STOP FREESTYLING...... PLEASE

You know what? I’m not done ranting. I got some more shit on my chest. 

I’m not just a music writer or journalist or whatever the fuck you want to call me. I write about everything I love or feel. Apparently there are some unwritten rules I’m just now realizing exist when you write about music. 

One of those rules are no matter if you asked for it or not you will get sent music. I used to get mad about it but now I don’t even really care because I ignore damn near everything but one thing that really pisses me off is when I’m sent “freestyles.” 

I’m definitely not writing about no damn freestyle. Don’t send me those shits. 

I don’t know who started it but I remember waiting on Lil Wayne Sqad tapes to drop in high school and listening to G-Unit and Dipset freestyle over new or old instrumentals. Back then I was accepting of it because I was just stuck on bars and nothing else. It’s what the era was about at that time. Plus it was like a dream to see Juelz Santana rap on some old or new shit. It was like a “What If” moment. 

Well I’m grown as fuck and I’m over it. 

I don’t care if it’s a local rapper or famous rapper. Freestyles are pointless to me unless you’re rapping live on the radio over a beat, making a diss record, or you’re on an official remix. Rappers who are already on can get away with it because they already have a following but the upcoming ones I just don’t see the point of rapping over other people beats. 

Old hip-hop beats I’m kind of tolerable of because it’s like a current hip-hop artist just jumped in the delorean from “Back To The Future” and rapped over a old Rakim or Outkast instrumental but even with that being said, just stop the freestyles. 

I’M NOT HEARING YOU 

The saying goes “No ideas original. Nothing new under the sun.” It’s true but just like everything else in life there’s thresholds for certain things. You rapping over whatever the hottest song that’s played on the radio isn’t going to make me like you anymore or less because it won’t be you I’m hearing. I’ll just keep hearing the original song in my head. I don’t care how different you make it or how good you rap over it. I just won’t care for it. I’m not hearing “YOU.” By you I mean your personality. I can’t turn on this freestyle and say this is your work. You’re basically rapping with a template in place. 

NO MONETARY GAIN 

You can’t sell the songs you're rapping over. So what’s the point? I mean all you will get is maybe some attention from the aspect of “Damn he/she can rap their ass off” but after that what’s going to benefit your career and determines how far it goes is your ability to write original material. 

WASTING MATERIAL 

Rappers may say some hot shit over the latest Drake beat but it stays there. They’re wasting material that could’ve been said over an original beat made for them. It’s highly unlikely they will say those same lyrics ever again. 

PERFORMING 

I’ve never got hyped for anyone rapping a freestyle live. 

Ever. 

The same goes for covers either. I don’t care for covers by R&B artist. I don’t care for cover bands. I came to get hip to some original shit. YOUR SHIT. I didn’t come to hear you rap over “Chiraq” or “Free Smoke.” I’m not interested. 

Freestyle over the latest shit all you want. I’m not saying it doesn’t have benefits. It can get you noticed but just know the people who notice will be waiting for original material and that’s the real test. If you want your career to reach another level then lock in with a producer and start telling your story. Your original story.