PEACE

My favorite scene from Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme: Divine Styler is explaining how a freestyle referred to a "non-conceptual" rhyme when he was coming up, and evolved to the current definition of unwritten, spontaneous lyrics. PEACE then drops 40 seconds of heat, strides off-camera, and leaves Divine Styler speechless.

Divine Styler and PEACE in Freestyle

In 1999 PEACE faced off against relative unknown Eyedea at Scribble Jam. Eyedea was awarded the title, and probably deserved it, but he did have the advantage of knowing PEACE's history and being able to use it against him. This mp3 consists of two rounds which I put back-to-back; I'm not sure why they faced each other twice in the battle.

Eyedea vs. PEACE at Scribble Jam

Wake Up Show / Future Flavas

Digging through some old tapes, I came across this radio recording I had forgotten about. A gang of MCs spit rhymes from coast-to-coast during a show that was apparently simulcast on Sway and Tech's Wake Up Show and Marley Marl's Future Flavas, I believe some time in late 1997. Aceyalone, Common, and Mikah 9 are particularly on top of their games here. I spoke to Common briefly in early 1998 and he asked me if I was looking forward to the Cappadonna album. "That guy's funny to me," he said, and I wonder if he was thinking back to this show. 'Donna's unique approach to freestyling is certainly showcased here. Other performers include Killarmy, Killa Priest, Mykill Miers, Abstract Rude, and Diverse. The whole thing is about 35 minutes long.

Wake Up Show / Future Flavas freestyles

Masta Ace

First is a nice freestyle on the Stretch and Bobbito show. I'm not sure when it was recorded, but he's accompanied by Lord Digga, so I assume it's from the Masta Ace Incorporated era of the early-mid '90s. Ace shows off that classic on-beat/off-beat flow with some great punchlines off the top of the head.

Master Ace and Lord Digga on Stretch and Bobbito

More recently, he appeared on the 5th anniversary of the Halftime Show, along with new protege Apocalypse. Here are a couple of his turns on the mic. Early 2003.

Masta Ace on Halftime Show
Masta Ace and Apocalypse

Wise Intelligent

If anyone's reading this, sorry for the delay in updates...to hold you over, here's a Wise Intelligent interview from last month on WNYU's Halftime Show. He builds on the early days of Poor Righteous Teachers, the Nation of Gods and Earths, and his new music.

Wise Intelligent on the Halftime Show

I'll try to have some more goodies early next week.