2015 has truly been a landmark year for hip-hop. There have been countless quality album releases from rappers all over, impressive music videos, and the emergence of a new crop of rappers. The ambition and attention to detail on this year’s releases, exemplified by their authoring emcees is indicative of a current renaissance in hip-hop.
With all the good LP listening, hip-hop fans are being spoiled with the impressive freestyles to surface this year as well. Legends and rising stars alike are providing brilliance off the dome, that rivals the passion project albums that have made headlines thus far in 2015. The content is coming through various platforms, but whether it be distributed over the radio via an appearance on Sway in the Morning or through weekly audio releases (like Fabolous’ Friday Night Freestyles), the results are straight fire. Since we’ve just surpassed the halfway mark and officially have the majority of 2015 in our rear view, let’s take a look at the fruitful year it has been thus far in freestyle rap.
Join us as we recognize the Best Freestyles of 2015 So Far.
King Mez
King Mez
He's made some buzz for a while with some impressive mixtapes and freestyles, but now King Mez is finally getting some recognition from the top after being endorsed by Dr. Dre on his first ever Beats 1 Radio broadcast of "The Pharmacy." Obviously, this is a stamp of approval every emcee dreams of and King Mez capitalized. Mez uses the final moments of "The Pharmacy"'s first episode to plant his flag into the ground as one of the best in the game off the dome.
Quotable Lyrics: "Sneak disses, I know you wrote your sum/Just some icarus sentences, don't let 'em fly too close to sun."
Rae Sremmurd
Rae Sremmurd
The young rap duo Rae Sremmurd have been having quite the 2015. They kicked off the year with the first fire album it had to offer, dropping SremmLife in early January, which ranks as one of the best of the year thus far in its own right. During promotion for the album, Slim Jimmy and Swae Lee swung by Sway in the Morning and not only delivered an impressive tag-team freestyle, but delivered one that sounds perfectly in the vein of some of their impressive tracks off Sremm. This one will have you flicking your wrist and bobbing your head.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne may never open his eyes in this woozy five minute frenetic flamethrower of a freestyle, but he’s hard to keep your eyes off of as he digs into a medley of beats surrounded by his Young Money crew. Even though the freestyle made headlines for its jabs at Young Thug and Wayne’s former mentor-turned-rival Birdman, there is plenty less combative content from this freestyle to enjoy.
Quotable Lyrics:"Let the kids live, baby, dude/Blood all in the fuckin' baby food/The cradle too, shoot the dog once Turn around, tell the kids, "Stay in school"/Leave out the house, neighbors peekin' out the windows/Show the pistol to the neighbors and the neighbors move"
Fabolous
Fabolous
You can't discuss freestyle rap in 2015 without mentioning Fabolous, whose string of Friday freestyled releases became a staple of the Hip Hop community during its tenure. With so many to choose from, it was difficult to choose the best of the best, but we settled on the track that utilizes one of the best beats of all time. It doesn't hurt, either, that Fabo just gets straight dirty with the bars on this one, too. Over the "Shook Ones II" instrumental, Fabo dices haters with Bobby Flay precision.
Quotable Lyrics: "In this kitchen, step back and watch the chef cook/
My corner told me, counter jabs with a left hook/
And give me mine, you don’t want to see my stress look/
I drive through with the mask, looking like Westbrook"
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
During an appearance on Big Boy's Neighborhood radio show, West Coast faithful Kendrick Lamar used the beats of fallen hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G. to spit off the top amidst the initial craze surrounding his To Pimp a Butterfly release.
As per usual, he brings those thought-provoking bars delivered via unique flows to Big Boy's Neighborhood. Sure, he drops a line or two that's featured on the album, but the rest of the content holds up. Lamar was so sensationalized by the session, that by the end of it he's asking for more beats.
Quotable Lyrics: "Dre ain't motiviation, I don't know who is/Gift and a curse, maybe the shoes are too big.
Action Bronson
Action Bronson
Action Bronson goes so hard during this freestyle in the studio with Funkmaster Flex that the Queens, NY native rappers’ headphones fly off his own head mid-verse. Bronson’s trademark style using puns and wordplay to crack jokes mostly about eating and fucking makes is in full effect with this improvised masterpiece. The fun that the Mr. Wonderful emcee emotes is palpable in the video recording of this, with Flex clearly enjoying himself and the quality of Bronson’s freestyle.
Quotable Lyrics: "Switch plates on the civic, pivot/Exotic places they rap about I live in.
Ezzy
Ezzy
From seemingly out of nowhere, a young emcee by the name of Ezzy has arguably brought the title for best freestyle into his own grasp. The Cleveland native has been making some rumblings on the underground, but truly turned heads during an appearance on Sway in the Morning when he effortlessly barrelled through the daunting Five Fingers of Death. Time will tell if the kid can deliver on a full album release, but in the meantime we can revel in awe at his ability off the top.
Meek Mill
Meek Mill
Meek Mill is sitting somewhere on top of the world as of late. Whether its his acclaimed new release Dreams Worth More Than Money, its high sales, or his boo thang Nicki Minaj Meek has his fair share of reasons to be happy. Nonetheless, he still feels compelled to go absolutely HAM in the studio with DJ Self, going off for nearly ten minutes straight. Mill's flow is varied and relentless, proving that his trajectory towards the top is the real deal.
Quotable Lyrics: "I'm cool with the real niggas, I fuck with these hoes, too/My bitches know everyone, but my women don't know you."
King Los
King Los
King Los made waves last year, enduring Sway’s fabled Five Fingers of Death freestyle medley with flying colors. Los returned to the inferno during promotion for his newest album God Money War. With the reviews positive and sales going well, the freestyle came at a time where Los had to answer the call to prove his credibility, and boy did he. The Diddy protege seamlessly slayed all five classic beats he was provided, also incorporating Sway’s random suggestions in his unwritten verses. Dropped in June, Sway had no issue dubbing this the Best Freestyle of the Year. For good reason, too, because we don’t have a problem ranking it that high at the halfway mark either.
Quotable Lyrics:"Obama say nigga? Niggas say Obama/It's just a flip on it, look at the fucking Karma/We've been calling his name so much he said ours/I make it rain on 'em look at the fucking showers"