freestyle

Erica Banks Takes On Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” On New Freestyle

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Erica Banks is coming through 2023 swinging. Following a highly productive year in 2022, she came through with brand new heat today. The Texas rapper shared her freestyle over Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” this morning. Off the rip, Banks makes it clear that she’s gunning for the top. “Bitch, you know who I am/ Ain’t no bitches holdin’ me,” she declares as the beat kicks in. Then, she asserts herself as a leading lady in the rap game right now, whether or not anyone agrees with that sentiment.

At this point, Yung Joc hasn’t responded to Erica Banks’ remix of his record. However, she’s just one of a few who’ve paid homage to him recently. Just before 2022 ended, DaBaby released “Joc In 06,” which interpolates lyrics from “It’s Goin’ Down.”

HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 16: Erica Banks attends the VIP Red Carpet Screening of “The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation”on November 16, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for “The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation”)

Erica Banks is still on a roll, two years after the success of “Buss It.” Last year, she shared her new project, Diary Of The Flow Queen. The 13-song project, released via 1501 Certified Entertainment, was an exemplary showcase of her versatility. At the same time, she connected with artists like Bankroll Freddie and DreamDoll, proving that she could hold her own.

Hopefully, the release of her latest remix is an indication that she has more heat in the pipeline this year.

Check out Erica Banks’ remix of Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” below. Do you think she did the beat justice? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. Perhaps, this changes Yung Joc’s stance on the trajectory of female rap in 2023.

Quotable Lyrics
Some n***as hate that I’m the flow queen, they wanna see you take it
I know some hoes who be for real and I know hoes who love to fake it
I can’t argue with no hoe that carry purses that be vacant
They gon’ pop it on they page but in they DM, they be patient

Trench Baby Taps Polo G For “Done It All Freestyle”

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Trench Baby is making his first single of the year a family affair as he prepares for a massive year ahead. The rapper came through with his latest offering featuring Polo G this week, “Done It All Freestyle.” The brotherly duo gets straight to the point on this one without offering a hook to tie it together.

Polo G kicks off the record with a blistering verse where he lays down the business. While he rips through his adversaries with vengeance, Polo G reminds everyone that he’s keeping his foot on the neck of the rap game. However, his verse sets up Trench Baby, who is undoubtedly on pace to have a big year ahead of him. The “Richest Gangbanger” rapper finally comes in on verse two, dishing out ominous threats to his enemies with a ferocious delivery. “He thought the switch would’ve turned him to God/ His soul was lost and now shit found,” he raps during his verse.

It feels like the latest offering from Trench Baby and Polo G is just the start of what they have in store this year. Trench Baby’s yet to release his debut project but he’s locked in collabs with artists like G Herbo. We certainly hope we’ll be hearing much more from him this year.

Polo G, on the other hand, came through with a string of singles throughout 2022. However, there hasn’t been an update on his follow-up to Hall Of Fame. He closed out 2022 with the release of “My All,” following October’s “Bag Talk.”

Make sure you check out Trench Baby’s latest collaboration with Polo G, “Done It All Freestyle.” Will Trench Baby have his breakout year in 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

Quotable Lyrics
Wooski will make shit scary, just one deep
We put the belt on the shelf like yo aunty
You think I’m cappin’? Well, lil n***a, come see
They undercover like 21 Jump Street

Logic Drops “Like A Playwright” Freestyle, Says Rapping Isn’t A Contest For Him

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He previously announced his plans to retire from the industry. However, Logic didn’t hold back on sharing plenty of new music in 2022. The year started with tracks like “Tetris,” “Decades,” and “Therapy Music” featuring Russ.

Those would all later appear on his Vinyl Days album, which made its mark back in June. Complete with 30 titles, the effort was an incredible arrival from someone who was planning on walking away from it all.

Logic performs during the 2019 AT&T Playoff Playlist Live at Discovery Meadow Park on January 05, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Since then, he’s also been heard on “Tanaka 2” with Joey Valence and Brae, as well as on the reprise of Justice’s “D.A.N.C.E.”

Of course, the “Nikki” rapper couldn’t let 2022 come to a close without flexing his lyrical chops one last time. Earlier this week, Logic delivered a fun-loving new freestyle via Instagram, titled “Like A Playwright.”

“When the vibes is right / Chilling with the homies / Tryna dodge the plight / Rapper by day, but I’m a dad by night / You can have all the money but your time finite,” he cooly rhymes from the comfort of his own home.

Countless friends dropped by the comment section to show love. Among them are Juicy J, Royce da 5’9, and Travis Thompson. “Wassup with them beats tho?” the latter wrote.

Check out Logic’s quick-witted “Like A Playwright” freestyle on Instagram below. Afterward, let us know what you hope to see from the “rapper by day, dad by night” next year in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics:

You know we doing it right
Family over everything is a beautiful sight
Cruising in the Bronco on a Tuesday night
Most don’t live their lives by the rules they write
Rapping through the evening ’till I see the daylight

[Via]

Maino Flows On New “Neck & Wrist” Freestyle

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Maino just dropped a new freestyle over Pusha T and Jay-Z’s 2022 hit “Neck & Wrist” and it’s one for the books. Featured on Fire in the Booth for the first time, the New York emcee got back to his lyrical roots over the Pharrell Williams-produced beat.

Shortly after the beat dropped, Maino goes straight into his bars, quoting memorable one-liners on the track.

Featured on Pusha’s fourth studio album It’s Almost Dry in April 2022, “Neck & Wrist” entered Billboard’s Hot 100 chart shortly after its debut. It marked the 45-year-old’s first collaboration with Jay-Z since Pusha T’s 2016 song “Drug Dealers Anonymous.”

Earlier this month, Jay-Z released his year-end playlist for 2022, listing “Neck & Wrist” along with Gunna’s “Pushin P” and Beyoncé’s “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA.”

Maino, whose career has spanned decades, recently teamed up with his longtime friend Jim Jones to form Lobby Boyz. The pair released their self-titled project earlier this year, featuring Styles P, Benny the Butcher, and more.

What are your thoughts on Maino’s new freestyle? Drop your take in the comments below.

Quotable Lyrics:

Bandanas, all black leather like Black Panthers

These d***k riding internet n****s, they can’t stand us

Pain addict, can’t find space I’m that tatted

Just met her, gave her my face, I’m that savage

Mickey Factz Floats Over Jay-Z’s “Encore” On L.A. Leakers: Watch

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Bronx rapper Mickey Factz visited Justin Credible and DJ Sourmilk on L.A. Leakers for some impressive bars. Over Jay-Z’s “Encore,” Factz gave a solid performance with some lyrical gems and potent flows. Even with all that skill, his proficiency is unsurprising. Specifically, this was his fourth freestyle with Credible and Sourmilk, and the veteran status shows.

Moreover, Factz dropped his newest album, It’s Only Us Here, last week on Friday, December 16th. It consists of fourteen tracks produced by Ayo Shamir and includes guests like Raheem DeVaughn, Sy Ari Da Kid, and Shareef Keyes. It’s filled with great rapping, not unlike the standard he brought to Power 106 Los Angeles with this freestyle. “Got a lot of real estate, check where the place at / Highrise office, where the lake at?/ All a dream like the ’95 finals ’cause I wanna Shake Shack.”

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 01: Hip-hop artist Mickey Factz attends the UNIQLO and LEMAIRE pre-shopping event at UNIQLO on October 1, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for Uniqlo and Lemaire)

In fact, he didn’t contain his skills to just “Encore.” Also, the 40-year-old rapper flowed over Jadakiss’s “We Gonna Make It” with some engaging wordplay. “Wall Street trap s**t yeah / ‘Cause when my man came home / He learned the market then went and got a bag quick / While you putting calls to get a cash flip / I’ll be doing puts and calls to get a fast lick / and that’s the only option here’s the last tip / Only invest what you can afford, and that’s it.” While Ab-Soul’s recent freestyle was also incredible, Mickey Factz is keeping that quality up. 

What did you think of Mickey Factz’s L.A. Leakers freestyle? Is it better than his Royce Da 5’9″ diss from last year? Let us know in the comments down below, and type in your favorite bars from it. Also, peep some of our favorite standouts from the freestyle below. Finally, stay locked in to HNHHfor the best freestyles on the radio circuit.

Quotable Lyrics

When it comes to the money gotta make that
It’s a Puff Daddy slogan, homie gotta take that
Fendi umbrella where it rain at, 
Had to put my baby all in the Fenty ASAP
Much love to Rihanna ’cause she made that

[via]

Jim Jones Freestyles Over Cam’ron’s “Losing Weight”

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Jim Jones freestyled over his longtime collaborator, Cam’ron’s, “Losing Weight” on Funk Flex’s radio show, last Thursday. Cam released the track on his second studio album S.D.E., back in 2000.

Jones appeared on the show alongside Dyce Payso, who kicked off the freestyle by rapping about New York City.

“I don’t care if you got a buzz when you rap too/ You can have this same blood I could act true/ And I don’t care if you got a gat cause I’ll be strapped too/ New York City is mine and I’m bringing macs too,” Payso rhymed.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Rapper Jim Jones performs during week four of the BIG3 three-on-three basketball league at Barclays Center on July 14, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/BIG3/Getty Images)

Following suit, Jones rapped, “They ain’t never gonna stop you gotta see this from my position/ N****s they be hating every time they see them watches glistening/ Now we gotta kill a n***a he ain’t got a pot to piss in/ He aint never seen it, all you heard was choppas hitting.”

Cam’ron’s “Losing Weight” featured the late Mobb Deep legend, Prodigy. It also received multiple sequels rounding out a trilogy of “Losing Weight” tracks. As a whole, S.D.E. peaked at no.14, selling 73,000 copies in its first week.

Jim Jones is actually featured elsewhere on S.D.E., including on the tracks “Do It Again,” and “Why No,” as well as “My Hood.” Other guests on the album include Destiny’s Child, Noreaga, Dutch & Spade, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Freekey Zekey, and Juelz Santana.

Cam released the second “Losing Weight” on his 2002 album Come Home With Me. He later followed it up with a long-awaited third on 2019’s Purple Haze 2.

Jim Jones’ freestyle comes after he sat down with HNHH for 12 Days Of Christmas.

Check out Jim Jones’ freestyle for Funk Flex below.

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Ab-Soul Eviscerates L.A. Leakers Freestyle Over Tupac & Biggie Beats

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Six years is a long time for fans to wait for a new album, but Ab-Soul delivers when the timing is right. The Top Dawg Entertainment icon is one of the most respected emcees in this generation of Hip Hop, and with each new release emerges witty rhymes that captivate listeners. Unlike his peers, Ab is a more reclusive figure in Hip Hop, often choosing to live a life of privacy than display details on social media. His fans connect with him through his art, and Herbert is a long-awaited project that once again sets the Los Angeles rapper apart from the rest.

In anticipation of Herbert‘s Friday (December 16) release, Ab-Soul visited the L.A. Leakers at Power 106 for his first-ever appearance on the freestyle series. He lit fire to two classic productions: Tupac Shakur’s “Hit Em Up” and Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya.”

Read More: Ab-Soul Drops “Herbert” Cover Art & Tracklist

Additionally, Ab-Soul expounded on his creative process in a recent interview with Vulture. The outlet mentioned “Gotta Rap,” his collaboration with DJ Premier, citing that it felt “purposeful.”

“Ah, yeah, but to be more precise, I was just trying to restore the feeling of Hip Hop in this climate,” the rapper replied. “I intentionally tried not to listen to much music during this process so I didn’t have too much external influence. I wanted it to sound like me, and what I wanted it to sound like; you could easily just get influenced by what you’re hearing, cadences and flows.”

He added: “I just wanted it to all come from me as naturally as possible. I’m glad you put it that way, but I never stopped loving rap.”

Read More: Ab-Soul Hints At Jay-Z Feature On “Herbert”

Herbert also hosts looks from SiR, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, Ambré, Zacari, Punch, Joey Bada$$, and more. Stay tuned in with HNHH to hear Herbert as soon as it drops on December 16.

Quotable Lyrics

First off, love yo b*tch and the clique you claim
Top Dawg, we the squad runnin’ every-thang
They will never understand what we did for this sh*t
The real lyricists that unified the Bloods and the Crips

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Dave East Drops Off New EastMix “Gangstarr”

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Dave East is keeping his foot on the gas, even as the end of fhe year approaches. The Harlem rapper is fresh off of the release of Book Of David with Buda and DJ Drama but he’s keeping things pushing with a brand new EastMix.

The latest entry in the fan-favorite series finds Dave East paying homage to DJ Premier and Guru. East takes on Gang Starr’s 1998 record “Royalty” and brings the listener on a trip through New York. The Harlem rapper recalls his upbringing before reflecting on his rise from the bottom.

The rapper shared an accompanying video for the song. Directed by Director Donjai, East slides through New York City’s subway system, lighting spliffs, drinking and hanging out with his people.

It’s been a rather productive year for Dave East in both music and movie. Along with the release of Book Of David, he dropped off HDIGH in March, as well as a deluxe edition. However, in an interview with Vibe in February, he did hint at plans to drop off his official follow-up to his 2019 debut, Survival. Additionally, he revealed that he’s working with Styles P on a sequel to 2018’s Beloved. Though it seems unlikely that either projects will drop before the end of 2022, it looks like East has a lot in store for the new year.

Check out the latest offering from Harlem’s own Dave East below and sound off in the comments with your thoughts on his new freestyle over GangStarr’s “Royalty.” Did he do justice to the song?

Quotable Lyrics
Guru comparisons, I’m the star of my gang
This Cuban got her open, I told her talk to my chain
Bookbag, Alfred Chang on the train, walk through the rain
N***as be quiet and die, I told ’em talk through the pain