Moon and three albums with the Boot Camp Clik. The man is a workhorse…and a badass freestyler.

Promoting his highly anticipated new collaboration album with super-producer 9th Wonder, The Formula, Buckshot allowed Freestyle 101 to pop by Dan The Man’s Studio in New York, where Boot Camp record most of their material. He spit a ridiculous freestyle over a soul-drenched R.N.S. beat in one take and even threw in references to Halo 3, NASCAR and G4 to connect it to y’all.

Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you Tha Alkaholiks reunion, followed Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Smooth da Hustler, Kool Keith, M.O.P., Saafir, and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig this watch more Freestyle 101s from the New York sessions including Prodigy, Shyheim, Sheek Louch, Fat Joe, Ice-T and more.

And make sure to vote for Freestyle 101 in The Webbys, where we are nominated for Best Music Series! Support hip hop! Vote here: http://pv.webbyawards.com/account/pv_login

Freestyle 101: B-Real

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Cypress Hill frontman B-Real knows hip hop…and knows weed! Which is why he is the perfect MC for our special 420 Freestyle 101.

One of L.A.’s biggest rap groups ever, Cypress Hill practically put smoking on the hip hop map with their 1991 debut CD and hits like “Stoned Is The Way of the Walk” “Insane In The Membrane” and “Dr. Greenthumb.” Though producer DJ Muggs gets much acclaim for the group’s distinct sound, it’s B-Real’s nasally voice (armed with partner in rhyme Sen Dog’s gruff backing vocals) that is the most recognizable element of the Cypress Hill sound. All you need to hear is one second of B on the mic, and you know your jammin’ to a Cypress joint…so to speak.

So Freestyle 101 was honored when the stoned raider himself dropped by The Engine Room in Hollywood to spit an off the top rhyme over a dope Messiaz dub beat, and chat about the early days of hip hop in L.A., KDAY, The Wake Up Show and Radiotron. He even threw in references to NBA Live and SoCom for you gamers. He’s promoting his killer new mixtape Gunslinger 3 (available in stores and on brealonline.com) and hyping y’all on his upcoming solo album and the the next Cypress Hill album (in the works now).

Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you Buckshot of Black Moon, followed by Tha Alkaholiks reunion, Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Smooth da Hustler, Kool Keith, M.O.P., Saafir, and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig this watch more Freestyle 101s from West Coast rappers such as Ice-T, Ras Kass, Tash, RBX and Del.

And make sure to vote for Freestyle 101 in The Webbys, where we are nominated for Best Music Series! Support hip hop! Vote here: http://pv.webbyawards.com/account/pv_login

Freestyle 101: Ice-T

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:58:00 GMT

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For me, filming a Freestyle 101 with the mighty Ice-T was like jamming with Miles Davis, riffing with Jimi Hendrix or crooning with Frank Sinatra. The man is a master of his craft, one of the most influential MCs in the game, fronted one of the best (and first) rap-metal bands ever, is a terrific actor, and is a true original.

Yes, Ice-T is a legend, straight up. He also happens to be one of the reasons I got into rap music. The day I heard the gangland murder-spree of “Colors” I was hooked. By the time I got to classic albums like Power, Iceberg/Freedom of Speech and O.G. Original Gangster, I had been sworn in for life.

Yet it’s too easy to classify Ice-T as simply a great gangsta rapper. Sure, he practically invented the style with early cuts like “6 ‘N Da Mornin’” and the aforementioned “Colors,” but along with Public Enemy he also ushered in politics in rap, infusing a strong political and social consciousness into hip hop. His book, The Ice Opinion, is a must read if you want to hear about how politics and rap bang heads, and his speeches as a TV correspondent and on the lecture circuit are educated, thought provoking and inspirational. That he took his career as America’s favorite “Cop Killer” and turned it into a respectable career playing a police detective in everything from New Jack City to TV’s Law & Order Special Victims Unit is downright astounding.

But it’s not just his world view and strong opinion that makes him so deadly. The dude can rap his ass off. I mean, what other MC from his generation could keep up with tongue-twisting sci-fi rappers like Kool Keith and Marc Live on a project like The Analog Brothers (check their Pimp To Eat album)? What other MC could team with underground vets like Smooth da Hustler and Trigger da Gambler (also coming up on FS101) in a group like SMG and not only hold his own, but shine like a fresh, young up and comer (check their Sex, Money and Gunz album)? And what other rapper could front a metal band like Body Count and issue a death metal opus like 2006’s Murder For Hire? No one. No other rapper touches him, plain and simple.

So when Ice-T arrived at New York’s Play Studios with wife Coco by his side (she is even hotter is real life, fyi) and entered the booth, we at Freestyle 101 were beyond honored. I gave him my usual speech about how we’d love it if he could throw in some videogame references and he responded, “I don’t know videogames, man. I just know guns.” Well, okay then. Rap about guns. You are Ice-T after all, you invented rapping about guns. So do your thing.

Boy, did he ever. Ice stepped up on the mic over a Messiaz beat and gave us the sonic equivalent to tossing a grenade into the booth. BOOM! There was blood, gore and shrapnel everywhere! Seriously, this was one of the deadliest raps I have ever heard. Does Ice still got it? Man, he’s got skills to spare. WARNING: THIS RAP CONTAINS MUCH PROFANITY AND IS NOT FOR THE WEAK AT HEART. SERIOUSLY.

So enjoy this one-of-a-kind Freestyle 101 and make sure to check out Ice-T’s new online single “U Ain’t No Gangsta” on MySpace and look for his upcoming collaboration album with rapper Black Silver, Black Ice.

Webby nominated Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you a highly entertaining 420 webisode with B-Real of Cypress Hill. Plus, stay tuned for Buckshot of Black Moon, The Alkaholiks, Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Smooth da Hustler, Kool Keith, and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig this watch more Freestyle 101s from West Coast rappers such as Glasses Malone, Ras Kass, Tash, RBX, Del and Insane Poetry.

April Fools Day Freestyle 101: Chill-E Will-He?

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Ladies and gents, despite it being April Fools Day, we here at Freestyle 101 are intent on keepin’ it real.

Very real.

Very, very, very real.

So real, in fact, that we have invited the greatest rapper on Planet Earth down to The Engine Room in Hollywood to spit a freestyle so dope, so complex, so fresh, it’ll make your head explode into a bulbous, fleshy mess. Seriously. The dude is that good.

Meet Chill-E Will-He?, America's best rapper!

Rapper extraordinaire Chill-E Will-He? practically invented freestyling. All those battles scenes in 8 Mile? They were really about his age of come-up, not that punk Eminem. Hell, Chill-E raps circles around Slim Shady! In his sleep! With one leg tied behind his back, kid! Accompanied by his DJ Mike Risha, Chill-E spit a killer rap off the top of the dome and chatted about what it takes to spit, how he prepares for battle, and reverse racism in hip hop. Hey, the guy is from the streets, so he preaches what he knows: thuggin’, crime, his mic prowess and fly rhyme skills.

Now, make sure you make it to the end of the interview, where Chill-E drops some crazy science about the rap game and reveals the true meaning behind his deadliest rhymes. He also addresses some controversial subjects that might just get his ass shot! Whaaaat? Don’t believe us? Think we’re playin’ you because it’s April Fools Day? Son, you need to get schooled in the way of the streets…

Enjoy this very special webisode…

Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday. Next week we bring you the OG himself, the mighty Ice-T. Plus, stay tuned for Buckshot, Ali Vegas, B-Real, Smooth da Hustler, Big Noyd, Kool Keith, The Alkaholiks reunion, and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace, dig Messiaz beats, and rant in our Forums. And if you love this then watch more Freestyle 101s with other top MCs such as Del the Funky Homosapien, Fat Joe, Pack FM, Sheek Louch and Prodigy.

Freestyle 101: Pack FM

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Brooklyn, New York’s Pack FM hates rappers. In fact the title of his upcoming QN5 Music album is I F***ing Hate Rappers, so there’s no debating this point. And he has reason to, given that his rhymes and flow put most rappers to shame, as is evident on his current album WhutduzFMstand4? and EP Baby Blue for Pink.

Known for his street single "Stomp" and the graffiti anthem "Click Clack Spray" off the Marc Ecko Getting Up soundtrack, the one-time 88HipHop MC Battle Champion was the last man standing out of 32 MC's in the Braggin' Rites tournament. In 1999 he swept the competition at Next Generation Battle at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. He also won the TDK sponsored 24 Hour MC Battle for three months in a row. In 2000, he was a finalist in the Rock Steady Crew's annual MC Battle, and then placed 2nd out of 100 MCs in the Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype Live MC Battle Tournament. Pack even appeared in the acclaimed independent film Freestyle alongside Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, Supernatural, Biggie and Tupac.

In fact, this dude is so serious about freestyling he came all the way down to Cali just to tape a Freestyle 101 and do a few shows to show the west coast what he’s all about. Yup, Pack FM cruised into The Engine Room in Hollywood to flow deep over a dope Messiaz beat and chat about the record stores and websites that made New York famous, leaving all of us with our jaws hanging. This is a real rapper’s rapper, no doubt.

Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday Next week we bring you a very special April Fools episode, followed by killers from Ice-T, Buckshot, Ali Vegas, Smooth da Hustler, Big Noyd, Kool Keith, B-Real, The Alkaholiks reunion and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig Pack FM watch more Freestyle 101s with other New York rappers, such as Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Papoose, Cormega and Prodigy.

Freestyle 101: Del The Funky Homosapien

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Whether you know Del The Funky Homosapien as a member of Gorillaz and the rapper on their smash alt-pop hit “Dirty Harry,” as the leader of Bay Area hip hop collective Hieroglyphics, as Ice Cube’s warped younger cousin, as one of the godfathers of Nerdcore, or as the guy who teamed with Dinosaur Jr. on the Judgment Night soundtrack, one thing is for sure: IF YOU KNOW HIP HOP, YOU KNOW DEL.

Celebrating the release of his long-awaited new studio album, The Eleventh Hour (on ultra-hip indie label Def Jux), Del stopped by Purple Reign Studios in Inglewood to drop a mean freestyle about videogames and chat about rappin’ in the Bay. Del was joined by Hiero bandmate A+, who introduced him before he let loose with a rapid-fire impromptu rhyme over a crazy Messiaz beat that proved yet again why this cat is one of the best in the game. Plus, he threw in references to Super Mario, Zaxxon, Yoshi, and even Congo Bongo! The man knows games. And with his sly, Cheshire cat grin in full effect, Del also chatted about how freestyling and battling started in the Bay Area and where it’s at now. And he should know!

Check Del out on Attack of the Show this Tuesday, March 18. Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday Next week we bring you New York rapper Pack FM, followed by Ice-T, Buckshot, Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Kool Keith, B-Real, and many more. Make sure to dig our behind the scenes photos, visit us on MySpace and rant in our Forums. And if you dig Del, go watch other West Coast artists such as The Pack, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Lifesavas, Ras Kass, Tash, LMNO and Phoenix Orion.

Freestyle 101: Fat Joe

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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Fat Joe is a hip hop legend, point blank. From his 15 years in the game as a solo artist, to his days in rap supergroup D.I.T.C. alongside O.C., Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz and A.G., Buckwild and the late Big L, the man has repped hip hop. He also helped put Latinos on the map in the rap game, founding his crew Terror Squad in the process, which launched the careers of MCs like Cuban Link and Remy Ma and introduced the world to his protégé, the late, great Big Pun.

So it was with much honor and respect that Freestyle 101 accepted Fat Joe’s offer to meet him in New York while we were in the Big Apple and catch him spittin’ at a grand piano, Sinatra style. A true Don through and through.

In his interview, Joe takes us back to the glory days of hip hop, back when New York was the Mecca of hip hop and KRS-One and Lord Finesse ruled the freestyle circuit. It’s a rare glimpse back into the golden era of rap music and hip hop culture. Joe was there. He knows of what he speaks. (And who knew he was a Ninja Warrior fan?!?!)

Pick up Fat Joe’s excellent new album, The Elephant In The Room, and check out our behind the scenes photo gallery from the New York sessions. Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday, and next week we bring you a videogame-themed rap from the one and only Del the Funky Homosapien. Stay tuned for Pack FM, Ice-T, Buckshot, Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Kool Keith and many more.

Make sure to visit us on MySpace, watch past episodes, rant in the Forums or check out some past freestyles from fellow New York MCs Sheek Louch, Shyheim, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Termanology, Papoose, Joell Ortiz and Cormega.

Freestyle 101: Sheek Louch and Bully

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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It’s hard to explain what a huge fan of Sheek Louch I am. But I’ll try…

As a member of The Lox, alongside members Jadakiss and Styles P, he helped put New York street hop on the map in the ‘90s. After getting discovered out of Yonkers, New York by Mary J. Blige, The Lox signed with Puffy to Bad Boy and began their rise to fane, which found them teaming with Biggie, leaving Bad Boy after one hit album amidst the legendary "Free The Lox" campaign, and signing to DMX's Ruff Riders label for their sophomore effort. Eventually they bailed and start their own label and crew, D-Block.

As a member of The Lox’s D-Block crew, he helped discover hood artists like Bully, Team Arliss and J-Hood and took on 50 Cent in a legendary diss track sparring match that continues on to this day. And as a solo artist, he is responsible three amazing albums (Walk With Me, After Taxes and the brand new Silverback Guerilla) and some of my all-time favorite mixtapes (Year of the Wolf, Still A Wolf and The Howling). Yes, Sheek Louch is one of the best on the mic out there, no doubt.

So image my surprise when after months of waiting for Sheek to roll out to L.A. on tour, he agreed to film a Freestyle 101 while we were out in The Big Apple. I was even more stoked when he invited us out to D-Block’s studio in Yonkers to hang with him, his protégé Bully, Lox sniper Styles P, and famed in-house engineer Poobs. It was truly an honor to be shooting in this legendary studio that I had seen in so many Youtube videos and where so many of my favorite songs were recorded. (Thanks to Supa Mario, Koch and Lamont for making it happen!)

Now Sheek and Bully did not actually realize they were supposed to freestyle for this, and were a bit hesitant at first, having spent the whole day doing interviews and smokin’ blunts. It was late and these guys were about ready to pack it in. But once Sheek heard this bangin’ Messiaz / Freddie Foxx collabo beat, he leapt right out of his chair, hit the record button on Pro-Tools, jumped in the booth and started going at it right off the dome. In fact, you can hear him telling the cameramen to start filming at the very beginning (we hadn’t even mic checked yet!), so this was about as real and off impromptu as it gets, folks (he even threw in references to Call of Duty and Madden for you game heads!). Thank God we were rolling….

So enjoy this off-the-cuff, off-the-top tag-team freestyle from D-Block’s finest and grab Sheek’s latest classic, Silverback Guerilla, which hits stores March 18 on Koch.

Next week we start posting Freestyle 101 a few hours earlier on Tuesdays, at 12:00 pm EST (that’s 9 a.m. to you west coasters), beginning with the mighty Fat Joe. Make sure to visit us on MySpace, check out the photo gallery, watch past episodes, rant in the Forums or check out some freestyles from fellow New York MCs Shyheim, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Termanology, Papoose, Joell Ortiz and Cormega.

Freestyle 101: Insane Poetry

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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Before there was horrorcore, before Gravediggaz, before Insane Clown Posse, there was Insane Poetry. Though the world got its first taste of the blood-splattered lyrics of rapper Cyco and his posse via the 1992 album Grim Reality and single “How Ya Gonna Reason With A Psycho,” Insane Poetry actually first hit wax the previous year on Rodney O-Joe Cooley’s single “Get Ready To Roll” and an appearance at the legendary Coolin’ In Compton Festival in 1990 alongside N.W.A., Compton's Most Wanted, and Big Daddy Kane.

So IP's street cred is rock solid...yet this ain’t no irrelevant, old school outfit either. Like Kool G Rap and Kool Keith, Insane Poetry has managed to stay one step ahead of the underground rap scene and relevant as hell. Fallen From Grace is Insane Poetry’s latest album, and it’s every bit as intense as classics like Blacc Plague and Faith In Chaos. Recent death-metal-rap collaborations with Sutter Kain found on IP’s MySpace page proves Cyco is always a step ahead of the trends.

Freestyle 101 was thrilled when Cyco agreed to stop in and drop an insane freestyle over a swaggering Messiaz beat, and talk about the SoCal hip hop movement. He even rapped about Batman, The Matrix, flesh eating zombies, and gave some props to his Insane Clown Posse Juggalo homies. Nice…

Next week’s Freestyle 101 features Sheek Louch and Bully of D-Block from the New York Sessions, so hit us up at 3PM EST on Tuesday, March 4th. Make sure to visit us on MySpace, watch past episodes, view our photo gallery, rant in the Forums or check out some freestyles from fellow West Coast MCs Glasses Malone, LMNO, Ras Kass, Gift of Gab, Tash of The Liks, RBX and Planet Asia.

'Audiosurf': Gift of Gab's Freestyle 101

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:22:00 GMT

Audiosurf is a new music game for the PC, currently available for $10 through Steam. It analyzes your music and creates a track based on the song.

There are a few different modes in the game. This one involves collecting the different colored blocks and avoiding the gray ones.

Here's what Gift of Gab's Freestyle 101 looks like in the game and check out the original freestyle after the cut

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Freestyle 101: Prodigy (Mobb Deep)

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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Anyone who loves hip hop knows veteran New York duo Mobb Deep. Their 1995 breakthrough sophomore album The Infamous featured hits “Survival of the Fittest” and “Shook Ones Part II” and cemented their rep as one of the hardest ever. So imagine our excitement when Prodigy agreed to tape a Freestyle 101 at Play Studios and rap for us over a crazy Messiaz beat. Hell, he even rapped about Xbox, PS3 and Grand Theft Auto, making this perfect for the G4 crowd.

But fame in the rap game comes with a price, and rappers Prodigy and Havoc know this all too well. Beefs over the years with everyone from Tupac to Jay-Z to Fat Joe have kept their name in the headlines, but also forced some fans to choose sides, making as many Mobb Deep naysayers as fans. And when they hooked up with 50 Cent and signed with his G-Unit Records a few years back, the polarization continued. But critics were silenced when Blood Money was released in 2006 and featured all the sinister beats, catchy hooks and bangin’ rhymes fans have come to expect, reminding everyone why Mobb Deep has stayed in the game so long: They are incredible.

But Freestyle 101 was floored to hear that this would be one of P's last freestyles for a while as he was being hauled off to jail on weapons charges (tune in to G4’s exclusive interview where he discuss his arrest and accusations that New York police tried to use him to set-up labelmate 50 Cent). So extra special thanks to Prodigy and our fave publicist Jackie O for hooking this up. And make sure to pick up Prodigy’s new album H.N.I.C. 2, out on March 25.

FYI, this edition of Freestyle 101 is among our first from what we’re calling The New York Sessions, a recent week-long trip to the Big Apple where we shot just about every rapper you can think of, including Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Ice-T, M.O.P., Heltah Skeltah, Buckshot, Immortal Technique, Thirstin Howl III, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Ali Vegas, Hell-Razah, Shabazz the Disciple, Big Noyd, Teflon, Smooth da Hustler and more. Check out the behind the scenes photos here.

Next week’s Freestyle 101 features Cyco of horrorcore legends Insane Poetry, so hit us up at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 26th. So visit us on MySpace, watch past episodes, rant in the Forums or check out some freestyles from fellow New York MCs Shyheim, Sean Price, Papoose, Termanology, Joell Ortiz, Cormega, Guru and Trife da God.

Prodigy Exclusive: Hip Hop Cops vs. 50 Cent

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:00:00 GMT

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On the eve of his 3 ½ year prison sentence on weapons charges, Prodigy of legendary New York hip hop group Mobb Deep sits down with G4tv’s Freestyle 101 and opens up about his arrest, how the New York Police Department allegedly tried to blackmail him to set up 50 Cent, and why his new album H.N.I.C. 2 will not be the last you hear of him, despite going to the clink.

This is a candid interview with hip hop giant talking about some very real and scary issues, folks. It’s one you won’t wanna miss (and don’t sleep on the ending, where you’ll see a preview of his upcoming Freestyle 101 session).

Plus, make sure to pick up Prodigy’s new album H.N.I.C. 2, out on March 25 and tune in next week, on Tues. Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. EST for Prodigy’s Freestyle 101, where he spits about Xbox, PS3 and Grand Theft Auto.

Freestyle 101: Shyheim & Illy Ale

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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Wu Tang Clan fans are familiar with Shyheim when he was known as The Rugged Child, the youngest affiliate of the legendary hip hop collective.

He made his debut in 1995 with Shyheim a/k/a the Rugged Child and an appearance on Big Daddy Kane’s “Show -n- Prove” alongside Old Dirty Bastard and a young Jay-Z. The Lost Generation followed, and by 1999 Shyheim released Manchild and was all grown up. The Greatest Story Never Told hit in 2005 and Shyheim has been on the mixtape grind ever since. He is currently getting much attention from his song and video for “Fat Boy”, a diss against Wu Tang’s Raekwon. It seems Rae shut Shyheim down when he was trying to get a DVD drop from P. Diddy backstage at a recent Wu tang show. And we all know that disrespecting an MC ain’t a good move, even if you are a legend.

In his Freestyle 101 session, Shyheim discusses the beef with Rae, his relationship with Wu Tang, and the hip hop scene in Staten Island. He even brought his cousin Guy (a.k.a. Illy Ale) along to Play Studios in Manhattan and the duo tag-teamed rapped about what kind of videogame they’d make over a chill Messiaz beat. Shy plays the man on the street in the big city, while Illy Ale plays the role of death as it sweeps through the streets. Life as a videogame…an interesting and unique approach.

This edition of Freestyle 101 is our first from what we’re calling The New York Sessions, a recent week-long trip to the Big Apple where we shot just about every known rapper you can think of, including Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Ice-T, M.O.P., Mob Deep, Heltah Skeltah, Buckshot, Immortal Technique, Thirstin Howl III, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Ali Vegas, Hell-Razah, Shabazz the Disciple, Big Noyd, Teflon, Smooth da Hustler and more. Yup, it’s about to get real hood up in this b*tch! Check out the behind the scenes photos here.

Next week is Prodigy of Mobb Deep, shot about a week before his 3 ½ year prison sentence, so hit us up at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 19th. In fact, we are also posting an exclusive interview with prodigy here tomorrow where he discuss his arrest and how he believes New York police tried to use him to set-up labelmate 50 Cent.

Visit us on MySpace, watch past episodes, rant in the Forums or check out some freestyles from other Wu Tang affiliates like Killah Priest and Prodigal Sunn, or fellow New York MCs Sean Price, Papoose, Termanology, Joell Ortiz, Cormega, Guru and Trife da God.

Freestyle 101: LMNO (Visionaries)

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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LMNO is a member of Los Angeles hip hop collective The Visionaries, alongside 2Mex, Lord Zen, Dannu, KeyKool and DJ Rhettmatic. The Visionaries latest album is titled We Are The Ones (We've Been waiting For) and is the group’s fourth effort. The group has been acknowledged for its positive impact and contribution to hip hop, and was even recently inducted into the Universal Zulu Nation. Their music was also featured in Oceans Twelve, Volcano High and Midway's NFL Blitz.

Yet LMNO has a solo career as well, and his upcoming album Selective Hearing is due out this March. You can also hear him on the latest CD by fellow Long Beach resident RBX., also a Freestyle 101 vet. LMNO spends his time over the past 12 years touring the world with his group or on the solo tip and has gained a reputation for his explosive live performances.

So Freestyle 101 was stoked when LMNO decided to drop by Reef Studios and kick freestyle about Atari, Pac-Man, the L.A. Raiders, and hip hop. He also had a lot to say about the underground hip hop scene in Los Angeles, and why the city breeds such hungry MCs.

A new Freestyle 101 goes up every Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. Make sure to tune in for webisodes featuring Insane Poetry, Pack FM, Sheek Louch, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Lil’ Fame of M.O.P., Ice-T, Heltah Skeltah, Buckshot of Black Moon, Fat Joe and many more every. Until then, check us on MySpace, dig our brand new behind-the-scenes photos from our New York trip, and sound off in our Forums.

And if you dig RBX’s Freestyle 101, then check out webisodes featuring other west coast underground MCs such as Planet Asia, Thirsty Fish, Neila, P.E.A.C.E. and Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship, Gift of Gab, RBX and more.

Freestyle 101: Hangar 18

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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New York’s Hangar 18 are the latest act to come out of hip indie label Def Jux, home of RJD2, El-P, Aesop Rock, and Del. They have been steadily releasing songs on cool compilations and 12" singles, and touring the country, sharing the stage with the likes of Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Murs, Aceyalone, Atmosphere, and many others.

Many first got wind of “The Hangar” on the underground classics The Persecution of Hip Hop and The Prequel Album. In addition MCs Windnbreez and Alaska were also featured on Random B-Sides from Weightless Records. Plus, Alaska was featured on the seminal Cannibal Ox album, The Cold Vein, and he and Windnbreez were featured on Def Jux Presents 2 as well as the CP Records release Euphony. The group’s follow up to their debut effort, the awesomely titled The Multi Platinum Debut Album, is coming soon, so keep your ear to the streets!

Windnbreez and Alaska, accompanied by touring wax spinner DJ K-Tel, stopped by The Engine Room to spit some wacky-ass, right-off-the-top rhymes over a furious Messiaz beat. They also gave us some insight into the underground freestyle scene in The Big Apple and generally kept us all entertained with their zaniness. So listen up, America, ‘cause Hangar 18 might just be the future of hip hop…in which case, lock up your daughters!

A new Freestyle 101 goes up every Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. Make sure to tune in for webisodes featuring LMNO of Visionaries, Pack FM, Insane Poetry, Mobb Deep, Ice-T, D-Block, Ill Bill, Immortal Technique, Boot Camp Clique, and many more every. Until then, check us on MySpace, dig our behind-the-scenes photos, and sound off in our Forums.

And if you dig MC Frontalot’s Freestyle 101, then check out webisodes featuring other videogame-obsessed MCs such as Thirsty Fish, Lifesavas, Busdriver, Pigeon John, RBX, Killah Priest, B5 and more.

Freestyle 101: MC Frontalot

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:56:00 GMT

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Known as “Final Boss of Nerdcore Hip Hop,” MC Frontalot has been treating hip hop fans and nerds around the globe to his unique brand of rap music.

“What the hell is ‘Nerdcore’,” you ask?

Well, think Kool Keith…if he was white…and rapped about videogames, RPGs, binary code, computers and other stuff that appeals to the G4tv audience.

You may also know him from his appearance in the documentary Nerdcore Rising: The Movie, his annual performances at webcomic Penny Arcade's annual Expo, his influential debut CD Nerdcore Rising, or from his cameos in The Walking Dead comics (illustrator Tony Moore is a big fan). He also has a brand new album out, Secrets from the Future, that is getting rave reviews.

MC Frontalot was kind enough to stop by The Engine Room Studios in Hollywood to spit over a sinister Messiaz beat. His interview about his status (or lack thereof!) in the Bay Area and New York hip hop scenes is hilarious, his attire priceless, and his rhymes unreal, making this a very special Freestyle 101. Enjoy!

Freestyle 101 is back in full effect every Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. Make sure to tune in for webisodes featuring Def Jux’s Hangar 18, LMNO of Visionaries, Pack FM, Insane Poetry, Mobb Deep, Ice-T, D-Block, Ill Bill, Immortal Technique, Boot Camp Clique, and many more. Until then, check us on MySpace, dig our behind-the-scenes photos, and sound off in our Forums.

And if you dig MC Frontalot’s Freestyle 101, then check out webisodes featuring other videogame-obsessed MCs such as Busdriver, Pigeon John, Lord G, Lifesavas, RBX, Killah Priest, B5, Thirsty Fish, and more.

Freestyle 101: RBX

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

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Seven execution style murders / I have no remorse ‘cause I’m the f**kin’ murder
Haven’t you ever heard of a killer? / I drop bombs like Hiroshima

And with that line from “High Powered” off Dr. Dre’s landmark album The Chronic, Long Beach rapper RBX landed himself in the hip hop hall of fame as one of the greatest personalities to grace the mic.

Armed with a voice so deep and scary-sounding it’s as if every syllable is a threat from El Diablo himself, and an arsenal of rhymes so vivid it’s no wonder they call him “The Narrator,” it’s no wonder RBX has appeared on so more classic albums than any rapper out of the LBC besides Snoop himself. The Chronic, The Chronic 2001, Doggystyle, The Marshall Mathers LP, to name but a few. He’s worked with everyone from Korn to B-Real, Dilated Peoples to Warren G, and KRS-One to Nas, and even won a Grammy in 1993 for his co-writing of Dr. Dre's “Let Me Ride.” He also happens to be the son of Bootsy Collins, and a cousin of Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger. Now how’s that for hip hop street cred?

But the craziest part about RBX is that very few have ever seen him or know what he looks like. He’s rarely granted interviews and is often engulfed in darkness and shadows in videos. So imagine our surprise when we got word The Narrator X was out promoting his new album Broken Silence and down for doing a Freestyle 101? Excited? Nervous? A little freaked out? Yup, all that and more.

So as soon as he stepped behind the mic at Reef Studios and that booming voice we’ve heard on so many classic songs came bellowing out, myself and the crew were speechless. And guess what? He’s a big-time videogamer and sci-fi fan and unleashed a deadly rhyme about Halo 3, Fear, Dead To Rights, Star Wars and more. This day just kept getting better.

So go pick RBX’s Broken Silence and keep on the lookout for his new group with MC Ren and Big Rocc called Concrete Criminals. Freestyle 101 is back in full effect every Tuesday at 3 p.m. EST. Make sure to tune in for webisodes featuring MC Frontalot, LMNO of Visionaries, Hangar 18, Pack FM, Insane Poetry, and many more every. Until then, check us on MySpace, dig our behind-the-scenes photos, peep Messiaz for more cool beats, and sound off in our Forums.

And if you dig RBX’s Freestyle 101, then check out webisodes featuring other west coast MCs such as P.E.A.C.E. and Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship, Ras Kass, Glasses Malone, Gift of Gab of Blackalicous, Spider Loc, 40 Glocc, and more.