Hip Hop 50th Anniversary

Long Liveth The Absolute, Complete, and Undisputed Best Studio Freestyle Rap Moment of All Time

fight me, challenge me, but you cannot deny it

Black Thought is your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. He’s that guy.

He proved it in 2017 when he spit the most expansive 10-minute long, breath-controlled, intellectually rich, hood-credentialed, and perfectly executed studio freestyle moment of all time.

That he chose to unleash his Hip Hop soliloquy on the legendary Hot 97 said everything about his understanding of Hip Hop history.

I knew he was transcendent when I sat my son and nephew on the couch to listen to watch the entire freestyle. Not only did Black Thought keep the attention of two 15-year-old teenagers, but they were leaned in. Their brains worked overtime to keep up with him. Of course, no one on earth could catch everything he said the first time through, but their teenage minds didn’t shut down after the first few minutes was every bit of affirmation that Thought is an intergenerational artist.

I’d like to call him simply timeless.

One of my favorite Black Thought verses isn’t even on this famous freestyle. It is on “Long Liveth” from his Streams of Thought II album with the under-appreciated producer, Salaam Remi.

I’m a Pulitzer Prize Fighter/how I vaporize writers/ Shut ’em down at one time/synchronize silence/ Make the audience forget you/ call it Alzheimer’s/ Child rhymers don’t come at the old timers/ Whether your fan base is lil’ mommas or Obamas/ How you claim to have somethin’ in check with no commas?/

- Black Thought, Long Liveth, Streams of Thought II

Need I say more? Better yet, do you want more?

Honestly,

Ed.

I am a poet, essayist, and civic strategist celebrating 60 years of Civic revolution in Birmingham, Alabama. Get to know me better here.