A (Very) Brief History of The Freestyle Game

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a love for words. As a youngster, I used to write short stories and as I got older, I started writing poems and eventually raps. I started copying words out of the dictionary after I saw the Malcolm X movie played by Denzel Washington. Then I eventually found my way to a rhyming dictionary. I did not use the rhyming dictionary as much. I figured I could find the rhymes to words by reading more words. 

As an MC, I am heavily influenced by KRS-one, (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone) and in his song, The Mind he writes “...when I'm writing is guaranteed to enlighten like Doctor Cornel West Michael Eric Dyson.” So, I picked up Dr. Cornel West’s classic Race Matters and The Michael Eric Dyson Reader. I did not get past one page before Dr. West or Dyson said some words I did not understand! However, I did not like the static that arose in my mind from words I did not know. So, when I came across a word I did not know, I underlined it, looked it up in the dictionary, and wrote it in my notebook. This is the foundation of the freestyle game. A mind and love with words and a soul and love with HipHop. 

I wish I could say that I invented the freestyle game, but no. I am one of many who have gotten this style from its originator, MC Supernatural, a Marion, Indiana bred emcee that called this style the Freestyle Olympics. He developed a love for words through the dictionary as well and would display his inner lexicon through a quick-witted display called freestyle battling. In those days we would battle off the top, so you had to be able to quickly assess your opponent and the environment when challenged. You had only a brief moment to look at your rivals' clothing or shoes. Were they short? Did you think that they were ugly? Were they failing math class? ANYTHING could be used. But, when armed with observation and vocabulary, you are a dangerous battle MC. I remember in one battle it gets the MC named Flame I said. “I got him in my aim. You can't spell the word flame without the word LAME.” Or against another MC named Gin, I said “I'm the best and you know that. And for you to remember this lesson say cheese for the Kodak.” I happened to have a disposable camera on me (remember those?) and took a picture of that battle moment I still have that picture somewhere. 

The freestyle game originally was a means for practice to stay mentally and lyrically sharp and a tactic used in battles. Where I would bring the crowd and environment into the battle. I never use it as a standalone act until 2012 and my first feature at The Art Bar in Columbia, SC. The concept of the game was to either get random items from the crowd or random words and make a freestyle rhyme about it. Today, I normally play this game at schools and in daycares to promote literacy. Kids will always come up to me and ask, how did you do that?? I tell them that when I was their age, I was copying words from the dictionary and reading anything I could get my hands on. This form of education is called edutainment, (coined by KRS-One), which is to educate through entertainment. I then will tie that into where they can find a plethora of books to start their freestyle journey, Richland Library 

Mic Drop.  

Click on the videos below to watch MC Supernatural and Myself perform the Freestyle Game