What the word means to hip-hop and how it has changed over the years
Freestyling has been an essential part of hip-hop and rap culture for many generations. It is an integral component of the identity of the entire genre of music, and holds powerful connotations that can garner interest for all those who enjoy listening to brilliant lyrics and a display of technical skill.
The term freestyling itself remains contentious and, at times, elusive. In today’s culture, freestyling involves rapping over a beat without any lyrics to reference. However, there are many variations and differences within the term itself that demand clarification.
Traditionally, the term freestyle referred to a verse that pertained to no particular subject. The verse usually included a variety of topics that were random and unrelated, but the verse itself was still planned and written. This conception of the term freestyle can be said to emphasize a more playful and wide-ranging activity, and puts forth a refreshing take on the traditional structure of a rap verse.
…freestyle can be said to emphasize a more playful and wide-ranging activity…
However, in later generations, the term has come to be redefined. For many listeners in today’s era of the genre, freestyling strictly refers to the improvisational skill of rapping – the act of improvising a verse with or without an instrumental backing. This conception of freestyling proves to be incredibly demanding, both technically and rhythmically.
Big Daddy Kane, often considered one of the most influential legends of old school hip-hop, claims that there is a crucial distinction to be made between these two meanings of freestyle: “Off-the-top-of-the-head [rapping], we just called that “off the dome” — when you don’t write it and [you] say whatever comes to mind.”
This difference between freestyling and “off the dome” separates two entirely different lyrical forms, both of which hold important styles and techniques to specific artists. Over the years, it has become apparent that the terminology used to define freestyling has become muddled and diluted. In becoming aware of the separation of these two styles of rapping, a wider appreciation for verses which are “free-of-style” and for verses which are improvised on the spot can be attained.
A variety of rappers are involved with both definitions of the term freestyling, separated typically by generation rather than skill. Hip-hop legends such as Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Big L, KRS-One, Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Andre 3000, have all – at one time or another – dabbled in the art of freestyling. They stand as just a few examples of the immense influence rhyming off-the-dome, or rapping about a random topic, can have on hip-hop and rap culture.