The Making of Sound Check Freestyle

This freestyle was recorded during a sound check when I opened up for hip hop artist Nejma Nefertiti (@nejmanefertiti on IG) at her culmination performance for the End of The Weak “Residency,” created by Miss B. I decided to release this freestyle using the audio from a video I recorded on my phone. Why not release music that’s raw? Why does everything have to be perfect? I spent 50 bucks on my friend Ony from Made in Queens to see what he could do with mixing and mastering, but honestly, he couldn’t do much. It’s all good though, because like most of my life, it’s rooted in experimentation—and that’s exactly what this track was about!

I consider “freestyle” to be fully improvisational, straight off the top of the head. But I know many people consider freestyling in hip hop to include written verses, and I have no problem with that. However, I see myself more like a jazz musician—learning the rules, then breaking them to create something new and colorful.

EOW’s open mics were a staple in New York City Hip Hop from the early 2000s until about 2010. In this freestyle, I reflect on a lot of memories from growing up in New York City, my time as an emcee, and how I evolved into a musician, producer, audio engineer, and the person I am today. As Bob Marley once said, "In this future, you can't forget your past." I see this track as an audio documentary of my foundation in Hip Hop culture—attending open mics, doing my own showcases, and finding my voice. It’s only now that I truly appreciate these moments enough to want to share them with the world.

Love & Respect,
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