"Never put me in your box if your shit eats tapes" - Nas

I was in the G ride my car the other day and overheard this story, A Eulogy For The Boombox, on NPR. It was a nice little piece that, in addition to the Nas quote above, took me for a trip down memory lane.

I was a little too young and not quite brolic enough to rep a heavy duty box of my own, but I seldom found myself on the stairs, train, and ball court without one around.

 

And who could forget when a skinny kid from Hollis, Queens stole the show with the following three letters...BOX!

Freestyle vs "Free"style

The English language is a beautiful thing. It is dynamic: words enter and exit the lexicon almost daily. The meaning of words change and evolve over time as well. The term "freestyle" for example, has undergone some drastic changes over last decade.

Growing up, someone who freestyled was some that could rap of the top of the head. These MCs made a conscious effort to prove there flow was "off the dome" by incorporating topics from the day (like your clothing, people around, etc). In fact, heads would get ridiculed if they were suspected of "spittin a written" during a freestyle battle.

Somewhere along the line, freestyle devolved into something less free, and more prepared. More and more MCs would show up to radio shows, rap video shows and upon being asked to spit a little something, drop a pre-written verse. Weeks later you would hear that same verse verbatim on one of their next singles. And now that I think about it, I am not sure why people consider them to be freestyles anyway. Is it because it has not been used on a song before? Is it because it because they are rapping live over a different beat?

Obviously freestlying requires more skill than "free"styling, but that does not mean that there aren't dope "free"styles. I just believe that they need to be some way to formally distinguish the two from each other.

So, out of respect to those that came before us, and those that still do it the "free" way, we need to be vigilant in making sure we make a distinction between a true freestyle and the stuff most of these cats are doing these days. Maybe use air quotes when saying the word "free"?

Freestyle



"Free"style

"...I got a story to tell" - the Notorious B.I.G.

Ain't nothing like an interesting, gripping storyteller in hip-hop. Now when I say story, I don't mean simply someone describing some shit that happened-- I mean someone who has a mastery of plot, climax, characters, suspense and/or humor (the type of shit my fifth graders struggle with). Anyone can merely describe an event but it takes a true wordsmith to construct a compelling narrative.

I remember at this Ghostface show homey came out and sat down in an old wooden chair, talked out the lyrics to a song with no music behind it and had cats going beserk! A good story is a good story.

Although it is just a verse, and not a full song, Ghost's verse on Impossible is one of, if not the most compelling narratives on wax.

Call an ambulance, Jamie been shot, word to Kimmy
Don't go Son, nigga you my motherfuckin heart
Stay still Son, don't move, just think about Keeba
She'll be three in January, your young God needs you
The ambulance is taking too long
Everybody get the fuck back, excuse me bitch, gimme your jack
One, seven one eight, nine one one, low battery, damn
Blood comin out his mouth, he bleedin badly
Nahhh Jamie, don't start that shit
Keep your head up, if you escape hell we gettin fucked up
When we was eight, we went to Bat Day to see the Yanks
In Sixty-Nine, his father and mines, they robbed banks
He pointed to the charm on his neck
With his last bit of energy left, told me rock it with respect
I opened it, seen the God holdin his kids
Photogenic, tears just burst out my wig
Plus he dropped one, oh shit, here come his Old Earth
With no shoes on, screamin holdin her breasts with a gown on
She fell and then lightly touched his jaw, kissed him
Rubbed his hair, turned around the ambulance was there
Plus the blue coats, Officer Lough, took it as a joke
Weeks ago he strip-searched the God and gave him back his coke
Bitches yellin, Beenie Man swung on Helen
In the back of a cop car, dirty Tasha tellin
But suddenly a chill came through it was weird
Felt like my man, was cast out my heaven now we share
Laid on the stretcher, blood on his Wally's like ketchup
Deep like the full assassination with a sketch of it
It can't be, from Yoo-hoo's to Lee's
Second grade humped the teachers, about to leave
Finally this closed chapter, comes to an end
He was announced, pronounced dead, y'all, at twelve ten

Here are a few other songs with with strong and interesting narratives.

I got a story to tell - The Notorious B.I.G.
Blaze a 50 - Nas
3 Sides to a Story - Joe Budden
Nikkas Bleed - The Notorious B.I.G.
Childrens Story - Slick Rick
Da Art of Story Tellin pt. 2- Outkast ft. Slick Rick
Real Nikkas Do Real Things - The Notorious B.IG.
Shakey Dog - Ghostface Killah
Fetus (Belly-Button Window Unreleased) - Nas
Beauty Jackson - Ghostface Killah