Torae on the Underground Railroad

http://twitter.com/jsmooth995

Some live representation from Torae, who stopped by my radio show last night, with DJ 3D on the turntables. Check out his new album with Marco Polo, "Double Barrel," when it drops on Tuesday.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• hip hop
• rap
• freestyle
• emcee
• battle
• new
• york
• lyrics
• real
• skills

[TABULOUS1]

"Why hiphop fans focus on everything else BUT the music?"

cy:

Because the lyrics actually MEAN something --to ADULTS,

so they are just as important.....TO ADULTS,

& we there4 tend not 2jump on a bandwagon based *solely* on a beat.

[illdoc1]

I don't think Cy was saying you should judge SOLELY on beats (and when he says music I don't think he only means the beat)... he's right that people often get overly caught up in other things (in this case, whether it fits their definition of "freestyle") that are secondary to whether it is *good music* or not. Which is always what counts most. Like, Public Enemy's lyrical content/vision were vital, but if they didn't make GREAT MUSIC first & foremost the other stuff wouldn't have mattered.

[dasdafoij]

Yeah right,a freestyle, its written, retard

You are the kind of Emcee that is killing hip hop.

Go hide in your apartment, next time bring some skills on the table

[logic39da]

And you're the kind of fan that is killing hip-hop. Other than the last 2 bars, It's clearly a written rhyme. Who can't see that? Jay labeled the clip a freestyle, NOT Torae. Did you hear Torae at any point say it was off the top? Didn't think so

Pretty much when an emcee spits a random verse, it gets labeled a freestyle simply because it's not, at that moment, apart of a song, NOT because it's improvised at that moment.

Bring some understanding to the table or go hide in your apartment.

[illdoc1]

Seriously.. I'm changing the title just cuz I don't want to bring Torae into an argument he didn't start, but personally I'd love to have this argument all day lol.. surprised to see people still promoting that "real emcees always spit off the top" fallacy.

Spitting off the top is great if you can do it well, but by no means should it be mandatory for every emcee.

(btw Torae def. does know how to go off the top, check my older video from Eclipse's anniversary show)

[illdoc1]

No disrespect but before you cop this kind of attitude you need to learn your history. For most of hip-hop's history "freestyle" did not mean off the top, that is a relatively recent idea and everybody doesn't use it that way.

[thehiphopchannel101]

this aint rap this is hip hop rite here

[Oiinsaon1987]

Awesome freestyle, however I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to hear you speak. I miss your voice! You're slacking.

[eethry]

freaking awesome man

[jmartecep]

This is breath of fresh air, lyrics. Freestyle or not. This is what hip hop needs.

[TroySoul]

It wasnt a freestyle, but yeah that was dope.

[christmdog]

1:30 is AZ - Magic Hour

[terroristclan1990]

wats the beat tht starts at 1.30 tht shit sounds sick as hell

[Schmooveness]

1. black star - respiration (pete rock remix)

2. atcq - bustas lament (the ummah)

[uknowo]

NICE-NESS

[raptrackfanman]

oh.... thus why he said it lol... didnt hear that. Thanks.

[RHYMESMOKE1]

Young Gifted and Black-Big Daddy Kane...produced by Marley Marl

[raptrackfanman]

whats that last beat? Sounds like Pete Rock or somethin. Anybody know?