Today, Logic released his 3rd studio album, Everybody. In celebration of Logic, a rapper who has the lyrical prowess and mass appeal to extend hip-hop's positive influence on society, we commemorate Logic's 5 best freestyles.
Logic has been ripping freestyles for years. Some are written, some are off the top, some are on huge platforms, and some have been overlooked, but they all display Logic's pure love for the culture. Click through the gallery to see how we ranked Logic's best freestyles.
Honorable Mentions: Shade 45 Showoff Radio with Statik Selektah and BET Cypher.
Let us know which of the freestyles listed here is your favorite.
Photo: Justin Fliescher
XXL Freshman Freestyle (2013)
The XXL Freshman cover is huge look for up and coming hip-hop artists. In 2013, Logic was selected for the cover, but was fairly unknown compared to the likes of Schoolboy Q, Trinidad James, Joey Bada$$, Travis Scott, and Action Bronson. Logic was the misfit, until he spit.
Logic’s solo XXL freestyle showcases not only logic’s impeccably intricate flow, but the depth of his content, and the wit of his intellect. Logic may not still be as fierce and threatening as he was in 2013, but as a nice guy in 2017, he "conceals the flow behind the image like a murder weapon."
Live on the Air Freestyle (2011)
This is a freestyle near and dear to the RattPack’s heart, one that was recorded in Logic's native Maryland, shot at the University of Maryland. This might be a Logic stan's favorite, although it flew very much under hip-hop's radar when it dropped. Logic ended up including it on his second mixtape, Young Sinatra. "Live On The Air" incapsulates Logic’s artistry at its most hungry, raw, unapologetically 90’s hip-hop inspired phase.
Tim Westwood Freestyle (2013)
Heading to the UK on a press run and blessing Tim Westwood's show with a freestyle is a seminal part of any rising rapper's career. Logic visited Tim, and got to see what it's like on the other side of the screen, clearly expressing his excitement at the outset of the freestyle.
The veteran UK DJ laces Logic with Kendrick Lamar's "Recipe" beat, something a bit mellow for Logic's typically fast-paced flow, but he handles it well. The lyrics give you a look at where Logic was at career-wise-- still coming up, still grinding, but seeing some of the success that hard work offers. For the second verse, he adapts some lyrics from his "Gone" track.
Big Boy Freestyle (2015)
During Logic’s promo run for The Incredible True Story, he almost always brought his Rubik’s cube with him. Now, regurgitating the same narrative around his Rubik’s cube may be an unnatural and imposing way to estabilish a brand, but no one can deny the natural intelligence and skill it takes to solve a Rubik’s cube and authentically freestyle, at the same damn time.
Five Fingers of Death Freestyle (2014)
At this moment in Logic’s career, Under Pressure was on the cusp of dropping. Hip-hop was just learning who he was, and skeptics were consulting Google to find out if Logic was a white appropriator or a biracial student of the game. Although Logic's pale skin seemed to present a barrier to his entry to hip-hop, this was the moment he kicked down the door with unflinching confidence.
On his first appearance on Sway in The Morning, Logic started by spitting a verse off the second part of "Soul Food." He then seamlessly transitioned to spitting off the top for nearly 2 minutes before compelling the hip-hop legend, Sway, to "talk his shit." Not only is this freestyle a defining moment in his career, but the freestyle has also transcended that moment and amassed over 10 million views – the most of any Logic freestyle.