Sway Challenges TDE & Dreamville to A Freestyle Battle With Nas' Mass Appeal

BY Erika Marie 36.0K Views
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Sway Calloway
Mass Appeal's Starting 5 did not come to play during Sway's "Friday Fire Cypher."

Issa challenge! Nas' record label Mass Appeal stopped by Sway in the Morning and shut it down after lighting up the place with fire hot freestyles. Mass Appeal's Starting 5— Fashawn, Stro, Ezri, Cantrell, and 070 Phi—dropped by the SiriusXM show to promote the label's new mixtape, Starting 5: Vol. 1. featuring the rappers, in addition to Nas, Black Milk, Keyon Harrold, and more. Sway was so impressed with the lyricists two-part “Friday Fire Cypher” and “Five Fingers of Death" that he boldly called out other labels and told them to step up to the freestyle plate.

“TDE I hope you listening, Young Money, whoever, I hope you listening," Sway said." There might be a new sheriff in town." After Cantrell finished his freestyle, he added, “Dreamville, Top Dawg…Mass Appeal’s the final of the true…we’ll give these n***as chills.” TDE, or Top Dawg Entertainment, is comprised of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Sza, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, Lance Skiiiwalker, and SiR. Dreamville is J. Cole's label and includes artists Ari Lennox, Bas, Cozz, Omen, Lute, J.I.D, EarthGang.

The eight-track EP Starting 5: Vol. 1 dropped earlier this month in conjunction with the label's "Starting 5 North American Tour." The tour, featuring Fashawn, Stro, Ezri, Cantrell, and 070 Phi, began on February 6 in California and finished with its final show today in Atlanta. Neither Dreamville or TDE has responded lyrically to the challenge, but who do you think would take the crown out of all three of these giants in a freestyle battle?


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.